A system for use with optical and electrical signaling is disclosed. The system may include a printed circuit board (PCB) that includes a plurality of layers vertically stacked between a first face and a second face and a first optical signal transmission path within a first internal layer of the plurality of layers. The PCB may also include an electrical signal transmission path and a via extending through the plurality of layers. The via may include a first reflective surface that is configured to reflect light between the first optical signal transmission path and an opening of the via on the first face and an electrically conductive material that is configured to electrically connect the electrical signal transmission path to a portion of the via on the first face.

The present disclosure generally relates to printed circuit boards (PCBs). In particular, this disclosure relates to optical and electrical connector structures embedded within a PCB.
A PCB may be used to mechanically support and electrically connect electronic components using conductive paths or signal traces etched from copper sheets laminated onto non-conductive substrates. Multiple copper/insulator layer pairs (cores) may be laminated together in the fabrication of the PCB. The number and arrangement of cores may be designed to fit the needs of a variety of applications.
Vertical interconnect structures (vias) may be used to interconnect conductive signal traces between various conductive layers within the PCB. Copper shapes or areas may be used for power and ground distribution to components on the PCB. The interconnect structures in the PCB may be designed to be physically and electrically compatible with the components the PCB may be used to interconnect.

Surface-mount connector structure for embedded optical and electrical traces

International Business Machines Corporation


It is an objective of the invention to provide a method for operating hydrogen separation devices which is capable of efficiently suppressing hydrogen embrittlement in a hydrogen separation alloy membrane and to provide a hydrogen separation device that performs favorably during repeated starting/stopping operations thereof. There is provided a method for operating a hydrogen separation device for separating hydrogen from a mixture hydrogen gas using a membrane separation technique with a hydrogen separation alloy membrane. The method comprises the successive steps of: stopping supply of the mixture hydrogen gas to the hydrogen separation alloy membrane with a temperature of the membrane within a range from 300 to 600° C.; supplying an oxidizing gas over a predetermined duration to at least an upstream side of the membrane with a temperature of the membrane within a range from 300 to 600° C.; and lowering the temperature of the membrane to below 200° C.

Hydrogen gas (hereinafter referred to simply as hydrogen) has received attention in recent years as a clean energy source that emits no green house effect gas such as CO2 when burned. Since little hydrogen exists in the air (1 ppm or less), normally it is manufactured by steam-reforming hydrocarbons.
In this hydrogen manufacturing process, carbon monoxide (CO) and/or carbon dioxide (CO2) are produced together with hydrogen (H2) while a hydrocarbon (such as methane: CH4) as an unreacted raw material gas and steam (H2O) remain. Subsequently, hydrogen is separated from a mixture of these gases and purified.
Representative hydrogen separation/purification methods include pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and membrane separation. While PSA allows production of high purity hydrogen with the use of a plurality of adsorption towers, it has a disadvantage of tending to require a large and complicated system. On the other hand, membrane separation, though having an advantage of requiring a small and simplified system, has a disadvantage of high material costs because it has conventionally used palladium-based alloy membranes (e.g., Pd—Ag alloy membranes) as a separation membrane.
Therefore, various studies have been conducted on inexpensive metallic membranes as potential substitutes for palladium-based alloy membranes and hydrogen separation devices using such inexpensive metallic membranes. As a result, it has been reported that vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), and tantalum (Ta) each have high hydrogen permeability as a metal simple substance, and hydrogen separation alloy membranes of multi-phase alloys of those metals and other metals (e.g., titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), zirconium (Zr), and hafnium (Hf)) exhibit high hydrogen permeability.
In particular, Nb—Ni—Ti-based alloy membranes are attracting attention for their high general potentials in terms of hydrogen permeability and hydrogen embrittlement resistance (see, for example, Non-Patent Literature 1).
However, there is a problem that in the case where any hydrogen separation membrane other than palladium-based alloy membranes is used in a hydrogen separation device, when the device is stopped (or when the temperature of the device is lowered) with hydrogen present around the hydrogen separation alloy membrane, the hydrogen separation alloy membrane degrades (so-called hydrogen embrittlement). In order to solve such a problem, various hydrogen separation devices and control methods have been studied and suggested.
For example, Patent Literature 1 (JP 2001-118594 A) discloses a fuel cell system for generating power by the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. When the fuel cell system is stopped, the supply of fuel to a reforming apparatus for producing a reformed gas with fuel and air is shut off. At the same time, air is introduced into the side of the reforming apparatus of a hydrogen separation alloy membrane connected downstream of the reforming apparatus for separating only hydrogen from the reformed gas, and a valve of a hydrogen supply line connected to the permeate side of the hydrogen separation alloy membrane is closed. This removes hydrogen on the side of the reforming apparatus and on the permeate side of the hydrogen separation alloy membrane.
According to Patent Literature 1, when the fuel cell system is stopped, hydrogen, which causes degradation of a hydrogen separation alloy membrane, in the hydrogen separation alloy membrane can be positively and easily removed, and a difference of pressure between both electrodes of the fuel cell, which causes degradation of fuel cell components, can be suppressed without using an inert gas (for example, nitrogen gas).
Patent Literature 2 (JP 2003-112905 A) discloses a fuel reforming system provided with a water vaporizer for producing steam and a reformer for producing a hydrogen-rich reformed gas by the reformation reaction between fuel and water. The reformer is a membrane reactor composed of a reforming layer and a pure hydrogen layer that are adjacent with at least a hydrogen separation alloy membrane therebetween. When the system is stopped, only steam produced by the water vaporizer is supplied to the reforming layer and the pure hydrogen layer so as to maintain a predetermined temperature at which hydrogen embrittlement in the hydrogen separation alloy membrane can be avoided. After steam is supplied in the amount necessary to purge the residual gas in the reforming layer and the pure hydrogen layer, air is supplied to the reformer.
According to Patent Literature 2, before conducting the purge using air when the system is stopped, conducting the purge using steam eliminates the need for conducting a purge using an inert gas. As a result, any storage means such as a cylinder is not necessary for the fuel reforming system, which makes the fuel reforming system more space efficient. Moreover, when any residual gas, such as hydrogen, is present in the fuel reforming system, the hydrogen separation alloy membrane is maintained at temperatures at which hydrogen embrittlement does not occur. Consequently, hydrogen embrittlement in the hydrogen separation alloy membrane can be prevented.
Patent Literature 3 (JP 2003-334417 A) discloses a protection method for a device using a hydrogen permeable membrane. The device has a hydrogen-permeable membrane composed of a hydrogen-permeable metal or alloy. In the device, pipes connected to the space on the hydrogen-supply side and the space on the hydrogen-permeate side of the hydrogen permeable membrane are each provided with one or more temperature sensitive valves using heat as a power source, which are operated by the heat of the device itself. When the device is started, these valves detect the temperature rise of the device and automatically enter into a steady operation state. When the device is stopped, the valves detect the temperature drop of the device and automatically operate so as to remove hydrogen in the spaces connected to the hydrogen permeable membrane.
According to Patent Literature 3, since there is no need to expose the hydrogen permeable membrane to hydrogen at temperatures below the service temperature limit, fractures in the membrane can be prevented. Moreover, by using temperature sensitive valves using heat as a power source, there can be provided a system that does not consume any specific electrical energy for valve operations necessary for starting/stopping a hydrogen permeable membrane and does not require any electronic control.

Hydrogen separation device and method for operating same


The present disclosure relates to a system and a method of compensating for a position of a vehicle, and a camera module. More specifically, a system of compensating for the position of the vehicle of the present disclosure detects a front road-line and a rear road-line of a driving lane of the vehicle based on image data on the front and rear areas of the vehicle, determines an offset of a front road-line and an offset of a rear road-line based on the front road-line and the rear road-line of the driving lane of the vehicle, compares the offset of the front road-line with the offset of the rear road-line, and determines a final road-line offset of the vehicle according to the result of the comparison.

