Systems and methods for managing business machine assets are described. In one configuration, the system analyzes alternate cost structures and provides for alternate asset model replacement suggestions. The asset management system provides for asset comparison analysis. The system uses historical data for a current asset and charts potential replacement asset performance using those historical parameters or predicted or entered future parameters. In an alternative configuration, the compare and contrast report does not include the current asset, but only compares potential replacement assets.

The illustrative embodiments described in the present application are useful in systems including those for managing assets and more particularly are useful in systems including those for managing asset lifecycle for an enterprise including procurement, tracking and assignment, service, activity, billing and reporting for assets such as fleets of business machines including copiers, printers and mailing machines.
Many companies purchase business machines such as output devices including printers in a haphazard fashion in which users request printers from the Information Technology (IT) department. The company may have an IT budget per organization, but may not study organization usage and life cycle management. Such strategies are based upon individual need at a point in time and may not consider changes to those needs over time and when making future purchase decisions. In such environments, half of the output devices may be underutilized and a quarter may be over-utilized.
Companies typically spend between one and three percent of gross revenue on printing costs. About 20 percent of that cost includes office printing, copying and faxing. A company may have one printer per 4 employees and one copier per 50 employees. Progressive cost-conscious companies may perform a static rightsizing analysis in which output devices are strategically distributed across the enterprise. Such static analysis may be expensive to complete and require productivity savings over time to produce a return on investment for the analysis.
Certain companies utilize capital asset management software applications such as those available from Peregrine or Main Control. Such systems may not support usage recording or user-based cost accounting. Additionally, such systems may not support management of many client fleets using either an on-site decentralized basis or a centralized, cross-client basis.

System and method for dynamically managing business machine assets


A HAPs-free ink jet ink includes a pigment; a binder comprising vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer; and a HAPs-free solvent component comprising 1-methoxy-2-propanol acetate, a dispersing solvent selected from cyclohexanone, n-propyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, diisobutyl ketone, isobutyl acetate, amyl acetate, and combinations of these, and a diluent solvent selected from dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate, tripropylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol diacetate, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, propylene glycol n-propyl ether, and combinations of these. The ink has excellent stability and printing properties. Printing with the ink avoids release of HAPs while allowing long print runs with low maintenance.

Ink jet inks must have a very low viscosity, typically less than about 20 centipoise at the jetting temperature. While hot melt inks have been used, liquid inks are generally more suited to high volume industrial printing. To achieve this low viscosity, liquid ink jet inks must either be aqueous or include a substantial amount of organic liquids. The low viscosity of ink jet inks also makes it more difficult to maintain a stable pigment dispersion. This problem may be avoided by using dyes that dissolve in the liquid medium, but it is advantageous to use pigment instead of dyes for other reasons, including lightfastness and permanency of the printing. However, the organic solvents that are employed in ink jet ink formulations to obtain stable pigment dispersions with good printing characteristics have to date included materials designated as hazardous air pollutants. The U.S. Federal 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments targeted certain compounds as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) for special regulation. For example, the Amendments directed the EPA to establish emissions standards based on the use of "maximum achievable control technology" (MACT). While as yet only certain businesses are subject to the regulations, other businesses may wish to minimize or eliminate use of HAPs materials to avoid exposure to those materials.
Therefore, there is a need for an ink jet ink and an ink jet ink set for full-color printing (e.g., CMYK ink set) that avoids HAPs emissions during printing and yet has advantageous properties such as a viscosity suitable for ink jet printing, stable pigment dispersion, lightfastness, compatibility with industrial printer components, that can be printed on a wide range of substrates, and that can be printed with low maintenance (e.g., cleaning or replacing equipment). It is thus an object of the invention to provide an ink jet ink that is free of hazardous air pollutant compounds and a method of ink jet printing that does not release hazardous air pollutant emissions and provides these desirable ink characteristics.

Ink jet ink composition and method of printing


The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a high dielectric antenna structure. In one embodiment, one or more high dielectric film layers are applied to a dielectric base layer by silk-screening to yield a dielectric structure having a dielectric constant greater than that of the dielectric base layer. After firing, a patch antenna element having a predetermined configuration is disposed on the top surface of the dielectric structure by silk-screening a conductive paste thereupon and firing. A ground plane is disposed on the bottom surface of the dielectric structure by silk-screening a conductive paste thereupon and firing. A pre-drilled dielectric base layer may be employed with registered holes defined in the various silk-screened layers to provide access for an RF feed means, or alternatively, a feed hole can be bored through the antenna structure to permit interconnection between an RF feed means and the patch antenna element. For multiple-frequency applications, additional stacked dielectric structures and patch antenna elements can be manufactured according to the disclosed method, with the uppermost patch antenna element being interconnected with the RF feed means.

The uses for antennas continue to increase with reductions in antenna size and cost, and the development of complimentary microwave designs. For size reduction, "patch" antennas are of particular interest.
Patch antennas generally comprise a dielectric substrate, an electrically conductive ground layer disposed below the dielectric substrate, and an electrically conductive patch antenna element disposed over the dielectric substrate. The patch antenna element may be coupled to an RF feed means using any of several conventional methods such as a coaxial cable. A multiple frequency antenna may be constructed by "stacking" patch elements with intermediate dielectric layers.
Traditionally, efforts have been made to utilize dielectric materials having dielectric constants as close as possible to that of the free space into which the antenna radiates (e.g. approximately K=1.0 for air). Dielectric materials used in thin-film patch antennas have typically had a relatively low dielectric constant (e.g. approximately K=2 to 3), as is the case where a Teflon-fiberglass composite substrate is used. More recently, ceramic substrates having a dielectric constant of about 9 to 10 have been proposed for patch antennas in order to achieve size reduction.
For many expanding antenna applications, reception and transmission of high frequency signals is required. A primary example of growing importance is Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. Such receivers are used, for example, in surveying and navigation applications. GPS receivers typically operate in the L1 and/or L2 bands, which are centered on approximately 1.575 GHz and 1.227 GHz, respectively, and preferably exhibit low-angle gain characteristics. Given the inherently mobile nature of many GPS antenna applications, reduced antenna size is desirable. Such size reduction is particularly useful in cases where GPS receivers are hand carried.
A mobile GPS transceiver is potentially capable of accessing, via satellite transmission, most data that is presently carried by fixed lines. Sufficient cost reduction can ultimately yield widespread use of mobile GPS transceivers and data access. Further, such cost reduction will allow for mobile communications between remote locations not served by fixed line transmission networks, including for example, communications within a fleet of mobile units.
Cost reduction may be achieved by reducing material and production costs. A reduction in antenna size correspondingly reduces material requirements. In patch antennas, the size of the antenna patch element may be reduced by increasing the dielectric constant of the dielectric which separates the antenna patch element from the ground plane. However, in order to accomplish simultaneous size and cost reduction, the higher dielectric constant must be achieved though use of materials and production methodology that does not disproportionately increase overall costs.

Method of manufacture of high dielectric antenna structure


A magnetic field sensor includes built in self-test circuits that allow a self-test of most of, or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor, while the magnetic field sensor is functioning in normal operation.

As is known, there are a variety of types of magnetic field sensing elements, including, but not limited to, Hall effect elements, magnetoresistance elements, and magnetotransistors. As is also known, there are different types of Hall effect elements, for example, a planar Hall element, a vertical Hall element, and a circular Hall element. As is also known, there are different types of magnetoresistance elements, for example, a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) element, an anisotropic magnetoresistance element (AMR), a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) element, and a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ).
Hall effect elements generate an output voltage proportional to a magnetic field. In contrast, magnetoresistance elements change resistance in proportion to a magnetic field. In a circuit, an electrical current can be directed through the magnetoresistance element, thereby generating a voltage output signal proportional to the magnetic field.
Magnetic field sensors, i.e., circuits that use magnetic field sensing elements, are used in a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, a current sensor that senses a magnetic field generated by a current carried by a current-carrying conductor, a magnetic switch that senses the proximity of a ferromagnetic object, a rotation detector that senses passing ferromagnetic articles, for example magnetic domains of a ring magnet, and a magnetic field sensor that senses a magnetic field density of a magnetic field.
As is known, some integrated circuits have internal built-in self-test (BIST) capabilities. A built-in self-test is a function that can verify all or a portion of the internal functionality of an integrated circuit. Some types of integrated circuits have built-in self-test circuits built directly onto the integrated circuit die. Typically, the built-in self-test is activated by external means, for example, a signal communicated from outside the integrated circuit to dedicated pins or ports on the integrated circuit. For example, an integrated circuit that has a memory portion can include a built-in self-test circuit, which can be activated by a self-test signal communicated from outside the integrated circuit. The built-in self-test circuit can test the memory portion of the integrated circuit in response to the self-test signal.
Conventional built-in self-test circuits tend not to allow the integrated circuit to perform its intended function while the built-in self-test is being performed. Instead, during the built-in self-test, the built-in self-test circuit exercises all of, or parts of, circuits on the integrated circuit in particular ways that do not necessarily allow concurrent operation of functions that the integrated circuit is intended to perform. Therefore, the built-in self-test is typically only activated one time, for example, upon power up of the integrated circuit, or from time to time. At other times, the built-in self-test circuit and function are dormant and the integrated circuit can perform its intended function.
Furthermore, when used in magnetic field sensors, conventional built-in self-test circuits tend not to test the magnetic field sensing element used in the magnetic field sensor.
It would be desireable to provide built in self-test circuits and techniques in a magnetic field sensor that allow the self-test to be run from time to time or upon command while the magnetic field sensor concurrently performs its intended function. It would also be desirable to provide such a concurrent self-test that tests a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Circuits and methods for generating a self-test of a magnetic field sensor


Fail-safe apparatus for use with fluid valves are disclosed herein. An example fail-safe apparatus includes a first piston, a second piston movably coupled relative to the first piston, and a fluid chamber between the first and second pistons to receive a control fluid. The control fluid is to operatively couple the first and second pistons when the control fluid is provided in the fluid chamber. The first piston is operatively decoupled from the second piston when at least some of the control fluid is removed from the fluid chamber.

