A method for forming a zinc alloy powder for use in an alkaline battery includes: obtaining a zinc molten metal in which zinc is melted; melting a zinc-aluminum master alloy in the zinc molten metal, thereby obtaining an aluminum-contained zinc alloy molten metal; and producing an aluminum-contained zinc alloy powder by powdering the aluminum-contained zinc alloy molten metal.

The present disclosure relates to methods for forming a zinc alloy powder as a negative electrode active material of an alkaline battery.
In general, zinc powders as a negative electrode active material of an alkaline battery are alloyed with other metals in view of corrosion resistance. For example, zinc alloy powders with an increased resistance to corrosion which are obtained by adding a metal with a high hydrogen overvoltage, such as indium and bismuth, or adding a metal which can make the powders have smooth surfaces, such as aluminum and calcium, are known.
Many alkaline batteries currently on the market use a zinc alloy powder which contains 0.01-0.1% indium and bismuth by mass and 0.002-0.01% aluminum by mass.
The zinc alloy powder for use in the alkaline batteries may be obtained from a zinc alloy molten metal obtained by mixing and melting metals, i.e., indium, bismuth and aluminum, and zinc (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-40883).
The zinc alloy powder for use in the alkaline batteries may also be obtained from a zinc alloy molten metal obtained by dissolving metallic elements, i.e., indium, bismuth, and aluminum, in a zinc molten metal obtained by melting a zinc ingot (see Japanese Patent No. 3436495).
Known techniques for producing a powder by powdering the zinc alloy molten metal include a gas atomization method in which the zinc alloy molten metal is powdered by being atomized with a high pressure gas, and a centrifugal disk atomization method in which the zinc alloy molten metal is powdered by being dispersed using a high-speed rotating disk (see Japanese Patent No. 5102970).

Method for forming zinc alloy powder for use in alkaline battery

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Disclosed is an installation fixture for preassembly of a portion of a fiber optic connector. The fixture can be separately assembled including a ferrule, a ferrule holder, coupling hardware, and heat shrinkable tubing to seat an optical fiber during curing.

The field of the invention is fiber optic connectors.
Fiber optic connectors serve an increasingly important role in the light waveguide network as the network expands from the central distribution office towards the subscriber. Connectors allow portions of the network to be reconfigured quickly as conditions change. Connectors are also used in distribution boxes holding multiple connectors so that rerouting can occur at a single location.
Problems which can occur during manufacture of fiber optic connectors include the possible unseating of an optical fiber during heat curing of adhesive within a connector. Current design approaches also call for assembly of the entire connector in one operation, which can cause the entire operation to be delayed during curing of a connector batch.
Therefore, it is believed that the art would be advanced by a connector preassembly which can be assembled separately from the production process using the actual light waveguides, and which further includes means for reliable seating of the light waveguide during curing of the connector adhesive.


A system, apparatus and method for transmitting data on a private network in blocks of data without using TCP/IP as a protocol are provided. When data is to be transmitted on a private network, the data is divided into a plurality of packets and a MAC header is added to each packet. The header contains hardware addresses of the transmitting and receiving hosts as well as parameters of the data being transmitted. The hardware addresses are used to route the packets through the private network therefore obviating the use of TCP/IP to perform the same task. The data is ordinarily stored in contiguous sectors of a storage device; thus, ensuring that almost every packet will either contain data from a block of sectors or is a receipt acknowledgement of such packet.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed to network communications. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a method, system and apparatus for transmitting data across a network in blocks without using TCP/IP to route the data through the network.
2. Description of Related Art
In a distributed computing system, different computers, operating systems and networks interact as if they were all part of a single computer system. As with most computer systems, the distributed computing system has a file system. However, the file system may reside across a few or all the computer systems that make up the distributed computing system. The file system uses a set of global file names to allow any machine in the network to access any file regardless of where the file is physically located. Global file names are part of a shared name space that devices within the distributed file system may access.
Presently, there are many technologies that are used to support distributed computing systems. Some of these technologies are Network File System (NFS), Common Internet File System (CIFS), Network Block device (NBD) and storage over Internet Protocol (IP) or iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface).
NFS is a client/server application that allows network users to access shared files stored on different computer systems of a network. NFS provides access to shared files over TCP/IP (Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). Users can manipulate shared files as if they were stored locally on the user's own hard disk. With NFS, computers connected to a network operate as clients when accessing remote files, and as servers when providing remote users access to local shared files. The NFS standards are publicly available and widely used.
CIFS is a widely used protocol that defines a standard for remote file access. CIFS allows users with different platforms and computers to share files without having to install new software. CIFS runs over TCP/IP but uses SMB (Server Message Block) protocol for file and printer access. Therefore, CIFS allows all applications, not just Web browsers, to open and share files across a network.
NBD or network block device allows systems to use disk space from other systems on the network. An NBD client retrieves data by sending read requests over TCP/IP to a server. Once the server receives a request, it responds with the requested data. Here, a server is any system that provides the requested data to the requesting client.
ISCSI is a new Internet Protocol (IP) based storage networking standard for linking data storage facilities. ISCSI is used to facilitate data transfers over a network and to manage storage over long distances. When an end user or application sends a request, the operating system generates the appropriate SCSI commands and data request. The SCSI commands and data request are broken down into packets to which TCP/IP headers are added. An Ethernet or other low-level network header is then added to each packet before it is transmitted. When a packet is received, it is disassembled, separating the SCSI commands and request. The SCSI commands are sent on to the SCSI controller, and from there to the SCSI storage device. Because iSCSI is bi-directional, the protocol is also used to return data in response to the original request.
As can be seen, TCP/IP is used in conjunction with all the technologies mentioned above. TCP/IP was developed to support an unreliable and widely dispersed network. As such, a lot of safeguards were used to ensure data transmission integrity. As it is well known, the more safeguards that are used in a system, the more complex the system; the more complex the system, the greater the overhead associated with the system.
Therefore, it would be desirable to design an apparatus, method and system for transmitting data in a private network that is devoid of the complexity associated with the use of TCP/IP.

Apparatus, system and method of distributing block data on a private network without using TCP/IP

International Business Machines Corporation


An aqueous seeding solution of palladium acetate, acetic acid and chloride.

The present invention relates to the formation of a cobalt/tungsten/phosphorus (CoWP) metal cap for a copper interconnect and, more particularly relates to a manufacturable process for the formation of the CoWP metal cap on such copper interconnect.
Metallization patterns on integrated circuits can be formed by depositing a dielectric layer, patterning the dielectric layer to form a trench and then depositing a metal layer that fills the trench in the dielectric layer. The metal layer typically not only fills the trenches but also covers the entire semiconductor wafer. Therefore, the excess metal is removed using either chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) or an etchback process so that only the metal in the trenches remains.
As wire widths in integrated circuits continue to shrink, the electrical conductivity of the wiring material becomes increasingly more important. The material of choice, aluminum, is becoming less attractive than other materials, such as copper, which are better conductors. In addition to possessing superior electrical conductivity, copper is more resistant than aluminum to electromigration, a property that increases in importance as wire cross-sectional areas decrease and applied current densities increase. Copper is seen as an attractive replacement for aluminum because copper offers low cost, ease of processing, lower susceptibility to electromigration, and lower resistivity.
Copper has several serious disadvantages as a wiring material. It can diffuse rapidly into and through silicon substrates and dielectric films, such as silicon dioxide. Diffusion into an adjacent dielectric region can cause formation of a conductive path between two interconnect lines producing an electrical short. Diffusion into an adjacent silicon substrate can cause junction leakage, thereby destroying the device. Copper also has poor adhesion to the dielectric capping layer. Replacement of aluminum with copper as an interconnect material requires that these problems be overcome.
To alleviate the problem of copper adhering to the overlying dielectric capping layer, various metal caps have been proposed to cap the copper interconnect so as to increase adhesion to the overlying dielectric capping layer. One such proposed metal capping material is CoWP. Dubin et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,810, Edelstein et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,153,935 and Sambucetti et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,128, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein, all disclose the electroless deposition of CoWP. In Dubin et al., electrolessly plated CoWP is used as a barrier layer between the copper and the dielectric. Dubin et al. further discloses that a palladium (Pd) seed is sputtered on the dielectric for adhesion of the CoWP but no seed is deposited on the copper when the CoWP is used as a metal cap.
In Edelstein et al., a Pd seed is formed on the copper wiring material by a Pd solution of undisclosed composition prior to electroless deposition of the CoWP Residual Pd seed (not adhered to the copper) is removed by an aqueous solution of a strong complexing agent such as ethylenediamine, citrate, or ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid.
In Sambucetti et al., copper wiring material is pretreated with H2SO4 followed by treatment with a Pd solution of undisclosed composition to cause deposition of a Pd seed followed by a solution containing at least 15 g/l of sodium citrate or ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid to remove excess Pd ions. The copper wiring material is then electrolessly plated with CoWP.
Babu et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,197, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses the electroless plating of nickel or copper onto a dielectric substrate. The dielectric substrate is pretreated with an NH3 plasma followed by treatment with a PdCl2 seeding solution containing HCl. The PdCl2 is an extremely aggressive seeding solution and is unacceptable for the copper interconnects of the present invention.
Akai et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,069, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses the electroless plating of nickel or copper onto a ceramic substrate. Prior to electroless plating, the ceramic substrate was treated with an organic Pd seed solution to deposit a Pd seed.
Notwithstanding the efforts of those skilled in the art, there remains a need for a manufacturable process for depositing a CoWP capping layer for a copper interconnect.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to have a process for depositing a CoWP capping layer for a copper interconnect which is well-controlled and repeatable.
It is another object of the present invention to have a process for depositing a CoWP capping layer for a copper interconnect using a Pd seed solution which enables robust seeding for CoWP while minimizing chemical attack of the copper interconnect.
These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent after referring to the following description of the invention.