A vehicle is a device that a user on board moves in a desired direction. Typically, an example of the vehicle is a car. The vehicle may employ various functions of assisting the driver, such as a blind-spot detection (BSD) function, a lane-keeping assistance (LKA) function, an adaptive smart cruise control (ASCC) function, and the like. In addition thereto, in recent years, an autonomous driving function has been developed, which recognizes the environment around the vehicle and performs speed adjustment of the vehicle, lane keeping, route setting, parking, or the like, based on the recognized environment information of the vehicle.
A vehicle employing the autonomous driving function must identify the exact position of the vehicle during autonomous driving. The vehicle generally identifies the position of the vehicle using GPS information recognized by a GPS sensor inside the vehicle. Alternatively, the vehicle compensates for the GPS-based vehicle position using a camera (i.e., a front camera) that takes a photograph in the driving direction of the vehicle in order to reduce GPS noise.
However, in the case where the position of the vehicle is determined using the front camera to compensate for the GPS noise, an error in compensating for the position becomes higher due to misrecognition or erroneous recognition of road-lines in the multi-angled curved section or in the section where the lane width changes because of the limitation of an angle of view of the front camera.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method of compensating for position of vehicle, and camera module


An authentication method is disclosed that makes the identification information of an object public and performs authentication in referring, from the identification information, to the information of the object corresponding to the identification information. The method includes generating a third value through a predetermined operation of a temporary first value generated every time the identification information is referred to and a temporary second value generated for a referrer to the identification information; encrypting the third value by first and second different encryption methods; decrypting the third value encrypted by the first encryption method in a tag device attached to the object; and decrypting the third value encrypted by the second encryption method in an apparatus managing the information of the object, and comparing the third value decrypted in the apparatus with the third value decrypted in the tag device, thereby verifying the relationship between the object and the referrer thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to authentication methods, authentication systems, and their tag devices, information referrer clients, authentication servers, information servers, and tag management servers; and relates to an authentication method and authentication system that make public the identification information of an object and perform authentication in referring, from the identification information, to the information of the object corresponding to the identification information, and its tag device, information referrer client, authentication server, information server, and tag management server.
2. Description of the Related Art
Radio frequency identification tags have attracted attention as one of the basic technologies that support a future ubiquitous society, and various methods of using them have been devised in SCM (Supply Chain Management) and other fields. However, since there is no scheme for managing the relationship between a radio frequency identification tag and its referrer, there are various possible security concerns with respect to radio frequency identification tags.
Techniques have been devised for preventing radio frequency identification tags from being read at random, such as localizing the communications between a radio frequency identification tag and a reader by encrypting the information of the radio frequency identification tag using a dedicated encryption method, covering a radio frequency identification tag with a special shield, and preventing a reader from reading a radio frequency identification tag by providing a special radio frequency identification tag called a blocker tag. However, these methods can only choose between disclosing and not disclosing, and cannot control disclosure of multiple radio frequency identification tags individually.
Providing a scheme for freely controlling disclosure of the information of a radio frequency identification tag at will by its current manager is the point of popularization in providing services using this type of radio frequency identification tag attached to a product.
Patent Document 1 describes a network information setting method that sets the attribute information of a communications terminal in a second server as an initial setting when the communications terminal gets connected to a control network to which a first server that stores key information and the second server that stores attribute information are connected, wherein key information necessary for secure communications with the second server is obtained from the first server, and the attribute information containing at least the identifier and network address of the communications terminal is transmitted to the second server through secure communications using the key information.
Patent Document 2 describes a processing information management system having an input terminal and a processing information management apparatus connected through a network, wherein the processing information management apparatus has the function of checking double registration at the time of database registration and the function of checking a match between an input and an output by comparing their weight values.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-135032    [Patent Document 2] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2003-345413
Possible security concerns in conventional art include the following: first, intentional information manipulation that attacks the absence of a check on whether a radio frequency identification tag is properly referred to, and an information confusing attack that notifies a server of the same ID simultaneously at multiple points; and secondly, information tracking (illegal reading) that attacks the globality of the radio frequency identification tag (the capability of any radio frequency identification tag reader with the same standard to read the information of any radio frequency identification tag).
A specific example of the first problem is as follows. In the case of assuming, for example, a farm produce production management system using radio frequency identification tags, an agricultural chemical used in the process of growing vegetables may be automatically added to the management history of the vegetables by collecting information from a radio frequency identification tag attached to the agricultural chemical. In the case of notifying a production management system of the information of the radio frequency identification tag attached to the agricultural chemical, however, unless a check is made on whether the radio frequency identification tag of the agricultural chemical has been referred to, it is possible to have false information registered by falsely transmitting the ID of, for example, an agricultural chemical with less adverse effect that has not been actually used. Similar examples include falsifying office attendance and receiving a special offer without purchasing a commodity.
A specific example of the second problem is as follows. In the case where an ordinary consumer carries a CD, a book, and a notebook in a bag, and radio frequency identification tags are attached to them for product management, so that the consumer can refer to brief product information with a radio frequency identification tag reader mounted in a cellular phone, if the coverage of these radio frequency identification tags is approximately 3 m, it is possible to collect information on objects within 3 m around in addition to her/his personal belongings. It is not difficult to identify the owner of an object in an environment where people are somewhat scattered, such as a coffee shop. The information items collectible from individual objects are not harmful themselves, but it is possible to guess various things by combining these information items.
For example, it is possible to guess a person's liking from CDs or books by knowing the title of a commodity, and it is possible to guess a person's affluence to some extent by knowing the manufacturer of a notebook or bag. A similar example may be the case of scanning the stock status of another shop.


A vehicle instrument panel assembly includes a light source, a pointer, and a sensor. The light source is configured to emit light from a display surface of the assembly. The pointer overlies the display surface and is movable about an axis to an angle to point to indicia on the display surface. The pointer defines a hub portion and a needle portion that extends from the hub portion. The hub portion overlies the light source and includes a light-guide that guides light from the light source into the needle portion whereby the needle portion is illuminated. The sensor is located proximate to the hub portion. The sensor is configured to detect that the pointer is present regardless of the angle of the pointer.

Vehicle instrument panel assemblies with mechanical pointers are known. In some instances the pointer is illuminated, and the light for illumination is provided by a light source located underneath the pointer. If the pointer falls off because of, for example, a collision, improper servicing or handling, or a manufacturing defect, the light source may annoy the operator of the vehicle, or possibly interfere with the operator's ability to see a roadway when driving at night.

