A transmit/receive switch includes a first quarter-wavelength transmission line coupled between an antenna port and a first variable impedance device. The first variable impedance device is coupled between the first quarter-wavelength transmission line and a signal common node. An impedance of the first variable impedance device is controllable variable between a low impedance value and a high impedance value. A second quarter-wavelength transmission line is coupled between first variable impedance device and a first port. A third quarter-wavelength transmission line is coupled between the antenna port and a second variable impedance device. The second variable impedance device is coupled between the third quarter-wavelength transmission line and the signal common node. Like the first variable impedance device, an impedance of the second variable impedance device is controllable variable between a low impedance value and a high impedance value. A fourth quarter-wavelength transmission line is coupled between the second variable impedance device and a second port.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communications systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to wireless discrete multitone spread spectrum communications systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Wireless communications systems, such as cellular and personal communications systems, operate over limited spectral bandwidths and must make highly efficient use of the scarce bandwidth resource for providing quality service to a large population of users. Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) protocol has been used for wireless communications systems for making efficiently use of limited bandwidths and uses a unique code for distinguishing each user's data signal from other users' data signals. Knowledge of the unique code with which any specific information is transmitted permits separation and reconstruction of each user's message at a receiving end of a communication channel.
The personal wireless access network (PWAN) system described in the referenced Alamouti, Stolarz, et al. patent application uses a form of the CDMA protocol known as discrete multitone spread spectrum (DMT-SS) for providing efficient communications between a base station and a plurality of remote units. In the DMT-SS protocol, a user's data signal is modulated by a set of weighted discrete frequencies or tones that are spreading codes that distribute the data signal over many discrete tones covering a broad range of frequencies. The weights are complex numbers having a real component that is used for modulating the amplitude of a tone and a complex component that is used for modulating the phase of the same tone. Each tone in the weighted-tone set bears the same data signal. Plural users at the transmitting station can use the same tone set for transmitting their data, but each user sharing the tone set has a different set of spreading codes. The weighted-tone set for a particular user is transmitted to the receiving station where it is processed with despreading codes related to the user's spreading codes, for recovering the user's data signal. For each of a plurality of spatially separated antennas at the receiver, the received multitone signals are transformed from time-domain signals to frequency-domain signals. Despreading weights are assigned to each frequency component of the signals received by each antenna element. The values of the despreading weights are combined with the received signals for obtaining an optimized approximation of individual transmitted signals characterized by a particular multitone set and transmitting location.
The PWAN system disclosed in the referenced Alamouti, Stolarz, et al. application has a total of 2560 discrete tones (carriers) that are equally spaced in 8 MHz of available bandwidth in the frequency range of 1850 to 1990 MHz. The frequency spacing between each tone is 3.125 KHz. The total set of tones are numbered consecutively from 0 to 2559, starting from the lowest frequency tone. The tones are used for carrying traffic messages and overhead messages between a base station and a plurality of remote units (RUs). The traffic tones are divided into 32 traffic partitions, with each traffic channel requiring at least one traffic partition of 72 tones.
In addition, the PWAN system uses overhead tones for establishing synchronization and for passing control information between a base station and remote units. A Common Link Channel (CLC) is used by a base station for transmitting control information to a remote unit. A Common Access Channel (CAC) is used for transmitting messages from a remote unit to a base station. There is one grouping of tones assigned to each channel. The overhead channels are used in common by all remote units when control messages are exchanged with a base station.
In the PWAN system, Time Division Duplexing (TDD) is used by a base station and a remote unit for transmitting data and control information in both directions over the same multi-tone frequency channel. Transmission from a base station to a remote unit is called "forward transmission" and transmission from a remote unit to a base station is called "reverse transmission". The time between recurrent transmissions from either a remote unit or a base station is called the TDD period. In every TDD period, there are four consecutive transmission bursts in each direction. Data is transmitted during each burst using multiple tones. A base station and each remote unit must synchronize and conform to the TDD timing structure and both a base station and a remote unit must synchronize to a framing structure. All remote units and base stations are globally synchronized so that all remote units transmit at the same time and then all base stations transmit at the same time. When a remote unit initially powers up, it acquires synchronization from a base station so that it can exchange control and traffic messages within the prescribed TDD time format. A remote unit must also acquire frequency and phase synchronization for the DMT-SS signals so that the remote unit is operating at the same frequency and phase as the base station.
The PWAN system uses a retro directivity principle that relies on the transmit and receive paths at the base station being identical. Since the base station electronics are not identical because of the effects of component tolerances, component drift over temperature and time, and other commonly encountered phenomena, measurements of the transfer functions of the circuitry used for both paths are made. A set of compensating weights are generated and applied to transmitted data so that the forward and reverse paths appear identical at an antenna. The compensation weights provide an additive or more applicable factor making the effect of the despreading weights and the spreading weights the same.
Further, since the PWAN system uses a TDD format, the compensation measurements of the transmit and receive path circuitry are made during the respective idle times of the paths. The time domain duplexing of an airlink results in a 50% duty cycle for utilization of the transmit and receive circuits. Therefore, compensation measurements for the circuitry of a particular path are performed when an airlink does not require its use. Use of the transmit/receive duty cycle of the forward and reverse circuits for making transmit/receive compensation measurements frees system bandwidth and provides much greater measurement flexibility.
FIG. 3 shows a prior-art series-shunt switch 30 that has been used as a transmit/receive switch. An antenna node 31 is connected through a diode 32 to a transmit port TX, and through a quarter-wavelength transmission line 33 to receive port RX. A diode 34 is connected between receive port RX and a signal common. When a bias voltage is applied at V.sub.b, then both diodes 32 and 34 are biased to a low impedance state. The low impedance of diode 34 is transformed into a high impedance at antenna node 31 through quarter-wavelength transmission line 33, thus isolating the RX port from the transmission power applied at the TX port. Switch 30 is unsuitable for allowing testing during idle times of transmit and receive paths because it does not adequately isolate one path from the other during idle times.
FIG. 4 shows a prior art all-shunt diode SP2T switch 40 that has also been used as a transmit/receive switch. An antenna node 41 is connected transmit port TX through a quarter-wavelength transmission line 42, and to a receive port RX through a quarter-wavelength transmission line 43. A diode 44 is connected from the TX port to a signal common and, similarly, a diode 45 is connected from the RX port to the signal common. Capacitors C provide DC isolation between the TX port and the RX port. The antenna node 41 is connected to the TX port when diode 45 is biased into a low-impedance state. The low impedance of diode 45 is transformed into a high impedance at antenna node 41 through quarter-wavelength transmission line 43. When diode 44 is biased into a low-impedance state, antenna node 41 is connected to the RX port. Switch 40 is unsuitable for allowing transmit and receive path testing during path idle times because switch 40 does not adequately isolate one path from the other during path idle times.
What is needed is a transmit/receive switch that allows transmit and receive paths of the PWAN system to be tested during idle times.


A non-transitory storage medium encoded with an information processing program executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus connected to a display including first and second display areas according to one aspect, the information processing program causing the computer to perform first representation processing for showing a first image in the first display area and second representation processing for showing a second image in the second display area. In the second representation processing, a color of the second image in the second display area is changed based on the first image shown in the first display area.

