A method of modifying the display aspect and the display position as the display mode of a computer system changes. In this present invention, a plurality of display parameter sets are previously provided. Each display parameter set, dedicated to one of the predefined display modes, at least includes the front porch times and the back porch times of the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal. Using these previously prepared display parameters and the transmission between the computer and the monitor, the monitor can be set to be proper timing corresponding to a new display mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention in general relates to a display technology of a computer system, more specifically, to a computer system that can prevent abnormal display aspect and display position on a monitor due to changing of the display mode in the computer system and can automatically adjust the display aspect and the display position in accordance with the various display modes applicable to the monitor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 (Prior Art) illustrates a blocking diagram of a display architecture in a conventional personal computer system. In FIG. 1, the computer system may be divided into computer 1 (the left portion of the dashed line) and monitor 60. Microprocessor 10 is a core device of computer 1, which can handle control, mathematical operation and peripheral interruption processes. Chipset 20 is used to bridge between microprocessor 10 and the Peripheral Component Interconnection (PCI) bus. In addition, microprocessor 10 can access main memory 30 via chipset 20. For Intel Pentium Pro processors, chipset 20 may be implemented by the Intel 82441FX PCI Bridge and Memory Controller (PMC) and 82442FX Data Bus Accelerator (DBX). Chipset 40 is used to control communication between the PCI bus and the ISA bus, such as the Intel 82371SB PCI/ISA IDE Accelerator (PIIX3). Video display card 50 inserted into the ISA bus is used to manipulate display information and feed video signals and accompanying synchronizing signals to monitor 60 via bus or lead 70. Video display cards may share the image-processing workload for microprocessors, thereby improving the resultant performance of the overall system. In addition to the video display cards, a dedicated image chipset installed in a motherboard may be used to perform such a function. In addition, a video display card designed for a PCI bus may be used to achieve high-speed data transmission.
Synchronizing signals and video signals indicate the display appearance and display details of monitor 60. Synchronizing signals, including a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal, are directly or indirectly fed into a deflection circuit of monitor 60, controlling an electron beam gun scanning the display screen of monitor 60. Video signals are used to control the brightness and the color of the scanned display screen. Traditionally, there are two approaches to controlling the deflection circuit of the monitor according to the horizontal/vertical synchronizing signals. The first approach is to reproduce vertical/horizontal blanking synchronizing signals from the original vertical/horizontal synchronizing signals, to adjust the vertical/horizontal blanking synchronizing signals in accordance with the phase of the video image, and to apply these blanking synchronizing signals to drive the deflection circuit. The second approach is to apply the original synchronizing signals from the video card to directly drive the deflection circuit. Thereupon, currents flowing through the horizontal/vertical deflection yokes are modified in accordance with the present video image. Basically, both of these approaches can modify the display aspect and the display position of the monitor.
The video signals transmitted from video display card 50 to monitor 60 include red, blue and green color signals. The synchronizing signals include the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal. In a non-interlaced display mode, a picture frame defined by the vertical synchronizing signal is composed of a plurality scanning lines defined by the horizontal synchronizing signal. FIG. 2 (Prior Art) depicts timing diagrams of a video signal and a corresponding synchronizing signal. In FIG. 2, the depicted video signal represents image data in a picture frame when the depicted synchronizing signal is the vertical synchronizing signal. In addition, the depicted video signal represents image data in a scanning line when the depicted synchronizing signal is the horizontal synchronizing signal. The timing relation between the video signal and the synchronizing signal depicted in FIG. 2 is described as follows. Symbol A denotes the synchronizing pulsed time, and the time period between the two neighboring synchronizing pulses is defined as the total time of a picture frame or a scanning line. Symbols B and F denote the back porch time and the front porch time, respectively. Front porch time F, synchronizing pulsed time A and back porch time B are called a blanking time. The blanking time is used to define the flyback time when an electron beam gun finishes a scanning line or a picture frame and then restarts a next scanning line or a next picture frame. The color setting of the video signal corresponding to the flyback time must be darkest, preventing the electron beam gun from lighting the display screen during this period. Symbols C and E denote a left/upper frame edge time or a right/lower frame edge time. Symbol D denotes the addressable time, defining the period of image data to be displayed on the monitor. Periods C, D and E are called an active video time.
Practically, various video display cards fabricated by different manufacturers may output different video signals (red, green and blue) and synchronizing signals (horizontal and vertical). To bridge such differences, the Video Electronics Supplier Association (VESA) has proposed a set of standardized synchronizing parameters for various display modes. For example, the proposed synchronizing parameters for a display mode with a vertical scanning frequency of 72 Hz and a display resolution of 640.times.480 pixels are listed as follows:
Horizontal scanning:
total scanning time: 26.413 .mu.sec; PA1 synchronizing pulsed time: 1.270 .mu.sec; PA1 front porch time: 0.508 .mu.sec; and PA1 back porch time: 3.810 .mu.sec; PA1 total scanning time: 13.735 msec; PA1 synchronizing pulsed time: 0.079 msec; PA1 front porch time: 0.026 msec; and PA1 back porch time: 0.528 msec.
Vertical scanning:
These proposed display modes have different timing specifications for various combinations of video display cards and monitors. Theoretically, if all video display cards fabricated by various manufacturers comply with these standardized specifications proposed by VESA to output the video signals and the synchronizing signal, the monitors may previously store a plurality of sets of display parameters corresponding to these display modes and retrieve them as required, optimizing the display aspect and the display position. Related technologies, such as display modes, parameter storing and parameter retrieving, have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,713, "Display," Arai et al., and will not be further described.
At present, however, most of the video display cards do not completely conform with the proposed standardized specifications, except for the definition of the picture resolution in the active video time. This is the result of various practical considerations, such as technical capability and production cost. Since the timing characteristics of the video signals and the synchronizing signals generated by various video display cards are quite different, a step for manually modifying the display aspect and the display position must be taken to adjust the timing parameters when a display configuration has been altered.
Some commercial monitors provide an automatic adjustment function to solve the problems caused by manually adjusting the monitor, such as errors caused by manual adjustment and the extra cost of adding an additional adjusting circuit. The automatic adjustment function optimizes the monitor display by the following steps. First, the active video time is determined by an auto-detection technique. The detected active video time is used to determine the front porch time and the back porch time. Then the timing relation between the active region and the front/back porch times is modified to meet the standardized specifications by calculating the front porch time, the synchronizing pulsed time and the back porch time.
However, such an automatic adjustment means does not work in some circumstances. The active video time of the video signals may not carry enough image data that can be detected by the above-indicated auto-detection technique. For example, in a text mode of the DOS environment, the visible region of the monitor is merely a portion of displaying a prompt or input/output letters. It is evident that a portion of the active video time of the video signals does not contain any image data and cannot be detected. On the other hand, in a graphic mode of the Windows environment, the whole active video time of the video signals is visible. Therefore, an abnormal display may occur owing to the auto-detection technique when the computer system is operated in the DOS environment, and display modes or the operation environment (such as switching from the Windows environment into the DOS environment) are changed.
FIG. 3A (Prior Art) depicts a display screen of a computer system operated in a graphic environment (such as the Microsoft Windows environment) and FIG. 3B (Prior Art) illustrates timing diagrams of the corresponding video signal and synchronizing signal. In this case, the video signal has detectable image data during the active video time (including front/back edge times and addressable time). Therefore, a monitor using the conventional auto-detection technique can exactly detect the front porch time and the back porch time. On the other hand, FIG. 3C (Prior Art) depicts a display screen of a computer system operated in a text environment and FIG. 3D (Prior Art) illustrates timing diagrams of the corresponding video signal and synchronizing signal. It is evident that the image data carried by the shown video signal do not completely occupy the defined active video time. Therefore, errors may occur when detecting timing characteristics. Accordingly, conventional auto-detection technique cannot achieve the purpose of automatically modifying the display aspect and the display position.

Method and apparatus of modifying display aspect and position on a monitor


Performance of pixel detectors in a TOF imaging system is dynamically adjusted to improve dynamic range to maximize the number of pixel detectors that output valid data. The invention traverses the system-acquired z depth, the brightness, and the active brightness images, and assigns each pixel a quantized value. Quantization values encompass pixels receiving too little light, normal light, to too much light. Pixels are grouped into quantized category groups, whose populations are represented by a histogram. If the number of pixels in the normal category exceeds a threshold, no immediate corrective action is taken. If the number of pixel receiving too little (or too much) light exceeds those receiving too much (or too little) light, the invention commands at least one system parameter change to increase (or decrease) light reaching the pixels. Controllable TOF system parameters can include exposure time, common mode resets, video gain, among others.

