A scalable and fully configurable computing architecture for a mobile multimedia architecture used in a vehicle includes a head unit having a processor, a field programmable gate array and a memory. The processor and the memory are configured to communicate over a first bus that is a dedicated memory bus, and the processor and the field programmable gate array are configured to communicate over a separate second bus. The field programmable gate array is configured to be loaded from memory with part of a multimedia vehicle-related application-specific functionality that is executable by the field programmable gate array, and the processor is cooperatively operable with the field programmable gate array to execute another portion of the multimedia vehicle-related application-specific functionality. The multimedia vehicle-related application-specific functionality in the field programmable gate array may be changed with software and downloaded to the field programmable gate array in the field. In addition, due to the first and second busses being recognized industry standard busses, any of the processor, the field programmable gate array and the memory are fully scaleable and configurable.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to mobile multimedia systems used in vehicles and in particular, to a computing architecture for such system.
2. Related Art
Multimedia navigation systems have recently found a high use and demand as they conveniently combine telematic, navigation and entertainment functions for the driver and other passengers of vehicles. In present systems, customer requirements are satisfied by providing a hardware platform for realizing various functions and components, such as a radio, a compact disc (CD) or a digital video/versatile disc (DVD) player, a telematics module, a navigation unit, a television (TV) and/or an audio receiver. Enhanced systems provide professional sound combined with speech dialogue systems or other user interfaces to control the individual components and functions of the multimedia navigation system itself or other car body functions like climate control. In general, these systems may also include a data network comprised of a plurality of interconnected processors, sensors and databases to realize various vehicle operations, such as cruise control, automated mayday and obstacle/collision warning systems, among others.
Typically, such systems are custom built for vehicles by interfacing the individual products of many different manufacturers. Accordingly, once the requirements for a particular system are established, hardware and software must be located and procured to fulfill the requirements. In addition, compatibility and functionality issues among the various hardware and software components must be addressed to make the system fully functional. As such, the building of such a system requires significant system specific engineering and/or customization. Due to wide variations in requirements and ever changing improvements in hardware and software, such vehicle-specific highly customized systems are difficult to change or upgrade, and may not be applicable to the requirements of a different vehicle. Accordingly, each customized system requires similarly intensive and relatively inefficient design and engineering efforts to design and/or upgrade the system.

Scalable and configurable multimedia system for a vehicle


A micro-LED display device and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The method comprises: forming micro-LEDs (202) on a carrier substrate (201), wherein the carrier substrate (201) is transparent for a laser which is used in laser lifting-off; filling trenches between the micro-LEDs (202) on the carrier substrate (201) with a holding material (209); performing a laser lifting-off on selected ones of the micro-LEDs (202) to lift off them from the carrier substrate (201), wherein the selected micro-LEDs (202) are held on the carrier substrate (201) through the holding material (209); bonding the selected micro-LEDs (202) onto a receiving substrate (207) of the micro-LED display device; separating the selected micro-LEDs (202) from the carrier substrate (201) to transfer them to the receiving substrate (207).

The micro-LED technology refers to the LED array of small size integrated on a substrate with high density. As the development of micro-LED technology, it is expected in the industry that a high-quality micro-LED product would come into the market. High quality micro-LED will have a deep impact on the conventional display products such as LCD/OLED that have already been in the market.
In the process of manufacturing micro-LEDs, a micro-LED array is first formed on a carrier substrate. The carrier substrate can be a growth substrate or an intermediate substrate. Then, the micro-LED array is transferred to a receiving substrate of a display device. The receiving substrate can be a display screen or display panel, etc. The display device can be used in an electronic apparatus, such as a micro-display in an argument reality device or a virtual reality device, a watch, a mobile phone a television and so on.
In the prior art, the micro-LED array can be transferred from one substrate to another substrate through laser lifting-off (LLO). FIG. 1 shows a prior art transfer process of micro-LED from a carrier substrate to a receiving substrate of a display device through laser lifting-off.
As shown in FIG. 1, micro-LEDs 102 are formed on a carrier substrate 101. The micro-LEDs 102 may have P-metal on top. For example, the carrier substrate 101 can be a sapphire substrate. Generally, blue or green micro-LEDs can grow on the sapphire substrate 101, and red micro-LEDs can be transferred from a GaAs substrate to the sapphire substrate 101. In this case, the laser for lifting-off may have wavelength around 248 nm. Optionally, the carrier substrate 101 can be a GaAs substrate, and red micro-LEDs can grow on it. In this situation, the laser for lifting-off may have wavelength around 1064 nm.
The micro-LEDs 102 are bonded on a receiving substrate 107 via micro-bumps 103. The micro-bumps 103 are placed on electrodes 104, such as anodes on top of a TFT circuitry layer 106. For example, the TFT circuitry layer 106 is covered by a polymide layer 105 to protect the TFT circuit. The micro-bumps 103 are separated by the polyimide layer 105.
Laser 108 is irradiated on the selected micro-LEDs 102 from the side of the carrier substrate 101 to perform a laser lifting-off.
As shown in FIG. 1, the inventors have found that there is a risk of crack 109 in the micro-LEDs 102 under laser lifting-off. The crack of a micro-LED is related to the inhomogeneous strain distribution on the micro-LED during the laser lifting-off. The inhomogeneous strain on micro-LED may be ascribed to the rough surface of a receiving substrate of a display device, the misalignment between the micro-LED substrate and the micro-bumps on the receiving substrate and so on. The crack will cause a yield loss at transfer.
Therefore, there is a demand in the art that a new solution for transferring micro-LEDs during manufacturing a micro-LED display device shall be proposed to address at least one of the problems in the prior art.

Micro-LED display device and a manufacturing method thereof


The present invention relates to a process for the production of yellow, highly transparent iron oxide pigments of elevated chemical purity, to yellow iron oxide pigments obtainable in this manner and to the use thereof to color lacquers and plastics.

Iron oxide pigments having an average particle size of less than 0.1 .mu.m are described as transparent iron oxide pigments as they transmit visible light. As an alternative to the particle size, the specific surface area is often used as a measure of the size of the particles. In particular in the case of acicular particles, this measure avoids stating particle sizes in various dimensions. In this manner, powders having BET specific surface areas of over 80 m.sup.2 /g may be described as transparent. Highly transparent pigments are those having specific surface areas of at least 100 m.sup.2 /g.
Transparent iron oxide pigments are principally used in the production of automotive effect lacquers, wood varnishes and for colouring transparent plastics.
Transparent yellow iron oxide pigments are generally synthesised by precipitation of iron(II) hydroxides or carbonates in an acidic or alkaline pH range and subsequent oxidation to Fe(III) oxidehydroxides. The precipitation of yellow .alpha.-FeOOH in an alkaline pH range is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,558,303 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,558,304.
While production with an alkali excess does indeed give rise to products which are low in salt and are thus more readily dispersible, it does, however, have the disadvantage that many other hydroxides of metal ions, which are present as impurities in iron salt solutions used industrially, are coprecipitated in addition to the iron hydroxides. The precipitation of Mn impurities may in particular be cited. These impurities cause dirty, greenish hues in the yellow pigments and brownish hues in the red pigments obtained from the yellow pigments by calcination. Moreover, depending upon the particular raw material, the total content of metallic impurities may be so high that these pigments may no longer be used, for example, in plastic packaging for foodstuffs.
The production of .alpha.-FeOOH pigments in an acidic pH range has the advantage that the precipitation of foreign metal impurities is avoided, but, on the other hand, has the disadvantage that, even after vigorous washing, the pigments are still heavily contaminated with anions. Since production is generally performed on the basis of iron sulphate solutions, sulphate impurities may in particular be cited. This leads, both in the yellow pigments and the red pigments obtained therefrom by calcination, to impaired dispersibility and thus, with the same dispersion energy input, to poorer transparency in comparison with pigments produced under alkaline conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,415 describes a process for the removal of soluble metal cations from iron oxide pigments. In this process, transparent yellow iron oxide pigments produced using an acidic precipitation process are washed with a solution containing a ligand compound, wherein the conductivity of the pigment is very low after treatment. This process cannot, however, remove metal impurities which are firmly incorporated into the pigment, which occur, for example, when the pigments are produced using alkaline precipitation processes. Ammonia is cited as a ligand compound, in addition to many other compounds. The described post-treatment of pigments with ammonia does, however, have various disadvantages. Thus, for example, on toxicity grounds it is hardly possible to wash filter cakes with ammonia on a large industrial scale. Moreover, when filter cakes are washed on a large industrial scale, it cannot be ensured that the entire product cross-section comes into contact with a sufficient quantity of and for a sufficient time with the ligand compound, such that uniform product quality cannot be achieved.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,415 furthermore describes pretreatment of yellow pigments produced under acidic conditions before washing with the ligand compounds as described above, by adding NaOH to the production suspension with simultaneous oxidation. This alkalisation of the production slurry does, however, have the disadvantage that many metallic impurities still contained in the suspension from the raw material are still coprecipitated, in a similar manner as in the precipitation process in an alkaline pH range.