A scheme for showing an edge at an end of a display area for showing game information and showing edges different between normal representation and highlighted representation is disclosed as a scheme for enhancing zest in a game machine in a conventional game hall.
The scheme, however, merely provides change in edge between the normal representation and the highlighted representation, and there is a room for further enhancement of zest.
An attempt to solve the problem as above was made, and a non-transitory storage medium encoded with an information processing program readable by a computer of an information processing apparatus which can enhance zest, an information processing apparatus, a method of controlling an information processing apparatus, and an information processing system are provided.
A non-transitory storage medium encoded with an information processing program executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus connected to a display including first and second display areas according to one aspect, the information processing program causing the computer to perform first representation processing for showing a first image in the first display area and second representation processing for showing a second image in the second display area. In the second representation processing, a color of the second image in the second display area is changed based on the first image shown in the first display area.
Since the color of the second image in the second display area is changed based on the first image shown in the first display area, relation between the first image and the second image is readily recognized and zest can be enhanced.
In the exemplary embodiment, in the first representation processing, the first image is changed over time. In the second representation processing, the color of the second image may be changed over time with change in first image.
Since the color of the second image is also changed in coordination with the first image which is changed over time, the color of the second image is dynamically changed and zest can be enhanced.
In the exemplary embodiment, in the second representation processing, a color of the first image shown in the first display area may be extracted, and the color of the second image in the second display area may be changed based on the extracted color.
Since the color of the second image in the second display area is changed based on the color of the first image shown in the first display area, relation between the first image and the second image is readily recognized and zest can be enhanced.
In the exemplary embodiment, in the first representation processing, the first image is changed over time. In the second representation processing, the color of the first image shown in the first display area may repeatedly be extracted and the color of the second image in the second display area may repeatedly be changed based on the extracted color.
Since the color of the second image is also changed in coordination with the color of the first image which is changed over time, the color of the second image is dynamically changed and zest can be enhanced.
In the exemplary embodiment, in the second representation processing, a color highest in area ratio of colors of the first image shown in the first display area may be extracted and the color of the second image in the second display area may be changed based on the extracted color.
Since a color highest in area ratio of colors of the first image is extracted and the color of the second image is changed based on the extracted color, change is readily recognized and zest can be enhanced.
In the exemplary embodiment, in the second representation processing, the color of the second image in the second display area may be changed based on the extracted color and a color circle table.
Since the color of the second image is changed based on the color circle table, operation processing is readily performed and processing load can be mitigated.
In the exemplary embodiment, in the second representation processing, at least one of a hue, a saturation, and a value of the second image in the second display area may be changed based on the extracted color.
At least one of a hue, a saturation, and a value can be changed and a variety of types of changes are available. Therefore, zest can be enhanced.
In the exemplary embodiment, in the first representation processing, the first image based on an application program may be shown in the first display area, and in the second representation processing, the second image for decoration of the first image may be shown in the second display area.
By showing the second image for decoration of the first image, the first image is further distinguished and zest can be enhanced.
In the exemplary embodiment, audio processing for outputting voice and sound is further performed. In the second representation processing, the color of the second image in the second display area may be changed based on the first image shown in the first display area and the voice and sound output in the audio processing.
Zest can be enhanced by changing the color of the second image based on the first image and the voice and sound.
In the exemplary embodiment, in the second representation processing, a mask area where the color of the second image is not changed may be provided in the second display area.
Processing load can be mitigated by providing a mask area.
An information processing apparatus connected to a display including first and second display areas according to one aspect includes a processor. The processor performs first representation processing for showing a first image in the first display area and second representation processing for showing a second image in the second display area. In the second representation processing, a color of the second image in the second display area is changed based on the first image shown in the first display area.
A method of controlling an information processing apparatus connected to a display including first and second display areas includes showing a first image in the first display area and showing a second image in the second display area. The showing a second image includes changing a color of the second image in the second display area based on the first image shown in the first display area.
Since the color of the second image in the second display area is changed based on the first image shown in the first display area, relation between the first image and the second image is readily recognized and zest can be enhanced.
An information processing system according to one aspect includes a display including first and second display areas, a first representation control device which has a first image shown in the first display area, and a second representation control device which has a second image shown in the second display area. The second representation control device changes a color of the second image in the second display area based on the first image shown in the first display area.
Since the color of the second image in the second display area is changed based on the first image shown in the first display area, relation between the first image and the second image is readily recognized and zest can be enhanced.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Non-transitory storage medium encoded with information processing program readable by computer of information processing apparatus which can enhance zest, information processing apparatus, method of controlling information processing apparatus, and information processing system


A multi-primary-color liquid crystal display device (100) according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel (10) with a pixel made up of red, green, blue and yellow subpixels (R, G, B, Ye) and a signal conversion circuit (20) which converts an input three-primary-color video signal into a four-color video signal. If the three-primary-color video signal supplied to the signal conversion circuit is indicated as (r, g, b) using the grayscale levels r, g and b (each of which is an integer of 0 through 255) of the three primary colors of red, green and blue and if the luminance of the color white displayed by the pixel in response to a three-primary-color video signal indicated as (255, 255, 255) is supposed to be 100%, the signal conversion circuit adjusts the level of the four-color video signal so that when a three-primary-color video signal indicated as (186, 0, 0) is input, the luminance of the color red displayed by the red subpixel becomes equal to or greater than 6.5%.

Liquid crystal display devices and various other types of display devices are currently used in a variety of applications. In a general display device, a single pixel consists of three subpixels respectively representing red, green and blue, which are the three primary colors of light, thereby conducting a display operation in colors.
A traditional display device, however, can reproduce colors that fall within only a narrow range (which is usually called a "color reproduction range"), which is a problem. FIG. 9 shows the color reproduction range of a traditional display device that conducts a display operation using the three primary colors. Specifically, FIG. 9 shows an xy chromaticity diagram according to the XYZ color system, in which the triangle, formed by three points corresponding to the three primary colors of red, green and blue, represents the color reproduction range. Also plotted by crosses ×in FIG. 9 are the surface colors of various objects existing in Nature, which were disclosed by Pointer (see Non-Patent Document No. 1). As can be seen from FIG. 9, there are some object colors that do not fall within the color reproduction range, and therefore, a display device that conducts a display operation using the three primary colors cannot reproduce some object colors.
Thus, in order to broaden the color reproduction range of display devices, a technique that increases the number of primary colors used for display purposes to four or more has been proposed recently.
For example, Patent Document No. 1 discloses a liquid crystal display device 800 in which one pixel P consists of red, green, blue, cyan, magenta and yellow subpixels R, G, B, C, M and Ye representing the colors red, green, blue, cyan, magenta and yellow, respectively, as shown in FIG. 10. The color reproduction range of such a liquid crystal display device 800 is shown in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 11, the color reproduction range, represented by a hexagon of which the six vertices correspond to those six primary colors, covers almost all object colors. By increasing the number of primary colors for use in display in this manner, the color reproduction range can be broadened.
Patent Document No. 1 also discloses a liquid crystal display device in which one pixel P consists of red, green, blue and yellow subpixels R, G, B, Ye and a liquid crystal display device in which one pixel P consists of red, green, blue, cyan and yellow subpixels R, G, B, C, Ye. In any case, by using four or more primary colors, the color reproduction range can be broadened compared to traditional liquid crystal display devices that use only the three primary colors for display purposes. In this description, a display device that carries out a display operation using four or more primary colors will be referred to herein as a "multi-primary-color display device" and a liquid crystal display device that carries out a display operation using four or more primary colors will be referred to herein as a "multi-primary-color liquid crystal display device" (or simply a "multi-primary-color LCD"). Meanwhile, an ordinary display device that carries out a display operation using the three primary colors will be referred to herein as a "three-primary-color display device" and a liquid crystal display device that carries out a display operation using the three primary colors will be referred to herein as a "three-primary-color liquid crystal display device" (or simply a "three-primary-color LCD").
A video signal input to a three-primary-color display device generally has an RGB format or a YCrCb format. A video signal in any of those formats has three parameters (i.e., is a so-called "three-dimensional signal"), and therefore, the luminances of the three primary colors (that are red, green and blue) for use to conduct a display operation are determined unequivocally.
For a multi-primary-color display device to perform a display operation, a video signal with a format for a three-primary-color display device needs to be converted into a video signal with more (i.e., four or more) parameters. Such a video signal representing four or more primary colors will be referred to herein as a "multi-primary-color video signal".
When the colors represented by a video signal in a format for a three-primary-color display device (which will be referred to herein as a "three-primary-color video signal") are expressed in four or more primary colors, the luminances of the respective primary colors are not determined unambiguously but their luminances have a lot of different combinations. That is why a three-primary-color video signal is not converted into a multi-primary-color video signal by only one method but by any of various other methods very arbitrarily (with a lot of freedom). Methods for converting a three-primary-color video signal into a multi-primary-color video signal are proposed in Patent Documents Nos. 2 and 3, for example. Naturally, however, they are not the only ones but there is a wide variety of methods available.

Multiple-primary color liquid crystal display apparatus


A photographic film is previously wound around a spool in a scroll chamber to be ready for photographing. The film is wound by one frame when a film winding knob is operated. After all the frames have been exposed, it is wound back to a film magazine in a film magazine chamber. The film magazine in which the film has been wound, is taken out from the film magazine chamber when a rear cover is folded at a groove portion provided on the rear cover after at least one of the three engaging hook portions between the rear cover and the film unit body has been disengaged.

The present invention relates to a film unit with a photographic lens having exposure and film winding functions, by which a photograph can be taken using an unexposed film previously loaded into the unit.
The film unit with photographic lens is a camera in which a film is integrally provided, which is sometimes referred to as a single use camera. As is well known, the camera is used only for the purpose of photographing the film loaded in the camera, and after exposure, the film is taken out from the camera and then the camera is disposed of. Therefore, the structure of the camera is simple, and the manufacturing cost is low.
Single use cameras are frequently purchased and used when travelling. However, single use cameras of the prior art are not convenient to be carried. For example, a single use camera is provided with a photographic lens, the focal distance of which is 35 mm, and the dimensions of which are 110 mm.times.60 mm.times.35 mm, so that it can not be put into a shirt pocket.
Recently, use of the single use camera has diversified, and there is a tendency that a strobe unit is installed in the camera so that the camera performance can be improved. For that reason, the cost is inevitably raised, and further the dimensions of the camera are inevitably increased.
Recently, it has been required to reclaim single use cameras from the viewpoint of recycling.
Before the camera bodies are reused, of course, it is necessary to check them so as to guarantee their quality. Therefore, it has been required to provide cameras that can be reused when very small number of parts are replaced.
That is, it has been required to provide reusable cameras having a means that can prevent the cameras from being reused without the check of their quality. Therefore, reusable cameras from the film magazines of which photographers can easily take out films cause a problem.
Of course, it is necessary to avoid an increase in cost even when the aforementioned means is adopted. Also, if necessary, the film must be easily taken out from the camera without lowering the reliability. Further, the processing for recycling the cameras must be simple and easy.