Electronic camera and range sensor systems that provide a measure of distance z from the system to a target object are known in the art. Many such systems approximate the range to the target object based upon luminosity or brightness information obtained from the target object. Some such systems are passive and respond to ambient light reflected from the target object, while other systems emit and then detect emitted light reflected from the target object. However brightness or luminosity-based systems may erroneously yield the same measurement information for a distant target object that may be large with a shiny surface and is thus highly reflective, as for a smaller target object that is closer to the system but has a dull surface that is less reflective.
Some range finder autofocus cameras employ detectors to approximate average distance from the camera to the target object by examining relative luminosity (brightness) data obtained from the object. In some applications such as range finding binoculars, the field of view is sufficiently small such that all objects in focus will be at substantially the same distance. But in general, luminosity-based systems do not work well and are subject to error, as noted above.
Some cameras and binoculars employ active infrared (1R) autofocus systems that produce a single distance value that is an average or a minimum distance to all targets within the field of view. Other camera autofocus systems often require mechanical focusing of the lens onto the subject to determine distance. At best these prior art focus systems can focus a lens onto a single object in a field of view, but cannot simultaneously measure distance for all objects in the field of view.
In general, a reproduction or approximation of original luminosity values in a scene permits the human visual system to understand what objects were present in the scene and to estimate their relative locations stereoscopically. For non-stereoscopic images such as those rendered on an ordinary television screen, the human brain assesses apparent size, distance and shape of objects using past experience. Specialized computer programs can approximate object distance under special conditions.
Stereoscopic images allow a human observer to more accurately judge the distance of an object. However it is challenging for a computer program to judge object distance from a stereoscopic image. Errors are often present, and the required signal processing requires specialized hardware and computation. Stereoscopic images are at best an indirect way to produce a three-dimensional image suitable for direct computer use.
Many applications require directly obtaining a three-dimensional rendering of a scene. But in practice it is difficult to accurately extract distance and velocity data along a viewing axis from luminosity measurements. Other applications may require accurate distance and velocity tracking, for example an assembly line welding robot that must determine the precise distance and speed of the object to be welded, or an imaging warning system for use in a motor vehicle. The necessary distance measurements may be erroneous due to varying lighting conditions and other shortcomings noted above. Such applications would benefit from a system that could directly capture three-dimensional imagery.
Some prior art system seek to acquire three dimensional images using mechanical devices. For example, scanning laser range finding systems raster scan an image by using mirrors to deflect a laser beam in the x-axis and perhaps the y-axis plane. The angle of deflection of each mirror is used to determine the coordinate of an image pixel being sampled. Such systems require precision detection of the angle of each mirror to determine which pixel is currently being sampled. Understandably having to provide precision moving mechanical parts add bulk, complexity, and cost to such range finding system. Further, because these systems sample each pixel sequentially, the number of complete image frames that can be sampled per unit time is limited. (It is understood that the term "pixel" can refer to an output result produced from one or more detectors in an array of detectors.) Although specialized three dimensional imaging systems exist in the nuclear magnetic resonance and scanning laser tomography fields, such systems require substantial equipment expenditures. Further, these systems are obtrusive, and are dedicated to specific tasks, e.g., imaging internal body organs.
Rather than rely exclusively upon acquiring luminosity data, actively or passively, a more accurate distance measuring system is the so-called time-of-flight (TOF) system. FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary TOF system, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,942 entitled CMOS-Compatible Three-Dimensional Image Sensor IC (2001), which patent is incorporated herein by reference as further background material. TOF system 100 can be implemented on a single IC 110, without moving parts and with relatively few off-chip components. System 100 includes a two-dimensional array 130 of pixel detectors 140, each of which has dedicated circuitry 150 for processing detection charge output by the associated detector. In a typical application, array 130 might include 100×100 pixels 230, and thus include 100×100 processing circuits 150. IC 110 also includes a microprocessor or microcontroller unit 160, memory 170 (which preferably includes random access memory or RAM and read-only memory or ROM), a high speed distributable clock 180, and various computing and input/output (I/O) circuitry 190. I/O circuitry 190 includes functions such as analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion of the output signals from the pixel photodetectors in array 130, and system video gain. Among other functions, controller unit 160 may perform distance to object and object velocity calculations.
Under control of microprocessor 160, a source of optical energy 120 is periodically energized and emits optical energy via lens 125 toward an object target 20. Typically the optical energy is light, for example emitted by a laser diode or LED device 120. Some of the emitted optical energy will be reflected off the surface of target object 20, and will pass through an aperture field stop and lens, collectively 135, and will fall upon two-dimensional array 130 of pixel detectors 140 where an image is formed. Each imaging pixel detector 140 measures both intensity or amplitude of the optical energy received, and the phase-shift of the optical energy as it travels from emitter 120, through distance Z to target object 20, and then distance again back to imaging sensor array 130. For each pulse of optical energy transmitted by emitter 120, a three-dimensional image of the visible portion of target object 20 is acquired.
Emitted optical energy traversing to more distant surface regions of target object 20 before being reflected back toward system 100 will define a longer time-of-flight than radiation falling upon and being reflected from a nearer surface portion of the target object (or a closer target object). For example the time-of-flight for optical energy to traverse the roundtrip path noted at t1 is given by t1=2·Z1/C, where C is velocity of light. A TOF sensor system can acquire three-dimensional images of a target object in real time. Such systems advantageously can simultaneously acquire both luminosity data (e.g., signal amplitude) and true TOF distance measurements of a target object or scene.
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,942, in one embodiment of system 100 each pixel detector 140 has an associated high speed counter that accumulates clock pulses in a number directly proportional to TOF for a system-emitted pulse to reflect from an object point and be detected by a pixel detector focused upon that point. The TOF data provides a direct digital measure of distance from the particular pixel to a point on the object reflecting the emitted pulse of optical energy. In a second embodiment, in lieu of high speed clock circuits, each pixel detector 140 is provided with a charge accumulator and an electronic shutter. The shutters are opened when a pulse of optical energy is emitted, and closed thereafter such that each pixel detector accumulates charge as a function of return photon energy falling upon the associated pixel detector. The amount of accumulated charge provides a direct measure of round-trip TOF. In either embodiment, TOF data permits reconstruction of the three-dimensional topography of the light-reflecting surface of the object being imaged.
In some TOF systems, array 130 may comprise an array of charge-coupled devices (CCDs) or CMOS devices. CCDs typically are configured in a so-called bucket-brigade whereby light-detected charge by a first CCD is serial-coupled to an adjacent CCD, whose output in turn is coupled to a third CCD, and so on. Bucket-brigade configurations generally preclude fabricating processing circuitry on the same IC containing the CCD array. Further, CCDs provide a serial readout as opposed to a random readout. For example, if a CCD range finder system were used in a digital zoom lens application, even though most of the relevant data would be provided by a few of the CCDs in the array, it would nonetheless be necessary to readout the entire array to gain access to the relevant data, a time consuming process. In still and some motion photography applications, CCD-based systems might still find utility.
Many factors including ambient light can affect reliability of data acquired by TOF systems. In some applications the transmitted optical energy may be emitted multiple times using different systems settings to increase reliability of the acquired TOF measurements. For example, the initial phase of the emitted optical energy might be varied to cope with various ambient and reflectivity conditions. The amplitude of the emitted energy might be varied to increase system dynamic range. The exposure duration of the emitted optical energy may be varied to increase dynamic range of the system. Further, frequency of the emitted optical energy may be varied to improve the unambiguous range of the system measurements.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,580,496 entitled Systems for CMOS-Compatible Three-Dimensional Image-Sensing Using Quantum Efficiency Modulation (2003) discloses a sophisticated system in which relative phase (φ) shift between the transmitted light signals and signals reflected from the target object is examined to acquire distance z. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,515,740 issued from the same application and is a companion application to U.S. Pat. No. 6,580,496.) Detection of the reflected light signals over multiple locations in a pixel array results in measurement signals that are referred to as depth images. FIG. 2A depicts a system 100′ according to the '496 patent, in which an oscillator 115 is controllable by microprocessor 160 to emit high frequency (perhaps 200 MHz) component periodic signals, ideally representable as A·cos(ωt). Emitter 120 transmitted optical energy having low average and peak power in the tens of mW range, which emitted signals permitted use of inexpensive light sources and simpler, narrower bandwidth (e.g., a few hundred KHz) pixel detectors 140′. Unless otherwise noted, elements in FIG. 2A with like reference numerals to elements in FIG. 1 may be similar or identical elements.
In system 100′ there will be a phase shift φ due to the time-of-flight (TOF) required for energy transmitted by emitter 120 (S1=cos(ωt)) to traverse distance z to target object 20, and the return energy detected by a photo detector 140′ in array 130′, S2=A·cos(ωt+φ), where A represents brightness of the detected reflected signal and may be measured separately using the same return signal that is received by the pixel detector. FIGS. 2B and 2C depict the relationship between phase shift φ and time-of-flight, again assuming for ease of description a sinusoidal waveform. The period for the waveforms of FIGS. 2B and 2C is T=2π/ω.
The phase shift φ due to time-of-flight is:φ=2·ω·z/C=2·(2πf)·z/C
where C is the speed of light 300,000 Km/sec. Thus, distance z from energy emitter (and from detector array) to the target object is given by:z=φ·C/2ω=φ·C/{2·(2πf)}
While many types of three-dimensional TOF imaging systems are known in the art, obtaining reasonably accurate depth images from such systems can be challenging. Various techniques for acquiring and processing three dimensional imaging have been developed by assignee herein Canesta, Inc. of San Jose, Calif. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,395 (2003) to Bamji et al. describes Noise Reduction Techniques Suitable for Three-Dimensional Information Acquirable with CMOS-Compatible Image Sensor ICs; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,512,838 to Rafii et al. (2003) describes Methods for Enabling Performance and Data Acquired from Three-Dimensional Image Systems. U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,039 to Charbon (2004) discloses Method and System to Enhance Dynamic Range Conversation Useable with CMOS Three-Dimensional Imaging. More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,549 to Bamji et al. (2005) describes Method and System to Differentially Enhance Sensor Dynamic Range.
In embodiments of the above-noted TOF systems developed by Canesta, Inc., detection current output by individual pixel detector sensors was directly integrated and collected using an integration capacitor to develop a detection voltage signal. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,039, the integrated detection voltage signal was compared to a threshold voltage and whenever the threshold voltage was exceeded, the capacitor was reset, and the number of resets was stored. In this fashion, the total change in detection voltage could be measured, and dynamic range could be extended by virtue of the resets. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,549, before start of integration, a fixed potential was imposed upon each capacitor. In the '549 invention, during integration, the potential across each capacitor could be reset before the integration detection voltage signal reach saturation, or overload, levels. Again the total change in detection voltage could be measured and dynamic range could be extended by virtue of the pre-integration voltage and resets. Preferably the sensors in many of these embodiments were operable in differential mode, to better reject common mode signals such as ambient light.
As noted in many of the above-referenced patents, sensor performance may be impaired by many parameters. Some or all sensors may not receive sufficient optical energy to perform well, in which case a reliable measurement of depth z cannot be obtained. Similarly, some or all sensors may receive too much optical energy, in which case the sensors may overload and saturate, with the result that a reliable measurement of depth z cannot be obtained. It is when a sensor receives an amount of optical energy within the dynamic range of the sensor that an accurate sensor output signal is provided, and reliable measurements of depth z can be obtained.
Thus there is a need for a mechanism for use with pixel detector sensors in a CMOS three-dimensional TOF system to maximize the number of sensors that are operating within their dynamic range. Preferably such mechanism should function dynamically such that as system parameters that affect sensor performance change, appropriate compensating changes or corrections to individual pixel detector sensors can be made. The desired result is that more valid z-depth measurement data will be provided despite variations in such system parameters.
The present invention provides a method and sub-system to dynamically provide compensating changes to pixel detector sensors such that more valid z depth measurement data will be provided, despite changes in system parameters that would otherwise impair more of the z depth measurement data.

