A quantum box semiconductor structure in which truncated triangular, or quadrilateral, pyramid base portions are formed on the main surface of a silicon semiconductor substrate defined, selectively, by a (111) B or a (100) plane; the triangular, or quadrilateral, truncated pyramid base portions have corresponding three, or four, (111) A plane sides, respectively. Corresponding triangular, or quadrilateral, quantum boxes of a second semiconductor material having a narrower energy band gap and larger electron affinity than the first, silicon semiconductor material of the base portions are formed on the corresponding triangular, or quadrilateral, top surfaces of the base portions and each has three, or four, corresponding (111) A plane sides. The quantum box lasers are formed in a succession of process steps including epitaxial growth or, alternatively, alternate epitaxial growth and etching steps. An alternative structure includes stripe-like quantum boxes of triangular cross-section. Further, the quantum boxes may be truncated and further triangular, or quadrilateral, prisms may be formed on the corresponding top surfaces of the respective boxes. A further embodiment employs truncated base portions of triangular prism cross-section and quantum wires of triangular cross-section formed thereon. Covering, clad and electrode interconnection layers are formed on the resulting structures and the main surface of the substrate, with respective electrodes being formed on the electrode interconnection layer and the bottom main surface of the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor structure provided with quantum boxes or quantum wires therein and a method of producing the same.
The semiconductor structure according to the present invention is suitable for an optical semiconductor device having excellent performance and a semiconductor device operating at an ultra-high speed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to improve the performance of an optical apparatus and an electronic apparatus, such as an electronic computer, there is a demand for optical semiconductor devices and electrical semiconductor devices that have higher performance. A semiconductor quantum box or wire utilizing the quantum mechanical properties of electrons can provide a semiconductor device structure meeting the demand.
Such a semiconductor quantum box or wire would afford a lower threshold current of a semiconductor laser, improved performance of an optical nonlinear material, and larger integration, higher speed and more functional operation of a semiconductor integrated circuit. However, it is very difficult to produce a semiconductor structure including a plurality of quantum boxes or quantum wires, both easily and reliably.
Referring to FIG. 1, quantum boxes are formed on a semiconductor substrate 1. In this case, a semiconductor clad layer 2, a semiconductor thin (well) layer 3 for the quantum boxes, and a semiconductor clad layer 4 are epitaxially grown on the semiconductor substrate 1. Fine pattern masks 5 are formed by applying a resist layer on the clad layer 4, exposing it with a fine lithography (e.g., an electron beam lithography process and developing it. Then the layers 2, 3 and 4 are selectively etched by a suitable dry etching method to form the semiconductor quantum boxes 3, each sandwiched between respective clad layers 2 and 4. The quantum boxes 3 can have a diameter of from 10 to 20 nm, which is capable of three-dimensionally confining electrons to create a quantum mechanical effect.
Referring to FIG. 2, quantum boxes are formed on a semiconductor substrate 11 by using the crystallinity of a single crystal semiconductor. In this case, a SiO.sub.2 layer 12 is formed on a GaAs substrate 11, and then is selectively etched to form triangle openings by a conventional lithography (e.g., an electron beam lithography) and a dry etching method. AlGaAs portions 13 are epitaxially grown on the GaAs substrate 11 through the openings by using an Al source, a Ga source and an As source, and then the Al source supply is stopped to successively epitaxially grow GaAs portions 14 on the AlGaAs portions 13, respectively, with the result that each of triangular pyramids consists of a truncated triangular pyramid base portion 13 and a triangular pyramid top portion (quantum box) 14. One of the base sides of the GaAs pyramid quantum box can be about 10 nm or less, which is capable of three-dimensionally confining electrons in the box to create a quantum mechanical effect.
Although the quantum boxes are formed simultaneously, the sizes of the boxes are different from each other (i.e., are not uniform) because of a low accuracy in the patterning processes (exposure, development and etching tolerances). For example, when the sizes of the triangle openings in the SiO.sub.2 layer are not the same within the tolerance of lithography, the grown triangular pyramids have different heights, and thus the sizes of the triangular pyramid top portions (quantum boxes) are not the same among the boxes. Each of the quantum boxes has a peak density state .rho.(E) of electron energy level. Where the dimensions of the quantum boxes are almost the same, the respective energy levels of the quantum boxes have substantially the same value with the result that a peak is obtained in the distribution of the density of states, as shown in FIG. 3. On the other hand, when the dimensions of the boxes are not the same, the respective energy levels of the quantum boxes are distributed, as shown in FIG. 3, with the result that quantum mechanical effects are not effectively attained.
In the case of a quantum wire semiconductor structure, similar problems are caused by size fluctuations, or differences, in lithography.

Quantum box or quantum wire semiconductor structure and methods of producing same


A method for reducing or eliminating sagging in plasma arc keyhole welds adds a fluxing agent to the weld. The fluxing agent may be titanium nitride and/or titanium carbonitride. The fluxing agent is added using physical vapor deposition or by painting a slurry onto the weld surface.

The present invention relates generally to the field of plasma arc keyhole welding and in particular to a new and useful process for using a flux during plasma arc keyhole welding to provide improved welds.
Fluxing agents are known for adding to molten weld puddles in welding processes for the purpose of protecting the molten metal from atmospheric contamination by oxygen, nitrogen or hydrogen, or removing contaminants such as sulfur and-oxygen from the molten weld puddle. Welding processes for which the use of fluxing agents are known are submerged arc welding, gas metal arc welding, shielded metal arc welding, electroslag welding, and to some degree, gas tungsten arc welding. However, the inventors are not aware of any prior use of fluxing agents with plasma arc welding processes. Further, there is no documented use of fluxing agents in plasma keyhole welding for the purpose of reduction of sagging tendencies where molten metal is pulled out of the joint by gravity.
Plasma arc keyhole welding produces a hole through a workpiece having molten metal sides. As the welding arc is moved along the joint, the molten metal-sided keyhole progresses along the weld seam. The solidifying metal at the trailing edge of the weld creates the final weld. Initiating a plasma arc keyhole can lead to instability of the molten weld metal as the flow of plasma gas bores into the workpiece and exits the root side of the weld. The amount of instability can be affected by a number of factors including material thickness, composition and joint design.
In particular, in the case of plasma arc welding, materials over 0.250 inches thick often experience significant instability problems.
Molten metal drop-through is a common problem experienced during plasma arc keyhole welding. Gravity causes the molten metal to sag through the joint, and in some cases, to fall out of the joint.
Production experience has shown that approximately 3% of start areas in welds on nickel-based materials exhibited sagging when the keyhole was initiated. Most applications of plasma arc keyhole welding recommend the use of a disposable weld tab for arc initiation due to the known instability problem. But weld tabs cannot be used in all applications.
It is an object of the present invention to reduce molten metal drop-through during plasma arc keyhole welding using a fluxing agent.
It is a further object of the invention to provide specific fluxing agents for use during plasma arc keyhole welding to provide improved weld stability and quality.
Accordingly, a fluxing agent is added to a plasma arc keyhole weld. In the case of nickel-based alloys and stainless steels; the fluxing agent is preferably a titanium nitride-containing fluxing agent. The fluxing agent is added to the surface of the weld joint using physical vapor deposition or mechanically painting a flux slurry onto the weld material surface. Alternatively, the flux may be added to the base weld metal during manufacture of the metal alloy or as a powder to the molten metal puddle at the start of the welding operation.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Plasma arc keyhole welding stability and quality through titanium nitride additions


The present invention relates (a) to new compounds represented by Formula I: wherein M represents a macrolide subunit (macrolide moiety) derived from macrolide possessing the property of accumulation in inflammatory cells, S represents a steroid subunit (steroid moiety) derived from steroid drug with anti-inflammatory activity and L represents a linker molecule linking M and S, (b) to their pharmacologically acceptable salts, prodrugs and solvates, (c) to processes and intermediates for their preparation, and (d) to their use in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and conditions in humans and animals. Such compounds inhibit many cytokines and immune mediators involved in immune responses which cause inflammation, allergy, or alloimmunity, including without limitation IL-1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, GMCSF, ICAM, and TNF-α. Importantly, anti-inflammatory steroids exert a direct anti-inflammatory effect through binding to the glucocorticosteroid receptor.

