A method and a device for detecting objects in the blind spot of a vehicle are provided, which make it possible, through an adaptively decreased measuring time, to achieve a shorter response time for alerting a driver in the event of an imminent collision with an object in the blind spot. Due to the fact that the frequency and/or the width of a measuring signal is/are set as a function of the previously determined distance between the vehicle and the object, it is possible to increase the sampling rate proportional to the decrease in the distance between the vehicle and the object. This makes it possible to detect the closest object more rapidly, i.e., for the most relevant object for a potential collision to be evaluated, thereby generating an adequately early collision alert. The frequency of a measuring signal is preferably set reciprocally proportional to the determined distance between the vehicle and the object.

Devices for detecting objects in the surroundings of a vehicle include those device which monitor the blind spot of a vehicle, which are known as blind spot detection systems (BSD systems). These systems are generally used for electronically detecting objects in the surroundings of the vehicle which are difficult for the driver to observe without turning his/her head to the side. Such head turning (looking over the shoulder) is not possible in many cases because of the associated neglect of the traffic situation ahead. In particular on multi-lane roads, a BSD system signals to the driver of a vehicle when another vehicle (object) is passing at a lower differential velocity, thereby remaining in the blind spot to the right or left of the vehicle longer than only an instant. The danger of an accident because of overlooking other vehicles during a lane change may be reduced due to such information being available to the driver.
According to the known art, sensors for detecting external vehicles (objects) or for evaluating collision scenarios are used in vehicles. These sensors use ultrasonic, radar, or light waves to detect the existence of objects in a contactless manner and are also able to measure the vehicle's distance to the objects.
A device for detecting objects in the blind spot of a vehicle described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,495 includes individual ultrasonic waves which are generated at a predefined angle via a signal generator. The ultrasonic waves, subsequently reflected or scattered by a potential object, are received and amplified by an ultrasonic receiver. A point in time of a potential collision between the object and the host vehicle is calculated from this ultrasonic signal, the vehicle's velocity, and the vehicle's steering angle. Moreover, the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,495 has means for communicating with the driver which, in the event of a likely collision with an object situated in the blind spot, trigger an alert or inform the driver in another suitable way.
A disadvantage of the known ultrasound-based BSD systems is their particularly long response time. Due to the lower propagation rate of sound waves (compared to radar waves or light waves), the measuring time of ultrasound-based BSD systems is longer than the measuring time of comparable radar-based or light wave-based BSD systems. The response time of the system is longer due to the longer measuring time so that, in the event of a potential collision with an object in the blind spot, the appropriate warning to the driver is delayed. However, the use of faster radar sensors or light sensors entails a substantial cost disadvantage.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device for detecting objects in the surroundings of a vehicle via which a shorter measuring time and consequently a shorter response time are facilitated for alerting the driver in the event of an imminent collision with an object in the vehicle's surroundings. This makes it possible in particular to use cost-effective ultrasonic sensors.

Method and device for detecting objects in the surroundings of a vehicle


An aerosol system for dispensing liquid material. An aerosol system for dispensing material, comprising an aerosol assembly, a cover member, a plurality of dispensing tubes, and an accessory storage system. The aerosol assembly defines a cap member and an actuator member. Each dispensing tube is associated with a predetermined pattern. Each of the dispensing tubes may be in a first configuration in which the dispensing tube is secured relative to the actuator member of the aerosol assembly and a second configuration in which the dispensing tubes is secured relative to the aerosol assembly by the accessory storage system. When the cover member covers the actuator member and the dispensing tubes are in the second configuration, the cap member further covers the accessory storage system and the dispensing tubes.

The present invention relates to aerosol systems comprising an aerosol assembly and a liquid product to be dispensed. The aerosol assembly conventionally comprises a container, a valve assembly, an actuator assembly, and a cap. The liquid product is disposed within the container along with a propellant material that pressurizes the product. The valve assembly is normally in a closed configuration but may be placed in an open configuration to allow pressurized product to exit the container. The actuator assembly engages the valve assembly such that pressing the actuator assembly places the valve assembly in the open configuration to allow the product to be dispensed through a nozzle formed by the actuator assembly. The cap engages the container to protect the actuator assembly when the aerosol system is not in use.
For some materials dispensed using an aerosol system, accessories are used in connection with the material being dispensed and/or the aerosol system. Accessories may include dispensing tubes or straws, brushes, cleaning devices, or any other small tool or adapter used to work the material or which is attached to the aerosol assembly as the material is dispensed.
The present invention is of particular significance when used to store dispensing tubes used with an aerosol system for dispensing texture material, and that application will be described herein in detail. The present invention may be used in other environments, however, and the scope of the present invention should be determined by the claims appended hereto and not the following detailed description.
For aesthetic reasons, texture material is often applied to wall surfaces. Texture material creates a bumpy or variegated pattern on the wall surface. Such texture patterns are often referred to as fine, medium, orangepeel, or the like. When a wall surface must be patched in a relatively small area, often the most convenient method of applying texture material is with an aerosol system. Dispensing the texture material through dispensing tubes with different internal bore diameters allows the texture material to be dispensed in different texture patterns. One of the dispensing tubes is selected such that the texture pattern obtained substantially matches the pre-existing texture pattern.
Conventionally, the dispensing tubes are taped to the aerosol container during manufacture. Such straws may be misplaced and/or stolen during shipping and retail display. Additionally, after the aerosol system is used for the first time, the user must take care to ensure that the straws are stored for the next and any subsequent use of the aerosol system. The need thus exists for improved systems and methods for storing accessories, including but not limited to dispensing tubes, for aerosol systems during shipping, retail display, and storage before and after the first use.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Storage systems and methods for aerosol accessories


A phosphor is provided. The phosphor includes a composition represented by the formula: M1O2.aM2O.bM3X2:M4,where M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Ti, Zr, and Sn; M2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Zn; M3 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Zn; X is at least one halogen element; M4 is at least one element essentially including Eu2+ selected from the group consisting of rare-earth elements and Mn; a is in the range of 0.1≦a≦1.3; and b is in the range of 0.1≦b≦0.25.

1. Technical Field
Compositions consistent with the present invention relate to phosphors and, more particularly, to phosphors that are efficiently excited by ultraviolet light or short-wavelength visible light to emit light.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various light emitting devices have been known that can provide light of desired colors by combining a light emitting element and a phosphor which is excited by light generated by the light emitting element and then emits light of a wavelength band different from that of the light emitting element.
Particularly, a related art light emitting device that provides white light by combining a semiconductor light emitting element, which emits ultraviolet light or short-wavelength visible light, such as a light emitting diode (LED) and a laser diode (LD), with a phosphor that uses them as an excitation light source has been proposed as a white light emitting device that is durable and consumes little power.
Various such related art white light emitting devices have been proposed, such as (1) a device combining an LED that emits blue light and a phosphor that is excited by the blue light and then emits yellow light, and (2) a device combining a plurality of LEDS that emit violet light or ultraviolet light and phosphors that emit light with colors of red, green, blue, yellow, and the like. (see e.g., Japanese Patent No. 3503139; Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-126577; and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-110150)
However, the related art white light emitting devices described above have a few disadvantages. For example, in the related art white light emitting device (1), there is little light of a wavelength band between the blue color and the yellow color, and a color rendering property is small because there is little light of a red region obtained from the phosphor. The white light is obtained by mixing the light of the LED and the light of the phosphor. Accordingly, for example, when the application amount of the phosphor is not uniform in a production process of the related art white light emitting device, balance in the amount of light emitted by the LED and the phosphor is broken. Therefore, non-uniformity occurs also in the spectrum of the obtained white light.
The related art white light emitting device (2) is good in a color rendering property, but a phosphor having a strong excitation band in an ultraviolet light region or a short-wavelength visible light region has not been found, and thus it has been difficult to realize a high-power white light emitting device.


A sear mechanism for a firearm includes a trigger element having one or more contact surfaces on which one or more movable or pivotable components of the sear mechanism selectively contacts or slides. In some embodiments, the trigger element is made by producing an intermediate workpiece of the trigger element by a manufacturing process, and electric discharge machining the intermediate workpiece of the trigger element to provide the contact surfaces.

A trigger mechanism actuates the firing sequence of a firearm. The trigger mechanism typically includes a lever or button actuated by the index finger. In addition, the trigger mechanism includes several mechanical components that engage and interact with each other to actuate a firing mechanism of the firearm.
The operation of the trigger mechanism has an impact on the shooting accuracy of a firearm. Accuracy can be reduced if too much force is required to pull back the trigger. Additionally, a rough, uneven, or unpredictable hammer release point can also result in reduced accuracy and may lead to frustration with or distrust of a firearm.