Highly transparent, yellow iron oxide pigments, process for the production thereof and use thereof


A device includes a communication interface and one or more processors. The communication interface may receive a playlist that lists segments of a content stream in an order the segments are to be recombined, receive advertisement information that describes an advertisement, receive a breakpoint, and send a revised playlist to a remote server. The one or more processors may generate the revised playlist based on the playlist, the advertisement information, and the breakpoint. The revised playlist may include references to the segments and the advertisements.

Many of today's entertainment or communication-related electronic devices rely on receiving, transmitting, and/or using streaming digital data or content. For example, a set-top box may receive broadcast television programs and/or video-on-demand (VOD) that is streamed from a content provider. A personal computer may receive a stream of a video clip over the Internet. A soft phone may receive streaming audio data over a real-time transport protocol (RTP) link/channel that is established over an Internet Protocol (IP) network.
Advertisers can take advantage of the ease with which such digital data or content can be streamed to consumers by piggy-backing advertisements on the content or by splicing the advertisements and the content. Advertisements can be inserted into a video stream based on signals or cues that are associated with advertisement breaks within the video stream.


An imaging apparatus includes an optical system, plural types of color filters, an imaging device including a plurality of pixels each receiving a light incident to the imaging apparatus through a predetermined type of color filter and being operable to generate image data with the plurality of pixels from the image formed by the optical system, a light information acquiring section operable to acquire information on the incident light, and a correction processing section operable to convert a position of a pixel of the image data formed by the pixels, according to at least type of the color filter provided for the pixel and the information on the incident light acquired by the light information acquiring section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a digital still camera, and more particularly to image data correcting technique relating to chromatic aberration.
2. Related Art
In recent years, a remarkable development has been made in the digital imaging apparatus such as a digital still camera, and a model of a high number of pixels that attains light weight and small size has been rapidly spread. Along with this, a small-sized and thin-shaped lens is also required and developed in an optical system such as a digital still camera.
However, when reduction in size and reduction in thickness progresses in this way, it becomes difficult to adequately maintain various kinds of basic optical performance such as aberration and resolution. Particularly, an influence of the chromatic aberration generated by dispersion characteristics of an optical material of a lens itself poses a large problem in maintaining the optical performance.
The chromatic aberration means, as shown in FIG. 12A, a phenomenon in that image height h on the imaging device 1202 which is a distance from an optical axis 1203 diffuses in a definite range R by dispersion of a white color light 1204 due to a difference in refractive index to a wavelength of light. For an actual subject, it is frequently recognized as a phenomenon that a boundary between dark part and light part of an image on an imaging plane blurs into rainbow color.
FIG. 12B is a view of the imaging device 1202 viewed along a direction of the optical axis 1203. An image height "h" shows the distance from the optical axis 1203 which is a center of the imaging device. Normally, the image height at a position of the optical axis 1203 is defined as 0, and the image height at a position of any one of the vertex of the imaging device 1202 is defined as 1.
Further, as a pixel size of the imaging device becomes smaller as pixel density is increased in the imaging device, the influence of the chromatic aberration per each pixel becomes remarkable. Therefore, correcting the chromatic aberration is a technique indispensable for reducing the size and thickness of the optical system.
As a conventional correcting means of the chromatic aberration, there is an example for storing previously chromatic aberration characteristic data of the optical system and correcting a position of a pixel corresponding to each color of a color filter of the imaging device in accordance with information such as a focal point distance of the optical system. For example, a digital camera disclosed in JP-A-2002-199410 can correct image deterioration in image data caused by the chromatic aberration and a distortion aberration of the optical system, based on chromatic aberration characteristics and distortion aberration characteristics of the optical system stored in a built-in memory.
An output data of the pixel corresponding to each color of the color filter of the imaging device is changed by an ambient light source. Therefore amount of chromatic aberration is not always a fixed value. In daily life, the ambient light source is largely changed from an incandescent bulb to blue sky of clear day, and therefore the chromatic aberration changing amount is also large. Particularly, there is a tendency that the chromatic aberration changing amount becomes large in a range from blue color to ultraviolet. When using a relatively inexpensive small-sized optical system having not so high optical performance, such an optical system suffers largely from the influence of the chromatic aberration.
Therefore, when correcting the image data with only chromatic aberration characteristics of the optical system determined under a certain condition as prior art, changing amount of the chromatic aberration according to the difference of the ambient light source can not be recognized. Thus there is a problem in which deficient or excessive correction of the chromatic aberration may occur depending on the ambient light source on taking an image. Particularly, in a case of the excessive correction, there is a problem of causing an unnecessary deterioration of an image quality such as deterioration of resolution and contrast in peripheral areas of the image.
The present invention is provided to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of reducing an image quality deterioration due to the chromatic aberration and its correction, by properly correcting the image data in accordance with changing amount of the chromatic aberration generated from the difference of the ambient light source, even when the relatively inexpensive small-sized optical system having not so high optical performance is used.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an image data correction method which is effective to processing of image data generated by the imaging device, so-called RAW data, using other information processor such as a personal computer.

Imaging apparatus and image data correcting method


A deposition mask is used to pattern a thin film 3 on a substrate 10 by depositing deposition particles through a plurality of openings K having a stripe pattern. The deposition mask includes a frame 65; a plurality of mask layers 70 provided in the frame so as to overlap each other; and a support layer 71 provided between the mask layers 70. Each of the mask layers 70 is formed by arranging a plurality of mask wires 72 in a stripe pattern in a tensioned state, and the support layer 71 is formed by arranging a plurality of support wires 74 in a tensioned state so as to cross the mask wires 72. A plurality of gaps 73 in each of the plurality of mask layers 70 overlap each other to form a plurality of through gaps 73a that linearly extend through all of the plurality of mask layers 70. The openings K are formed by the through gaps 73a.

In recent years, a larger size, higher image quality, and lower power consumption have been required for flat panel displays, and high image quality organic EL displays capable of being driven at a low voltage have received considerable attention. The organic EL displays have the following structure. For example, in full color active matrix organic EL displays, thin film-like organic EL elements are provided on a substrate having thin film transistors (TFTs) thereon. In the organic EL element, organic EL layers including red (R), green (G), and blue (B) light-emitting layers are stacked between a pair of electrodes, and each light-emitting layer emits light in response to a voltage applied between the electrodes. This light is used to display an image.
In manufacture of such organic EL displays, thin films such as light-emitting layers and electrodes are patterned by using a technique such as a vacuum deposition method, an ink jet method, or a laser transfer method. For example, in low molecular organic EL displays (organic light-emitting diodes (OLED)), the vacuum deposition method is mainly used to pattern the light-emitting layers.
In the vacuum deposition method, a mask having a predetermined opening patterned therethrough is normally fixed to a substrate in close contact therewith, and is placed in a vacuum chamber so that the mask side of the substrate faces a deposition source. Then, a film-forming material is deposited from the deposition source to a desired position on the substrate through the opening of the mask. A thin film such as the light-emitting layers is patterned in this manner. The light-emitting layer of each color is separately deposited color by color (separate deposition). In particular, a mass production process uses a mask (a full contact shadow mask) having the same size as the substrate, and the substrate having the mask in close contact therewith is typically fixed at a predetermined position with respect to the deposition source when performing deposition.
A vacuum deposition method is also known, in which deposition is performed while relatively moving a substrate etc. with respect to a deposition source (Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, a mask is used in which a plurality of small holes or long slit holes having a smaller area than an electrode to be formed are formed at predetermined intervals. Deposition is performed while moving the mask in a direction crossing the direction in which the small holes etc. are arranged, whereby the electrode having a predetermined pattern is formed.
Regarding the present invention, a deposition mask is disclosed which is formed by using fibers (Patent Document 2). Specifically, resin single fibers are provided in a stripe pattern in an opening portion of a rectangular frame. Each resin single fiber is formed by a single large-diameter single fiber and two small-diameter single fibers. The two small-diameter single fibers are bonded to the frame at a pitch smaller than the diameter of the large-diameter single fiber. The large-diameter single fiber is placed between the two small-diameter single fibers and bonded to the frame.

Deposition mask, deposition apparatus, and deposition method


A valve prosthesis device is disclosed suitable for implantation in body ducts. The device comprises support stent, comprised of a deployable construction adapted to be initially crimped in a narrow configuration suitable for catheterization through the body duct to a target location and adapted to be deployed by exerting substantially radial forces from within by means of a deployment device to a deployed state in the target location, the support stent provided with a plurality of longitudinally rigid support beams of fixed length; valve assembly comprising a flexible conduit having an inlet end and an outlet, made of pliant material attached to the support beams providing collapsible slack portions of the conduit at the outlet. When flow is allowed to pass through the valve prosthesis device from the inlet to the outlet the valve assembly is kept in an open position, whereas a reverse flow is prevented as the collapsible slack portions of the valve assembly collapse inwardly providing blockage to the reverse flow.