The present invention relates (a) to new compounds represented by the structure I: wherein M represents a macrolide subunit possessing the property of accumulation in inflammatory cells, S represents an anti-inflammatory steroid subunit, and L represents a linker molecule linking M and S, (b) to their pharmacologically acceptable salts, prodrugs and solvates, (c) to processes and intermediates for their preparation, and (d) to their use in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and conditions in humans and animals. Such compounds inhibit many cytokines and immune mediators involved in immune responses which cause inflammation, allergy, or alloimmunity, including without limitation IL-1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, GMCSF, ICAM, and TNF-α. Importantly, anti-inflammatory steroids exert a direct anti-inflammatory effect through binding to the glucocorticoid receptor.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compounds, compositions and methods for treatment of inflammatory diseases and conditions


Disclosed is a user equipment for satellite communication, comprising one or more processing circuits configured to execute the following operations: evaluating a transmission power requirement for a user equipment to communicate with a satellite; and assisting, via an auxiliary device, the user equipment in executing at least part of the communication with the satellite when the transmission power constraint of the user equipment fails to meet the transmission power requirement, wherein the processing circuits are further configured to acquire, via the satellite, a communication mode to be switched to, and the processing circuits transmit, to the satellite, a notification indicating that a current communication mode needs to be switched, with the notification comprising information indicating the need to switch to a communication mode that meets the transmission power requirement.

Communications satellite is a satellite for transmitting and amplifying radio communication signals via a transponder, which establishes an information channel between a transmission station and a reception station on the ground. The communications satellite may be applied in fields such as television, telephone, broadcast, network and military. More than two thousand communications satellites run around the orbit of the earth, which are used by private and government agencies. In the radio communication, a signal is transmitted with electromagnetic waves which travel in straight lines and thus will be blocked by a curved surface of the earth. The communications satellite enables long-distance communication on the ground by transferring the signal on the surface of the earth. The communications satellite uses radio waves and microwave with a relatively wide frequency band. Since the satellite orbit is quite high above the ground, wave beams of antennas may cover a large area on the earth. In addition, the propagation of the radio waves is not limited by terrain, and therefore the long-distance communication on the ground is possible. In order to make up for the deficiency of submarine cable communication, the communications satellite is usually used for mobile communication. For example, a transportation such as a ship or a plane which is far away from the land may use the communications satellite when the wired communication is not available. Also, the communications satellite may be used for data transmission which has a relatively low requirement of real-time.
The satellite communication mainly refers to radio communication among respective earth stations or between the earth station and a spacecraft, in which signals are forwarded via the communications satellite. The satellite communication mainly includes satellite relay communication, satellite direct broadcast, satellite mobile communication and satellite fixed communication. The satellite relay communication is wireless communication in which signals are forwarded between the earth station and the spacecraft via the communications satellite. The satellite direct broadcast, the satellite mobile communication and the satellite fixed communication are each wireless communication in which signals are forwarded between the respective earth stations via the communications satellite. Each of these communications has advantages of large capacity, wide frequency band, large coverage, distance-independent cost, not being influenced by geological condition, flexibility, reliable and stable performance, wide applicability and the like. However, since the satellite is very far away from the ground, the satellite communication is applicable to only data transmission with a low requirement of real-time.

User equipment for satellite communication


An imaging apparatus configured to capture an image of an object to be detected is provided. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a lens, and a front cover. The lens is located on the imaging unit and has a first optical axis. The front cover is rotatably connected to the lens. Relative locations of the front cover and the object are fixed by the leaning-against of the front cover. The lens is rotated with respect to the front cover, so that the first optical axis is rotated with respect to the object.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an optical apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to an imaging apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Eyes are the window to the soul. Since people nowadays often show signs of strained vision, and more and more people suffer from ophthalmic diseases (e.g., incidence of myopia), eye care on a daily basis has become a necessity for all. Important organs in the eyes, such as retinas and macula lutea, are mostly located at the rear of the eyes (i.e., the fundus), and therefore ocular fundus examination plays a decisive role in eye care. Generally, the ocular fundus examination and diagnosis are performed by shooting images of the fundus of a patient with use of a large-sized ophthalmoscope. The large-sized ophthalmoscope is bulky and requires professional operation for taking clear fundus images. Due to a pupil size limit of human eye, when the image of the fundus is taken, paramedics are often required to adjust the ophthalmoscope to focus on different parts of the fundus. Therefore, such an ophthalmoscope is equipped with at least two moving mechanisms and relevant driving devices, which leads to the high cost barrier and the bulkiness of the ophthalmoscope. Since the paramedics and patients are burdened with the significant time consumed on taking the images of the fundus, and the costs of the ophthalmoscope employed in the hospitals and clinics are considerable, it is rather difficult to popularize the ocular fundus examination.

Imaging apparatus including a lens rotatably connected to a front cover


Engineered substrates having thermally opaque materials for preventing transmission of radiative energy during epitaxial growth processes and for separating substrates from epitaxially grown semiconductor structures and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In several embodiments, for example, an engineered substrate can be manufactured by forming a thermally opaque material at an upper surface of a handle substrate and bonding an epitaxial formation structure on the handle substrate such that the thermally opaque material is between the epitaxial formation structure and the handle substrate. In various embodiments, the thermally opaque material at least partially blocks radiative heat transmission between the handle substrate and the epitaxial formation structure, for example, to provide increased accuracy of epitaxy process temperature measurements and/or increased uniformity of epitaxy growth characteristics across the engineered substrate.

Televisions, mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, MP3 players, and other portable and non-portable electronic devices utilize light-emitting diodes ("LEDs"), organic light-emitting diodes ("OLEDs"), polymer light-emitting diodes ("PLEDs"), and other solid-state transducer ("SST") devices for, e.g., backlighting. SST devices are also used for signage, indoor lighting, outdoor lighting, and other types of general illumination. FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a conventional SST device 10a with lateral contacts. As shown in FIG. 1A, the SST device 10a includes a substrate 20 carrying an LED structure 11 having an active region 14, e.g., containing gallium nitride/indium gallium nitride (GaN/InGaN) multiple quantum wells ("MQWs") between N-type GaN 15 and P-type GaN 16. The SST device 10a also includes a first contact 17 on a forward-facing surface of the P-type GaN 16 and a second contact 19 spaced laterally apart from the first contact 17 on a forward-facing surface of the N-type GaN 15. The first contact 17 typically includes a transparent and conductive material (e.g., indium tin oxide ("ITO")) through which light is emitted from the LED structure 11. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of another conventional SST device 10b in which the first and second contacts 17 and 19 are at opposite sides of the LED structure 11 in a vertical configuration rather than a lateral configuration. In the SST device 10b, the first contact 17 typically includes a reflective and conductive material (e.g., aluminum) to direct light toward the N-type GaN 15.
One difficulty of forming SST devices is that manufacturing the various semiconductor materials occurs at elevated temperatures. For example, GaN materials (e.g., the N-type GaN 15 or the P-type GaN 16) can be formed by epitaxial growth processes that use elevated temperatures to facilitate growth. In many instances, the elevated temperatures are difficult to control and can lead to uneven film growth and material defects.

Engineered substrate assemblies with thermally opaque materials, and associated systems, devices, and methods


The present invention involves spending loyalty points over a computerized network to facilitate a transaction. With this system, a loyalty program participant is able to use an existing transaction card to purchase an item over a computerized network, while at the same time offsetting the cost of that transaction by converting loyalty points to a currency value credit and having the credit applied to the participant's financial transaction account. Currency credit from converted loyalty points may also be applied to stored value cards, online digital wallet accounts and the like. Further, currency credit may also be applied to other accounts to effect a gift or donation.