Method for manufacturing a trigger element of a sear mechanism for a firearm


An image sensor controller and methods achieve faster image reading speeds by controlling the frequency of image sensor transfer clocks φ1, φ2 in accordance with the particular output period. Such an image sensor controller includes a drive controller that supplies to a transfer section of the image sensor transfer clocks φ1, φ2 whose clock frequency during dummy pixel output periods is faster than it is during an effective pixel output period, or whose clock frequency during non-reading pixel output periods is faster than it is during a reading pixel output period. A pattern selector selects among clock patterns in a table for setting φ1, φ2 according to the output periods of the image sensor. Even when the clock frequency of φ1, φ2 changes, a transfer clock ADCK signal can be supplied at a constant clock frequency to an A/D converter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image sensor controllers, electronic devices, and methods for controlling image sensors to obtain faster image reading speeds.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image reading device such as an image scanner, facsimile machine or copy machine uses an image sensor, i.e., Charge Coupled Device (CCD), Contact Image Sensor (CIS), or Bucket Brigade Device (BBD), to read images. A particular type of CCD (a CCD line image sensor) is usually employed in an image scanner to read images.
With a line type image sensor, image information is gathered by a light receiving section of the image sensor and supplied in the form of an image data signal to a transfer section of the image sensor. An image sensor controller supplies a transfer clock to the transfer section, and the transfer section uses that transfer clock to successively shift and transfer the image data externally. Then, the outputted analog image data is converted to digital image data, and image processing such as gamma conversion is performed.
However, conventional image sensor controllers use only a fixed transfer clock pattern to drive an image sensor. For this reason, image data for dummy pixel regions, which are essentially unnecessary image data, are transferred at the same transfer rate as image data for effective pixel regions. As a result, the time for shift and transfer operations at the transfer section is unnecessarily long.

Image sensor controller, electronic device, and method for controlling image sensor


A modular keyboard includes a typewriter keys section; a function keys section; a keyboard shortcuts section; a numeric keypad; a cursor control and system command keys section; and a keyboard cable. The typewriter keys section includes first contacts on the back electrically connected to the function keys section, second contacts on the left side electrically connected to the keyboard shortcuts section, third contacts on the front end electrically connected to a hand rest board, fourth contacts on the right side electrically connected to the numeric keypad, and fifth contacts on the rear end electrically connected to the keyboard cable. The numeric keypad includes contacts on the right side electrically connected to the cursor control and system command keys section. The components can be detached prior to carrying same.

A user may press a key or button of a keyboard, as an input device of computer, to input an alphanumeric character to the computer, or to call upon a particular function of the computer. Conventionally, a computer keyboard comprises alphanumeric or character keys for typing, modifier keys for altering the functions of other keys, navigation keys for moving the text cursor on the screen, function keys and system command keys for special actions, and often a numeric keypad to facilitate calculations.
However, it is impossible of carrying one or more of these sections of the computer keyboard since they are integrally formed. And in turn, it causes inconvenience to carry for use due to bulkiness.
Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

Shenzhen Ajazz Tongchuang Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.


A battery pack includes a case, at least one receptacle defined in the case and configured to accommodate at least one battery that supplies power to a portable ultrasonic scanning apparatus, at least one first terminal installed to the at least one receptacle, the first terminal coming into contact with a terminal of the battery when the battery is accommodated in the at least one receptacle, and a second terminal electrically connected to the at least one first terminal, the second terminal being electrically connected to the portable ultrasonic scanning apparatus.

Ultrasonic scanning apparatuses generate ultrasonic waves and receive the ultrasonic waves reflected from a human body, thereby judging the presence or absence of any diseases or other abnormalities of the human body.
Ultrasonic scanning apparatuses are mainly installed and used in, e.g., doctor's offices and exam rooms of hospitals. Despite needs for moving the ultrasonic scanning apparatuses, and it is not easy to transport the ultrasonic scanning apparatuses from hospitals because of significant volume and weight thereof. Thus, patients, who are not able to move about freely and thus have difficulty in visiting hospitals may have difficulty in getting a ultrasonic scan.
To overcome the above-described restriction in transportation, a need exists for providing portable ultrasonic scanning apparatuses having convenience in carrying.

Sub-battery pack, battery pack having the sub-battery pack, portable ultrasonic scanning apparatus using the sub-battery pack and battery pack, and cart carrying the sub-battery pack, battery pack and portable ultrasonic scanning apparatus


The present invention relates to a multilayer tubular structure (MLT) intended for the transport of fluids, in particular of petrol, especially alcohol-containing petrol, comprising, from the outside inwards, at least one barrier layer (1) and at least one inner layer (2) located below the barrier layer,    said inner layer (2), or all the layers (2) and the other optional layers located below the barrier layer, containing on average from 0 to 1.5% by weight of plasticizer relative to the total weight of the composition of the layer (2) or to the total weight of all the compositions of the layers (2) and the other optional layers located below the barrier layer, respectively,    said inner layer (2) predominantly comprising at least one polyamide of aliphatic type or consisting of more than 75% of aliphatic units, said aliphatic polyamide being chosen from:            a polyamide denoted A, having a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, denoted CA, of from 4 to 8.5, advantageously from 4 to 7;        a polyamide denoted B, having a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, denoted CB, of from 7 to 10, advantageously from 7.5 to 9.5;        a polyamide denoted C, having a mean number of carbon atoms per nitrogen atom, denoted CC, of from 9 to 18, advantageously from 10 to 18;            with the proviso that when said inner layer (2) comprises at least three polyamides, at least one of said polyamides A, B and C is excluded.

The invention more particularly relates to the tubes present within an engine. These tubes may for example be intended for the transport of fuels, especially between the tank and the engine, for the cooling circuit, for the hydraulics system, or else intended for the air conditioning circuit or the transport of urea/water mixture.
For the transport of petrol, and in particular of bio-petrol, numerous criteria must be met, in particular good barrier properties (for environmental protection reasons), cold impact, pressure resistance, etc.
For reasons of safety and environmental conservation, especially with the advent of new biofuels, car manufacturers are demanding particular mechanical characteristics for the abovementioned tubes, and also characteristics of very low permeability and good resistance to the different constituents of the fuels, the latter varying depending on the country (hydrocarbons, additives, alcohols such as methanol and ethanol, alcohols possibly being predominant components in some cases), to engine lubrication oils, and to other chemical products liable to be encountered in this environment (battery acids, brake fluids, coolant liquids, metal salts such as zinc or calcium chloride).
The characteristics of the specifications commonly required by car manufacturers for a tube to be deemed satisfactory are, cumulatively, the following:                good, lasting adhesion between the layers, if the tube is a multilayer tube, most particularly after having been exposed to the fuel;        good integrity of the connections (tubes with connectors) after circulation of the fuel, that is to say not leading to any leakage;        good dimensional stability of the tube when it is used with petrol;        good impact resistance under cold conditions (from −30° C. to −40° C. approximately), such that the tube does not shatter;        good heat resistance (approximately 150° C.), such that the tube does not deform;        good resistance to ageing in a hot oxidative medium (for example: hot air from the engine compartment, from 100 to 150° C. approximately);        good resistance to fuels and to their degradation products, and especially with high peroxide contents;        very low permeability to fuels, and more particularly good barrier properties to biofuels, both for the polar components thereof (such as ethanol) and for the apolar components thereof (hydrocarbons);        good flexibility of the tube to facilitate assembly, especially of the fuel supply pipe;        good resistance to ZnCl2 (for example in winter when the roads have been gritted, the outside of the tube being exposed to this environment).
Moreover, the desired tubes must avoid the following drawbacks:                if the tube is a multilayer tube, the delamination of the layers, especially the inner layers, especially during connector insertion (which may lead to leakages);        excessive swelling of the tube after ageing in petrol/diesel systems (including for biodiesels or bio-petrols), which may lead to leakages or problems of positioning under the vehicle.
Recently, a new problem has appeared, namely the excess of extractable matter from the multilayer tube following prolonged contact with the alcohol-containing petrol. This extractable matter is liable to block or clog the injectors of the vehicle engines. Car manufacturers, in particular Volkswagen, have therefore established new criteria for selecting tubes able to transport petrol, especially alcohol-containing petrol, in motor vehicles, which are stricter than they used to be. Thus, the new test developed by different manufacturers, especially Volkswagen, consists in determining the proportion of extractables of a petrol transport tube after bringing the inside thereof into contact with hot alcohol-containing petrol for several hours and weighing the evaporation residue of the petrol contained within the tube, corresponding to the extractables. The tube tested may thus only be used for transporting petrol if the proportion of extractables is as low as possible, in particular less than or equal to 6 g/m2 (of tube inner surface area).
Currently, there are two types of tubes: single-layer and multilayer tubes, that is to say consisting of one or more layers of polymer. For the transport of petrol, in particular, the use of a multilayer tube comprising a barrier layer is tending to become widespread for ecological reasons.
Conventionally, the tubes used are produced by mono-extrusion, if it is a single-layer tube, or by coextrusion of the different layers, if it is a multilayer tube, according to customary techniques for transforming thermoplastics.
The structures (MLT) for transporting petrol typically consist of a barrier layer such as EVOH, surrounded on both sides by a PA layer (at least one layer) and optionally comprising layers of binders in the event that the adhesion between the other layers proves insufficient.
Thus, patent EP 2098580 especially describes tubes having an EVOH barrier and at least two layers of polyamides, plasticized or unplasticized, one being located above the barrier layer and the other being located below the barrier layer.
Nonetheless, this type of structure, and also other MLTs known to those skilled in the art, are no longer suited to the abovementioned new test for extractables.

