One selection period S and display cycles Td of a number corresponding to a maximum gradation level are allotted in one field, and the display cycle Td is composed of an unselection period U and a reset period R to perform the following control. A row electrode-driving circuit is used to output a selection pulse Ps during the selection period S, output an unselection signal Su during the unselection period U in the display cycle Td, and output a reset pulse Pr during the reset period R. A column electrode-driving circuit is used to output an ON signal during a light emission maintenance period, and output an OFF signal at least at an end timing of the light emission maintenance period, of the period other than the light emission maintenance period. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively reduce the electric power consumption, and it is possible to achieve the high brightness.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display-driving device and a display-driving method for driving a panel type display such as a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, and a display for displaying a picture image corresponding to an image signal on an optical waveguide plate by controlling leakage light at a predetermined position of the optical waveguide plate by controlling the displacement action of an actuator element in a direction to make contact or separation with respect to the optical waveguide plate in accordance with an attribute of the image signal to be inputted (conveniently referred to as xe2x80x9celectrostrictive type displayxe2x80x9d).
2. Description of the Related Art
Those hitherto known as displays include display devices such as cathode ray tubes (CRT), liquid crystal displays, and plasma displays.
Those known as the cathode ray tube include, for example, ordinary television receivers and monitor units for computers. Although the cathode ray tube has a bright screen, it consumes a large amount of electric power. Further, the cathode ray tube involves a problem that the depth of the entire display device is large as compared with the size of the screen. Further, for example, the cathode ray tube involves drawbacks in that the resolution is decreased in the circumferential areas of the display images, the image or the graphic is distorted, there is no memory function, and it is impossible to present display in a large scale.
The reason for the foregoing phenomenon is as follows. That is, in the case of the cathode ray tube, the electron beam emitted from the electron gun is greatly deflected. Therefore, the light emission point (beam spot) is expanded at portions at which the electron beam reaches the fluorescent screen of the Braun tube in an inclined manner, and thus the image is displayed in an inclined manner. For this reason, strain occurs on the display image. Moreover, there is a limit for the maintenance to keep a large space at the inside of a Braun tube to be in a vacuum.
On the other hand, the panel type display, for example, the liquid crystal display is advantageous in that the entire device can be miniaturized, and the display consumes a small amount of electric power. The plasma display and the electrostrictive type display can be miniaturized, because the display section itself does not have a large volume, in the same manner as the liquid crystal display as described above. They are advantageous in that there is no trouble in viewing the screen, because the display surface is flat. Especially, the AC type plasma display and the electrostrictive type display are also advantageous in that the refresh memory is unnecessary owing to the memory function of the cell.
An object of the present invention is to provide a display-driving device and a display-driving method which make it possible to effectively reduce electric power consumption and achieve high brightness in a panel type display as described above.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a display-driving device and a display-driving method which make it possible to effectively reduce electric power consumption and achieve high brightness in gradation control based on subfield driving.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a display-driving device and a display-driving method which make it possible to reduce the total number of subfields and effectively reduce electric power consumption in gradation control based on subfield driving.
According to the present invention, there is provided a display-driving device for a display comprising a driving section including a large number of picture elements arranged in a matrix form for displaying a picture image corresponding to a supplied image signal; the display-driving device comprising a first driving circuit for selecting the picture elements at least in one row unit, a second driving circuit for outputting display information composed of an ON signal and an OFF signal to a selected row, and a signal control circuit for controlling the first and second driving circuits; wherein assuming that a display period for one image is one field in order to perform gradation control based on at least a temporal modulation system, the signal control circuit determines, in the one field, a light emission start timing and a light emission maintenance period having a variable length irrelevant to a selection/unselection state of the concerning picture element depending on a gradation level of the selected picture element.
Assuming that the display period for one image is one field, the light emission start time of the concerning picture element and the light emission maintenance period having the variable length irrelevant to the selection/unselection state of the concerning picture element are determined in the one field depending on the gradation level of the selected picture element, in accordance with the control performed by the signal control circuit. Accordingly, the light emission is started for the concerning picture element substantially in synchronization with the light emission start timing, and the light emission state is maintained over the light emission maintenance period.
This arrangement makes it possible to effectively reduce the electric power consumption as compared with other driving systems in which one field is divided into a plurality of subfields, and forcible reset is performed for each of the subfields (as adopted, for example, for the plasma display). Further, the light emission state is maintained over the light emission maintenance period. Therefore, it is also possible to realize the improvement in brightness.
In the display-driving device constructed as described above, it is also preferable that one selection period and display cycles of a number corresponding to a maximum gradation level are allotted in the one field; each of the display cycles is composed of an unselection period and a reset period; and the signal control circuit is operated such that the concerning picture element is in a light emission state when the ON signal indicating light emission is inputted during the selection period, or the concerning picture element is in a light off state when the OFF signal indicating light off is inputted during the reset period in the display cycle.
Accordingly, assuming that the selection period is allotted to the head of the one field, one display cycle is selected, or a plurality of display cycles are continuously selected from the head of the one field depending on the gradation level of the concerning picture element. The ON signal is outputted at the head of the selected display cycle, and the OFF signal is outputted in the reset period of the display cycle next to the selected display cycle. In other words, the head of the selected display cycle is the light emission start timing, and the period corresponding to the selected display cycle is the light emission maintenance period.
In this arrangement, only one cycle is used for the light emission and the light off for the concerning picture element in the one field. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively reduce the electric power consumption. Further, the good linearity is obtained for the gradation and the brightness, and thus it is possible to make highly accurate gradational expression. Furthermore, the efficiency of the light emission time is also enhanced.
In the display-driving device constructed as described above, it is also preferable that signal levels are determined for the unselection period and the reset period so that the light emission state of the concerning picture element is maintained during the light emission maintenance period; and signal levels are determined for the selection period and the unselection period so that the light off state of the concerning picture element is maintained during any period other than the light emission maintenance period. In this arrangement, it is easy to achieve the maintenance of light emission during the light emission maintenance period and the maintenance of light off during the period other than the light emission maintenance period. Thus, it is possible to reliably perform the cycle including only one time of light emission and light off in the one field as described above.
In the display-driving device constructed as described above, it is also preferable that display cycles of a number corresponding to a maximum gradation level and one reset period are allotted in the one field; each of the display cycles is composed of a selection period and an unselection period; and the signal control circuit is operated such that the concerning picture element is in a light emission state when the ON signal indicating light emission is inputted during the selection period, or the concerning picture element is in a light off state during the reset period.
Accordingly, assuming that the reset period is allotted to the rear end of the one field, one display cycle is selected, or a plurality of display cycles are continuously selected from the rear end of the one field depending on the gradation level of the concerning picture element. The ON signal is outputted at the head of the selected display cycle, and the OFF signal is outputted in the reset period at the rear end.
Also in this arrangement, only one cycle is used for the light emission and the light off for the concerning picture element in the one field. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively reduce the electric power consumption. Further, the good linearity is obtained for the gradation and the brightness, and thus it is possible to make highly accurate gradational expression. Furthermore, the efficiency of the light emission time is also enhanced. Especially, the brightness can be sufficiently maintained over the light emission maintenance period for the concerning picture element, because the selection period exists for every selected display cycle.
In the display-driving device constructed as described above, it is also preferable that signal levels are determined for the selection period and the unselection period so that the light emission state of the concerning picture element is maintained during the light emission maintenance period. Accordingly, it is easy to achieve the maintenance of light emission during the light emission maintenance period and the maintenance of light off during the period other than the light emission maintenance period. Thus, it is possible to reliably perform the cycle including only one time of light emission and light off in the one field.
In the display-driving device constructed as described above, it is also preferable that an odd/even-adjusting cycle including a unit unselection period having a predetermined length between two selection periods, and display cycles of a number corresponding to a maximum gradation level are allotted in the one field; and each of the display cycles is provided with a redundant unselection period having a length which is twice the predetermined length and a reset period.
In this arrangement, for example, it is assumed that eight gradations are expressed in the one field. If the one field is constructed by using only the unit display cycle, it is necessary to perform selective scanning eight times for one row. However, when the display cycles, each of which is provided with the redundant unselection period having the length twice the predetermined length, are allotted, it is enough to perform selective scanning five times for one row. Thus, it is possible to reduce the cycles (row scanning cycles) for selecting one row. This results in the reduction of the electric power consumption.
Further, this also results in the high brightness of the selected picture element, because the light emission state is maintained during the redundant unselection period.
When the gradation level of the concerning picture element is odd, the light emission start timing is set to be substantially in synchronization with the head selection period of the odd/even-adjusting cycle; while when the gradation level of the concerning picture element is even, the light emission start timing is set to be substantially in synchronization with the rear end selection period of the odd/even-adjusting cycle.
In the display-driving device constructed as described above, it is also preferable that display cycles of a number corresponding to a maximum gradation level, and an odd/even-adjusting cycle including a unit unselection period having a predetermined length between two reset periods are allotted in the one field; and each of the display cycles is provided with a selection period and a redundant unselection period having a length which is twice the predetermined length.
Also in this arrangement, it is possible to reduce the row scanning cycles as described above, and it is possible to reduce the electric power consumption.
When the gradation level of the concerning picture element is odd, an end timing for the light emission maintenance period is set to be substantially in synchronization with the terminal end reset period of the odd/even-adjusting cycle; while when the gradation level of the concerning picture element is even, the end timing for the light emission maintenance period is set to be substantially in synchronization with the head reset period of the odd/even-adjusting cycle.
In the display-driving device constructed as described above, it is also preferable that at least one unit display cycle including a unit unselection period having a predetermined length, and at least one redundant display cycle are allotted in the one field; and the redundant display cycle is provided with a redundant unselection period having a length which is n-times the predetermined length (n is an integer of not less than 2).
In this arrangement, for example, it is assumed that eight gradations are expressed in the one field. It is enough to perform selective scanning five times for one row. Thus, it is possible to greatly reduce the row scanning cycles. As a result, it is possible to realize the reduction of electric power consumption and the high brightness.
In the display-driving device constructed as described above, it is also preferable that the following expressions are satisfied:
Z=(quotient of X/n)xe2x88x921
Y=Xxe2x88x92Zxc3x97n
[total number of subfields (Y+Z)=(X/nxe2x88x921)+n]
provided that a maximum gradation level is X, a number of unit display cycles is Y, and a number of redundant display cycles is Z. In this arrangement, the total number of subfield exactly corresponds to the row scanning cycles described above. Therefore, a combination to minimize the total number of subfields necessarily exists. When such a combination is adopted, then it is possible to reduce the electric power consumption more effectively, and it is possible to mitigate the load on the scanning circuit.
Preferably, xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d individuals of selection periods are allotted to the respective display cycles from a head of the one field, and xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d individuals of reset periods are allotted to the respective display cycles from a rear end of the one field; wherein the following expression is satisfied:
a+b=Y+Z+1.
Accordingly, it is possible to make a variety of gradational expressions. In this arrangement, in the case of b=n, all of the gradations included in the maximum gradation level can be expressed. However, assuming that there is given b=nxe2x88x921, one or several gradation levels may be curtailed. This reduces the row scanning cycles, and hence it is possible to realize the low electric power consumption.
In the display-driving device constructed as described above, it is also preferable that the unit display cycle and the redundant display cycle are allotted by using a combination which corresponds to a minimum total number of subfields of total numbers of subfields corresponding to a maximum gradation level obtained by arbitrarily combining the unit display cycle and the redundant display cycle.
For example, if the maximum gradation level is 16, the total number of subfields is 15 in the case of only the unit display cycle, 9 in the case of a combination of the unit display cycle and the 2-fold redundant display cycle, 7 in the case of a combination of the unit display cycle and the 4-fold redundant display cycle, or 9 in the case of a combination of the unit display cycle and the 8-fold redundant display cycle. In this case, the combination of the unit display cycle and the 4-fold redundant display cycle is selected, in which the total number of subfields is minimum.