Vehicle instrument panel with pointer presence detection


A system to which the present invention has been applied includes a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected to each other and a management device that divides a first number of pieces of management data needed for management of the plurality of information processing apparatuses into a second number of pieces of management data, the second number being equal to or greater than the first number, and that transmits the second number of pieces of management data obtained by the division respectively to the plurality of information processing apparatuses.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for a computer system used as an information processing system that connects many computers (referred to as "calculation nodes" hereinafter) as information processing apparatuses to a network and makes the plurality of calculation nodes parallelly perform calculation processes (referred to as "jobs" hereinafter) in a distributed manner. In a computer system of this type, a management computer (referred to as a "management node" hereinafter) is used for managing and controlling the hardware of each calculation node and jobs to be processed by a calculation node group.
In a large-scale computer system, it is difficult to make a single management node manage all the computers because such a configuration would prolong a time taken to perform such management, deteriorating the processing performance. Accordingly, large-scale computer systems usually employ distributed processing by using a plurality of management nodes.
FIG. 1 explains a management method of a computer system that uses conventional management nodes. In FIG. 1, calculation nodes are denoted by "1" while management nodes are denoted by "2 (2-1, 2-2)".
As illustrated in FIG. 1, in a case of a large-scale computer system, the management nodes 2 are hierarchized into a tree structure. In FIG. 1, the management node 2-1 is the management node 2 serving at the top level in the tree structure and controls the management nodes 2-2, which are at a lower level than the management node 2-1. The management nodes 2-2 control management nodes 2-3, which are at a lower level than the management nodes 2-2. Each management node 2-3 manages calculation nodes 1 that are its management target. The management nodes 2 (2-2 and 2-3) that are controlled by the management nodes 2 (2-1 or 2-2) of higher levels will be referred to as "management sub nodes" hereinafter. The management node 2-1, which is at the top level, will be referred to as the "top-level management node" hereinafter.
In the hierarchization of the management nodes 2 as illustrated in FIG. 1, the management nodes 2 that control the lower-level management sub nodes 2 indirectly manage the calculation nodes 1 via the respective management sub nodes 2. Accordingly, the hierarchical relationships between the management nodes 2 correspond to the inclusive relationships between the management nodes 2 that control the lower-level management sub nodes 2 and the group of the calculation nodes 1 that are directly or indirectly managed by the management nodes 2. Also, the hierarchical relationships correspond to paths used for distributing an instruction message from the top-level management node 2-1 to the respective calculation nodes 1 and paths used for transmitting information from the respective calculation nodes 1 to the top-level management node 2-1.
In a computer system as illustrated in FIG. 1, when one of the plurality of management nodes 2 has failed, some calculation nodes 1 become unable to be managed depending upon the management node 2 that has failed. Accordingly, computer systems need to be made redundant in order to increase reliability.
The hierarchical relationships between the management nodes 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 are in a fixed tree structure, and each management node 2 needs to perform a task that is specific to the position in the hierarchical relationships (tree structure). As a general rule, when the reliability of a system is to be increased, consideration is given to two conditions; (a) maintaining the function of the system and (b) preserving data being processed. Partly because these two conditions need to be taken into consideration, when the hierarchical relationships of the management nodes 2 as illustrated in FIG. 1 exist, the process of making the management nodes 2 redundant needs to be conducted for each of the management nodes 2.
As described above, in a computer system, jobs that are processed by a group of the calculation nodes 1 are managed and controlled. Data of condition (b) includes information related to the management or control of jobs. When such information has been lost, the loss has a great negative influence on the operation and management of the entire computer system. Accordingly, condition (b) is also very important.
In order to increase the reliability of a computer system, robustness against multiple failures is needed. When a tree structure (hierarchical relationship) of management nodes as illustrated in FIG. 1 is employed, the multiplicity of each management node needs to be (1+k) times higher in order to attain the robustness against k-fold failures (k is an integer equal to or greater than one).
Today, robustness against multiple failures has been realized in large-scale computer systems as well. Such robustness is realized by preparing a computer used for preserving data in each node (vertex or nodal point) in a tree structure and by saving data for a plurality of nodes to that computer.
This realization method can reduce the number of computers for replacing the management nodes 2 that have failed. However, communications between nodes have to be conducted in order to save data. These communications cause a delay. This delay hinders rapid execution of control of a group of the calculation nodes 1, responses to failures in the management nodes 2, etc. Accordingly, it is difficult to employ this realization method for a computer system that is subject to a strict limitation regarding a communication delay time.
As described above, each of the management nodes 2 needs to perform a task specific to the position in the hierarchical relationships (tree structure). Because of this, a realization method may be possible in which the management node 2 for replacement is prepared for each node in a tree structure and each of the management nodes 2 for replacement preserves data. This realization method can be used for a computer system that is subject to a strict limitation regarding a communication delay time because saved data does not need to be accessed.
However, when the total number of nodes (vertex or nodal point) representing the management nodes 2 is M in the tree structure and the multiplicity of the load distribution in a node in this tree structure is m(p), the total number of nodes needed to attain the robustness against k-fold failures is a value resulting from the calculation of M×(1+k). Because the number of nodes needed for an arbitrary node is obtained from m (p)×(1+k), M=Σm(p) is satisfied.
In this realization method, it is needed to prepare a number of the management nodes 2 for replacement in accordance with the number of nodes and the value of k that is assumed. In a large-scale computer system, the number of nodes is very large. Accordingly, a very large number of the management nodes 2 for replacement have to be prepared, leading to immense resources in a backup system for the redundancy. The existence of a backup system having immense resources increases the construction costs of the computer system and the operational costs as well. In view of this, it is also important to suppress the resources of a backup system when robustness against multiple failures is to be attained.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-153735
Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 10-21103

Management system and management method for managing information processing apparatus


According to a sheet feeding method capable of successive image formation for use in an image formation apparatus with a sheet transport path for an upper sheet feeding cassette also serving as a portion of a sheet transport path for a lower sheet feeding cassette, the lower sheet feeding cassette initially starts feeding sheets. When the lower sheet feeding cassette runs out of sheets, a request is signaled to resupply sheets to the lower sheet feeding cassette and the upper sheet feeding cassette feeds sheets. When the lower sheet feeding cassette is resupplied with sheets, the lower sheet feeding cassette resumes feeding sheets.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a sheet feeding method for image formation apparatuses, such as printers, facsimile, copiers, having a plurality of cassettes with a transport path for the sheets stored in an upper cassette also serving as a portion of a transport path for the sheets stored in a lower cassette.
2. Description of the Background Art
A conventional image formation apparatus has a sheet transport path for an upper sheet cassette also serving as a sheet transport path for a lower sheet cassette. In the image formation apparatus, the lower cassette initially feeds sheets, and when the sheet of the lower cassette run out, the upper cassette then feeds sheets. The lower cassette resumes feeding sheets when the lower cassette is resupplied with sheets with the upper cassette feeding sheets. Thus sheets are fed successively.
However, the image formation apparatus has a disadvantage that insertion or exit of the upper cassette into or from the body of the apparatus while the lower cassette is feeding sheets results in jam of the sheets being transported from the lower cassette and thus lowers image formation efficiency. In order to overcome the disadvantage, the sheet feed device of the image formation apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,537 prohibits insertion and exit of the upper cassette while the lower sheet feeding cassette is feeding sheets. Otherwise the sheet feed device is provided with signaling means for signaling to the user whether insertion and exit of the upper cassette is allowed.
For the sheet feed device described above, however, the upper cassette cannot be resupplied with sheets while the lower cassette is feeding sheets. Thus, successive image forming operations cannot be effected when sheet feeding is switched from the lower cassette emptied to the upper cassette that does not contain any sheets.
Furthermore, if the user does not notice that the sheets of the lower cassette run out and fails to resupply the lower cassette with sheets while the upper cassette has sheets and is feeding them, the current image forming operation is terminated when the sheets of the upper cassette run out.

Sheet feeding method for image formation apparatus having a sheet transport path for one sheet cassette serving as a portion of a sheet transport path for another sheet cassette


An ink cartridge includes at least one wall; an ink chamber capable of storing ink, the ink chamber being bounded, at least in part, by the at least one wall; an ink supply opening configured to permit communication between the ink chamber and an area outside of the ink chamber; and a detection portion. The detection portion extends away from the ink chamber relative to portions of the ink cartridge adjacent to the detection portion, at least when the ink cartridge is installed in an image forming apparatus; and at least one part of the detection portion is capable of obstructing at least a portion of a light beam directed through the detection portion.

Ink cartridges for supplying ink to recording devices are broadly used. One type has a case that holds a porous member impregnated with ink. Another type includes a flexible bag filled with ink. A variety of configurations have been provided in the ink cartridges to enable detection of the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge.
JP-B-3-60670 discloses an ink cartridge with a plate-shaped member that abuts the outer surface of a flexible bag that is filled with ink. Movement of the member is detected to detect the amount of residual ink in the bag.
JP-A-3-505999 discloses an ink cartridge including a case with one open surface. The open end of the case is covered with a flexible film. Ink is contained in the space between the case and the flexible film. An electric contact is disposed at the bottom of an opening in the case. The film moves toward the electric contact as ink is used up during printing operations. When the film contacts the electric contact, the electric contact is activated to indicate that ink has run out.
An ink-jet printer is known, in which ink is discharged from nozzles to recording paper to perform printing. Such an inkjet printer is generally provided with a detachable ink cartridge. When an inkjet head is driven to perform the discharge operation in a state in which the ink cartridge is empty, air sometimes invades the inkjet head. An inkjet head into which the air has been introduced may be damaged so as to be inoperable. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the amount of the ink stored in an ink cartridge. A method for detecting the amount of the ink is known in which an amount of the ink is detected by estimating and accumulating amounts of the ink used each time printing is performed. However, errors tend to arise in such calculations. Therefore, it is prudent to stop the use of the ink cartridge before actually necessary. As a result, ink is wasted.
An alternative technique has been proposed (see, e.g., JP-A-9-001819, FIG. 7). That is, a float, which has a specific gravity smaller than that of ink, is arranged on the ink contained in the ink cartridge. The height of the float floating on the ink is detected from the outside to detect the amount of the ink contained in the ink cartridge.
However, according to the technique disclosed in JP-A-9-001819, the float sometimes sticks to the wall surface. That is, the float does not descend due to disturbances such as surface tension of ink adhered to an inner wall surface of the ink cartridge. Therefore, it is impossible to indicate the correct amount of the ink contained in the ink cartridge.