Manufacturable CoWP metal cap process for copper interconnects


An assembling position-adjusting mechanism of a magnetic disk apparatus able to adjust the azimuth, radial alignment, and index of a magnetic head by adjusting a position thereof during the assembling process of a spindle motor. A positioning head movable in a direction perpendicular to a top surface of a table is provided. A plurality of positioning pins are provided on the bottom of the positioning head. Moving mechanisms are provided in the positioning head so that the bottom surface of the positioning head is movable and rotatable parallel to the top surface of the table. Each positioning pin of the positioning head is inserted into a respective positioning hole of a motor assembly so as to move the motor assembly with a movement of the positioning head so that the spindle motor of the motor assembly is at an appropriate position relative to the magnetic head of the main body of the magnetic disk apparatus.

The present invention generally relates to an assembling position-adjusting mechanism of a spindle motor for a magnetic disk apparatus, and more particularly to an assembling position-adjusting mechanism of a spindle motor for a magnetic disk apparatus which mechanism is advantageously used for adjusting a position of a spindle motor with respect to a magnetic head during assembling process.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire part of a magnetic disk apparatus 1 (hereinafter called apparatus 1) for 3.5-inch disks which apparatus is related to the present invention. A magnetic head 2, a head carriage 3 that supports and moves the magnetic head 2, and a spindle motor 4 that clamps and rotates a magnetic disk are assembled in the apparatus 1.
Generally, in a magnetic disk apparatus for 3.5-inch disks, since a high accuracy is required for a positional relationship between a magnetic head and tracks formed on a magnetic disk, a mechanism is needed for adjusting the positional relationship during an assembling process.
FIG. 2 shows a positional relationship between the magnetic head 2 and a track 6 formed on the magnetic disk loaded on the spindle motor 4 of FIG. 1. The magnetic head 2 overlaps over the entire width of the track 6 and the center line of the magnetic head 2 (a line perpendicular to the length of the magnetic head 2, as shown in FIG. 2) is positioned at an angle .theta. from a radius line 7 of the magnetic disk (i.e. radius line of the spindle motor 4).
In order to adjust this positional relationship, three kinds of position adjustments are needed. That are azimuth alignment adjustments for an angle of a head gap on the magnetic head 2 with respect to the track (adjustment of .theta. of FIG. 2), radial alignment adjustments for a position of the magnetic head 2 in a radial direction (adjustment in a direction indicated by an arrow Y of FIG. 2), and index adjustments for a position of the magnetic head 2 with respect to an index-pulse position (adjustment in a direction indicated by an arrow X of FIG. 2).
Firstly, a description will be given of the azimuth alignment with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conventional azimuth adjusting mechanism. The head carriage 3, on which the magnetic head 2 is mounted, is slidably supported by a guide rod 8, and one end of the head carriage 3 is engaged with a lead screw 10 extending from a stepping motor 11 so that the head carriage 3b moves along the guide rod 8 by rotation of the lead screw 10.
In the azimuth adjusting mechanism in the figure, the azimuth of the magnetic head 2 is adjusted by inclining the head carriage 3 (for example as shown by a chain line in FIG. 3) from the center line 7 of the spindle motor not shown in the figure. This can be done by displacing a movable end 8a of the guide rod 8 about a fixed end 8b of the guide rod 8b in a direction indicated by an arrow A of FIG. 3 by screwing a taper screw 9.
The radial alignment adjustment is performed by adjusting a mounting angle of the stepping motor 11 in a rotational direction of the lead screw 10. The magnetic head 2 moves in the radial direction of the spindle motor in accordance with a rotation of the lead screw formed on the rotational shaft of the stepping motor 11. The stopping position of the magnetic head 2 is determined by the stopping position of the lead screw 10 in the rotational direction. Thus, the stopping position of the head carriage 2 in the radial direction is adjusted by adjusting the mounting position of the stepping motor 11, which results in adjusting the position of the lead screw 10 in the rotational direction thereof.
Conventionally, the index adjustment is performed by adjusting an index-pulse generating means inside the spindle motor. Namely, a positional relationship between the magnetic head 2 and the index pulse generating point is adjusted by shifting a generating time of an index pulse.
However, in the above mentioned azimuth adjustment mechanism, a space for providing the taper screw 9 is limited. Additionally, since the guide rod 8 is thin, there is a problem in that the guide rod 8 bends when a large displacement is effected to the guide shaft 8. Further, when a tolerance of parts comprising a head carriage driving mechanism goes to the worst condition, there is a risk that the flap 12 makes contact with the photo-interrupter provided for detecting the track 00 of the magnetic disk.
Additionally, the radial alignment adjustment and the index adjustment must be performed separately; this results in time- and labor-consuming adjustments.

Assembling position adjusting mechanism of a spindle motor for a magnetic disk apparatus


The present invention discloses a catalytic phase change dielectric sphere for methanol combustion and a preparation method therefor. The catalytic phase change dielectric sphere for methanol combustion is mainly prepared from a high-temperature phase change material, an active material, a carrier material, a catalyst, a nano-semiconductor material, a nano-transition metal and an adhesive. A catalytic phase change dielectric solid sphere is prepared with a mixed pressing and sintering process, the methanol energy conversion rate reaches 87.5%, the furnace temperature of methanol combustion reaches 900° C. or higher, and waste heat recovery is realized; or, a catalytic phase change dielectric microporous hollow sphere is prepared through electrostatic adsorption and in-site redox reaction, the methanol energy conversion rate reaches 99% or higher, the furnace temperature of methanol combustion reaches 1000° C. or higher, and waste heat recovery is realized.

Energy has an extremely important strategic position in the national economy. Due to the advantages of large total volume, wide distribution range and the like, solar energy, wind energy and industrial waste heat are widely used in recent years, however, due to the characteristics of discontinuity and instability, the efficient use of these energy is limited. Thermal storage technology is a key technology to solve these problems. Methanol has the characteristics of high boiling point and low octane number, which makes it have the characteristics of high oxygen content and weaker calorific value than gasoline when used as a fuel, and have the latent heat of vaporization more than three times that of gasoline.
Meanwhile, because the physical and chemical properties of methanol fuel are close to gasoline, methanol is ignited only when the concentration of methanol in the air must be 4 times that of gasoline, the burning rate is 4 times lower than that of gasoline, and the released heat is only ⅛ of that of gasoline. Moreover, the methanol flame can be extinguished with water alone. The special multiple redox reaction technology of methanol is used to generate the transition substance hydrogen in process, which promotes the complex chemical reaction of methanol at high temperature. There are many transition substances during reaction. To promote the large-scale methanol catalytic combustion technology, the key is to develop a special high-efficiency large-scale methanol catalytic combustion agent, which is still a new research and development field at home and abroad, is at the start stage, and there are no similar patents and papers and literature reports.

Catalytic phase change dielectric sphere for methanol combustion and preparation method therefor


An illumination device for a motor vehicle includes a first light source and a scanner, wherein, in the switched-on state of the first light source, light coming from same is incident upon the scanner and the scanner performs a scanning movement, by which the beam path of the light from the first light source is modified after passing via the scanner and a moving first light spot is thereby generated, with which a first lighting function is provided, which represents an illumination of a surrounding area of the motor vehicle with visible light. A conversion element is arranged in the beam path of the light from the first light source after passing via the scanner, which converts the light that is incident upon the element into white light. One or more second light sources are provided, wherein, in the switched-on state of a respective second light source, light coming from same is incident upon the scanner and the scanner performs a scanning movement, by which the beam path of the light from the respective second light source is modified after passing via the scanner, without encountering a conversion element provided in the illumination device, and a moving second light spot is thereby generated, with which a respective second lighting function is provided.