A dispenser for dispensing viscous products at elevated temperatures includes a receptacle for receiving a bag of product having a flexible discharge tube therefrom, or in the alternative, includes a receptacle that has a flexible discharge tube. A peristaltic pump is secured beneath the receptacle to force the movement of food product throughout the discharge tube. A heating assembly is positioned within the receptacle and heats the air. A fan circulates the air about the receptacle and tube so as to maintain the temperature of the food product at a level to permit free flowing of the product from the bag throughout the tube.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids, particularly food products.
In the food service industry, there are a wide variety of devices that are used to dispense viscous food products. Such dispensers are commonly found in restaurants, convenience stores, and other commercial eating establishments. Many viscous products, such as cheese sauces and ice cream toppings, do not flow well at room temperature, so these dispensers are often heated to maintain the product in a flowable condition.
A typical heated dispenser uses a pump, and a connecting nozzle tube to transfer the product from a heated product container housed within the dispenser to the user. The food product travels from the receptacle, through the nozzle tube, and is dispensed by the opening a valve at the nozzle. The use of such a dispensing apparatus, however, has a number of disadvantages. Because the pump, receptacle, and nozzle, are in direct contact with the food product, each must frequently be dismantled and cleaned because of concern over contamination and bacterial spoilage, especially when the dispenser is used with dairy products. Many state health laws often mandate a daily cleaning of dispensers which store and dispense dairy products.
Products most often used in the dispensers become more viscous and tend to congeal as they cool. To properly clean the pump following use, the pump frequently must be soaked to loosen encrusted materials. The shape of the pump often makes it extremely difficult to rid the pump of all particles, thus providing an excellent growth habitat for pathogens. Similarly, the nozzle being of small diameter is difficult to clean. This problem is exacerbated by the prior art devices heating the nozzle during operation causing the food product to strongly adhere to the insides surface of the nozzle. Proper cleaning of the nozzle is difficult because of the collected product build-up and the shape of the nozzle. Moreover, the exterior end of the nozzle, which extends outwardly from the dispenser, is typically comprised of stainless steel, a good conductor of heat. The hot nozzle is capable of injuring the unwary user of the dispenser.
Overall cleaning of the dispenser cannot be accomplished without considerable downtime caused, for example, by withdrawing the pump subassembly from within the product receptacle. Ordinarily, the pump subassembly is located inside the dispenser and has one end of the nozzle tube attached to it. Dismantling of many dispenser parts is required to remove the pump subassembly in order to clean the product receptacle. Any electrical connection, waterproof or otherwise, inhibits this cleaning operation. Finally, the pump, receptacle, and nozzle are in direct contact with the food product; therefore, they must be made of material such as stainless steel that is accepted by the authorities for being in contact with the food product.
Attempts have been made to address some of these concerns by using the bag-in-box technology common in the beverage dispensing industry. For example, soft drink syrups, bulk milk, and wine is packaged in flexible bags. These packages have been successfully used for holding and dispensing liquids which will flow readily at room temperature when the dispensing valve is opened. However, they have not worked well for containing and dispensing viscous products which will not readily flow under the force of gravity.
When bag-in-box packages are used for viscous products, pumps, pressure chambers, or similar equipment is needed to force the food product from the bag. An example of the pressure chamber used with a bag-in-box type of apparatus is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,788, issued Jan. 10, 1989, and assigned to Liqui-Box Corporation. Such dispensers, however, have their own attendant disadvantages, including the expense of moving the food product.
In the aforementioned co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent Ser. No. 08/681,186, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,317 an alternative system for dispensing viscous food products was introduced that incorporates the use of a peristaltic type of pump. The viscous food product is packaged in a flexible bag having an elongated discharge tube extending therefrom. The dispenser includes a receptacle having an outlet opening in the front, lower portion thereof. The sealed food product container is seated in the receptacle so that the discharge tube extends from the front, lower portion of the receptacle through the outlet opening. The pump is secured beneath the receptacle so that the discharge tube passes through the pump, and cooperates with the discharge tube to provide flow of the food product. The pump described in the co-pending application is a peristaltic pump that uses a rotor which driven at a predetermined speed by an electric motor. A plurality of pinch rollers are mounted on the periphery of the rotor and rotate about axes parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor. The discharge tube is supported by an arcuate stator positioned near the rotor periphery. Thus, as the rotor rotates, the individual pinch rollers progressively impinge on the discharge tube, compressing the discharge tube against the stator, creating a peristaltic movement of the food product within the discharge tube. In this manner, a predetermined volume of food product is moved axially through the discharge tube and is dispensed at a rate determined by the speed of rotation of the rotor.
In the dispenser described in the aforementioned co-pending application, the food product is heated by conduction through the material of the receptacle including structure encompassing the tube. The portion of the receptacle adjacent the product bag is made of a heat-conducting material and is heated by an electric heater positioned within the dispenser. Additionally, the portions of the dispenser adjacent the discharge tube are made of a heat-conducting material to ensure that product within the discharge tube is also maintained at the proper temperature and that the food material is free flowing at all points within the dispenser, including those portions of the elongated tube most remote from the receptacle. These portions may be heated through conduction from the walls of the receptacle or by a separate heating element.
The heating of the food product by conduction, however, does not always provide optimal uniform heating and may also make the internal and external receptacle surfaces extremely hot. Such hot surfaces increase the difficulty of handling the dispenser.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a viscous food dispenser that heats the food product at all points during the passage of the food product from the receptacle to the point of exit from the receptacle, thereby ensuring the food product remains in a free flowing state.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for a heated viscous food dispenser that reduces the likelihood that a user will come into contact with extremely hot surfaces.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a heated viscous food dispenser that provides for more uniform heating of the food product while resident within the dispenser.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a receptacle that is easily removed from the dispenser for simple loading of the food product and cleaning.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Apparatus for the dispensing of heated viscous food product


A non-light penetrating phlebotomy tube comprising a dark colored hollow tubular housing having an elongated cylindrical member wherein one distal end of the elongated cylindrical member is rounded and the other distal end of the elongated cylindrical member is open. A hermetic sealing member is received in the other distal end of the elongated cylindrical member for sealing the hollow tubular housing. The non-light penetrating phlebotomy further comprises a temperature sensitive level indicator coupled to the elongated cylindrical member for detecting the level of a fluid entering the dark colored hollow tubular housing.

Phlebotomy tubes and phlebotomy tube holders for coupling thereto phlebotomy tubes used to collect a patient's blood sample are well known. Some such phlebotomy tubes and phlebotomy tube holders are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,086,780, by Schmitt, 5,104,705, by Quackenbush, 5,165,419, by Sarstedt, and 5,399,318, by Mancilla et al. However, known drawing tubes (some having an anticoagulant composition, blood preservative, or the like stored therein) and phlebotomy tube holders are typically made of clear glass and/or plastic for enabling a phlebotomist technician to visual inspect the blood sample level collected and stored therein. During the drawing of the blood sample, it is critical that the phlebotomist technician can visually inspect the blood sample level to ensure that the minimum required amount of blood is obtained and that the blood is not overdrawn.
Some blood tests, such as, without limitation, vitamin deficiency tests, require that the blood sample not be exposed to light. Presently, for such blood tests, the technicians must immediately wrap the phlebotomy tube in aluminum foil or other material for preventing the blood sample from prolonged exposure to the light which is cumbersome and awkward. Nevertheless, such practices are often futile since even the slightest exposure to light can provide inaccurate blood test readings. Therefore, the blood sample must be discarded and redrawn.
It can be readily seen that there exists the continuing need for a non-light penetrating phlebotomy tube for protecting collected blood stored therein from light exposure; and, a non-light penetrating phlebotomy tube having a temperature sensitive level indicator for indicating to the phlebotomist technician the level of blood sample being collected thereby preventing overdrawing and underdrawing of the patient's blood.

Non-light penetrating phlebotomy tube with temperature sensitive level indicator


A temperature-actuated valve device which comprises a body 5 provided with a fluid inlet opening 6b and a fluid outlet opening 5a, a vale seat 5b formed on the peripheral edge of the outlet opening 5a, a main valve body 8 which is disposed movably within the body 5 in the flow direction of fluid and which is brought into and out of an abutting engagement with the outlet opening 5a to perform the opening and closing operation, a pilot valve body 7 which is disposed movably within the body 5 in the same direction as the direction of movement of the main valve body 8 and which is of a tubular shape causing a change in the fluid pressure acting on the upstream side or the downstream side of the main valve body 8, and a temperature-actuated spring 11 which is linked to the pilot valve body 7 and which deforms when it reaches a predetermined temperature and above. When the temperature of fluid reaches a predetermined temperature and above, the temperature-actuated spring 11 deforms in the direction of expansion, thereby causing the pilot valve body 7 to be moved and causing the fluid pressure acting on the downstream side of the main valve body 8 to be reduced, whereby the main valve body 8 is brought into an abutting engagement with the valve seat 5b to shut off the outflow of the fluid.