Traditional loyalty (e.g., incentive award, frequency reward, etc.) programs have been around for years. Loyalty programs are typically used to help businesses develop and maintain participant loyalty and are used as marketing tools to develop new clientele. A frequent flyer program is an example of a typical loyalty program, where the more the participant uses a particular airline or group of affiliated airlines the more frequent flyer miles the participant earns. After accumulating frequent flyer miles, the participant may choose to redeem those miles for upgrades in service or free airline tickets. Various forms of these programs have developed over the years, ranging from programs such as "buy 9 get one 1" punch cards to more sophisticated credit card loyalty systems, where participants are awarded points for using a particular transaction card and/or by using a transaction card with particular merchants or vendors. As competition in various markets increased, companies sought ways to expand loyalty programs to appeal to a broader cross-section of potential customers. One way this was accomplished was by developing strategic partnerships and affiliations with other business sectors. For example, hotel chains, airlines and rental car agencies developed loyalty program partnerships and affiliations; credit and transaction card companies also joined in to promote a more comprehensive and appealing loyalty program. These programs have been successful, but again were limited in that the loyalty points could only be redeemed within the network of companies in the loyalty program affiliation or partnership. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,391 ('391) owned by Fujitsu Limited; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,774,870 ('870) and 6,009,412 ('412) owned by Netcentives, Inc.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,372 ('372) owned by Meridian Enterprises (all of which are hereby incorporated by reference) illustrate recent efforts to create more attractive loyalty systems.
The '391 patent is directed to an improved method of accumulating, managing, and redeeming points with a point-service system in an online shopping mall established through a network. This system utilizes point accumulation and points redemption ratios based on particular vendors in order to vary the amount of points awarded and the value of points redeemed. This system is limited, however, to a participating network of vendors that accept redemption of points for product, i.e., this system is not compatible with merchants who do not accept points and are not integrated into a shopping mall. This system is also directed to managing, within a network of participating vendors, the accumulation of points from one vendor (with a particular accumulation ratio) and redemption of points with another vendor (with another redemption ratio).
The '870 and '412 patents both relate to an online, interactive frequency and award redemption program which immediately awards and issues bonus points to a user's awards account in response to that user's online purchase of merchandise. In other words, submission of a purchase order form during an online session results in the calculation and addition of points to an enrolled user's account as well as the display of current account information. The user is then immediately permitted to redeem any or all of the award points in the user's account, including currently awarded points, in that same online session. This system is specifically directed to expediting the award and redemption of points for product. Therefore, this invention is limited to redeeming points within a redemption network of merchants who accept points.
The '372 patent generally relates to an incentive award program which allocates monetary amounts of credit based on a participant's performance of a designated level of achievement. The monetary amounts can be withheld and/or adjusted by a sponsoring company. Although this system allows for the crediting of a monetary value to a credit instrument, it is limited in that the participant is not able to interact over a computerized network with this system so as effect a real-time transaction or to effect a real time credit to a credit instrument.
Although many of these programs have been successful in developing customer loyalty and incenting customers to act, they have presented participants with limited opportunities to redeem loyalty points for the products of their choice or have provided participants with limited accessibility and control of their loyalty account. Therefore, a need exists in this industry for a program that expands product choice for loyalty program participants, while offering better real-time control of one's account.

System and method for using loyalty rewards as currency

American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.


A photopolymerizable composition comprising:. (I) a photopolymerizable oligomer represented by the following formula (1), ##STR1## and/or by the following formula (2), ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are organic groups, X is oxygen or sulfur, n is a number of not smaller than 1, and m is a number of not smaller than 2, PA1 (II) a catalytic amount of a photo-initiator, as well as a transparent cured product thereof. The product obtained by curing the photopolymerizable composition exhibits excellent properties and, particularly, excellent surface precision.. or a combination of the above photopolymerizable oligomer and other ethylenically unsaturated monomer which is copolymerizable therewith; and

1. (Field of the Invention)
The present invention relates to photopolymerizable compositions which can be cured by using active energy rays and transparent cured products obtained by irradiating the above compositions with active energy rays and, particularly, plastic lenses that can be produced within short periods of time exhibiting little optical distortion, excellent transparency, surface precision, impact resistance and tinting property, and are suited for spectacles.
2. (Description of the Prior Art)
Owing to their light weight, impact resistance and tinting property, the glass lenses for spectacles have now been replaced by plastic lenses. A typical plastic lens may be a polymer, i.e., diethylene glycol bisallylcarbonate (CR-39) having a refractive index of as small as about 1.50. In the case of a minus lens having a high power, therefore, the thickness at the edges become so large that the merit of reduced weight which is a feature of a plastic is lost.
In molding the plastic lenses, in general, a polymerizable monomer is poured into between two pieces of glass molds having different radii of curvature, and the lenses are molded based upon the heat polymerization only. According to the method based on the heat polymerization only, however, the polymerization time is usually as long as several hours, which is not satisfactory from the standpoint of productivity of the molded articles.
A method of molding plastic lenses within short periods of time by irradiating a radical polymerizable monomer with active energy rays been disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 166305/1985, and it has been desired to obtain a resin having a high refractive index that can be molded within short periods of time upon irradiation with active energy rays.
When a plastic lens is molded within a short period of time upon irradiation with active energy rays in accordance with the method disclosed in the above publication, however, an internal stress is built up due to the contraction by polymerization, and the central portion of the lens after annealing is deformed due to the internal stress, and the shape of surface of the mold that is used is not correctly transferred.
As a method of decreasing contraction due to polymerization, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 254655/1989 discloses a method of photopolymerizing a thioetheracrylate oligomer. However, the above oligomer is poorly compatible with other acrylate monomers or methacrylate monomers, and causes the mixture of the oligomer and these monomers to become into haze when the oligomer is copolymerized with these monomers. That is, in producing the plastic lenses, several kinds of monomers have usually been copolymerized in order to improve lens properties such as heat resistance, hardness, etc. When the oligomer is used, however, strict limitation is imposed on the kind of the monomer that is to be copolymerized.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications Nos. 11613/1992 and 11618/1992 disclose di(meth)acrylate polymerizable compounds having, in the molecules thereof, two ester groups excluding esters due to (meth)acrylate. These compounds, however, exhibit large contraction factors when being cured, and the surfaces of the mold are not correctly transferred to the cured product. Besides, these compounds have poor impact resistance. Moreover, these compounds exhibit poor compatibility to other ethylenically unsaturated monomers. When the mixtures of these compounds and other ethylenically unsaturated monomers are cured, therefore, the cured products are so distorted that the cured products peel off from the mold in many case.

Photopolymerizable composition and transparent cured product thereof


A backlight unit, suitable for a large sized LCD device, includes a plurality of fluorescent lamps alternately provided under an LCD panel in at least two parts, formed by dividing a light-emitting surface. Adjacent end parts of the fluorescent lamps are overlapped partially. Each fluorescent lamp is shorter than a length (e.g., horizontal dimension) of the light-emitting surface. A reflective plate is provided below the plurality of fluorescent lamps, and has a rugged part underlying the overlapped portion of the fluorescent lamps. Alternatively or in addition, a light-scattering pattern can be provided in a portion of a light-scattering means, over the overlapped portion of the fluorescent lamps. The rugged part and/or light-scattering pattern prevents obscure rays in the overlapped portion and improves a uniformity of luminance of the backlight unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backlight unit, and more particularly, to a backlight unit suitable for a large sized LCD device having improved uniformity of luminance.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A cathode ray tube (CRT), has been widely used for computer monitors and televisions. However, the CRT is heavy and bulky. Thus, display devices, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP) and an electroluminescene display (ELD), have been substituted for the CRT. Among the alternative display devices, the LCD device has been very popular due to the LCD device having a low power consumption, thin profile and lightness in weight. The LCD device has been employed as a monitor for a desktop computer, a large sized television display device, as well as for a laptop computer.
Most LCD devices control the light transmittance from ambient light to display images. In this respect, it is necessary to form an additional light source, such as a backlight unit in an LCD panel. In general, the backlight unit, used as the light source of the LCD device, has a cylindrical fluorescent lamp, which is classified into two types, a direct type and an edge type, according to a disposition of the fluorescent lamp.
In the edge type backlight unit, a lamp unit is provided at one side of a light-guiding plate. The lamp unit is provided with a lamp emitting light. A lamp holder is inserted into both ends of the lamp to protect the lamp. A reflective plate has one side inserted to the light-guiding plate and surrounds the circumference of the lamp, to reflect the light emitted from the lamp to the light-guiding plate. The edge type backlight unit is generally applied to relatively small sized LCD devices, such as the monitors of the laptop computer and the desktop computer. The edge type backlight is advantageous in that it has great uniformity of light, long life span, and a thin profile.
The direct type backlight unit is suitable for a large sized LCD device of 20 inches or more. The direct type backlight unit includes a plurality of lamps arranged in one direction below a light-diffusion plate to directly illuminate an entire surface of the LCD panel with light. The direct type backlight unit has great light efficiency and is commonly used for the large sized LCD devices requiring high luminance, such as televisions.
A related art backlight unit for an LCD device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a direct type backlight unit, according to the related art. FIG. 2 is a plane view of the arrangement of fluorescent lamps in a direct type backlight unit, according to the related art. FIG. 3 is a plane view of the arrangement of fluorescent lamps in a direct type backlight unit, according to another embodiment of the related art.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the backlight unit according to the related art includes a plurality of fluorescent lamps 1, an outer case 3, and light-scattering means 5a, 5b and 5c. The outer case 3 fixes and supports the plurality of fluorescent lamps 1, and the light-scattering means 5a, 5b and 5c are provided between the fluorescent lamps 1 and an LCD panel (not shown). The light-scattering means 5a, 5b and 5c prevent the silhouette of the fluorescent lamps 1 from being reflected on a display surface of the LCD panel (not shown), and provide a light source with uniform luminance. For improving the light-scattering effect, the light-scattering means includes a diffusion plate 5a, a prism sheet 5b, and a protection sheet 5c. Also, a reflective plate 7 is provided inside the outer case 3 for concentrating the light emitted from the fluorescent lamps 1 to the display part of the LCD panel.
Each fluorescent lamp 1 is a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) 1. Electrode parts 2a and 2b are provided at both ends in a tube of the CCFL, and power supplying wires 9a and 9b are respectively connected with the electrode parts 2a and 2b. Both ends of the fluorescent lamp 1 are inserted into and fixed to both sides of the outer case 3. In this state, as a voltage is applied to the electrode parts 2a and 2b, through the power supplying wires 9a and 9b, the fluorescent lamp 1 emits light, and the fluorescent lamp 1 provides light for the LCD device. Although not shown, the voltage applied to the power supplying wires 9a and 9b is provided from an inverter, wherein the inverter is provided at the rear of the outer case 3.
In the direct type backlight unit, according to the related art as shown in FIG. 2, the fluorescent lamps 1 are provided at fixed intervals and have a length corresponding to a horizontal line of a light-emitting surface of the backlight unit. Accordingly, the length of the fluorescent lamp 1 increases with an increase in the horizontal length of the light-emitting surface of the backlight unit. For example, if the LCD device has a size of 30 inches to 40 inches, it is necessary to employ fluorescent lamps having a length of 700□ or more.
As the length of the fluorescent lamp increases, the fabrication process of the fluorescent lamp becomes more difficult. Also, when a relatively long fluorescent lamp is disposed in the backlight unit, the assembling process is complicated. Furthermore, the backlight unit is more susceptible to damage by external forces. In addition, when driving the fluorescent lamp, it is difficult to realize uniform luminance. Also, it is required to maintain a high driving voltage, which may lead to the problem of electro magnetic interference (EMI) by an electric interference of a driving circuit for obtaining stability and driving the LCD panel.
To solve these problems, a different design in a direct type backlight unit, according to the related art, is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, fluorescent lamps 30, each having a length corresponding to a vertical line of the light-emitting surface of the backlight unit, are provided at fixed intervals along a length direction of the light-emitting surface of the backlight unit. Electrode parts 32a and 32b are formed at both ends of a tube in each fluorescent lamp 30, and power supplying wires 33a and 33b are connected with the electrode parts 32a and 32b. The backlight unit also includes a reflective plate 31.
However, as shown in FIG. 3, if the fluorescent lamps 30 extend in the vertical direction of the light-emitting surface of the backlight unit, hydrargyrum moves in the tube of the fluorescent lamp 30 downward. This movement of the hydrargyrum deteriorates the characteristics of the fluorescent lamp 30. As a result, it is impossible to obtain uniformity of luminance.