The invention relates to an illumination device for a motor vehicle and to a corresponding motor vehicle.
Scanning motor vehicle illumination devices having a scanner that produces a moving light spot by deflecting a light beam by means of a scanning movement are known from the prior art. In this way, various types of light distributions, such as for example low beam and high beam, can be generated. The movement of the light spot is so fast here that it is not perceivable by the human eye.
To produce low beam and high beam, conversion elements are generally mounted in scanning illumination devices in order to convert light that is generated in the illumination device and is generally monochromatic into white light. The use of such a conversion element produces a relatively unsharp projection, meaning that the illumination device is not suitable for other light functions outside low beam and high beam.
It is the object of the invention to provide a scanning illumination device for a motor vehicle with which a plurality of different light functions are provided in a simple manner.
This object is achieved by the illumination device according to the claimed invention.
The illumination device according to the invention is provided for a motor vehicle, such as a passenger vehicle and possibly also a truck. Where the following text and in particular the claims describe interactions between the illumination device and the motor vehicle or components of the motor vehicle, this should always be understood to mean that the interaction occurs after arrangement or installation of the illumination device in the motor vehicle. The components of the illumination device that have a corresponding interaction with the motor vehicle or the components of the motor vehicle are consequently configured such that the interaction is brought about after arrangement or installation of the illumination device in the motor vehicle.
The illumination device according to the invention comprises a first light source and a scanner, wherein, in the switched-on state of the first light source, light coming from the latter is incident on the scanner and the scanner performs a scanning movement by way of which the beam path of the light from the first light source is varied after passing the scanner, thus producing a moving first light spot with which a first light function is provided that brings about illumination of a region in the environment of the motor vehicle with visible light. In this case, a conversion element that converts light that is incident thereon to white light is arranged in the beam path of the light of the first light source after passing the scanner.
The illumination device according to the invention is characterized in that, in addition to the first light source, one or more second light sources are provided, wherein, in the switched-on state of a respective second light source, light coming from the latter is incident on the scanner and the scanner performs a scanning movement by way of which the beam path of the light from the respective second light source is varied after passing the scanner without being incident on a conversion element provided in the illumination device. In this way, a moving second light spot with which a respective second light function is provided is produced for the respective second light source. In other words, one or more second light functions that differ from the first light function are made possible by the illumination device. It is ensured here that the second light functions use no conversion element in the beam path downstream of the scanner and consequently also do not use the conversion element that is provided in the illumination device, which makes sharper light spots possible.
In one variant of the illumination device according to the invention, a corresponding second light function can be switched on only if the first light function has been switched off. It is likewise possible that at least some of the second light functions and the first light function can be switched on at the same time.
The illumination device according to the invention has the advantage that a plurality of light functions are made possible using a single scanner, wherein a conversion element is used only for one light function. The other light functions do not require a conversion element and therefore make sharp projection of a corresponding light spot possible to realize particular light distributions. The first light source preferably emits monochromatic light. Depending on the design, a respective second light source can emit monochromatic lights or colored light and possibly also white light.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the illumination device according to the invention comprises a front headlight or it is a front headlight, wherein the illumination device is configured to produce at least a portion of a low beam distribution and/or high beam distribution as the first light function.
In a further preferred configuration, the first light source and/or at least one and preferably all second light sources comprise a laser light source made of one or more laser diodes. It is possible hereby to achieve high luminances for the corresponding light functions.
In a further preferred variant, the scanner that is installed in the illumination device according to the invention is a vector scanner having a variable scanning speed and a variable scanning pattern for moving the first and each second light spot. In this way, different forms of light distributions can be generated in a simple manner. In particular, a light-dark boundary can be generated for example in a low beam distribution by way of a corresponding movement of the vector scanner.
In a further preferred variant, the range of at least one second light function (that is to say the maximum distance reached by the light of the corresponding light spot from the illumination device) is smaller than the range of the first light function. Depending on the configuration, the light distribution of the second light function can overlap with the light distribution of the first light function, or both light distributions can be spatially disjunct with respect to one another.
In a further configuration, a second light function (that is to say the second light function or one of the plurality of second light functions) is designed such that it represents the generation of a visible graphic on the ground in the environment of the motor vehicle. The term "graphic" should here be understood to have a broad meaning. In particular, the graphic can include one or more pictograms and/or possibly text. Alternatively or additionally, the graphic can comprise a specified structure or a specified pattern on the ground in the environment of the motor vehicle. In particular, it is possible using the second light function to generate a graphic in the near field of the motor vehicle at a distance of 30 m or less from the illumination device.
In a further preferred configuration, a second light function (that is to say the second light function or one of a plurality of second light functions) represents the generation of a light distribution in a region in the environment of the motor vehicle in the non-visible wavelength spectrum. Non-visible here means that the light is not perceivable by the human eye. The non-visible wavelength spectrum of the light of the second light function preferably lies in the infrared range and with particular preference in the near infrared range (that is to say in the wavelength spectrum of 780 nm to 3 μm). This light function can be used, for example, in combination with a suitable evaluation unit to ascertain the distance of objects from the motor vehicle. In particular, it is possible by way of one or more cameras that operate in the corresponding non-visible spectrum of the second light function to capture the light distribution of the second light function and to ascertain herefrom the distance from objects in a manner known per se, for example based on the propagation time of the light from the illumination device to the camera or via a distortion of the non-visible light distribution.
In a position of the conversion element in which it is positioned in the switched-on state of the first light source and at least of a second light source, the beam path of the light of the at least one second light source and in particular of all second light sources deviates, in a further variant of the illumination device according to the invention, from the beam path of the light of the first light source after passing the scanner in a manner such that the beam path of the light of the at least one second light source is not incident on the conversion element. In other words, by suitably separating the beam paths, it is ensured that the light of at least one second light source is not incident on the conversion element. With this variant, embodiments can be realized in which the conversion element is arranged rigidly in the illumination device.
In a further configuration of the illumination device according to the invention, the conversion element is positioned from one position in which it is positioned in the switched-on state of the first light source into a different position when at least one second light source and in particular each second light source is switched on, for example by way of an electromechanical actuator. Owing to the positioning into the other position, the beam path of the at least one second light source that would strike the conversion element in one position is no longer incident on the conversion element. With this variant, no conversion element is used for corresponding second light functions on account of a variably positionable conversion element.
In a further variant of the illumination device according to the invention, an optical device is provided that is arranged in the beam path of the light of the first and each second light source downstream of the scanner and by way of which the first and each second light spot are produced. Typically, said optical device is also referred to as a secondary optical unit. The optical device preferably comprises one or more optical components, in particular one or more reflectors and/or one or more lenses, wherein at least one of the components is located in the beam path of the light both of the first and of each second light source. In this way, one or more components can be used at the same time by a plurality of light sources.
In addition to the above-described illumination device, the invention relates to a motor vehicle that comprises one or more illumination devices according to the invention or preferred variants of said illumination devices.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


An apparatus and method for measuring containment force on a load is provided. The apparatus may include a first longitudinally extending arm configured to engage a first side of packaging material wrapped around the load. The apparatus may also include a second longitudinally extending arm configured to engage a second side of the packaging material, the second side being opposite the first side. The apparatus may further include an indicator positioned substantially perpendicularly to the first and second arms, a third longitudinally extending arm, and a force gauge configured to measure a force exerted on the third longitudinally extending arm.