Multilayer tubular structure having better resistance to extraction in biofuel and use thereof


Disclosed herein is a hydrogel wound dressing produced by the steps of a) providing an hydrophobic polyol which has six hydroxyl groups, b) providing an hydrophilic diisocyanate obtained by reacting a second diisocyanate with a hydrophilic polyether diol, c) reacting the hydrophobic polyol with the hydrophilic diisocyanate to obtain a first prepolymer which includes 3 to 6 isocyanate groups, d) partially crosslinking the first prepolymer using a crosslinking agent to obtain a second prepolymer, and e) subjecting the second prepolymer to an end-capping reaction with a silane-containing compound to obtain the hydrogel wound dressing.

Wound dressings have been used to promote healing, to protect damaged tissues from contamination by dirt and foreign substances, and to protect against infection. Hydrogel dressings, silicone gel dressings, and polyurethane (PU) dressings are the most commonly used dressings in wound care. However, the silicone gel dressings have low vapor permeability (their water vapor transmission rate is usually less than 400 g/m2/day), and thus may cause wound infiltration and allergy. Furthermore, the polyurethane dressings have no significant effect on reducing scar formation.
Hydrogel wound dressings have several advantages over other wound dressings. Hydrogel polymers are hydrophilic, so that they absorb water and keep the environment moist, thereby promoting healing, rehydrating dead tissues, and enhancing autolytic debridement. In addition, the hydrogel dressings are often cool on the surface of the wound, helping to relieve pain. However, there are problems with conventional hydrogel wound dressings. Some conventional hydrogel wound dressings have been found to lack sufficient mechanical strength, causing the wound dressing to shed, and sometimes to tear. Such conventional hydrogel dressings are unable to absorb sufficient wound exudates, leading to proliferation of bacteria.
In view of the foregoing, the applicants attempted to develop a new hydrogel wound dressing, which is antimicrobial and has high clinical efficiency.

Hydrogel wound dressing and method of preparing the same


A cryptosystem is described which automatically provides an extra “message recovery” recipient(s) when an encrypted message is generated in the system. The system is typically configured such that the extra recipient or “message recovery agent” (MRA)—an entity which itself has a public key (i.e., a MRA public key)—is automatically added, under appropriate circumstances, as a valid recipient for an encrypted message created by a user. In a corporate setting, for example, the message recovery agent is the “corporate” message recovery agent designated for that company (firm, organization, or other group) and the user is an employee (or member) of that company (or group). In operation, the system embeds a pointer (or other reference mechanism) to the MRA public key into the public key of the user or employee, so that encrypted messages sent to the company's employees from outside users (e.g., those individuals who are not employees of the company) can nevertheless still be recovered by the company. Alternatively, the MRA public key itself can be embedded within the public key of the employee or user (i.e., a key within a key), but typically at the cost of increasing the storage requirement of the user's key. By including in the user's key (e.g., an employee) a pointer to a message recovery agent's key (or the MRA key itself), the system provides a mechanism for assisting a user outside a group (e.g., a user who is outside a particular company) with the task of including in an automatic and non-intrusive manner the key of an additional recipient, such as one intended for message recovery.

The present application relates generally to cryptographic systems and, more particularly, to methods for providing cryptographic key recovery in such systems.
With each passing day, more and more computers are connected together through pervasive open networks, such as the Internet, Wide Area Networks (WANs), and the like. With the ever-increasing popularity of such environments comes the need for exchanging messages and other documents in a secured fashion over an open communication network. To this end, some sort of cryptographic systems is usually employed.
Generally, cryptographic systems use either "secret-key" encryption or "public key" encryption. In "secret-key" encryption, a single key is used for both encryption and decryption. Consider, for example, a user (sender) who wants to send an e-mail message to a colleague (recipient) in a secured manner, such that no one who intercepts the message will be able to read it. If the sender employs a cryptographic "secret key" to encrypt the message, the recipient, in turn, must also use the same key to decipher or decrypt the message. As a result, the same key must be initially transmitted via secure channels so that both parties can know it before encrypted messages can be sent over insecure channels. This is typically inconvenient, however. A better approach is, therefore, sought.
Public key cryptography overcomes the problem by eliminating the need for a single "secret" key. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, each user of a public key cryptographic system has two mathematically-related keys, a "public key" and a secret or "private key." Operating in a complementary fashion, each key in the pair unlocks the code that the other key makes. Knowing the public key does not help deduce the corresponding private key, however. Accordingly, the public key can be published and widely disseminated across a communications network, such as the Internet, without in any way compromising the integrity of the private key. Anyone can use a recipient's public key to encrypt a message to that person, with the recipient, in turn, using his or her own corresponding private key to decrypt the message. One's private key, on the other hand, is kept secret, known only to user.
Keys are typically stored on "keyrings." Public keys, including a user's own as well as those of colleagues', are stored in a "public keyring" file. A user's private key is, in a similar fashion, stored in a "private keyring" file. Each key pair has a User ID (such as the owner's name and e-mail address) so that the user and the user's colleagues can identify the owners of keys. Each private key also has a passphrase, or verbose password, that protects it. No one but a message's intended recipient can decrypt the message, not even the person who originally encrypted the message, because no one else has access to the private key necessary for decrypting the encrypted message.
Since public key cryptography provides privacy without the need for the same kind of secure channels that conventional secret key encryption requires, it is commonly employed to send secured messages and other documents from one individual to another across a network or other communication channel, including the Internet. An example of its use in a commercial product today includes PGP™, available from Pretty Good Privacy, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif.
Keys are also used to digitally sign a message or file and, in a complementary manner, to verify a digital signature. These "digital signatures" allow authentication of messages. When a user signs a message, a cryptographic program uses that user's own private key to create a digital signature that is unique to both the contents of the message and the user's private key. Any recipient can employ the user's public key to authenticate the signature. Since the signer, alone, possesses the private key that created that signature, authentication of a signature confirms that the message was actually sent by the signer, and that the message has not been subsequently altered by anyone else. Forgery of a signed message is computationally infeasible.
By way of summary, FIG. 1B illustrates the functions for which public and private keys are used when sending and receiving messages. When keys are used to secure files stored on a user's own computer or local network server, the user is both the "sender" (the person who saves the file) and the "recipient" (the person who opens the file).
Cryptographic systems, including ones implementing public key cryptography, are described in the technical, trade, and patent literature. For a general description, see e.g., Schneier, Bruce, Applied Cryptography, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996. For a description focusing on the PGP□ implementation of public key cryptography, see e.g., Garfinkel, Simon, PGP: Pretty Good Privacy, O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1995. The disclosures of each of the foregoing are hereby incorporated by reference.
Despite the benefits of public key cryptographic products, a particular problem arises in their everyday use, however. Specifically, oftentimes there exists a need for an authorized party other than the sender or the recipient to have access to an encrypted message since the recipient of the message might not always be available. Consider, for instance, an employee of a company who receives an important document for the company when an encrypted e-mail message. Further, the company needs access to the document in order to submit a timely proposal but the employee is not available, for instance the employee has left the company or is away on vacation. As perhaps a more common scenario, the employee is available but he or she has "lost" his or her private key, which is needed to decrypt the encrypted e-mail message. This can occur, for example, if the employee forgets the passphrase that is required to access his or her own private key. All told, there exists a need for additional techniques to decrypt an encrypted message so that authorized parties other than the recipient can have access to the encrypted message.

Cryptographic system with methods for user-controlled message recovery


Provided are a substrate chuck and a substrate bonding system including the substrate chuck. The substrate bonding system includes a lower substrate chuck and an upper substrate chuck disposed on the lower substrate chuck. The lower substrate chuck has a non-flat lower substrate contact surface, and the upper substrate chuck has a flat upper substrate contact surface.

In order to form semiconductor components and/or CMOS image sensor (CIS) products, a wafer bonding process for bonding two semiconductor wafers may be used. During the process for bonding the semiconductor wafers, various types of process defects may be generated. For example, void defects in which a void is formed between two bonded semiconductor wafers, overlay defects formed between two wafers, or the like may be generated.

Substrate chuck and substrate bonding system including the same


An information processing device includes: an operation type judgment unit that judges a type of touch operation, based on information representing a number of pixels per unit length of a screen of a display with a touch panel connected to an own device and on information indicating a touch position at which the display with the touch panel was touched.

Because portability is important in mobile terminals such as mobile telephone handsets, the size of display devices, such as liquid crystal displays is limited. Given this, there have been a mobile terminal connecting to an external display device and causing the display of an image generated thereby. As part of this situation, there has been a case in which, when a device having a touch panel as an external display is connected to a mobile terminal having a display of a different size, operation is possible from both the mobile terminal and the external display, with a device having one touch panel.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for the purpose of operating an external display with a touch panel connected to a mobile terminal from the touch panel of the mobile terminal itself (refer to Patent Document 1).

Information processing device, display device with touch panel, information processing method, and program


A cache controller configured to detect a wait type (i.e., a wait event) associated with an imprecise collision and/or contention event is disclosed. The cache controller is configured to operatively connect to a cache memory device, which is configured to store a plurality of cache lines. The cache controller is configured to detect a wait type due to an imprecise collision and/or collision event associated with a cache line. The cache controller is configured to cause transmission of a broadcast to one or more transaction sources (e.g., broadcast to the transaction sources internal to the cache controller) requesting the cache line indicating the transaction source can employ the cache line.