A balancing apparatus for suppressing engine vibrations is disclosed. The balancer apparatus includes a helical drive gear that is rotatable together with the crank shaft. A first driven helical gear for is driven by the drive gear and a second driven helical gear is driven by the first driven gear. Support shafts are provided to carry each of the driven gears and a weight associated therewith. A case is provided about the driven gears and carries the support shafts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a balancer apparatus for an engine. More particularly, the invention relates to a balancer apparatus which cancels out inertial force and/or inertial couple induced by the pistons, connecting rods and the like when the engine is running to thereby suppress or reduce vibration of the engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
When individual movable portions of an engine such as an automobile engine become off balance during operation of the engine, vibration occurs. Such vibrations generate noise and wear out or damage individual bearings. To overcome this shortcoming, a balancer is typically used to cancel the inertial force or inertial couple of the piston, the connecting rod, and the like to reduce the vibration of the engine.
A conventional balancer apparatus of this type is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,317. As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, this balancer apparatus applies vibration suppressing force to a crank shaft 101. More specifically, a drive gear 103 is attached to an crank arm 102. A balancer case 105 having a rectangular frame is secured to a cylinder block below the drive gear 103.
A pair of support shafts 106 and 107 are secured across the balancer case 105. First and second driven gears 108 and 109 are rotatably supported on the support shafts 106 and 107. Similarly, first and second weights 110 and 111 supported by the respective shafts via bushings 112 and 113 respectively. Both weights 110 and 111 are attached such that they are rotatable together with the respective driven gears 108 and 109. The drive gear 103 engages the first driven gear 108, which in turn engages the second driven gear 109. Accordingly, rotation of the crank shaft 101 is transmitted to the drive gear 103, to the first driven gear 108, and then to the second driven gear 109. Thus, as the first and second weights 110 and Ill rotate, a load to suppress the vibration of the engine acts on the crank shaft 101.
Efforts are continually being made to reduce the size of individual engine components and the balancer apparatus is no exception. As one means to make the balancer more compact, the weights 110 and 111 may be disposed in close proximity to the crank shaft 101. However, the weights 110 and 111 can not be arranged too close to the crank shaft 101, since they would interfere with the movement of connecting rod 114.
In another design modification, a counter weight 115 may be formed on the crank arm 102, as indicated by a double-dot chain line in FIG. 20, In this case the weight 110 (111) interferes with the counter weight 115. To prevent the interference of the weight 110 (111) with the counter weight 115 or connecting rod 114, the weight 110 (111) needs to be provided in close proximity to the crank shaft 101. This restricts the horizontal length of the weight 110 (111).
In addition, because of the use of spur gears as the drive gear 103 and the driven gear 108 (109), these gears become thick. The ratio of the axial length of the weight 110 (111) to the sum of the axial length of the weight I 10 (1 I 1 ) and the axial length of the driven gear 108 (109) is therefore reduced. As the balancer apparatus is made more compact, the weights 110 and 111 will become too small to provide good vibration damping due to those restrictions.
Further, it is necessary to supply lubricating oil to the bushings 112 and 113 between the weights 110 and Ill and the support shafts 106 and 107 to smoothen the rotation of the weights 110 and 111. This balancer apparatus is not, however, provided with a means to supply lubrication oil to the bushings 112 and 113. Thus, the vibration reducing effect of weights 110 and ill is diminished.
In the above balancer apparatus, the bushings 112 and 113 are plate members that are bent so that their edges are bonded to each other. Thus, when the bushings 112 and 113 are installed into the respective support holes 116 and 117 of the weights 110 and 111, the juncture of the edges may damage the peripheral surfaces of the support shafts 106 and 107.
In order to reduce both the noise and wear created by the engagement of drive gear 103 and the first driven gear 108, there is a known method of supplying lubrication oil to the point where these gears contact. However, a change in the rotation of the crank shaft 101 displaces the drive gear 103. This method does not consider the influence of the displacement on the contact point between the drive gear 103 and the driven gear 108 when the rotational direction of the drive gear switches. Therefore, there is still a pending question as to how to effectively reduce a gear-hitting sound caused by a change in the rotation of the crank shaft 101.
Furthermore, unless the gap between the drive gear 103 and the driven gear 108 is held correctly at the designed value, a load which is applied to the crank shaft 101 to reduce the vibration of the engine would become insufficient, or backlash would occur. To keep the accurate gap between the gears 103 and 108, it is necessary to improve the working precision of that surface of the balancer case 105 which is to be attached to the cylinder block 104, or install a shim between the attaching face and the cylinder block 104. However, such countermeasures require much time and labor and require a plurality of shims with different thicknesses, thus increasing the manufacturing cost.
In addition, it is necessary to secure the support shafts 106 and 107 unrotatable to the balancer case 105 to avoid unnecessary friction therebetween. Accordingly, the support shafts 106 and 107 are generally pressed into the respective holes provided in the balancer case 105. It is, however, desirable that the balancer case 105 be made of a light alloy to become lighter, while the support shafts 106 and 107 should be formed of steel to keep the sufficient strength. While the engine is warmed, the difference between the coefficient of thermal expansion of the balancer case 105 and that of the support shafts 106 and 107 may form a gap therebetween, resulting in displacement of the center of each support shaft. In this regard, the support shafts 106 and 107 may be made of a material with a larger coefficient of thermal expansion than that of the balancer case 105. This method would, however, cause the support shafts 106 and 107 to overexpand, which may crack the balancer case 105.