Various packaging techniques have been used to build a load of unit products and subsequently wrap them for transportation, storage, containment and stabilization, protection and waterproofing. Products are often stacked as a load on a pallet to simplify handling of the products. The load is commonly wrapped with packaging material. One system uses wrapping machines to dispense and wrap packaging material around a load. Wrapping can be performed as an inline, automated packaging technique that dispenses and wraps packaging material around a load to cover and contain the load. Wrapping, whether accomplished by a turntable, rotating arm, vertical rotating ring, or horizontal rotating ring, typically covers the four vertical sides of the load with a film such as polyethylene film. In each of these arrangements, relative rotation is provided between the load and the packaging material dispenser to wrap packaging material about the sides of the load.
Wrapping machines provide relative rotation between a packaging material dispenser and a load either by driving the packaging material dispenser around a stationary load, or by rotating the load on a turntable. Upon relative rotation, packaging material is wrapped on the load. Ring style stretch wrappers generally include a roll of packaging material mounted in a dispenser that rotates about the load on a ring. Vertical rings move substantially vertically between an upper and lower position to wrap film around a load. In a vertical ring, as in turntable and rotating wrap arm apparatuses, the four vertical sides of the load are wrapped, along the height of the load.
When loads are wrapped, it is beneficial to wrap the film around the base of the load. If the load is on a pallet, it is beneficial to wrap the film around at least a top portion of the pallet supporting the load in order to secure the load to the pallet. The film exerts a containment force on the load, which may help to maintain the integrity of the load during transport. In other words, the film helps to keep the articles composing the wrapped load in the arrangement they are in immediately after being wrapped. If the containment force is insufficient, shifting of the load may occur during shipping. Shifting may lead to instability and/or damage to the load.
Containment force is the force exerted on the load by the packaging material wrapped around the load. Various devices and techniques have been used to measure the containment force exerted on a load by packaging material wrapped around the load. One such device that is Applicant's own work is illustrated in FIG. 10. The device includes a gauge that is coupled to a plate or disc. In order to use the device, a user makes a slit in the packaging material, and inserts the plate or disc through the slit so that the plate or disc is located between the packaging material and a surface of the load. The user holds a first end of a measuring device, such as a measuring tape, against the load surface, and then positions it so that it extends in a direction normal to the load surface. With the plate or disc and the measuring device in place, the user pulls the gauge outwardly in a direction normal to the surface of the load to a predetermined point along the measuring device. The reading on the gauge is indicative of the containment force. This device and technique had marginal success only, due to inaccuracy and difficulty of use. For example, the device could catch a gap between layers of packaging material, leading to inaccurate and unpredictable measurements. Furthermore, simultaneously pulling and holding the gauge, measuring the distance pulled, and reading the gauge, proved to be physically difficult for some users. Finally, it was not possible to obtain consistent results from one user to another.
Another device, also Applicant's own work, incorporates the use of a swiveling arm member that forms a "T" for engaging the packaging material. However, this device also has various drawbacks. For example, use of the device requires weakening the packaging material by cutting a relatively large horizontal slit in the packaging material to receive the swiveling arm, which is then rotated 90° into the position shown in FIG. 11. Furthermore, measurements obtained using this device proved to be inconsistent, and results were highly dependent upon operator technique. Additionally, the technique for using this device was slow and inefficient.
A subsequent device, also Applicant's own work, is illustrated in FIG. 12. The device includes two arms. A first arm engages a first side of the packaging material, and a second arm engages a second, opposite side of the packaging material. A base extends from the tops of the first and second arms, to which a gauge is attached. With the first and second arms in place and engaging the packaging material, a user pulls the gauge along a plane defined by the base. This device also suffers from drawbacks. For example, the device is limited to testing the packaging material at only the top or bottom of the load. Also, the exertion of a pulling force by the user at the top of the first and second arms causes distortion in the packaging material being tested. Furthermore, the device is only capable of taking relatively small vertical samples of the packaging material, and results tend to be inconsistent due to overlapped film variations.
The above-described devices for measuring containment force on wrapped loads suffer from flawed design, are difficult to use, cause substantial damage to the packaging material, and often times produce unreliable and inconsistent results. For these reasons, there is a need for containment force measuring device that can consistently produce fast, accurate, precise, and reliable results, while also being easy to use.
It is accordingly a primary object of the disclosure to provide a method and apparatus for measuring containment force on a wrapped load that can be used quickly and easily.
It is an additional object of the present disclosure to provide a method and apparatus for measuring containment force on a wrapped load with accuracy and precision.
It is an additional object of the present disclosure to provide a method and apparatus for measuring containment force on a wrapped load that is robust, and is capable of being used in any environment.
It is an additional object of the present disclosure to provide a method and apparatus for measuring containment force on a wrapped load that will cause minimal damage to the packaging material wrapped around the load.

Apparatus and method for measuring containment force in a wrapped load and a control process for establishing and maintaining a predetermined containment force profile


A printer apparatus has a thermal head for printing by making contact with a heat-sensitive coloring layer of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet comprised of the heat-sensitive coloring layer and a heat-sensitive adhesive layer formed on opposite sides of a sheet-like base material. A thermal head heats the heat-sensitive adhesive layer to activate the same, and a conveying roller conveys the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in a predetermined direction to an ejection hole which ejects the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet out of the apparatus. A sheet holding unit holds the printed sheet with part of the same exposed to the outside from the ejection hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer apparatus for a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet having a heat-sensitive adhesive layer, which normally exhibits non-adhesive properties and exhibits adhesive properties when heated, formed on one side of a sheet-like base material and, more particularly, to a printer apparatus capable of holding a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet which has been subjected to a printing process and a thermal activation process in a state in which it can be easily picked up.
2. Description of the Related Art
One type of sheets applied to commodities recently is thermally activated sheets (e.g., printed media such as heat-sensitive adhesive sheets that are formed with a coat layer including a thermally activated component on a surface thereof) which are used in a wide range of fields, e.g., POS sheets for food products, distribution/delivery sheets, sheets for medical use, baggage tags, and indication sheets applied to bottles and cans.
Such a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is configured by forming a heat-sensitive adhesive layer that normally exhibits non-adhesive properties and exhibits adhesive properties when heated and a printable surface on a bottom side and a top side of a sheet-like base material (e.g., base paper), respectively.
The heat-sensitive adhesive is mainly composed of a thermoplastic resin, a solid plasticizing agent, or the like, and it is characterized in that it is non-adhesive at the room temperature and is activated to exhibit adhesive properties when heated by a thermal activation apparatus. Normally, the activating temperature is 50 to 150° C., and the solid plasticizing agent in the heat-sensitive adhesive is melted to impart adhesive properties to the thermoplastic resin. Since the melted solid plasticizing agent is gradually crystallized after undergoing an overcooled state, the adhesive properties are maintained for a predetermined time. The sheet is used by applying it to a surface of an object such as a glass bottle while it has the adhesive properties.
Printer apparatus utilizing such heat-sensitive adhesive sheets include that proposed in "a method and apparatus for thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive label and a printer" disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. JP-A-11-79152).
With the printer apparatus, desired characters, images, and so on are printed on a printable surface of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet by a thermal printer apparatus having a thermal head, and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer can be activated by the thermal activation apparatus after the printing.
An operation of applying an indication sheet to a glass bottle such as a bottle for liquor or medicine, a plastic container, or the like or an operation of applying a price tag or an advertising sheet may be performed after the adhesive capability of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is thus exhibited. Since this eliminates a need for a release sheet (liner) as that used in a common conventional adhesive label sheet, there is an advantage in that a cost reduction can be achieved. Further, since there is no need for a release sheet which becomes a waste after being used, there is merit also from the viewpoint of resource-saving and environmental problems.
However, the conventional printer apparatus has no means for holding a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet which has been subjected to a thermal activation process.
Therefore, a user of the printer apparatus may not be able to apply a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet because it drops when ejected from the printer apparatus unless the user waits for the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet to pick it up as soon as it is ejected, which has resulted in the problem of insufficient convenience and operability.
When a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet remains in the vicinity of the ejection hole of the printer apparatus after ejection, since the heat-sensitive adhesive layer cools down and solidifies again as time (e.g., several tens seconds) passes, a problem has arisen in that the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet firmly adheres to the neighborhood of the ejection hole to become unusable and in that it necessitates a troublesome cleaning operation such as peeling the sheet away.
In particular, since a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet which has been subjected to the thermal activation process in the above-described conventional printer apparatus is simply sent out by conveying means (platen roller) provided at the thermal activation device, a problem arises in that part of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer adheres to the thermal head when the conveyance with the platen roller is stopped with the trailing end of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet remaining on the thermal head. When the heat-sensitive adhesive adheres to a surface of the thermal head for thermal activation, problems arise when a subsequent heat-sensitive adhesive sheet comes, the problems including transfer of the adhesive to the heat-sensitive adhesive layer of the subsequent heat-sensitive adhesive sheet which can smear or damage the layer or reduce the flatness of the adherend. The deposited adhesive can be altered and burned when it is kept heated by the thermal head, which has resulted in the possibility of reduction in the heating performance of the thermal head to disable sufficient thermal activation.


A strain-sensing cable is provided. The strain sensing cable includes a jacket, a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber. The first optical fiber is located within the jacket and is configured to experience a strain applied to the cable and the temperature of the cable. The second optical fiber is located within the jacket and is isolated from the strain applied to the cable and is configured to experience temperature of the cable.

