A customer uses an in store kiosk to establish a communication session, such as a video communication session between the kiosk and an agent in a contact center. The customer can transfer the communication session to the customer's personal mobile communication device by selecting to transfer the communication session at the kiosk. A presence of the customer's personal mobile communication device is detected. The presence of the customer's personal mobile communication device can be detected by the use of various technologies, such as Near Field Communications or scanning a code on the kiosk from the mobile communication device. In response to detecting the presence of the mobile communication device the communication session is transferred from the kiosk to the mobile communication device using a communication application in the mobile communication device.

Kiosks allow companies to provide personal in-store service to customers through contact with remote agents in a contact center. These types of kiosks can improve customer service, reduce the demand on local staff, and can provide expertise that is not present locally. However, a problem with kiosks is that a customer is tied to the location of the kiosk. This can result in situations where high quality of service cannot always be obtained.
For example, being tethered to the kiosk prevents a customer from conversing with a contact center agent while going to another location in a store that may have a specific product or service in which the customer is interested. Another problem is that long lines can form at the kiosk. These long lines can result in poor customer satisfaction if a user has to wait for a long period of time to use the kiosk. Another problem is that the kiosk may not afford the privacy necessary to comfortably complete the interaction with the contact center agent. These and other deficiencies still limit the usefulness of a kiosk.


A mask matching approach to detect shot changes in MPEG coded video uses reference ratio variances of macroblocks between MPEG coded frames. A function is designed to quantize the results into shot change probability values. Moreover, a conversion function modifies this probability computation to minimize misdetection and loss of detection under unusual image pattern situations. A shot change probability threshold is defined for the video to be examined. When a frame's modified shot change probability exceeds this threshold, the frame is considered to contain a shot change. With this approach, processing time is reduced by evaluating MPEG coded data directly, rather than the raw video.

The medium of digital video communication is widely used in many applications. Due to the rich information content of video data, queries can be specified not only by video titles, video descriptions, and alpha-numeric attributes of video data, but also by the video contents. Therefore, video index construction for supporting powerful query capabilities is an important research issue for video database systems.
Video segmentation is a fundamental step toward video index construction. Video sequences may be segmented according to so-called "shot changes", which are often used for video browsing. A "shot" is made up of a sequence of video frames which represents a continuous action in time and space. Therefore, the contents of the frames belonging to the same shot are similar. A shot change is defined as a discontinuity between two shots. The similarity (or dissimilarity) measurement of continuous frames may therefore be used for shot change detection.
In the prior art, many varied approaches have been explored in the development of indexing techniques. U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,547, dated May 18, 1993, entitled "Image Processing Device and Method for Sensing Moving Objects and Rangefinder Employing the Same", teaches finding objects in motion in a frame. The video data of a frame is subtracted from the average value of the video data of the frame. This technique does not involve shot change detection, however.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,232, dated Jul. 5, 1994, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Detecting Motion Vectors", the objective is to detect the motion vector of the content of a frame, using an image block matching method. Again, this technique does not utilize shot change detection.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,425, dated Jan. 30, 1996, entitled "Apparatus for Storing Video Information by Recognizing Video Frames", the objective is to select one frame and detect similar frames subsequent to it. Shot change detection is not an objective of this invention.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,449, dated Jan. 12, 1993, entitled "Scene Boundary Detecting Apparatus", the object to be processed is the original video data, rather than the compressed video image frames. As a result, the speed of processing is relatively slow.
In the paper entitled "A Feature-Based Algorithm for Detecting and Classifying Scene Breaks", by Ramin Zabih, et al.ACMMM95!, the subject thesis detects an occurrence of a shot change by observing changes in the positions of the lines in adjacent frames. Thus, the major feature of this method is the use of image analysis, whereby lines in a frame are detected for determination of a shot change. Since the data being processed is the original video data, the speed of processing is relatively slow.
In the paper entitled "Feature Management for Large Video Databases", by Farshid Arman, et al.SPIE93!, the subject thesis deals with DCT-based compressed video data where the DCT multiple parameters are used to determine a shot change. In consecutive frames, an inner product is obtained through calculation of the DCT parameters of the block in the same position. The greater the difference in the frames, the larger the inner product will be. This method is capable of determining a shot change in a timely manner, since it does not analyze the original image data of the frame. However, when the inner product falls within a gray area, so that it is difficult to determine whether or not there is a shot change, the frames must be decompressed and analyzed using original image data. Thus, the processing speed is compromised.
In the paper entitled "Projection Detecting Filter for Video Cut Detection", by Kiyotaka Otsuji and Y. Tonomura ACMMM93!, the subject thesis proposes a process of filtering, whereby the frame variations that are not caused by a shot change are reduced to a minimum, and the determination of the variations of a shot change in the frames is simplified. However, this thesis does not consider the use of compressed video data.
In the paper entitled "Knowledge Guided Parsing in Video Databases", by Deborah Swanberg et al. SPIE93!, the subject thesis proposes the use of a color histogram difference method to determine a shot change. The distribution of the content of a frame is predicted according to different kinds of video data, so as to locate the position of a shot change with accuracy, and to decide the classification of the shot at the same time. The disadvantage of this method is that a knowledge base of the video data must be defined on a case-by-case basis.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