Process control systems use a variety of field devices to control and/or monitor process parameters. Field devices, such as air-operated on/off valves, employ a control fluid to move a flow control member relative to an orifice between an open position to allow fluid flow through the valve and a closed position to restrict or prevent fluid flow through the valve. However, such air-operated on/off valves lack precise control of fluid flow through the valve.
To precisely control the flow of fluid through a valve, the valve often employs an electric controller or actuator to actuate or move the flow control member relative to the orifice. However, during a fail condition (e.g., when electric power to the electric controller fails), an electric controller typically fails (i.e., holds) at its last control position. As a result, valves employing electric controllers or actuators often have a fail-safe system upstream from the valve that activates to prevent fluid flow to the valve during a fail condition. However, such fail-safe systems increase complexity, costs and consume additional space.


A lock is proposed for securing containers or similar freight on a cargo bay floor of an aircraft in a vertical direction perpendicular to the cargo bay floor and in a transverse direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the aircraft. The locking element comprises at least one lock attached to a frame for securing containers or similar freight and with a claw in the transverse direction of the aircraft to surround and hold a part section of the container. At least one lock is arranged mobile and fixable in a guide of the frame in order to adapt the spacing of the locks to containers of different sizes.

Containers or similar freight to be secured on the cargo bay floor can be of different sizes. In particular there are various standard sizes for containers, e.g. 223.52 cm (88 inch) and 243.84 cm (96 inch). To secure the containers, locking elements with locks are used. The locks surround and hold a part section of the container. The distances between locks for holding containers must correspond to the size of the container concerned. If the spacing of the locks does not correspond to the size of the container, the container cannot be secured by the locks.
EP 0753 457 B1 describes a locking element of the type cited initially. The position of the lock in this locking element cannot be changed. Thus the lock spacing cannot be adapted to containers of different sizes.


An absorbent article such as a diaper, panty diaper, panty liner, sanitary napkin or incontinence protection, wherein at least one part of this absorbent article has a pattern of at least one hydrophilic and at least one hydrophobic region wherein the at least one hydrophilic region and/or the at least one hydrophobic region are present as a coating on the part of the absorbent article. The coated part is preferably a liquid-permeable topsheet.

Absorbent articles of the present kind often comprise a liquid-pervious cover sheet topsheet that is located adjacent the wearer's body, a liquid-impervious cover sheet (backsheet) that is located distant from the wearer's body and adjacent the wearer's clothing and an absorbent layer interposed between the liquid-pervious topsheet and the liquid-impervious backsheet.
It is customary to use nonwovens and perforated film materials as topsheets. Both materials are generally made from inherently hydrophobic, synthetic polymers such as polyethylene or polypropylene.
Hydrophobic materials show almost no tendency to absorb body fluids on the surface so that after passage of body fluids and their absorption by the absorbent layer the surface develops a rather pleasant dry feel for the user. Since hydrophobic materials frequently suffer from insufficient wettability it is known to treat them with wetting agents, for instance surfactants to enhance the contact with water and liquid permeability. However, due to their capacity to bind water, hydrophilic materials tend to lead to an undesired wet feel upon discharge of body fluids.
Completely hydrophilic or hydrophobic materials are thus not capable of satisfying conflicting needs of the wearer of an absorbent article. Such materials also do not allow making use of their beneficial properties where they are mostly needed. Moreover, it is believed that neither fully hydrophobic nor fully hydrophilic materials are capable of promoting a healthy climate in the absorbent article. As healthy climate we understand in particular a low humidity environment where, despite the release of body fluids or sweat, the skin of the wearer is not prone to overhydration which is one of the most frequent causes of diaper rash.
Moreover, nanoscalar films of self-assembling polymers are known from various technical fields and have attracted considerable interest over the last years. These nanoscalar films are typically formed by the alternate deposition of monomolecular layers of two polymers having functional groups capable of interacting with each other. A great deal of these studies has been conducted with the layer-by-layer deposition (also abbreviated as LBL deposition) of cationic and anionic polymers based on the reversal of the surface charge after each deposition, one of the best-examined systems being poly(styrene sulfonate)/(polyallylamine hydrochloride) (PSS/PAH).
US 2005/0069950 A1 discloses a method for the nanofabrication of thin films, coatings and microcapsules based on suitable design of oligopeptides. Drug delivery is discussed in connection with microcapsules. Moreover, disposable diapers are mentioned as one among many possible uses for peptides designed according to this document. More concretely described are biomedical applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,636, U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,559 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,377 relate to a hydrophilic article for use in aqueous environments including a substrate, an ionic polymeric layer on said substrate and a disordered polyelectrolyte coating ionically bonded to said polymeric layer. Diapers and other liners are mentioned as one among many potential applications of this teaching.
WO 00/32702 describes for instance a paper or nonwoven product containing fibers, filler particles or other particles produced by the layer-by-layer deposition of two interacting polymers, preferably anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes which are typically used as dry and wet strength agents in the paper manufacture. Accordingly, this document also evaluates the tensile strength of the paper product.
Further documents relating to LBL technology are for instance: WO 2005/058199 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,111; U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,767; U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,573; U.S. Pat. No. 6,114,099; U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,871; U.S. Pat. No. 6,492,096; US 2003/152703; US 2004/0086709; WO 2005/032512; US 2004/0137039; "A. A. Antipov et al., Sustained Release Properties of Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Capsules; J. Phys. Chem. B 2001, 105, 2281-2284"; "M. Freemantle, Polyelectrolyte Multilayers; Science & Technology (2002), 44-48"; US 2004/0047979 A1; U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,753; and WO 2004/07677 A2.
There is also one document relating to multilayer construction in diapers without connection to LBL. WO 2005/023536 discloses an absorbent article comprising at least one first microlayer film region having a liquid intake function, at least one second microlayer film region having a liquid uptake and distribution function, at least one third microlayer film region having a liquid retention function, and at least one fourth microlayer film region having a liquid barrier function. These first, second, third and fourth microlayer film regions are co-extruded and assembled with each other to form the unitary micro-layered film system. However, these layers apparently have a thickness above the nm range and do not assemble themselves.
In view of the above, it is one technical object of the present disclosure to provide an absorbent article wherein the disadvantages of using fully hydrophobic or fully hydrophilic materials are avoided or alleviated.
It is one further technical object of the present disclosure to make a more efficient use of hydrophilic and hydrophobic material properties.
It is one further technical object of the present disclosure to provide an absorbent article wherein certain parts thereof can contribute in a beneficial manner to at least one relevant property such as material feel, fluid transport, healthy climate within the absorbent article or the like.

Absorbent article comprising hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions


A threshold array having an array of thresholds for reproducing a gradation with a dot pattern as a clustered pattern of dots each made up of one or more blackening pixels is corrected. At least one non-contact point candidate position to be turned into a non-contact point is determined among contact points of the dots. Then, at least one contact point candidate position to be turned into a contact point is determined among non-contact points of the dots at the given gradation. Thereafter, the threshold array is corrected by switching around a threshold for the non-contact point candidate position and a threshold for the contact point candidate position, whereby the layout of contact points of the dots can be corrected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of correcting a threshold array, a dot pattern data structure, a method of correcting a pixel layout of an image, and a method of determining a threshold array for generating an image, suitable for use in halftone image output apparatus in printing applications, such as a color scanner, an image setter, a CTP (Computer To Plate) apparatus, a CTC (Computer To Cylinder) apparatus, a DDCP (Direct Digital Color Proof) apparatus, or the like, or apparatus for outputting continuous gradation images as binary or multivalued images, such as electrophotographic or ink-jet image output apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
For reproducing an original image on a print in the printing and platemaking fields, it is customary to transfer an ink from a printing plate on a printing press to a printing sheet to form the image thereon.
There is known in the art an area gradation reproducing process for reproducing an original image on a print by converting the image into a dot pattern made up of a plurality of halftone dots.
Such a dot pattern is also formed on a printing plate, which is either generated from a film outputted by the image setter or generated directly by the CTP apparatus or the CTC apparatus.
The dot pattern formed on the film or the printing plate is generated in advance by an image processing apparatus such as a workstation or the like.
FIG. 30 of the accompanying drawings schematically shows a dot pattern to be formed on a film or a printing plate, as displayed on a display unit of an image processing apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 30, each dot 1 is comprised of a cluster of blackening pixels in a dot cell (also referred to as "cell") 2 which is made up of n×n (e.g., 8×8 in FIG. 30) pixels. Each dot 1 shown in FIG. 30 is a so-called digital dot handled in an image processing apparatus. While a digital dot has angular corners, a dot that is actually formed on a print may have round corners due to a so-called dot gain.
In the example shown in FIG. 30, the halftone % (halftone percentage) of the upper left dot 1 is about 6.3%, the halftone % of the upper right dot 1 is about 18.8%, and the halftone % of each of the two lower dots 1 is 50%.
The pitch of each of the dot cells 2 is expressed by the reciprocal of the screen ruling. The screen ruling is defined as the number of columns (lines/inch) of the dot cell 2 that are included per inch.
The resolution of an output machine (referred to as "output resolution") such as a color scanner, an image setter, a CTP apparatus, a CTC apparatus, a DDCP system, etc., or the resolution of the dot pattern in FIG. 30, is defined as the number of pixels per inch (pixels/inch).
The inventor of the present application has heretofore proposed a technique for optimizing a layout of blackening pixels or a threshold array (also referred to as "halftone threshold data") which determines a layout of blackening pixels within a so-called supercell that is made up of many dot cells 2, in order to reduce undesirable fringes (hereinafter referred to as "single-plate moiré" because they are produced on one plate rather than on superposed plates) generated by the interference between the output resolution and the screen ruling (see, for example, the invention disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-112814 (hereinafter referred to as "first technique")).
For details of a supercell itself and the generation of halftone dots in relation to a supercell, reference should be made to, for example, a book entitled "Postscript screening" written by Peter Fink, published by MDN corporation on Aug. 11, 1994, 1st edition, 1st printing.
Contact points of dots 1, e.g., contact points 3 where blackening pixels of the lower dots 1 in FIG. 30 are connected to each other, are known as points which exhibit a singular behavior referred to as a tone jump under the influence of an optical dot gain in the area gradation reproducing process. Specifically, it is known that the image density of an image (halftone image or dot pattern) made up of printed dots varies discretely beyond a density that is calculated from the halftone % of the area gradation.
One technique for eliminating or reducing such a tone jump is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-189859 (hereinafter referred to as "second technique").
According to the second technique, dots in a supercell are not held in contact with each other at a certain gradation, but the blackening pixels of the contact points 3 of the dots 1 are held in contact with each other progressively at gradations across the halftone % of 50%.
The second technique makes it possible to eliminate or reduce a tone jump. However, the inventor of the present application has found that since the second technique does not take into account a spatial regularity of contact points 3 of the dots 1, i.e., a regularity on a dot pattern, if the contact points of dots making up a dot pattern are arranged regularly in space, the contact dots may possibly be visually perceived a single-plate moiré at gradations across the halftone % of 50%, e.g., in a gradation range of 50±5%, on a print.
The inventor of the present application has also found that when the resolution of an output apparatus is reduced to generate a halftone image (dot pattern) with a high screen ruling, a single-plate moiré poses a problem if the ratio of the resolution to the screen ruling (resolution/screen ruling) is 10 or smaller.
It has been pointed out in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 8-317212 that a moiré pattern caused by the interference between the output resolution and the screen ruling, i.e., a single-plate moiré, occasionally occurs on images outputted from a halftone image output apparatus such as an image setter or the like which forms a binary halftone image (gradation image) made up of blackening and non-blackening portions produced by turning on and off a laser beam, on a photographic sheet or film
The single-plate moiré comprises a periodic pattern of dots, i.e., periodic interference fringes produced between the pitch of dot cells 2 and the pitch of scanning lines. The periodic interference fringes act as a low-frequency noise component, and degrading the image quality.
The inventor of the present application has proposed techniques for reducing such a low-frequency noise component in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-112814 (the first technique) and Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-2528838 (hereinafter referred to as "third technique", corresponding to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-292317).
The first technique is represented by a process of correcting a pixel array of halftone image data or an existing threshold array for generating the halftone image data by converting halftone image data in a position space or density distribution data generated from the halftone image data in view of the characteristics of an output apparatus and a recording material into data in a frequency space, extracting a low-frequency component from the data in the frequency space, and comparing noise image data produced by inversely converting the low-frequency component with the halftone image data.
According to the first technique, the corrected array of halftone image data and the corrected threshold array themselves become an array which is not susceptible to low-frequency noise.
The third technique does not correct an existing threshold array, but generates, from the outset, a threshold array which is not susceptible to low-frequency noise, or stated otherwise, not susceptible to single-plate moiré when a halftone image is outputted. Therefore, the third technique is high in freedom for processing image data, and provides a high single-plate moiré reducing capability for halftone images generated using the threshold array.
According to the first and third moiré reducing techniques, the resolution is of a relatively high value, e.g., 2400 dpi (dots per inch equivalent to pixels per inch), and the screen ruling is of 175 lpi (lines per inch).
The above techniques are preferably applicable to a threshold array for generating halftone images where the number of pixels per dot (about 188 (=(2400/175)2) in the above example) is relatively large.
Under the conditions of 2400 dpi and 175 lpi, however, while images generated by printing-related apparatus including a color scanner, an image setter, a CTP apparatus, a CTC apparatus, a DDCP apparatus, etc. have a desired level of quality, the amount of data that is processed is large, and the time required to process data and output data is increased.
The inventor of the present application has found that under conditions in which the output resolution and the screen ruling are likely to interfere with each other and a single-plate moiré is likely to occur, e.g., under output conditions represented by the resolution of 1200 dpi and the screen ruling of 175 lpi, or generally, under output conditions represented by the ratio of the output resolution (dpi)/the screen ruling (lpi) which is 10 or less, the proportion of one pixel in a dot is large, resulting in an increased quantization error, and the moiré remains unremoved even by the first and third techniques.
Actually, an image outputted under the conditions of 1200 dpi and 175 lpi and an image outputted under the conditions of 2000 dpi and 175 lpi have respective pixel sizes of about 21 μm and 13 μm, and hence are fine enough for the human vision to be unable distinguish their resolutions.
If it is possible to eliminate a single-plate moiré from an image outputted under the conditions of 1200 dpi and 175 lpi which are subject to a greater quantization error than the conditions of 2000 dpi and 175 lpi, then since the number of pixels per unit length can be reduced, the structure of printing-related apparatus including a color scanner, an image setter, a CTP apparatus, a CTC apparatus, a DDCP apparatus, etc. can be simplified, and their processing speed can be increased.

Method of correcting threshold array, dot pattern data structure, method of correcting pixel layout of image, and method of determining threshold array for generating image


A sprocket for preventing the partial wear on the teeth of the sprocket. The teeth of the sprocket comprised of a pair of side portions located on opposite sides of a tooth and a central portion located between the pair of sides. The pair of side portions has a hardness greater than the central portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of silent chains. More particularly, the invention pertains to an improvement in sprocket structure to decrease partial wear on sprocket teeth.
2. Description of Related Art
A silent chain is used as a power transmission chain for automobiles, motorcycles and the like. A silent chain is generally comprised of a plurality of link plates each having a pair of teeth and pin apertures, arranged in lateral and longitudinal directions, and pivotally connected by connecting pins inserted into the pin apertures.
In prior art FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an engaging state of a sprocket tooth with a silent chain. As shown in these drawings, a silent chain 1 is comprised of link rows 4 that are formed of a plurality of link plates 2 and guide rows 5 that are disposed adjacent to the link rows 4 and are formed of a plurality of link plates 2 and outermost guide links 3.
A link plate 2 includes a pair of teeth (not shown) that engage with a sprocket tooth 6. Guide links 3 are provided to maintain the silent chain 1 on the sprocket tooth 6 during engagement and does not include a tooth for engagement with a chain.
In order to smoothly engage the silent chain with a sprocket tooth, a distance W between the inside surfaces of the oppositely disposed guide links 3 is greater than a tooth width T of a sprocket. The difference Δ(=W−T) is a clearance of the silent chain 1.
With regard to the engagement of a guide row 5 with sprocket tooth 6, as shown in FIG. 4, an entire surface of each of the link plates 2 of guide row 5 comes into contact with sprocket tooth 6. In FIG. 4, each hatched portion 6A shows a respective engagement surface of each of the link plates 2 on the sprocket tooth 6. Also, one side surface 60 of the sprocket is in close contact with an inside surface of a guide link 3 and a maximum clearance Δ is formed between the other side surface 60 of the sprocket and an inside surface of the other guide link 3.
With regard to the engagement of a link row 4 with sprocket tooth 6, as shown in FIG. 5, all the link plates 2 except the outermost link plate is in whole-surface contact with sprocket tooth 6. The outermost link plate 2 with clearance Δ relative to the sprocket tooth 6 is in a partial-surface contact with the sprocket tooth 6. In FIG. 5, each hatched portion (6A, 6A′) shows a respective engagement surface of each of the link plates 2 on the sprocket tooth 6. The hatched portion 6A is a surface with which a link plate 2 comes into a whole surface contact, whereas the hatched portion 6A′ is a surface with which a link plate 2 comes into partial surface contact.
In this case, during operation of a silent chain, the surface pressure caused by the link plate 2 on the sprocket tooth 6 is highest at the hatched, partial contact surface 6A′, thereby causing a partial wear on the sprocket tooth surface at the hatched portion 6A′. As the partial wear progresses, the surface pressures of the hatched portions 6A caused by the remaining link plates 2 on the sprocket tooth surface increases. As a result, wear to the whole surface of the sprocket tooth progresses.
The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances and its object is to provide a sprocket for a silent chain that can decrease partial wear to the sprocket tooth.