The disclosure relates generally to structural strain sensing and more particularly to optical fiber cables for sensing strain within a structure. Measurement of strain within a structure, such as a bridge, dam, building, roadway, etc., provides an indication of the health or structural integrity of the structure. Strain within an optical fiber can be measured by measuring the change in a transmission property of a signal along the optical fiber (e.g., the Brillouin scattering of the fiber).
No admission is made that any reference cited herein constitutes prior art. Applicant expressly reserves the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinence of any cited documents.


An X-ray image photographing apparatus includes an image obtaining portion for obtaining an X-ray distribution transmitted through an object, a grid detecting system having a construction for obtaining information from a grid side by the action of inserting the grid for decreasing scattered rays into the apparatus, and detecting at least one of the presence or absence of the grid, the kind of the grid and the presence or absence of the replacement of the grid by the use of the construction, an image processing system for image processing and outputting image data collected by the image obtaining portion, and a memory portion preserving therein a plurality of sets of image processing parameters for controlling the image processing system. The image processing system selects the image processing parameters preserved in the memory on the basis of at least the result of the detection by the grid detecting system and executes image processing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an X-ray image photographing apparatus for effecting photographing by the use of a grid, and a grid device.
2. Related Background Art
When radiation such as X-ray, xcex1-ray, xcex2-ray, xcex3-ray, an electron beam, or an ultraviolet ray is applied to a ceratin kind of fluorescent material, part of this radiation energy is accumulated in the fluorescent material. It is known that excitation light such as visible light may be applied to this fluorescent material, whereby the fluorescent material exhibits accelerated light emission in conformity with the accumulated energy. The fluorescent material exhibiting such a nature is called an accumulative fluorescent material or an accelerative fluorescent material.
Heretofore, by the utilization of this accumulative fluorescent material, the radiation image information of an object such as a human body has been once recorded on a sheet of accumulative fluorescent material, and this sheet of accumulative fluorescent material has been scanned by the use of excitation light such as a laser beam to thereby emit accelerated light, and the obtained accelerated light has been read to thereby obtain an image signal. A radiation image information recording-reproducing system for outputting the radiation image of the object as a visible image to a recording material such as a photosensitive material or a display apparatus such as a CRT on the basis of this image signal is proposed, for example, by Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-12429, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-11395, etc.
Also, in recent years, an apparatus using a semiconductor sensor to likewise photograph an X-ray image has been developed. These systems, as compared with a conventional radiation photographic system using silver salt photographs, have the practical advantage that an image can be recorded over a very wide range of radiation exposure area. That is, X-rays in a very wide dynamic range are read by photoelectric converting means and converted into an electrical signal. By the use of this electrical signal, the radiation image is outputted as a visible image to the recording material such as a photosensitive material or the display apparatus such as a CRT, whereby there can be obtained a radiation image which is not affected by the fluctuation of a radiation exposure amount.
However, in the analog photographing using the accumulative fluorescent material shown in the above-described example of the prior art, use is made of various grids for decreasing scattered rays during photographing, but in digital photographing using a semiconductor sensor, moire fringes are created from the relation between the sampling pitch and the frequency of the grid, and in an apparatus, a plurality of kinds of grids or an image by without a grid is not supported.
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-noted problem and to provide an X-ray image photographing apparatus which can execute appropriate photographing or image processing by a plurality of kinds of grids or by without a grid and a grid device suitable therefor.
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention.

Grid holding frame, which provides grid information to X-ray image processing apparatus


A method for impedance measurement in a three-phase AC system is provided. The method includes injecting a shunt perturbation signal into the three-phase AC system and collecting a response to the shunt perturbation signal, and injecting a series perturbation signal into the three-phase AC system and collecting a response to the series perturbation signal. The response to the shunt perturbation signal and the response to the series perturbation signal are then transferred from abc coordinate to dq coordinates. At least one impedance of the three-phase AC system is calculated based on the response to the shunt perturbation signal and the response to the series perturbation signal.

The identification and subsequent measurement of source and load impedances are useful tools for assessing and evaluating stability of electrical power systems. The impedance of an alternating current (AC) electrical system may be measured by injecting a perturbation signal in the direct and quadrature (dq) reference frame of the system, and measuring the voltage and current response to the perturbation.
Conventionally, impedances of a system at AC interfaces have been extracted in the direct and quadrature (dq) reference frame using only shunt injection. Problems arise in such conventional impedance measurement methods because the source impedance is usually much smaller than the load impedance at AC interfaces. When perturbing the system using shunt mode, most of the injected current flows into the low impedance source side. The high impedance load side is not disturbed enough, resulting in a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) which is not good for measurement accuracy. Further, conventional approaches have generally been limited to linear loads and are not well-adapted for non-linear loads.
Therefore, there is a need for a system and method capable of realizing improved load-side SNR and overall impedance measurement accuracy.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for impedance measurement using series and shunt injection

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.


A condensate trap for providing improved gas seal to a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) system. The trap can include an interior reservoir containing a volume of fluid to create a gas seal between an inlet pathway and an output. The interior reservoir can be accessed through an access port, by removing a removable cover, for maintenance and inspection. The trap can include vents or vent precursors for aiding in drainage of excess fluid, as well as early detection of problem conditions. The trap can be made from modified parts put together in a specific manner, or through purpose-built parts. The trap can include liquid level sensors and inspection windows to aid in early detection of problem conditions.

A condensate trap may be used in connection with a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) system to enable reliable drainage of excess condensate. Condensate builds up on evaporator coils in the HVAC/R system and can be collected in a condensate pan at the bottom of the unit. This collected condensate can be diverted, via a drainage outlet, to a location for suitable drainage, such as onto outdoor ground or into a drain pipe (e.g., municipal drain). Excess standing moisture in the condensate pan may cause unhealthy living conditions (e.g., due to a buildup of bacteria, fungus, or algae). Excess condensate collecting in the condensate pan may cause damage to the HVAC/R equipment, requiring costly repairs or replacement of the unit. Excess condensate may also leak out of the condensate pan and cause damage to surrounding structures or equipment.
Depending on an HVAC/R system's current setting, a drainage outlet of a condensate pan may experience negative, such as due to air being forced through the HVAC/R system by the system's air handler or fan. Under negative pressure, certain HVAC/R systems may inhale air through the drainage outlet, which may cause major problems. Such negative pressure can prevent excess condensate from draining, causing the condensate pan to overflow. Additionally, sufficiently high negative pressure may pull excess condensate through equipment of the HVAC/R system that can be damaged from exposure to moisture. A trap may be attached to the drainage outlet of the HVAC/R unit to allow condensate to drain, while preventing air from being pulled in through the drainage outlet due to negative pressure.
Condensate traps make use of liquid, such as purged condensate, to form a gas barrier to prevent the drainage outlet from inhaling air when the HVAC/R system is running. A P-trap is a commonly used trap made from a reformed section of pipe, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, which has been heated and bent into shape that resembles a letter P. The P-trap is installed with the curved section of the P pointing downwards so that condensate builds up in the curved section thereby forming the necessary gas seal. P-traps can be very difficult to clean and can be problematic to install. If the trap becomes clogged, condensate may not drain and the condensate may back into the HVAC/R system causing damage. Cleaning a P-trap requires cutting the pipe to access and clean the interior of the pipe before gluing it back into place, or simply replacing the P-trap entirely. Additionally, during install, an installer must cut, fit, and glue the piping on site which is an error prone process.
Another common trap uses a series of 90 degree fittings to form a loop similar to the loop of the P-trap. Installing this type of trap requires cutting and gluing together several sections of PVC pipe between multiple 90 degree fittings to create the desired shape. The hard 90 degree angles can frequently form blockages, causing the condensate to backup. Also, because many different parts are used, it can be difficult to clean the trap. The trap must be cut and removed to be cleaned, then refitted and re-glued. Like the P-trap, installing, cutting, and gluing this type of trap is can be an error prone process that must be done on site. Further, the resulting trap takes up considerable space and can be prone to damage if jostled.
Additionally, an installer installing a trap may need to install a vent to ensure condensate in the drain pipe is able to flow from the trap to the drain without a vacuum forming within the drain pipe. While a vent performs well when installed correctly between the trap and the output of the drain pipe, a vent installed incorrectly (e.g., between the trap and the condensate pan) can render the trap ineffective since negative pressure from the drainage outlet would pull air through the vent. Many traps and vents are installed incorrectly every year, leading to the same problems that occur when no trap is used at all.
Condensate traps that are presently used in the art are prone to installation error, damage, and general failure. Therefore, a need exists for an improved condensate trap that overcomes the disadvantages found in the prior art.