There are several known prosthesis valves that have been previously described. U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,552 (Andersen et al.), entitled VALVE PROSTHESIS FOR IMPLANTATION IN THE BODY AND CATHETER FOR IMPLANTING SUCH VALVE PROSTHESIS, discloses a valve prosthesis comprising a stent made from an expandable cylinder-shaped thread structure comprising several spaced apices. The elastically collapsible valve is mounted on the stent with the commissural points of the valve secured to the projecting apices, which prevents the valve from turning inside out. Deployment of the valve can be achieved by using an inflatable balloon which in its deflated state is used to carry about it the valve structure to its position and, when inflated, deploys the stent in position to its final size. See, also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,614 (Andersen et al.) entitled VALVE PROSTHESIS FOR IMPLANTATION IN THE BODY and U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,081 (Andersen et al.), titled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLANTING CARDIAC VALVES.
In PCT/EP97/07337 (Letac, Cribier et al.), published as WO 98/29057, entitled VALVE PROSTHESIS FOR IMPLANTATION IN BODY CHANNELS, there is disclosed a valve prosthesis comprising a collapsible valve structure and an expandable frame on which the valve structure is mounted. The valve structure is composed of a valvular tissue compatible with the human body and blood, the valvular tissue being sufficiently supple and resistant to allow the valve structure to be deformed from a closed state to an opened state. The valvular tissue forms a continuous surface and is provided with guiding means formed or incorporated within, the guiding means creating stiffened zones which induce the valve structure to follow a patterned movement in its expansion to its opened state and in its turning back to its closed state. The valve structure can be extended to an internal cover which is fastened to the lower part of the valve structure to prevent regurgitation.
There are several known methods currently used for replacing aortic valves and several types of artificial prosthetic devices. Mechanical valves are commonly used in several different designs (single and double flap) manufactured by well-known companies such as St. Jude, Medtronic, Sulzer, and others. Some of the main disadvantages of these devices are: a need for permanent treatment of anticoagulants, noisy operation, and a need for a large-scale operation to implant.
There is a wide range of biologically based valves made of natural valves or composed of biological materials such as pericardial tissue. These too are made and marketed by well-known companies such as Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, Sulzer, Sorin, and others.
Polymer valves are new and are not yet in use, but several companies are in the process of developing such products. A new type of prosthesis is being considered, based on artificial polymer materials such as polyurethane.
The present invention introduces several novel structural designs for implantable valves. An aspect of the present invention deals with the possibility of implanting the valve percutaneously, i.e., inserting the valve assembly on a delivery device similar to a catheter, then implanting the valve at the desired location via a large blood vessel such as the femoral artery, in a procedure similar to other known interventional cardiovascular procedures. The percutaneous deployment procedure and device has an impact on the product design in several parameters, some of which are explained hereinafter.
The percutaneous implantation of medical devices, and particularly prosthetic valves, is a preferred surgical procedure for it involves making a very small perforation in the patient's skin (usually in the groin or armpit area) under local anesthetic sedation, as opposed to a large chest surgery incision, which requires general anesthesia, opening a large portion of the chest, and cardiopulmonary bypass. This percutaneous procedure is therefore considered safer.
The present invention provides a series of new concepts in the field of aortic valves and other human valves.


A data processing system (20) has a cache (26) that does not use a TAG array for storing a TAG address as in a conventional cache. The cache (26), according to one embodiment, uses a state machine (30) for transitioning the cache (26) to an active state in response to a change of flow instruction which is a short backward branch instruction of a predetermined displacement. The predetermined displacement is less than the number of entries in the cache (26), so the cache can remain active as long as the program is in a loop which can be contained entirely within the cache. A look ahead feature for the valid bit array is provided that associates the valid bit for a current instruction with a previous instruction, such that during a read of the cache, the valid bit for a next instruction is checked with the same index used to read the current instruction.

Lower power consumption has been gaining importance in microprocessor and microcontroller design due to wide spread use of portable and handheld applications. A typical embedded control system will generally include a central processing unit (CPU) and a variety of different types of memory and peripheral devices. The different types of memory may be external to an integrated circuit having the microcontroller, and/or on the same integrated circuit, and may include cache memory, ROM (read only memory), and a variety of SRAM (static random access memory) devices.
A significant amount of energy and time is required to access a large external main memory. Therefore, a smaller, faster, and more efficient memory, sometimes referred to as a cache, may be used on the integrated circuit to reduce the number of accesses to the main memory. To keep the size of the integrated circuit as small as possible, only as much memory as is necessary is included onboard the integrated circuit.
A cache TAG is frequently used to increase the performance of the cache. The cache TAG receives a TAG address that is provided by the microprocessor and determines if the requested instructions and/or data are present in the cache memory. If a requested instruction is not located in the cache, the microprocessor must then retrieve the instruction from the main memory. When an instruction is written into the cache, the higher order bits of the address of the instruction are stored in a TAG array. The cache TAG also has a comparator that compares a processor generated address to the TAG address. If the TAG address and the processor generated address are the same, a cache "hit" occurs, and a match signal is provided by the cache TAG, indicating that the requested data is located in the cache memory. If the processor generated address and the TAG address are not the same, a cache "miss" occurs, and the match signal indicates that the requested data is not located in the cache memory. In addition, a valid bit may be set as a part of the TAG address for qualifying a valid hit of the stored TAG address during a compare cycle of the cache.
There may be several levels of hierarchy in the memory system of a high performance microprocessor in order to boost efficiency of instruction and data retrieval. Power consumed by the CPU to retrieve instructions and data is typically much higher when the instructions and data are fetched from another level in the memory system. Therefore, reducing the number of instruction fetches to another level of memory is desirable to reduce power consumption, especially in applications that are battery powered.
Also, some applications often spend a significant portion of their execution time on small program loops. An example of such an application would be an implementation of a filter for digital signal processing. Having to repeatedly access a main memory for all, or a part, of these instructions would have an adverse effect upon both power consumption and execution speed. Therefore, it would be desirable to reduce power consumption and increase execution speed associated with the execution of such small loops by avoiding the need to repeatedly access main memory, while at the same time, reducing the surface area required to implement the cache.

Data processing system having a cache and method therefor


A shower head structure includes a front cover disc, a water outlet disc, a joint base, a water stopper body and a water stopper. The shower head body is installed to the joint base, and the water stopper body is connected to the water outlet disc, and the water stopper is installed into the hollow hole of the water stopper body. When water flows into the shower head body, the water pressure pushes the water stopper and the water gasket to block the hollow hole and stop water coming out from outlet disc, but the water will come out from the periphery of the water stopper body instead. If an accessory is installed, the water stopper is pushed to interconnect a passage, so that the water will be supplied to the accessory from the middle of the front cover disc to produce a variety of splashes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a shower head structure, and more particularly to a shower head structure that can be used together with different accessories, and the shower head structure includes a shower head body having a joint base, a water stopper body, a water outlet disc, and a water stopper. The pressure of water flowing into the shower head body presses the front end of the water stopper onto a water gasket at a hollow hole of the water stopper body, so that the water is stopped from the middle of a front cover disc, but it is flowed out from the periphery of the water stopper body. If an accessory is installed, the water is stopped from the periphery of the front cover disc, and the water is supplied to the accessory through the middle of the front cover disc to provide a variety of splashes.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, the splashes of a prior art shower head are changed by rotating or adjusting the position of a water outlet disc of the shower head, so as to produce a variety of splashes. Such arrangement does not provide an application of the shower head to be used with other accessories, and thus a special shower head is required to replace the original shower head to achieve the desired effect.