The present invention relates to image recording apparatus for performing image recording on a recording medium by using plural types of recording heads, each having a plurality of recording elements comprising an array. A test pattern forming unit for forming test patterns on the recording medium by using the plural types of recording heads, a reading unit for reading the test patterns recorded by the test pattern recording unit, and a correction unit for correcting image signals for driving the recording elements in accordance with the recording elements and types of recording heads on the basis of data read by the reading unit are included whereby image density is made uniform.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus and, more particularly, to an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus for the image forming apparatus for performing image formation using a recording head having an array of a plurality of recording elements.
More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus having a mechanism for automatically adjusting print characteristics of a recording head in an ink-jet recording apparatus and is especially effective in an apparatus for forming a multi-gradation color image by overlapping ink droplets.
2. Related Background Art
Along with development of information processing equipment (e.g., a copying machine, a wordprocessor, and a computer) and communication equipment, apparatuses for performing digital image recording using a recording head by using an ink-jet scheme, a thermal transfer scheme, or the like have been very popular as image forming (recording) apparatuses for equipment such as information processing equipment and communication equipment. In such a recording apparatus, a recording head having an array of a plurality of recording elements (to be referred to as a multi-head hereinafter) is generally used to increase a recording speed.
For example, a multi-nozzle head having a plurality of ink orifices and a plurality of liquid paths is generated used in an ink-jet recording head. A plurality of heaters are generally stacked in a thermal transfer or thermal head.
It is very difficult to uniformly manufacture recording elements of a multi-head due to variations in characteristics during the fabrication process and variations in properties of head constituting materials. Variations occur in the characteristics of the respective recording elements. For example, in the above multi-nozzle head, variations occur in shapes of the orifices and liquid paths. In the above thermal head, shapes of heaters and resistances inevitably vary. Nonuniformity of characteristics between the recording elements appears as nonuniformity of sizes of dots recorded by the respective recording elements and as uneven image densities of the resultant image.
To cope with the above problems, various methods are proposed in which an uneven image density is visually found or an adjusted image is visually checked, a signal applied to each recording element is manually corrected, thereby obtaining a uniform image.
For example, in a multi-head 330 having recording elements 331 arranged as shown in FIG. 1A, assume that input signals to the respective recording elements are uniform, as shown in FIG. 1B, and that an uneven image density is visually found, as shown in FIG. 1C. In this case, an input signal is corrected, as shown in FIG. 1D. More specifically, a large input signal is supplied to a recording element corresponding to a low image density, and a small input signal is supplied to a recording element corresponding to a high image density, thereby generally performing manual adjustment.
In a recording scheme capable of modulating a dot diameter or dot density, the diameter of a dot to be recorded by each recording element is modulated in accordance with an input to achieve gradation recording. For example, if modulation of a drive voltage applied to each injection energy generating element (e.g., a piezoelectric element or an electricity-heat conversion element) in an ink-jet recording head according to a piezoelectric scheme or a scheme utilizing heat energy, or a drive voltage applied to each heater in a thermal head or a pulse width of the drive voltage in accordance with an input signal is utilized, a dot diameter or a dot density of each recording element can be made uniform, and a density distribution can be made uniform, as shown in FIG. 1E. Alternatively, assume that it is difficult to modulate a drive voltage or pulse width or it is difficult to perform density adjustment in a wide range even if the drive voltage or pulse width is modulated. In this case, if one pixel is constituted by, e.g., a plurality of dots, the number of dots to be recorded in accordance with an input signal is modulated. A larger number of dots are assigned to a portion having a low density, while a smaller number of dots are assigned to a portion having a high density. If one pixel is constituted by one dot, the number of orifice-use times (the number of injection cycles) per pixel is modulated in the ink-jet recording apparatus, thereby changing the dot diameter. Therefore, the density distribution can be made uniform, as shown in FIG. 1E.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 57-41965 filed by the present applicant discloses that a color image is automatically read by an optical sensor, and a correction signal is supplied to each ink-jet recording head to form a desired color image. In this prior-art invention, basic automatic adjustment is disclosed, and an important technique is thus disclosed. Various problems may be posed when this prior-art invention is embodied in a variety of practical applications as various apparatuses. However, technical problems addressed in the present invention are not solved in this prior-art invention.
Techniques except for a density detection scheme are disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 60-206660, U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,504, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application Nos. 50-147241 and 54-27728. A landing position of a liquid droplet is automatically read, and the read position data is corrected to perform landing to an accurate position. Although these schemes are common as automatic adjustment techniques, the technical problems addressed in the present invention are not solved in these prior-art inventions.
According to the above method, even if an uneven image density can be corrected once, a correction quantity of an input signal must be changed when the uneven image density is changed. In an ink-jet head, a precipitate of an ink may be attached to a portion near an ink orifice, or a foreign substance may be attached thereto, and the density distribution may often be changed. In thermal transfer, degradation of each heater and its change of properties occur to result in a change in density distribution. In this case, an initial input correction quantity does not allow sufficient uneven image density correction. For this reason, an uneven image density becomes conspicuous in long-term use, resulting in inconvenience.
In order to cope with the above problem, an uneven image density reading unit is arranged in an image forming apparatus, and an uneven image density distribution within the array of recording elements is periodically read to rewrite an unevenness correction data, thus providing an effective countermeasure. According to this technique, even if the uneven image density distribution of the head is changed, the unevenness correction data is rewritten accordingly, thereby always obtaining a uniform image free from unevenness. Such an image recording apparatus is proposed by the present applicant (U.S. Ser. No. 480,041 filed on Feb. 14, 1990; and U.S. Ser. No. 516,129 filed on Apr. 27, 1990).
A schematic arrangement obtained by applying the above proposal to an ink-jet recording apparatus is shown in FIG. 2.
Multi-nozzle ink heads 1C, 1M, 1Y, and 1Bk are of a cyan ink, a magenta ink, a yellow ink, and a black ink, respectively. Each ink-jet head has a density of 400 dpi, the number of nozzles as 4,736, and a width of about 300 mm and can selectively inject an ink (i.e., so-called on-demand scheme) for a recording material of a fixed A3 size (latitude: 297 mm) or less such as a recording material of a B4 or A4 size upon movement of the recording material. An image can be formed on the entire surface of the recording material upon a single movement of the recording material.
This ink-jet head can be realized by an ink-jet head for supplying electrical pulses to heating resistor elements formed utilizing, e.g., a semiconductor fabrication process, to heat an ink so as to form a bubble, thereby injecting or ejecting an ink droplet by its pressure. By utilizing four of these ink-jet heads, a high-speed full-color image recording apparatus having a speed of about 30 cpm (copies per minute) can be arranged. The full-color image recording apparatus includes a cassette 602 for storing recording materials 603 (not shown in FIG. 2). The recording material 603 (not shown in FIG. 2) is picked up by a pickup roller 604 and is electrostatically attracted to a conveyor belt 608 through first resist rollers 605, a guide plate 606, and second resist rollers 607, so that ink-jet recording is performed on a platen 609.
When normal ink-jet recording is to be performed, a test pattern reading system consisting of a lamp source 610 and an optical sensor 611 is not operated. The recording material on which a desired image is recorded is discharged onto a discharge tray 614 through a guide plate 612 and discharge rollers 613.
When ink-jet recording of a test pattern for correcting an uneven image density is to be performed, the test pattern reading system consisting of the lamp source 610 and the optical sensor 611 is operated. More specifically, the lamp source 610 is turned on, and the optical sensor 611 receives light reflected by the recorded test pattern and outputs an electrical signal proportional to a light reception quantity. Each of the lamp source 610 and the optical sensor 611 has a width equal to or larger than that of the ink-jet head 1. Alternatively, the lamp source 610 and the optical sensor 611 may be arranged such that scanning is performed in a direction perpendicular to the drawing surface (FIG. 2) along a guide rail (not shown) to read the recording characteristics of a plurality of recording elements (a plurality of nozzles in this case).
FIG. 3 shows an uneven image density reading unit 506 used in the above method. A recording medium 501 has an unevenness measurement test pattern. The reading unit 506 includes a light source 502 for illuminating a surface of the recording medium, a reading sensor 503 for reading light reflected by the surface of the recording medium, and lenses 504 and 505. The reading unit 506 having the above arrangement is scanned to read an unevenness distribution, thereby rewriting unevenness correction data.
FIG. 4 shows another uneven image density reading unit. The reading unit comprises a line sensor 520 comprising a CCD or the like having read pixels 521, and an unevenness correction test pattern 524 in which a recording element is formed by a width d in the y direction. The density of the test pattern is read by a recording head while the line sensor 520 is scanned in the x direction. Data read by the pixels 521 of the line sensor 520 correspond to density data formed by the respective recording elements of the recording head.
An algorithm of uneven image density correction proposed above will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C and FIGS. 6A and 6B.
A test pattern (FIG. 5A) obtained by driving a plurality of recording elements (nozzles in this case) under the same condition, i.e., by the same drive image signal (the drive signal is defined as S.sub.0 in this case) is recorded. An optical density of the test pattern is not uniform due to variations caused by fabrication of the respective recording elements and variations caused by deteriorations over time, as shown in FIG. 5B. An uneven image density is caused, as shown in FIG. 5C. A drive signal S for the recording head in response to the read signal is corrected in units of recording elements in accordance with the read signal, thereby preventing an uneven image density.
More specifically, light is incident on the test pattern (FIG. 5A), and light reflected by the test pattern is received. The received light quantity is A/D-converted into digital data, thereby measuring a distribution Ei (where i is a recording area of the ith nozzle) (S.sub.0) of quantities of reflected light. (S.sub.0) represents that Ei is a function of S. If S=S.sub.0, then Ei is obtained. Light quantity to density conversion is performed to convert the distribution Ei(S.sub.0) of quantities of reflected light into a distribution ODi(S.sub.0) optical densities. An average density OD(S.sub.0) is calculated, and a reciprocal ratio OD(S.sub.0)/ODi(S.sub.0) for the average density OD(S.sub.0) of the optical density ODi(S.sub.0) of each portion is multiplied with the drive signal for driving the ith recording element, thereby correcting the uneven image density (to be described later), thereby obtaining a uniform image free from an uneven image density.