For example, as a shower device in a bath room, there has been generally used a type of shower device with the hot water having an appropriate temperature being sprayed from a shower head connected to a hot and cold water mixing valve by means of a hose. In such shower device, the temperature of sprayed water is set by adjusting the valve opening degree at the cold water side and hot water side of the hot and cold water mixing valve by means of a wide variety of mechanisms.
In the operation of a shower, the case has actually occurred where the temperature of sprayed water becomes higher and lower than the set value due to a sudden change in the supply pressure of the cold water and hot water and some other causes. In this case, since the sprayed water has an extremely high temperature, some danger is involved, and so provision of a temperature-actuated valve is effective, such valve being so constituted that, if the temperature of hot water which flows toward the shower head exceeds a certain level, the supply of such hot water is shut-off.
Such temperature-actuated valve is described, for example, in JPB Hei-3-64751, the outline of which is shown in FIG. 50.
This temperature-actuated valve comprises a valve seat 251 incorporated into the internal flow passage of a body 250, a lift valve type of valve body 252 which is adapted to be brought into a seating engagement with the valve seat 251, and a damper spring 253 and a coil spring 254 made of a shape-memory alloy arranged so as to hold therebetween a shift ring 252a provided on the valve body 252.
The coil spring 254 maintains a contracted shape up to a certain temperature, so that the valve body 252 is maintained in the position where it is shifted downward in the drawing, and the seating surface of the valve body 252 is brought out of engagement with the valve seat 251 to thereby open the flow passage. When the temperature exceeds a certain temperature, the coil spring 254 expands due to its shape-memory property and the valve body 252 is brought into a seating engagement with the valve seat 251 to close the flow passage, so that supply of the hot water having a high temperature is shut-off.
Further, there is another construction described, for example, in JPU Sho-61-41500, in which a valve body is provided in the direction of traversing the section of a flow passage, and a coil-like temperature sensing expansion body made of a shape-memory alloy is linked coaxially to the moving direction of the valve body. When the temperature of hot water passing therethrough exceeds the set temperature (for example, 50 degrees centigrade), the valve body is shifted due to the coil-like temperature sensing expansion body to thereby close the flow passage.
The lift valve type of valve body 252 has a considerably large flow resistance, since the valve is closed in a way to gradually narrow the flow passage between the valve body 252 and the valve seat 251. This requires an elastic reaction force of the coil spring 254 made of a shape-memory alloy to be made large, in order that the coil spring 254 shifts the valve body 252 in the direction of closing the valve body 252.
However, although the elastic reaction force of the coil spring 254 depends on the quality of material and the heat treatment of a wire rod, it is also proportional to the size of the outer diameter of the wire rod and, therefore, in order to drive the valve body 252 of the above-described lift valve type, it is necessary to make the wire rod of the coil spring 254 thick. If the coil spring 254 is made large in this way, an influence on the aspect of cost cannot be ignored because the raw material thereof is an expensive shape-memory alloy.
Moreover, if the outer diameter of the wire rod of the coil spring 254 is great, the distance between the winding loops of the coil becomes small. Since the hot water flows to the downstream side passing from the outside of the coil spring 254 through the inside thereof, the resistance of the flow passage becomes large. Accordingly, a quantity of the flow is also limited, and if one attempts to ensure the quantity of flow, it is necessary to make the whole valve large in size.
In the valve body 252 of the lift valve type, since the position thereof is held by the elastic support of the spring, when the flow rate and pressure of hot water is large, the position of the valve body 252 is apt to be changed by a change in the flow pressure of hot water. For this reason, a degree of opening the flow passage by the valve body 252 changes, so that the hot water which is discharged also changes in temperature, and providing the operation of the valve body at a stable temperature is limited to equipment with a low flow rate.
Further, also in the device described in JPU Sho-61-41500, since the valve body disposed in the direction of traversing the section of the flow passage is elastically supported by the spring, in the case where the flow rate and pressure of hot water are large, the temperature of hot water changes in a similar way. Moreover, since it is necessary to make the section of the flow passage great to some degree in order to ensure the quantity of hot water supplied, the stroke of movement of the valve body becomes great. For this reason, even though the temperature sensing expansion spring is actuated when the hot water at a high temperature passes, time is consumed until the valve body shuts off the flow passage and, therefore, there is an aspect of this device which is not suitable for instantaneous shut-off of the hot water at a high temperature.
In the meantime, in the case where the temperature-actuated valve is incorporated into a flow passage toward the shower head connected to a hot and cold water mixing valve by means of a hose, it is most preferable to sense the temperature of the hot water immediately after leaving the mixing valve to thereby shut off the flow passage. For this reason, it has been considered that the temperature-actuated valve should be incorporated utilizing such a joint as an elbow which is connected to the back of the hot and cold water mixing valve and to which the base end of the hose is connected.
However, in the device in which the lift valve type of valve body or the valve body of the type of traversing the section of flow passage is incorporated, as described in the above-described publications, the springs in the inner flow passage and the spring which performs the temperature sensing movement are apt to be bulky and, therefore, such spring is not appropriate for incorporation into such elbow.
Further, in order to allow the valve body to be quickly set to the valve closing position as the hot water at a high temperature passes, there is also a device equipped with such a pilot valve mechanism as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,554. This is a mechanism which comprises a leaf spring made of a shape-memory alloy incorporated into a pilot valve which provides an energizing force to a diaphragm-type main valve in the valve opening direction, and when a small quantity of hot water which passes through the pilot valve reaches a high temperature, the diaphragm-type main valve is closed.
However, in the device including the pilot valve which links the diaphragm, the number of the components is considerably increased and the resistance of the flow passage is great and, in addition, the diaphragm is provided as a main valve, so a loss in pressure is increased. Further, there is a problem in that since the diaphragm is closed due to a difference in pressure before and after the throttling portion of the diaphragm part, in the case where a quantity of flow is small which makes the production of such difference in pressure difficult, it is difficult to discharge the functions as a temperature-actuated valve. Therefore, there is a tendency of the large-sized device similar to that described in the above-described publications to ensure the quantity of flow; so, the position where the diaphragm is incorporated is limited. Moreover, there is a problem in that because of a great loss in pressure, a sufficient delivery quantity of shower water cannot be ensured in a region where water pressure is low.
As described above, the conventional temperature-actuated valve has disadvantages not only in that the flow resistance due to the spring incorporated as a shape-memory element is great and the construction becomes bulky, but also in that the delivery of hot water due to the delay in the valve closing time of the valve body as the hot water at a high temperature passes cannot be avoided.
Moreover, as an example of the hot and cold water mixing valves equipped in a bath room, there is a mixing valve to which a shower head is connected by way of a hose, in addition to a delivery pipe for the supply of cold and hot water to a bathtub. Such hot and cold water mixing valve is normally provided with a switching valve for switching the flow passage to the delivery pipe side or the shower head side, in addition to the valve for adjusting the flow rate and temperature of the mixed water. For example, a switching valve such as that described in JPU Sho-56-32679 is adopted.
This switching valve includes an operating handle to which a cylindrical valve body is linked by way of a torsion spring and, during normal operation, the state is maintained in which the hollow portion of a valve body communicates with the flow passage at the delivery pipe side and, simultaneously, the flow passage toward the shower side is shut off. When the handle is switched to the shower side, the valve body is pressed against the valve seat, which forms the beginning end of the flow passage of the delivery pipe side, by the water pressure of the mixed water toward the shower side, whereby the position of the valve body is suppressed so as to shut off the flow passage toward the delivery pipe.
With such a switching valve, when supply of the mixed water is stopped after switching to the shower side and being used, the water pressure of the mixed water against the valve body gradually drops and, accordingly, the valve body is rotated together with the handle by means of the torsion spring to open the flow passage toward the delivery pipe side and to close the flow passage toward the shower side. Therefore, after the shower has been used, the flow passage is always automatically switched to the delivery pipe side, and even though the switched position remains unconfirmed when the mixing valve is used next time, the delivery of hot water at a high temperature from the shower can be avoided, allowing the mixing valve to be used safely without getting scalded.
In this way, so long as the operation of switching to the shower side is not made by means of the operating handle when the hot and cold water mixing valve is used, the hot water at a high temperature is never discharged from the shower, so this type of the mixing valve is used particularly suitable as equipment for general use.
However, when a user has switched the switching handle to the shower side by mistake at the time the mixing valve begins to be used, he may be suddenly showered with hot water at a high temperature from the shower. Namely, even though hot water is discharged when the delivery pipe is used, the hot water pours only onto a finger tip and there is little hinderance to ease of use. However, if it is a sprayed water from the shower head, the hot water pours over the whole body and, therefore, a degree of danger cannot be ignored for the user who is unfamiliar with the operation.
In this way, even though the switching valve in which the flow passage is switched to the delivery pipe side at the time the mixing valve begins to be used, the case even occurs where the hot water at a high temperature is suddenly discharged when the user makes a mistake in the operation. For this reason, even though the flow passage is switched to the shower side when the mixed water is at a high temperature, it is more preferable from the point of safety to attempt to provide equipment from which the mixed water is not discharged.