A process for producing an aqueous dispersion of purified polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), comprising passing a crude aqueous dispersion of PTFE comprising from 10 to 50 mass % of PTFE fine particles having an average particle diameter of from 0.1 to 0.5 μm, from 0.05 to 1.0 mass %, based on PTFE, of a fluorine-containing carboxylic acid salt (APFO) and from 2 to 20 mass %, based on PTFE, of a nonionic surfactant through a column packed with a weak basic AER upward at a linear velocity of 0.1 to 2 mm/sec with a contact time of 0.2 to 4 hours to reduce the APFO concentration. The process can increase the absorption of APFO by the anion exchange resin, prevents agglomeration of PTFE during passage and makes it easy to elute the absorbed APFO.

An emulsion polymerized PTFE is obtained by polymerizing the tetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as TFE) monomer, in the presence of pure water, a polymerization initiator, a fluorine-containing anionic surfactant (hereinafter referred to as APFO) such as ammonium perfluorooctanoate and a paraffin wax stabilizer, and it is obtained as an aqueous PTFE polymer emulsion containing PTFE fine particles (Handbook of Fluorine resins, p. 28, edited by Takaomi Satokawa, published by Nikkankogyo Shimbun).
The aqueous PTFE polymer emulsion after the polymerization is used as a crude aqueous PTFE dispersion after blended with a nonionic surfactant, or as a blended aqueous dispersion of PTFE after blended with a nonionic surfactant, a filler or other known components as the case requires. However, it has not been industrially common to remove APFO from an aqueous dispersion of PTFE. Because APFO is hardly naturally degradable, it is preferred to minimize the APFO content of products.
As to means of lowering the APFO content, WO00/35971 (JP-A-2002-532583) proposes a method of preparing an aqueous dispersion of PTFE with a low APFO concentration by passing a crude aqueous dispersion of PTFE through a column packed with an anion exchange resin (hereinafter referred to as AER) and allowing the AER to absorb APFO. In this method, it is important to increase the APFO absorption per AER to lower costs because the AER is generally expensive. However, The APFO absorption disclosed in WO00/35971 is relatively low at the level of less than 16% of the theoretical capacity, and there is no disclosure about how to increase the absorption. Further, because strong basic AERs are used in the Examples, there is a problem that the efficiency of the removal of APFO tends to decrease during continuous passage of a crude aqueous dispersion of PTFE due to agglomeration of the PTFE fine particles in the column.
Besides, though it is not disclosed how to feed the crude aqueous dispersion of PTFE to the column, when an ordinary mechanical pump which generates shearing force is used to feed the dispersion, there is a problem that agglomerates of PTFE fine particles accumulate in the AER column to hinder removal of APFO. Though it is preferred to elute the APFO absorbed by the AER with an eluent such as an alkaline solution for reuse, there is a problem that the strong basic AER used in the Examples absorbs APFO too strong to elute APFO.