A web of fibers (4) is conveyed by conveyor-belts (2, 5) which pass around rollers (32 to 43, 60 to 69). Some of these rollers are carried by main carriages (10, 14) which are capable of displacement in reciprocating motion above an apron (8) which moves in a direction parallel to the axes of the rollers and collects the web (4) in the form of a lap. Auxiliary carriages (16, 18) are provided for maintaining the length of the paths of the conveyor-belts (2, 5) at a constant value in spite of the reciprocating movements of the main carriages (10, 14). Each auxiliary carriage (16, 18) is located within a bottom passageway (70) which extends beneath the apron (8) and is separated from the apron by at least one partition-wall (72).. The invention is applicable to the manufacture of nonwoven fabrics.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spreading and lap-forming machine for converting a web to a lap by folding in pleats.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a machine of this type as disclosed, for example, in patent document FR-B-2,553,102, a web delivered by a card is first conveyed by a first conveyor-belt or so-called front belt to a pinching zone in which it is maintained between the first belt and a second belt and conveyed to an output carriage. The reciprocating motion of the output carriage above a receiving apron causes deposition of the web which said carriage discharges onto the apron in alternate accordion pleats. Since the apron moves in a direction parallel to the axes of the guide rollers carried by the output carriage, the successive pleats are relatively displaced along this direction and the web thus forms on the apron a continuous lap, the lateral edges of which are defined by the pleats. The beginning of the pinching zone is defined as a position in motion by an input carriage which performs a reciprocating movement. This movement is intended to ensure that the speed of admission of the web into the spreading machine is made compatible with the speed of unwinding of the web by the output carriage in spite of the reciprocating movements of said carriage. Thus the web, which has a fragile structure, is not disturbed either by packing or by stretching or by friction.
In machines of this type, the developed length of the closed paths followed by the conveyor-belts must be maintained constant in spite of the reciprocating movements of the carriages.
In some designs, the reciprocating motion of the input carriage is compensated by the contrary reciprocating motion of the output carriage and conversely by means of a suitable arrangement of the guide rollers (reference can be made, for example, to patent document FR-B-2,553,102).
In other designs (see FR-B-2,234, 395, U.S. Pat. No. 1,886,919 or FR-A-2,373,095), provision is made for one or a number of auxiliary carriages which also carry out reciprocating movements of translation in order to selectively lengthen or shorten the conveyor-belts outside the pinching zone and thus to compensate for variations in length of the pinching zone.
The present Application is more particularly concerned with this second type of construction.
It has been found that spreading and lap-forming machines of this type give rise to difficulties when they operate at the high speeds which may be desired in order to increase production rates. The alternating motion of the auxiliary carriages in that case produces relatively violent air currents which tend to disperse the web conveyed on the front belt upstream of the input carriage. This may result in defects in homogeneity of the lap produced and even in jamming of the web in the pinching zone.
In the spreading and lap-forming device described in patent document U.S. Pat. No. 1,886,919, the auxiliary carriages are slidably mounted within the closed loop described by the apron which receives the lap. Their reciprocating movements therefore produce air currents in the vicinity of the lap deposited on the apron, with the result that this spreading and lap-forming device cannot produce a uniform lap at relatively high speeds.
In the spreading and lap-forming device described in patent document FR-A-2,373,095, the auxiliary carriage moves above the input carriage. This structure reduces the disturbing effect of the movement of the auxiliary carriage on the formed lap in comparison with U.S. Pat. No. 1,886,919. However, this disturbing effect is in fact exerted on the web which is supplied to the input of the machine. This results in the same disadvantage: uniformity of the lap formed at the exit of the spreading machine is poor, particularly at high speed.
One of the objects of the present invention is to solve these difficulties and to provide a spreading and lap-forming machine which produces a uniform lap, even at high speed.


A linear compressor includes a piston that is slidably mounted in a cylinder. An hermetic spring holder has an end portion which is connected to a corresponding portion of the cylinder and which surrounds the cylinder while being located at a predetermined distance therefrom. A cap is fixedly connected to another end portion of the hermetic spring holder. A refrigerant suction guide tube is inserted from a refrigerant suction side into the piston. A spring supports the piston. The compressor causes refrigerant gas to flow solely through the refrigerant suction tube so that the internal refrigerant gas flow path of the piston is larger and the structure simpler. Thereby, damage to the path is decreased, the flow of refrigerant gas is more smooth and heat generated in the heated piston is blocked from being transferred to the refrigerant gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a linear compressor, and more particularly to an improved linear compressor employing an axial flow valve system, wherein a refrigerant suction guide hole is axially formed through an interior of a piston which is slidingly provided in a cylinder and supported by a spring.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
In order to solve disadvantages of a linear compressor adopting a crank shaft, a magnet and coil assembly replacing the crank shaft has been employed for a shuttle movement of a piston, thereby decreasing compressor parts number and production cost, and enhancing productivity.
As shown in FIG. 1, such a conventional linear compressor includes a cylinder 2 provided in a hermetic vessel 1 which has a predetermined shape.
In the cylinder 2, coil assemblies 3, 3' are assembled into a single body.
A piston spring 4 is fixed to a lower portion of the cylinder 2 thus to be connected to a lower circumferential portion of the cylinder 2, and a plurality of mounting springs 7 provided between the piston spring 4 and an inner bottom portion of the hermetic vessel 1 serve to elastically support the piston spring 4.
A piston 5 is fixed to a center portion of an upper surface of the piston spring 4 so as to carry out a linear shuttle movement in the cylinder 2.
A magnet 6 is fixedly attached along an outer periphery of the piston 5, and a valve assembly 8 is fixed to a side portion of an upper surface of the cylinder 2. A suction side muffler 9 and an exhaustion side muffler 10 are respectively installed adjacent to each side of the valve assembly 8.
The thusly constituted conventional linear compressor repeatedly carries out sequential operations of suction, compression and exhaustion of refrigerant gas in accordance with a repeated linear shuttle movement of the piston 5.
With regard to operation of the conventional linear compressor, because an assured opening/closing operation of a suction valve and an exhaust valve which control the flow of refrigerant gas serves as a significant factor in improving compressor efficiency, there is widely known a linear compressor employing an axial flow valve system in order for the flow direction of refrigerant gas to be directed identically to that of piston movement.
An inertia-applied valve apparatus applicable to a reciprocal movement compressor serving as an example of the axial flow valve system will now be described.
As shown in FIG. 2 illustrating the inertia-applied valve apparatus, a recess 21a is formed in and along an inner peripheral portion of a cylinder 21, and a plurality of refrigerant suction holes 21b are respectively formed through a portion of the bottom surface of the recess 21a so as to communicate with an exterior of the cylinder 21.
A chamfer opening 22a is formed outside each chamfer of an end of the piston 22 which is received in the cylinder 21 so as to communicated with the recess 21a.
A suction valve 23 is caulked around a center portion of a top surface of the piston 22 by a piston pin 24.
To an end of the cylinder 21 there is connected a head cover 25 which communicates with an interior of the cylinder 21.
A spring 27 is connected to an inner side portion of the head cover 25, and an exhaust valve 26 is connected to an end portion of the spring 27 and elastically supported by the spring 27.
Through a predetermined portion of the head cover 25 there is formed a refrigerant gas exhaust hole 25a to communicate with an exterior of the head cover 25.
When refrigerant gas compressed in a compression space C of the cylinder 21 pushes the exhaust valve 26 against the elasticity of the spring 27, the compressed refrigerant gas exhausts through the refrigerant exhaust hole 25a at the head cover 25.
In the thusly constituted conventional linear compressor employing an axial flow valve system, when refrigerant gas is sucked into the cylinder 21 via the refrigerant suction hole 21b and the recess 22a at the cylinder 21, the suction valve 23 becomes spaced from the piston 22 in accordance with a pressure difference between respective side end portions of the suction valve 23 for thereby facilitating an intake stroke of the piston 22 as shown in FIG. 2, so that when the suction valve 23 is moved toward a direction further away from the exhaust valve 26, the refrigerant is sucked into the compression space C through a gap between the suction valve 23 and the piston 22.
The refrigerant sucked into the compression space C is compressed during a compression stroke of the piston 22, and accordingly the exhaust valve 26 is moved toward a direction against the elasticity of the spring 27, whereby the refrigerant is exhausted through the refrigerant exhaust hole 25a formed at the head cover 25.
After the compression stroke of the piston 22, the piston 22 causes the suction valve 23 moved toward a front direction of the piston 22 to move in a direction facing against the exhaust valve 26 for thereby repeating the above-described suction operation. At this time, the suction valve 26 returns to an initial state in response to the restoring force of the spring 27.
However, the linear compressor without employing an axial flow valve system as shown in FIG. 1 is provided with the muffler 9 installed at an entrance of a refrigerant path adjacent to the valve assembly 8, and noise occurring around the entrance of the refrigerant path can be efficiently muffled. Meanwhile, despite a great need for reducing suction noise resulting from the suction side opening of the refrigerant path, because there exists a structural disadvantage in which the flow direction of refrigerant is identical to the movement direction of the piston, the linear compressor employing the axial flow valve system as shown in FIG. 1 which is widely accepted due to its assured valve opening/closing operation is not appropriate to installing an suction side muffler as in the linear compressor without employing an axial flow valve system as shown in FIG. 1 and further it is not equipped with an extra noise reduction apparatus therein, thereby presenting a serious noise problem.
With reference to Korean Patent Application No. 25666 filed by the present patent applicant in 1995, in order to solve the above-described problems, a linear compressor as shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a piston 32 slidingly combined in the cylinder 31, wherein the piston 32 is separately comprised of an outer piston 33 combined along an inner periphery of the cylinder 31, a rod post 34 provided within the outer piston 33, and a piston rod 35 connected through the rod post 34.
In the linear compressor as shown in FIG. 3, between the piston rod 35 and the rod post 34 there is formed a first silencer 36 which communicates with an entrance portion of refrigerant gas path, and between the rod post 34 and the outer piston 33 there is formed a second silencer 37 which communicates with the first silencer 36.
At apredetermined portion of the rod post 34 there is formed a hole 34a in order for the first silencer 36 and the second silencer 37 to communicate with each other.
In each side portion of an end surface of the piston 32 there is formed a piston hole 32a, and a suction valve 41 is caulked in a center portion of the piston 32 by a piston pin 42.
In a housing recess 43a covered by a head cover 43 which is fixed to each side portion of the cylinder 31 there are insertingly provided a first exhaust valve 44, a second exhaust valve 45, a stopper 46 and a spring 47.
Between the hermetic vessel 55 and cylinder 31 there is provided a hermetic spring holder 51 each end portion of which is connected to a predetermined portion of the cylinder 31 and which has a shape surrounding the cylinder 31.
At this time, an entrance portion of the hermetic spring holder 51 positioned along a direction toward which the refrigerant gas is sucked is connected to the cap 52 having a suction tube 54 formed through a portion thereof, wherein the refrigerant suction tube 54 serves to suck the refrigerant gas therethrough.
As a result, there is formed a third silencer 53 inside of the cap 52, for thereby doubling noise reduction efficiency.
Meanwhile, a dominant equation for a mechanism of the thusly composed linear compressor is as follows: EQU X=1/m {.alpha.I-A.sub.p (P.sub.w -P.sub.b)-(X-KX)}
wherein,
m=moving mass including a piston; PA1 A.sub.p area of front side of the piston; PA1 P.sub.w =pressure of compression portion; PA1 P.sub.b =pressure of rear portion of the piston; PA1 K=stiffness of a mechanical spring; and PA1 C=damping coefficient.
Here, spring constant K required to operate the linear compressor has come into existence, and in order to satisfy spring constant K, there is employed a plate spring 28 as shown in FIG. 4.
The plate spring 28 is assembled with the piston rod 35.
Reference numeral 48 denotes a refrigerant exhaust tube, reference numeral 56 denotes an external refrigerant suction tube, and reference numeral 57 denotes an external refrigerant exhaust tube. Here, the refrigerant exhaust tube 48 and the external refrigerant exhaust tube 57 communicate with each other, though not illustrated in the drawing, with reference to FIG. 3, the operation of noise reduction apparatus of the conventional linear compressor will now be described.
When the linear compressor shown in FIG. 3 starts operation, refrigerant gas is sucked through the external refrigerant suction tube 56 at the hermetic vessel 55, and the sucked refrigerant gas flows through the internal refrigerant suction tube 54 formed through the cap 52 to the third silencer 53 attain a primary noise reduction.
Then, the refrigerant gas flows along the arrow direction from a rear side of the cylinder 31 and through the refrigerant gas path into the cylinder 31. At this time, because the first silencer 36 is formed between the piston rod 35 and the rod post 34, when the refrigerant gas passes through the first silencer 36, there is obtained a secondary noise reduction effect.
A tertiary noise reduction effect is obtained when the refrigerant gas passes through the second silencer 37 formed between the rod post 34 and the piston 33 after passing through the hole 34a formed through the rod post 34.
Next, the refrigerant gas that has flowed into the compression space C in the cylinder 31 after passing through the piston hole 32a of the piston 32 and the suction valve 42, respectively, moves toward the first exhaust valve 44 in order for the piston 32 to carry out a compression stroke thereof. Then, passing through the first and second exhaust valves 44, 45, the refrigerant gas is externally exhausted through the refrigerant exhaust tube 48 of the head cover 43.
At this time, the stopper 46 serves to prevent the second exhaust valve 45 from moving excessively.
However, in the linear compressor shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerant gas which passed through the external refrigerant suction tube 56 is flowed through the internal refrigerant suction tube 54, which is formed at the cap 52 as a tiny hole, into the inner space of the linear compressor, and further in order for the refrigerant gas to flow into the cylinder 31, the refrigerant gas should pass through the piston 32 which has a complicated structure.
That is, conventionally, the externally sucked refrigerant gas is heated while passing through the internal refrigerant path of the piston 32 remains at a high temperature, whereby volume of the refrigerant gas becomes increases, and a cooling efficiency of the refrigerant gas deteriorates. In addition, an increased refrigerant path damage has been taken place resulting from the narrow internal refrigerant path in the piston.
Further, the conventional linear compressor has a disadvantage in that the outer piston 33, the rod post 34 and the piston rod 35 which are formed into the piston assembly need be connected to each other using a heat compression method.