Technologies and implementations for providing a data center access and management settings transfer service are generally disclosed.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Currently, when a customer moves from one data center to another data center, the customer spends time and effort to set up access and management settings at the new data center. Such time and effort may be prohibitive to customers making such data center moves.

Data center access and management settings transfer


An improved multiple port protocol test apparatus and a method thereof by which it is possible to more easily perform a test with respect to the multiple port protocol, and increase an adaptability and interrelationship with respect to the standard of the system. The apparatus includes a test management unit for testing and controlling a protocol and performing management related thereto, a multiple port protocol testing unit connected to the test management unit for generating and controlling a test event with respect to the multiple port of a network system, a plurality of lower protocol processing unit connected to the multiple port protocol testing unit for performing an emulation function with respect to a lower protocol of the test objective protocol, and transferring a test-related event, a timer processing unit connected to the multiple port protocol testing unit for processing a timer information, a message distribution unit connected to the lower protocol processing unit for transferring a test event to a corresponding port of the test objective system, and transferring the received event to the lower protocol processing unit of a corresponding port, and a test objective system access unit connected to the message distribution unit for a physical connection with a test objective system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple port protocol test apparatus and a method thereof, and particularly, to an improved multiple port protocol test apparatus and a method thereof which are capable of more easily performing a test with respect to a multiple port protocol, and increasing an adaptability and interrelationship with respect to the standardization of the system.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
In a Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (B-ISDN), a network system which works based on an input/output of a multiple port needs a test system different from a conventional single port test method.
For such a test system, the test method must have a function of generating and controlling an event with respect to the multiple port of the network system. For example, the method must have a function of connecting a B-ISDN user-network interface call and an answer function with respect to a request of a network system. In addition, when testing a protocol with respect to the connection between a point and multiple points, the above-described characteristic must be considered with respect to the multiple port of the network system.

Multiple port protocol test apparatus and method thereof

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


The present invention provides a method of producing a low pollution fuel comprising the steps of passing in an electromagnetic field a synthetic fuel comprising methyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol and butyl alcohol, toluene, and heavy gasoline, subjecting the synthetic fuel to supersonic wave vibration, and having the synthetic fuel pass in contact with a predetermined inorganic substance. There is also provided an apparatus for producing a low pollution fuel which comprises a synthetic fuel introducing path, magnetic field generating means for generating a magnetic field, supersonic generating means, and inorganic substance, a synthetic fuel contact path for passing a synthetic fuel in contact with the inorganic substance, a synthetic fuel discharge path, and means for sending out the synthetic fuel.

A limited petroleum fuel, particularly gasoline is widely used for an internal combustion engine and other industrial engines. However, the petroleum fuel of this kind is disadvantageous in the fact that harmful gases such as carbon oxides(CO.sub.X), volatile hydrocarbon (H.sub.X C.sub.Y), sulfur oxides (SO.sub.X) and nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.X) are exhausted, when the fuel is subjected to combustion.
Accordingly, an alternate fuel, for example, a methanol or ethanol containing fuel has been developed to reduce harmful gaseous emissions, and recently utilized for a low pollution car and industrial engines. Methanol fuel can contribute to the reduction of air pollution caused by gaseous emissions. However, when methanol fuel is used in, for example, the internal combustion engine mounted in a motor-car, it is difficult that an inherent heat efficiency of the internal combustion engine is maintained, since a heating value of the methanol fuel is about 50% of the heating value of gasoline. Accordingly, a travel distance of the motor-car using this fuel is reduced to about 50%. In addition, methanol fuel is associated with another problem that it may require a whole modification, or a completely new design of the internal combustion engine for efficient combustion of the fuel.
Ethanol fuel can also contribute to the reduction of air-pollution in the same manner as methanol fuel. However, it has a lower stream pressure. That is, when the fuel of 100% ethanol is used for the internal combustion engine of the motor-car, the motor-car cannot smoothly be started. In addition, since ethanol is also a limited substance, it is difficult to supply a sufficient amount of ethanol for this application in a constant manner. This is also a serious problem.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for producing a low-pollution fuel including alcohol as a main component, which can contribute to the reduction of air-pollution.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for producing a low-pollution fuel including alcohol as a main component, which can sufficiently be supplied to the market.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for producing a low-pollution fuel composition including alcohol as a main component, which can exhibit a heat value substantially equal to gasoline, and which enables a gasoline motor-car to run substantially the same distance as in the case that the motor-car uses without any major modification of an internal combustion engine mounted therein.

Method and apparatus for producing a low pollution fuel


A handheld computing and digital image capturing device is physically and electrically integrated. Such a device shares hardware and computing power to provide a versatile item that can be carried with a user to provide the expected computer functions and an image capturing capability. Such a device has the capability of integrating images from the image capturing function into documents created in the handheld computer. Additionally, such an image capturing device can be coupled to an external computer without an intervening cable.

The present invention relates to an image capturing apparatus and more particularly relates to a user-convenient combination of a handheld device for a computer and a digital camera.
Photography is a well known and widely used technique for capturing images for later appreciation and use. Digital photography—digital image capturing—is a recent development made possible by lower cost optical to electronic conversion devices such as relatively high resolution charge coupled device (CCD) arrays and similar mechanisms, more powerful and energy efficient microprocessors, and small and low cost memory devices. Advantages to the user of a digital camera, as it is commonly known, are the ability to capture, store, and immediately view a picture, and the ability to correct defects in the stored picture either in situ or later using a computer system. Users of a digital camera naturally expect to carry their camera with them when they expect an opportunity for taking a picture to occur. Unfortunately, the best picture opportunity often occurs when the user is not carrying the digital camera.
Another item that has become a constant companion to people is the handheld computer, often referred to as a personal digital assistant (PDA), among other things. Many users carry their PDA at all times, with the expectation that they will need to refer to their stored personal calendar, address book, calculator, word processor, or the numerous other functions that such a computing device can perform.
Improvement in the computing power of handheld devices combined with the miniaturization of many hardware components promises to provide an even more versatile item for mobile people. Thus, a sharing of certain hardware elements and the latent computing power of a handheld computing device with image capturing hardware and software could offer users an item that enables a digital camera to be available to them when they need it because it can be part of a regularly carried item.