As a result, it is possible to reduce the electric power consumption more effectively, and it is possible to mitigate the load on the scanning circuit as having been described above.
In the display-driving device constructed as described above, it is also preferable that the one field includes therein a first subfield block composed of at least one redundant display cycle and a second subfield block composed of at least one unit display cycle; and a forcible reset period is provided between the first and second subfield blocks.
Owing to the use of the redundant display cycle in the first subfield block, it is possible reduce the number of row scanning cycles, and it is possible to realize the reduction of electric power consumption. Especially, owing to the provision of the forcible reset period, it is possible to give a signal sufficient to quench the picture element during the period.
In the display-driving device constructed as described above, it is also preferable that the second subfield block is composed of at least one redundant display cycle and at least one unit display cycle.
In this arrangement, it is also possible to reduce the number of row scanning cycles in the second subfield block. Therefore, it is possible to realize the further reduction of electric power consumption.
In the display-driving device constructed as described above, it is also preferable that the display comprises an optical waveguide plate for introducing light thereinto, and the driving section provided opposingly to one plate surface of the optical waveguide plate and including a number of actuator elements arranged corresponding to the large number of picture elements, for displaying, on the optical waveguide plate, the picture image corresponding to the image signal by controlling leakage light at a predetermined portion of the optical waveguide plate by controlling displacement action of each of the actuator elements in a direction to make contact or separation with respect to the optical waveguide plate in accordance with an attribute of the image signal to be inputted.
In the present invention, it is desirable that the first and second driving circuits have the following features.
(1) The actuator element undergoes the capacitive load. Therefore, considering the fact that the capacitive load is subjected to the driving, it is desirable that the partial voltage ratio, which is applied to the capacitive load, is not less than 50%, for example, at the time of completion of voltage (ON voltage) application for allowing the actuator element to make the bending displacement.
(2) In order to obtain an displacement amount of the actuator element which makes it possible to express the ON state and the OFF state of the picture element, it is desirable that an voltage output of not less than 20 V can be provided.
(3) It is desirable to consider the fact that the direction of the output current is recognized to be bidirectional.
(4) It is desirable that the load concerning the two-electrode structure in the row direction and the column direction can be subjected to the driving.
Especially, it is also preferable that the actuator element comprises a shape-retaining layer, an operating section having at least a pair of electrodes formed on the shape-retaining layer, a vibrating section for supporting the operating section, and a fixed section for supporting the vibrating section in a vibrating manner; wherein the display comprises a displacement-transmitting section for transmitting the displacement action of the actuator element to the optical waveguide plate, the displacement action being generated by voltage application to the pair of electrodes.
In the present invention, the term xe2x80x9cactuator element having the shape-retaining layerxe2x80x9d indicates an actuator element which has at least two or more displacement states at an identical voltage level.
Accordingly, all of the light, which is introduced, for example, from the end of the optical waveguide plate, is totally reflected at the inside of the optical waveguide plate without being transmitted through the front and back surfaces of the optical waveguide plate (light off state), by regulating the magnitude of the refractive index of the optical waveguide plate. In this light off state, for example, when the displacement-transmitting section contacts with the back surface of the optical waveguide plate at a distance of not more than the wavelength of the light, then the light, which has been totally reflected, is transmitted to the surface of the displacement-transmitting section contacting with the back surface of the optical waveguide plate. The light, which has once reached the surface of the displacement-transmitting section, is reflected by the surface of the displacement-transmitting section, and the light behaves as scattered light. A part of the scattered light is reflected again at the inside of the optical waveguide plate. However, almost all of the scattered light is not reflected by the optical waveguide plate, and the light is transmitted through the front surface of the optical waveguide plate (light emission state).
As described above, it is possible to control the presence or absence of light emission (leakage light) at the front surface of the optical waveguide plate, depending on the presence or absence of the contact of the displacement-transmitting section disposed at the back of the optical waveguide plate. In this case, one unit for allowing the displacement-transmitting section to make the displacement action in the direction to give contact or separation with respect to the optical waveguide plate may be regarded as one picture element. Thus, a picture image (for example, characters and graphics) corresponding to an image signal can be displayed on the front surface of the optical waveguide plate in the same manner as in the cathode ray tube and the liquid crystal display, by arranging a large number of such picture elements in a matrix form, and controlling the displacement action of each of the picture elements in accordance with an attribute of the inputted image signal.
The actuator element having the shape-retaining layer has the following features.
(1) The threshold characteristic concerning the change from the light off state to the light emission state is steep as compared with the case in which no shape-retaining layer exists. Accordingly, it is possible to narrow the deflection width of the voltage, and it is possible to mitigate the load on the circuit.
(2) The difference between the light emission state and the light off state is distinct, resulting in improvement in contrast.
(3) The dispersion of threshold value is decreased, and an enough margin is provided for the voltage setting range.
It is desirable to use, as the actuator element, an actuator element which makes, for example, upward displacement (giving the separated state upon no voltage load and giving the contact state upon voltage application) because of easiness of control. Especially, it is desirable to use an actuator element having a structure including a pair of electrodes on its surface. It is preferable to use, for example, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive layer and an anti-ferroelectric layer as the shape-retaining layer.
In the display-driving device constructed as described above, it is also preferable that the driving section is formed with switching elements corresponding to the actuator elements respectively; and the displacement action of the actuator element is controlled by means of ON/OFF control effected by the switching element.
Accordingly, the large number of arranged actuator elements are selected in the unit of row on the basis of the input of the image signal, and the display information (voltage signal) concerning the selected row is supplied.
Usually, the voltage signal is also supplied to the actuator elements concerning the unselected row irrelevant to the selected row. However, in the case of the display according to the present invention, the actuator elements concerning the unselected row are operated as follows. That is, the unselected row can be prevented from the supply of the display information by turning off the corresponding switching elements. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to drive the picture elements (actuator elements) concerning the unselected row. Thus, it is possible to effectively reduce the electric power consumption.
The electrostatic capacity of the actuator element is small, and the CR time constant depending on the wiring resistance and the switching ON resistance is small. Therefore, when the switching element is turned on, the actuator elements concerning the selected row are quickly charged. When the switching element is turned off thereafter, the connected section between the display information supply line (signal line) and the actuator element is in a state of extremely high impedance, i.e., in a state approximately equivalent to the open state. This means the fact that the resistance becomes extremely large.
Therefore, the CR time constant also becomes extremely large.
Accordingly, even when the switching element is turned off, the supply of the display information (application of the voltage signal) to the actuator element is maintained. Therefore, the concerning actuator element continuously maintains the displacement amount of not less than a certain amount. Thus, the ON state of the concerning picture element is maintained.
As described above, the actuator element concerning the unselected row is maintained in the open state while being charged. The displacement amount, which has been given upon the selection of the row, can be maintained for a certain period of time in the state of being applied with no signal. Therefore, it is possible to effect the light emission of the picture element during the unselection period. Accordingly, it is possible to realize the high brightness.
The respective switching elements can be formed on the driving section (either on the principal surface or on the back surface thereof). Therefore, it is unnecessary to form any large wiring pattern on the driving section. Thus, it is possible to simplify the wiring arrangement.
Unlike the liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), the respective switching elements can be installed in the space (at the place) irrelevant to the optical path. The respective switching elements can be provided on the back surface of the driving section. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a large numerical aperture of the picture element, and thus it is possible to improve the brightness.
It is preferable that the switching element is composed of a varistor. In this arrangement, an extremely excellent hysteresis characteristic is obtained when the actuator element is allowed to perform the displacement action. Thus, it is possible to obtain an memory effect as providing the approximately complete shape maintenance.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display-driving method for a display comprising a driving section including a large number of picture elements arranged in a matrix form for displaying a picture image corresponding to a supplied image signal; the display-driving method comprising the steps of selecting the picture elements at least in one row unit; outputting display information composed of an ON signal and an OFF signal to a selected row; and performing gradation control based on at least a temporal modulation system; wherein assuming that a display period for one image is one field, a light emission start timing and a light emission maintenance period having a variable length irrelevant to a selection/unselection state of the concerning picture element are determined in the one field depending on a gradation level of the selected picture element.
In this method, it is also preferable that one selection period and display cycles of a number corresponding to a maximum gradation level are allotted in the one field; each of the display cycles is composed of an unselection period and a reset period; and the concerning picture element is in a light emission state when the ON signal indicating light emission is inputted during the selection period; or the concerning picture element is in a light off state when the OFF signal indicating light off is inputted during the reset period in the display cycle.
In this case, it is also preferable that signal levels are determined for the unselection period and the reset period so that the light emission state of the concerning picture element is maintained during the light emission maintenance period; and signal levels are determined for the selection period and the unselection period so that the light off state of the concerning picture element is maintained during any period other than the light emission maintenance period.
Further, it is also preferable that display cycles of a number corresponding to a maximum gradation level and one reset period are allotted in the one field; each of the display cycles is composed of a s election period and an unselection period; and the concerning picture element is in a light emission state when the ON signal indicating light emission is inputted during the selection period; or the concerning picture element is in a light off state during the reset period.
In this case, it is also preferable that signal levels are determined for the selection period and the unselection period so that the light emission state of the concerning picture element is maintained during the light emission maintenance period.
In the method described above, it is also preferable that an odd/even-adjusting cycle including a unit unselection period having a predetermined length between two selection periods, and display cycles of a number corresponding to a maximum gradation level are allotted in the one field; and each of the display cycles is provided with a redundant unselection period having a length which is twice the predetermined length and a reset period.
When the gradation level of the concerning picture element is odd, the light emission start timing is set to be substantially in synchronization with the head selection period of the odd/even-adjusting cycle; while when the gradation level of the concerning picture element is even, the light emission start timing is set to be substantially in synchronization with the rear end selection period of the odd/even-adjusting cycle.
In the method described above, it is also preferable that display cycles of a number corresponding to a maximum gradation level, and an odd/even-adjusting cycle including a unit unselection period having a predetermined length between two reset periods are allotted in the one field; and each of the display cycles is provided with a selection period and a redundant unselection period having a length which is twice the predetermined length.
When the gradation level of the concerning picture element is odd, an end timing for the light emission maintenance period is set to be substantially in synchronization with the terminal end reset period of the odd/even-adjusting cycle; while when the gradation level of the concerning picture element is even, the end timing for the light emission maintenance period is set to be substantially in synchronization with the head reset period of the odd/even-adjusting cycle.
In the method described above, it is also preferable that at least one unit display cycle including a unit unselection period having a predetermined length, and at least one redundant display cycle are allotted in the one field; and the redundant display cycle is provided with a redundant unselection period having a length which is n-times the predetermined length (n is an integer of not less than 2).
In this case, it is also preferable that the following expressions are satisfied:
Z=(quotient of X/n)xe2x88x921
Y=Xxe2x88x92Zxc3x97n
[total number of subfields (Y+Z)=(X/nxe2x88x921)+n]
provided that a maximum gradation level is X, a number of unit display cycles is Y, and a number of redundant display cycles is Z.
It is also preferable that xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d individuals of selection periods are allotted to the respective display cycles from a head of the one field, and xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d individuals of reset periods are allotted to the respective display cycles from a rear end of the one field; wherein the following expression is satisfied:
a+b=Y+Z+1.
In this case, there may be given b=n, or b=nxe2x88x921.
Especially, it is preferable that the unit display cycle and the redundant display cycle are allotted by using a combination which corresponds to a minimum total number of subfields of total numbers of subfields corresponding to a maximum gradation level obtained by arbitrarily combining the unit display cycle and the redundant display cycle.
In the method described above, it is also preferable that the one field includes therein a first subfield block composed of at least one redundant display cycle and a second subfield block composed of at least one unit display cycle; and a forcible reset period is provided between the first and second subfield blocks.
In this case, it is also preferable that the second subfield block is composed of at least one redundant display cycle and at least one unit display cycle.
In the driving method described above, it is also preferable that the gradation control is performed for the picture element by means of ON/OFF control effected by a switching element. In this case, it is preferable that a varistor is used as the switching element.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