The disclosed invention relates to split fibers and improved means and methods for obtaining them as well as their use in nonwovens and incorporation into personal care and other products. Multicomponent filaments are formed including at least two incompatible components. These filaments are drawn under hot aqueous, for example, steam, conditions causing them to split into fibers containing the incompatible components. These fibers are collected as a fine fiber nonwoven which finds utility as a component of sanitary napkins, diapers and other products.

The present invention is related to a process for producing fine denier fibers. More specifically, the invention is related to a process for producing fine denier split fibers.
Nonwoven and woven fabrics containing split or fibrillated fine fibers exhibit highly desirable properties, including textural, barrier, visual and strength properties. There are different known processes for producing split fine fibers, and in general, split fibers are produced from conjugate fibers which contain two or more incompatible polymer components or from an axially oriented film. For example, a known method for producing split fibrous structures includes the steps of forming splittable conjugate filaments into a fabric and then treating the fabric with an aqueous emulsion of benzyl alcohol or phenyl ethyl alcohol to split the conjugate filaments. Another known method has the steps of forming splittable conjugate filaments into a fibrous structure and then splitting the conjugate filaments by flexing or mechanically working the filaments in the dry state or in the presence of a hot aqueous solution. Yet another commercially utilized method for producing split fine denier fibers is a needling process. In this process, conjugate fibers are hydraulically or mechanically needled to separate the different polymer components of the conjugate fibers. Further yet another method for producing fine fibers, although it may not be a fiber splitting process, utilizes conjugate fibers that contain a solvent- or water-soluble polymer component. For example, a fibrous structure is produced from sheath-core conjugate fibers and then the fibrous structure is treated with a solvent that dissolves the sheath component to produce a fibrous structure of fine denier fibers of the core component.
Although different prior art processes, including the above described processes, for producing split or fibrillated fine denier fibers are known, each of the prior art processes suffers from one or more drawbacks including the use of chemicals, which may create disposal problems; a long fibrillation processing time; and/or a cumbersome hydraulic or mechanical fiber splitting process. Consequently, the prior art split fiber production processes are not highly economical and are not highly suitable for commercial scale productions. In addition, the prior art processes do not tend to produce uniformly split fibers and/or do not provide high levels of fiber splitting.
There remains a need for a production process that is economical and is not deleterious to the environment and that provides high levels of fiber splitting. Additionally, there remains a need for a, fine fiber production process that is continuous and can be used in large commercial-scale productions.

Process for producing fine fibers and fabrics thereof


A mounting system for cut stones is provided in the form of a setting (10) adapted to enclose, support and visually enhance a cut stone (12) such as a princess cut diamond (18). The preferred embodiment (10) has concave exterior sidewalls (14) enclosing a mounting aperture (16) for receiving the stone, and a vertically convex upper surface (68) which overlaps a portion of the stone. Sharply tapered apexes (70) virtually extend the corners of the stone and reflective materials help enhance the apparent size and brilliance of the stone. The setting (10) is adapted for use in various types of jewelry.

Many different gem-mounting techniques have been devised to enhance the brilliance of stones, such as diamonds. Most commonly used jewelry settings have prongs, a bezel setting, or a channel setting, to hold the diamond into place. Most jewelry settings are designed to display the brilliance of the stone without obscuring the scintillations of the stone. The brilliance of a stone is created by the cut of the stone, the clarity rating of the stone with respect to imperfections, the color of the stone with respect to impurities, and the carat weight. Particularly, the cut and symmetry of the stone and respective symmetrical facets on the stone will draw out imperfections and/or impurities within the stone.
Existing jewelry settings rely on a larger stone to increase the brilliance of the jewelry piece. Although other inexpensive stones are available, the degree of brilliance in significantly decreased. An alternative jewelry setting known as an invisible setting gives the illusion the stone is larger than it appears and only emphasizes brilliance with a seemingly nonexistent setting.
Numerous other alternatives to create a similar brilliant effect exist where an inexpensive substitute for expensive stones may be used. However, the use of inexpensive substitutes, such as cubic zirconium, decreases the value of the jewelry piece. Accordingly, a need remains for new approaches to setting stones emphasizing brilliance of the stone and a unique jewelry setting to complement the brilliance of the stone.


A method for testing performance of a constrained resources computing device (CRCD) is provided which includes determining that a data sample was generated and generating a time stamp corresponding to when the data sample was generated. The method also includes determining a defined time interval corresponding to the time stamp and incrementing a counter associated with the defined time interval corresponding to the time stamp.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computing devices, and more specifically to obtaining performance-related data in a constrained computing environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Performance analysis typically requires collecting and processing real-time performance-related data. For measurements with a high degree of accuracy, the amount of data involved can exceed the processing and storage capabilities of constrained devices.
The experience a user has when interacting with a computing device is determined by many factors, such as factors related to software functionality, user interface design, device and software performance, and human perception. Performance-related factors include, but are not limited to, the speed with which a device executes system or user software, the rate of updates to the screen, processing time in response to user input, the variation in performance over time, and others.
Because performance related factors are critical to the user experience that a computing device can deliver, it is important to be able to quantify performance by way of measurement. When a performance measurement is performed using a computing device, the computing device typically executes a system software which in turn executes a performance testing software. The computing device generally contains a data store and retrieve mechanism where performance-related measurement data is stored during testing. The performance-related measurement is generally accessed by on-device or off-device data processing mechanism for processing and analysis of the performance data after completion of the performance testing software.
While the performance testing software is running, the measurement instrumentation software collects the performance measurement data and stores it for later use via the data store and retrieve mechanism. Once the performance measurement has finished, the data processing mechanism will retrieve the performance measurement data from data store and retrieve mechanism and process it to extract the relevant performance-related information. Generally, the higher the desired measurement accuracy, the longer the performance testing software is run which in turn leads to the larger the amount of performance data that needs to be captured.
A key aspect of performance analysis is to generate valid data while at the same time avoiding to disturb the measurement at runtime. Any overhead imposed by the measurement itself should be kept small. Specifically, the overhead of the measurement instrumentation software, the data store and retrieve mechanism, and the data processing mechanism should be small or negligible relative to the effort of the performance testing software. In general, this means that runtime processing should be simple and involve only very small amounts of code and data storage and retrieval should be located in low-latency storage on the device.
In constrained environments, such as mobile devices, processing and storage capabilities may be very limited. Therefore, performance measurements are subject to great restrictions. Unfortunately, in most mobile devices, measurement overhead must be kept to a minimum and in particular, only very simple processing and filtering of measurement data should be done at runtime. In addition, on-device data storage on mobile devices tend to be very limited and storage latency may be high. Consequently, traditional performance measurement methods do not map well onto constrained environments, or might not be applicable at all in constrained environments.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and a method to measure performance of mobile devices while utilizing lesser amounts of processing power and data storage space.