Method and system for automatic gain control of sensors in time-of-flight systems


Various aspects are related to a traffic management system that may include: a token issuer associated with a first traffic-managing infrastructure, a token collector associated with a vehicle, and a token verifier associated with a second traffic-managing infrastructure, wherein the token issuer is configured to issue one or more tokens, wherein the token collector is configured to collect the one or more tokens when the vehicle is in a vicinity of the first traffic-managing infrastructure and send the one or more collected tokens to the token verifier when the vehicle is in a vicinity of the second traffic-managing infrastructure, wherein the token verifier is configured to trigger a control of the second traffic-managing infrastructure based on the one or more collected tokens.

In general, well-established solutions for traffic management may include traffic lights at intersection, gateways, overpasses, etc. Further, in highly congested areas or major cities Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and/or centralized Traffic Management Systems (TMS) may be utilized to manage the vehicle flow. Those systems may be implemented to optimize the vehicle flow based on one or more criteria. As an example, a queue length at an intersection may be determined to optimize the traffic flow at the intersection. As another example, a priority function may be implemented to give preference to public transportation, emergency services, etc. The TMS systems may also require a central control center for operating efficiently and achieve global optimizations. Further, other detection systems may be related to traffic in cities, at overpasses, on highways, etc. Those systems may be implemented to collect tolls, or any other fees, e.g. parking fees.

Traffic management system, components of a distributed traffic management system, prioritization/load-distribution system, and methods thereof


A hydrophilic ethylenically unsaturated macromonomer is disclosed that is prepared by the addition polymerization of addition polymerizable monomers that include monomers that have hydroxyl or amino functional groups, some of which may be subsequently reacted to provide (meth)acryl ethylenic unsaturation. The macromonomers may be used to form intraocular lenses in situ by polymerization of the macromonomers, and thus treat presbyopia.

The use of polymeric prostheses and biomedical mouldings has grown rapidly in recent times. Such mouldings may be used for contact lenses or for specific ophthalmic purposes. For example, they may be used for intraocular lenses and eye bandages. They may also be used for surgical mouldings such as heart valves and artificial arteries. Other applications include wound dressings, biomedical adhesives and tissue scaffolds. Use in drug delivery is a further application.
Disease of the lens material of the eye is often in the form of cataracts. The ideal cataract procedure is considered to be one where the lens capsule bag is maintained with the cataractous lens material removed through a small opening in the capsule. The residual lens epithelial cells are removed chemically and/or with ultrasound or lasers. A biocompatible material with appropriate optical clarity, refractive index and mechanical properties is inserted into the capsular bag to restore the qualities of the crystalline lens.
There have been recent advances in methods of inserting intraocular lens. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,667 assigned to Pharmacia Lovision Inc, discloses a novel intraocular lens injector. This device compresses an intraocular lens by rolling the lens into a tight spiral. The device injects the compressed lens through a relatively small incision in the eye, approximately 2–3 millimetres in length, resulting from a phacoemulsification procedure. The intraocular lens is inserted into a receiving channel of the injector in an uncompressed state and is urged into a cylindrical passageway. As the intraocular lens advances into the cylindrical passageway, the lens will roll upon itself into a tightly rolled spiral within the confines of the cylindrical passageway. An insertion rod is inserted into an open end of the cylindrical passageway and advances the compressed lens down the passageway. As the lens exits the passageway and enters the eye, the lens will expand back to its uncompressed state.
To avoid the need for such injection devices, it has been proposed that intraocular lenses be formed in situ after being injected as a liquid flowable form into the lens capsule bag. However, while this concept is attractive in that smaller incisions would be required, it raises further difficulties in that further polymeric reactions are required to take place and these are required to be not harmful to the patient. It is also a requirement that the reaction can take place over a relatively short time under mild reaction conditions. A further requirement is that the reaction is not appreciably inhibited by oxygen. A still further requirement is that no byproducts or residues are produced that are leachable and which may have an adverse biological effect on the patient. It is desirable that the refractive index of the polymer composition for ophthalmic applications is close to 1.41 being the refractive index of the natural biological lens material.
Patent Application PCT/EP96/00246 in the name of AG Ciba-Geigy discloses water soluble cross-linkable polymers which may be crosslinked in solution to form moulded compositions. These compositions have particular application in contact lenses. The polymers are derivatives of polyvinyl alcohols. A portion of the hydroxyl groups are preferably reacted with 2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone to produce ethylenically unsaturated macromonomers.