Data processing systems typically utilize high speed buffer memory, referred to as cache memory ("cache"), to improve memory access time for the systems' processing devices. Cache is considered smaller, faster memory that stores copies of data from the most frequently used main memory, or system memory, locations. In turn, if most memory accesses are at the cached memory locations, the average latency of the memory accesses is closer to the cache latency than to the latency of the main memory.

Cache system for managing various cache line conditions

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte Ltd


In a magnetic resonance tomography method and apparatus for avoiding peripheral interference signals in magnetic resonance tomography when using spin-echo sequences, the average frequency and the bandwidth of the radio-frequency excitation pulse differ from the average frequency and the bandwidth of the radio-frequency refocusing pulse(s), and the amplitude of the slice selection gradients activated during the radio-frequency excitation pulse differing from the amplitude of the slice selection gradient(s) activated during the radio-frequency refocusing pulse, such that the excitation slice of the RF excitation pulse and the refocusing slice of the RF refocusing pulse(s) in the homogeneous volume (FOV) of the basic magnetic field are superimposed, while the excitation slice of the RF refocusing pulse(s) in the non-homogeneous volume of the basic magnetic field are separated locally, and an echo signal is thereby prevented in the non-homogeneous volume.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) as used in the medical field for the examination of patients. This invention relates in particular to a process for avoiding peripheral interference signals in spin-echo images such as e.g. the ambiguity artifact.
2. Description of the Prior Art
MRT is based on the physical phenomenon of nuclear spin resonance and has been successfully implemented in the medical field and in biophysics for more than 15 years. In this examination method, the object is exposed to a strong, constant magnetic field. The nuclear spins of the atoms in the object, which were previously randomly oriented, are thereby aligned. Radio-frequency energy can now excite these "ordered" spins to a specific oscillation. This oscillation creates in MRT the actual measurement signal, which is detected by means of suitable receiving coils. By the use of non-homogeneous magnetic fields, created by gradient coils, the measurement object in each area of interest—also called FOV (field of view)—can be encoded in all three spatial directions, which in general is called "spatial encoding."
The recording of the data in MRT occurs in k-space (frequency domain). The MRT image in the image domain is linked with the MRT data in k-space by Fourier transformation. The spatial encoding of the object, which spans k-space, takes place by means of the gradients in all three spatial directions. In this process a differentiation is made between the slice selection (determines the exposure slice in the object, normally the z axis), the frequency encoding (determines a direction in the slice, normally the x axis), and the phase encoding (determines the second dimension within the slice, normally the y axis).
Thus, a slice e.g. in the z direction is first selectively excited by a slice selection gradient Gs or Gz. The encoding of the location information in the slice takes place by combined phase and frequency encoding by means of both of the previously mentioned orthogonal gradient fields Gr and Gp, which are created in the example of a slice excited in the z direction by the aforementioned gradient coils in the x and y directions.
One known form for recording the data in an MRT measurement (scan) is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The sequence used is a spin-echo sequence. In this sequence, the magnetization of the spins is flipped in the x-y plane by a 90° excitation impulse (with defined amplitude and bandwidth). Over time, the result is a dephasing of the magnetization components, which together form the transverse magnetization in the x-y plane Mxy. After a certain period of time (e.g. ½ TE, TE is the echo time), a 180° pulse (also with defined amplitude and bandwidth) is emitted in the x-y plane so that the dephased magnetization components are mirrored without changing the precession direction and precession speed of the individual magnetization components. After another period of time (½ TE), the magnetization components point in the same direction again, i.e. the result is a regeneration of the transverse magnetization, called "rephrasing," which is appropriately read-out. The complete regeneration of the transverse magnetization is called the spin-echo.
In order to measure an entire slice of the object to be examined, the imaging sequence is repeated N times with different values of the phase-encoding gradient GP or Gy, whereby the frequency of the magnetic resonance signal (spin-echo signal) is scanned, digitized, and stored with each sequence repetition by the Δt-clocked ADC (analog digital converter) N times in equidistant time increments Δt in the presence of the selection gradients GR or GX. In this manner, a numerical matrix is created line by line as per FIG. 2b (matrix in k-space or k matrix) with N×N data points (a symmetrical matrix with N×N points is only one example; asymmetrical matrices also can be created). An MR image of the observed slice with a resolution of N×N pixels can be reconstructed directly from this data record via a Fourier transformation.
The scanning of the k matrix (k matrices when recording several slices) for spin-echo sequences with diagnostically usable image quality typically requires several minutes of measurement time, which represents a problem for many clinical applications. For example, patients might not be able to remain immobile for the required period of time. For examinations in the thorax or the pelvic area, body movement is generally unavoidable (heart and breathing movement, peristalsis). One way to accelerate spin-echo sequences was published in 1986 as the turbo-spin-echo sequence (TSE sequence) also known by the acronym RARE (Rapid Acquisition with Relaxation Enhancement) (J. Hennig et al. Magn. Reson, Med. 3, 823–833, 1986). In this imaging procedure, which is much faster compared to the conventional aforementioned spin-echo procedure, several (multiple) echoes are created after a 90° excitation pulse, and each of these echoes is individually phase-encoded. A pulse sequence is shown in FIG. 3A for the case when seven echoes are created. The phase-encoding gradient corresponding to the Fourier line to be selected must be switched before and after each echo. In this manner, a linear scanning of the k matrix as shown in FIG. 3B takes place after a single RF excitation pulse (90°). The necessary total measurement time is shortened in this example by a factor of 7. The signal progression in FIG. 3a is shown in an idealized manner. In reality, the later echoes have increasingly smaller amplitudes due to the T2 decay of the transverse magnetization.
An even faster imaging sequence is a combination of RARE with the Half-Fourier technique, which was introduced in 1994 as the so-called HASTE sequence (Half Fourier Acquired Single Shot Turbo Spin Echo) (B. Kiefer et al., J. Magn. Reson. Imaging, 4(P), 86, 1994). HASTE uses the same basic technique as RARE, but only half of the k matrix is scanned. The other half of the k matrix is reconstructed mathematically by means of the Half-Fourier algorithm. This takes advantage of the fact that the data points of the k matrix are arranged mirror-symmetrical to the center point of the k matrix. For this reason, it is sufficient to measure only the data points of a k-matrix half and to mathematically complete the raw data matrix by mirroring with respect to the center point (and complex conjugation). In this manner, the measurement time can be reduced by half. The reduction of the recording time, however, degrades the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by a factor of √2.
A general problem with spin-echo sequences (SE sequences) is that the resonance condition during the radio-frequency excitation by the RF pulse is determined not only in the FOV (field of view, characterized by homogeneity of the basic field as well as linearity of the gradient fields) but also in the non-homogeneous border area of the FOV. Due to the actual inhomogeneity of the basic field and the nonlinearity of the gradient fields in the border area of the MRT device, the principle of a unique reversible assignment of each spatial point to one specific magnetic field strength is violated. This means that a generally interfering image from the inhomogeneity area in the form of an artifact superimposes the image of actual measurement field. This unwanted artifact is known as a "double-entendre artifact" and occurs in a pronounced form in particular in spin-echo sequences as a result of the spin refocusing. The "double-entendre artifact" becomes the more pronounced the shorter the extent of the basic field magnet in the z-direction. Thus, future MRT systems will tend toward shorter magnets, intensify this problem, and it will no longer be solvable with the previous measures for suppressing this artifact.
Prior strategies for reducing this type of artifact are hardware measures and pulse-sequence modifications.
Hardware measures for the RF system include determining the spatial positions with field double entendres outside the useful volume for the given magnet and gradient design. The design of the RF coils is subject to the restriction of sufficiently minimizing its sensitivity for these critical spatial positions so that a significant artifact formation is prevented. RF field distributions, however, are not always able to be appropriately designed. As an unwanted side effect, RF field inhomogeneities that impair the image quality are also created within the useful volume.
The main focuses for the design of future MR devices are shorter magnets, spaciousness, and the largest possible patient accessibility (e.g. for surgical intervention). With this type of magnetic field geometry, the necessary reversible unique correspondence between space and field are violated such that the previous hardware measures fail. For shorter magnets with a large diameter, a suitable RF coil design thus is not possible.
Pulse sequence modifications (new approaches to sequence formation) often represent the only practical solution if the direct avoidance of the drawback (here the non-monotonous magnetic field progression) reaches theoretical or technological limits or requires disproportionately high effort, which would compromise the economic efficiency of the product.
A possible form of the pulse sequence modification according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,486,668 is to bring about an artifact suppression by emitting additional so-called preparation pulses. A disadvantage of this approach is the clear reduction in the time efficiency as well as the simultaneous creation of other image quality problems in the form of parasite spin-echo signal components due to the preparation pulses.
Another form of pulse sequence modification is implemented in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0101237, wherein artifact suppression takes place by switching the polarity switch of the selection gradients between the RF excitation pulse and the RF refocusing pulse. In contrast to conventional slice excitation of an SE sequence, the slice selection gradient, which is switched during the slice excitation by the (90°-) RF pulse, compared to the slice selection gradient, which is switched during the (180°-) refocusing pulse, is inverted as to its algebraic sign or its polarity. This causes selection of the (90°-) RF pulse as well as the (180°-) refocusing pulse to occur in the spatial domain in different non-overlapping areas. In this manner, no interfering echo signals are created. This procedure, however, has the disadvantage that it places increased technical demands on the exact temporal synchronization of RF pulses and gradient pulses as well as on the system shimming. Moreover, the simultaneous representation of different chemical components (e.g. fat and water) is only possible with a notable signal loss.