An example of the above operation will be briefly described below. Assume that a proportional relationship between the drive signal S and the optical density ODi(S) of the recording material is established, as shown in FIG. 6A. If no proportional relationship is established, the drive signal S is corrected so as to obtain a proportional relationship by using a look-up table or the like. Since all the recording elements are driven by the same drive signal S.sub.0, optical densities vary depending on the respective recording elements (i values), as shown in FIG. 6A. The second recording element, i.e., i=2 will be taken as an example (FIG. 6B). The optical density of a portion to be recorded by the second recording element is OD.sub.2 (S.sub.0)=a.sub.2 .times.S.sub.0 as opposed to the average density OD(S.sub.0)=a.times.S of the entire image, so that the portion to be recorded by the second recording element has a lower density than the average density. The drive signal for driving the second recording element is corrected to OD(S.sub.0)/OD.sub.2 (S.sub.0).times.S.sub.0. Since condition OD(S.sub.0)/OD.sub.2 (S.sub.0)=(a.times.S.sub.0)/(a.sub.2 .times.S.sub.0)=a/a.sub.2 is established, the drive signal for driving the second recording element is given as OD(S.sub.0)/OD.sub.2 (S.sub.0).times.S.sub.0 =a/a.sub.2 .times.S.sub.0. This correction value is proved to be a correct correction value (correction value for eliminating an uneven image density) as follows.
As is apparent from FIG. 6B, since .DELTA.ABC.alpha..DELTA.ADE is established, EQU BC:DE=AC:AE EQU BC:DE=a.sub.2 .times.S.sub.0 :a.times.S.sub.0 =a.sub.2 :a EQU and EQU AC:AE=a.sub.2 :a, AC=S.sub.0 EQU then EQU AE=a/a.sub.2 .times.S.sub.0
When the second recording element is driven with a/a.sub.2 .times.S.sub.0, the optical density is given as a.times.S.sub.0 which is equal to the average density from FIG. 6B. The unevenness of this portion can be apparently corrected. A correction value of the drive signal for driving the second recording element is thus confirmed to be OD(S.sub.0)/OD.sub.2 (S.sub.0) (this value is multiplied with the drive signal). This can also be applied to other recording elements. When a correction value OD/OD.sub.i is multiplied with a drive signal for driving the ith recording element, the uneven image density of the recorded image can be corrected and made uniform. Since any S.sub.0 value can be selected, the uneven image densities of all the drive signal values can be corrected and made uniform.
In summary, light is incident on the test pattern shown in FIG. 5A and a quantity of light reflected by the test pattern is measured. A correction quantity is calculated by performing the above calculations, and the recording head is driven by the corrected drive signals. The uneven image densities caused by variations in recording elements can be corrected, and a desired recorded image can be obtained.
In an image recording apparatus for performing image recording using the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black recording heads described above, recording characteristics of the recording heads are to be often detected and then an uneven image density is to be corrected. When light is incident on test patterns (of different colors) recorded by the respective recording heads, and conversion parameters for converting signals proportional to the quantities of reflected light into signals proportional to optical densities, are common to all the color components (i.e., cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), the quantities of reflected light cannot be accurately transformed into optical densities. For this reason, the uneven image density cannot be perfectly corrected.
When light is to be incident on the test patterns (of different colors) recorded by the respective recording heads, and analog data proportional to the distribution of the quantities of reflected light are to be converted into digital data, reference analog values for A/D conversion for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black recording heads are the same. For this reason, resolutions (representing a minimum density difference determination range) for the densities of the read data of the uneven image densities of the yellow, magenta, and cyan recording heads are decreased, and uneven image density correction precision is degraded, resulting in inconvenience.
In the above operations, it is generally difficult to actually obtain an image perfectly free from an uneven image density by a single calculation cycle. The calculations must be repeated until an image perfectly free from the uneven image density is obtained. When the operations are terminated after satisfactory unevenness density correction of an image with the resultant correction data is confirmed, a sufficient unevenness correction effect can be obtained.
Even if correction data is obtained by the above method, a sufficiently effective correction effect often cannot be obtained for an image if a large difference exists between the image and the test image used in unevenness correction.
For example, when correction data is rewritten by using a halftone image 50% duty this data is effective for the unevenness correction effect in 50% halftone. However, this data may not be effective for halftone of 0 to 15% or 75 to 85% because the gradation characteristics of the recording head are not necessarily linear, as those shown in FIG. 6A. The effect obtained by correction shown in FIG. 6B is not always valid throughout the entire range of the input signal.
If an image forming apparatus includes an image reading apparatus, converts an original image into an electrical signal, and performs image recording in accordance with the electrical signal, the original image reading apparatus can be conveniently used as a reading unit for the uneven image density of a test image without any modifications.
In an image forming apparatus having such an image reading apparatus, and particularly, an apparatus capable of reading or forming a color image, the reading apparatus outputs red (R), green (G), and blue (BL) signals. In this case, it is possible to read all color patterns.
Unevenness is a delicate phenomenon, and it is preferable to read each test image with high precision. In a normal copying mode, i.e., in a mode for reading an original image and copying the read image by a recording head, it is preferable not to sacrifice color reproducibility.
Another uneven image density reading head 506 used in the above method is shown in FIG. 7. This head comprises a lamp 502, a photo-diode 503, and lenses 504 and 505. The head can read an unevenness measurement pattern printed on recording sheet 501.
Light from the lamp 502 is collimated by the lens 504, and the collimated light is incident on an unevenness measurement pattern on the recording sheet 501. Light reflected by the recording sheet 501 is incident on the photo-diode 503 through the lens 505 and an aperture 507 having an opening of size d.sub.0. At this time, light incident on the photo-diode 503 falls within the range of d.sub.1 on the unevenness measurement pattern, so that an average value of the unevenness pattern within the range of d.sub.1 is detected. When unevenness correction data is rewritten on the basis of this detection result, a uniform image can always be obtained.
Still another uneven image density reading method will be described with reference to FIG. 8. A recording sheet and a CCD are denoted by reference numerals 520 and 521. An unevenness correction pattern printed by a multi-element head having a total width d of recording elements in the y direction. In this case, the number of recording elements in the multi-element head is 256, and the number of read pixels of the CCD is also 256. The density of a pattern printed with the multi-element head is read while the CCD is scanned in the direction of arrow 525.
Data read by the pixels of the CCD correspond to densities of the respective recording elements of the multi-element head, respectively.
When unevenness correction data are formed directly using the pixel data, an image contains a large number of noise components for the following reason.
Assume that dots D are formed in an uneven image density correction pattern in FIG. 9. The dot sizes are uneven in the x direction because diameters of dots recorded by one recording element of the multi-element head are changed. Density measurement results vary greatly depending on measurement timings. The dots are not equidistantly arranged in the y direction because dot recording position precision varies in the y direction. At this time, when a measurement is performed, a density corresponding to a reading element 521b is high, and a density corresponding to a reading element 521c is low.
For this reason, the read data of a predetermined area in the x and y directions are averaged, and the average value serves as data of the central reading pixel of this area. Unevenness correction is performed on the basis of the data obtained as described above, and a uniform image can always be obtained.
However, when an aperture size is fixed, as shown in FIG. 7, or when the size of the data averaging area is fixed, as shown in FIG. 8, the following drawback is present.
The aperture size and the size of the data averaging area are important factors in unevenness reading. When the size of the data averaging area is excessively large, a complicated unevenness pattern cannot be read. In this case, it is difficult to correct fine unevenness having a short period. To the contrary, when the data averaging area is too large, noise in a read pattern is extracted, and stable unevenness correction cannot be performed. Therefore satisfactory uniform image cannot be obtained by a single unevenness correction cycle. In order to obtain a satisfactory image, read and unevenness correction must be repeated a plurality of times.
For this reason, the aperture size and the size of the data averaging area must be set to optimal values. However, these optimal values change in accordance with print conditions. Assume that a large image is output and used for a poster or the like. In this case, since the poster is not observed from a position close to it, fine unevenness is not so conspicuous, so that correction of an uneven image density having a long period is the primary concern. In this sense, the aperture size and the size of the data averaging area are preferably large. On the other hand, in the case of a small image which is observed close at hand, elimination of fine unevenness becomes the primary concern. In this case, it is preferable to reduce the aperture size and the size of the data averaging area.
In this manner, an optimal aperture size and an optimal size of a data averaging area vary depending on output images.
Optimal values also change depending on time required for forming unevenness correction data.
In the market, servicemen often replace an old head with a new one. At this time, he forms unevenness correction data. In this case, it is better to the time to perform high-precision unevenness correction, and the aperture size and the size of the data averaging area are preferably set to be small.
When an ordinary user performs unevenness correction during use, unevenness correction of a given level or more can be performed within a short period of time by setting the aperture size and the size of the data averaging area to be large.
These optimal values are also changed depending on the number of head-use times.
When a new head is used immediately after its replacement, print position precision of each dot is relatively good. Read noise caused by variations in print position precision, shown in FIG. 9, is small. The aperture size and the size of the data averaging area can be small. In an old head, however, since print position precision of each dot has degraded, the aperture size and the size of the averaging area are preferably set to be large.
Optimal values of the aperture size and the size of the data averaging area vary depending on various conditions. Fixed values for the size of the aperture and data averaging area cannot cope with various conditions.
A read speed and a focus state of a read optical system are used as factors having the same effects as the aperture size and the size of the data averaging area.
When the read speed is high, fine unevenness tends not to be read. However, when the read speed is low, high-precision reading can be performed, although noise in a pattern tends to be picked up.
Fine unevenness tends not to be read when a defocus state is set. However, when an in-focus state is set, noise in the pattern tends to be picked up.
When predetermined read conditions are set, it is difficult to perform optimal reading.
Types of unevenness correction patterns, and a method of calculating unevenness correction data in addition to the various read conditions are often preferably changed depending whether fine unevenness correction requiring a long period of time, or coarse unevenness correction requiring a short period of time is appropriate. For example, precision can be improved by correcting a plurality of patterns instead of correcting one type of pattern because a calculation method suitable for a specific purpose must be used. When there is only one method of calculating unevenness correction patterns, optimal unevenness correction data suitable for various conditions cannot be formed.