Sprocket for a silent chain and method of manufacturing the same


A method for making pods (1) for products for infusion comprises the steps of: feeding a first portion (5) of filter material; making a compressed disk (2) of product, the disk being equivalent to a single dose of the product, at respective dosing and forming stations (3, 4); placing the compressed disk (2) on the first portion (5) of filter material; and superimposing a second portion (6) of filter material over the first portion (5) of filter material with the compressed disk (2) on it in such a way as to form the pod (1). The invention also relates to an apparatus that embodies this method.

In the current market of products for infusion, such as coffee, barley coffee, tea and camomile, the use of single-dose "pods" has increased considerably and a very popular way of making American-style coffee is now to use such pods in specially designed machines, even for household or office use (that is, for small to medium quantities).
This specification does not concern other forms of filter bags normally used to make American-style coffee and consisting of a "maxi dose" bag designed to be placed in a funnel-like container at the top of a machine that supplies boiling hot water. The hot water comes into contact with the coffee filter bag producing a brew of coffee which is simply allowed to drip into a cup below.
Unlike this type of solution—which is widely used and extremely popular—pods used to brew a single serving of beverage usually consist of two portions of filter paper placed one over the other and sealed to enclose a single product dose of circular shape.
In the specific case of pods for American-style coffee, the product is not (and must not be) excessively compressed, which means that it remains relatively loose inside the pod.
For technical reasons linked to the type of machines used to make them, the pods have an asymmetrical profile, that is to say, with one flat surface (defined by one of the portions of filter paper) and one cupped surface (defined by the other portion of filter paper) containing the dose of infusion product.
One prior art method and related apparatus for making this type of pod is described in patent EP-432.126. The method disclosed therein comprises the following sequence of steps:                feeding a first web of filter paper to a station where suitable means cause the filter paper to be wrinkled or crinkled;        moving the web of filter paper along the surface of a forming drum, provided with circular pockets and with suction means, and simultaneously training a belt in contact with the filter paper, with the filter paper being between the belt and the surface of the forming drum, so that spaced areas of the belt are pulled by suction into the pockets in the drum, drawing the filter paper along with it in such a way as to form a succession of pouches in the filter paper;        filling a dose of product into each pouch by means of a dosing station located downstream of the suction drawing belt in the direction of rotation of the pouch forming drum and consisting of a second revolving drum synchronised with the pouch forming drum;        joining the first web of filter paper, provided with the product filled pouches, to a second web fed at a respective sealing station located downstream of the filling station, again relative to the direction of rotation of the forming drum;        cutting out the pods thus made and feeding them out towards further packaging stations.
This method and the apparatus that embodies it have several disadvantages due to:                the need to pre-process the web of filter paper to make it suitable for forming the pouches, which means that the apparatus requires an additional station; this operation being necessary especially when two or more parallel rows of pouches are formed in the filter paper web; and        the possible difficulty of accurately controlling the volume of product filled into each pouch on account of the two revolving cylindrical surfaces of the drums (dosing and forming); this can cause a certain amount of product being lost as it is gravity fed into the pouch.
The aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks by providing a method and an apparatus for making pods containing products for infusion that is at once practical, fast, reliable in dosing the product and structured in such a way as to require a limited number of operating stations.

Method and apparatus for making pods for products for infusion

I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.


A breath tester and method for sampling the odor of an user's saliva. The tester includes an elongated testing surface having a closed end and an open end to collect the saliva. The user collects and traps the saliva on the elongated testing surface and smells the surface to self determine the presence of halitosis. In one embodiment, the tester has a handle mounted to one end of the elongated testing surface. The breath tester can be disposed in a hollow housing. The sampling of the saliva can be allowed to dry upon the elongated testing surface before smelling.

Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, is a common concern for many people. The mouth and nasal passages are home to hundreds of bacterial species with various nutritional preferences. In otherwise healthy people, the very back of the tongue, rather than the teeth and gums, is the main source of bad breath. This region is poorly cleansed by saliva and contains numerous tiny invaginations in which bacteria can hide. Additional oral sources of bad breath include poor oral hygiene, gum inflammation, faulty dental work, unclean dentures and abscesses.
The detection and diagnosis of halitosis has traditionally involved self-monitoring which is typically accomplished by breathing into one's own hand and then sniffing the trapped contents or a person suspecting that they have halitosis can utilize another person to sample their breath and render a subjective diagnosis. However, this is an imprecise and potentially inconclusive method. A more exacting method of detecting halitosis is needed.
While these methods may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present disclosure as disclosed hereafter.
In the present disclosure, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which the present disclosure is concerned.
While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate the present disclosure, no technical aspects are disclaimed and it is contemplated that the claims may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein.


A method of communicating in a wireless ad-hoc communications network is disclosed. The network includes a plurality of nodes configured for wireless communication therebetween. According to the method, a receiving node receives a message originating from a source node. The receiving and source nodes are included in the network. It is determined whether the receiving node is of a node type intended to process the message. It is determined whether the receiving node is less than a predetermined distance from the source node. The message is processed by the receiving node when the receiving node is of the node type intended to process the message and when the receiving node is less than a predetermined distance from the source node.

Ad-hoc networks are groups of interconnected devices, such as computers or transceivers, in which the topology and/or connectivity of the network may change at any time. Ad-hoc networks are advantageously used in circumstances where a plurality of devices desire or are required to communicate with each other.
In a wireless network, bandwidth is driven by the available RF spectrum, which is currently a scarce commodity. In this environment the most significant challenge associated with a broad-band wireless network is efficiently using the limited bandwidth provided by the network. This problem is made worse by the needs of a distributed network, which requires most or all of the nodes in the network to broadcast and/or multicast information to thereby pass the information through the network. Such broadcasting can take up a great deal of system bandwidth since a message may need to be repeated throughout the system. In a wired internet protocol (IP) based network, reducing the system load of broadcast services is resolved by isolating the broadcast area to a defined region of the network. In a mobile ad-hoc network, however, such isolation is not possible because the IP addresses do not represent a defined group of people within a fixed geographic region or location.
One type of mobile ad-hoc network in which broadcast communications may be overtaxed comprises a plurality of military resources or nodes such as tanks, infantry, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), autonomous sensors, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft. A request for helicopter assistance by an infantry unit, for example, would be transmitted to non-helicopter nodes throughout the network. Furthermore, because many of the military nodes are mobile, the request directed to helicopters would likely be sent to helicopters beyond a range that would be useful to assist the infantry unit. In either case, broadcast bandwidth is needlessly wasted by transmitting messages to nodes in the network that cannot assist the requesting node. What is therefore needed is a communications protocol that conserves communications resources while ensuring messages are transmitted to the desired nodes in a mobile ad-hoc network.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a communications protocol that conserves communications resources such as broadcast bandwidth.
It is another object of the invention to transmit messages in an ad-hoc mobile network such that nodes of a specific type receive the message.
It is still another object of the invention to transmit messages in an ad-hoc mobile network such that nodes of a specific type and distance from a transmitting node receive the message.
A feature of the invention is a method of transmitting a message directed to a specific type of network node within a predetermined distance from the transmitting node.
An advantage of the invention is the conserving of communications resources by limiting the actual distance a message is to be transmitted through the network.