Method and apparatus for capturing an image

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method for repairing a drainage system adjacent a foundation wall includes the step of digging a first ditch to provide access to a section of drain tile, removing that section of the drain tile, digging a second ditch to provide access to a damaged area of the foundation, the second ditch being of a width that is narrower than the first ditch to provide support areas of undisturbed earth. The damaged area is then repaired and a rigid pipe installed and supported on the support areas. Since the rigid pipe is supported on support areas, no sagging of the replaced portion of the drainage system will occur in the event that the underlying earth settles or becomes unstable.

This invention pertains generally to the art of drainage systems. Specifically, the invention pertains to a method for repairing a drainage system.
The invention is particularly applicable to the repair of drainage systems that are accidentally or intentionally disrupted or damaged during excavation to gain access to a damaged area of a foundation wall. The invention will be described with particular reference to that environment. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention has broader application and may be advantageously employed to repair any drainage system where the function thereof is jeopardized because the earth or material providing underlying support to the system has been disturbed or has become unstable.
The foundation walls of many buildings are constructed from hollow concrete or cinder blocks. While these materials are inexpensive, they are also disadvantageous because they are porous and permit water and moisture to pass from the exterior of the building to its interior. The seepage of water or liquid through the foundation of a building is obviously undesirable because it adversely affects the comfort of occupants therein and because seepage may result in the weakening of the foundation itself. As such, much effort has been expended to develop ways to prevent the seepage of water through foundations of structures. Such effort has resulted in the development of drain tiles and other drainage systems for eliminating or reducing the accumulation of water in the vicinity of foundation walls.
Known drainage systems frequently take the form of subterranean drain tiles disposed around the outer perimeter of the foundation. These drain tiles typically comprise a pipe that is provided with a number of apertures therein to permit ingress of water from the surrounding soil. Typically, the drain tiles are disposed in a gravel bed to improve their ability to accumulate water from the surrounding area. Water entering the drain tile is conveyed to a remote location away from the building. One known drainage system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,386, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. That system comprises two sets of drain tiles, one located on the exterior of a foundation wall, and one located on the interior of the foundation wall.
Often, especially in areas where ground shifting is common, foundation walls will develop cracks, bowing or other damage which may require that a portion of the wall be unearthed to expose the damaged area for repairs. In this sense, the aforementioned prior art drainage systems are problematic because they interfere with excavation required to gain access to the damaged area of the foundation. It is usually not feasible to leave the drainage system intact while attempting to excavate the earth in the vicinity of the damaged wall area. Instead, a section of the drainage system is exposed and removed and the earth beneath it excavated so that repair personnel and equipment may have access to the damaged area of the foundation.
After repairs are made to the damaged wall, the earth and the removed section of the drainage system are replaced. Often, in prior art repair methods, settling of the newly replaced earth beneath the drainage system will result in a section of the replaced drainage system being inadequately supported. This, in turn, may result in a sagging and breakage of the drain tiles, thereby impairing the ability of the drainage system to convey water away from the foundation.
One solution to the aforementioned problem is to refill the excavated area with gravel instead of the original earth. Gravel is less prone to settling, but its presence may result in the undesirable accumulation of water in the area near the foundation wall. It would, therefore, be advantageous to provide a repair method that eliminates the aforementioned problems. Namely, it would be desirable to provide a repair system that provides adequate support to the drainage system, is immune or less susceptible to the adverse consequences of ground settling, and does not result in the undesirable accumulation of water near the foundation.
Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to develop a new and improved method for repairing a drainage system which would overcome the foregoing difficulties, meet the above-stated needs and provide better and more advantageous results.


A filter, especially for the interior ventilation of vehicles, including at least one filter body configured as a plate-like element and a frame surrounding the plate-like element, the frame being made from at least two frame parts joined together in the plane of the plate-like element.

The invention relates to a filter with at least one filter body configured as a plate-like element and a frame surrounding the plate-like element, especially a filter suitable for filtering the air for the interior of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.
A filter of this general type is disclosed in published German Patent Application No. DE 3,902,546. It is used in an air conditioner of a motor vehicle and consists of at least two layers of plate-like elements of soft material and at least two circumferential frames which hold the margin of the filter body between them, and which themselves are held together by clamping means.
One disadvantage of this filter is that, depending of the number of plate-like elements, the frames must be fitted to the thickness of the filter pack. Thus, the structure of a filter element is established, and cannot be altered. It has been found, however, that each application requires a made-to-order filter, i.e., the composition of the filter pack is variable. Also, in the case of such elements for air-conditioning equipment or for the ventilation of the interior of vehicles, attention must be given to good economy in the manufacture of the filter insert, especially in consideration of environmental aspects, since such a filter insert must be regularly replaced and disposed of.

Air filter for the interior of a motor vehicle


A storage device includes a nonvolatile memory unit, a volatile memory unit, a power supply control unit configured to control power supply to the nonvolatile memory unit and the volatile memory unit, and a control unit configured to control the power supply unit to cut off the power supply to the nonvolatile memory unit and the volatile memory unit during a first operation, and control the power supply unit to cut off the power supply to the nonvolatile memory unit and to maintain the power supply to the volatile memory unit during a second operation that is different from the first operation.

One type of a storage device has a device sleep function. The device sleep function is a function of entering a low power consumption state (hereinafter, device sleep state) in response to a trigger signal from a host. Before the storage device enters the device sleep state, data stored in volatile memory such as a DRAM or an SRAM is transferred to nonvolatile memory such as a NAND flash memory, and after that, power supply to the storage device is cut off.
However, each time the storage device enters the device sleep state, the data in the volatile memory is transferred to the nonvolatile memory. As the writing in the nonvolatile memory is carried out each time, the performance of the nonvolatile memory becomes lower.

Storage device and data processing method


There is provided a component mounting inspecting apparatus which can automatically set a solder bridge inspection region (an inspection point) and output an optimum inspection result of a solder bridge. The component mounting board inspecting apparatus for inspecting a solder bridge of an electronic circuit board, in which a plurality of electrode pads are formed at predetermined spaced intervals and cream solder is applied on the electrode pads, includes a mechanism for automatically determining a distance between adjacent electrode pads and a mechanism for automatically setting a solder bridge inspection point if the distance between the adjacent electrode pads is equal to or shorter than a threshold value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a component mounting board inspecting apparatus for inspecting for defects in cream solder printed on an electrode pad of a component mounting board, and, more specifically, inspecting whether there are solder bridges generated between adjacent electrode pads.
2. Description of Related Art
On a component mounting board, such as a printed board for mounting a number of components of a semiconductor device and the like, a number of electrode pads corresponding to the number of electrodes of these components, and a wiring circuit pattern are formed. In order to solder these components cream solder is printed on the electrode pads by a screen printing method, for example. If the cream solder is not suitably printed on the electrode pads, the components cannot be desirably soldered. Therefore, before soldering the components on the component mounting board, the board is inspected for whether or not the cream solder is suitably printed on each electrode pad by the use of a component mounting board inspecting apparatus.
A functional block diagram of such a component mounting board inspecting apparatus is shown in FIG. 4, in which reference numeral 100 indicates a component mounting board inspecting apparatus. The component mounting board inspecting apparatus 100 has an annular illuminating apparatus 110, a camera 120, such as a CCD camera, an image processor 130, a control unit 140, and a result indicator 150.
The illuminating apparatus 110 facilitates observation of a component mounting board B. The camera 120 captures a visual image of the component mounting board B illuminated by the illuminating apparatus 110. The image processor 130 captures the image outputted from the camera 120, and then executes an inspection algorithm. The control unit 140 controls the brightness of the illuminating apparatus 110, and the drives of the illuminating apparatus 110 and the camera 120. The result indicator 150 indicates an obtained inspection result.
A method of determining whether cream solder is suitably printed or not is as follows: the printed state of the cream solder on the component mounting board B is compared with the information captured by the image processor 130, based on the information of printing of cream solder (the printing area of the cream solder, the printing width of the cream solder, and the printing position of the cream solder), which are preset in the component mounting board inspecting apparatus 100.
In the cream solder inspection method, the object to be inspected is solder subjected to reflow, instead of cream solder. This kind of inspection is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-160426 (page 1, and abstract), for example.
A variety of electrode pads are formed on the component mounting board B, such that a variety of components, including various semiconductor devices, are mountable thereon. A plurality of electrode pads 1A, 1B, 1C, . . . , are formed in a predetermined array on the component mounting board B, and the pad-to-pad distance of these electrode pads will vary over different portions, as partially shown in FIG. 5 (electrode pads having a large pad-to-pad distance are not shown). Referring to FIG. 5, the pad-to-pad distance of the electrodes pads 1A, 1B, 1C, . . . , which mount, for example, a ball grid array (BGA) type IC and a quad flat package (QFP) type IC, is considerably narrow (or, short), for example, about 500 μm or less. When cream solder S is printed on the electrode pads 1A, 1B, 1C, by a screen printing method, etc., as shown in FIG. 6, it is desirable that the cream solder S is printed so as not to spread beyond the electrode pad 1B. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the cream solder S on a certain electrode pad, for example, the electrode pad 1A, may bridge the electrode pad 1B adjacent to the right side. This is a so-called solder bridge Sb. Needless to say, the occurrence of the solder bridge Sb is undesirable, and hence this must be reliably detected, and the component mounting board B involving the solder bridge Sb must be removed from the line.
Conventionally, in creating an inspection program for detecting the solder bridge Sb between the pads at which a solder bridge Sb is likely to occur, an operator manually sets a bridge inspection point Pb indicated by the dotted lines, which is extended to electrode pads adjacent to an inspection point Pa for observing the electrode pads 1A, 1B, 1C, . . . . There is no need for setting the bridge inspection point Pb between electrode pads having a large pad-to-pad distance D, and it is only necessary to set the inspection point Pa at which the state of the cream solder S on each electrode pad is observed.
Consequently, if an operator performs an inspection without making any manual setting, despite a defect due to a solder bridge, this may be detected as another kind of defect, or maybe even overlooked.
In addition, there are the following limitations: with respect to a solder bridge inspection region, it is required to indicate the inspection point Pb individually as above described; and the inspection point Pb can be pasted (copied) only to the same pattern on the component mounting board B. Thus, a considerable amount of time is required for creating data designating a solder bridge inspection region (an inspection point) Pb.