Process for producing aqueous dispersion of purified polytetrafluoroethylene


The invention relates to methods and systems that suppress the expansion of an illuminating luminous flux in the short-side direction of a sub-pixel and prevents a color mixture caused by leak of light to an adjacent pixel electrode. The methods and systems of the invention set the direction of polarization separation, using a polarization transforming element, as the long-side direction of a sub-pixel with respect to the directions of the short sides and the long sides of sub-pixels arranged correspondingly to a microlens. The methods and systems of the invention also make the intervals between light source images narrower in the short-side direction, using a luminous flux separation optical element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a projector which separates a luminous flux from a light source into a plurality of partial luminous fluxes and modulates the plurality of partial luminous fluxes according to image information by means of an electro-optic device.
2. Description of Related Art
As a projector capable of projecting and displaying a color image, in addition to a projector of a three-plate type provided with an electro-optic device for each of three color lights, a projector of a single-plate type forming a color image by means of a single electro-optic device has been put to practical use.
A projector of a single-plate type has an advantage of making it possible to easily make a projector apparatus smaller in size and lower in cost.
There are various forms of single-plate type projectors, and among them a single-plate type projector which irradiates a single liquid crystal display device (electro-optic device) provided with a microlens array with color lights obtained by color separation by means of three dichroic mirrors (a color separation optical element) arranged at specific positions like a color liquid crystal display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 4-60,538 is well known (hereinafter an electro-optic device of such a composition is called an electro-optic device of a spatial color separation type). A projector of such a form attracts public attention in that it has a high efficiency of light utilization and can easily provide a bright projected image in spite of its single-plate type.
Further, a single-plate type projector as described above is contrived so as to arrange various optical elements such as a luminous flux separation optical element, a polarization transforming element, a color separation optical element and the like in an optical path from a light source to an electro-optic devise, utilize light of the light source without waste, and thereby form a projected image being not irregular in brightness and color.
A luminous flux separation optical element is an optical element which separates a luminous flux from a light source into a plurality of partial luminous fluxes, forms a plurality of light source images in a virtual plane nearly perpendicular to a virtual optical axis of illumination passing nearly the center of the said luminous flux separation optical element, superposes luminous fluxes from the plurality of light source images on an electro-optic device by considering them as pseudo-light sources, and thereby obtains illuminating luminous fluxes being uniform in distribution of intensity. Concretely, as a luminous flux separation optical element, a bar-type optical conductor which reflects a luminous flux inputted from the entrance end by plural pairs of reflecting faces, separates the luminous flux into a plurality of partial luminous fluxes according to different positions of reflection and outputs them from the exit end, a lens array having a plurality of lenses arranged in a plane opposite to the pixel area of an electro-optic device, or the like is adopted.
A polarization transforming element is an optical element which separates an incident luminous flux being random in direction of polarization direction into two polarized luminous fluxes, rotates the polarization direction at least one of the two polarized luminous fluxes, and thereby outputs luminous fluxes being uniform in direction of polarization. Concretely, a polarization transforming element comprises a polarization separating film which transmits one of two polarized luminous fluxes being different in direction of polarization from each other and reflects the other, a reflecting film which reflects the other polarized luminous flux separated, and a retardation plate which turns either of the two polarized luminous fluxes in direction of polarization.
A color separation optical element is an optical element which separates an incident luminous flux into a plurality of color lights such as R, G, B and the like for example, in which three dichroic mirrors to respectively reflect red, green and blue lights are arranged at different angles from one another with respect to the direction of incidence of a luminous flux and the respective color lights separated by the three dichroic mirrors are outputted at different angles from one another.
An electro-optic device of a spatial color separation type modulates each of luminous fluxes separated by said color separation optical element according to its image information for each color light and forms a color image. In the electro-optic device, three rectangular sub-pixels respectively corresponding to R, G and B lights are arranged side by side, and one microlens is formed for these three sub-pixels. The respective color lights incident upon the microlens at different angles are condensed by the microlens, enter their corresponding sub-pixels and are modulated for their respective colors and then outputted through a projection lens to form a color image projected.
Thus, a pixel area obtained by combining R, G and B sub-pixels in an electro-optic device is formed into a nearly square shape, and a sub-pixel to be modulated for each color light is formed by dividing said nearly square-shaped pixel area along the direction of incidence of each color light. In other words, a sub-pixel is formed into the shape of a rectangle having its short sides in the direction of color separation performed by the color separation optical system.
However, since a sub-pixel for each color light is formed into the shape of a rectangle in a single-plate type projector of such a structure, when a inclined light in the short-side direction of the rectangle is entered, a different color light is mixed into an adjacent sub-pixel and the color light leaks to a sub-pixel for another color light to generate a color mixture, and as a result, an image projected on a screen is degraded in contrast and color reproducibility. In a single-plate type projector, therefore, it is important how the angular distribution of lights incident on an electro-optic device in the short-side direction. is controlled.
An object of the present invention is to provide a single-plate type projector using an electro-optic device of a spatial color separation type, said projector preventing a color mixture and being high in contrast and color reproducibility.
(1) A projector according to the present invention is a projector comprising;
a luminous flux separation optical element that separates a luminous flux from a light source into a plurality of partial luminous fluxes,
a polarization transforming element that separates each of said plurality of partial luminous fluxes into two polarized luminous fluxes and then converts the two luminous fluxes into a single polarized luminous fluxes being uniform in direction of polarization,
an electro-optic device that modulates an illuminating luminous flux outputted from said polarization transforming element, said electro-optic device having a plurality of long and narrow pixels respectively corresponding to color lights and being arranged adjacently to one another, and
a projection lens that projects a luminous flux modulated by said electro-optic device, and
a direction of polarization separation of said plurality of partial luminous fluxes performed by said polarization transforming element coincides nearly with the long-side direction of said pixel.
In case of disposing a polarization transforming element between a light source and an electro-optic device for the purpose of improving the efficiency of utilizing light, an angular distribution of light is spread in direction of polarization separation due to separation of polarization by the polarization transforming element. In the present invention, however, since the direction of polarization separation by the polarization transforming element corresponds to the long-side direction of a pixel in an electro-optic device, an angular distribution of illuminating fluxes is spread in the long-side direction of a pixel but is little spread in the short-side direction of the pixel. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a color mixture (leak of light) caused by a different color light to enter an adjacent pixel and attain a projected image being high in contrast and excellent in color reproducibility.
(2) As for an electro-optic device, it is preferable that the present invention is applied to an electro-optic device of a transmission type which modulates an incident luminous flux with said pixels and outputs the luminous flux at the opposite side to the entrance side.
It is a matter of course that the present invention can be also applied to an electro-optic device of a reflection type which modulates an incident luminous flux and then outputs the luminous flux at the entrance side. In such a case, however, since polarization selecting elements such as polarization beam splitters and the like are disposed between an electro-optic device and an illuminator and between an electro-optic device and a projection lens, it is necessary to optimize characteristics of the polarization transforming element and the luminous flux separation optical element in order to keep the characteristics of the polarization selecting element. On the other hand, since an electro-optic device of a transmission type does not need such a polarization selecting element, it has an advantage of easily forming a projector in no consideration of the characteristics of a polarization selecting element.
(3) A luminous separation optical element is preferably composed so as to form a plurality of light source images at intervals more narrow in the short-side direction of a pixel than the long-side direction.
By making more narrow the intervals between light source images in the short-side direction of a pixel, it is possible to surely reduce the expansion of an angular distribution of illuminating luminous fluxes in the short-side direction of a pixel. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a color mixture caused by leak of light to an adjacent pixel and attain a projected image being very high in contrast and excellent in color reproducibility.
(3-1) As a luminous flux separation optical element, a rod can be adopted which reflects an incident luminous flux entered through the entrance end from a light source by plural pairs of reflecting faces, separates the luminous flux into a plurality of partial luminous fluxes, and outputs them from the exit end.
In this case, as such a rod it is possible to adopt a solid rod made of a material having an optical conductivity or a hollow rod made by forming light reflecting faces on the inner faces of a tube. Since a solid rod has a total reflection faces with no optical loss, it has an advantage of improving the efficiency of light utilization. Since a hollow rod makes an incident luminous flux entered from the entrance end reach the exit end through the air layer inside the rod, it has an advantage that a uniform illuminating luminous flux can be attained even by making comparatively short the distance between the entrance end and the exit end and further it is easier to manufacture than the solid rod.
In case of using a solid rod or a hollow rod, it is enough that at least two pairs of reflection faces being opposite to each other in the long-side direction and the short-side direction of a pixel, and the section of the rod may be in the shape of such a polygon having more sides than a tetragon as an octagon, a dodecagon and the like.
However, taking account of the efficiency of optical transmission from a light source to a luminous flux separation optical element, since the section of a luminous flux incident on the luminous flux separation optical element from the light source is nearly circular in shape, it is preferable that the shape of the entrance end of the rod is a square, and taking account of the efficiency of illumination to an electro-optic device, it is preferable that the shape of the exit end of the rod is nearly similar to the shape of a display area of the electro-optic device.
In case of adopting a rod as described above as a luminous flux separation optical element, a plurality of light source images can be formed at more narrow intervals in the short-side direction than the long-side direction of a pixel by inclining a pair of reflecting faces opposite to each other in the short-side direction of a pixel so as to be made gradually wider from the entrance end toward the exit end. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a color mixture caused by leak of light to an adjacent pixel and attain a projected image being very high in contrast and excellent in color reproducibility.
And further, the interval between a pair of reflection faces of a rod being opposite to each other in the long-side direction of a pixel may be made gradually more narrow from the entrance end toward the exit end of the rod.
In this case, since the intervals between light source images in the long-side direction of pixels can be made wider, the interval between the polarization separation film of a polarization transforming element and the reflection face can be set as sufficiently taking account of the size of a light source image. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of polarization transformation in a polarization transforming element and, as a result, improve the efficiency of light utilization in a projector.
(3-2) As a luminous flux separation element, a lens array formed by arranging a plurality of lenses in the long-side direction and the short-side direction of a pixel in an electro-optic device can be adopted.
In this case, it is preferable that the light condensing characteristics of the plurality of lenses are set so as to form a plurality of light source images at more narrow intervals in the short-side direction of a pixel than the long-side direction. The extent of an angular distribution of illuminating luminous fluxes in the short-side direction of a pixel can he surely reduced by setting the light condensing characteristic of each lens in such a way. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a color mixture caused by leak of light to an adjacent pixel and attain a projected image being very high in contrast and excellent in color reproducibility.
Hereupon, as a lens forming a lens array, a hologram lens or diffraction lens for condensing light by means of a holography or diffraction effect can be adopted in addition to a general lens whose surface is formed into the shape of a curve.
In case of adopting a lens array as a luminous flux separation optical element, it is preferable that a plurality of lenses each are similar in shape to a display area of an electro-optic device. An image formed on a lens of a lens array is superposed on a display area being a single area to be illuminated in the electro-optic device. Accordingly, since a luminous flux outputted from the lens can be introduced into the display area with no waste by making the shape of a lens nearly similar to the shape of a display area of the electro-optic device, the efficiency of illumination can be improved.
And it is preferable that some or all of a plurality of lenses forming a lens array are eccentric lenses. Namely, since a light source image can be formed at a position other than the physical center of each lens by using eccentric lenses as some or all of lenses, it is possible to freely control the intervals between a plurality of light source images formed in a virtual plane.
(4) In case of using a lens array as a luminous flux separation optical element, it is preferable to dispose a reducing optical system in an optical path between a light source and a polarization transforming element. And by reducing the total sectional dimensions of an illuminating luminous flux in the short-side direction of a pixel, it is possible to further reduce the extent of an angular distribution of the illuminating luminous flux in the short-side direction of a pixel.
Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a color mixture caused by leak of light to an adjacent pixel and attain a projected image being very high in contrast and excellent in color reproducibility. And since the total diameter of a luminous flux to illuminate an area to be illuminated can be made smaller, it is possible to use a projection lens being small in aperture and inexpensive in cost as a projection lens disposed at the exit face side of an electro-optic device and make a projector low in cost.
And in this case, not only the sectional dimensions in the short-side direction of a pixel but also the sectional dimensions in the long-side direction of a pixel may be reduced. In such a case, a color mixture caused by leak of light to an adjacent pixel can be furthermore reduced.
Such a reducing optical system can be composed of at least one convex lens disposed at one of the entrance side and the exit side of a lens array and at least one concave lens disposed at the entrance side of a polarization transforming element. And in case of making small the sectional dimension of an illuminating luminous flux only in the short-side direction of a pixel, cylindrical lenses can be used as a concave lens and a convex lens. The convex lens and concave lens each can be composed of a single lens, but considering reduction of their optical aberrations, it is preferable that each of them is a combination lens obtained by combining a plurality of lenses.
(5) In a projector as described above, a reducing optical system for reducing the total sectional dimensions of an illuminating luminous flux in the short-side direction of a pixel can be used between a polarization transforming element and an electro-optic device.
Such a reducing optical system can be composed of a single concave lens, but taking account of reduction of its optical aberrations, it is preferable that the concave lens is composed of a combination lens obtained by combining a plurality of lenses. And in case of making small the sectional dimension of an illuminating luminous flux only in the short-side direction of a pixel, cylindrical lenses can be used as a convex lens and a concave lens. The same effect as the case (4) described above can be obtained also by using such a reducing optical system.
And in this case also, the sectional dimensions may be reduced not only in the short-side direction of a pixel but also in the long-side direction of a pixel. In such a case, a general curved lens being axially symmetric can be used as each of the concave and convex lenses.
(6) As a polarization transforming element, it is preferable to adopt a polarization transforming element which comprises a polarization separating film that transmits one of the two polarized luminous fluxes and reflecting the others, a reflecting film that reflects the other kind of polarized luminous fluxes, and a retardation plate (xc2xd-retardation plate or the like) that makes the two polarized luminous fluxes uniform in direction of polarization.
In a composition having such a polarization transforming element, in case that a first imaging optical system arranging the entrance end of a luminous flux separation optical element and a polarization transforming element in a conjugate relation to each other, and a second imaging optical system arranging the exit end of the luminous flux separation optical element and an electro-optic device in a conjugate relation to each other are formed, it is preferable that the conjugate ratio of the second imaging optical system is not less than 4.
The angular distribution of secondary light source images on the exit end of a luminous flux separation optical element is determined by the shape of a side face of the luminous flux separation optical element, for example, the shape of a tapered side face in case that the luminous flux separation optical element has a pair of tapered sides opposite to each other being made wider toward the light source, the F-number of the light source, the angular distribution specific to the light source and the like. And generally, the greater the conjugate ratio is, the more surely the parallelism of lights to be imaged on the electro-optic device can be obtained. The parallelism of the lights varies depending on the sub-pixel pitch of each color light on the electro-optic device, and it is preferable that the conjugate ratio for pixels having a fine pitch of about 10 xcexcm is not less than 4, and a conjugate ratio of not less than 4 makes it possible to secure the parallelism among the respective color lights, prevent a color light from leaking to an adjacent pixel of another color light and thereby more surely prevent occurrence of mixture of colors in a projected image.
In case that such a second imaging optical system comprises a superposing lens to be disposed at the hind stage of a polarization transforming element and a parallelizing lens to be disposed at the fore stage of an electro-optic device, it is preferable that the color separation optical system is disposed between the superposing lens and the parallelizing lens.
By setting the conjugate ratio of the second imaging optical system as not less than 4, the parallelism among the respective color lights incident on the electro-optic device can be secured, and a certain degree of distance is formed between the superposing lens and the parallelizing lens. Accordingly, by disposing a color separation optical system provided with a plurality of mirrors at such a position and bending a luminous flux, it is possible to secure a necessary conjugate ratio even in a small space and make a projector smaller in size by disposing a color separation optical element without influencing another optical system.
(7) A projector according to the present invention may be a single-plate type projector comprising;
a light source,
a color separation optical system that separates a luminous flux outputted from said light source into a plurality of color lights, said color separation optical system comprises a plurality of mirrors;
an electro-optic device that modulates respectively the color lights according to their image information to form an optical image, and
a polarization transforming optical system provided at the fore stage of said color separation optical system, said polarization transforming optical system comprises a polarization separating film that transmits one of two polarized luminous fluxes and reflects the other, a reflecting film that reflects a polarized luminous flux reflected by said polarization separating film nearly in the same direction as said a single polarized luminous fluxes, and a retardation plate that makes said two polarized luminous fluxes uniform in direction of polarization, the direction in which said other polarized luminous flux is reflected by said polarization separating film is nearly perpendicular to the plane determined by the central axis of a luminous flux incident on said mirror and the central axis of the luminous flux reflected by said mirror.
According to the present invention as described above, since the direction in which the other luminous flux is reflected by a polarization separating film is nearly perpendicular to the plane determined by the central axis of a luminous flux incident on a mirror and the central axis of the luminous flux reflected by the mirror, a luminous flux outputted through the polarization transforming optical system diverges in the directions perpendicular to the direction of color separation of a plurality of color lights. Since the output luminous flux spreads in the long-side direction of a rectangle-shaped sub-pixel of each color light in an electro-optic device, it is possible to reduce leak of light to an adjacent sub-pixel of another color light and thereby prevent mixture of colors from occurring in a projected image.
In the present invention, a luminous flux separation optical element comprising a pole-shaped optical conductor for separating a luminous flux from a light source into a plurality of partial luminous fluxes may be disposed at the fore stage of said polarization transforming optical system.
Said optical conductor is preferably provided with tapered side faces whose dimensions in the direction perpendicular to the plane determined by the central axis of a luminous flux incident on said mirror and the central axis of the luminous flux reflected by said mirror are made gradually wider from the exit end of said optical conductor toward the entrance end.
Each time a luminous flux which has entered an optical conductor from the entrance end of it repeats an internal reflection from such tapered side faces, the angles of incidence and reflection of the luminous flux at the tapered side faces become smaller. Accordingly, when tapered side faces in which the dimensions in the direction perpendicular to the plane determined by the central axes of incident and reflected luminous fluxes on and from a mirror forming a color separation optical system are made gradually wider from the exit end toward the entrance end are adopted, since the intervals between the tertiary light source images become larger, a luminous flux utilizable after polarization transformation is increased and therefore the efficiency of polarization transformation by a polarization transforming optical system is improved.
And it is preferable that a reflecting mirror that reflects and supplies an output luminous flux from said light source to the entrance end of said optical conductor is provided between said light source and said optical conductor. Here, it is preferable that the direction of incidence of a luminous flux incident on said reflecting mirror is made nearly parallel with the output direction of the luminous fluxes outputted from a plurality of mirrors forming a color separation optical system.
In case of supplying a luminous flux outputted from a light source to the entrance end of an optical conductor, the light of a lamp or the like is condensed on the entrance end of the optical conductor by means of a reflector, a lens and the like. Therefore, since said reflecting mirror can be made small by disposing a reflecting mirror midway in the course of condensation of an output luminous flux from a light source in such a manner, a projector can be made small in size. And since the optical path of an output luminous flux from a light source to a projection optical system can be made U-shaped by making the direction of incidence of a luminous flux incident on a reflecting mirror nearly parallel with the output direction of luminous fluxes from a plurality of mirrors forming a color separation optical system, a projector can be more advantageously made smaller in size.
And the other polarized luminous flux described above is preferably an s-polarized luminous flux to a polarization separating film, and this s-polarized luminous flux is preferably transformed into a p-polarized luminous flux by said retardation plate.
Since an s-polarized luminous flux is transformed into a p-polarized luminous flux by a polarization transforming optical system and thereby a luminous flux is incident on mirrors forming a color separation optical system disposed at the hind stage of the polarization transforming optical system as an s-polarized luminous flux, the efficiency of reflection of the mirrors is improved. It is possible to provide a projector having a high efficiency of utilization of light outputted from a light source system.
Further, it is conceivable that a polarization transforming optical system is provided with a plurality of polarization separating films arranged so that their reflecting faces are parallel to each other or arranged according to the state of divergence of an incident luminous flux.
In case of a polarization transforming optical system in which polarization separating films are arranged to be parallel to another, since its structure is simplified, it is possible to make it easy to manufacture such a polarization transforming optical system. And when the polarization separating films are arranged according to the state of divergence of an incident luminous flux, since a polarization separation and transformation can be efficiently performed according to a divergent luminous flux outputted from the exit end of an optical conductor, the polarization separation characteristic is improved.