Polymorphic broadcast and multicast services for wireless networks


The method for obtaining an image of a part to be inspected includes the steps of determining, by simulation, the ultrasonic field (s0) generated by the propagation of a wave in a flawless reference part; transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward the part to be inspected; measuring the field (um) returned by the part to be inspected; subtracting from the field (um) returned by the part to be inspected an ultrasonic field (u0) obtained from a previous corresponding measurement on the reference part; calculating a variable related to the topological energy (ET) in the reference part on the basis of the field (s0) determined by simulation and of the field (um−u0) obtained by subtraction; and determining the image of the part to be inspected on the basis of the values for this variable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging method based on calculation of logical energy.
2. Discussion Of The Background
Imaging in two or three dimensions is traditionally used in industrial and medical applications, for example to make it possible to locate and characterize defects or obstacles in the interior of a liquid or solid medium by means of a nondestructive inspection method.
Under the English expression "pulse echo", there are already known ultrasonic imaging techniques using an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver probe capable of sending an incident pulsed wave to the propagation medium to be inspected and of receiving the field reflected or diffracted by the propagation medium in response to the incident wave, in order to transmit it for analysis.
Under the expression "topological gradient calculation method", there is already known an imaging method based on this technique, especially from the article entitled "Flaw imaging with ultrasound: the time domain topological gradient method", published in the periodical "Review of Progress in Quantitative NonDestructive Evaluation Vol. 24A, pp. 859-866, 2004", and from the article entitled "Time domain topological gradient and time reversal analogy: an inverse method for ultrasonic target detection", which appeared in the periodical "Wave Motion vol. 42(1), pp. 31-52, 2005". This method necessitates knowing the properties of a flawless reference medium, or in other words one that has identical composition, identical dimensions and identical physical structure as the part to be inspected but that with certainty contains no defects whatsoever, in contrast to the part to be inspected, which may possibly exhibit defects and/or in homogeneities.
This method determines a "cost function", which evaluates the correlation between the data obtained for the reference medium and those measured on the medium to be inspected.
Starting from the reference medium, into which infinitesimal holes are introduced virtually and progressively, a "sensitivity analysis" (as it is known in English) is made of the cost function, in order to deduce therefrom modifications of the topology of the medium. The first stage of this analysis consists in solving a direct problem and what is known as an "adjunct" problem:                solving the direct problem consists in simulating the ultrasonic field u0 generated by the propagation of an ultrasonic wave in a predetermined zone of a flawless reference part; and        solving the adjunct problem consists in simulating the ultrasonic field v0 generated in this predetermined zone of the reference part by the propagation of an ultrasonic wave corresponding to an incident wave um−u0, where um is the measured signal returned by the medium to be inspected in response to a known incident wave.
This analysis then consists in undertaking an asymptotic expansion of the "cost function" as a function of the topology of the medium. The first order term of this expansion gives the expression of a topological gradient as a function of the values of the u0 and v0 series. The most negative values of the gradient indicate where to insert the infinitesimal holes in order to cause the value of the "cost function" to become smaller and thus to make the modified topology tend toward that of the medium under inspection.
As used here, the term "hole" is a generic term that designates a zone exhibiting an abrupt contrast in elastic properties compared with the rest of the medium.
For reasons of simplification and visualization, the calculation of the topological gradient can be replaced in equivalent manner by the calculation of the corresponding topological energy. The image of the medium is then obtained by plotting the levels assumed by the topological energy, the defects being located at high values of this energy.

Method of imaging using topologic energy calculation


Approaches provide for a mobile point-of-sale system configured to facilitate the transfer of funds between entities (e.g., customers and merchants). A card reader can include two different types of slots configured for conducting a financial transaction between entities. A first slot can allow for a magnetic stripe element of a card to be swiped. A second slot can include contact elements which allow the card to be “dipped in”. In this way, the device can receive a swipe and/or a “dipping” of a card into a respective slot for conducting a financial transaction.

Existing payment card readers/swipers can be classified as either platform card readers or plunge card readers. Platform card readers are traditional card swipers with single rails, which allow a card to be held against the base of the reader by the user and moved across the read head of the reader. Plunge swipers guide a card by two sets of rails and a backstop. Once the user has inserted the card against the backstop, the card is read as it is removed from the plunge swipers. Plunge swipers are common on ATMs and other self-pay devices because they are less prone to hacking. Magnetic stripe cards having standard specifications can typically be read by point-of sale devices at a merchant's location. When the card is swiped through an electronic card reader, such as a platform card reader, at the checkout counter at a merchant's store, the reader will usually use its built-in modem to dial the number of a company that handles credit authentication requests. Once the account is verified and an approval signal will be sent back to the merchant to complete a transaction. However, existing readers/swipers can only read credit or debit card information from the magnetic stripe of the card. As purchases are made using other technologies, such as through chip-based cards, it is desirable to develop approaches for reading credit or debit card information to facilitate the receipt and processing of payments in these situations.


A telecommunications system and method for either displaying the calling party name, if available, to the called subscriber at the time of call setup, or informing the called subscriber that a name query is being performed if the calling party name is not available at call setup. If the calling party name is not available at the time of setting up of the call, the call is setup with the display reading "Searching Name". This gives the option to the subscriber to either pick up the call without the name information, or to wait for the name information to arrive. If the name is found, it will be displayed as such; if not, the display will read "out-of-area" (or other similar message). Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention do not increase the call setup time, while at the same time, the called subscriber has the option to wait for the Calling Party Name query response.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to telecommunications systems and methods for providing a calling party name to a called subscriber having a digital phone, and specifically to handling the calling party name delivery and displaying a message indicating that a name search is being performed to a digital phone subscriber when the name is not available at the time of call setup.
2. Background and Objects of the Present Invention
In modern telecommunications networks, signaling constitutes the distinct control infrastructure that enables provision of all other services. The system which provides this signaling is known as Signaling System #7 (SS7). It can be defined as the system that enables stored program control exchanges, network databases, and other "intelligent" nodes of the network to exchange: (a) messages related to call setup, supervision, and tear-down; (b) information needed for distributed applications processing (inter-process query/response); and (c) network management information.
In addition, the Intelligent Network (IN) and the new Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) have made possible the transfer of all types of information through the telephone network without special circuits or long installation cycles. The IN consists of a series of intelligent nodes, each capable of processing at various levels, and each capable of communicating with one another over data links. The basic infrastructure needed is composed of various signaling points, which perform both message discrimination (read the address and determine if the message is for that node), and route messages to other signaling points. The basic three types of signaling points are: (1) Service Switching Points (SSPs); (2) Signaling Transfer Points (STPs); and (3) Service Control Points (SCPs), each of which are described in more detail hereinafter.
With reference now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the many Service Switching Points (SSPs) 100 serve as the local exchanges in a telephone network 90, a portion of which is shown in FIG. 1. The SSPs 100 also provide an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) interface for the Signaling Transfer Points (STPs) 110, as is understood in the art. The ISDN protocol was first offered in the 1980's to subscribers as an intelligent interface, compatible with the IN, which offers the same services and intelligence as the IN.
The STP 110 serves as a router, and switches messages received from a particular SSP 100 through the network 90 to their appropriate destinations (another SSP 100). As is also understood in the art, the STP 110 receives messages in packet form from the SSPs 100. These packets are either related to call connections or database queries. If the packet is a request to connect a call, the message must be forwarded to a destination end office (another SSP 100), where the call will be terminated.
If, however, the message is a database query seeking additional information, the destination will be a database. Database access is provided through the Service Control Point (SCP) 120, which does not store the information, but acts as an interface to a computer that houses the requested information.
Another type of network, which can be implemented with the SS7 network, is the cellular network. Cellular telecommunications is one of the fastest growing and most demanding telecommunications applications ever. Today it represents a large and continuously increasing percentage of all new telephone subscriptions around the world. A standardization group, European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), was established in 1982 to formulate the specifications for the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) digital mobile cellular radio systems.
As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the GSM cellular network comprises two different segments: the radio segment and the switching segment. The radio segment consists of a Mobile Station 205, e.g., the cellular telephone or transceiver itself, which is used by mobile subscribers to communicate with the cellular network 215, other mobile subscribers, and users outside the subscribed network, both wireline and wireless, and an antenna system, e.g., a Base Station System (BSS). The BSS consists of at least one Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 210, which is the physical equipment, e.g., a radio tower, that provides radio coverage to the geographical part of a cell 200 for which it is responsible. The BSS also includes a Base Station Controller (BSC) 220 connected to the BTSs 210 to serve as an interface between the radio segment and the switching segment.
The switching segment consists of a Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC) 230, which is in communication with the Base Station Controllers (BSCs) 220 via an A-bis interface 225, which is a 64-kbps digital link. The MSC 230 transmits data and other signaling information from the BSS 210/220 to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 270 (wireline network) and to other entities within the cellular network 215.
One such entity is the Home Location Register 250, which is a database within the cellular network 215 used to store the subscriber information for all subscribers within the home service area of the service provider, e.g., user profiles, current location information, International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) numbers, and other administrative information. The HLR 250 may be co-located with a given MSC 230, integrated with the MSC 230, or alternatively can service multiple MSCs 230, the latter of which is illustrated in FIG. 2.
The VLR 240 is a database containing information about all of the Mobile Stations 205 currently located within the MSC/VLR area 230/240. If a MS 205 roams into a new MSC/VLR area 230/240, the VLR 240 connected to that MSC 230 will request data about that Mobile Station 205 from the HLR database 250 (simultaneously informing the HLR 250 about the current location of the MS 205). Accordingly, if the user of the MS 205 then wants to make a call, the local VLR 240 will have the requisite identification information without having to reinterrogate the HLR 250. In the aforedescribed manner, the VLR and HLR databases 240 and 250, respectively, contain various subscriber information associated with a given MS 205.
In order to send and receive calls between a mobile subscriber and a wireline subscriber, the cellular network 215 must be connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 270. The signaling information used to request service and connect calls to and from the PSTN 270 is sent through the SS7 network. The MSC 230 connects to the SS7 network via a Signaling Transfer Point (STP) 260, which also allows digital cellular network providers to access various databases within the IN.
One feature that many digital service operators provide is caller identification. For digital phone subscribers, whether wireline, e.g., ISDN, or wireless, the calling party name and number information is typically sent to the subscriber with the first ring. However, in some cases, the name information is not available at the time of call setup. Thus, a query, e.g., to the SCP 120, must be performed to search for the name. Unfortunately, this query process can potentially take up to six seconds.
Existing technology has only provided two possible solutions for this situation where the name is not available at the time of setting up a call: (a) setup the call without the name, and display "out-of-area"; or (b) wait for the name query response, if it becomes available, and then setup the call with the calling party name. If the calling party name does not become available, even after a name query, the call can then be setup by displaying "out of area".
The Bellcore recommendation, Generic Requirement for ISDN Calling Name Identification Services, GR-1367-CORE, Issue 1, Jul. 1994, addresses the protocol of Calling Party Name Delivery over Primary Rate Interface (PRI) for ISDN. PRI is a class of ISDN service designed for larger businesses with a larger call volume that provides twenty-three 64-kbps bearer channels and one 64-kbps signaling channel. The protocol discusses the delivery of the calling party name to the subscriber, but it does not address the problem of handling call setup when the name is not initially available.
Therefore, a protocol is needed for the delivery of the calling party name when the name is not available at call setup. This includes defining the message, the information element (IE) within the message, and the structure of the IE. For example, the Bellcore recommendation for ISDN subscribers includes the Calling Party Name in a Facility Information Element (IE) in either a SETUP message, or in a separate message, such as a FACILITY message, following the SETUP message. However, the Bellcore recommendation does not address the structure of the Facility IE. Thus, the structure of the Facility IE must be defined in order to deliver the calling party name in either the SETUP message or the FACILITY message.
It is therefore an object of the invention to inform the called subscriber of a digital phone that a name query is being performed when the calling party name is not available at call setup.
It is a further object of the invention to include either the Calling Party Name, a "not available" message, a "private" message, or a "searching name" message in an initial message from the called party's end office to the called party.
It is still a further object of the invention to define the structure of a Facility Information Element for ISDN subscribers in, for example, either a SETUP message or a FACILITY message, to send the calling party name information as well as the status of the name query to the called subscriber.