Component mounting board inspecting apparatus


Disclosed is a pigment dispersion containing a polymer compound having a partial structure represented by the following formula (1) at a terminal end of a main chain of the polymer compound, and a pigment. In formula (1), R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent; R1 and R2 may form a ring by bonding with each other; and * represents a position that is directly or indirectly bonded to the main chain structure of the compound.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pigment dispersion and an ink composition using the ink composition, and more specifically, a pigment dispersion with good pigment dispersibilty and an ink composition using good color-forming characteristics using the ink composition.
2. Related Art
With regard to an image recording method for forming an image based on image data signals on a recording medium such as paper, there have been known image recording methods such as the electrophotographic system, the thermal transfer system such as a sublimation type and a fusion type, and the inkjet system and the like. Among them, the inkjet system can be put into practice with the use of relatively inexpensive machines, and an image is directly formed by jetting ink droplets on a recording medium only on the area where the image is required to be recorded, so that the ink can be effectively used, and further running cost is low, and noise is low, thereby the inkjet system is excellent as an image recording method.
Moreover, the inkjet system enables printing not only on plain paper, but non-water absorptive recording media such as a plastic sheet and a metal plate. However, the speeding up of printing and formation of high quality image prints are the most important issues, and the inkjet system is characterized in that the time required for drying and curing of printed droplets influence the sharpness of an image.
As one of the inkjet systems, there is a recording method using an ink composition for inkjet recording which is curable by irradiation with an actinic ray. According to this method, the curable ink composition is irradiated with an actinic ray immediately after a print is formed with the use of the curable ink composition to cure ink droplets thereof, so that a sharp image can be obtained.
In the curable ink composition which can be used for such a recording method, a high pigment dispersibility and the stability of the pigment dispersibility over time are required for forming a high definition image with an excellent color forming property. In general, it is essential to form fine particles of pigment in order to impart clear color tone and high coloration performance to an ink composition. In particular, in the inkjet recording ink composition, since jetted ink droplets greatly influence the sharpness of an image, it is essential to use the small quantity of droplets to be jetted and the particle in a smaller size of the ink composition relative to the thickness of a cured layer formed by the ink composition.
When the pigment particles are formed in a smaller size in order to obtain a high coloration performance, the dispersion of the pigments becomes difficult and pigment aggregates are easily formed. When a pigment dispersant is added so as not to form pigment aggregates, the problem of an increase in the viscosity of ink composition arises.
Both the occurrence of the pigment aggregates and the increase in the viscosity of an ink composition exert an adverse influence on the ink jetting property, thereby resulting in great decrease in the performance of the ink composition. Further, since the ink composition used for the inkjet system is accommodated in a cartridge, the ink composition is heated at the time of being jetted, and the temperature of the ink composition is lowered at the time of not being jetted and during being stored, the ink composition is subjected to reiterative changes in temperature between heating and cooling. The temperature change exerts an adverse influence on the dispersibilty of the pigment, in addition to the decrease in the dispersibility over time, there are problems such that thickening and agglomeration of the ink dispersion easily take place.
Under these circumstances, it has been demanded that an ink composition which has sufficient flowability, and contains finely dispersed pigment particles stably and further, has the excellent storability of a pigment dispersion over time, and to this end, various proposals on dispersants for obtaining stable pigment dispersions have been made.
For example, an ink composition in which a pigment derivative as a dispersant in order to enhance the affinity for a pigment is used (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2003-119414 and JP-A No. 2004-18656), an ink composition in which a polymer having a basic group as a dispersant is used for specific pigments such as phthalocyanines and quinacridones (for example, refer to JP-A No. 2003-321628), and an ink composition in which an ink composition which contains a dispersant such as poly(ethyleneimine)-poly(12-hydroxystearic acid) graft polymer and a specific monomer which dissolves the dispersant, without using an organic solvent (for example, refer to JP-A No. 2004-13158), have been proposed.
However, although these pigment dispersions have an improved stability owing to the function of the dispersant as compared with conventional ink compositions, the formation of finely dispersed particles of pigments being used is still insufficient, and there is still a room for improvement on forming pigment fine particles, and further, there is a problem such that the dispersion stability is still insufficient after the ink composition is stored for a long period of time, or is subjected to reiterative changes in temperatures.
Moreover, it is required to satisfy various characteristics such that a nozzle is not clogged (jetting stability) as a radiation curable ink composition used for an inkjet recording method, in addition to the storability.
In addition, for the purpose of improving the pigment dispersibility, there has been proposed a pigment dispersion containing a dispersant in which an acridone moiety is introduced into the main chain skeleton (for example, refer to JP-A No. 2007-277514).

Pigment dispersion and ink composition using the same


An amplitude-shift-keyed (ASK) receiver is described for use in receiving infrared ASK modulated carrier signals wherein a delayed version of a demodulated pulse os compared with a stretched version and a dynamic threshold signal to reproduce binary data pulses. The dynamic threshold signal is further compared with the stretched version to derive an indication of the amplitude of the incident optical carrier. An embodiment illustrating use of the ASK receiver in an infrared communication system is described.

Amplitude-shift-keyed modulation is a commonly known technique used to modulate rf and optical carriers for the transmission of data. A typical transmission involves sending bursts of carrier signals, the presence of a burst identifying a binary one or zero and the absence of a burst or carrier being representative of the opposite binary digit. Examples of patents describing various ASK modulations are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,947,407, 4,860,320, and 4,829,560.
Techniques for improving detection of data signals detected with optical receivers are known in the art. In one such technique as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,916 delayed versions of input signals are compared with undelayed versions to reproduce data signals. Threshold values are created from these signals. U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,795 describes an apparatus for locating leading and trailing edges of pulses derived from an RF input.
One problem associated with ASK receivers involves the large amplitude swings of incident RF or optical carrier signals. Such large swings tend to introduce undesirable variations in the output data pulse width. Such variations often are due to the receiver's bandpass filtering which causes sloping, rising and falling edges at the output of the logarithmic amplifier that is commonly used in receivers.

Ask receiver with signal delay and stretching


In accordance with one embodiment, a roof-raising/lowering mechanism for an A-frame style folding trailer comprises a mechanical lever arm assembly. The lever arm assembly is coupled to the rear roof section, which underlies the front roof section when such sections are in their lowered, overlapping positions. Thus, when the lever arm assembly is operated to raise the rear roof section, it pushes up the front roof section to its raised position. The lever arm assembly can be manually operated and/or power-operated using, for example, an electric motor as the power source.

A-frame style folding trailers are well known in the recreational vehicle field. Such trailers typically have two flat and relatively rigid roof sections, one hinged to the rear of the generally rectangular-shaped trailer body and the other hinged to the front of such body. The two roof sections are movable about their hinge axes between lowered, or closed, positions in which the roof sections overlap one another and are in generally horizontal positions covering the top access opening of the trailer body, and raised, or open, positions in which the two roof sections define a generally A-frame roof with the free ends of such sections meeting at the apex of the A-frame roof to provide access to the interior of the trailer body through its open top. Typically, in their folded positions, the front roof section overlaps the rear roof section.
In the past, the raising of the front and rear roof sections has been accomplished manually and with the assistance of four-torsion springs located one at each of the four corners of the rectangular trailer body. Such roof sections were raised manually by a person pushing up on the underlying rear roof section so as to raise both roof sections together, with some assistance from the torsion springs. The roof sections were also lowered manually by a person pulling downward on the roof sections against the force of the torsion springs. Considerable physical exertion is required for a person to raise and lower the roof sections of such trailers. Moreover, such person must be tall enough and strong enough to raise and lower the roof sections. As a result, the size, weight, and height of the roof sections of known A-frame style trailers are limited, and, even then, not everyone had the physical strength or height to use them.