Projector modulating a plurality of partial luminous fluxes according to imaging information by means of an electro-optical device


The present invention applies to the field of exercise devices and bodybuilding and muscle building devices. This invention describes a system applied in exercise devices, preferably for the performance of the activity of bodybuilding, without the use of a counterweight, in which the system is based on the speed of the movement, independent of the applied force.

The history of bodybuilding is very old. There are historical reports that date back to the beginning of time that confirm the practice of exercising with weights. Excavations have found stones with notches for the hands, allowing historians to deduce that people trained with weights. Sculptures have been found dating back to 400 B.C., which display harmonious shapes of women, indicating a concern with esthetics at the time. There are reports of stone throwing games, dating back to 1896 B.C., as well as the walls of tombs in Egypt, which display men lifting weights for exercise 4,500 years ago.
From the end of the nineteenth century, history shows that "bodybuilding" along with "weightlifting" became attractions at the circus and theaters, where "the strongest men in the world" were on show. Historically, bodybuilding is presented as one of the oldest physical activities in the world, because there are historical accounts dating from the beginning of time to confirm exercising with weights.
Bodybuilding as a form of competition, where the muscles are displayed, had its first official competition in London, in 1901.
Bodybuilding or strength training is well-known and is a method of resistance exercise, aimed at the training and the development of the skeletal muscles. It is known in the state of the art that this type of exercise uses the force of gravity (with counterweights such as bars, dumbbells, weights or the weight of the body) and the resistance generated by devices, elastic and springs to oppose forces to the muscles, which, in turn, generate an opposite force by the muscle contractions that may be concentric, eccentric or isometric.
The Brazilian document BR 10 2012 011320 1 describes a system for bodybuilding devices, in which the initial movement of the equipment is performed without any effort by the user and, when reaching the determined position of its path, the system begins to exert the force automatically in the opposite direction. The first part of the movement described in this document, which is the concentric movement, is performed without any load, and aims only to position the bar/pedal for the start of the exercise, which is done eccentrically, with counterweights previously selected by the user. The document does not describe how the weights are conveyed into this condition for a subsequent return to the rest position, where the user performs the eccentric force movement, which differs from the present invention.
The Chinese document CN 104138652A describes a device using a magnetic force, which acts as a source of counterweight. This document differs from the present invention because the mechanism used (magnetic force) acts as a counterweight and the resistance is predetermined.
The Chinese document CN 203539973 U describes counterweight blocks for bodybuilding equipment. This differs from the present invention, which does not use a counterweight for the performance of the exercise.

System for performing physical exercises at a constant speed of a movement