Method for collecting and reducing performance-related data in constrained environments


An ink-jet recording apparatus has a pick-up roller for supplying to a conveyor mechanism an uppermost one of record media on a supporter, an elevator for moving up and down the supporter, a pump for forcibly ejecting ink within an ink-jet head, a drive shaft that is rotated both in positive and negative directions by a drive source, and a driving force transmitter. The driving force transmitter is capable of switching its mode between a mode for transmitting rotating force of the drive shaft in the positive direction to the pump so as to drive the pump and a mode for transmitting rotating force of the drive shaft in the negative direction to the pick-up roller so as to drive the pick-up roller. After the elevator is controlled to bring the uppermost one of the record media on the supporter away from the pick-up roller, the drive source is controlled to rotate the drive shaft in the positive direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink-jet recording apparatus that conducts recording by ejecting ink to a record medium, and also relates to a method for driving the ink-jet recording apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2002-254677 discloses an ink-jet recording apparatus that conducts a printing by reciprocating a carrier having a recording head mounted thereon and in this state ejecting ink from nozzles of the recording head to a paper fed by a paper-feed roller. This ink-jet head performs a purge operation by forcibly sucking, through the nozzles, ink staying within the recording head. This ink-jet recording apparatus includes a paper feed roller, a cap, an AP motor, a driving force transmitter, a pump, a conveyor roller, an LF motor (Line Feed motor), and a clutch mechanism. The paper feed roller sends out a paper to the conveyor roller. In a purge operation, the cap covers an ink ejection face of the recording head in which many nozzles are formed. The AP motor drives the paper feed roller and the cap. The driving force transmitter transmits positive rotating force of the AP motor to the paper feed roller and negative rotating force of the AP motor to a mechanism for moving the cap up and down. The pump is connected through a tube to the cap. The LF motor drives the conveyor roller and the pump. The clutch mechanism drives the conveyor roller while driving the pump so as to rub the tube disposed in the pump when the LF motor rotates in a positive direction, and drives the pump so as not to rub the tube disposed in the pump when the LF motor rotates in a negative direction. The mechanism for moving the cap up and down has a planet lock cam that holds the clutch mechanism in such a position that rotating force of the LF motor may not be transmitted to the pump.
In order to perform a printing in this ink-jet recording apparatus, the AP motor is rotated in the positive direction to thereby drive the paper feed roller through the driving force transmitter, so that a paper is sent out onto the conveyor roller. Then, the LF motor is rotated in the positive direction to thereby drive the conveyor roller, and at the same time ink is ejected from the recording head while the carrier is reciprocating. At this time, the pump is not driven by rotation of the LF motor, because the planet lock cam holds the clutch mechanism in such a position such that rotating force of the LF motor may not be transmitted to the pump.
In order to perform a purge operation in this ink-jet recording apparatus, the AP motor is rotated in the negative direction, so that the cap is moved up through the driving force transmitter and the mechanism for moving the cap up and down. Thereby, the cap is brought into close contact with the ink ejection face of the recording head so as to cover the head. At this time, the planet lock cam is released, and the clutch mechanism becomes free. By rotating the LF motor in the positive direction, the pump is driven through the clutch mechanism. This produces negative pressure inside the cap, so that ink is sucked from the recording head.
Like this, a single motor is operated in different manners, i.e., rotated in positive and negative directions. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a driving motor dedicated to each operation.

Ink-jet recording apparatus and method for driving the same


At least one mobile part included in a plate separator is configured movable between a first position and a second position, which is different from the first position. At least one biasing portion biases the at least one mobile part toward the first position. The at least one mobile part includes a contact portion that comes into contact with the top plate when a plate holder lifts the top plate upward. The at least one mobile part is configured to be moved toward the second position as being pushed by the top plate when the top plate in contact with the at least one contact portion is moved further upward, thereby allowing an upward movement of the top plate.

The present disclosure relates to a plate separator.
For example, in process where a process, such as a press-forming, is performed to a metal plate, there is a case in which a plate situated at a top of a plurality of stacked plates is lifted up using a tool, such as a vacuum cup, in order to convey a plate. Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. S59-223637 discloses a method for separating a plate at the top and the other plates by making a rodding rod or a hooking claw contact with the lifted one or more plates and bending the plate at the top.

Plate separator and plate conveyance system


An industrial computer without a fan is provided. The industrial computer comprises an aluminum case including a plurality of top fins projected toward a vertical direction and a plurality of side fins projected toward a horizontal direction; a motherboard including a plurality of heat-generating members such as CPU and north-bridge chipset formed thereon; and a radiating member having a top in contact with an inner surface of the case and a bottom rested upon the heat-generating members.

Heat is generated from heat-generating elements (e.g., CPU or the like) of a computer during operation. Such heat is superfluous (e.g., equivalent to heat generated by a 80 W lamp) as the operating rate (e.g., more than 3 GHz) of the CPU increases significantly. Thus, how to effectively send out superfluous heat from inside of the computer is an important issue. Such issue is even critical for an industrial computer since it is more compact than conventional desktop computers and its operating environment is more severe.
Fins of a conventional radiating device mounted in a computer are made of either aluminum or copper. For the latter, it has heat conductivity higher than that of aluminum. However, copper has a higher specific weight, hardness, melting point, and cost, and thus, its market share is only 5%. For a radiating device formed of aluminum, its heat dissipation capability is poor as detailed below.
Heat generated by the heat-generating elements of the computer during operation can be sent out to the ambient by conduction, convection, radiation, or any combination thereof. It is also known that temperature of any heat-generating element must be kept under an allowable maximum operating temperature. Otherwise, the computer may malfunction. Typically, the radiating device are in contact with the heat-generating elements for absorbing heat and a plurality of fins projected from an outer surface of the radiating device are adapted to send out superfluous heat to the ambient. The provision of fins aims at increasing area in contact with air so that more heat can be sent out per unit time by convection. Thus, the larger of the total area of the fins the larger of radiated heat will be. Moreover, a fan is provided proximate the fins so as to further increase convection. However, as stated above, the internal space of an industrial computer is too small to effectively radiate heat by the prior arrangement. To the worse, some types of industrial computer even do not have a sufficient internal space to mount a fan therein. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of radiating device of industrial computer are constantly being sought.

Industrial computer with aluminum case having fins as radiating device


A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a high initial capacity and excels in cycle characteristics and storage characteristics even when charged until the potential of the positive electrode active material exceeds as high as 4.3V versus lithium. The non-aqueous electrolyte of the secondary battery contains both 1,3-dioxane and a sulfonic acid ester compound.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, and more particularly, to non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries excellent in cycle characteristics and charge storage characteristics.
2. Background Art
Mobile information terminals such as portable telephones and notebook personal computers are increasingly sophisticated and increasingly reduced in size and weight these days. These terminals use as mobile power supplies a variety of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries typified by lithium ion secondary batteries having a high-energy density and a high capacity.
In recent years, these batteries are expected to have a higher capacity to meet the demand for higher sophistication of these devices.
One technique known to increase battery capacity is to improve the use efficiency of a positive electrode active material by charging a positive electrode until the potential of the positive electrode active material exceeds 4.3V versus lithium.
However, charging to high voltages accelerates undesirable reactions such as oxidative decomposition of an electrolyte on the positive electrode side, thereby causing degradation in cycle characteristics. Moreover, if a battery in a charged state is stored at high temperatures, there may be a decrease in discharge capacity after storage or an increase in the thickness of the battery due to gas generated by the reaction between the positive electrode and an electrolytic solution.
To improve the cycle characteristics and charge storage characteristics of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, it has been proposed to add a sulfonic acid ester compound to a non-aqueous electrolytic solution.
For example, Patent Document 1 shows a technique in which a sulfonic acid ester compound is added to an electrolyte so as to increase the open circuit voltage between battery terminals after charging to high voltages.
Patent Document 2 shows a technique in which a sulfonic acid ester compound such as 1,4-butanediol dimethanesulfonate is added to an electrolyte so as to produce a battery having a large charge-discharge capacity and little degradation during high-temperature storage in a charged state.
Patent Documents 3 to 6 each show a technique in which a sulfonic acid ester compound is added to an electrolytic solution so as to improve cycle characteristics and other features of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries.
Patent Documents 7 and 8 each show a technique in which a 1,3-dioxane-based solvent is used to improve the charge-discharge characteristics of a non-aqueous electrolyte.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2006-351337
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2005-285630
Patent Document 3: WO2003/077351
Patent Document 4: WO2005/029631
Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2000-195545
Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2001-313071
Patent Document 7: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. S63-152886
Patent Document 8: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2000-40524

Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery


Photosensitive orientation material providing unidirectional LC alignment to generate a high pretilt angle for various LC compounds, and superior thermal stability, and being suitable for mass production, especially for active matrix LC displays, including polysiloxane, and a derivative of a cinnamoyl group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermostable photopolymeric film for liquid crystal (LC) alignment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Several alignment materials have been known for homogeneous alignment of LC; polysiloxane polymers or polyamide polymers, in particular, are known to provide a high quality, thermostable alignment of various LC mixtures. To obtain a monodomain layer orientation for liquid crystal cells, several techniques are known: for example, stretching (H. Aoyama, Y. Yamazaki et al., Mol Cryst, Kiq. Cryst. Lett, 1981, Vol. 72, P 127), microgroove formation (E. S. Lee P. Vetter et al., Jpn Appl Phys., 1993, VOL. 32, P. L1436) and mechanical rubbing of the polymer surfaces (S. Kobayashi et al., Proc, SPIE, 1994, Vol. 2175, P 123; D. S. Soe et al., Mol, Cryst, Liq. Cryst., 1993, vol. 224, P. 13).
However, the above techniques have drawbacks. For example, microgrooves inherently contain defects and these defects are known to cause random phase distortions and light scattering, thus degrading display characteristics. Static electricity generated during the rubbing of the polymer surface is known to cause defects in active matrix LC displays. Moreover, it is practically impossible to orient selected regions of the LC surface locally so that each region has a different orientation with the above techniques.
Other techniques are also known. For example, W. M. Gibbons et al. Nature, 1991, vol. 351, p. 49, M Schdt et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys, 1992, vol. 31, part I, p. 2155, and T. Y. Marusii, Y. A. Reznikov. Mol. Mat., 1993, vol. 3, p. 161, EP 0525478 all describe methods of forming photopolymeric a orientation films. According to these other techniques, to form a photopolymeric orientation film, prepolymers were produced by the reaction of a polyvinylalcohol with substituted cinnamic acids. Then, the prepolymers were photopolymerized by irradiation with a linearly polarized ultra-violet (LTV) light beam.
The photopolymerization of the prepolymers caused by directed cross-linking of polyvinylcinnamates (PVCN) linear chains forms a new net polymeric structure with a higher order due to double bond opening reaction in cinnamoyl fragments, i.e. 2--2 cycloaddition reaction. Such a polymeric orientation film possesses an optical anisotropy and is known to planarly orient standard LC molecules in a preferred axial direction perpendicular to the polarization vector of the UV light beam.
However, the main disadvantage of such a photopolymeric orientation film is low thermostability, especially of oblique orientation. In addition, it has been experimentally discovered that with this type of polymer orientation films, the planar alignment of PVCN materials becomes thermally unstable at temperatures above 100-110.degree. C. Moreover, when the LC cell is heated above the clear point T.sub.1 and subsequently cooled, dramatic changes in the state of the liquid crystal cell (e.g., from isotropic to nematic to smectic to crystal) occur, degrading the quality of alignment. The thermostability of oblique alignment onto PVCN materials is very poor; it is not better than 50-60.degree. C. As the working temperature range of the LC cell tends to increase, the clear point of the LC cell consequently increases up to a temperature range of 80-100.degree. C. A conventional photopolymer film, which uses a PVCN as a prepolymer, cannot withstand such a high process and operating temperature range. The additional disadvantage of PVCN materials is a poor alignment quality of LC, particularly for active matrix LC displays.

Photosensitive material for orientation of liquid crystal device and liquid crystal device thereof


The invention relates to a device for lateral guidance of a rolled strip transported on a roller bed, particularly a hot rolled strip in front of a winding device (3), having parallel first and second side guides provided on both sides of the rolled strip, said side guides being movable toward or away from one another by adjusting means that are adjustable independently of one another; the invention is characterized in that a control device (14, 15, 16), to which operating forces and/or positions of the side guides and/or of the rolled strip can be fed as output values in the guidance of the rolled strip, is provided for damping the periodic deviation of the rolled strip, and in that the control device (14, 15, 16) controls the positions of the side guides and/or forces that the side guides exert on the rolled strip based on the measured output values.

The invention relates to a device for laterally guiding a rolled strip transported on a roller table, preferably a hot strip, in front of a coiling device, with parallel first and second lateral guides on both sides of the rolled strip which can be adjusted by independently adjustable means toward and away from each other.
The hot-rolled strip reels are arranged at the end of hot rolling trains and have the function of coiling the hot strip into coils after rolling. The strip is warmed while being subjected to tensile stress in order to achieve a sufficiently tightly wound coil and to produce strip with straight edges, and in order to prevent the coil from opening after the coil has been finished.
During coiling, under certain circumstances it may happen that the rolled strip is shifted periodically to the side. This may cause the amplitude to decrease, while the entire coiling process remains constant or increases. In particular in high-grade steel or at low coiling temperature, the periodic shifting can be observed. As a trigger for the beginning of the vibrations are in particular non-planar areas or so called "sabers" at the strip head, tension loss or other problems during the coiling process can be observed.
Due to the periodic shifting, the coiling quality suffers. The coil is not wound with straight edges, loose windings occur, and in extreme cases there may be instability or the coiling process has to be interrupted. During the periodic shifting, the rolled strip travels back and forth sinusoidally on the coil, in the driver and between the lateral guides. During this process, amplitudes of 50 mm or more can be reached on the coil. High forces occur in the lateral guides which can lead to edge damage and to buckling of the strip edge.
From DE 40 03 717 A1 is known a lateral guide for rolled strip which is being transported on a roller table, preferably hot strip in front of a reel. On both sides of the roll strip are already provided guide ruler or lateral guides which are shiftable toward each other or away from each other and which are coarsely prepositioned in a first step and can be pressed against the roll strip in a second step. For this purpose, hydraulic cylinders are used which are capable during the second step of applying the necessary contact pressure. The hydraulic cylinders cause the shifting of the guide rulers during the first as well as during the second step. For controlling the hydraulic cylinders, a regulating device is provided which during the first step pushes ahead the guide rulers out of a withdrawn initial position into a predeterminable position via the hydraulic cylinders arranged following as adjusting members. During the second step, at least one of the hydraulic cylinders is controlled with respect to position as well as to force.
WO 2002 030587 A1 also discloses a device for guiding a metal strip to a reel, wherein the lateral guide rulers are used. In the travel direction of the metal strip, a first and a second guide ruler is provided on each of the two sides. The positions of the second guide rulers relative to the metal strip are controlled independently of the positions of the first guide rulers by means of position regulators.

Device and method for lateral guidance of a rolled strip transported on a roller bed


A method for designating the attributes of a character in a game: providing a plurality of replaceable stackable pieces in which each stackable pieces in which each piece represents a attribute of the character/creature in play. A dynamic game piece representing a character/creature for use in a role play or simulation game comprising: a plurality of interchangeable stackable game pieces wherein; basic colored plates can be used to represent statistical information such as health status, magical effects, equipment in play, timing, spatial effects, etc. in conjunction with miniatures. Also, wherein; specialized pates can be painted to represent creatures/characters to be used as an alternative to miniatures or other tokens and are marked to indicate direction. Also, wherein, packaging of the game pieces can be accomplished in a way as to create a collectable aspect to the pieces.