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation


The wire spool guide assembly is a conduit through which wire is dispensed in a controlled and orderly manner. The assembly has at least one wire spool guide, a handle bar and a spindle. The spindle may be a single spindle or part of a wire spool cart. The spindle is used to hold wire spools and the handle bar. The handle bar serves to hold the guide. The guide includes an eyebolt rotatably mounted to a support frame via a ball bearing. The eyebolt guides wire as it is dispensed from the spool acquiescing to the direction of the user's pull. Friction, created as wire is pulled through the eyebolt, slows the speed at which the spool rotates on the spindle. The frame of the guide, however, is fixed on the handle bar by a fastener disposed at a bottom end of the guide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wire guides, and more particularly to a rotatable wire guide, for use with a spool of wire, that adjusts to the direction in which wire is pulled from a spool.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wire management is a common problem for electricians especially when wiring houses and buildings. Normally more than one person is needed on a wiring job to help keep spooled wire from entangling. Spools of wire are tethered to a spindle or rod to prevent the spools from becoming mobile as the wire is pulled off the spool. However, the spindle does not prevent wires from becoming tangled. A device is desired that will allow wire to be dispensed in any direction and in an orderly manner without becoming entangled.
U.S. Pat. No. 986,020, issued to Mills on Mar. 7, 1911, describes a wire feeder. The feeder has an arm that rotates between two cones of wire to dispense wire through a tube. The arm uses guide wheels to properly direct the wire from one of the cones to the tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,834,159, issued to King, Jr. et al on Dec. 1, 1931, describes a wire holder. The holder comprises of a frame that surrounds a coil of wire and a hub that is disposed on a post on the frame and an upwardly flared bell-shaped wire guide supported by the hub. Pulling the wire through the wire guide dispenses the coiled wire.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,022,409, issued to Mott on Nov. 26, 1935, describes a twine dispenser. The dispenser comprises of a casing that holds a roll of twine around a spindle. A strand of twine exits the casing through a guide aperture found in a hinged lid of the casing.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,437,630, issued to Williams et al. on Mar. 9, 1948, describes a wire pay-off mechanism. The mechanism uses a motor driven wind-up reel to unwind and draw wire from a coil through two wire guides onto the reel.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,935,274, issued to Pearson on May 3, 1960, describes a controlled wire reel pay off device. The device has at least one radial and outward projecting annular wire-retaining end flange to allow the wire to be payed-off axially to the reel. Guides are disposed concentrically on a flange of the reel circumjacent a wire retaining end flange on the end of the reel from which the wire is being payed-off.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,010,674, issued to Dull et al. on Nov. 28, 1961, describes a wire take-off device. The wire is coiled on a rack that is mounted on a support. The take-off device comprises a platform having a stationary support for the rack, a stand having a transversely extending arm that holds a member through which wire is dispensed from the coil.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,925, issued to Higuchi on May 7, 1968, describes a tiedown fitting for ship decks. The device comprises a shank member having an upper end with a ring for connection of a tiedown means and a lower end that is inserted through an opening on a floor. A spring biased washer is slidably mounted on the shank member to engage the upper surface of the floor panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,647, issued to Kovaleski et al. on Feb. 4, 1969, describes a wire-take off device. The device is in the form of a turnable wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with and flat against the end of a spool. Wire is dispensed across the side of the wheel and goes into a guide button, which is coaxial with the spool and wheel. A plurality of tines extends from the guide button to control the movement of the wire as it is dispensed.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,469,801, issued to Hauck et al. on Sep. 30, 1969, describes a device for unwinding wire from a reel. The device uses a motor driven drive reel to pull wire from a reel. A bracket is disposed between the drive reel and a utilization device through which wire passes from the drive reel to the utilization device.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,254, issued to Ebert et al. on Sep. 19, 1972, describes a strand guiding apparatus. The apparatus is a vertical pay off machine that withdraws a strand from a horizontally disposed coil into a machine. The wire is stretched past guide means used to avoid formation of kinks in the drawn strand.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,844, issued to Wright et al. on Jun. 11, 1974, describes a method and apparatus for unwinding coiled material. The apparatus comprises a rotatable platform that supports a coil of material, a drive means that rotates the platform. A guide mounted on an arm receives and dispenses the coiled material. The arm moves from a first to a second position based on the outfeed of the wire.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,871, issued to Stotler on Feb. 21, 1978, describes a method and apparatus for handling strands. The invention relates to roving or beaming operation in which a strand is produced by gathering strands from a plurality of feeder packages. A sensing means senses the passage and cessation of the strand from the feeder package and adds a strand from an auxiliary feeder package.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,832, issued to Platt on Mar. 13, 1979, describes a thread dispenser. The dispenser generally comprises a mounting means for a ball of thread, an axle on the mounting means disposed between two arms and a thread guide fairlead disposed on a support shaft; the shaft is then mounted to the axle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,597, issued to Jones on Apr. 16, 1991, describes an automatic dispenser for elongated flexible coiled elements. The dispenser has a motor to rotate a spool and control the actuation and speed of the dispensation of the spool and two guides to help dispense the wire. The first guide rotates about an axis of rotation of a carrier to easily pull off the wire from the spool. The second guide is mounted on a frame and is a distance from the first guide. The guides cooperate to adjust the speed at which the motor dispenses the wire.
European Patent Number 372,626, published on Jun. 13, 1990 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,013, issued to Anseel on Jul. 2, 1991, describes a wire take-off apparatus. The apparatus rests on a flange of a spool and consists of two annular elements used to guide and dispense wire from a spool.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,059, issued to Gudgeon et al. on May 14, 1996, describes an electrical wire spool guide. The guide comprises two side plates that are oriented in the same plane having adjustable length guide bars between the plates at a first and second end. The plates can be disposed on a spindle to surround the outer portion of flanges on a spool. The adjustable length guide bars guide wire as it is dispensed from the spool and prevents wire from tangling.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,090, issued to Stamps on Sep. 9, 2003 describes a wire supply apparatus for feeding wire. The assembly comprises a wire supply control assembly and a wire feeder arm assembly. The wire supply control assembly holds a coiled wire and possesses an arm having routing rings. The wire feeder arm assembly also possesses retaining rings and is adjustable. The wire may be directed through both arms to be ready for use.
British Patent Number 2,101,085, published on Jan. 12, 1983, describes a filament pay off device. The device comprises two flanges disposed on a spool flange that sandwiches an elastic band. A wire from a spool is threaded over one flange under the elastic band and over the other flange. The elastic band keeps the wire close to the flanges and brakes the wire due to the action of the band.
British Patent Number 2,161,506, published on Jan. 15, 1986, describes a pay-off apparatus. The apparatus comprises a frame to hold a bobbin, a spinner disc mounted to rotate on one end of the bobbin, radiating bristles mounted on the axis and a guide disposed through the disc. The wire passes from the bobbin through the guide up to a die unit disposed on the frame of the apparatus that creates tension on the wire being pulled from the bobbin.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a wire spool guide assembly solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


A neutral starter interlock for motorcycles, a form of electronic safety circuit, is disclosed. The interlock is designed as a retrofit especially for Harley-Davidson® Big Twin and Sportster® motorcycles manufactured prior to model-year 2007 and factory equipped with an electric starter and a neutral indicator light. The interlock circuit interconnects the neutral indicator circuit (between the battery and the transmission neutral switch) and the starting circuit (between the battery and the starter solenoid) of the motorcycle, and includes an electronic relay that bars current from flowing from the battery to the starter solenoid unless the motorcycle's transmission is in neutral. This prevents unanticipated movement of the motorcycle if an attempt is made to start the engine with the transmission in gear.

The present invention is directed to the field of motorcycles. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a neutral starter interlock, a form of electronic safety circuit, that may be retrofit to Harley-Davidson® Big Twin (encompassing models in the Touring, FXR/Dyna,™ and Softail® families) and Sportster® motorcycles manufactured prior to model-year 2007 and factory equipped with an electric starter and a neutral indicator light. The starter motor on these motorcycles will turn over with the transmission either in neutral or in gear. Starting is uneventful if the transmission is in neutral. With the transmission in gear, however, hitting the electric-starter button causes the motorcycle to lurch forward unless or until the clutch is disengaged. Even if the clutch lever is pulled in before hitting the starter button with the transmission in gear, the motorcycle will typically rock ahead until the clutch plates fully release. The motorcycle lurching forward unexpectedly can result in physical injury to the rider, to a passenger, or to a bystander and/or in damage to the motorcycle or to a nearby vehicle. Hence, a representative Owner's Manual warns: "Before starting engine, always shift transmission to neutral to prevent accidental movement which could result in death or serious injury" (2002 Harley-Davidson® Owner's Manual, Touring Models, p. 162).
With the addition of the present invention, the starter motor on one of these motorcycles will turn over and the engine start only when the transmission is in neutral. Hitting the starter button when the transmission is in gear, even with the clutch lever pulled in, results in no action, rather than in forward movement of the motorcycle, as is currently the case.
In apparent recognition of the safety concerns imposed by its traditional starting system, Harley-Davidson Motor Company® has equipped all its model-year 2007 motorcycles with a starter interlock (referred to as a clutch/neutral interlock) that performs a function similar to that of the present invention. Harley-Davidson's stock system for 2007 models (which includes a provision for starting the motorcycle with the transmission in gear if the clutch lever has been pulled in), however, is not designed as a retrofit for earlier models.
The present invention, in the most general terms, represents an improvement in a motorcycle having an engine, a transmission, a transmission neutral switch, an electric starter motor, a starter solenoid for energizing the starter motor, a battery, and electronic circuitry that includes a neutral indicator circuit interconnected between the battery and the transmission neutral switch for illuminating an indicator light whenever the transmission is in neutral and a starting circuit interconnected between the battery and the starter solenoid, activated via an ignition switch and electric-starter button, for enabling the starter motor to initiate engagement of the engine; the improvement comprising an interlock circuit capable of being retrofit within the motorcycle's existing electronic circuitry so as to interconnect the neutral indicator circuit and the starting circuit to prevent the starter motor from initiating engagement of the engine when the transmission is in gear. This interlock circuit comprises an electronic relay interposed within the starting circuit, the relay having a switch side that creates an open circuit between the battery and the starter solenoid when the transmission is in gear, even with the starting circuit otherwise activated. The electronic relay further comprises a coil side connected to the neutral indicator circuit, this connection providing a conduit to ground for the coil side through the closed neutral switch when the transmission is in neutral, thereby closing the switch side of the relay and allowing current to flow from the battery to the starter solenoid when the starting circuit is activated.
Various other features, advantages, and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent after a reading of the following detailed description.

Neutral starter interlock for motorcycles


To provide a substrate treatment apparatus capable of suppressing adherence of dust to a film coated on a substrate. As an aspect of the present invention is a substrate treatment apparatus provided with a spin-coating treatment chamber 4a for coating a film on the substrate by spin-coating, a first air-conditioning mechanism that regulates an amount of dust in the air in the spin-coating treatment chamber, an annealing treatment chamber 7a for performing lamp annealing treatment on the film coated on the substrate, a conveying chamber 2a that is connected to each of the spin-coating treatment chamber and the annealing treatment chamber and is for conveying the substrate between the spin-coating treatment chamber and the annealing treatment chamber each other, and a second air-conditioning mechanism that regulate an amount of dust in the air in the conveying chamber.

A conventional method for manufacturing a PZT film will be explained.
On a 4-inch wafer, for example, a (111)-oriented Pt film is formed, and, on the Pt film, a PZT sol-gel solution is spin-coated by a spin coater. Next, the coated PZT sol-gel solution is held and heated on a hot plate and dried to remove moisture, and, after that, is held and heated furthermore on a hot plate kept at a higher temperature to perform temporary calcination. By the repletion of these a plurality of times, an amorphous PZT is generated.
Next, the amorphous PZT after having been temporarily calcined is subjected to annealing treatment by using a pressurized lamp annealing apparatus (RTA: rapidly thermal anneal) to perform PZT crystallization (refer to, for example, Patent Document 1).