Calling party name delivery to digital phone subscriber


A method for fabricating a device for displaying an interlaced image. The method includes providing a film of transparent material and creating a lens array in the film by forming parallel lens sets on a first side of the film, and then bonding an interlaced image including sets of elongate image elements to a second side of the film. Each of the lens sets is configured with lenses for focusing light from one of the image elements in a particular paired set of image elements rather than all the elements as with lenticular material. The bonding of the interlaced image to the film may include printing the interlaced image directly onto the second side with the printing facilitated by the small lens array thickness. Lens array creating includes embossing the lens sets into the film with a flat die or cylinder/roller engraved with a reverse image of the lens array.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to lens arrays and devices for use in viewing or displaying images that are interlaced to display animated, three-dimensional (3D), and other images, and, more particularly, to very thin lens arrays, as well as products incorporating such lens arrays and methods of fabricating such lens arrays, that include numerous, repeating sets of lenses or lens microstructures that are specially configured for viewing an interlaced image by pairing each lens in the set or microstructure with only one of (or a smaller subset of) the interlaced image elements or slices.
2. Relevant Background
Elaborate graphics can be produced with lenticular graphic labels to provide three-dimensional (3D) and animated imagery such as a short clip of a movie. For example, lenticular lens material is used in the packaging industry for creating promotional material with appealing graphics and typically involves producing a sheet of lenticular lens material and adhesively attaching the lenticular lens material to a separately produced object for display. The production of lenticular lenses is well known and described in detail in a number of U.S. patents, including U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,032 to Bravenec et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,781,761 to Raymond.
In general, the production process includes selecting segments from visual images to create a desired visual effect, slicing each segment into a predefined number of slices or elements (such as 10 to 30 or more slices per segment), and interlacing the segments and their slices (i.e., planning the layout of the numerous images). Lenticular lenses or lens sheets are then mapped to the interlaced or planned segments, and the lenticular lenses are fabricated according to this mapping. The lenticular lenses generally include a transparent web that has a flat side or layer and a side with optical ridges and grooves formed by linear or elongated lenticules (i.e., lenses) arranged side-by-side with the lenticules or optical ridges extending parallel to each other over the length of the transparent web. To provide the unique visual effects, ink (e.g., four color ink) is applied to or printed directly on the flat side of the transparent web to form a thin ink layer, which is then viewable through the transparent web of optical ridges.
Each lenticule or lens of the lenticular layer is paired or mapped to a fairly large set or number of the interlaced image slices or elements. For example, one lenticule may be paired with 10 to 30 or more interlaced image slices or elements associated with the image segments, and generally only one of the slices is visible through the lenticule at a time based on the position of the lenticule relative to a viewer's eye. In other words, the animation, 3D, or other graphic effect is achieved by moving the lenticule or the viewer's position to sequentially view each of the interlaced image slices under the lenticule and allow a viewer to see each segment of the image by combining the slices viewed from all the lenticules.
In producing conventional lenticular lens material, it is desirable to use as little material as possible, i.e., to produce effective lenticules or lenticular lens arrays with as thin as web material as possible. Decreasing lens thickness is also desirable such to facilitate fabrication using techniques such as web printing that are very difficult or impractical with thicker lens materials. Yhin lenticular lens material is desired to save on material costs and to provide a relatively flexible lens material or substrate that can be easily applied to products and product containers, such as in a label that can be attached to a box or to a bottle as part of a wraparound label or on a cup to provide desirable visual effects. To make lenticular lens materials thinner, the whole structure must be properly scaled downward together. In other words, the lenticules and the printed interlaced image must be shrunk or made smaller together to allow proper mapping of the image slices to the lenticules.
However, such shrinking of the lenticules has proven very difficult with limitations associated with printing the interlaced images often preventing the lens layer or web being made very thin. As noted above, all the interlaced slices for each segment are placed underneath a single lenticule such that numerous slices have to be printed with very little width to be mapped to the lenticules width or pitch. However, the printing can presently only be done with a limited degree of resolution, and this forces the lenticular lens material due to printing practicalities and resolution to be provided in coarser frequencies ranging from about 10 lenticules per inch (LPI) to about 200 LPI. With coarser lens arrays (i.e., with lower the frequency or LPI), the printing can be accomplished more easily and mapping to lenticules of the image slices achieved more accurately. However, coarser lens arrays with frequencies of 10 to 30 LPI tend to be very thick because general physics or optical rules for focusing with conventional lenticular material require that more lens thickness or more lens material be provided to achieve effective focusing. For example, a 15 LPI lenticular lens array with a fairly common viewing angle (such as a 22-degree viewing angle) may be mapped to an interlaced image that printed or provided directly behind the lenticular lens array, with each of the lenticules in the lens array being mapped to or paired with all image slices of a paired segment of the interlaced image. If the lens array is formed from acrylic, the lens array would need to be about ⅜-inch thick to enable the lenticules to properly focus on the paired image slices. Conversely, the frequency of the lenticular lens array may be increased (i.e., a finer lens array may be used). However, existing limitations on printing have resulted in the thinnest lenticular lens arrays being at least about 15 to 30 mils thick, and the mapping accuracy required at these lower thicknesses and high lenticule frequencies often results in lower quality imaging results and increased fabrication or printing costs.
There remains a need for a lens array or structure that provides an alternative to conventional lenticular lens arrays such that lens arrays or structures can be provided with less thickness and with enhanced mapping of interlaced image slices or elements to the lens array for improved visual effects. Preferably, such a new lens array would be easy and inexpensive to fabricate, would be well suited for fabrication with thicknesses less than presently achievable with lenticular lens materials (e.g., less than about 15 to 20 mils), and would still be useful for providing desired viewing angles (e.g., 20 to 40 degree viewing angles or the like) to view conventional interlaced images (e.g., images interlaced as for use with conventional lenticular material to achieve 3D, animation, or other visual effects).

Manufacture of display devices with ultrathin lens arrays for viewing interlaced images


The present invention relates generally to linkage means. More particularly, the invention encompasses a handle operator linkage with sealing means. The present invention is also directed to a novel linkage for controlling switches or breakers, and more particularly to a linkage for use as a double throw switch for controlling two switches or breakers mounted in the same enclosure so that only one switch can be ON at any given time, and the second switch would automatically be in an OFF state.