Temperature-actuated valve device and flow passage switching valve using such device


Image display apparatus comprising projector means, a first modulator and a second modulator, the first and the second modulators being such as to modulate picture elements in an image whereby finite minimum image brightness above true black is reduced, and whereby the contrast range of the projected image is extended.

Image display apparatus is used to project visual images for various applications, including entertainment, training, education, public display of information and many others. The image display apparatus may use multiple projectors to produce a single image by the use of two or more projectors producing contiguous images, by the use of two or more projectors projecting partially overlapping images which may be blended to produce an extended continuous image, by the use of a single projector to produce a relatively small image, for example a target image or star field, in a large dark or relatively dark field or in a bright field, or by any other combination of projectors with or without overlap of the projected images.
In such use of projectors it is desirable to achieve consistency in image quality across the total image, and this means controlling at least the color and brightness across the various portions of the resultant image over a wide dynamic range from dark to light. This can be problematic when using projectors with modulators which modulate light, because of the inability of some modulators to achieve extinction, resulting in a finite minimum image brightness, or black level, above true black. When this occurs in image display apparatus employing a single projector, it results in a reduction of the contrast ratio which can be achieved in the resultant image and can result in the production of a `halo` around the projected image. When it occurs in image display apparatus employing multiple projectors, it can additionally result in the generation of artifacts in the display due to differences in the black level in projectors producing contiguous images, or due to the additive effects of the finite black level in areas in which projected image overlap occurs. If the modulator is a spatially addressed modulator which has defects in some modulator elements, there is the additional possibility of a bright or dark spot or spots in the image.
There are various ways of making projectors for image display systems, and these include, but are not restricted to, cathode ray tubes where the phosphor image is projected via a lens to a viewing screen, spatial light modulators such as liquid crystal light valves and digital mirror devices which are addressed electronically and modulate a high intensity light, and light amplifiers such as an image light amplifier which use a low intensity image to modulate a high intensity light.
The light output from a cathode ray tube projector is a function of the phosphor selected and the energy applied by the electron beam to the screen phosphor. The light output from the light modulator, for example a liquid crystal light valve, is a function of the light input to the modulator, as is the light output from an image light amplifier. Other forms of projector are possible. In general, a projector should have a maximum light output, and an instantaneous or modulated light output which is a function of this maximum value. The variation in light output from minimum to maximum which can be achieved is the modulation range of the projector, and results in a dynamic range of the projected image. If the modulator drive signal is digitally processed or generated, the modulation range of the projector will be represented by a number of bits, and the modulator drive signal will be formed into a number of discrete levels, separated by the least significant bit. This will give a shading resolution limited by the lowest bit of the modulating signal as a function of the maximum brightness which can be displayed.
If it is desired to show part of the display at much reduced brightness, as can happen when displaying a night scene, then only part of the modulation range is used, and the number of levels available to modulate the dark parts of the scene is much reduced, limiting the shading resolution which can be achieved in the darker areas of the display and reducing the amount of detail which can be portrayed in the image as the brightness decreases. A similar truncation in the number of levels which can be displayed also arises when the brightness of a scene is varied to represent the time of day, as, for example, may happen when such a projector is used in a flight training simulator during training for flights extending through dusk or dawn.
Some modulators may have minor faults which degrade the total image quality. An example of such a fault in a liquid crystal light valve display panel is a `bright pixel`, that is a pixel, or picture element, which does not respond adequately to a command to reduce the light output. Such a fault will produce a bright pixel or light spot at a fixed location on the display screen.
Some modulators are unable to produce extinction of the projected light, resulting in a black level which is higher than desirable and introducing artifacts into the display.
The current state of the art in image projectors does not permit the display of negative contrast targets, that is where a target is of a lower brightness than the surround, when producing an image by combining the images formed from separate target and background projectors, and this can result in a lack of realism in some training systems.

Image display apparatus with modulators for modulating picture elements in an image


A method and system for picking and placing vessels are provided. The system includes a gripper assembly mounted on a positioning mechanism. The gripper assembly includes a cylinder, a plurality of flexible gripping members extending from the cylinder in a spaced-apart relationship for receiving therebetween a vessel and holding it by friction, a piston slideably inserted inside the cylinder, and a plunger connected to and movable with the piston and extending between the gripping members for engaging the vessel. The method includes the steps of positioning the gripper assembly, picking up and transferring a vessel, and placing, seating and releasing the vessel. The contents of the vessel may also be mixed simultaneously during the transferring of the vessel.

1. Area of the Art
The present invention relates generally to vessels handling methods and systems used in conjunction with automated chemical analyzer instruments and, more specifically, to methods and systems for picking and placing vessels used in conjunction with automated chemical analyzer instruments.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Automated chemical analyzers, particularly immunodiagnostic instruments, are widely used in clinical chemistry sampling and analyzing applications. The instruments often involve the handling of vessels for performing various assays. The basic functions of handling vessels typically involve picking, transferring, and placing the vessels, and mixing their contents for processing and analyzing by an automated chemical analyzer. During the transfer process, the vessel and its contents must be moved smoothly. Jarring the vessel may cause the contents to either splash out of the vessel, or if splashing does occur, droplets may stick to the walls of the vessel at the top. Either of these events may affect accuracy of the results.
The following references are found to be pertinent to the field of the present invention:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,899,232, issued to Walter, Jr. on Aug. 11, 1959, disclosed a bottle chuck adapted for handling bottles. The bottle chuck has a series of threadedly connected cylindrical pieces and jaws for engaging bottle necks and a spring-loaded piston rod for engaging the bottle caps.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,594, issued to Thoma on Jan. 12, 1971, disclosed a pneumatically-operated gripper for bottles. The gripper has a plurality of fingers bound by a sleeve, such that the upward movement of the sleeve will engage the fingers and a downward movement of the sleeve will release the fingers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,639, issued to Stock on Mar. 24, 1981, disclosed an ejector device for ejecting a store from an aircraft store rack. The device includes lug-retaining fingers and a collar for holding the fingers in engagement with a lug mounted on the store. Removing the collar causes the fingers to disengage from the lug for releasing the store.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,846, issued to Feiber et al. on Sep. 16, 1986, disclosed a gripper head for attachment to a vertical axis of a robot or a pick-and-place machine for picking up components and placing them on a workpiece. The gripper head has two opposite piston and cylinder units, and two opposite jaws, each driven by a respective piston and cylinder unit to move in a transverse direction for gripping the components.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,311, issued to Ragard on Nov. 10, 1981, disclosed a component pick and placement spindle assembly for surface mounting and insertion of electrical components. The assembly includes a mechanism for squaring the component to an orthogonal coordinate system and also an orienting means comprising a direct drive rotary motor operatively associated with a tool assembly having component engaging fingers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,018, issued to van de Ven et al. on Mar. 7, 1989, disclosed a gripping device for placing electrical or electronic components with terminal pins on a substrate. The gripping device has a pair of grippers movable to one another to close and open their jaws, and a spring-loaded abutment means for pressing the pins of the component into the respective holes on the substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,344, issued to Takada et al. on Jan. 9, 1990, disclosed a parallel gripper used for gripping a work for a robot. The gripper has a fluid pressure actuator having two pistons, two transversely slidable fingers, and a power transmission mechanism having two levers each connected between the two pistons and also to one of the fingers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,239, issued to Govang et al. on Aug. 17, 1993, disclosed an adapter for a pick-up device having a plurality of fingers extending from one end of a hollow member, and an apparatus for releasable engagement and transport of an object. The adapter has a first portion for insertion into the hollow member, a stopping portion for limiting the insertion, and a second portion for receiving the object.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,723, issued to Kronseder on Mar. 22, 1994, disclosed a gripping bell for bottles. The gripping bell includes a sleeve-like collect chuck having elastic fingers slidably movable by an actuating element for gripping the head of a bottle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,755, issued to Covert et al. on Jul. 7, 1998, disclosed a tube gripper device having a plurality of fingers. The gripper has a cam connected to a solenoid actuator for spreading the fingers apart and a resilient means for returning the fingers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,360 issued to Rao et al. on Sep. 7, 1999, disclosed a modular vial autosampler. The autosampler includes a base unit, a thermal block having a passage way for fluid circulation, a vial rack positioned over the thermal block in heat-conducting relation, and a vial transporter including a main arm projecting from the base unit along a first axis and transportable along a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis and having a vial gripper assembly mounted on the main arm and transportable along the first axis with a gripper head movable along a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and second axis.
One of the disadvantages of many conventional vessel picking and placing devices used in conjunction with automated chemical analyzers is that they often have very limited capacities. For example, the prior art devices are often not designed to pick up misaligned vessels. In addition, the prior art devices are often not designed to transfer the vessels in an upright position and mix the contents contained in the vessels in the same cycle. Furthermore, the prior art devices are often not designed with a mechanism to ensure that the vessels are correctly seated before releasing them from the grippers.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a new method and system for picking and placing vessels which can be used in conjunction with automated chemical instruments and also overcome the disadvantages of conventional methods and systems for handling vessels. Particularly, it is desirable to have methods and systems capable of picking misaligned vessels, and ensuring the vessels are correctly seated before releasing them from the grippers when placing the vessels to avoid jarring or splashing their contents. In addition, it is desirable to have methods and systems capable of transferring the vessels in an upright position and mixing their contents in the same cycle.