Magnetic resonance tomography method and apparatus with suppression of ambiguity artifacts in spin echo images


Polypropylene mixtures of increased stress-crack resistance and melt strength can be produced by irradiating polypropylene powders with low average particle diameters by low energy electron-beam accelerators with energies of 150 to 300 keV. The polypropylene mixtures produced are suitable particularly for producing films, sheets, panels, coatings, pipes, hollow objects and foamed materials.

It is well known that polypropylene can be cross linked, partially cross linked and modified by the action of gamma radiation or by the use of electron beam accelerators with energies of 0.5 MeV to 10 MeV. Additions of 2 to 3% of electron-irradiated polypropylene to unmodified polypropylene act as nucleating agents for polypropylene, increasing the crystallization temperature and shortening the crystallization time. This leads to an increased degree of crystallinity, a higher density and a higher modulus of elasticity (Menges, D., Kunststoffe 73 (1983) 5, 258-260; Lee, D., Kunststoffe 81 (1991) 7, 609-613, Kirch, D. Plastverarbeiter 37 (1986) 10, 100-106).
It is furthermore known that modified polypropylenes with free long-chain branching can be produced by treating polypropylene first with high-energy ionizing radiation by electron beam accelerators with energies of 500 to 4,000 keV and radiation doses of 1 to 9 Mrad under predominantly inert conditions and subsequently treating the modified polypropylenes with heat (German patent 3,688,258, European patent 0,190,889, German patent 0,634,441, German patent 0,351,866, U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,198, U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,446). The use of mixtures of these modified, branched polypropylenes with unmodified polypropylenes for producing films, sheets, panels and coatings is likewise known (European patent 0,634,454).
The high safety expenditure for biologically shielding the high radiation is a disadvantage when modifying polypropylene with high energy, ionizing radiation with electron beam accelerators of more than 500 keV. This shielding requires expensive hermitization of the radiation chamber by thick walls of concrete or by lead segment constructions, expensive radiation protection measurement techniques, as well as medical monitoring of the operating personnel. In the case of mixtures of modified and unmodified polypropylenes, a further disadvantage of the present technology consists therein that an additional processing step is required to produce the mixtures.
The aim of the invention was to develop a continuous method for producing polypropylene mixtures of higher stress-crack resistance and melt strength, without increased expenditure for safety and without an additional processing step for producing the mixture.
Surprisingly, it was observed that, when very finely divided polypropylene powders and low energy electron beam accelerators are used, mixtures of unmodified and modified polypropylene particles result, which meet the requirements for polypropylene mixtures of increased stress-crack resistance and melt strength, despite the very slight depth of penetration of the electrons having low energy.

Continuous method for producing polypropylene mixtures of increased stress-crack resistance and melt strength


There is disclosed a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive composition based on a siloxane resin component, a polydiorganosiloxane polymer component having unsaturated groups in its molecule, a silicon hydride-functional crosslinking agent and a hydrosilation catalyst, wherein the crosslinking agent is a reaction product of a cyclic or linear organohydrogenpolysiloxane and an unsaturated organic compound selected from alpha-alkenes having 6 to 28 carbon atoms or aromatic compounds having the formula Ph-R.sup.4, wherein Ph represents a phenyl radical and R.sup.4 is a terminally unsaturated monovalent hydrocarbon group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

Silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives (hereinafter also referred to as PSAs) typically contain at least two primary components, namely a linear siloxane polymer and a tackifier resin consisting essentially of triorganosiloxane (M) units (i.e., R.sub.3 SiO.sub.1/2 units, in which R denotes a monovalent organic group) and silicate (Q) units (i.e., SiO.sub.4/2 units). In addition to the above two ingredients, silicone PSA compositions are generally provided with some crosslinking means in order to optimize various properties of the final adhesive product. In view of the high viscosity imparted by the polymer component, these PSA compositions are typically dispersed in an organic solvent for ease of application.
For example U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,704 to Horning teaches a silicone PSA comprising an MQ resin, silicone gum and a curing agent, wherein the curing agent is a peroxide admixed with a plasticizer and an extender. Alternatively, when the silicone polymer contains unsaturated groups in its molecule such silicone PSA compositions can be cured by incorporating an organohydrogenpolysiloxane and a hydrosilation catalyst. European Patent Application No. 355 991 to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company is illustrative of such compositions. In this case, the polymer component comprises a diorganoalkenylsiloxy endblocked polydiorganosiloxane and a diorganohydrogensiloxy endblocked polydiorganosiloxane which allows the formation of a relatively low viscosity PSA composition without the need for a solvent.
The use of certain SiH-functional compounds in conjunction with non-silicone PSAs is also known. Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 4(1992)-145188 to Kanefuchi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. discloses organic PSAs which are a blend of (A) an alkenyl group containing organic compound or organic polymer, (B) an organic compound containing at least two SiH groups in its molecule, (C) a hydrosilylating catalyst and (D) an organic adhesive resin.
Additionally, Blizzard et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,080, have demonstrated a method for improving the bond strength of a pressure-sensitive adhesive by contacting two PSA components to form a PSA construction. In this contribution to the art, the first component comprises a conventional PSA and a liquid organohydrogenpolysiloxane and the second component comprises the same PSA and a cure agent for the liquid organohydrogenpolysiloxane. A similar two-component PSA system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,886, also to Blizzard et al. In this case, the organohydrogenpolysiloxane is reacted with a siloxane resin before being incorporated into the first PSA component and a cure agent for this reaction product is mixed with the second component.
Although silicone PSAs of the prior art including some of the above described systems, do offer the industry considerable advantage over organic counterparts, there still remains room for improvement. Thus, for example, in a silicone pressure-sensitive tape which comprises a silicone PSA layer coated onto a plastic film (e.g., a self-wound tape), it is highly desirable to achieve the simultaneous properties of high adhesion, high tack and smooth adhesive release from substrates at high rates of peel. The latter characteristic is difficult to achieve with some silicone PSAs and an annoying noise, referred to as "chatter" herein, is noted when such a pressure-sensitive tape is unwound from a roll at relatively high speed. Aside from presenting a nuisance in numerous industrial operations, this "chatter" is associated with the unwanted transfer of adhesive from such a tape to the substrate contacted therewith (e.g., the back side of the tape in the previous example) during a rapid peel operation. Furthermore, the uneven adhesive release can be detrimental to process machinery since it can induce vibrations therein especially when a wide roll of tape (e.g., one to two meters) is being unwound.

Unsaturated organic adduct of an organohydrogenpolysiloxane as an improved crosslinking agent for silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives


A backlight assembly, which can provide improved display features by preventing a lamp assembly from being loosened from a lower receiving container, and a liquid crystal display apparatus including the backlight assembly. The backlight assembly includes a light guiding plate guiding incident light, a lamp assembly disposed at one or more sides of the light guiding plate, and having at least one lamp to generate light and a lamp cover enclosing the lamp, a lower receiving container having a bottom plane and sidewalls formed around the periphery of the bottom plane and receiving the lamp assembly and the light guiding plate, and at least one elastic and conductive gasket including a hot-melt adhesive agent having a melting point greater than or equal to about 60° C. and interposed between the lamp cover and the lower receiving container.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a backlight assembly, and more particularly, to a backlight assembly, which can suppress electric noise from being generated during a tapping test, and a liquid crystal display apparatus comprising the backlight assembly.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Liquid crystal display apparatuses are display devices that consume low power, are light weight, and are small in size relative to conventional displays. Liquid crystal display apparatuses have been applied to a wide range of fields, including computers, electric devices, and information communications technology, and are being widely used in a wide variety of applications, such as portable computers, desktop computer monitors, monitors of high-quality image display devices, and the like.
A liquid crystal display apparatus may include a liquid crystal panel assembly having a liquid crystal panel for displaying image information, a backlight unit having a lamp assembly for emitting light, and a rectangular light guiding plate for guiding light to the liquid crystal panel assembly, and upper, intermediate and lower receiving containers which receive the liquid crystal panel assembly and the backlight unit. The lamp assembly may include a plurality of lamps and a lamp cover made of a conductive material for enclosing the lamps. The lamp cover and the lower receiving container, which are both made of a conductive material, may be in contact with each other.
When a conventional liquid crystal display apparatus is subjected to a tapping test for inspecting the same, an external shock is applied to a liquid crystal panel of the liquid crystal display apparatus, which may cause a lamp cover to be dislodged from the lower receiving container. Since the lamp cover and the lower receiving container are both made of a conductive material, parasitic capacitance may be created therebetween. Thus, if the dislodging occurs, a sharp change in current may occur, which causes noise in signals transmitted to the liquid crystal panel.

Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same


In a telecommunications relay system employing automated text-to-speech for conversion of a text message entered by a sound impaired person, the delay between the completion of the automated text-to-speech conversion and the assignment of a live shared attendant for transcribing and transmitting that which the unimpaired person says is eliminated by completing the text-to-speech conversion for each text message and its associated end-of-message code word without the introduction of any delay and, immediately thereafter, accepting and storing the unimpaired person's speech into a voice buffer at least until a live attendant is assigned to the relay session. When an attendant is eventually assigned to the call, the attendant retrieves the speech stored in the buffer. Should the assigned live attendant transcribe all of the speech that was stored in the buffer, which may include speech after the attendant's assignment to the call, the live attendant may be linked to the unimpaired party to continue the speech to text transcription such that the buffer introduces essentially no delay in the transmission of the speech to the live attendant.

Telecommunications relay service allows a sound impaired person, i.e., a hearing or speech impaired individual, to employ a data-type terminal for engaging in a communication session over a telephone network with a sound unimpaired person who does not have a matching terminal but instead has a telephone station set for use in voice based communication. Telecommunications relay service is well known and was formerly called dual party relay (DPR) service. Such service is currently provided by having a live attendant, i.e., a communications assistant, dedicated to each relay session. The live attendant a) reads over the telephone to the unimpaired person text messages that are transmitted to the attendant by the sound impaired person using the data-type terminal and b) transcribes and transmits to the sound impaired person the text of that which he hears being spoken by the unimpaired person. The terminal employed may be a unit such as: a) a personal computer, b) a data terminal or c) a text telephone, which was formerly known as a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD).
It has been recognized in the art that one of the functions performed by the live attendant can presently be automated; namely, that text-to-speech systems can be employed to speak to the unimpaired person the text messages that are input by the sound impaired person. Therefore, the functions performed by such a live attendant are reduced and, correspondingly, the time required to perform the attendant's job is reduced. In fact, such systems can detect a code word used to indicate the end of a text message and only summon the live attendant upon such detection.
As a result, telecommunications relay service systems will shortly be deployed in which a live attendant may be shared over several such relay sessions. If there is more than one live attendant they may be grouped in a pool from which each may be assigned, on an as needed basis, to perform transcription for any relay session that is in progress and for which an automated text-to-speech conversion has just completed. Such attendants may be assigned in a fashion similar to that employed to assign transcribers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,726 issued on Feb. 7, 1984 to L. R. Kasday, which is incorporated herein by reference.
It is recognized that a delay, lasting up to a minute or longer, may result between the completion of the automated text-to-speech conversion and the assignment of a live shared attendant for transcribing and transmitting that which the unimpaired person says. This delay in assigning an attendant to an established relay session requires the unimpaired person to wait before he speaks after completion of the text-to-speech conversion, until he is certain that one of the shared attendants is assigned to his relay session. If the unimpaired person does not wait until one of the shared attendants is assigned to his relay session, part of what he says will not be heard by the attendant ultimately assigned and will, consequently, be lost. Because the unimpaired person typically wishes to begin speaking as soon as the text-to-speech conversion is completed, which is the natural impulse of persons involved in conversations, such a delay is undesirable. In fact, such a delay can cause a) consternation to the unimpaired person or b) loss of that which the unimpaired person said, should he the forget the existence of such a delay and begin speaking immediately upon completion of the text-to-speech conversion.
In at least one prior art system, the text-to-speech conversion of the code word indicating the end of the textual message is delayed until one of the shared live attendants is assigned to the relay session. Such a system is designed to avoid one of the effects of the delay, that of the speaking by the sound unimpaired person before a live attendant is assigned to the session. The delay itself, however, is not eliminated. In fact, the delay is still perceivable by the sound unimpaired person as the lag between the time he stops hearing the spoken version of the text message and the time he is hears the code word. As a result, such a prior art system merely shifts the point at which the other effect of the delay, the annoyance, is encountered from the time after completion of all text-to-speech conversion but before an attendant is assigned to the time between completion of the text-to-speech conversion of the text message and the text-to-speech conversion of the code word.

Telecommunications relay service method and apparatus


An electroluminescent device comprising a transparent electrode layer, a metallic electrode layer, and an organic interlayer disposed between, and in close contact with, the electrode layers wherein the organic interlayer is comprised of an organic luminescent layer, an optional hole transport layer and an optional electron transport layer, and contains a polyimide of formula (I):

The present invention is directed to an electroluminescent device; and, more particularly, to an organoelectroluminescent device having an improved luminous efficiency, good stability and prolonged lifetime, wherein the organic layer comprises a polyimide thin film having an emission and/or carrier transport capability.
Generally, an electroluminescent device has a laminated structure comprising a transparent electrode layer, a metallic electrode layer and an organic interlayer including an organic luminescent layer arranged between the two electrodes. The electroluminescent device can be operated with an alternate current(AC) or direct current(DC) power supply. In case of DC operation, the transparent electrode functions as an anode, and the metallic electrode as a cathode. In order to increase the luminous efficiency, the organic interlayer may further include hole transport agents and electron transport agents, often in a multilayer configuration.
For example, in case of DC operation, a separate hole transport layer may be disposed between, and in close contact with, the anode layer and one surface of the organic luminescent layer. Further, an optional electron transport layer may be placed between the cathode layer and the organic luminescent layer. Depending on the organic materials employed, therefore, the organic interlayer of an electroluminescent device may be in the form of a single, double or triple layers, each layer containing various combinations of organic luminescent materials, hole transport agents and electron transport agents. As the anode layer, indium tin oxide-glass layer is usually used while a metallic layer of magnesium, aluminum, indium or silver-magnesium can be used as the cathode. In conventional electroluminescent devices, the organic layers are usually formed by vapor-depositing the organic materials.
However, an organic layer, e.g., a hole transport layer, prepared by a conventional vacuum deposition method of small molecules has the disadvantages in that the deposited organic layer is fragile, easily broken by a vibrational shock, and the lifetime of the device is short due to the occurrence of crystallization and diffusion migration phenomena during use. In order to solve the above problems, an organic layer has been prepared by dispersing active agents, e.g., a hole transport agent and organic luminescent material, in a polymer matrix such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) having a glass transition temperature of 105xc2x0 C., polycarbonate having a glass transition temperature of 145xc2x0 C., or other vinylic polymers having a glass transition temperature of 150xc2x0 C. or lower. However, these polymers have a low heat stability and thus the stability of the resultant organic layer is unsatisfactory(see Kido et al., Appl. Phys. Lett., 61, No. 7, 171, 1992; and Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 31, No. 78, L960, 1992).
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,609,970, 5,571,626, 5,414,069 and 5,376,456, on the other hand, disclose certain electroluminescent polymers. However, the preparation of these special polymers entails high production costs and complicated processing steps and thus are not suitable for the mass production of electroluminescent devices.
Polyimides have been widely used in the electronic and electrical fields. For example, it has been reported that polyimides may be used in packaging an electroluminescent device or as an insulating layer in electroluminescent devices (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,505,985 and 5,416,622). Further, Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 4-93389 suggests that a polyimide film can be used as a carrier(hole) transport layer. However, the hole transport ability of a polyimide layer is too low for practical use. Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 7-230881 discloses that a thermally decomposed silicon-containing polyimide exhibits a hole transporting ability, the thermally decomposed polyimide being prepared by heat treating a polyimide at a temperature ranging from 500xc2x0 C. to 1,000xc2x0 C. However, the turn-on voltage of the final device remains still too high.
Therefore, there has existed a need to develop a low-cost electroluminescent device having an improved stability and luminous efficiency.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electroluminescent device having good thermal and mechanical properties, improved stability and prolonged lifetime.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an electroluminescent device comprising a transparent electrode layer, a metallic electrode layer, and an organic interlayer disposed between, and in close contact with, the electrode layers wherein the organic interlayer is comprised of an organic luminescent layer, an optional hole transport layer and an optional electron transport layer, and contains a polyimide of formula (I):
wherein A is a moiety derived from a dianhydride compound; B is a moiety derived from a diamine compound; and n is an integer of 2 or higher.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electroluminescent device comprising a transparent anode layer, a metallic cathode layer, an organic luminescent layer containing an electroluminescent material and a hole transport layer, the organic luminescent layer being disposed between, and in close contact with, the cathode layer and one surface of the hole transport layer, and the other surface of the hole transport layer being in close contact with the anode layer, wherein the hole transport layer contains a hole transport agent dispersed in a polyimide matrix.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electroluminescent device comprising a transparent anode layer, a cathode layer and an organic luminescent layer containing an electroluminescent material, the electroluminescent layer being disposed between, and in close contact with, the anode and the cathode layers, wherein the electroluminescent material is dispersed in a polyimide matrix.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an electroluminescent device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 demonstrates the variation of the current density(A/m2)(xe2x97xaf) and brightness(cd/m2) (∘) of the electro-luminescent device of Example 12 as a function of the applied voltage (V);
FIG. 3 exhibits the dependency of the luminous efficiency(lm/W) of the electroluminescent device of Example 12 on current density(A/m2); and
FIG. 4 depicts the change in light intensity of the electroluminescent device of Example 12 with time.