Switching apparatus generally referred to as a double throw switch or standby power panel are commonly used to alternatively connect one of two load devices to a source of electric power or to connect a single load device alternatively to one of two separate sources of electric power. For example, two lines coming into a switch tied to one load coming out of the switch as in a system that has an emergency power generator to switch from normal power source to the emergency generator. Another example is one line coming into a switch tied to two loads coming out of the switch as in a system that has a backup pump that needs to operate when the main pump is offline. The two switch mechanisms are tied together with a linkage. The linkage allows only one switch to be turned ON at a time. Prior linkages typically are assembled using multiple slots in a plate which is secured to a framework by multiple fasteners or rivets which slide in the plurality of slots. Currently, Siemens and other providers of such switching apparatus employ double throw switches for such applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,815,623 (Michael J. Holland), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a double throw switch linkage for coupling two switch apparatuses together in an enclosure. Each switch apparatus is coupled to the switch mechanism having a switch mechanism lever arm. When the lever arm is moved it translates a force to the actuator plate which closes one switch mechanism and maintains the other switch mechanism in an open position.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,900 (Tod T. Lament, et al.), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a double throw switch linkage for coupling two switch apparatuses together in an enclosure. Each switch apparatus is coupled to the switch mechanism having a switch mechanism lever arm. When the lever arm is moved it translates a force to the actuator plate which closes one switch mechanism and maintains the other switch mechanism in an open position.
Also in the market place, for example, there is a need for an auxiliary power source when the main power source is no longer available. In order to connect to the auxiliary power source a switching mechanism must be employed, for example, to disengage main power source and engage the auxiliary power source. To connect back to the main power source the sequence must be reversed; however, both the main power source and auxiliary power source must not be engaged at the same time. This problem has been solved by the inventive handle operator linkage of this invention which engages the main power source while keeping the auxiliary power source disengaged, and then engages the auxiliary power source while keeping the main power source disengaged.
Additionally, there is also a need for a double throw switch linkage that requires fewer parts for assembly thereby reducing costs and complexity.
This invention overcomes the problems of the prior art and provides an inventive handle operator linkage that also has sealing means.

Handle operator linkage with sealing means


A physical layer unit (PLU) for receiving (and transmitting) various signals, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) system including the PLU, and a wireless LAN method using the wireless LAN system. The wireless LAN system is capable of receiving signals of different standards, by performing a first preamble processing of an input signal for a predetermined first time period of 16 μs (the preamble processing time period according to an OFDM standard for determining whether the input signal corresponds to the OFDM standard), and performing a second preamble processing within a predetermined second time period (the remainder of a preamble processing time period for determining whether the input signal corresponds to a DSSS/CCK standard), if the input signal does not correspond to the OFDM standard. Therefore, DSSS/CCK and OFDM signals can be transmitted and received reliably in the integrated wireless LAN system according to the IEEE 802.11.g standard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Local Area Network (LAN), and more particularly, to a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) system and method based on the IEEE802.11 (Ethernet) standard.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) system connects personal or public LANs wirelessly to each other so that users can exchange data using mobile terminals, hand phones, PDAs, laptop computers, etc. Particularly, the IEEE 802.11.g standard proposes an integrated processing system that integrates a Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) signal, a Complementary Code Keying (CCK) signal, and the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signal, thereby allowing these signals to be processed in one system. The 802.11b standard uses DSSS to disperse the data frame signal over a relatively wide (approximately 30 MHz) portion of the 2.4 GHz frequency band. In order to actually spread the signal, an 802.11 transmitter combines the PPDU with a spreading sequence through the use of a binary adder. The spreading sequence is a binary code. For 1 Mbps and 2 Mbps operation, the spreading code is the 11-chip Barker sequence, which is 10110111000. 5.5 Mbps and 11 Mbps operation of 802.11b doesn't use the Barker sequence, and instead uses complementary code keying (CCK) to provide the spreading sequences at these higher data rates. Complementary Code Keying, uses a set of 64 eight-bit code words to encode data for 5.5 and 11 Mbps data rates in the 2.4 GHz band of 802.11b wireless networking. The code words have unique mathematical properties that allow them to be correctly distinguished from one another by a receiver even in the presence of substantial noise and multipath interference. CCK works in conjunction with the DSSS technology that is specified in the original 802.11 standard. CCK derives a different spreading code based on fairly complex functions depending on the pattern of bits being sent. The modulator simply refers to a table for the spreading sequence that corresponds to the pattern of data bits being sent. This is necessary to obtain the most efficient processing of the data in order to achieve the higher data rates. CCK applies sophisticated mathematical formulas to the DSSS codes, permitting the codes to represent a greater volume of information per clock cycle. The transmitter can then send multiple bits of information with each DSSS code, enough to make possible the 11 Mbps transmission rate. Generally, the DSSS signal is transmitted or received at a transmission rate of approximately 1 Mbps on a 2.4 GHz band, and the CCK signal is transmitted or received at a transmission rate of maximally 11 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band.
The OFDM signal is generally transmitted or received at a transmission rate of maximally 54 Mbps on a high frequency band of 5.4 GHz as defined in the IEEE 802.11.a standard. However, since the integrated processing system proposed in the IEEE 802.11.g standard should use an RF module, a frequency band of approximately 20 MHz among the 2.4 GHz band (2.4 GHz-2.4835 GHz) was proposed for this system.
A general technique and system for transmitting the DSSS signal, the CCK signal, or the OFDM signal are disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,508 and U.S. Pat. Publication No. 2002/0159422.
FIG. 1 is a timing diagram showing general structures of a DSSS signal and an OFDM signal.
To determine whether an input signal is a DSSS signal or an OFDM signal, a preamble processing step is performed. Referring to FIG. 1, the DSSS signal and CCK signal are subjected to a preamble processing step ("Signal Detect") for 56 μs The OFDM signal is subjected to a preamble processing step for 16 μs.
However, while the integrated processing system according to the IEEE 802.11.g standard is capable of transmitting a packet signal (for example, as a DSSS/CCK signal or as a OFDM signal), it may have difficulty distinguishing whether a received signal is a DSSS/CCK signal or an OFDM signal.
The conventional process for receiving DSSS/CCK and OFDM signals proceeds as follows. If a signal existing on an allocated channel in the 2.4 GHz-2.4835 GHz frequency band is extracted using an RF module, the extracted signal is amplified to have a valid amplitude required for signal determination, and is then subjected to a preamble processing step for determining whether the signal is a DSSS/CCK signal or an OFDM signal. The received signal, whose standard is being determined, is demodulated in a next unit and is transferred to a user via a Media Access Control (MAC) layer.
For receiving various signals in an integrated DSSS/CCK and OFDM system, when an AGC-processed analog signal is sampled and converted into a digital signal, a DSSS/CCK signal with a rate of 1 MHz should be sampled in synchronization to a clock signal of 11 MHz/22 MHz/44 MHz, and the OFDM signal with a rate of 20 MHz should be sampled in synchronization to a clock signal of 20 MHz/40 MHz/80 MHz. When determining the standard of a received signal sampled using different sampling clocks, the preamble processing of the received signal has to be completed in a defined preamble period of time, for example, in a preamble time period of 16 μs in a case of an OFDM signal.

Physical layer unit for transmitting or receiving various signals, wireless LAN system including the same, and wireless LAN method using the wireless LAN system


An image-pickup apparatus which improves the S/N ratio of an image-pickup system, prevents image blur and saturation of signals from an image-pickup device, and enables taking an excellent image, is disclosed. The camera of the invention which takes images through an image-taking optical system having a shake correction unit which drives a part of an image-taking optical system to correct image blur caused by camera shake and includes an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image formed by the image-taking optical system and a control circuit which controls operations of the camera, wherein the control circuit changes the sensitivity and the exposure time of the image-pickup device whether the shake correction unit is in operation or not.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital still camera having an image blur correcting function.
2. Description of Related Art
In a silver-salt film camera, its image-taking sensitivity (ISO sensitivity) cannot be changed unless a loaded film is replaced, however, in a digital still camera, its image-taking sensitivity can be easily changed by changing the gain of signals from an image pickup device such as a CCD.
Therefore, an image-taking sensitivity suitable for image-taking conditions can be set by a camera operator or at the camera side. For example, when it is desired to reduce affects from image blur by increasing the shutter speed, the image-taking sensitivity is set to be higher in accordance with the shutter speed increase.
Furthermore, as an image blur prevention system, a system which optically prevents image blur by moving a part of the lenses of the image-taking optical system has been proposed.
Herein, an image blur prevention system is briefly described. Camera shake when taking an image is generally vibrations with frequencies of 1 to 12 Hz, and at the point of shutter releasing, in order to make it possible,to take a photograph without image blur even when such camera shake occurs, it is necessary that the abovementioned camera shake due to hand shake is detected and the correction lens is displaced in accordance with a detected value. Therefore, in order to make it possible to take a photograph without image blur even when camera shake occurs, first of all, accurate detection of camera shake becomes necessary, and second, a displacement of the optical axis of the camera due to the camera shake must be corrected.
This shake (camera shake) detection can be carried out, in principle, on the camera, by mounting a vibration sensor which detects the angular acceleration, the angular velocity, and angular displacement, etc., and a camera shake sensor which outputs angular displacement by electrically or mechanically integrating an output signal of this vibration sensor. Then, the correcting optical element which makes the image-taking optical axis eccentric is driven based on this detection information to carry out prevention of image blur.
A conventional camera vibration isolation system is proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H9(1997)-43658. The outline of this is described with reference to FIG. 9. This vibration isolation system is a system which suppresses image blur caused by vertical shake 81p and horizontal shake 81y of the camera in the directions shown by the arrows 81, and is provided at the interchangeable lens of a single-lens reflex camera.
In the same figure, the reference numeral 82 denotes a lens barrel. Shake sensors 83p and 83y detect vertical shake and horizontal shake of the camera, respectively, and their shake detection directions are indicated by the reference numerals 84p and 84y, respectively.
The reference numeral 85 denotes a shake correcting optical unit. Coils 86p and 86y provide thrust for the shake correcting optical unit 85, position sensors 87p and 87y detect the position of the shake correcting optical unit 85. These coils 86p and 86y and position sensors 87p and 87y form a position control loop, and power is supplied to the coils 86p and 86y so that the positions detected by the position sensors 87p and 87y reach set target values based on the outputs of the shake sensors 83p and 83y to prevent image blur at the image plane 88.
However, in a digital still camera, if the shutter speed is increased to prevent image blur and the image-taking sensitivity is raised, noise is also amplified, resulting in lowering in the S/N ratio of the image-taking system and deterioration of the image.
Furthermore, when an image blur correcting system is provided to prevent image blur, the shutter speed is lowered, and the image-taking sensitivity is set to be lower than a standard image-taking sensitivity to improve the S/N ratio, signals from the image pickup device for an object portion having a certain level of higher brightness become saturated, and there is a possibility that the image of this object portion is taken to be white (over exposure).