Method and system for picking and placing vessels


A froth flotation method is disclosed for separating fine particles of fossil resin from by use of frothing reagents which include an aliphatic organic compound having a polar group and containing not more than four carbon atoms. Butanol is an effective frothing reagent in this method.

1. Field:
This invention relates to a method for treating resinous coal, and more particularly to a method for separating fossil resin from coal by froth flotation.
2. State of the Art:
Certain bituminous coals of the Western United States are known to contain appreciable quantities of macroscopic fossil resin (resinite). Such resinous coals are found in the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, etc. The Wasatch Plateau coal field in Utah has a particularly high content of fossil resin. It has been reported that some seams in this field average as much as 5% resin.
Fossil resins had been recovered intermittently from the Utah coal field since 1929 by gravity and/or flotation processes. The production, nevertheless, was on a very small scale and past separation technologies have limited the development of a viable fossil resin industry. Generally resin flotation concentrates must be refined by solvent extraction and evaporation of the solvent. Solvent-purified resins from the Utah coal field typically have a molecular weight of about 1000-1500, a melting point of about 170.degree. C. and an iodine number of about 145. This product, at the present time, has a market value of $0.50-0.70/lb as a chemical commodity and can be used in the ink, adhesive, rubber, varnish, enamel, paint and coatings, and thermoplastics industries. However, the technology for the recovery and utilization of fossil resins from coal did not receive sufficient research attention during the past decades. Research carried out in this field was very limited when compared to the research effort made for other energy and mineral commodities. Such a situation was due to the rapid development of petrochemical technologies after World War II and the abundance of synthetic resins. Because of the lack of technology and the competition from synthetic resins, this valuable fossil resin resource from western coal has been wasted for many years, being burned together with coal for electric power generation. Based on coal production data from the Utah region, it is estimated that at least 150 million pounds per annum of fossil resin from the Wasatch Plateau coal field is being used as fuel for electric power generation.
During the past decades, there have been a few patents issued which describe the flotation separation of fossil resin from coal by froth flotation. They include U.S. Pat. No. 1,773,997 (by Green, 1930), U.S. Pat. No. 1,869,532 (by Weining, 1932), U.S. Pat. No. 2,506,301 (by Klepetko, 1950), U.S. Pat. No. 2,591,830 (by Klepetko, 1952), U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,473 (by Laros and Pick, 1983), U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,071 (by Miller and Ye, 1988), U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,373 (by Miller, et al., 1990), as well as the USSR Patent 716,609 (1980). In all of these inventions, fossil resin particles are removed by attachment to dispersed air bubbles and the fossil resin particle/bubble aggregates float to the top of the flotation cell to form a froth product while coal and other gangue particles generally remain in suspension. In this way, fossil resin is separated from coal. The extent of the fossil resin separation from coal and the sophistication of the technology basically have progressed, from conventional flotation technology, to selective oxidation and selective dispersion. However, both fossil resin and coal exhibit a natural hydrophobicity and such separation is not easy.
Most work in the field of resin-coal separation by froth flotation techniques has realized higher alcohols (Laros; 6 to 8 carbon atoms alcohols), the use of amyl alcohol, a five carton alcohol, is disclosed in Green as a suitable frothing agent. Green used amyl alcohol as the sole frothing agent and indicated generally the use of higher alcohols, turpentine, cresol, pine oils and the like.
Recent important patents in this field are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,724,071 and 4,904,373 issued in 1988 and 1990, to Miller, et al., respectively. U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,071 teaches the use of ozone to selectively oxidize the surfaces of finely-ground coal particles to achieve selective flotation separation of fossil resin from coal. This technology was invented based on the discovery that the native difference in hydrophobicity between the fossil resin and coal as measured by contact angle and bubble attachment time is small. Because of this fact, some of the coal particles in suspension always attach to air bubbles during the flotation of fossil resin, causing a poor separation efficiency. By selective oxidation with ozone, coal particles become extremely hydrophilic and will not attach to air bubbles during flotation while the natural hydrophobicity of fossil resin can be retained by proper control of ozone dosage and oxidation time. In this way, excellent flotation separations can be achieved with a flotation product containing as much as 95% resin at a recovery of 70-80%. However, environmental concerns, health/safety issues and cost associated with grinding have limited the adoption of this technology by the coal industry.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,373 teaches the importance of raising the suspension pH into the alkaline region so that the natural resin/coal particle aggregates in suspension can be effectively dispersed and the selective flotation of fossil resin can be achieved. This innovation was based on the discovery that fine coal particles tend to aggregate at the surfaces of fossil resin particles. Under these circumstances, the selective flotation of fossil resin from coal can be improved by any method which can effectively disperse the resin/coal particle aggregates and still maintain a suitable difference in hydrophobicity between the resin and coal particles. Although this pH control procedure results in a lower grade fossil concentrate than that given by selective ozone oxidation, it is expected to be most useful for industry in view of its simplicity, effectiveness and economy.
Nevertheless, the pH control technology, U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,373, which teaches how to achieve suitable dispersion for flotation of fossil resin from coal, is only one of the necessary conditions for selective flotation. In order to achieve selective flotation, another condition must be satisfied, namely the control of particle hydrophobicity. With conventional prior art reagents (frothers) some of the coal particles in the suspension are hydrophobic and tend to float together with resin particles. In this regard, necessary control has to be taken to minimize the flotation of coal particles in order to achieve the desired resin grade in the froth concentrate.
In view of the fact that a viable fossil resin industry has yet to be established, it is clear that improved separation technologies are needed for the more efficient recovery and separation of fossil resin from coal.

Surface chemistry control for selective fossil resin flotation


A device and a method for determining the position of a gear shift element 1 in a claw clutch operated automated gear box of a vehicle. The gear shift element 1 has gear teeth that correspond to at least two gear wheels 5, 8 which have a different axial extension on both sides of a groove 9. The position of the gear shift element 1 can be determined by way of the method according to the invention.

Electric motors which drive mechanical shifting devices are generally used in known adjusting devices of gear shift elements in claw clutch operated automated gear boxes of vehicles. The mechanical shifting devices usually convert the rotary motion of the electric motor into a translatory motion. The gear shift elements, such as gear shift sleeves, are moved by the mechanical shifting devices. A spindle, for example, can serve as a mechanical shifting device.
A control device is responsible for controlling shifting of the gear shift element.
It is necessary for the control device to know the exact position of the shifting device and, consequently the position of the gear shift element, before shifting the gear shift element.
There are several possibilities for detecting the position of the shifting device. One possibility is to measure the translation of the shifting device absolutely via a travel sensor. However, these sensors are expensive and require a relatively large installation space. A further possibility is to equip the electric motors with known sensors to measure the direction of rotation and the engine speed. In order to enable an exact determination of the position of the shifting device, these are customarily combined with reference sensors. A reference point is selected therein in a first step and the position of the shifting device is calculated based on a movement starting from this reference point. Selection of the reference point is necessary therein, since the memory, in which the position is stored, is usually non-permanent and, in addition, the position of the gear shift element can change due to the vibration of the vehicle.
For this reason, it is the object of the invention to enable a more economical method and device for detecting the position of gear shift elements in claw clutch operated automated gear boxes.