Efficient shot change detection on compressed video data

Industrial Technology Research Institute


Embodiments of the invention relate to a method, system, and storage medium for providing a disciplined approach to business management activities. The method includes developing an activity list of tasks and behaviors that relate to an identified opportunity, performing a time study of observable behaviors associated with the activity, and collecting data resulting from the time study and the performance of work activities. The method also includes identifying issues presented as a result of analyzing the data, generating and implementing a roadmap for resolving the issues, and training individuals affected by the roadmap in accordance with action items contained in the roadmap. The method further includes forecasting future resource requirements based upon reports generated as a result of collecting the data and identifying the issues.

The present invention relates generally to business models, and more particularly, the invention relates to a method, system, and storage medium for providing a disciplined approach to business management activities.
Supervisors and managers of business enterprises are typically trained on the job with little discipline provided concerning the various reporting requirements, behaviors that should be coached, and which metrics are important to the business. As new management comes along, to replace retired individuals or as a result of turnover, they often need to re-invent what their replacements have learned over time through experiences. A great deal of relevant knowledge and experience may be lost as a result of a change in management. This can be very wasteful and result in diminished productivity.
What is needed, therefore, is a way to provide a disciplined approach to business management activities that can be systematically implemented across an entire business management environment.

Method, system and storage medium for utilizing training roadmaps in a call center


A hybrid spinal implant device, and method of making the same are disclosed. The spinal implant device comprises two facing endplates, each having at least one anchoring wall or pin element, and a plastic spacer anchored to and located between the two endplates. The endplates may be manufactured from titanium. The plastic spacer may be manufactured from a radiolucent, and bio-compatible polymer-based material including polyetheretherketone (“PEEK”), polyetherketone, polyetherketoneketone, and/or fiber reinforced plastic. The endplates made of titanium allow for enhanced bone growth, while the plastic/PEEK spacer element allows for improved load absorption and distribution. The spinal implant device, using titanium endplates and a PEEK spacer, provides excellent radiolucency thereby eliminating the need for X-ray markers either intra- or post-operation. The manufacturing method for the hybrid spinal implant device uses injection molding to insert or back injection mold the spacer between the two endplates.