Role playing and simulation games such as "Dungeons and Dragons" have gained great popularity in recent years. In the current market of role-playing and war-gaming simulation, there are only a few options for representing information during game play. These include the use of miniatures, printed paper or cardboard tokens, or home-grown strategies employing any number of informal conventions developed by players including coins, blocks, or other materials to represent information during play.
All of these methods provide spatial information, but are extremely limited in providing other key information regarding the game. One recent addition to the industry has been miniatures attached to a base that has a rotating dial depicting a limited set of variable information. While this mechanism provides some advantages over traditional miniatures it is limited in functionality, not visually effective, and is somewhat difficult to operate. U.S. patent application No. 2002/0180150 discloses such a system for keeping rules and record keeping in a virtual character type game, using counters and wheels in the context of a particular game. The invention shown therein discloses a system of dials and counters but does not easily and readily identify the condition or attributes of the player in a clear and dynamic way.
Other patents have issued related to game pieces and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,047 discloses a game system having a playing board which comprises one or more regions of polarized adhesion material, and a plurality of playing pieces, each with two faces, which may have polarized adhesion material of one or both types. The polarized adhesion material is preferably hook and loop fastener material. The games rules provide that playing pieces are deposited only where adhesion is strong, and may be stacked in accordance with this rule. Other rules are applied to define and differentiate game play. The game board is optionally reconfigurable, and may also have integrated electronics. The game board may include a foldable housing to contain the playing pieces when not in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,788 discloses a magnetic game comprising a game board having a playing surface with an array of first and second playing areas. The first playing area includes at least one electro-magnet. A plurality of game pieces are adapted to be placed on the first or second playing areas and to flip in the air if the electro-magnet and the game piece magnet are of opposite polarity. Each game piece has a game piece magnet. The magnetic game further includes a light-emitting element positioned proximal the first playing area. The light-emitting element is configured to be in electrical communication with a power supply. A light-sensitive transducer is positioned proximal to the second playing area. The light-sensitive transducer is configured to be placed in electrical communication with the power supply. The light-emitting element is illuminated when a shadow is cast over the light sensitive transducer.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,550 discloses a magnetic version of the game "Tic-Tac-Toe". In the preferred mode, the game consists of twelve separate pieces die cut from a magnetic rubber sheet. Each set contains four elongated strips, intended to be arranged to create the tic-tac-toe board. In addition, the assembly includes four crosses (X's) and four circles ("O's"), each several inches in length and/or diameter. Importantly, the top surface of each game piece may be laminated with previously determined colors, patterns, text, or other graphics to enhance the appearance thereof. Thus, the present invention provides a complete game that may be adhered to any metallic surface, and used for entertainment, amusement, or decorative purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 393,667 discloses an ornamental design for a magnetic game piece, as shown and described in the figures. It is a primary object of the present invention to provide highly effective visual impact and richer depiction of information. It is a further object to provide highly customizable to game and style of play, ease of use, and possible standardization of usage conventions.
While there are a number of patents, none adequately address to easily and graphically provide key information regarding the game.
A principle object of the invention to provide a flexible, easy to use, highly visual tool for depicting dynamic information during game play using miniatures. The primary applications of the invention are war games, battle simulation games and fantasy role-playing games wherein players typically use miniatures to represent characters, creatures, equipment and other aspects of the game. The present invention seeks to improve over miniatures are limited in their ability to visually communicate richer, dynamic information that would streamline play.
A critical object of this invention is to be used to provide a more a cost-effective, durable alternative to the use of conventional miniatures.
A principal object of the invention is to be used largely as an alternative to conventional miniatures, providing more durability than printed cardboard tokens.
It is an additional advantage of the invention is that is can be easily packaged to introduce the concepts of related sets, rarity, and chance, thereby creating a collectable aspect to the sale of these game pieces. This would be similar in nature to collectable cards where a sealed pack with unknown content is purchased in hopes of obtaining rare and more valuable cards.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows.

Stackable magnetic-plate game piece design


A cold crucible induction melting furnace is provided with a plurality of segments separated by a plurality of slits that surround a bottom member which together form the melting chamber. Each lower end of each segment is overlapped with and spaced from a short part of a vertically extending side wall of the bottom member so as to form a horizontal gap there between. A radially and outwardly extending flange protrudes from the bottom member side wall below each segment lower end to form a lower gap there between. An induction coil is disposed around and spaced from an outer face of the segments with a lower end adjacent to each of the lower segment ends and an upper end adjacent to an upper part of each segment that is in turn connected with an adjacent upper segment part to form a short circuited part. The radial thickness of each segment from the upper end of the coil to the lower end of the segments is the same and the magnetic flux generated by the induction coil passing through the lower gap and the horizontal gap provides increased magnetic flux density at least adjacent to the region adjacent to the bottom member and the lower ends of the segments.

The shape of the segmented cold crucible, a side wall of the crucible body of the so-called cold crucible melting, is classified into two types of the first and second types as follows.
1) A first type conventional melting furnace
a) As shown in FIG. 6, a water cooled copper crucible 1 as a furnace body is constructed as having a side wall 1a, a bottom wall 1d and a bottom part 4 placed further under the bottom wall 1d. PA1 b) The crucible body comprises an induction heating coil 2, which is placed surrounding the outside wall face of the aforesaid water-cooled segments 1a' and is supplied by high frequency or intermediate frequency electric power to melt the metal or metals received in the crucible by induction heating without contacting with the crucible inner face, and PA1 c) a supply and a control system for supplying and controlling the above-mentioned melting power and cooling water. PA1 a) Improving the electric magnetic force by increasing the magnetic flux at the crucible bottom, PA1 b) Shutting off the path of thermal conductivity from the molten metal by making two adjacent portions separated, that is, by separating the molten metal and side wall of the crucible, PA1 c) To make the induction heating power at these portion contribute to the heating, thereby to decrease the electric power to maintain the molten state, PA1 d) Increasing the melting power efficiency to decrease the amount of skull.
At the bottom of the side wall 1a of the crucible 1, a bottom flange 1c formed by extending radially and outwardly from the base part of the bottom, a flange 4a corresponding to the flange 1c extending also radially from the top face of the bottom part 4 and they are connected by bolts 7.
While, the side wall 1a of the metallic crucible having a shape of a hollow bottomed cylindrical shape is split into a plurality of segments 1a' by a plurality of slits 1b extending vertically.
Each of the segments 1a has within its interior a double walled tube 5 divided into an inlet and an outlet opening for a cooling water, each of them is connected to an inlet passageway 5a and an outlet passageway 6a and they constitute a segment and a crucible of a water cooled metallic crucible body as an integrated body of these segments 1a'.
To summarize, the conventional first type cold crucible 1 is split into a plurality of segments 1a' by slits 1b, and each of these segments is composed of independently operable crucible side wall 1a having an inlet passage 5a and an outlet passage 6a, a bottom wall 1d, a bottom part 4, induction heating coil disposed around the crucible 1, pipes for cooling water for this coil and a supply and control systems for these power and water systems.
By virtue of this construction, metal or metals to be melted which are supplied into the crucible are induction heated by subjecting to exposure to alternating current supplied to this coil or coils and are melted to a molten metal or alloy in the crucible.
The upper surface of the molten metal, due to the balance of power caused by electric magnetic power acting on the upper surface of the molten metal or alloy and to the static pressure given by the weight of the molten metal or alloy, will be raised upwards being separated from the inside face of the side wall of the crucible and is kept as a dome-like molten metal 3, while the lower bottom of the molten metal 3, the interior of the side wall 1a and between the top face of the bottom wall 1d is kept as a skull 9 as a skin of solidified metal formed by the water-cooled copper crucible.
2) A second type conventional cold crucible melting furnace
Following are features different from the above-mentioned first type cold crucible melting furnace.
As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a plurality of segments 13 form a side wall of a plurality of pairs 13a and 13b of two adjacent ones, the one of which 13a forms an inlet passage 15a and the other of 13b has an outlet passage 15b which is communicated with outlet passage 15a at the top, and these pair of segments 13a and 13b function to constitute two legs of a unit segment.
Each of these unit segments are divided, at least at this portion from their bases up to the upper portion 13d' into two portions, by a slit 14a, and the lower portions 13d and 13e are also divided into two portions by a slit 14b which is contiguous to the above-mentioned slit 14a and constitute a radially and outwardly extending flanges 13d and 13e, and thereby they constitute L shaped legs and feet as shown by FIG. 7B. The bottom portion 17 is fabricated separately of the segments 13, and the bottom portion 17 is inserted within the inner space defined by the bottom of the side wall 13b as a collected body of the unit segments through the insulating material 18 as shown in FIG. 7A.
When the second type cold crucible furnace is compared with the first type one, there is observed almost same the structural features with respect to the induction coil and its pipings for a cooling water explained in item b) and supply and control means to supply melting power and cooling water as explained in item c) are substantially the same, so further explanation will not be repeated.
The drawbacks of the first type conventional cold crucible melting furnace is, that the molten metal kept non-contacted with the side wall of the crucible is kept at molten state, however, at the bottom it has no magnetic flux at its portion other than its outside region, and in addition, these two portions are contacted with each other since they are not sustained by the magnetic flux at these portions.
Due to these reasons, at the part lower than the central portion of the molten metal raised upward like a dome, there is a solidified portion called skull 9 as shown in FIG. 6. which is attributable to degrade the melting efficiency.
Particularly, the portion where the skull contacts the interior part of the side wall of the crucible not only makes the heat conductivity loss larger, but also even the heat induction from the surface does not contribute to improve the efficiency of melting.
In the second type conventional cold crucible furnace as compared with the first type one, there are following differences.
When the side wall of the crucible is situated on the radial extension of the upper face of the crucible bottom, the passage of the magnetic flux at the bottom portion mainly passes its slit portions.
This is because the magnetic resistance passing through the portions L.sub.1 and L.sub.2 is larger than that passes from the slit as shown in FIG. 7B.
And yet as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, side wall of the crucible is formed to have an L shaped cross section, the coils so as to avoid this L shaped crucible wall, must be moved upwards, or the diameter of the coils must be enlarged, however, the enlargement of the coil is inevitable and greatly lowers its efficiency as a whole.
By taking either way of 1) or 2), it results in lowering the magnetic flux density of the system.