Display-driving device and display-driving method performing gradation control based on a temporal modulation system


An apparatus for thermoshaping a thermoplastic foil has a lower tool carried on the frame and having an upper face formed with an array of upwardly open mold cavities, and an upper beam vertically displaceable above the lower tool. A punch plate fixed on the upper beam is provided with an array of downwardly projecting punches fittable in the cavities. A hold-down plate below the punch plate is limitedly vertically shiftable relative thereto. The hold-down plate is formed with an array of holes through which pass the punches. An actuator downwardly shifts the upper beam when the foil is extending horizontally between the lower tool and the hold-down plate for first pressing the foil with the hold-down plate against the upper face of the lower tool and then pushing the punches through the holes against the foil into the cavities to form pockets in the foil at the cavities.

An apparatus for deep drawing a thermoplastic foil for the manufacture of blister packs as used in the packaging of pills or the like has an upper tool and a lower tool that are movable relative to each other and to a foil plane extending between them. As described in EP 1,297,943 the lower tool can be moved by a first actuator, and the upper tool is provided with an extender on a rod that is mounted on another actuator. The upper tool also has a separate seal piston that has its own actuator. With this apparatus the foil extending between the upper tool and the lower tool is first gripped by moving the lower tool and then is stretched by advance of the extender, and finally is given its final shape by movement of the seal piston. The numerous independent drives complicate this apparatus and make it expensive and cost inefficient.
The thermoshaper in WO 01/43947 of Hilpert has a complex arrangement of a spring-loaded hold-down plate and means for feeding air pressure through individual plungers to the foil to assist in the thermal deformation. This arrangement is complicated and requires substantial refitting when the arrangement of the blisters to be formed changes.
Similarly, German 41 35 935 uses a lower tool having an array of cavities that can be evacuated to form blisters in the foil. Such an arrangement also requires a complex and expensive lower tool and makes it very difficult to change blister format.