Many different medical procedures are performed that require the stabilization of adjacent bone sections or bone portions through the securing of an interbody spacer to the adjacent bone portions. Examples of these spacers are known to those in the field as interbody cages, corpectomy cages, osteotomy wedges, joint spacers, and bone void fillers, among other names and labels.
As one example, spacers are used to fuse bone joints. Spacers are also used to repair complex fractures where bone is missing and in bone regions where there are voids within the bone structure, such as when a tumor and adjacent bone may be removed. Spacers are also used in the performance of osteotomies by placing the spacers between adjacent bone portions to perform a wedging action, including to straighten a bone. These are but a few examples of, and are an not exhaustive description of the medical procedures that require the placement of a spacer between adjacent bone portions.
In each procedure, the spacer placed between the bone portions is required to be rigidly joined to the adjacent bone portions. A multitude of different apparatus have been designed for this joinder purpose. One example of connecting or joining a spacer to adjacent bone structure is through the use of insertion screws. While screws are generally effective for this purpose, they are limited in the sense that they do not afford stability in all orthogonal dimensions often required to effect the optimal or desired rigidity.
Spacers are also commonly used in spinal repair and reconstruction. The spine is a flexible column formed of a plurality of bones called vertebra. Each vertebrae are annular-shaped structures having a hard cortical bone on the outside and porous cancellous bone on the inside. The vertebrae are stacked, in column fashion, one upon the other, forming a strong annular column supporting the cranium and trunk. The core of the spine protects the nerves of the spinal cord. The different vertebrae are connected to one another by means of articular processes and intervertebral, fibro-cartilaginous bodies.
The intervertebral fibro-cartilages are also known as intervertebral disks and are made of a fibrous ring filled with pulpy material. The disks function as spinal shock absorbers and also cooperate with synovial joints to facilitate movement and maintain flexibility of the spine. When one or more disks degenerate through accident or disease, nerves passing near the affected area may be compressed and are consequently irritated. The result may be chronic and/or debilitating back pain. Various methods and apparatus have been designed to relieve such back pain, including spinal fusion using a suitable graft or interbody spacer using techniques such as Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion ("ALIF"), Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion ("PLIF"), or Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion ("TLIF") surgical techniques. The implants used in these techniques, also commonly referred to as an intervertebral spacer, are placed in the interdiscal space between adjacent vertebrae of the spine.
Ideally, a fusion grant should stabilize the intervertebral space and become fused to adjacent vertebrae. Moreover, during the time it takes for fusion to occur, the graft should have sufficient structural integrity to withstand the stress of maintaining the intervertebral space without substantially degrading or deforming. The graft should also have sufficient stability to remain securely in place prior to the time of actual bone ingrowth fusion.
One significant challenge to providing fusion grant stability (prior to actual bone ingrowth fusion) is preventing spinal extension that may result during patient movement. Distraction of the vertebral space containing the fusion graft may cause the graft to shift or move, which in turn may result in disrupting bone ingrowth fusion and causing pain.
Current and existing spinal fusion technology has been limited, and is lacking in certain respects relating to the above described issues. Among the limitations of certain of these systems is the requirement that complicated steps need to be performed to accomplish their proper use. As noted, others of these type of devices and systems, included screws, and lack the optimal multi-dimensional stability, while others are less than desirable because they use components that may project externally of one or more of the bone portions between which the spacer is located. Other deficiencies and problems also exist with respect to prior devices and systems.
The systems that rely upon the use of screws may have certain limitations. Such systems may not effectively allow compression forces to be generated between the spacers and adjacent bone portions. Further, while the screws do stabilize the bone-spacer junction in one plane, that is normally flexion-extension, they may not, in certain applications, control bending in another plane or direction that is orthogonal to the plane of the screw.
A further problem with existing systems is that components or parts typically are often not locked in place and are thus prone to working loose over time. Screws, for example, may loosen over extended usage and time in the absence of incorporating some structure that effectively prevents turning or lengthwise movement. Without such locking elements, a loosened screw could result in partial or full separation of the device from the bone portions and/or spacers that they penetrate.
Several disc spacer devices have been designed and proposed to address some of these noted limitations. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 6,569,201 for a Hybrid Composite Interbody Fusion Device, issued to Moumene et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,776,093 for a Vertebral Body Replacement Apparatus And Method, issued to Wolek et al.; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/643,994 for an Interbody Fusion Hybrid Graft. In addition to these devices, the medical field is constantly seeking system designs that might be efficiently and consistently installed and that, most significantly, will affect the desired fusion in a manner that will be safe and reliable for the patient. The various embodiments of devices and methods described in this application address such a need.

Hybrid intervertebral disc spacer device and method of manufacturing the same


A device for setting a film state for use in a camera having a chamber for storing a film cartridge and a chamber door, and the film cartridge further including a data disk having photographic information recorded thereon. The device includes a photographic information reader which reads the photographic information on the data disk. A door detector detects whether the chamber door is open. A controller determines whether the film is unexposed based upon the photographic information, determines whether the chamber door opens within a predetermined period of time after the chamber door was closed, and outputs a control signal which sets the data disk to an unexposed state if the film is unexposed and the chamber door opens within the predetermined period of time. A transport unit moves the film and sets the data disk based upon the control signal.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an Advanced Photo System (APS) camera, and, more particularly, to an APS camera having a device for setting a state of the film.
B. Description of the Related Art
Film in an APS camera may be in one of the following states: an unexposed state, a partially exposed state, an exposed state, or a processed state. The film state is typically determined by measuring the rotation angle of a data disk, which is mounted to an upper portion of a film cartridge. Thus, after a user loads the film in the APS camera, a control device measures the rotation angle of the data disk. If the film is unexposed, it is wound to a predetermined initial position. If the film is partially exposed, it is wound to a position next to the exposed portion. If the film is exposed, the control device drives a display to indicate that the film is exposed.
When a user loads unexposed film in the APS camera, the film is wound to the predetermined initial position, also referred to as the loading position of the film. If, at this time, the user mistakenly opens the chamber door of the film cartridge or there is a malfunction in the chamber door switch, the film will be rewound as if it were exposed. The rotation angle of the data disk will then indicate that the film is exposed, and the camera will not reload the film even though it is actually unexposed. Thus, a conventional APS camera has the drawback in that an unexposed film is set to an exposed film state when either the user mistakenly opens the chamber door of the film cartridge or there is a malfunction in the chamber door switch.