Substrate treatment apparatus and method for manufacturing thin film


Disclosed herein are a method and an apparatus for providing a high efficiency seal in an electrical connector. The seal provides an impediment to the passage of fluid at one end of the electrical connector to the environment at the other end of the electrical connector. The electrical connector may be incorporated into an over-mold that contains other components. The electrical connector achieves the highly efficient seal through a combination of a dual torturous path design, incorporation of melt ribs, and may further involve the technique of impregnation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a connector for interconnection of electrical devices, where the connector provides an impediment to the passage of foreign material.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
Various methods have been used to seal electrical connectors installed in penetrations to liquid fuel tanks. Known techniques include use of washers, o-rings, and other similar structures. One other technique uses a "torturous path" incorporated into a plastic connector.
The torturous path technique relies upon a series of ribs, or similar features to limit the migration of a fluid or gaseous component from one end of the sealed electrical connector to the other. This technique makes use of a path filled with twists and turns that restrict the flow. An example of a component using the torturous path technique is a 2×2 Fuel Header available from the assignee of this patent application, which provides for a torturous path between the electrical conductor pin and the material forming the connector body. While this technique is adequate for many applications, it may be desirable to provide an electrical connector having greater resistance to fluid or vapor passage.
What is needed is a highly effective technique for sealing electrical connectors.

Integrated flange seal electrical connection


If a device non-compatible with CEC is contained in an input path when a display apparatus is HDMI-connected hierarchically to a plurality of external devices, an external device which has transmitted <Active Source> is selected as an operation object device. A TV (100) is HDMI-connected hierarchically to external devices (an AV amplifier (20a), recorders (10a, 10c), a DVD player (10b)) in a tree shape. The TV (100) receives <Active Source> indicating an active state capable of video output from the DVD player (10b) and transmits <Set Stream Path> for switching the input path to the DVD player (10b). When a device non-compatible with CEC (AV amplifier (20a)) is contained in the input path which transmits <Set Stream Path>, the TV (100) selects the DVD player (10b) specified <Active Source> as an operation object device.

HDMIs have come into wide use as a digital interface for transmission of video/audio. The HDMI is arranged for AV devices by adding an audio transmission function and a copyright protection function to DVI which is a connection standard for a PC and a display.
Conventionally, a plurality of cables for each signal of video/audio/control have been used for the connection between devices, however, since the HDMI needs only one cable and control signals correspond to bidirectional transmission, it has also been possible to operate the entire AV system such as a home theater with one remote controller by relaying the control signal to an output apparatus such as an STB (Set Top Box) and a DVD player connected by the HDMI from a monitor.
The basic specification for the standard of the HDMI was established in December 2002 by the standardization organization of HDMI Licensing, LLC (HDMI standard Ver1.0), and a rule for CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) was added as a control protocol for performing control between AV devices in December 2005 (HDMI standard Ver1.2a, refer to Non-Patent Literature 1). After that, although some revisions have been made, description of the CEC will hereinafter be based on the standard after the HDMI standard Ver1.2a and be referred to as the HDMI standard unless otherwise noted.
Note that, terms about the CEC are defined in "2.2 Glossary of Terms" of the HDMI standard, "CEC 2.2 Glossary of Terms" and the like, where one that has an HDMI input terminal is defined as a sink device, one that has an HDMI output terminal and outputs an AV stream is defined as a source device, and one that has an HDMI input terminal and output terminal and inputs/outputs an AV stream is defined as a repeater device.
In the HDMI standard, control between devices using the CEC is defined. According to the CEC, various kinds of control are possible based on individual physical addresses and logical addresses assigned to each device existing on an HDMI network. For example, when reproduction of video is made by depressing a reproduction button, or the like, of a DVD player connected by HDMI while a user views digital broadcast on a television, the television automatically switches to an input connected with the DVD player. Moreover, operation menu displayed on the DVD player, on/off of a power source and the like is able to be operated from a remote controller of the television.
In addition, the HDMI standard prescribes that operation is able to be made even when a maximum of 10 devices including a television are connected, thus it is possible to connect up to nine external devices to a television. When one device compatible with HDMI CEC is connected to the television, it is clear which device is operated from a remote controller, however, when a plurality of devices compatible with HDMI CEC are connected, there is a problem that it is hard to recognize which device is operated from the television using a remote controller of the television.
Hence, it is considered that, when operating of the device compatible with HDMI CEC from the television using the remote controller of the television as described above, by selecting a device actually displaying video on the television as a device targeted for the operation, the operation object device is limited from a plurality of devices. In the HDMI standard, as a CEC message for clearly indicating such a device displaying video on the television, <Active Source> is prescribed. According to this prescription, for example, in a case where a user operates a reproduction button of a DVD player compliant with HDMI CEC, when the DVD player itself is in a state capable of outputting stable video signal (that is, in an active state), the DVD player outputs an AV stream as well as broadcasts <Active Source> indicative of being an active device. Here, the "broadcast" means simultaneous transmission of signal whose transmission destination is not a specific device but all devices. The television and other devices compatible with HDMI CEC to which <Active Source> has been broadcasted switch a route for reproducing the AV stream output from the DVD player. In this way, it is prescribed that in devices compatible with HDMI CEC a device displaying video on TV broadcasts <Active Source> to other devices in a network.
Note that, although an example in a case of operating a reproduction button of a DVD player has been described above, it is similar in the next case. For example, in a case where <Request Active Source> has been broadcasted by other device compatible with HDMI CEC due to a user operation, and when a DVD player is an "active device", the DVD player broadcasts <Active Source> indicative of itself being an active device. Here, the <Request Active Source> is one of CEC messages defined in the HDMI standard and used for a purpose to inquire about an active device in a route.
However, a method in which an "active device" which has broadcasted <Active Source> becomes as an operation object device has the following problem. To correspond to the CEC itself is optional in the HDMI standard, however, essentially corresponded prescriptions and selectively corresponded prescriptions are mixed in various prescriptions of the CEC, thus posing the following disadvantage.
Assumed is a state where a television includes a plurality of HDMI input terminals, and for example, a device A and a device B that are devices compatible with HDMI CEC are connected to each of the HDMI input terminals. First, it is assumed that a user operates a reproduction button of the device A intending to operate the device A connected to the television. In this case, since the device A is an operable device, the device A broadcasts <Active Source> as described above. That is, at this time, the television and other devices compatible with HDMI CEC having received this are notified that the device A is an "active device".
Next, it is assumed that the user performs input switching operation of the television intending to operate the device B and selects a connected input of the device B. However, there is a case where the device B does not broadcast <Active Source>, and in such a case, the device A remains as an "active device". Thus, even when the user performs some operation to the device B, operation signal thereof is transmitted to the device A which is the "active device". Such disadvantage is caused by that the device B does not correspond to a selectively-corresponded prescription in the HDMI standard.
Even after a user displays video to instruct switching to a device desired to be an operation object, when the switching destination device is not an "active device", the television does not recognize the device as an operation object device, thus it is impossible to operate the switching destination device from the television.
Contrary to this, even when a device is not an "active device", there is a method that the television recognizes the device as an operation object device. This method is, regardless of presence/absence of <Active Source>, one in which a device specified by <Set Stream Path> becomes as an operation object device. The <Set Stream Path> is one of CEC messages defined in the HDMI standard, and when an input switching operation is made by a user, transmitted from a television to switch an input path by broadcast.    [Non-Patent Literature 1] High-Definition Multimedia Interface Specification Version 1.2a Supplement 1 Consumer Electronics Control (CEC), Dec. 14, 2005


A gas generator, includes, a cylindrical housing including a seamless peripheral wall extending in an axial direction thereof between a first end and a second end, and including a gas discharge port; a first protruding portion provided in the peripheral wall of the cylindrical housing between the first end and the second end, such that the first protruding portion projects inwardly into an interior of the cylindrical housing; a first rupturable member attached to the first protruding portion such that the interior of the cylindrical housing is divided axially into a pressurized gas accommodating space in the first end from an ignition device accommodating space in the second end; a pressurized gas charged in the pressurized gas accommodating space; and an ignition device provided within the ignition device accommodating space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas generator used in a human restraining apparatus for an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are types of gas generators that use pressurized gas as an air bag inflating medium, that use only a solid gas generating agent (gas generated upon combustion of the gas generating agent), and that use both. In all types, however, demands have been made for a simplified assembly process through a reduction in the number of components and simplification of the assembly operation itself.
In a gas generator having a plurality of components, there are many advantages to reduce the number of components as much as possible, to enable simplification of the assembly process and suppress manufacturing costs. In particular, when partitions are used in the housing interior to form a plurality of spaces, separate members are used to fix the partitions into position and so on, leading to extra work to process these separate members.
In prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,040, an outer shell housing is formed by combining a first tube 220 storing a pressurized gas and a second tube 224 storing an ignition initiator 342. Both tubes are formed with opening portions each having an inward-facing flange, and a rupturable plate (closure member 266) is sandwiched between the flange portions.
Meanwhile, in prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,893, an outer shell housing is formed by joining together a first section 90 storing an igniter and a second section 92 storing a pressurized gas. An inward-facing flange is formed on the second section 92, and opening means 70 are disposed in a central portion thereof.