Apparatus for deep drawing a thermoplastic foil


Disclosed is a system and method for imaging strain of tissue, such as the heart, in a quantitative manner. The present invention provides images of strain, which corresponds to heart function, by tagging a tissue region of interest, and acquiring multiple images by tuning an MRI RF receiver to frequencies above and below the tagging frequency. Depending on the tagging spatial frequency, and the spread between the high- and low-tuning frequencies, linear measurements of strain may be made on a pixel by pixel basis. By selectively tagging the tissue of interest by use of selective excitation, images may be acquired sufficiently fast to provide anatomical and functional imagery within a single heartbeat. By acquiring additional images, dead tissue may be differentiated from contracting tissue as well as blood.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention involves the field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). More particularly, the present invention involves a system and method for imaging regional deformation of tissue.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Improvements in medical imaging technologies, such as MRI and ultrasound, have made it possible to image internal anatomical features in ways that show both structure and motion. Better diagnosis of certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, generally requires imagery that may be acquired quickly, and that provides information pertaining to both anatomical structure as well as function. Accordingly, there is an ongoing need for quantitative imaging of various tissue regions, such as the heart or other organs, which are observer independent. As used herein, observer independence means that the images capture the tissue as it nominally functions and involves minimal interaction with the mode of imaging. MRI is a good example of observer independent imaging.
As an example, observer-independent quantitative imaging of regional deformations in muscle tissue, such as the heart, may better enable diagnosis of coronary disease. Further, observer-independent quantitative imaging for tissue characterizations such as elastography may enable identification of tumors in surrounding tissue where it is impractical to apply external pressure, such as the chest cavity.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has become a leading means of imaging for noninvasive diagnostics. By operating in regions of the electromagnetic spectrum that are benign to tissue, MRI imagery may be acquired repeatedly without danger to the patient. Also, the advent of vast and relatively inexpensive computational power has enabled MRI imagery to be acquired in real time or near real time. Further, advances in MRI pulse sequencing, gradient magnet control, and signal processing algorithms have improved the volumetric spatial resolution and dynamic range of acquired imagery. As used herein, the term "imagery" may refer to a single image or multiple images.
Related art approaches to strain imaging include Strain Encoded imaging (SENC), which is an MRI technique for imaging regional deformation of tissue, such as the heart muscle. However, related art developments in MRI, such as SENC imaging, are not able to provide high quality imagery of tissue that includes a quantitative measure of tissue deformation.
Non-MRI medical imaging technologies are generally not well suited for observer-independent imaging. These technologies, such as ultrasound, may involve invasive devices or cutaneous probes that may apply pressure to the patient's body in the vicinity of the tissue being imaged. As such, other imaging technologies may interfere with the function of certain organs by applying pressure, causing tissue deformations that may interfere with the motion and function of the tissue being imaged.
Quantitative imagery of tissue deformation requires the ability to provide sufficient dynamic range of deformation. As used herein, dynamic range refers to resolution and linearity in frequency and intensity. Further, providing quantitative deformation imagery for different tissue types requires the ability to adaptively select the appropriate dynamic range for the tissue region of interest.

Imaging tissue deformation using strain encoded MRI


A method, an apparatus, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium for display control. The display control apparatus comprises a circuitry configured to determine whether a hold condition is satisfied, determine an attitude of the display control apparatus, change a display state from a first state displaying a first screen to a second state in response to the display control apparatus not being operated in a predetermined period, and responsive to an operation, return the display state to the first state-displaying the first screen in an orientation based on the attitude of the display control apparatus in response to the hold condition not being satisfied. The non-transitory computer-readable medium comprises instructions to configure the apparatus to perform the display control method.

The present invention relates to a method of changing a setting of a data reproducing device that operates on a battery, and a setting changing device that operates on a battery.
Of portable type reproducing devices such as portable telephones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), for example, there is a reproducing device that detects the attitude of the reproducing device and automatically changes the orientation of an image displayed on a display according to the detected attitude.
The orientation of the image displayed on the display is changed by rewriting image data of the image displayed on the display which data is stored in a display memory.
The above-described portable type reproducing device changes the orientation of the image displayed on the display at all times.
However, since the above-described conventional portable type reproducing device changes the orientation of the image according to change in the attitude of the device at all times, display memory rewriting operation involved in changing the orientation of the image can occur frequently, thus increasing power consumption.
In order to solve the problem of the above-described conventional art, it is desirable to provide a reproducing device, a screen controlling method, a program, and a recording medium that can change the orientation of an image according to the attitude of the reproducing device, and reduce power consumption as compared with the conventional device.

Reproducing device, setting changing method, and setting changing device


A method and apparatus for transferring data files to several computers on a network is disclosed. The cascade release maintains a list of computers to which the file is to be distributed. This list is subdivided and only the first computers on the lists are transferred the file and the subdivided list. These computers themselves take the subdivided list and further subdivide it and transfer the file to the computers now first on the new lists. This continues until all computers receive the distributed file. In order to ensure the integrity of transfer, an initial checksum is compared to the checksum of the transferred files.

Computer networks can consist of a group of computers which perform the same tasks. For example, each personal computer in a corporate network may be used for word processing, or in a software company they may be used to develop and to test software. Such networked computers each run the same computer applications to do the word processing, developing, and testing tasks.
When an enhancement is made to the word processing, developing or testing software, or when new data files are created for such systems, the files (whether software object code or structured database information) must be loaded on each computer in the network. Thus, in a computer system made up of many computers, the single file must be transferred (i.e. copied) many times. This transfer can be time consuming. The computer having the file to be transferred among the computers must spend considerable time to distribute the file to each of the computers. If the file transferred is crucial to a phase of testing or development, the entire network may need to wait until the file is transferred to every computer before the phase can begin.
There is a need in the art to mitigate the time bottleneck associated with linear transfer of a computer file to a group of computers. Such an invention should ensure that the file is successfully transferred to each computer without corruption and it should not require the extensive time of any one of the computers to act as a controller for the process.

Method and device for file transfer by cascade release


A process comprising reacting a 2-indenylboranic acid (ester) with a bromosubstituted compound in the presence of the Pd catalyst bis(triphenylphosphin)palladium dichloride and a base to form the corresponding bridged bis(indenyl) ligand. Where the 2-indenylboranic acid (ester) is the pinacolester of 2-indenylboranic acid, the process may further comprise reacting a 2-bromo indene compound with pinacolborane in the presence of a Pd catalyst and a base to form the corresponding 2-indenylpinacolylborane compound. Bridged bis(indenyl)ligands may suitably be used in the preparation of metallocene complexes, such as 2,2′-bis(2-indenyl)biphenyl ZrCl2 and 1,2-bis (2-indenyl)benzene ZrCl2. These metallocene complexes may be used for the polymerization, optionally in the presence of a cocatalyst, of one or more α-olefins, preferably for the polymerization of ethylene.

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of metallocene complexes, in particular the invention relates to a process for the preparation of bridged bis(indenyl)ligands that can be used for the preparation of metallocene complexes, to a metallocene complex obtained or obtainable by said process and to the use of the metallocene complexes thus obtained or obtainable in polyolefin polymerization.
Metallocene complexes with bridged bis(indenyl) ligands have proven to be highly active in the polymerization of α-olefins, such as ethylene after activation with aluminoxane cocatalysts. However, the known syntheses of the ligands used in the synthesis of these metallocene complexes are tedious as they require commercially unattractive compounds.
E. G. Ijpeij et al., A Suzuki coupling based route to 2,2′-bis(2-indenyl)biphenyl derivatives, J. Org. Chem., 2002, 67, 167 describe a number of processes for the preparation of bridged bis(indenyl) ligands. Many of these rational pathways were not successful and only one reaction leads to the desired ligand precursor 2,2′-bis(2-indenyl)biphenyl. However, this route made use of the expensive catalyst Pd(PPh3)4 and the yield of this route obtained by Ijpeij, E. G., et al. for only the last step was only 79%.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Process for the preparation of metallocene complexes