Roof-raising/lowering mechanism for a-frame style folding trailers and method for using the same


‘AMBER VELVET’ is a distinctive variety of Anigozanthos hybrid which is characterized by the combination of its medium plant height with an upright growth habit and a semi-erect leaf attitude, large number of flowers per inflorescence and a predominantly orange colored perianth tube.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Anigozanthos hybrid, which has been given the variety denomination of 'AMBER VELVET'. Its market class is that of an ornamental plant. 'AMBER VELVET' is intended for use in landscaping and as a decorative plant.
The Anigozanthos hybrid variety 'AMBER VELVET' was the result of a controlled pollination between seed parent un-named Anigozanthos hybrid (A. humilis×A. flavidus) and pollen parent un-named Anigozanthos hybrid (A. pulcherrimus×A. flavidus) in 2002 in an Australian nursery in the state of Western Australia. Seed were collected and germinated in vitro during 2003. Resultant plants were tested in 200 mm pots and in ground during 2003-2004. The inventive variety was finally selected in 2004 based on plant height, plant growth vigor, flower color and flowering season. 'AMBER VELVET' is propagated asexually by micropropagation. The distinctive characteristics of the inventive 'AMBER VELVET' variety are stable from generation to generation; clones of the variety produced by asexual reproduction maintain the distinguishing characteristics of the original plant.
'AMBER VELVET' has a medium plant height including the inflorescence (range 90-110 cm) with an upright growth habit and a semi-erect leaf attitude whereas the seed parent has a short plant height (approximately 50 cm) and the pollen parent has a tall plant height (160-180 cm). 'AMBER VELVET' has a large number of flowers per inflorescence with the predominant color of the perianth tube being orange whereas the seed parent has a yellow-orange predominant perianth tube color and the pollen parent has a yellow predominant perianth tube color. Time of beginning of flowering for 'AMBER VELVET' is spring whereas the seed parent is late winter and the pollen parent is late spring to early summer.
An application for plant breeders' rights for variety 'AMBER VELVET' has been lodged with the Australian Plant Breeders' Rights Office, and was first gazetted in February 2005 under Application No. 2005/047.

Anigozanthos hybrid plant named ‘AMBER VELVET’


A sports training apparatus for sports in which a ball or the like are played with a racket or the like, comprising a programmable microcomputer, an acoustic device and at least one input device, wherein the microcomputer can be controlled by the input device to output acoustic signals indicating specific motions by means of acoustic output devices and for changing the duration, interval and quality of said signals. The invention aims at providing a sports training device which is lasting and practical to use, e.g., small, lightweight and relatively easy and simple to use and offering mental support for practicing said sport. To this end, the microcomputer, the acoustic device and at least part of the input device are located in a casing having the form of a wrist-watch. The acoustic device comprises a voice generator for generating at least two different words. Part of the input device is formed by a push switch that starts execution of the microcomputer program, is retained by a cap that can be slid back by the finger of the sportsman and is fitted with a radio transmitter connected to the microcomputer.

The invention relates to a training apparatus for the types of sport in which a ball or the like are played with a racket or a club or the like, comprising a programmable microcomputer, an acoustic device in a housing having the shape of a wrist watch, and at least one input device whereby at least one component is designed in the form of a push switch having a cap that can be pulled over the finger of the operator and which starts the execution of the microcomputer program. The microcomputer can be controlled by an input device to put out set acoustic signals indicating specific movements by means of acoustic output devices, preferably a headphone or an inserted earphone and to change the duration, interval and quality of said signals. The invention relates further to a training system for these types of sport having an apparatus of the type mentioned above.

Sports training apparatus and sports training system


A programmable logic device (PLD) output macrocell circuit is disclosed. Specifically, there is a macrocell having an exclusive logic signal feedback line and an exclusive external input signal line both feeding into the input of the PLD.

The introduction of programmable logic devices (PLDs) was a true revolution in the hardware design world. It enabled engineers to shrink circuits requiring several devices onto a single device thus simplifying their designs while saving space and power. Traditionally, PLDs have been used in combinational circuits such as address decoders as well as sequential circuits such as bus arbitration schemes. During the last few years, advances and improvements in PLD architectures enabled the devices to grow more complex while addressing the never-ending quest for higher density and faster speeds. Despite these improvements, engineers still face certain problems and limitations when implementing state machine designs with PLDs.
A typical programmable logic device is composed of a user-programmable AND array, a fixed or programmable OR gate or array, followed by a macrocell comprising output registers, a feedback path to the programmable AND array, and output pads. The existence of a feedback path from the output registers or buffers to the AND array makes PLDs ideal candidates for state machine implementations.
Although the feedback paths allow for architecture that implements state machines these architectures have been encumbered with inefficient feedback paths. Specifically, these paths have incorporated unnecessary gate delays like three-states or registers.
For example, FIG. 1, is a related design which implements an inefficient feedback path. Particularly, while in an output mode, programmable logical OR array 10 couples signals to three-state (output buffer) 12 where signals are coupled to output pad 14 and input buffer 16 via feedback line 18.
One skilled in the art will understand that a three-state, such as 12, has a relatively large signal delay and creates a large amount of signal noise. Additionally, it is easily noted that there is no exclusive feedback line, but a sharing of the feedback and input line.
Therefore, a need exists for a macrocell which has an efficient feedback path, yet provides for an input line from the I/O pad. Particularly, a feedback path which avoids costly timing delays and unnecessary signal noise being injected (returned) into the logic array.

Programmable logic device macrocell with an exclusive feedback line and an exclusive external input line


The invention is a method for controlling automated photographic equipment, for example, printers, color analyzers, film cutters and film baggers. Machine readable data is permanently imprinted on photographic negatives. Included in this data is discreet identifying information for a single photographic negative frame. A data base is separately created, with each record correlating to the individual photographic negative. The combined information from the photographic negative and the data base are used to operate a variety of automated photographic printing equipment, via a computer network.

Commercial photographic printing processes involve the use of multiple pieces of equipment, each performing well-defined functions. For example, a typical commercial photographic printing facility may utilize a film developing station, a film color analyzer, a printer, a print cutter, a print sorter and a print bagger. The object of the concerted operation of this equipment is the economical production of high quality photographic prints from an individual negative.
Commercial photographic printers are devices capable of exposing photographic positive paper in response to illumination from photographic negatives. These processes are well known in the art. Because of the economies of scale, it is desirable to print photographs in a commercial environment as quickly and accurately as possible. In the past, commercial photographic printing equipment utilized manual techniques for transporting large reels of film through the printer. Typically, a printer operator would hand crank a "take-up" reel to pull a roll of negatives from a feed reel, across the exposure window or "gate" and the frame of the printer. This system was prone to operator error and damage to the film. Accordingly, efforts were undertaken to develop an automated approach to the process, and in recent years, mechanically operated film drive mechanisms have been used to transport the film through such printers.
Typically, some of this equipment is capable of operating in a manual, automatic, or semi-automatic mode. The commercial printer may require a human operator to manually look through a series of negatives, locate an appropriate negative, and place the negative in proper position and orientation in the printer for producing a suitable exposure of the negative on the photographic paper Thereafter, the operator will cause the machine to cycle and thereby expose the paper. In determining how the prints are to be made, the operator may be guided by certain predetermined parameters, for example, color balance, position of the subject in relation to the edges of the negative, and the desired "order" information from the customer, i.e., how many prints of a particular size are desired from a given negative. Such manual operations may also be applicable to machines such as color analyzers or print cutters. Manual operations of this nature are very prone to error, due to the large number of photographic prints which a processing facility must produce in a given time period, and due to the fact that the operator is often viewing a negative image. Further, manual operations which attempt to correlate particular photographs with particular customer or photographer instructions are plagued with error, inasmuch as photographic negatives do not normally contain any information correlative of the subject with such instructions. Attempts to minimize errors in processing using manual methods have, accordingly, been directed toward modern automation techniques.
Initially, photographic equipment has been developed which relies upon physical marks placed on the photographic negative itself. Early attempts to automate the printing process utilized the addition of a notch cut in the edge of each negative in a continuous roll of film. Photographic equipment through which such rolls of negative film were transported could, utilizing a sensor, determine the existence and position of such a notch, and thereby offer some machine control over the process of handling said negatives. For example, a printer operator could rapidly advance to the next frame in a roll of film simply by operating a switch which would advance the film to the next frame.
It became apparent that this system could be improved upon by substituting punched holes along the edge of the negative, in place of a single notch. Certain printers, for example, could identify up to 10 punched hole positions on any negative. These holes could be placed in a predetermined pattern and thereby provide a discreet frame number for each negative, a discrete package code, and density information. Further, special circumstances (such as a "blink" frame, where the subject had blinked at the time the shutter of the camera was operated) could be identified with a special "blink code", thereby alerting the operator to skip printing of that frame. Thereafter, efforts were undertaken to automate the operation of the commercial photographic equipment further, by allowing the equipment to operate automatically based on the pre-punched codes. An entire roll of negative film could be pre-punched, and an automated photographic printer, for example, could process the entire roll with minimal human intervention.
This method, too, had shortcomings. No method existed for selectively altering the punched codes once they had been placed on the film. Further, because of the inherent space limitations of the physical size of such film, it was impossible to encode certain information necessary to the successful production of consistent quality prints. Accordingly, efforts were made to prepare machine readable data and instructions which could operate associatively with the notches or punched codes. Early efforts led to the production of commercial photographic printers which utilized magnetic tape to send pre-programmed package instructions to a printer in sequence in response to the signals generated by notched film. These efforts met with only limited success however, inasmuch as a single machine reading error produced consecutive errors in film package printing sequences.
To overcome these difficulties, micro-computer technology was first applied to create dedicated controllers which contained permanent, resident memory routines which operated a single piece of photographic equipment in response to codes punched on the negative film. More recently, devices and methods have been developed which allow correlation of electronically stored data relating to a particular film negative. Such technology is disclosed in U.S. Pat. application No. 07/172,805, currently pending, and subject to certain allowed claims therein.
It is desirable, however, to increase the flexibility of present art to allow total computer control over the entire photographic printing process. Data regarding any photographic negative must be storable and retrievable associatively with each discrete photographic negative. In addition, the data must be modifiable by the commercial photographic studio. Moreover, the data must be accessible to each type of photographic processing equipment within the photographic processing facility, either by use of transportable media, or over a computer network. The present invention is a method to achieve these desired goals.