A novel Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 series glass-ceramics for magnetic disc substrate use, which can prevent deformation of the substrate at a large temperature change and provide a strong, small and compact magnetic disc substrate without trouble and much reading and/or writing informations on the smoothened surface of the substrate, is provided. The glass-ceramics has a main crystal phase of lithium disilicate (Li.sub.2 O.2SiO.sub.2) phase, the peak intensity I of cristobalite phase (CRI) of at least 20 but not more than 50 when the peak intensity of I of lithium disilicate (L2S) phase measured by an X-ray diffraction analysis is taken as 100, and containing 1.0-3.0 parts by weight of Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 1.0-3.0 parts by weight of MnO when the sum of metal oxides other than Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 and MnO is taken as 100 parts by weight.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a glass-ceramics for magnetic disc substrates, a magnetic disc substrate and a magnetic disc.
2. Related Art Statement
Recently, a magnetic disc substrate made of glass is practically used in a part of the field of technology. An especially high strength is requested for a magnetic disc substrate for HDD use. Meanwhile, a glass has usually so low strength that it has not a sufficient reliability as a magnetic disc substrate for HDD use. Thus, a tempered glass, such as a chemically tempered glass or a glass ceramics, etc. has to be used. However, if a chemically tempered glass, such as a soda-lime glass, etc. is used as a material for a magnetic disc substrate, alkali metal ions contained in the substrate are likely dissolved out to corrode the magnetic film of the magnetic disc.
Therefore, the inventor has made studies on using a glass-ceramics instead of the chemically tempered glass, as the material for magnetic disc substrate. In a glass-ceramics, almost all the alkali metal ions contained in the glass are existent in the crystal phase of the glass, and only minor amounts of the alkali metal ions are existent in the glass matrix, hence there arises no problem that the alkali metal components constituting the glass ceramics are dissolved out to corrode the magnetic film of the magnetic disc.
Meanwhile, because the chemically tempered glass is wholly composed of an amorphous phase, the surface of the glass can be polished to a center line average surface roughness (Ra) of around 6 .ANG., if the surface of the glass is subjected to a polishing treatment in order to use the glass as the magnetic disc substrate. To the contrary, the glass-ceramics has a crystal phase and an amorphous phase which have different hardness from each other. Thus, even after subjected to the polishing treatment, the glass-ceramics has unavoidably minute undulations between the crystal phase and the amorphous phase. As a result, it was difficult to suppress the center line average surface roughness (Ra) of the polished surface to 20 .ANG. or less.
In order to solve the disadvantageous problem, the inventor made many studies leading to the present invention to find out that the center line average surface roughness (Ra) of the polished surface after the precise polishing treatment can be reduced to a level of 20 .ANG. or less, if a specific Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 series glass-ceramics is used, and concretely disclosed a magnetic disc substrate using the glass-ceramics in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 7-174,895.
Even after the disclosure of the finding, there is an increasing demand for recording a large volume of informations, particularly image informations, in a more compact magnetic disc, accompanying with the development of multi-media communication, and a more improved recording density of the magnetic disc has been earnestly desired. As a result, particularly in the reading/writing zone of the magnetic disc, a decreased center line average surface roughness (Ra) of an extent of 10 .ANG. or less has been eagerly desired. Such a desire is extremely difficult to achieve in the magnetic disc substrate consisting of the Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 series glass-ceramics. Though the center line average surface roughness (Ra) of an extent of 10 .ANG. or less of the polished surface of the magnetic disc substrate after the precise polishing treatment may be achieved for a non-glass-ceramics or a glass-ceramics of a low crystallization percentage, the strengths of such glasses are relatively low to incur several disadvantages.
For a glass for use as a magnetic disc substrate, there is also a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion of (80-100).times.10.sup.-7 /k, preferably (85-90).times.10.sup.-7 /k, at 100.degree.-300.degree. C., which is now used as a practical standard material. This is because the drive shaft that supports the magnetic disc substrate is made of SUS of a coefficient of thermal expansion of (80-100).times.10.sup.-7 /k at 100.degree.-300.degree. C. and may cause deformation of the substrate to incur troubles at the time of recording and/or reproducing, if the coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate greatly differs from that of the drive shaft. Thus, in designing a composition of such a glass, an attention should essentially be paid that the glass may have the coefficient of thermal expansion within the above range.
Also, in the Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 series glass-ceramics for magnetic disc substrate use, there is a problem in that a glass can hardly be obtained having a significantly decreased center line average surface roughness (Ra) after a precise polishing treatment of the surface and which is capable of controlling the coefficient of thermal expansion within the range of (80-100).times.10.sup.-7 /k at 100.degree.-300.degree. C., while maintaining a desired strength.
The inventor has made many studies and experiments on the Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 series glass-ceramics but could hardly solve the above problem for several years. For instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 329,440/94 discloses a method of controlling the surface roughness of the Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 series glass-ceramics, but the method could not decrease the center line average surface roughness (Ra) to a level of 10 .ANG. or less after a precise polishing treatment of the surface.
Also, the inventor disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 174,895/95 (now, published as Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 35,234/97) a Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 series glass-ceramics having a specific composition. However, even in this glass-ceramics, a glass can hardly be obtained having a significantly decreased center line average surface roughness (Ra) of a level of 10 .ANG. or less, particularly 8 .ANG. or less, after a precise polishing treatment of the surface, while simultaneously controlling the coefficient of thermal expansion within the range of (80-100).times.10.sup.-7 /k at 100.degree.-300.degree. C.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 series glass-ceramics for magnetic disc substrate use having a significantly decreased center line average surface roughness (Ra) after a precise polishing treatment of the surface and which is capable of controlling the coefficient of thermal expansion within the range of (80-100).times.10.sup.-7 /k at 100.degree.-300.degree. C., while maintaining a desired strength.

Glass-ceramics for magnetic disc substrate, magnetic disc substrate and magnetic disc


A fast turn on compensation system for a synthesized signal source includes a synthesized signal source coupled to a power supply and configured to generate a phase stable radio frequency (RF) output signal. A mute amplifier is coupled to the synthesized signal source and the power supply. A dummy amplifier is coupled to the mute amplifier and the power supply. A mute controller is coupled to the mute amplifier and the dummy amplifier, the mute controller is responsive to an enable signal and configured to enable the dummy amplifier and disable the mute amplifier when no RF output signal is being generated and disable the dummy amplifier and enable the mute amplifier when the RF output signal is being generated such that total power supply current delivered to the synthesized signal source and the dummy amplifier or mute amplifier is approximately constant before, during, and after enabling the mute amplifier to reduce phase disturbance of the RF output signals.

A synthesized signal source, e.g., a phase lock loop (PLL), a phase locked voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) or similar type device, is often coupled to an output buffer or mute amplifier. The output buffer or mute amplifier turns the RF (Radio Frequency) output signal from the synthesized signal source on and off, isolates the output from the input, and provides RF output power as required by systems attached to it.
It is often desirable to be able to quickly turn on or turn off the synthesized signal source output. This is often necessary for Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems requiring blanking between communication intervals (packets), such as in the GSM system. It is often desirable to have a near zero phase disturbance at turn on, e.g., less than about 5° of phase variation on the output signal phase, e.g., within about 5 μsec after turn on.
When the mute amplifier is enabled, it draws current from the power supply which disturbs the locked voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) of the synthesized signal source. This causes a disturbance in the synthesized signal source phase, which may jump at the turn on instant and decay slowly back to some final phase.
Often the VCO and mute amplifier are located in close proximity to each other on an integrated circuit chip. Isolation of the VCO and mute amplifier is difficult in small integrated circuits or with large discrete VCOs. Additionally, high quality VCO's may have narrow loop bandwidths, which have long settling times if disturbed. Such a design may result in electromagnetic coupling of the RF field created by the VCO and the RF field created by the mute amplifier. Such RF field coupling may create a phase disturbance or "wobble" and often results in a transient phase that moves slowly to a new steady state phase, which is typically at a different phase from the phase before the enable, known as phase disturbance.
When the mute amplifier is enabled, its impedance changes. This changes the impedance seen by the VCO which also creates a phase disturbance.
Many attempts have been made at designing PLL loop filters of the synthesized signal source that widen dynamically to allow for fast settling, then when settled, the loop filter is modified a second time, in some way to narrow the loop bandwidth for the needed slow response time in steady state operation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,438,703, 5,900,785, 6,766,154, 7,129,791, and 8,044,734, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. However, such circuits suffer from the problem that when the loop bandwidth is changed from fast to slow, the final phase offset is altered and the result is a phase transient that causes a long undesired settling time.