An integrated drilling and evaluation system includes a drill string having an interior portion and a drill bit, carried on a lower end, that includes ports for communicating fluid between the interior portion of the drill string and an uncased well bore. A packer, carried above the drill bit, is operable for sealingly closing a well annulus, A tester valve inserted in the drill string is operable for sealingly closing the drill string. The packer and tester valve are cooperatively operable for isolating a subsurface zone of interest. The system includes monitoring means inserted in the drill string for monitoring a parameter of well fluid from the subsurface zone. Once the subsurface zone is isolated, well fluid is communicated into the interior portion of the drill string through the ports of the drill bit, received by the monitoring means, and tested without removing the drill string form the well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the drilling of oil and gas wells. In another aspect, the present invention relates to systems and methods for drilling well bores and evaluating subsurface zones of interest as the well bores are drilled into such zones. In even another aspect, the present invention relates to monitoring the operability of test equipment during the drilling process.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known in the subterranean well drilling and completion arts to perform tests on formations intersected by a wellbore. Such tests are typically performed in order to determine geological and other physical properties of the formations and fluids contained therein. For example, by making appropriate measurements, a formation's permeability and porosity, and the fluid's resistivity, temperature, pressure, and bubble point may be determined. These and other characteristics of the formation and fluid contained therein may be determined by performing tests on the formation before the well is completed.
It is of considerable economic importance for tests such as those described hereinabove to be performed as soon as possible after the formation has been intersected by the wellbore. Early evaluation of the potential for profitable recovery of the fluid contained therein is very desirable. For example, such early evaluation enables completion operations to be planned more efficiently. In addition, it has been found that more accurate and useful information can be obtained if testing occurs as soon as possible after penetration of the formation.
As time passes after drilling, mud invasion and filter cake buildup may occur, both of which may adversely affect testing. Mud invasion occurs when formation fluids are displaced by drilling mud or mud filtrate. When invasion occurs, it may become impossible to obtain a representative sample of formation fluids or at a minimum, the duration of the sampling period must be increased to first remove the drilling fluid and then obtain a representative sample of formation fluids.
Similarly, as drilling fluid enters the surface of the wellbore in a fluid permeable zone and leaves its suspended solids on the wellbore surface, filter cake buildup occurs. The filter cakes act as a region of reduced permeability adjacent to the wellbore. Thus, once filter cakes have formed, the accuracy of reservoir pressure measurements decrease, affecting the calculations for permeability and produceability of the formation. Where the early evaluation is actually accomplished during drilling operations within the well, the drilling operations may also be more efficiently performed, since results of the early evaluation may then be used to adjust parameters of the drilling operations. In this respect, it is known in the art to interconnect formation testing equipment with a drill string so that, as the wellbore is being drilled, and without removing the drill string from the wellbore, formations intersected by the wellbore may be periodically tested.
In typical formation testing equipment suitable for interconnection with a drill string during drilling operations, various devices or systems are provided for isolating a formation from the remainder of the wellbore, drawing fluid from the formation, and measuring physical properties of the fluid and the formation. Unfortunately, due to the constraints imposed by the necessity of interconnecting the equipment with the drill string, typical formation testing equipment is not suitable for use in these circumstances.
Typical formation testing equipment is unsuitable for use while interconnected with a drill string because they encounter harsh conditions in the wellbore during the drilling process that can age and degrade the formation testing equipement before and during the testing process. These harsh conditions include vibration from the drill bit, exposure to drilling mud and formation fluids, hydraulic forces of the circulating drilling mud, and scraping of the formation testing equipment against the sides of the wellbore.
Drill strings can extend thousands of feet underground. Testing equipment inserted with the drill string into the wellbore can therefore be at great distances from the earth's surface (surface). Therefore, testing equipment added to the drill string at the surface is often in the wellbore for days during the drilling process before reaching geologic formations to be tested. Also if there is a malfunction in testing equipment, removing the equipment from a well bore for repair can take a long time.
To determine the functional status or "health" of formation testing equipment designed to be used during the drilling process, one technique is to deploy and operate the testing equipment at time intervals prior to reaching formations to be tested. These early test equipment deployments to evaluate their status can expose that equipment to greater degradation in the harsh wellbore environment than without early deployment. It is well known in the art of logging-while-drilling (LWD) how to communicate from the surface to formation testing equipment in the wellbore. Such testing equipment can be turned on and off from the surface and data collected by the testing equipment can be communicated to the surface. A common method of communication between testing equipment in the wellbore and the surface is through pressure pulses in the drilling mud circulating between the testing equipment and the surface.
Another problem faced using formation test equipment on a drill string far down a wellbore is to ensure that a series of steps in a test sequence are carried out in the proper sequence at the proper time. Communication from the earth's surface to formation testing equipment far down a well by drilling mud pulse code can take a relatively long time. Also, mud pulse communication can be confused by other equipment-caused pulses and vibrations in the drilling mud column between the down-hole testing equipment and the earth's surface.
However, in spite of the above advancements, there still exists a need in the art for apparatus and methods for a way to monitor the functional status or health of the formation testing equipment prior to its use without deploying the system.
There is another need in the art for apparatus and methods for identifying early component failures in the formation testing equipment that can cause subsequent component failures that hide early precipitating failures, which do not suffer from the disadvantages of the prior art apparatus and methods. There is even another need in the art for apparatus and methods for accomplishing test sequences by formation testing equipment down-hole automatically upon an initiating signal from the earth's surface.
These and other needs in the art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of this specification, including its drawings and claims.

Drilling formation tester, apparatus and methods of testing and monitoring status of tester


Technologies are provided for automated quality assessment of translations. In some embodiments, quality of a translation can be assessed by generating a machine-learning (ML) model that classifies the translation as pertaining to one of three quality categories. A first quality category can include, for example, translations that are deemed satisfactory. A second quality category can include, for example, translations that are deemed subject to edition prior to being deemed satisfactory. A third quality category can include, for example, translations that are deemed unsatisfactory. The generated ML model can then be applied to the translation and a corresponding sentence in a source language in order to classify the translation as pertaining to one of the three categories.

Digital entertainment industry has grown multifold due in part to ease of Internet access and numerous options for on-demand streaming platforms. One way in which those providers increase their viewership is by enabling content in local languages. Translation of subtitles across languages is one of the cost-effective and preferred industry practices to maximize end-user reach. Subtitles are translated using bilingual (and sometimes multilingual) human translators. They watch the content and use a source subtitle in one language to translate it to another language. Low translation quality and high manpower cost, which can grow significantly with scarcity of target language resources, are some problems with bilingual human translators. Low translation quality can cause an increase in usage dropoff and hurt content viewership for audience of target language. Accordingly, translation quality assessment is relevant. Some commonplace assessment protocols can include a second translator validating an initial quality assessment.
Some existing technologies have attempted to automate the quality assessment of translations by relying on binary classification between acceptable and unacceptable translations, or scoring (or rating) to assign a score of translation acceptability. However, binary classification ignores "loosely" translated samples that can occur due to human factors, such as paraphrasing, under-translation, or over-translation. In some situations, a human translator rephrases sentences sometimes using contextual information not available in the source sentence. In turn, for automated scoring, gathering reliable human scored data sufficiently large to train a supervised system can be prohibitively expensive (if not plain unfeasible) and time-consuming. Human-scored data can rarely be made scalable to new languages.
Therefore, much remains to be improved in technologies that evaluate quality of a translation between natural languages.