An apparatus for retaining a recording medium in close proximity to a toner applicator using a segmented backing support, wherein the backing support is comprised of several closely spaced backing segments. Each of the segments is elastically mounted above the recording medium such that the segments are pushed against the recording medium. The downward force exerted on the recording medium by the backing segments is sufficient to overcome the upward force generated on the recording medium by air and toner expelled from the surface of the toner applicator. As a result, the recording medium is kept close enough to the toner applicator such that air does not leak excessively from between the toner applicator and the recording medium. A plurality of the backing segments are arranged closely together such that the recording medium is pressed against the toner applicator along the entire surface of the toner applicator. The position of each of the backing segments is adjustable to variations in the surface of the toner applicator. Additionally, the backing segments may be used to control the voltage on the recording medium.

In electrostatic printing and copying systems, an electrostatic writing head is commonly used to form a latent image of electrical charges onto a recording medium such as a paper web. The paper web carrying the latent image is then directed to a liquid toning applicator which deposits oppositely charged toner particles onto the paper web, thereby developing the latent image.
Such liquid toning applicators can be classified as pressure-type or suction-type. In suction-type applicators, a liquid pump is used to draw toner from a toner reservoir into the applicator and across one or more channels in the face of the applicator, wherein the toner comes into contact with the paper web. The flexible web serves to seal the face of the applicator thus permitting the pump, connected to the applicator outlet, to create a vacuum or suction in the channels and thereby draw toner into the applicator from a toner reservoir. The outlet of the toner pump returns the spent toner to the toner reservoir. In this manner a continuous recirculation of the toner occurs. The flexible paper web thus forms a liquid seal around the periphery of the applicator assuring that pressure differences are maintained. The face of the applicator must be oriented upward to insure that the toner is not spilled. If the paper web is pulled away from the applicator, damaged, or is simply depleted, the vacuum seal is broken, all liquid pumping ceases, and the toner flows gravitationally back into the toner reservoir. As a result, suction-type toner applicators are virtually leak-proof.
Despite the advantage of leak protection, suction-type applicators are severely limited by slow toning speeds. Since the paper web comes into contact with the toner in a channel of decreased pressure, the edges of the channel must support the web against the inward suction force. For this reason, the channels must be no greater than about a tenth of an inch wide in order to prevent the paper web from being pulled down into the toning channel and cutting off the flow of toner. To compensate for this narrow channel size, several parallel channels are incorporated into the face of the applicator. A practical design has these narrow channels aligned perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web. Such toning applicator systems are referred to as "cross-flow" applicators.
As the speed of the web passing over a cross-flow applicator is increased, more and more channels are required in order to insure that adequate toning occurs. As additional channels are incorporated into the applicator, the paper web is subjected to greater sliding friction. Furthermore, narrower channels, which can typically be up to 36 inches long, require stronger suction from the liquid pump in order to get the toner to quickly flow therethrough. This adds to the downward force on the paper web, and further increases the sliding friction. As web speeds approach 2 inches per second, the speed necessary for high speed plotting or printing, the number of required channels is so great that the sliding friction of the web against the applicator becomes impractical. Thus, suction-type applicators are restricted optimally to web speeds below approximately 1 inch per second.
Pressure-type applicators function in a slightly different manner. Instead of using a vacuum to draw toner across the face of the applicator, the toner is pumped out of a toner reservoir using positive pressure. In one embodiment of a pressure-type applicator the toner is pushed by positive pressure through a channel in the applicator and finally received by an inlet port on the opposite side of the applicator channel for continuous recirculation. Thus, pressure-type applicators do not create suction in the applicator channels, and sliding friction of the paper web is greatly reduced.
Since suction is no longer a problem, pressure-type applicators are freed from the "narrow-channel" geometries of suction-type applicators. For instance, the channel can be almost the full size of the applicator's contacting surface, extending across the entire width of the paper web, and the full extent of the applicator in the direction of movement of the web. One such "full-width" channel can be as effective as ten or twenty cross-flow channels, and almost totally without paper sliding friction. As a result, far higher web speeds can be employed without system compromises or image quality sacrifices.
However, manufacturing such "full width" channel applicators creates additional complications. When a broad surface such as the surface of the applicator is manufactured, geometric irregularities in the surface occur. That is, the applicator surface is not completely flat. Furthermore, pressure-type applicators are hampered by toner leakage. Even when precisely designed and constructed, toner leakage still occurs around the edges of the applicator. Often there is no attempt to minimize leakage, and the flow of toner is simply collected by a bucket or funnel situated underneath the applicator, and then recirculated. Using buckets increases the cost of the system, and the buckets also require occasional cleaning. Additionally, in applicator systems in which a single applicator is used for several different colored toners, the use of buckets results in color cross contamination due to toner mixing within the buckets.
As described in co-pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 07/998,458, positive air pressure may be used to confine the toner fluids to the surface of the applicator in a pressure-type system. In such a system, air is introduced at the peripheral edges of the applicator surface, at a pressure greater than the pressure of the fluids confined within the applicator. The high pressure air prevents fluid leakage from the edges of the toner applicator, thereby eliminating the need for a funnel or bucket to catch spilled toner. In so doing, a difficult cleaning problem is eliminated, and a single applicator may be used for multiple color toning.
Unfortunately, the high pressure air used to confine the toner to the surface of the applicator pushes the paper web away from the toner applicator. To overcome the problem of web-applicator separation, the paper web may be held in place using a backing support which serves the dual purpose of keeping the web grounded during toning, as well as holding the web flat against the surface of the applicator. In pressure-type systems using pumps or blowers to create positive air pressure, the web must be maintained at a distance of no greater than 1-2 thousandths of an inch from contacting surfaces throughout the entire surface area of the applicator, otherwise the cost of supplying enough air to the applicator surface becomes impractical.
However, manufacturing two broad surfaces, such as a backing support and a toner applicator, which are mated to within 1-2 thousandths of an inch of each other is extremely costly. That is, forming a backing support which exactly matches the geometric irregularities in the surface of the applicator is cost prohibitive. Furthermore, lower cost mass-produced backing supports do not have the required accuracy necessary to precisely retain the paper web in close proximity to the applicator surface such that excess leakage of air is prevented.
Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a backing support which is able to retain a recording medium in close proximity to an applicator, without requiring costly machining, and which will conform to variations in the surface of the applicator such that leakage of air from between the applicator and the recording medium is prevented.

Segmented backing assembly for toning an electrostatic image


Systems, methods, means, computer program code and computerized processes include receiving a first set of de-identified transaction data from a first transaction data source, receiving a second set of de-identified transaction data from a second transaction data source, filtering the first and second sets of de-identified transaction data to identify transactions associated with at least a first entity and to create first and second filtered data sets, removing data associated with an identifier field for each of the transactions in the first filtered data set to created a de-identified first data set, removing data associated with an identifier field for each of the transactions in the second filtered data set to create a de-identified second data set, and processing the first and second de-identified data sets using a probabilistic engine to establish a linkage between data in each data set.

Payment processors, networks and other entities create and process large amounts of spending and payment-related data each day. The data is collected and stored to support transaction processing, and other purposes related to ensuring that parties involved in a transaction are properly compensated. The data has other potential uses as well, including for use in identifying and analyzing spending patterns and behaviors. However, when the payment data is used for such analysis purposes, it is important that the transaction details be "de-identified" from any private or personally identifiable information, or that strict limitations on use of and access to the data must be maintained.
It would be desirable to provide systems and methods which allow the analysis of large volumes of transaction data using de-identified data sets. Further, it would be desirable to provide a linkage method between data from one data source (such as a merchant's sales ledger) to transaction data from a second data source (such as a payment network), thereby providing an ability to construct analyses, reports and other applications based on the matched data sets.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for analysis and linkage between different transaction data providers


A balloon dilatation catheter for the performance of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the coronary or other arteries is provided. The design of the catheter is such that in the deflated or collapsed configuration it defines a very low profile device allowing its delivery to a broader range of blood vessels within the body and the ability to be placed across very severe blockages in any given vascular space. The catheter in its inflated state has an outer surface that resembles standard angioplasty balloons. It has an interior channel through which a guidewire can pass to enable rapid exchange and per-fusion. Optionally, it can also have a second channel in the interior for perfusion. The channels within the balloon are asymmetrically placed (with respect to the shaft), when viewed in cross section, and are comprised, e.g., of balloon material, either of standard or increased thickness, or in addition may be reinforced by an additional supplemental cylindrical structure of a collapsible or non-collapsible nature.