Electroluminescent device having an organic layer including polyimide

Abstract: wherein A is a moeity derived from a dianhydride compound; B is a moiety derived from a diamine compound; and n is an integer of 2 or higher.


Disclosed is a work vehicle having a weight that can be attached to a vehicle body frame. The weight is attached in such a manner that, over an entire length in a front/rear direction of the vehicle body and in a vertical direction of the vehicle body, an upper end portion of the weight is disposed in a same position as or upwardly of a lower end portion of the vehicle body frame, and at the same time in a same position as or downwardly of an upper end portion of the vehicle body frame.

With a work vehicle described above, for instance, for the sake of improvement in stability of the vehicle body or traction, the weight is attached to its vehicle body frame. And, conventionally, the weight is attached between a front attaching portion disposed on a front side of the vehicle body frame and a rear attaching portion disposed on a rear side of the vehicle body frame, thus extend the weight under the bottom side of the vehicle body frame (see e.g. Patent Document 1).
With the work vehicle disclosed in this Patent Document 1, the weight includes a front attachment portion to be attached to the front attaching portion of the vehicle body frame, a rear attachment portion to be attached to the rear attaching portion of the vehicle body frame, and an intermediate portion interconnecting the front attachment portion and the rear attachment portion. And, each one of the front attachment portion and the rear attachment portion of the weight is formed to extend upwardly from the intermediate portion, and the weight is disposed with forming a gap between the intermediate portion and the lower end portion of the vehicle body frame in the vertical direction.
Further, according to another known work vehicle, its vehicle body frame includes a pair of right and left front frames spaced apart from each other along a vehicle body lateral width direction and extending along a vehicle body front/rear direction. An engine is supported by the pair of right and left front frames. A weight is attached to the pair of right and left front frames (see, e.g. Patent Document 2).
In the case of the work vehicle disclosed in this Patent Document 2, the weight is disposed between the pair of right and left front frames, with an upper end portion of the weight projecting upward beyond upper end portions of the front frames, and with a lower end portion of the weight projecting downward beyond lower end portions of the front frames. A front-axle support metal is fixed to the lower end portion of the weight; and a battery is mounted on the upper end portion of the weight.


A conductor portion is formed on the surface of a support member. After the conductor portion is formed, a copper foil on which resin is attached is moved downward from above the conductor portion to pressurize the conductor portion while covering it. the copper foil with the resin is pressed to the height of the conductor potion while using the conductor portion as a stopper. Thus, it is possible to make the height of the insulating layer equal to the height of the conductor portion.

Electronic parts and printed wiring boards in which wiring patterns are formed on insulating layers and the wiring patterns are stacked along their thickness direction to form a multilayer structure have been known.
Various methods for manufacturing such structures have been proposed or disclosed. FIGS. 3A and 3B are process diagrams illustrating a conventional process of producing each layer of an electronic part.
In the process shown in FIG. 3A, the surface of an insulating layer 1 is irradiated with a laser so as to be perforated. After a hole 2 is formed by the laser processing, the hole 2 is filled with paste, or a conductor portion in the form of a film or a column is formed in the hole 2.
In the process shown in FIG. 3B, a conductor portion 4 is formed by plating or etching on an insulating layer 3, which has been formed in advance. After the conductor portion 4 is formed by the above processes, an insulating resin 5 is applied on the surface of the conductor portion 4 by spin coating (see, for example, patent document 1).
In a different known method, a bump of an electrically conductive paste is formed on wiring on a board, then an interlaminate connection insulating material and a metal layer are provided, and the bump is caused to penetrate a molded resin by a pressing process to achieve electrical connection between said bump and the metal layer (see, for example, patent document 2).
Furthermore, a method of forming a via hole conductor by forming a through hole by means of a carbon dioxide gas laser or other means and filing the through hole with paste containing powder of a low resistance metal such as gold, silver, copper and aluminum has also been disclosed (see, for example, patent document 3).                Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-22636.        Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-137328.        Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-134881.
In connection with electronic parts having a multilayer structure, incorporation of an element etc. in the interior of the electronic part has been considered in order to further increase density and functions. If an element such as a passive component is to be formed between wiring patterns stacked along the lamination direction, the distance between the aforementioned wiring patterns is an important factor that determines characteristics of the aforementioned element. Accordingly, from the viewpoint of stabilization of the element characteristics, a method for manufacturing an electronic part that enables reliable control of the distance between the aforementioned wiring patterns or the thickness of each layer in the aforementioned electronic part has been demanded.
Nevertheless, in the above-mentioned manufacturing method shown in FIG. 3A, a conductor portion is simply formed in a hole 2 formed on an insulating layer 1 by a laser processing, but the overall thickness of the layers is not controlled.
In the manufacturing method shown in FIG. 3B, an insulating resin layer is formed to cover conductor portions by applying resin by spin coating. However, undulation is created on the surface of the insulating resin due to presence of the conductor portions 4, and therefore it is difficult to make the overall thickness of the layers uniform.
Furthermore, in the method in which a bump of electrically conductive paste is formed on wiring on a board and then the bump is caused to penetrate a molded resin by pressing, no consideration has been made on control of the overall thickness of the layers. Still further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-134881 only teaches to form a via hole conductor by filling paste, but no consideration is made on control of the overall thickness of the layers.

Electronic part producing method and electronic part


A gain control circuit includes an automatic gain controller (AGC), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a saturation field detecting block, a sync detector and a gain control block. The AGC controls amplitude of an analog image signal including a luminance signal, a color signal and a sync signal. The ADC converts the amplitude-controlled analog image signal to a digital image signal. The saturation field detecting block determines on a per field basis whether the digital image signal is saturated. The sync detector is configured to detect the sync signal in the digital image signal. The gain control block provides a gain control signal to the AGC based on an output signal of the saturation field detecting block and an output signal of the sync detector. Therefore, the gain control circuit may prevent saturation of the analog image signal by controlling gain of the analog image signal.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a gain control circuit, and more particularly to a gain control circuit for preventing saturation of an image signal.
2. Discussion of Related Art
An analog image signal includes a luminance signal, a color signal and a sync signal. A digital television set includes an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit for obtaining a stable output when the amplitude of the analog input image signal varies.
Image signals constituting a picture of the digital television set are referred to as being comprised of fields, and each field includes signals corresponding to a plurality of scan lines. In the conventional television art, a gain of the analog image signal is controlled by detecting a position of the sync signal in every scan line constituting one field. Thus, a saturation of the image signal occurs frequently.

Gain control circuit and method of controlling gain


A pressure sensor comprises a sensor platform; a measuring membrane, or diaphragm, which is held by the sensor platform, and can have a pressure applied to it and is deformable as a function of pressure; and at least two resistance elements having an AlxGa1—xN layer. At least a first resistance element of the at least two resistance elements is arranged on the measuring membrane, or diaphragm and has a deformation-dependent resistance value. The pressure sensor can be operated using a measurement circuit to register a signal which depends on the resistance values of the at least two resistance elements in the plane of the AlxGa1—xN layer. Four resistance elements are preferably provided in a full bridge.

Usually pressure-measuring cells have four deformation-dependent resistance elements in a full bridge circuit, wherein two first resistance elements have a first deformation-dependence and two second resistance elements have a second deformation-dependence. The resistance elements are alternately arranged in a closed bridge circuit, which is fed via a first diagonal, and whose deformation-dependent signal is tapped via the second diagonal of the bridge circuit.
Resistance elements include, for example, piezoresistive, semiconductor resistors, which are produced by local doping in a base material, silicon for example. Insofar as doping is associated with concentration gradients, such resistance elements and/or their deformation-dependence can have a tendency to change, especially at high temperatures, since the concentration gradients are unstable due to diffusion phenomena.
There is thus, in principle, a need for pressure sensors made of other materials, which do not exhibit the mentioned doping-related problems.
Eickhoff et al. have, in the Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 90, No. 7, described the piezoresistivity of AlxGa1−xN layers with wurtzite structure and AlxGa1−xN/GaN heterostructures. In this work, the experimental results are interpreted as regards deformation-dependent resistances supportably with the model of a mechanically controlled gate of a field effect transistor, whose resistance value depends on the deformation-dependent piezoelectric field along the axis perpendicular to the plane of the AlxGa1−xN layers.
It is to be taken further from this work that an Al concentration between, for example, 0 and 0.35 is suitable as a parameter for the variation of the deformation-dependence of an electrical resistance.
Stutzmann et al. have, in Phys. Stat. Sol. (b) 228, No. 2, 505-512 (2001), described the influence of the polarity of AlxGa1−xN layers, as a function of terminations with N, respectively Ga or Al, on the electrical characteristics of the layers. It appears, to that extent, interesting to take up the materials described in the above works for implementing a pressure sensor.


A cutting member for a shaving razor includes an elongated metal blade having a cutting edge, a blade end, a tapered portion near the blade end and a uniform thickness portion extending from the blade end to the tapered portion, and an elongated bent metal support that has a platform portion, a bent portion and a base portion extending downward from the bent potion. The platform portion extends forward from the bent portion to a front end. The platform portion includes an attachment area that is spaced from the front end and the bent portion, and a flat portion that includes and extends beyond the attachment area. The uniform thickness portion of the blade is supported on the platform portion and secured thereto at the attachment area, the tapered portion extending forward beyond the front end of the platform portion.