Device and method for setting a state of film used in an advanced photo system camera


The present disclosure is directed to spectral analysis of a position error signal. In a particular embodiment, the method includes analyzing a spectral content of a position error signal. The method also includes comparing the spectral content to a threshold. Further, the method includes determining a result based on the comparing the spectral content to the threshold. In another particular embodiment, the spectral content of the position error signal is determined by performing a discrete fourier transform (DFT) on the error signal, determining a magnitude of the DFT output, and low pass filtering the magnitude.

In a magnetic data storage device, as the data density of magnetic discs increases, the distance between the transducing head and the disc decreases to very small distances. In such systems, there is an increased possibility of contact between the head and the disc due to factors such as built up particle contamination, slider manufacturing process limitations, limited air-bearing modeling capabilities, and other occurrences. Contact between the head and disc can cause errors when writing or reading data and can result in an increased risk of failure of the magnetic data storage device.
There is a need for a method and device for sensing contact between a transducer and a disc.

Spectral analysis of a position error signal


Universal End and Mid Clamps are used to connect 2 things together and are designed so that when the clamp fastener is properly tightened the piece being clamped will resist loads in 3 directions and will resist sliding.

Mounting devices to objects that are, or may be, exposed to unpredictable and varying force vectors caused by wind, rain, and other elements of weather present technical problems often difficult to solve. A long standing and unsolved challenge in the solar energy industry, for example, has been resolving how best to mount panels, modules and arrays of photovoltaic devices (collectively, "module" or "modules") on surfaces not only securely and safely, but also quickly. The obverse problem also is significant to the industry, namely safely removing or reconfiguring a module that has been installed on a surface.
Solar energy radiation from the sun is capable of producing heat, causing chemical reactions, or generating electricity. The sun is an extremely powerful energy source, and solar radiation is by far the largest source of energy received by Earth, but its intensity at the Earth's surface is comparatively low. This is partly because Earth's atmosphere and its clouds absorb or scatter as much as 54 percent of all incoming sunlight. Solar energy, however, due to technological improvements in the manner of collecting the potential energy, has become increasingly attractive as an energy source: it is inexhaustible in supply, and non-polluting, both in stark contrast to fossil-fuel sources like coal, oil, and natural gas.
Sunlight reaching earth consists of approximately 50 percent visible light, 45 percent infrared radiation, and small amounts of ultraviolet light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation. Radiation is convertible either into thermal energy or directly into electricity by photovoltaic cells. In photovoltaic cells, a small electrical voltage is generated when light strikes the junction between a metal and a semiconductor or a junction between two different semiconductors. Although the voltage generated from a single photovoltaic cell typically is only a fraction of a volt, by connecting large numbers of cells together into panels, modules and arrays, significant electric power can be generated. To harness radiation for direct generation of electricity using cells collected into panels, modules and arrays, a number of apparatus and methods for using and installing the apparatus have been devised on which to mount modules on surfaces exposed to the radiation. The construction, installation, and use of such apparatus present a number of unsolved problems.
A wide variety of clamp assemblies, racks, frames and associated hardware have been proposed to mount modules on objects. Some solutions have proposed modifications of the shape, structure and size of components of a module to achieve more rapid and secure mounting. Other solutions have proposed altering the construct and design of hardware associated with installing racks, framing, and footings into a footing grid on which modules are mounted. As used in this document the term "footing grid" includes at least a network of keepers often, but not exclusively, L-shaped and formed with at least one hole in each extension of the "L." The keepers are connectable to a surface and are formed and shaped to permit attachment of other hardware components such as rails and frames on which modules may be attached.
Prior approaches suggested for mounting a module on an object include significant limitations and problems. A serious challenge to providing a useful apparatus and method for mounting a module on a surface arises from the variety of sizes and shapes of the modules, as well as the varying number of modules that might be required in a given situation. Another challenge that earlier suggestions did not overcome is the variety of surfaces on which modules may or must be mounted, including roofs, tops and sides of poles, the ground, and other locations. Earlier solutions, therefore, required construction of custom built racks to fit each of the enumerable iterations of the sizes and shapes of modules.