This invention involves a device suitable for angioplasty that allows its use as a single operator exchange catheter (rapid exchange) and optionally also allows the continued flow of blood distal to the catheter throughout the balloon inflation period of the procedure.
The objective of the first angioplasty procedure described by Grundzig in 1977 was to be able to relieve the blockages that can occur within coronary arteries blood vessels that feed the heart muscle). These blockages (or stenoses) occur most commonly from atherosclerotic disease causing a lipid laden plaque to develop on the inner surface of a blood vessel wall. Stenoses may also arise from other processes such as radiation injury or diseases such as fibromuscular dysplasia. The procedure was designed to relieve these obstructions and restore blood flow by the use of a distensible balloon on the distal end of a catheter shaft. Once placed across an obstruction within the vascular lumen, inflation of the balloon causes distention of the inner lumen of the blood vessel and a decrease in the blockage such that when the balloon is deflated the result is a larger lumen with a smaller stenosis. The angioplasty procedure has become commonly used in medical practice. It is performed via a percutaneous approach and therefore avoids the need for surgery. Percutaneous angioplasty is most frequently used in the arteries of the coronary, renal, and the peripheral circulations of the human body; however, its use in the cerebral and other vascular beds is also possible.
The standard angioplasty procedure begins with access to the cardiovascular space under local anesthetic and placement of a guiding catheter to the ostium of a coronary artery. The guiding catheter allows the introduction of a radio-opaque dye into the site for visualization of any stenoses. This visualization permits appropriate sizing of a balloon dilatation catheter. Subsequent to this, a guidewire is placed through the guiding catheter up to and across the vascular stenosis. An angioplasty catheter is then advanced over the guidewire, but still within the guiding catheter, until the balloon on the distal tip of the catheter is across the area of stenosis. Inflation of the balloon, also with radio-opaque contrast, causes distention of the vascular lumen and stenosis, and then deflation leaves a larger lumen with compressed plaque, thrombus, fibrous and/or other tissue. The net result is to increase the cross sectional area or lumen of the blood vessel and ultimately to improve the amount of blood flow present at the termination of the procedure.
The angioplasty procedure as currently practiced often requires the use of more than one catheter. The placement of a standard angioplasty catheter over a guidewire requires that a length of wire protrude outside the patient that is longer than the catheter itself. This allows the operator to always be able to maintain contact with the external guidewire while advancing the balloon into the patient, to be able to maintain the distal guidewire across the lesion of interest and to maintain a grip on the guidewire during catheter removal. Having to reinsert a guidewire takes extra time and increases the risk of the procedure. The length of wire required to perform this procedure can include as much as 150 to 200 cm protruding from a patient. This length must be kept sterile throughout the procedure and usually requires a second person in sterile scrub to hold it and maintain it within the sterile field.
Catheter systems have been designed that allow the advancement or removal of an angioplasty catheter over a guidewire by a single operator while not losing the ability to hold the guidewire, i.e., so called rapid exchange catheters. The use of a rapid exchange system reduces guidewire length, decreases the risk of a break in sterility and obviates the need for an assistant during the procedure. Additionally, having to advance a conventional catheter along the entire length of a guidewire imposes significant friction, taxing the operator's ability to push the catheter. This friction also detracts from the physician's sense of tactile response which is important to the success of the procedure.
Current rapid exchange catheters have set distances from the distal tip of the shaft where the guidewire exits the shaft through the proximal exit site. These distances are long enough that they can lead to difficulty for the physician in having to transfer his hold on the guidewire to the angioplasty catheter, risking movement of the guidewire. Other prior art systems place the port for the guidewire on the exterior surface of the balloon such that, in its inflated state, the profile of the balloon-guidewire combination would not allow symmetric deployment of an intracoronary stent. The importance of adequate apposition of stent struts to the vessel wall at deployment is now known to be of great importance in reducing the rates of acute vessel closure and follow-up restenosis. For rapid exchange catheters see U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,129, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,273.
All of these catheters have undesirable characteristics of one sort or another. There remains a need for an improved rapid exchange catheter, e.g., having as low a profile as possible, requiring as short a length of guidewire outside the patient as possible and permitting symmetrical deployment of stents when needed.
Another problem associated with the use of standard angioplasty balloons is their inability to permit the distal perfusion of the blood vessel when the balloon is inflated. Thus, there exist potential complications from the resulting cessation of blood flow within the vascular space. These complications are the direct result of balloon inflation and increase as the time without blood flow lengthens. The result can be myocardial ischemia (inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle) manifested by the patient having chest pain, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction or even death. In addition, the use of standard angioplasty balloons is associated with arterial injury. The denuding of the vascular endothelium allows the release of mediators of the inflammatory response which causes platelet activation leading to thrombus formation. This is associated with a 2-5% incidence of abrupt closure of the vessel which can also lead to myocardial infarction, the need for emergency bypass surgery or death.
Perfusion angioplasty dilatation catheters are designed to permit blood flow distal to the inflated balloon for the purpose of limiting these potential complications. In a randomized trial of a perfusion balloon compared with a non-perfusion balloon in the treatment of patients undergoing elective angioplasty, patients treated with prolonged inflations using the perfusion balloon had a higher procedural success rate and a lower rate of arterial injury than those treated with standard balloons and shorter inflation times.
Another long term issue that plagues the angioplasty procedure is the problem of restenosis at the site of balloon dilatation that occurs within six months in 30 to 50% of patients. While the use of a perfusion angioplasty catheter has not been shown to reduce the rate of restenosis at six months of follow-up, recent experiments with the use of intracoronary irradiation show considerable promise in reducing restenosis rates. In both experimental animals and humans, intracoronary irradiation has decreased the follow-up restenosis rate. The delivery of radioactive seeds on the end of a guidewire appears to require the use of a balloon angioplasty catheter for the purpose of centering the seeds within the vascular space for symmetric radiation delivery. A perfusion catheter is also required to provide distal perfusion while allowing the seeds to remain in place for 20 to 30 minutes, the estimated time required to deliver the appropriate radioactive dose in situ.
Many non-perfusion angioplasty catheters have been disclosed with their respective methods of construction, preparation and usage. See, e.g., the disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. Reissue 33,166 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,169,263, 4,323,071, 4,411,055, 4,571,240, 4,573,470, 4,582,181, 4,597,755, 4,616,653, 4,619,263, 4,638,805, 4,641,654, 4,664,113, 4,692,200, 4,748,982, 4,771,776, 4,771,778, 4,775,371, 4,782,834, 4,790,315 and 4,793,350.
There are also several known perfusion angioplasty catheters. U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,017 represents the only commercially marketed perfusion catheter presently available in the United States. It provides distal coronary perfusion through the central catheter shaft via serial ports just proximal and also distal to the balloon. Blood flow travels through the center of the balloon. The drawbacks of this technology include the need to retract the guidewire for perfusion to occur, as well as the relatively high profile of the device limiting its use in smaller vessels. In addition, blood flow distal to the catheter is limited by the inner diameter of the central shaft and is usually considerably less than normal (e.g., .ltoreq.40 ml/min, where normal=80-100 ml/min) in the case of coronary blood flow.
Other perfusion catheters also have been disclosed. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,078,685, 4,909,252, 5,108,370, 5,470,314, 5,433,706, 5,472,425, 5,295,959, 5,370,617, 4,944,745, 5,425,709, 4,790,315, 5,308,356, 5,383,890, 5,395,333, 5,395,353, 5,284,473, 5,484,412, 4,850,969, 5,378,237, 5,425,714, 5,403,274, 5,158,540, 5,318,535, 4,771,777, 5,046,503, 5,484,411, 5,295,995 and 5,383,856. However, all of these are unsatisfactory in one aspect or another, e.g., manufacturing issues or potential application limitations due to size or other design features.
Therefore, the availability of a perfusion angioplasty catheter that is easy to manufacture, does not require use of a central lumen of the shaft for blood flow and does not increase catheter profile would be advantageous to the interventional cardiology profession.