Recording apparatus for performing uniform density image recording utilizing plural types of recording heads


A nasal insert filtering assembly for filtering impurities in an airflow flowing through the nasal passages of a user. The nasal insert filtering assembly includes a pair of housings. Each of the housings includes an interior. A filtering means is mounted in the interior of each of the housings for filtering an airflow flowing through interior of each of the housings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to filters and more particularly pertains to a new nasal insert filtering assembly for filtering impurities in an airflow flowing through the nasal passages of a user.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of filters is known in the prior art. More specifically, filters heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,597; U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,205; U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,217; U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,917; U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,149; U.S. Pat. No. 1,311,461; and U.S. Pat. No. 878,223.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new nasal insert filtering assembly. The inventive device includes a pair of housings. Each of the housings includes an interior. A filtering means is mounted in the interior of each of the housings for filtering an airflow flowing through interior of each of the housings.
In these respects, the nasal insert filtering assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of filtering impurities in an airflow flowing through the nasal passages of a user.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of filters now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new nasal insert filtering assembly construction wherein the same can be utilized for filtering impurities in an airflow flowing through the nasal passages of a user.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new nasal insert filtering assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the filters mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new nasal insert filtering assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art filters, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises includes a pair of housings. Each of the housings includes an interior. A filtering means is mounted in the interior of each of the housings for filtering an airflow flowing through interior of each of the housings.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new nasal insert filtering assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the filters mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new nasal insert filtering assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art filters, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new nasal insert filtering assembly which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new nasal insert filtering assembly which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new nasal insert filtering assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such nasal insert filtering assembly economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new nasal insert filtering assembly which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new nasal insert filtering assembly for filtering impurities in an airflow flowing through the nasal passages of a user.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new nasal insert filtering assembly which includes a pair of housings. Each of the housings includes an interior. A filtering means is mounted in the interior of each of the housings for filtering an airflow flowing through interior of each of the housings.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new nasal insert filtering assembly that unlike the prior art may employ a plurality of filters to provide additional filtering of an airflow entering the nasal passages of a user.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new nasal insert filtering assembly that is more comfortable by permitting a user to use a filter for breathing without having to wear a large mask.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.


A collapsible stroller comprising a frame and a reversible seat (5) comprising an armrest portion (5.5) is provided. The reversible seat (5) is mountable via an attachment point on the stroller frame in either a forward or rearward orientation with respect to the stroller frame, and in such a way that the attachment point can be moved relative to the stroller frame for collapse of the reversible seat (5) along with the stroller frame, irrespective of the reversible seat's orientation. An associated reversible seat structure is also disclosed.

A problem with some strollers having reversible seats, is that the stroller frame can only be collapsed after the reversible seat is removed. For other strollers the stroller frame can only be collapsed when the reversible seat is mounted in a given orientation and/or via one of a plurality of available attachment points. If the stroller frame is collapsed when the reversible seat is mounted in any other way, the reversible seat will either significantly protrude outside the collapsed stroller frame and thus will not be snugly collapsed along with the stroller frame, or fail to collapse at all.
It is against this background and the problems and difficulties associated therewith that the present invention has been developed.
Certain objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

Collapsible stroller having reversible seat


Reciprocating or push-pull control cable assemblies have fittings permanently attached, preferable by swaging or other mechanical deformation process, to the ends of a control cable or core that reciprocates within an outer casing. The fittings have a projected width no greater than the inner diameter of the casing. As a result, the entire control cable, with fittings attached, can be pulled through the casing to remove the control cable for inspection, maintenance or replacement. The cable also have a unique combination of ball joint assemblies and excluder seals that effectively exclude contaminants from the interior of the casing.

This invention relates to mechanical control assemblies, and more particularly to push-pull or reciprocating cable assemblies suitable for aeronautical applications.
Push-pull control cable assemblies are used for many systems, e.g. aircraft engines, which must be adjusted from a distance or which are located in hostile environments. These controls frequently have a cable that reciprocates within a casing that supports and protects the cable. Fittings are typically attached to both ends of the cable to connect it to a system to be controlled at one end, and to operating levers, pedals and the like at the other end.
With existing controls of this type, the entire control cable assembly must be removed for repair or replacement, and the cable itself cannot be thoroughly inspected without removal of fittings permanently attached to each end. When these cables fail, they are normally discarded and replaced. To facilitate inspection, repair and replacement, a control assembly with a reciprocating cable that can be removed from the casing without removing or disassembling the casing would be desirable.
This invention provides improved control cable assemblies having control cables mounted within and adapted for reciprocation within an outer casing. A fitting is permanently attached, preferable by swaging or other mechanical deformation process, to at least one end, normally both ends, of the control cable. These fittings have a projected width, i.e. the width in a plane at right angles to the axis of the cable, no greater than the inner diameter of the casing. As a result, the entire control cable, with fittings attached, can be pulled through the casing to remove the control cable for inspection, maintenance or replacement. This simplifies maintenance, and substantially increases the service life of the cable assembly. To facilitate connection to control levers, pedals or the like, or to apparatus to be controlled or operated, couplings or other connecting members may be detachably secured to the fittings by renewable connections such as threaded joints, for example, that allow the couplings to be removed and replaced easily.
The invention also provides a unique combination of ball joint assemblies and excluder seals that effectively exclude contaminants from the interior of the casing, which also helps to increase service life. These and other features of the inventive cable are described more thoroughly in the following detailed description.


A multiplying amplifier which is controlled in a dB linear manner. Transistors, having a numerical distribution coeffient and having the output voltage to be dB-linearly dependent responsive to a control voltage, are connected to the inputs of a muliplier.

It is known to use a multiplier for gain control. The control signal is applied to one input of the multiplier and the input signal is applied to the second input of the multiplier. The output signal is present at the output.
In the case of known gain control, the output signal is linear with respect to the control signal. Given an input signal of 1 volt and a control signal between 0 and 10 volts, it is possible to realize linear gain properties having factors between 0 and 100. That is to say that a gain factor of 100 is produced for a control signal of 10 volts, and for a control signal of 5 volts the gain factor is 50. If the gain factors are expressed in dB, the gain factor of 100 corresponds to a value of 40 dB and the gain factor of 50 corresponds to the value 34 dB. A linear amplifier is therefore unsuitable for dB linearity, since the changes in the output signal have a great effect in the lower control ranges whereas, in the upper control ranges, the changes in the controlled variable do not have much of an effect on the output signal.
The gain factors lie between the values 1 and 1000 in the IF range. These gain factors must be distributed uniformly over the control voltage, and dB linearity between the output voltage and the control signal is therefore to be aimed at.
It is furthermore known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,717 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,141 to change an output voltage as a logarithmic function of the input voltage.

Amplifier stage with dB-linear output voltage


A metallurgical product, made of carbon steel and to be galvanized, which is in the form of a strip or of a sheet obtained from a continuously cast intermediate product having the following composition by weight: 0.0005%≦C≦0.15%; 0.08%≦Mn≦2%; Si≦0.040%; Altotal≦0.010%; Alsoluable≦0.004%; 0.0050%≦Ototal≦0.0500%; P≦0.20%; S≦0.10%; each of Cu, Cr, Ni, Mo, W, Co≦1%; each of Ti, Nb, V, Zr≦0.5%; each of Sn, Sb, As≦0.1%; B≦0.1%; N≦0.0400%; and the remainder being iron and impurities. Also, a process for obtaining a metallurgical intermediate product, which includes: producing in a ladle a liquid steel the composition of which is as above, and in which the dissolved oxygen content is maintained between 0.0050 and 0.0500% by the establishment of a chemical equilibrium between the metal and the ladle slag; and casting the steel on a continuous casting machine.