Fast turn on system for a synthesized source signal


The memory mat is divided in two banks, which share the sense & latch circuit. As an example of the circuit operation, the information contained in the memory cells in a block of four bit lines BL11a-BL14a connected to a word line WL1a in the memory array MAa of the bank A is temporarily stored in the sense & latch circuits SL11-SL14. The information of bit lines is latched to the sense & latch circuit SLa through the sub-input/output signal lines IO1a and IO2a by the switches YS1a and YS2a that alternately operates at a cycle two times that of the external clock. The latched information is then output onto the input/output signal line IOa by the switch SWa in synchronism with the clock. After the four bit lines BL11a-SB14a have been read out, the sense & latch circuits SL11-S114 in that block are reset and the bit lines on the bank B are precharged while the information on the bank A is being output. After the reading on the bank A is finished, the word line on the bank B is raised to a high level to execute the read operation in the similar manner. In this way, the word lines on the two banks are alternately raised to the high level for continuous and alternate reading. This configuration provides a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device which allows high-speed block reading.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, and, more particularly, to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device that can increase the speed of bulk read operations and reduce bit-line pitches for the purpose of increasing the memory capacity.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional nonvolatile semiconductor memory device of this kind, such as flash memory, is described in the 1994 Symposium on VLSI Circuits Digest of Technical Papers, pp.61-62. The operations of this conventional flash memory--(1) read, (2) write and (3) erase--are described by referring to FIG. 9 of the present specification.
FIG. 9 shows an essential circuit of one memory cell connected to a word line and a bit line. In the figure, reference symbol MC represents a memory cell having a floating gate, and 10-17 represent N-channel MOS transistors that perform switching operations (hereinafter referred to simply as NMOS switches). In the following description, each NMOS switch is called by the reference name of a signal line that is connected to its gate for control.
(1) Read Operation
The read operation is performed by checking the current flowing through the memory cell MC to determine whether the memory cell MC is in the "1" or "0" state. In FIG. 9, the voltages of a signal line PRC and a signal line TR are held high to turn on NMOS switches 13, 15 and precharge a bit line BL and a sense & latch circuit SL to a voltage of a common source line VSA, after which the voltages of the signal line PRC and the signal line TR are lowered to turn off the NMOS switches 13, 15.
Next, a word line WL is supplied with a power supply voltage Vcc (not shown) and then three signal lines ST1, ST2 and TR are held high in voltage to turn on the corresponding NMOS switches 10, 11 and 15 to store a voltage change in the bit line BL corresponding to the cell information temporarily in the sense & latch circuit SL provided for each bit line.
Then, an NMOS switch 17 provided on each bit line BL is turned on by a line SW to output the information held in the memory cell MC onto the line 10.
(2) Write Operation
The write operation is performed as follows. First, information "1" or "0" is fed from the line IO through the NMOS switch SW to the sense & latch circuit SL where it is held. When "1" is held in the sense & latch circuit SL, because the NMOS switch 16 is on, the turning on of the NMOS switch PG causes the bit line BL to be precharged to 4 V, the voltage of the common source line VSA. When "0" is held in the sense & latch circuit SL, the NMOS switch 16 remains turned off and the bit line BL is not precharged.
Next, the voltage of the word line WL is set to -9 V and the NMOS switches TR and ST2 are turned on. At this time, the voltage of the bit line connected to the sense & latch circuit SL where information "1" is held is precharged to 4 V, whereas the voltage of the bit line connected to the sense & latch circuit SL where information "0" is held is not precharged and remains 0 V. Hence, the memory cell MC, which is connected to the sense & latch circuit SL where the write information "1" is held, is written with information "1."
Then, an NMOS switch DDC is turned on to connect the bit line BL to a common source V2 to discharge the bit line BL. The bit line BL connected to the sense & latch circuit SL is again precharged by turning on the NMOS switch PG according to whether the information held in the sense & latch circuit SL is "1" or "0". When the information held in the sense & latch circuit SL is "1," the NMOS switch 16 is on, so that the bit line BL is precharged to 1 V again by setting the voltage of a common source VSA to 1 V. When information held is "0," the NMOS switch 16 remains turned off leaving the bit line BL unprecharged.
Next, a verify operation is performed to check if the write operation has been successfully completed. The verify operation sets the voltage of the word line WL to 1.5 V and turns on NMOS switches ST1, ST2 and then NMOS switch TR. When the sense & latch circuit SL holds information "1" and the threshold of the written memory cell MC is lower than 1.5 V, the memory cell MC is turned on by the word line voltage of 1.5 V to lower the voltage of the bit line BL, causing the information "1" held in the sense & latch circuit SL to change to "0." This is taken as a verification that the information was written into the memory cell MC, thus terminating the write operation on the memory cell MC. If, after the write operation, the threshold of the memory cell MC is found to be equal to or greater than 1.5 V, the information "1" held in the sense & latch circuit SL remains as is. This causes the write and verify operations on the memory cell MC to be repeated until the threshold of the memory cell MC becomes lower than 1.5 V and the information held in the sense & latch circuit SL changes from "1" to "0."
(3) Erase Operation
The erase operation is performed one word line at a time. The voltage of the word line WL is set at 12 V, the substrate (not shown) is applied with 4 V, the signal line ST1 for NMOS switch 10 is set to the power supply voltage Vcc, the common source line V1 connected to the source of the NMOS switch 10 is set to -4 V, the gate voltages of the NMOS switches DDC, ST2 are set to 0 V, and the voltage of the common source line V2 connected to the source of the NMOS switch DDC is set to 0 V. This operation causes the bit line BL to float, thus performing the erase operation.
In FIG. 9, a signal line SET is used to turn on or off an NMOS switch 18 that drives the sense & latch circuit SL.
Further, the conventional flash memories have yet to employ a DC-based correction measure for flaws caused by shorting of bit lines.
The above-mentioned conventional flash memory has a configuration whereby the read operation is performed one word line at a time, i.e., after one word line has been read out, the sense & latch circuit is reset to discharge the bit line and the sense circuit and then the bit line and the sense & latch circuit are precharged again before the next word line is selected for reading. This operation is repeated for all word lines successively to read the contents of the memory, so that as the memory capacity increases the time taken for precharging and discharging increases, making it more difficult to perform the read operation at high speed.
In the configuration in which a sense & latch circuit is provided for each bit line, as in the conventional flash memory, there is a problem that while the miniaturization of memory cells for increased memory capacity reduces the layout interval of bit lines, the sense & latch circuits cannot be reduced in size by as much as are the pitches of the bit lines.
Further, although a DC-based flaw correction measure needs to be prepared to deal with defects that are caused by shortcircuiting between reduced-interval bit lines as the miniaturization of memory cells progresses, the conventional flash memories have yet to use such a correction measure.
It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, which allows fast reading of a large-capacity memory and which can easily accommodate a DC-based flaw correction measure designed to correct defects such as caused by shortcircuits between bit lines whose intervals have decreased with miniaturization of memory cells.
Another object of this invention is to provide a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, which can reduce the pitches of the sense & latch circuits to miniaturize memory cells for increased capacity of memory and can easily accommodate a DC-based flaw correction measure designed to repair defects such as caused by shortcircuits between bit lines whose intervals have decreased with miniaturization of memory cells.


An ink cartridge having an ink chamber including a wall, an outlet port extending from the wall, an outlet passage through the port and communicating with said chamber and an ink absorbing member in the chamber, is provided with a filter member of sintered plastic material between the ink absorbent member and the passage and a wick member of sintered plastic material in the passage. The wick member has a downstream end in the outlet passage and a printer needle passage extends into the wick member from the downstream end thereof.

This invention relates to the art of ink jet cartridges used in ink jet printers and, more particularly, to an improved filter member and/or wick member associated with the outlet passage of an ink chamber of an ink jet cartridge.
It is generally known in the art to form a cartridge housing or body having one or more chambers that hold a predetermined supply of ink and from at least one of which chambers there is an outlet port including an outlet passage which receives a supply needle from an associated printer for conveying ink from the housing to a recording head or the like. It is also generally known to provide an ink absorbing member such as a body of reticulated polyethylene or melamine foam within the housing. In some arrangements, the cartridge housing is divided into multiple chambers, one of which receives the body of ink absorbing material and the other which receives free ink which migrates from its chamber into the ink absorbing material through an opening providing communication between the two chambers. The ink absorbing material controls the flow of ink as it migrates toward the outlet port.
It is generally known too, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,401 to Mochizuki, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,477 to Putman, et al. to cover the inlet end of the outlet passage through the outlet port with a filter member in the form of a plate attached to the bottom wall of the ink chamber such as by heat bonding. Heretofore, such a filter member has been of a high polymer or anti-corrosive metal including, for example, woven nylon screen material and woven stainless steel mesh preferably having a pore size of about 1-25 microns. The filter member is interposed between the outlet passage and ink absorbing member to prevent the entrance of air bubbles, contaminants, and the like from the cartridge.
It is also known as shown, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,239 to Kotaki, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,660 to Kishida, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,663 to Koshikawa, et al. to provide the outlet passage between the entrance and exit ends thereof with a wick member in the form of a body of fibrous material or bundled fibers of a fibrous material such as polyester, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, cellulose, polyurethane, or the like. Other fiber material, such as metallic fiber, glass fiber and carbon fiber can also be used alone or in mixtures with the previously mentioned materials.
While the filter screen and filter materials heretofore used provide the intended filtering functions, the fibers in the woven nylon material appear to swell when used with water based inks, thus losing or reducing the intended flow characteristics. Furthermore, the stainless steel material has to be passivated in order to remove iron from the surface of the mesh, thus to expose more of the chromium and preclude rusting or corrosion of the mesh. While the stainless steel thus treated is acceptable, the passivating process is time-consuming and expensive.