The invention relates to cutting members for shaving razors with multiple blades.
In recent years shaving razors with various numbers of blades have been proposed in the patent literature and commercialized, as described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,586, which generally describes a type of design that has been commercialized as the three-bladed Mach III razor by The Gillette Company, and U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2002/0144404, which describes three- and four-bladed razors.
Increasing the number of blades on a shaving razor generally tends to increase the shaving efficiency of the razor and provide better distribution of compressive forces on the skin but it can also tend to increase drag forces, reduce maneuverability, and reduce the ability to trim. Increasing the number of blades also requires increasing the area occupied by blades or reducing the spacing between the cutting edges of the blades. Increasing the area occupied by blades can affect shaving performance. Reducing the spacing between blades results in a change on the skin bulge between cutting edges and the effectiveness of the shave, potentially requiring changes in other parameters in blade geometry such as blade tangent angle and exposure. Increasing the number of blades can also affect the rinsability of the razor, which affects the ability to remove shaving debris from the blade area.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,586 shows razor blades that are mounted on bent metal supports, a type of support that has been reliably manufactured for years by The Gillette Company in both the Sensor and Mach III commercial products. U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2002/0144404 describes three- and four-bladed designs with straight metal support bars as blade supports and a test procedure for determining a wash through index indicating the ability of a shaving razor cartridge to be rinsed to remove shaving debris. The latter document notes that the support bars contributed to the good wash through index values reported for the described embodiments.

Cutting members for shaving razors with multiple blades


The temperature differential in the vapor-phase storage area of a liquid nitrogen refrigerator is reduced by producing turbulence in the nitrogen gas in the vapor-phase storage area without materially affecting the level of liquid nitrogen in the refrigerator. In one embodiment, turbulence is induced by introducing gaseous nitrogen into the refrigerator chamber near or below the level of the liquid nitrogen. In another embodiment, an atomized spray of liquid nitrogen is injected adjacent the top of the refrigerator chamber to absorb heat from the warmer nitrogen gas and to produce turbulence or circulation in the nitrogen gas in the chamber. In another embodiment, a gas circulating fan is provided in the top of the refrigeration chamber, with the fan being operated in response to a signal indicating that the temperature has reached a predetermined high level at a critical point in the chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to liquid nitrogen refrigeration systems, and more particularly to an improved temperature control system for maintaining the desired temperature in a liquid nitrogen refrigerator above the level of the liquid nitrogen refrigerant.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Liquid nitrogen refrigeration systems are well known and widely used for the cryogenic storage of biological specimens and other materials and for industrial or other uses where very low temperatures are required. Such refrigerators conventionally employ a cylindrical stainless steel vacuum insulated inner container defining the specimen storage and the liquid nitrogen refrigerant compartment, with an insulated lid or door providing access to the interior of the refrigerator from the top. Liquid nitrogen is admitted into the bottom of the insulated chamber and specimens to be stored are inserted through the lid.
The level of liquid nitrogen in a typical liquid nitrogen refrigerator is maintained by a liquid level controller that opens a solenoid actuated valve when the liquid level falls below a predetermined low level, and closes the valve when the level reaches the predetermined high level whereby a supply of liquid nitrogen is continuously maintained in the bottom of the chamber. Depending upon the nature of the specimens, storage may be either in the "liquid phase" wherein the specimens are submerged in liquid nitrogen, in which case the liquid nitrogen level is maintained near the top of the chamber, or in the "vapor phase" above the surface of the liquid nitrogen in the inner container, in which case the liquid nitrogen level is maintained at a relatively low level. The temperature of the liquid nitrogen is, as known, constant at -196.degree. C. whereas the temperature of the gaseous nitrogen above the liquid will vary from -196.degree. C. at the liquid-vapor interface to a substantially higher temperature which, for vapor-phase storage, may be within the vicinity of -100.degree. C. to -120.degree. C. directly beneath the closed refrigerator lid.
Ideally, for vapor-phase storage, the temperature within the specimen storage area would be maintained substantially uniform at or below the required storage temperature. In the past the accepted way of reducing the temperature in the top area of the storage space was to raise the level of liquid nitrogen in the inner container. By raising the liquid level, however, specimens stored in the lower level space would be submerged in liquid nitrogen which may not be acceptable.
One method to improve the temperature differential in the vapor-phase storage area has been to install a heat conductive device in the form of an aluminum cylinder or sleeve adjacent the inner surface of the inner container. To be most effective, the sleeve should extend through the specimen storage area. It may or may not extend into the liquid nitrogen depending on the storage temperature required. Such conductive sleeves are only partially effective in reducing the temperature gradient in the vapor-phase storage area, and do not by themselves assure that the desired temperature is maintained. It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of and apparatus for providing automatic temperature control in the vapor-stage storage area of a liquid nitrogen refrigerator cryogenic storage system while maintaining the level of the liquid nitrogen within a desired or acceptable range.
Another object is to provide such a method and apparatus for reducing the temperature differential between the upper and lower regions of the vapor-phase storage area by producing turbulence in the gaseous nitrogen above the liquid nitrogen refrigerant in the bottom of the refrigerator.
Another object is to provide such an improved liquid nitrogen refrigerator in which the admission of nitrogen into the refrigerator container is controlled to produce turbulence in the vapor-phase to thereby provide a more uniform temperature throughout the vapor-phase storage area.

Temperature control system for liquid nitrogen refrigerator


There is described dough manipulation apparatus for use with a biscuit cutting machine, wherein the apparatus is operable to form and then manipulate dough sheets before output of the sheets to the biscuit cutting machine. A sheet forming unit and a sheet laminating unit, and means for controlled bypass of the sheet laminating unit whereby output of sheets produced by the sheet forming unit can be passed to the biscuit cutting machine, without lamination, make up the dough manipulation apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to dough manipulation apparatus and is concerned with dough manipulation apparatus for use with biscuit cutting machines.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
Traditional methods of the manufacture of biscuits on an industrial scale involve the production of a continuous sheet of dough. The dough is usually mixed in batches which are then deposited in the hopper of a dough sheeting unit or `sheeter`. The dough mass is drawn from the hopper down through rollers so as to form a continuous sheet which is then conveyed to the biscuit cutting machine where the required forms of biscuits are cut from the sheet. The biscuit forms are then conveyed to an oven. The remainder of the dough sheet, being `scrap`, is usually returned to the hopper of the sheeter for reprocessing.
Various types of biscuit product can be made from dough that has been sheeted in this manner. Dependent upon the type of product to be produced, the dough consistency will vary from a soft, relatively inelastic material to one of a relatively tough, springy, elastic consistency. Additionally, in order to produce a product with particular characteristics it is beneficial and, for some products, necessary to produce a laminated dough sheet.
The lamination process involves the production of a laminate formed by several separate sheets laid one on top of the other. This process enables the option of depositing a fat/flour mixture between the sheets. However, many biscuit products benefit from the lamination process without the inclusion of deposits between the sheets.


There are provided a method of evaluating the reflection performance of a reflecting mirror designed for a vehicle lamp, an evaluation system, and a computer-readable storage medium. There are provided steps (108a) and (108b) in the method. The step (108a) is provided so as to enter design information representative of a plurality of reflecting basic surfaces as well as position information of a light source in a vehicle lamp. The step (108b) is provided so as to display attribute information with respect to each of a plurality of areas into which one reflecting basic surface selected from among the reflecting basic surfaces is divided on the basis of design information. The attribute information indicates whether imaginary light from the light source position can effectively reach each area, and is applied to a reflecting mirror composed of the plurality of reflecting basic surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of evaluating the reflection performance of a reflecting mirror designed for a vehicle lamp, an evaluation system for evaluating the reflection performance of a reflecting mirror designed for a vehicle lamp, and a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for evaluating the reflection performance of a reflecting mirror designed for a vehicle lamp.
2. Related Background Art
A vehicle lamp comprises a light source, a reflecting mirror for obtaining approximately parallel light from this light source, and a lens disposed in front of the reflecting mirror.
In recent years, to the outside shapes of vehicles incorporating this type of vehicle lamps, various shapes have been applied in order to make the appearance of the vehicles more attractive. For this purpose, the outside shapes of the vehicles and shape-related restrictions, such as accommodating spaces for the vehicle lamps to be built in the vehicles are required for the vehicle lamps, i.e., the vehicle lamps, can be arranged in predetermined spaces with the desired appearance of the vehicles made attractive.
Therefore, in the development of the vehicle lamps, it is necessary to determine the shape of the reflecting mirrors while taking these requirements into account. Thus, the reflecting mirrors of the vehicle lamps have been adopting reflecting surfaces, such as paraboloids of revolution or multiple paraboloids, in order to obtain the desired reflection performance.

Method of evaluating reflection performance of reflecting mirror, evaluation system for evaluating reflection performance of reflecting mirror, and computer-readable storage medium storing program for evaluating reflection performance of reflecting mirror