The invention relates to metallurgy. More precisely, it relates to carbon steels of the type which are to undergo galvanization, that is to say the deposition of zinc on their surface by immersion of the product in a bath of liquid zinc. The product is then generally in the form of a running strip or of a sheet.
Carbon steels for galvanization are steels comprising not more than 0.15% carbon and from 0.08 to 2% manganese, as well as the alloying elements and impurities conventional in carbon steels. The various classes of steel for galvanization are distinguished essentially by their contents of deoxidizing elements.
So-called "class 3" steels have a silicon content of from 0.15 to 0.25%.
So-called "class 2" steels have a silicon content less than or equal to 0.040%.
So-called "class 1" steels have a silicon content less than or equal to 0.030%.
The production and continuous casting of class 3 steels do not give rise to particular problems because, as a result of their silicon content, that element controls the deoxidation of the liquid steel by forming oxidized inclusions with the dissolved oxygen (optionally in combination with manganese).
For that reason, CO formation within the liquid steel, which would be likely to cause rimming of the steel at the time of casting, is not observed.
The same does not apply in respect of class 1 and 2 steels. In their case, the silicon content is too low for that element to intervene in the deoxidation process. It is the carbon that controls the deoxidation, and this manifests itself in the formation and evolution of CO, rendering the steel "rimmed". This rimming has two disadvantages:                on the one hand, during solidification of the steel, it often causes the appearance of "blowholes" in the central region of the product, that is to say pores corresponding to the location of pockets of gas present at the moment of solidification; however, this disadvantage can be overcome if the steel subsequently undergoes vigorous hot rolling, which will close the pores;        on the other hand, if the rimming unexpectedly becomes too great, there is a risk of the steel overflowing from the ingot mold in which solidification is taking place.
This latter risk is especially to be feared when a steel is cast continuously on a machine of the conventional type having a cooled and oscillating bottomless ingot mold with fixed walls. If the steel present in the ingot mold overflows, it represents a danger to surrounding personnel and leads to serious damage to the casting machine.
For that reason, sheets and strips of class 1 and 2 steel are conventionally obtained from intermediate products which are:                either cast not continuously but in ingots in a conventional ingot mold, because this process is more tolerant of possible rimming of the steel: filling of the ingot mold can be discontinued before it overflows if pronounced rimming is noted, and even the consequences of an overflow are never serious to the point of calling into question the smooth running of the steel works; the ingots are subsequently hot rolled to form slabs;        or cast continuously in the form of slabs on conventional machines having a cooled oscillating bottomless ingot mold with fixed walls, but after addition to the steel of a relatively large amount of aluminum so that that element controls the deoxidation by forming solid alumina inclusions, thus preventing the formation of CO and, accordingly, rimming.
These two methods are not ideal, however. It is well known that casting in ingots is less productive than continuous casting and subsequently requires a larger number of hot rolling steps to obtain a product of a given thickness. With regard to deoxidation with aluminum, it is more costly in terms of alloying elements. In addition, the alumina inclusions must be removed as far as possible prior to the continuous casting step so that there is no risk of their blocking the nozzles of the distributor of the casting machine.
Aluminum inclusions can be made liquid by treatment with calcium, but this introduces an additional cost in terms of alloying elements. It is also necessary to prevent as far as possible atmospheric reoxidation during the continuous casting, in order to avoid the formation of new alumina inclusions which it will not be possible to remove before solidification and which will be found in the end product, whose mechanical properties they will impair. To that end, argon is injected into the nozzles introducing the steel into the ingot mold, which, again, increases the manufacturing cost. In addition, there is a risk of bubbles of argon becoming trapped at the time of solidification, which are liable to cause faults in the product.
It would, however, be valuable to manufacture class 1 and 2 steels for galvanization by a process that is as economical as possible, because such steels have the advantage of allowing higher rates of deposition of the galvanizing coating than class 3 steels. This advantage is scarcely noticeable when the galvanization is effected by unrolling a strip of steel in a bath of liquid zinc. On the other hand, when an isolated sheet is immersed in the bath of zinc, it is important for the quality of the product and the productivity of the installation that the deposition be as rapid as possible.

Metallurgical product of carbon steel, intended especially for galvanization, and processes for its production


A feedthrough multilayer capacitor array has a multilayer body in which a plurality of first and second electrode layers are alternately laminated with a dielectric layer in between; first, third, fifth, and seventh terminal electrodes formed on a first side face of the multilayer body; and second, fourth, sixth, and eighth terminal electrodes formed on a second side face of the multilayer body facing the first side face. Each first electrode layer includes first and second internal electrodes which are electrically connected through lead conductors respectively to the first and second terminal electrodes, and the third and fourth terminal electrodes. Each second electrode layer includes third and fourth internal electrodes which are electrically connected through lead conductors respectively to the fifth and sixth terminal electrodes, and the seventh and eighth terminal electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a feedthrough multilayer capacitor array.
2. Related Background Art
An example of this kind of the known feedthrough multilayer capacitor arrays is a capacitor array in which a plurality of internal electrodes and a plurality of ground electrodes are laminated with a dielectric layer in between so as to form a plurality of capacitors along the laminating direction (e.g., cf. Patent Document 1). In the feedthrough multilayer capacitor array of this type, the plurality of ground electrodes are connected to a single terminal electrode and connected through this terminal electrode to the ground.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-97291


A method of sterilizing containers, wherein the containers are conveyed along a pre-set conveying path by a conveying device, and wherein an irradiation device is introduced by a relative movement between the container and the irradiation device in a longitudinal direction of the container into the interior of the container to be sterilized and emits a charge carrier irradiation to sterilize the inner wall of the container by the charge carrier irradiation, wherein an aperture region situated on the outside of the container is also sterilized.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the sterilization of containers. In the field of the beverage production industry it is known for containers, for example plastics material containers, to be sterilized before their filling. In this case this sterilization can be carried out in widely differing ways. In this way, it is possible for example for the containers to be sterilized with a sterilization agent, such as for example H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) or peracetic acid. The handling of these media is not without its problems, however, since they can also have harmful effects on humans. In addition, when using these media it is necessary to rinse the container afterwards.
In recent years methods have also become known in which containers are sterilized by means of charge carrier irradiation and, in particular, electron irradiation. In this way, DE 10 2008 007 428 A1 describes a method and an apparatus for the sterilization of packaging materials. In this case a treatment head for the treatment of an inner face of packaging material with electron irradiation is positioned in the respective packaging material through an aperture in the packaging material.
EP 1 982 921 A1 of the Applicants describes an apparatus for the sterilization of containers. This apparatus has a treatment head with an outlet window through which charge carriers can issue. The contents of the disclosure of EP 1 982 921 A1 are hereby made the subject of the present disclosure by reference in its entirety. An apparatus for the sterilization of containers by means of charge carriers, which in particular also describes a cooling device for the outlet window for the electrons, is likewise known from DE 10 2008 025 868 A1. In addition, the contents of the disclosure of DE 10 2008 025 868 A1 are hereby also made the subject of the present application by reference.
The sterilization of the inner walls of the plastics material containers, however, is in part not sufficient for an overall sterilization.

Method and apparatus for the sterilization of containers


A bit line bias circuit of a memory architecture includes a varying voltage drop. In some embodiments, the voltage drop can depend on the threshold voltage of the memory cell selected to be read, or on the sense current flowing through the memory cell selected to be read.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bias circuit for a bit line of a memory array in an integrated circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
In an operation to ascertain the contents of a memory cell, a bit line bias circuit applies a bias to a bit line of a memory array, and a word line applies a bias to a selected memory cell of a memory array. A sense current results between the bit line and a reference line on opposite sides of the memory cell, flowing through the memory cell with a magnitude depending on the data stored by the memory cell as represented by a threshold voltage of the memory cell.
However, the reference line, often referred to as a source line, is not an ideal reference line. The reference line has some finite resistance rather than zero resistance. The finite resistance causes an unwanted voltage difference between the intended reference voltage such as zero volts or ground, and the source of a memory cell. During a sensing operation, the word line bias is reduced in effect, as the voltage difference between the word line and the reference line is reduced. As a result, the result of sensing may be wrong. This effect becomes worse with increasing current, because the unwanted voltage difference is proportional to sense current (V=I*R). Larger scale integration worsens this problem, as larger numbers of bit lines—that can each contribute current to the reference line—are coupled to the same reference line.
One approach to this approach is multi-pass sensing, in which sensing in limited to only a subset of memory cells in the array that draw a current larger than a threshold current. In subsequent sensing passes, previously sensed cells are turned off. Due to the increased time of performing multiple passes, it would be desirable to eliminate multiple passes, or at least to reduce the number of sensing passes.

Bit line bias circuit with varying voltage drop