Automated quality assessment of translations


A wiring board, which can be efficiency produced and has excellent heat resistance, and a method of manufacturing the same. With ion-irradiation, a conductive layer and a metal layer are formed in an insulating substrate. In the vicinity of the interface between the insulating substrate and the metal layer, a composition region, which includes the atoms of the insulating substrate and the metal layer, is formed by applying ions to a metal layer formed in the insulating substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wiring board, such as a flexible wiring board, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A conventional wiring board, such as a flexible wiring board, is structured so that a circuit pattern made of conductive material, for example, copper, is layered over an insulating substrate made of high polymer.
There are generally known three methods of manufacturing the wiring board: 1) substractive method, 2) additive method, and 3) semiadditive method. In the substractive method, an adhesive layer is layered on the surface of an insulating substrate, and a conductive thin film is layered on the adhesive layer. A etching resist layer with a prescribed circuit pattern is layered on the surface of the conductive thin film. The portion of the etching resist layer which is not masked is etched away, so that the necessary circuit pattern is left or formed on the insulating substrate. In the additive method, conductive material is deposited on and fixed to only the portions of a designed circuit pattern on an insulating substrate by a plating method, for example, thereby forming the circuit pattern on the insulating substrate. The semiadditive method is the combination of the substractive method and the additive method.
The wiring board is therefore formed by combining the insulating substrate and the circuit pattern, which are both made of different materials, into a one piece construction. The expansion and contraction coefficients of the wiring board are different from those of the circuit pattern. Due to the coefficient difference, warpage of the layers and separation of one layer from the other will occur when it is manufactured or used. When the wiring board is repeatedly used, the circuit pattern will be cut off due to fatigue of the metal. Dust is likely to collect on the surface of the wiring board because it contains the circuit pattern, and is, hence, uneven. Dielectric breakdown will take place in the circuit pattern. The relatively heavy weight of the circuit pattern, which is made of metal, hinders the reduction of weight of the wiring board. Use of the adhesive layer of low heat resistance, which is for bonding the circuit pattern to the insulating substrate, limits the heat resistance of the wiring board to be low.
All of the known manufacturing methods, described above, require a number of manufacturing steps, thus hindering manufacturing efficiency and a reduction of manufacturing costs.
To solve the problems of the conventional wiring board and the method of manufacturing the same, the Applicant of the present Patent Application proposed a new technique set forth in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 1-4125. In the proposed technique, the surface of an insulating substrate is selectively radiated with an ion beam to render conductive the portions of the substrate irradiated with the ion beam. The resultant wiring board takes the integral form of the circuit pattern and the insulating substrate.
A typical process to realize the technique is illustrated in FIG. 9(a)(PRIOR ART). As shown in FIG. 9(a), a circuit pattern mask 3 made of metal foil and having through-holes 31 formed corresponding to a circuit pattern is laid over an insulating substrate 1 made of high polymer. The surface of the insulating substrate 1 on which the circuit pattern mask 3 is laid is irradiated with ion beams. Only the portions of the insulating substrate 1 which are exposed through the through-holes 31 to ion beams are rendered conductive. Consequently, a wiring board having a circuit pattern 2, which corresponds to the circuit pattern in the surface region, is formed, as shown in FIG. 9(b)(PRIOR ART).
In the wiring board thus manufactured, at the junctions between the circuit pattern 2 and the insulating substrate 1, mixing and carbonization of substrate 1 progresses due to the ion irradiation. Each junction takes the form of a continuous phase between the different materials of the circuit pattern and the insulating substrate. Thus, the wiring board is a single uniform sheet. Therefore, the circuit pattern and the insulating substrate will not be warped and separated from each other, and dust will not collect thereon. Further, not using a metal conductor reduces the weight of the wiring board, and not using an adhesive allows the heat resistance of the wiring board to increase. In the technique proposed by the Applicant, an extended period of time is required to radiate the ion beams in order to form the circuit pattern 2. As described in the description of the preferred embodiment of the gazette, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 1-4125, to make polyetherimide conductive until its volume specific resistance is 3.times.10.sup.3 .OMEGA.cm, a B.sup.+ ion must be applied to the polyetherimide under the condition of 1.0 MV of an accelerating electric field and 3.times.10.sup.17 ;/cm.sup.2 of dosage. Therefore, it takes 7 hours for the irradiation by 2.0 .mu.A of beam current.
High conductivity of a metal may be utilized to increase the conductivity of the circuit pattern to be formed in the insulating substrate by irradiating the insulating substrate with ions of metal, such as copper, chromium, and nickel. In this case, at least a 3.times.10.sup..intg. /cm.sup.2 dosage is required in order that metal atoms stay in the insulating substrate to allow the high conductivity of metal to be utilized. Generally, an ion-irradiating apparatus can generate a smaller dosage of metal ions than that of ions of gas, such as nitrogen and oxygen. Therefore, the technique of using the metal ions also takes a long processing time to form the circuit pattern.
As described above, the technique to form the circuit pattern in the insulating substrate by selectively irradiating the surface of the insulating substrate with ion beams takes a long time to form the insulating substrate. In this respect, the technique is poor in production efficiency. Furthermore, since the insulating board is made of high polymer, it is not suitable for a situation in which it is used for a long time at high temperature.

Wiring board and a method of manufacturing


A filter assembly of a washer is disclosed, by which laundry can be prevented from being damaged by friction with the filter assembly in a manner of efficiently filtering off particles contained in water in the course of washing the laundry. In a washer including an inner wall having an outlet and a circulation passage provided between the inner wall and a wash tub to enable water to circulate to the outlet from a bottom of the wash tub, the present invention includes a filter unit filtering off particles from the water discharged from the outlet and a cap having an injection hole to enable the water through the filter unit to be injected into the wash tub.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a filter, and more particularly, to a filter assembly of a washer. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for filtering water in a washer that filters and circulates water within a wash tub.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of a washer according to a related art. In the following description, a related art washer is explained with reference to FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, a washer according to a related art consists of a main body 5 of the washer, a water storing tub 70 provided within the main body 5 to accommodate water therein, a dewatering tub 80 provided inside the water string tub 70 to perform washing and dewatering on laundry, a pulsator provided under the dewatering tub 80 to wash to laundry by rotating to generate water current, and a drive assembly 50 for rotating the pulsator 20.
And, a water supply assembly is installed over the water storing tub 70. Water supplied from the water supply assembly 10 is supplied to the water storing tub 70 and is then stored therein.
A drain assembly 10 is installed under the water storing tub 70 to discharge the water from the water storing tub 70 after completion of washing.
A passage 80a is provided inside the dewatering tub 80 to enable the water stored in the dewatering tub 80 to ascend over the dewatering tub 80 according to the rotation of the pulsator 20.
An injection hole 80b is provided to an upper part of the passage 80 to introduce the water having ascended along the passage 80a into the dewatering tub 80 again.
A mesh net 40 is further provided to the injection hole 80b to filter off particles contained in the water.
In the above-configured washer of the related art, if the pulsator 20 rotates, the water stored within the wash tub ascends along the passage 80a, passes through the injection hole 80b and the mesh net 40 to filter of particles, and is then supplied within the dewatering tub 80.
However, in the related art washer, the mesh net 40 is projected from an inner wall of the washer in part. Therefore, while laundry is washed, the laundry and the mesh net 40 collide with each other to abrade or tear the mesh net 50. If the mesh net 40 is torn, particles filtered off by the mesh net 40 may be re-introduced into the dewatering tub 80. And, the laundry is caught on the mesh net 40 to be damaged.
Moreover, the mesh net 40 is capable of filter off particles contained in the water only but is unable to inject water on laundry. Therefore, the mesh net 40 has the configuration failing to implement a function of raising wash efficiency.