Many earlier suggestions for mounting panels, modules and arrays of photovoltaic devices on surfaces are cumbersome, unsafe, and not easily assembled or reconfigured. In the industry associated with clamps for installation of photovoltaic modules, the term "top down" refers to attaching a module to a rail on a frame using a clamp that secures to the uppermost portion of the module. For example, in the case of a module to be mounted on a building, one or more rails first would be attached to a footing grid that earlier has been attached to the surface, in this instance the roof; thereafter, one or more modules would be attached to the rails. Hardware that secures the module to the rails is attached from the top, or front, of the module. The term "bottom up" refers to positioning a photovoltaic module by first attaching the module to the footing grid and to the roof or other surface. In bottom up mounting, hardware used to secure the module to the rail is attached from the bottom or back of the module. The uniqueness of each installation, an installer's preferences, and the particular module all will determine whether a top down or bottom up installation is used. The embodiments described in the present disclosure refer to the top-down configuration.
Another limitation of current approaches for mounting photovoltaic modules to a surface is the excessive number and variety of hardware parts and components that are required for each clamp assembly. Each module or combination of modules installed may present different shapes, sizes and configurations, thus requiring a unique combination of mounting hardware.
Yet another limitation of current approaches for mounting modules to a surface is the location where clamps for securing the modules to the rails may be placed. Several current approaches require the clamp to be placed in a specific location to secure to the rail and in turn secure the module to the clamp. There is a need for a clamp that may be placed anywhere along a rail to securely clamp a module to a rail.
Still another limitation of current approaches is that in addition to securely clamping modules to rails, there must be a means for efficiently providing an electrical ground route in the case of a fault. Modules contain electric current that flows between the modules and to a storage module. In the case of a fault during installation, there is a need for a ground route between the modules so that current is safely diverted to ground. Prior art configurations require a separate infrastructure to for grounding the modules that can malfunction or otherwise be rendered inoperable. There is a need for a clamp that provides integrated bonding between modules to provide a ground route without the need for additional infrastructure.
Another limitation of current approaches to clamping modules to supports such as rail systems, is the use of a bolt that serves as both a fastener and a slider. According the current approaches, a bolt is inserted into a slot in a rail and is oriented such that the head of the bolt is within the slot and a clamp is placed over at least a portion of the panel and the bolt so that the bolt extends through the clamp. Unpredictable and varying force vectors caused by wind, rain, and other elements of weather as well as errors in installation may cause these clamp assemblies to disengage from the support system, causing a module to come loose and interrupt the electrical current between the modules or potentially fall off the support system.
Still another unresolved problem arises from the varying shapes, sizes and configurations of modules. The arrangement of the modules on a surface such as a roof may not be dimensionally consistent with the location of rafters underneath the roof into which hardware must be inserted to hold the footing grid and rails. Clamps for securing varying sized modules to rails are currently available in various sizes. These sized clamps require an installer to carry multiple clamps of varying sizes and fit each clamp before to ensure a proper fit. Additionally, there may be some modules for which none of the clamp sizes securely clamp the module to the rail. This could lead to a loose connection or loss of connection to the rail.
Therefore, a previously unaddressed need exists in the industry for a new and useful clamp assembly for positioning a device such as a photovoltaic panel, modules and arrays of photovoltaic devices on a surface such as a roof, pole or other surface. Particularly, there is a significant need for a method and apparatus for mounting one or more photovoltaic modules safely, reliably, yet quickly on a surface; removing or reconfiguring the modules just as safely, reliably and quickly; and providing a clamp assembly that is adjustable and expandable to allow a variety of dimensions and configurations. Additionally, there is a need for a new and useful clamp that will secure a module to a support and resist loads in all three directions while providing integrated bonding between the modules.