Camera and camera system capable of changing gain value and exposure time


A two-part surgical draping system including a disposable drape (1) for adhesion to an operation site, and one or more reusable drapes (6) placed over the disposable drape (1). The disposable drape (1) includes a window (2), an upper absorbent layer (5) and a lower impermeable layer, first adhesive means (3) for adhering the lower impermeable layer to the patient, and non-adhesive preferably oppositely disposed margins (7) which serve to facilitate handling of the disposable drape (1). For attachment of the one or more reusable drapes (6) to the disposable drape (1), either the upper or the lower surface of the disposable drape is provided with second adhesive means (4) which is adherable to the lower or upper side of the reusable drape respectively. After attachment, the one or more reusable drapes (6) leave an access opening to the operation site. Moreover, the adhesive means (3,4) are preferentially protected prior to use by respective removable coverings (3',4').

The present invention relates to a surgical draping system for retaining sterile and clean conditions at an operation site. Surgical drapes are well known in the medical community and serve to prevent contamination of the sterilized operation site by foreign bodies, in particular micro-organisms. Two important potential sources of infection of the patient are the transfer of bacteria originating from unsterilized areas of his own body to the exposed tissue at the operation site and the airborne transfer of bacteria from other sources to the operation site such as lint or skin particles originating from the surgeon or other staff in the operating theater.
In the prior art, a wide variety of draping systems have been employed to improve sterility at the site of an operation. It is helpful to consider the features of these diverse systems to gain an appreciation of the object and subject of the present invention.
There are two main classes of surgical drapes: reusable drapes and disposable drapes. Before considering the action of drapes, it should at first be appreciated that micro-organisms can only be transmitted in a medium. They do not move freely on their own, i.e. they are transferred by fluids, aerosol droplets, lint, dust particles, skin particles or the like.
Historically cotton drapes were and still are used, as they are absorbent and soak up liquids. However, they provide no bacterial barrier. Even when replaced by polyester cotton drapes treated with liquid repellent finish, the properties are limited and are lost after a few uses. Both cotton and polyester cotton drapes are lint producers from the beginning and this production increases with each use. Latter-day fabrics for reusable drapes, such as ROTECNO (registered trade mark), which similarly present a sterile barrier to prevent infection have improved properties in a number of respects. For instance the fabric is liquid repellent, thereby still functioning as a sterile barrier when contacted by liquids, non-particle generating, and provided with a grid of crossed conductive fibers to prevent the build-up of static electricity, which when present can attract airborne particles and on discharge damage sensitive electrical equipment.
In use, such drapes are arranged around the operation site and held in position with clips which grip through the fabric onto the flesh of the patient. A single drape may be used, in which case there is an aperture in the drape which is appropriately dimensioned to allow access to the operation site. If a plurality of drapes are used, these may have a simple rectangular shape and are laid over the patient and overlap each other to form, for instance, a rectangular access area around the operation site. However, with such draping systems it is difficult to efficiently seal off the operation site from the surrounding non-sterile regions of the patient, as openings remain between the patient's skin and the drape through which micro-organisms can be freely carried. One particularly undesirable mode of patient self-infection is when fluids spilled during the operation flow under or through the drape to non-sterile regions of the patient, become contaminated and then return to the operation site, for instance by capillary action or under the application of pressure.
These fabric drapes do possess the key advantage that they are reusable, the fabric construction being suitable for typical hospital cleansing methods such as laundering followed by steam sterilization. However, over a period of time, the clipped regions of the fabric become damaged, thereby leading to further degradation of the operational conditions.
To avoid some of the shortcomings of clipping drapes, adhesive tapes can be applied to the edges of the drapes to adhere them to the patient's skin.
After laundering the reusable drapes, double-sided adhesive tape, which has a backing paper, for instance siliconized paper, is attached to the edge of the drape. The reusable drape together with the tape now one-sidely adhered to it, is then sterilized, usually steam sterilized at, for instance, 134.degree. C. Prior to the operation, the backing paper is pulled off the adhesive tape and the drape is adhered to the patient's skin at the site of the operation.
The problem then exists of thoroughly removing the adhesive tape from the drape. Experience has shown that it is tiresome to perform this manually, and therefore correspondingly difficult to supervise that overworked staff carry out this task adequately. In any case, residual traces of adhesive remain on the drape which must be fully removed by the cleansing or laundering procedure. This presents a particular complication for the adhesive, since it must satisfy conflicting requirements. Namely, on the one hand it must be able to withstand sterilization, in particular steam sterilization at 140.degree. C., without losing its adhesive properties, and on the other hand it should be fully removable in the cleansing process, in particular in normal hospital laundering.
Certain acrylate adhesive tapes go some way to fulfilling this task. However, during cleansing, the dissolvable glue bleaches out the color from the textile reusable drape. This results in a reusable drape which is still completely serviceable giving the appearance of being old and worn, which, in turn, frequently leads to staff disposing of the drape prematurely. Substantial unnecessary costs are thereby incurred. Also, the use of such adhesive tape represents a very substantial cost factor. It has been found in practice that the operating theater actually spends substantially more money on tape provided with this special adhesive than on the reusable drapes to which it is adhered.
As an alternative method, disposable drapes are also used; they are typically comprised of a non-woven cellulosic material. In some versions, the central part of the disposable drape is adhered to the operation site, and such drapes can be provided with an absorbent upper surface which is reinforced with plastic under the absorbent layer to act as a bacterial barrier.
Although the best of these drapes may provide an acceptable bacterial barrier, drapes of this kind are not intended to be cleaned or reused. Given the high throughput achieved in a modern operating theater, the use of such disposable drapes leads to the creation of large amounts of waste material requiring incineration with the ensuing undesirable costs and environmental consequences.
Therefore, it can be seen that a large number of approaches have been used in prior art draping arrangements and systems, each individual approach offering certain advantages but always associated with certain other disadvantages.
One general problem for all draping systems is that the number and variety of special drape designs required to meet all types of operations results in considerable costs, large storage space utilization and great administrative effort required to efficiently maintain adequate stocks of these items ready for operations.

Surgical draping system having a reusable and a disposable component


A manufacturing method for making a composite comprising silicone rubber and a thermoplastic resin in high precision and in high productivity. In the method, a thermoplastic resin is injected into the cavity of a mold. Then, a liquid silicone rubber composition which comprises (A) organopolysiloxane, (B) spherical fine particle catalyst consisting of platinum base catalyst-containing thermoplastic resin, (C) organohydrogenpolysiloxane, and (D) hydrosilylation reaction inhibiting compound, is injected into the same mold and cured.

The present invention is a molding method for a composite consisting of silicone rubber and a thermoplastic resin.
A previously known molding method for composites consisting of silicone rubber and a thermoplastic resin is one in which the thermoplastic resin molding is injection-molded in advance and unvulcanized silicone rubber is put in the cavity of the same mold and pressure molded (monocomponent molding method). Another previously known method is one where the thermoplastic resin is injected and successively unvulcanized silicone rubber is injected into the cavity of the same mold and molded (multicomponent molding method).
However, there have been problems in the monocomponent molding method in that the thermoplastic resin molding tends to deform by heating, is difficult to obtain a high precision composite, and productivity of the method is extremely low. In the multicomponent molding method, which overcomes these problems, a silicone rubber composition, which cures quickly below the softening point of the thermoplastic resin is required. Such a quick curing silicone rubber composition has previously been achieved by adding a large amount of platinum base catalyst or by adjusting the kind or the amount of addition of the hydrosilylation reaction inhibiting compound. Such quick curing silicone rubber compositions are disclosed, for example, in JP (Kokai) 62-207611, and JP (Kokai) 62-264920.
However, the liquid silicone rubber compositions disclosed in JP (Kokai) 62-207611 and JP (Kokai) 62-264920 have a fault in that they have poor storage stability and their curing proceeds in the mixer during molding forming gels. This requires that the mixer section be cooled to below 5.degree. C., which is a cost disadvantage. An addition problem associated with cooling of the mixer section is moisture condensation around the mixer, which can also effect productivity.
The objective of the present invention is to present a method for manufacturing composites of silicone rubber and a thermoplastic resin in high precision and in high productivity.