The colors used for forming an image are limited in advance to a predetermined number of color patterns called representative colors; on the host side the image data received is divided into blocks, for each of which a representative color is determined in a representative color code conversion unit; the representative colors and their associated representative color codes are transmitted to the printer side; and on the printer side the representative color codes are converted into dot patterns in a pattern conversion unit for each pass before being output. The above procedure allows a series of processing—resolution conversion, masking/UCR processing, output γ correction and binarization processing—to be realized with a simple configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for and a printing method of forming pixels with dot patterns and more specifically to image processing in a printing apparatus that performs a so-called multipass printing in which the same line is printed in a plurality of scanning operations of a print head each using different nozzles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As information processing equipment such as computers have come into wide use in recent years, printing apparatus, such as printers, that are peripheral devices of the computers are also becoming rapidly widespread. At the same time as the general trend for higher quality and color representation of visual information in the information processing equipment accelerates, there are also growing demands on the printing apparatus for a higher print quality and for a color printing capability.
A well-known printer image processing method is an image processing technique based on a color halftone model.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional image processing unit used in a printer.
Image data in the form of an RGB signal is input from an input terminal 101, converted into a resolution level compatible with that of the printer by a resolution conversion unit 102, and then converted into a CMY density signal for each pixel by a density conversion unit 103. The image data, after being converted from the RGB signal into the CMY density signal, is further converted by a black generation unit 104 into a density signal that includes a black density signal K. The image data now in the form of a CMYK density signal is subjected to under color removal processing and masking in a masking/UCR unit 105 whereby the image data is converted into a halftone area signal, a CMYK density signal that has its crosstalk component compensated for. Next, the image data in the form of the halftone area signal is γ-corrected by an output γ correction unit 106 to compensate for a linearity between the halftone area signal and the output density as by dot gain processing. Then, the image data is converted into binary data (referred to also as "bit map data") for each color component by a binarization unit 107 and is output from a host side interface unit 108 to a transmission line 201.
The bit map data transmitted from the host side interface unit 108 is taken into the printer through a printer side interface unit 109. Further, in an H-V conversion unit 110 the bit map data has its output order converted in accordance with a driving order of a print head. A mask generation unit 111 generates a thinning pattern (mask data) for multipass printing and gives it to a head driver 112, which in turn thins the converted bit map data according to the mask data from the mask generation unit 111. Based on the thinned bit map data, the print head 113 is driven to eject ink during each of the scans with a paper feed operation performed between the scans. An image is thus formed by multipass printing.
As described above, in printing a single scan line the multipass printing involves dividing the bit map data for the same scan line into a plurality of parts and performing a plurality of passes and a predetermined amount of paper feed between the individual passes to eject ink from different nozzles of the print head in each of the passes according to the divided bit map data for the same scan line, thus forming an image for the same line. This multipass printing can reduce unevenness in printing due to dot landing deviations, variations in ink ejection volume and ink penetration time differences.
The density conversion unit 103 and the output γ correction unit 105 are normally integrated into a lookup table (LUT), rather than being provided individually with processing circuits and software. This arrangement can shorten the processing time.
The conventional image processing method described above, however, has the following problem.
As the resolution of printed images and the printing speed in the printer tend to increase, the amount of image data processed by the image processing unit also increases. With the conventional method, however, the resolution conversion, density conversion, black generation, masking/UCR, output γ correction, binarization, H-V conversion, and mask processing are all successively performed independently. Hence, processing such a large amount of image data according to the conventional method will take relatively long and the circuit and the amount of calculations required will inevitably become huge.
Further, as the number of dots in a dot pattern that forms a pixel increases, i.e., as the number of gray scale levels increases, the binarization processing becomes more complicated and the amount of calculations increases.
Further, the memory capacity required for the H-V conversion increases as the printer resolution and the width that can be printed in one pass increase or, in a more general term, as the number of nozzles in the print head increases. This gives rise to another problem that when the resolution is enhanced, the memory capacity required for processing increases in proportion to the square of the resolution.
Further, high-resolution printers tend to have an increased number of nozzles integrated in the print head and make ink droplets ejected from these nozzles smaller to reduce dot diameters and thereby realize higher resolutions. Since the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles of such a print head are very small, dot position variations due to landing deviations are apt to become large relative to the dot diameter. Thus even the multipass printing described above may not be able to eliminate image quality degradations caused by printing variations. Further, the multipass printing often uses a checker pattern as the mask pattern in the mask processing. When such a mask pattern is used, problems may arise in which dots that need to be printed fail to be printed or dot printing concentrates on a particular pass.


A semiconductor memory device has a memory cell having a hierarchical bit line structure for large capacity even in a small cell size. The semiconductor memory device comprises a unit cell configured to read/write data, a cell data sensing unit configured to adjust a current amount of a main bit line depending on a sensing voltage of a sub bit line when data are sensed, and a write control unit configured to store data in the corresponding unit cell depending on a current level applied from the main bit line to the sub bit line.

A semiconductor memory device typically includes a plurality of unit cells for storing a plurality of data. A DRAM, which is a widely used semiconductor memory device, includes a capacitor configured to accumulate charges therein for storing data. In the DRAM, a unit cell includes a capacitor and a MOS transistor serving as a switch.
Due to development of semiconductor techniques, a memory device has been manufactured to operate at a high speed for high integration. Specifically, for high integration of the DRAM, it is necessary to reduce an area of a cell block consisting of a plurality of unit cells occupying the area.
The capacitor is configured to accumulate the minimum charge amount so that data may be maintained. Since the charge amount stored in the capacitor is very small, a bit line sense amplifier unit amplifies a signal for maintaining data stored in the unit cell and outputs the signal externally.
A memory cell array having an open bit line structure has been used where a unit cell corresponds to a bit lint sense amplifier. However, due to high integration of the DRAM, it is difficult to arrange a unit cell including a capacitor and a MOS transistor corresponding to a bit line sense amplifier including four MOS transistors.
In the memory cell array having an open bit line structure, a bit line BL connected to the bit line sense amplifier is connected to a cell block. A bit line bar /BL connected to the bit line sense amplifier is connected to the other cell block. As a result, an area occupied by the bit line sense amplifier may be increased in the memory cell array.
In order to reduce the area, a folded bit line structure has been suggested where a bit line sense amplifier is connected to two unit cells. The folded bit line structure refers to a structure where a bit line BL is arranged in parallel to a bit line bar /BL and a bit line sense amplifier is connected to two unit cells.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a cell array of a general DRAM. FIG. 1 shows a folded bit line structure and a latch-type bit line sense amplifier.
A unit cell C of a DRAM includes a NMOS transistor T1 regulated by a word line WL0 and a capacitor C1. The NMOS transistor T1 has a drain connected to a bit line BL, and a source connected to an electrode of the capacitor C1. One electrode of capacitor C1 is defined by a storage node SN where written charges are stored.
The other electrode of capacitor C1 is connected to a common cell plate line PL to receive a cell plate voltage VCP. Cell plate voltage VCP is defined by a half power voltage VDD. Power voltage VDD is defined by a high operating voltage of the cell.
Both output terminals of the latch-type bit line sense amplifier are connected to paired bit lines BL, /BL. When word line WL0 is activated to transmit cell data into true bit line BL, complement bit line /BL supplies a reference voltage REF. When a word line WL1 is activated to transmit cell data into the complement bit line /BL, true bit line BL supplies reference voltage REF.
A pair of local data buses LDB, LDBB are configured to input/output data of a data buffer and the bit line sense amplifier S/A.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a latch-type bit line sense amplifier of a general DRAM.
The latch-type bit line sense amplifier includes equalizing units 10, 22, bit line selecting units 12, 18, a bit line precharging unit 14, an amplifying unit 16 and a selecting unit 20.
Equalizing units 10, 22 are configured to equalize a voltage between the paired bit lines BL, /BL in response to a bit line equalizing signal BLEQ. Bit line selecting units 12, 18 are configured to exchange data between paired bit lines BL, /BL with amplifying unit 16 in response to bit line selecting signals BISH, BISL.
Bit line precharging unit 14 supplies a bit line precharge voltage VBLP to paired bit lines BL, /BL with bit line equalizing signal BLEQ so as to precharge paired bit lines BL, /BL. Bit line precharge voltage VBLP is defined by a half power voltage VDD.
A pull-up activating terminal of amplifying unit 16 is regulated by a control signal SAP, and a pull-down activating terminal is regulated by a control signal SAN. Amplifying unit 16 senses and amplifies data applied to paired bit lines BL, /BL. Selecting unit 20 controls input/output operations of data between bit line sense amplifier unit 16 and paired local data buses LDB, LDBB in response to a column selecting signal YI.
FIG. 3 is a timing diagram illustrating a cell array and a sensing-related operation of a general DRAM.
In a precharge period t0, a voltage of paired bit lines BL, /BL and bit line sense amplifier control signals SAN, SAP are precharged to bit line precharge voltage VBLP. Bit line precharge voltage VBLP is defined by half power voltage VDD and by a half voltage value of a cell high voltage VDD.
In a period t1 for charge sharing, word line WL is activated to transmit cell data into paired bit lines BL, /BL.
In a period t2 for sensing and amplifying data, control signal SAN for amplifying data of paired bit lines BL, /BL transits to a ground voltage, and control signal SAP transits to cell high voltage VDD. Paired bit lines BL, /BL are amplified to cell high voltage VDD and the ground voltage.
In a period t3 for restoring data, the data amplified in paired bit lines BL, /BL are re-written in the cell. After the restoring operation, a precharge period t4 starts.
A DRAM having a 1-Transistor 1-Capacitor (1T1C) structure reads/writes data using a voltage sensing method. A charge and discharge voltage difference in the bit lines is sensed to sense data. By pull-up/pull-down operations of voltages, data are written in the memory cell to cause a swing operation of a main bit line voltage. As a result, the sensing speed of data is degraded, and a large current is required when data are sensed.


These and other objectives will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art have been achieved by providing an antimicrobial surface having formula 1:SS—(Ua—V+b1—W)b2dX−eformula 1                wherein:        SS represents a modified solid surface that comprises a hydroxyl group in the unmodified state thereof;        a represents 0 or 1;        U represents —Y1T-;        Y1 represents —O—, —S—, or —NQ-;        Q represents H; a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1-24 atoms; phenyl; or benzyl;        T represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain having 1-24 atoms;        V represents a positively charged moiety;        b1 represents 1 or 2;        b2 represents 1-3;        W represents LZ;        L represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain having 10-24 atoms;        Z represents —H, —OH, —SH, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OR, —HN(O)CQ, or —O(O)CQ;        R represents a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1-24 carbon atoms; phenyl; or benzyl;        X represents an anion;        d represents 1 or 2; and        e represents 1-3;        wherein b1×b2=d×e.