Control system for photographic equipment


If a temperature of a heat roller 12 rises abnormally, a thermostat 54 operates. When the thermostat 54 operates, a conduction path to an excitation coil 91 of a relay 90 is cut off so that a normally open contact 92 of the relay 90 can be operated. When the normally open contact 92 operates, the supply path of a drive signal supplied from a frequency variable oscillator 81 to a transistor 63 is cut off. By the cut-off, a high-frequency current does not flow through coils 14a to 14c; therefore, induction heating with respect to the heat roller 12 is stopped.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing apparatus, which is built into an image forming apparatus such as copy machine and printer, and fixes a toner (developer) image on a paper sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, induction heating has been practically used as heat source of a fixing apparatus used for an electrophotography system. According to induction heating, high-frequency current is carried to coils so that a high-frequency magnetic field can be generated by the coils. A heat roller generates an eddy current using the high-frequency magnetic field, and thereafter, self-heats using joule heat by the eddy current.
The fixing apparatus employing the foregoing induction heating has a thermostat as a thermally sensitive element for sensing the temperature of the heat roller. The thermostat operates to cut off the input current to the fixing apparatus if the temperature of the heat roller rises abnormally. Induction heating is stopped according to the cut-off, thereby preventing the temperature of the heat roller from rising abnormally.
However, in order to cut off the input current to the fixing apparatus, a thermostat having a large rated current (e.g., 10 A to 15 A) must be used. The large rated current thermostat has a large heat capacity, and is late to response speed. For this reason, a time lag is generated until the thermostat operates after the temperature of the heat roller rises abnormally. This is a factor of giving thermal influence to the heat roller and its peripheral sections.
On the other hand, JPN. PAT. APLLN. KOKAI Publication No. 9-197854 discloses the following technique. According to the technique, there is provided a thermistor, which senses the temperature of the heat roller, and a relay, which operates when the temperature sensed by the thermistor rises abnormally. The contact of the relay is inserted and connected to the conducting path to coils. More specifically, if the temperature of the heat roller rises abnormally, the relay operates to open its contacts, and thereby, conduction to the coils is cut off, so that induction heating can be stopped. However, in this case, a large current of about 60 A flows through the coils, and thus, a high voltage of about 900 V is applied to the coils. In order to cut off the foregoing large current and high voltage, a large type relay must be used. However, the large type relay for cutting off the large current and high voltage is expensive; therefore, it is not suitable for practical use.
JPN. PAT. APLLN. KOKAI Publication No. 2002-236429 discloses the following technique. According to the technique, there is provided a thermostat, which senses the temperature of the heat roller. The thermostat operates to cut off the supply of operating voltage to the drive means of a switching element if the temperature of the heat roller rises abnormally. The switching element is used for supplying a high-frequency current to coils. However, in this case, a special IC must be used as the drive means of the switching element. The special IC is expensive; therefore, it is not suitable for practical use.
JPN. PAT. APLLN. KOKAI Publication No. 8-339134 discloses the following technique. According to the technique, there is provided a thermistor, which senses the temperature of a fixing roller. In the thermistor, the resistance value varies greatly if the temperature of the fixing roller rises abnormally. When the resistance variation occurs, conduction to a fuser is cut off according to control using the IC. Induction heating is stopped by the cut-off of the conduction to prevent the temperature of the fixing roller from rising abnormally. However, control using the IC is made between temperature sensing by a thermistor and cut-off of conduction to the fuser. For this reason, if failure occurs in the control, the conduction to the fuser is not cut off. As a result, it is impossible to prevent the temperature of the fixing roller from rising abnormally.
In addition, JPN. PAT. APLLN. KOKAI Publication No. 8-339134 discloses the following structure. There is provided a relay, which operates when the temperature of the heat roller rises abnormally, and the contact of the relay is inserted and connected to the conducting path to coils. However, according to the structure, there is a problem that the large type relay for cutting off a large current and high voltage must be used like the foregoing Publication No. 8-339134.

Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus


A lubricant pump includes a housing in which at least one pair of intermeshing gear wheels is arranged for conveying lubricant. One gear wheel is rotatably supported on a drive shaft and the other gear wheel is rotatably supported on an axially shiftable displacement unit for adjusting a variable flow volume. Axially displaceable in a housing receptacle is a control piston for hydraulically adjusting the position of the displacement unit. The control piston is configured as composite structural part and has a central longitudinal shaft and cylinder rings which include control edges for clearing or closing control channels feeding into the receptacle. The cylinder rings are made from a material which reduces friction and/or wear with respect to the receptacle, and the central longitudinal shaft has at least one section made from a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion at least substantially corresponding to the one of the receptacle.

The invention relates to a lubricant pump, in particular for a combustion engine of a motor vehicle, having a housing in which at least one pair of intermeshing gear wheels is arranged for conveying lubricant, with a first of the gear wheels being rotatably supported on a drive shaft and the second of the gear wheels being rotatably supported on an axially shiftable displacement unit for adjusting a variable flow volume, and a control piston axially displaceable in a receptacle of the housing for hydraulically adjusting the position of the displacement unit, with the control piston having a central longitudinal shaft and cylinder rings which include control edges for clearing or closing control channels feeding into the receptacle.
The invention also relates to a control piston for a lubricant pump, in particular as described above.
Lubricant pumps and control pistons of the afore-mentioned type are known from the prior art. In so-called variable capacity lubricant pumps, the feed volume is varied or adjusted by moving a gear wheel of a gear wheel pair. Due to the overlapping zone—seen axially—of the two gear wheels the volume being delivered is determined. The first gear wheel is hereby fixedly mounted on a drive shaft, whereas the second gear wheel is rotatably supported on the displacement unit. The displacement unit can be shifted or moved hydraulically axially in a known manner in order to change the axial position of the second gear wheel and thus the afore-mentioned overlapping zone. An axially movable control piston is provided for hydraulic actuation of the displacement unit and includes a central longitudinal shaft and a plurality of cylinder rings. The diameter of the cylinder rings is hereby selected greater than that of the central longitudinal shaft, with the outer surface areas of the cylinder rings serving as guides in a receptacle of the housing, and with the cylinder rings having control edges which serve to adjust the flow-through cross sections or for clearing or closing control channels, which feed into the receptacle and are fluidly connected to the displacement unit.
As the control piston and the housing have different coefficients of thermal expansion, the known lubricant pumps have the drawback that a precise interaction between the control edges and the control channels feeding into the receptacle cannot always be ensured over a wide operating temperature range, as encountered for example in combustion engines, so that the (axial) position of the second gear wheel does not always correspond to the desired position.