Rapid exchange/perfusion angioplasty catheter


An apparatus is disclosed for applying surgical clips which comprises a handle portion, a body portion which extends distally from the handle portion, jaw members positioned adjacent the distal end of the body portion for receiving and subsequently forming a clip, camming means which are operable from the handle portion for camming the jaw members closed to form a clip, storage means for storing a plurality of surgical clips in a position for individual advancement to the jaw members, clip advancement means for individually advancing the clips from the storage means into the jaw members, and control means for selecting between a first mode of operation in which the advancement of a clip from the storage means into the jaw members is initiated by the user and a second mode in which it is initiated independent of the user.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for applying surgical clips to body tissue during laparoscopic or endoscopic procedures, and more particularly, to a surgical clip applier configured for selective operation such that in a first mode the feed of a clip into the jaws is initiated by the user and in a second mode it is initiated independent of the user.
2. Description of Related Art
In laparoscopic and endoscopic surgical procedures, a small incision is made in the patient's body to provide access for a tube or cannula device. Once extended into the patient's body, the cannula allows insertion of various surgical instruments for acting on organs, blood vessels, ducts, or body tissue within the body cavity. Often during these procedures, it is necessary to apply hemostatic clips to blood vessels or ducts to prevent the flow of body fluids therethrough. Instruments for performing endoscopic surgical clip application are known in the art, and include both single clip and multiple clip appliers.
Endoscopic multiple clip appliers known in the art are described in U.S Pat. Nos. 5,084,057 and 5,100,042, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. In a commercially available embodiment of the invention of the '057 and '420 patents, the Auto Suture* Endo Clip* applier, a clip pusher is provided for individually advancing a clip from an array of stored clips towards a pair of distal jaw members. As each clip is formed by the jaw members, the clip pusher is drawn proximally to a position proximal to the distal-most clip in the clip array. The clip pusher is maintained in this position by a catch mechanism in the frame of the apparatus. At a desired time, the user of the instrument releases the catch mechanism, e.g., by actuating a trigger associated with the frame, thereby freeing the clip pusher to feed the distal-most clip into the jaw members. Thereupon, the jaw members may again be closed to form the clip. The maintenance of the clip pusher in a position proximal to the next clip until the user releases the catch mechanism is advantageous for several reasons, including the fact that the jaws will be empty of a clip for tissue dissection and for passage into and out of a trocar sleeve.
Another multiple clip applier for use in an endoscopic surgical procedure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,343 to Thornton. As with the commercially available Endo Clip* applier, the Thornton device includes a mechanism which enables the user to select the point in time when a clip is to be advanced to the jaws. The mechanism includes a button 100 which is pressed by the user to release a drive link to feed a clip into the jaws. The Thornton device is intended, inter alia, to reduce the risk that a clip waiting in the jaws may be dislodged and fall into the body (see col. 1, lines 44-59).
A second commercially available endoscopic multiple clip applier, the Ethicon Ligaclip, duplicates the structure, function and use of the Endo Clip* applier with one exception, the catch mechanism in the frame is omitted. Thus, after a clip is formed by the jaws, the clip pusher places the next clip in the jaws without further action by the user. Although offering the potential for relatively small time savings during a surgical procedure, the Ligaclip suffers from the disadvantage that a clip is present in the jaws at all times, including times when the user would prefer that the jaws be empty.
It is an object of the subject invention to provide a surgical clip applier for applying multiple clips during endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures which is configured for selective operation, such that in a first mode the feed of a clip into the jaws is initiated by the user and in a second mode it is initiated independent of the user.
It is another object of the subject invention to provide a surgical clip applier for applying multiple clips during endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures which provides the user with a mechanism for selecting between the two modes of operation described above.
These and other objects of the subject invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of the invention.

Surgical clip applier having clip advancement control


A security platform architecture is described herein. The security platform architecture includes multiple layers and utilizes a combination of encryption and other security features to generate a secure environment.

Although the Internet provides a massive opportunity for shared knowledge, it also enables those with malicious intentions to attack such as by stealing personal data or causing interference with properly functioning mechanisms. The Internet and other networks will continue to grow both in size and functionality, and with such growth, security will be paramount.

Method and apparatus for optical encryption communication using a multitude of hardware configurations


A method, computer program product, and system includes a processor(s) continuously monitoring a current condition of a user of an Internet of Things (IoT) device, via the IoT device. The processor(s) determines that the current condition indicates an issue with the well-being of the user. The processor(s) identifies upcoming event(s), within a given temporal period, in which the user will participate. The processor(s) determines that the current condition of the user will negatively impact at least one event of the upcoming event(s). The processor(s) generates action(s) comprising a change to the event, where the action(s) is executed by interacting with one or more applications deployed on the one or more target computer resources (accessible to the one or more processors via a network connection). The processor(s) automatically executes the at least one action on the one or more target computer resources.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals and/or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network, without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. These communications are enabled by smart sensors, which include, but are not limited to, both active and passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, which utilize electromagnetic fields to identify automatically and to track tags attached to objects and/or associated with objects and people. Smart sensors, such as RFID tags, can track environmental factors related to an object, including but not limited to, temperature and humidity. The smart sensors can be utilized to measure temperature, humidity, vibrations, motion, light, pressure and/or altitude. IoT devices also include individual activity and fitness trackers, which include (wearable) devices or applications that include smart sensors for monitoring and tracking fitness-related metrics such as distance walked or run, calorie consumption, and in some cases heartbeat and quality of sleep and include smartwatches that are synced to a computer or smartphone for long-term data tracking. Because the smart sensors in IoT devices carry unique identifiers, a computing system that communicates with a given sensor can identify the source of the information. Within the IoT, various devices can communicate with each other and can access data from sources available over various communication networks, including the Internet.
Individuals in particularly stressful situations, which result in a low quality of sleep, are occasionally hesitant to request help from others or to make changes to upcoming scheduled events, even if those others are willing to provide the help and the upcoming events can be rescheduled. For example, a parent of a newborn baby may be under a large amount of stress and would likely benefit from assistance, but is unaware of the stress he or she is experiencing and how assistance from another could help rectify certain health issues the parent may be experiencing, based on this unfamiliar predicament. Similarly, an individual who lacks a sufficient amount of sleep or a certain quality of sleep may have difficulty participating in a productive meeting in this compromised state.

International Business Machines Corporation


A display for supporting and displaying golf clubs is configured to support the golf clubs by their heads such that the club shaft is oriented downwardly. The display includes a support member and at least one cradle mounted to the support member. The cradle has first and second upwardly curving arcuate support arms separated from one another by a trough. Each of the support arms defines an uppermost portion with the trough between the support arms. The cradle is configured such that the support arms uppermost portions are non-linear relative to one another through the trough. The golf club is positioned in the cradle resting one the support arms and with the shaft extending downwardly from about the trough.

The present invention is directed to a display for golf clubs. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a modular golf club display that cradles a golf club at its head to support the club, and can support a plurality of such clubs in a consistent direction and orientation.
Many different types of golf club displays are known. These displays range from a simple wall or surface against which the clubs' grips (the handle end of the club) are leaned, to displays that support the clubs in an upside-down orientation for viewing the base of the head.
Head supporting type displays (i.e., displays in which the club is supported upside-down for readily viewing the base of the head) are advantageous in that a consumer can quickly determine the type of club (e.g., a wood or a titanium driver), the club number (e.g., a 1-wood, 3-wood, 5-wood), and ordinarily, the club manufacturer. Moreover, in a typical display of this type, the clubs are securely held and as such there is less likelihood that the clubs will fall.
One known type of head supporting display includes an elongated slot in which a plurality of clubs are inserted. In such a display, however, it can be difficult to get to the first such inserted club if the slot is too narrow to merely pull the club upward. That is, if the grip is larger than the slot (and the club cannot be pulled upward), the subsequently inserted or displayed clubs must be removed to get to an earlier inserted or displayed club. As such, consumers may be more inclined to merely lay aside the clubs rather than putting the clubs back into the display.
In those instances where the slots are sufficiently large to permit the grip to be pulled through, the slots may be so large that the clubs "roll" around in the display. This can result in a sloppy and disorganized club display.
Other known head support type displays include smaller slots for individual clubs. Such slots can include a frictional material (e.g., rubber) insert to provide increased hold for the clubs. However, like the larger-lost type noted above, in such displays, the clubs often "roll" resulting in a sloppy and chaotic display of clubs. Moreover, the rubber (or other resilient material) can break or become damaged which can render the display non-functional.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved head support type golf club display. Desirably, such a display supports the clubs in a neat and organized manner. More desirably, the display is modular in that the individual club supporting elements can be readily replaced or changed with minimal effort.


A subsoil structure for sodded ground comprising a water-retaining layer filling a pan-like cavity, a sand layer covering the water-retaining layer, and a soil-improving layer covering the sand layer and incorporating a soil-improving material which is of a porous structure.. Since the soil-improving layer has a good water-retentivity and the water-retaining layer is provided for retaining or storing water, the number of watering times can be extremely reduced, thereby saving time and labor for watering.

The present invention relates to a subsoil structure for sodded ground, and more particularly to a subsoil structure for a putting green in a golf course, which subsoil structure has good water- and fertilizer-retentivity while being excellent in water-permeability. By such structure the number of watering times can be extremely reduced, while even in the case of rain fertilizers and the like can be prevented from flowing out.
Conventionally, drainage for a putting green in a golf course has been conducted with the use of a drain pipe 10 buried under the green, as shown in FIG. 2. As the drain pipe 10 is used a synthetic resin pipe, unglazed ceramic pipe or the like which is provided with a multiplicity of apertures in the circumferential wall thereof. The diameter of the drainage pipe 10 depends upon whether or not the district where the golf course is situated is rich in rainfall, the area of the putting green or the like. However, in general a branch pipe 10a has a diameter of about 5 to 10 cm, while a trunk pipe 10b has a diameter of about 10 to 15 cm. Rainwater penetrating into the green is introduced into the branch pipe 10a through the apertures in the circumferential wall thereof, collected to the trunk pipe 10b, and concentratedly drained at one or two spots.
However, most of the putting greens now available are of sabulous green in which much sand is used to prevent root rot of grass. For this reason, with the concentrated drainage system using the buried drainage pipe, even a small amount of rain rapidly penetrates the sand layer and easily flows out. Agricultural chemicals or fertilizers that are used to maintain or control the grass also flow out together with the rainwater. This results in one of the causes accounting for environmental pollution in areas downstream of the golf course.
In summer especially, watering the putting green is required for growing and maintaining the grass. With the conventional concentrated drainage system, however, a sabulous sand green of bent grass would require watering at least about twice per day in summer, even if a water-retaining material such as perlite or pumice is incorporated as an improving material in the sabulous green. Such watering requires time and labor.
In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a subsoil structure for sodded ground, which is capable of preventing an easy outflow of agricultural chemicals or fertilizers and extremely reducing the number of watering times.