Current fears of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other microbes as well as of bioterrorism have increased the importance of developing new ways to protect people from microbial infection. It is, for example, important to develop new materials for making clothing that can be more safely worn in contaminated environments. Such materials would be useful, for example, in hospitals and during military and civilian operations where bacterial contamination has occurred, or is expected.
In developing new antimicrobial materials, it is important to discourage further antibiotic resistance. Ideally, therefore, novel antimicrobial materials will function through non-specific, non-metabolic mechanisms.
For example, polycationic (quaternary ammonium) strings developed in the laboratory of Robert Engel are reported to have antibacterial activity. See Fabian et al, Syn. Lett., 1007 (1997); Strekas et al, Arch. Biochem. and Biophys. 364, 129-131 (1999); and Cohen et al, Heteroat. Chem. 11, 546-555 (2000). No suggestion has been made, however, to attach these molecules to surfaces to render the surfaces antimicrobial. Nor have there been any reports regarding which of these molecules would be most effective when attached to surfaces.
Suggestions have been made to attach other antibiotic agents, such as gentamycin and penicillin, to the surface of medical devices. See, for example, Keogh et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,509, Ung-Chhun et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,454, Keogh, U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,719, Ragheb et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,604, and Guire, U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,992. See also Kanazawa et al., Polym. Sci., Part A-I 31, 1467-1472 (1993).
There is, clearly, a need for new materials having antimicrobial agents stably attached to their surfaces. Ideally, the antimicrobial agents do not lead to resistance, and are not detached from their surfaces when the material is washed. It is particularly desirable to develop such materials suitable for use in making clothing. Especially needed is microbe-resistant clothing made of carbohydrate and/or protein based materials, such as cotton, wool and silk as well as blends thereof. It is further desirable to develop other types of antimicrobial surfaces, such as paper and wood surfaces.

Research Foundation of the City University of New York


The present disclosure relates to an insertion type drug injection device capable of being inserted into a body for injecting a drug into a skin, including: a main body having an open insert part and formed in a tubular shape having a hollow space therein, a needle assembly formed in the insert part, provided with a plurality of needles, and including a pneumatic port and a drug injection port, and a drug injection pipe inserted into the main body and connected to a drug injection port of the needle assembly, and an air flowing pipe connected to the pneumatic port.

In general, an insertion type drug injection device is a device that injects a drug into the body. As an example, there is a filler procedure using an insertion type drug injection device, which is a procedure in which a substance called filler is injected into the skin. The scope of application of the filler procedure is expanding, and the filler procedure is performed for vaginal plastic surgery, colpoxerosis, and other intravaginal drug injection. However, the drug injection procedure is performed in a way that the operator injects the drug into the inner wall of the vagina one by one using a disposable syringe filled with drug, so the depth of the injection and the dose of the injected drug may be affected by the operator's skill level. Since it is difficult for the operator to check the injection site, it may be a burden on the operator during the procedure, and there is a problem that the patient feels uncomfortable during the procedure. In addition, since the injection needle is exposed, there is a problem of causing pain by hurting the inner wall of the vagina in the process of moving to injection site during the procedure.


To provide a connection structure between optical fibers and a connection method to couple optical fibers that make it possible to secure optical transmission, a connection structure between optical fibers includes a plurality of optical fibers, a base member provided over a substrate, and a connecting part provided on a top surface of the base member and joined to each of end surfaces of the plurality of optical fibers.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a connection structure between optical fibers and a connection method to couple optical fibers.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently there exist tendencies of high-speed and large-volume data transmission in the information and communication technology sector so that development of optical communication technologies is in progress. In optical communication, secure optical transmission between optical fibers is required.
As a method of connecting optical fibers used for optical communication, there are, for example, a method of coupling optical fibers through an optical member, such as a lens, a method of connecting them through a connector (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-123821), and a method of fusion-bonding them (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 7-84142).
The method of connecting optical fibers through a connector is a method where a connector is provided to a tip of an optical fiber so as to connect optical fibers through the connector. The method of fusion-bonding optical fibers is a method where optical fibers are coupled to each other by joining tips of two optical fibers and applying energy to the joined part so as to fusion-bond it.
Furthermore, as a method of connecting a plurality of optical fibers to each other, there is a method where an optical fiber coupler is used. The optical fiber coupler is formed by fusion-bonding a plurality of optical fibers disposed side by side in a row, and thereafter extending the fusion-bonded part. Specifically, a fusion-bonding process is required in the case of forming an optical fiber coupler, too.

Connection structure between optical fibers on a substrate and connection method for coupling the same


The invention is featured by a configuration, for notifying the end of printing to the client in asynchronous manner for the print job that cannot be reserved in the server, of judging the writing capacity of the reservation job file of the server prior to the notification of the end of printing to the client apparatus, and, only in case the reservation is possible, the reservation job manager notifies the end of printing to the client apparatus but, in case the reservation is not possible, the print job that cannot be reserved is managed in a reservation waiting state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a server apparatus and a client apparatus for managing print data and print job information outputted from plural clients connected to a network to a network printer connected to such network, a print job management system therefor, a method therefor and a memory medium therefor.
2. Related Background Art
In the conventional environment utilizing the network printer, it has not been popular to directly transmit the print data from the plural clients on the network to the network printer. This is because, if the network printer receives plural print data from the plural client apparatus, there increases the load in sequence control and reception process, leading to an increase in the cost of the network printer in order to respond to such load.
For this reason, there is often set a print server on the network, utilizing the operating system thereof. In such print job reservation system utilizing such print server, the printing operation is executed by transferring the print data from a client to the print server, reserving such print data in a specified area of the print server, at the same time managing, by the print server, the order of printing in the network printer designated as the output destination of the print data, and reading and transmitting the reserved print data to the network printer when the order of printing is reached.
In such case, the print server has to accept, for the network printer under the management thereof, the print data from plural clients on the network, so that the load of the print server inevitably increase with the increase in the number of the clients or the network printers. Therefore, in case the reservation medium (for example hard disk) for the print data in the print server becomes unavailable because of an error such as a deficiency in the memory capacity, it becomes impossible not only the reservation of the print data accepted from the client apparatus but also the transmission of the print data to the network printer. For this reason there has recently been conceived a system in which the print server only accepts print requests for the print jobs while the actual print data are retained by the clients, and the client apparatus directly transmits the print data to the network printer after a transmission permit is received from the print server.
In order to resolve the drawback that the printing process cannot be executed by the trouble in the print server, the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-240469 proposes a network print system and an information processing apparatus. In this system, however, since the print data retained in the client are deleted at the completion of the printing operation, it is not possible to reserve the print data, after normally completed printed process, in the server computer.
Therefore, there can be conceived a print job reservation management system provided with a server computer including print end notifying means for judging the available writing capacity of a memory medium of the server computer (assumed as a hard disk of the computer for the purpose of simplicity but composable by a detachable medium such as a mangetooptical disk) and notifying a client computer of print end only in case the data reservation is possible but maintaining an unreservable print job in a waiting state for reservation, a client computer including reserved job transmission means which does not delete the print data at the reception of information for print end from the server computer but transmits the print data and the print job information collectively as a reservation job to the server computer and deletes the reservation job at the completion of transmission, and reservation job management means for reserving the reservation job transmitted from the client computer in a designated directory, deleting periodically the reservation job after expiration of a designated reservation period, and notifying the print end notifying means of an increase in the available reservation capacity thereby enabling notification, for the reservation job that cannot be reserved on the server computer, of print end in asynchronous manner.
In such system, a print job for which the print end is informed is retained in the designated directory of the server computer for the designated period, while a print job that cannot be reserved on the server computer is reserved in the reservation waiting state on the client computer requesting the printing operation. However, the job in the reservation waiting state is reserved in the designated directory of the server computer as the print end is informed in asynchronous manner as soon as the reservation capacity on the server computer becomes available. As a result, there can be prevented a situation where the print end job cannot be reserved on the server computer because of the deficiency in the reservation capacity thereof.
Also in case of reprinting a reservation job reserved in the server computer, if the RAW data alone including the device information are reserved, the reprinting cannot be executed in another printer but is limited to a printer of the identical specification. Therefore, there can be conceived a print job reservation management system capable of reserving the RAW data and the EMF data collectively in a reservation job file thereby enabling reprinting of the reservation job according to the printer of destination. In addition, there has been a limitation that the reprinting can only be made on the same printer if the print data reserved in the reservation job file are RAW data.

Print server apparatus, print job reservation management method, reservation job generation method and memory medium