The present invention relates to a quinolinic acid-producing recombinant microorganism expressing a fusion protein of L-aspartate oxidase and quinolinate synthase linked via a linker, and a method for producing quinolinic acid using the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism producing quinolinic acid, and a method for producing quinolinic acid using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Quinolinic acid, which is also called 2,3-pyridine-dicarboxylic acid, has a wide variety of applications as a precursor of synthetic chemicals in the production of medicinal or agricultural chemicals, dyes or the like.
Quinolinic acid can be prepared by chemical or biological synthetic methods. because of using non-renewable materials derived from petroleum as the raw material, chemical synthetic methods are greatly influenced by environmental problems, oil prices or the unit cost of petroleum extraction.
For Example of a representative biological synthetic method, a method of producing quinolinic acid in an E. coli strain is disclosed that expression of genes encoding L-aspartate oxidase (NadB) and quinolinate synthase (NadA) is enhanced by cloning a plasmid having different copy numbers of the two genes into E. coli, of which quinolinate phosphoribosyltransferase activity is eliminated (Eur. J. Biochem. 175, 221-228 (1988), DE3826041). In this regard, the concentration of quinolinic acid produced is as low as 500 mg/L or less. The first reason of this low production of quinolinic acid is transcriptional suppression by NadR, which is a NAD-related transcriptional repressor of nadB encoding L-aspartate oxidase and nadA encoding quinolinate synthase. The second reason is feedback inhibition of L-aspartate oxidase, NadB protein by NAD. And the third reason is a weak biosynthetic pathway from carbon sources to L-aspartic acid in E. coli.
To solve the first reason, in Korean Patent laid-open No. 10-2012-0082673, a microorganism strain was used to increase the production of quinolinic acid to 5.5 g/L, wherein the promoter regions of L-aspartate oxidase (NadB) and quinolinate synthase (NadA), which are the quinolinate synthesis genes suppressed at the transcriptional level, were substituted with a constitutive promoter, and L-aspartic acid biosynthetic pathway is enhanced.
The biosynthetic pathway of quinolinic acid from L-aspartic acid by a biological synthetic method is as shown in the following reaction scheme:
1) L-aspartate Oxidase (NadB)L-aspartic acid+oxygen<=>hydrogen peroxide+α-iminosuccinate+H+
2) Quinolinate Synthase (NadA)α-iminosuccinate+dihydroxyacetone phosphate<=>quinolinic acid+phosphate+2H2O
α-iminosuccinate as an intermediate of the quinolinic acid biosynthetic pathway is an unstable substance, and is converted to oxaloacetate by natural deamination reaction in cells (THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, Vol. 257, No. 2, Issue of January 25. pp. 626-632, 1982). In general, when an unstable intermediate metabolite is used as a substrate, the low collision frequency between the substrate and enzyme produces a large amount of by-products. However, until now, there has been no attempt to solve the above problem regarding the production of quinolinic acid.
On the other hand, a fusion protein technology of linking heterogeneous enzymes or proteins via an amino acid linker to express as a single protein, has heen used for various purposes, such as increasing the protein expression level by linking a protein showing a low level-expression with a protein showing a high level-expression, increasing the protein purification yield by preparing a fusion protein linked with a tag, or the like.
Design of the linker is known to be important in the preparation of fusion proteins. In general, a helical linker having an alpha-helix structure or a flexible linker having structural flexibility has been frequently used, and for example, various linkers can be designed and used by the combination of the two linkers according to the characteristics of the fusion protein to be achieved.
The present inventors have tried to solve the reduced reaction due to unstable metabolites by expression of a fusion protein of NadB and NadA linked via various types of amino acid linkers, and then they found that quinolinic acid can be produced in a high yield by expression of the fusion protein, compared to the yield of the conventional biological production method, thereby completing the present invention.

Recombinant microorganism producing quinolinic acid and a method for producing quinolinic acid using the same


A network system provides video information on demand concerning real estate properties, and in principle includes a large number of real estate information server locations as viewing sites. The servers are interconnected by a dedicated hard wire network so that video information may be shared. The video information is recorded, stored, transferred, and displayed using high speed digital data handling techniques. The video information is accompanied by digitized audio sound tracks.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to methods for producing video presentations on demand, and more particularly to a method for making video programs available quickly and economically over a large geographic area.
2. Description of Prior Art
A primary objective in the real estate sales industry is to place high quality and appropriate real estate property information in the hands of buyers, quickly, inexpensively and locally. The so-called Multiple Listing Service (MLS) has been in use in the real estate sales industry for a number of years. The MLS publishes a printed magazine containing written descriptions and still photographs of real estate properties that are available for sale. The MLS also provides an on-line video presentation service the enables buyers to view still photographs of properties and to access details of these properties in written form on a video monitor. When a buyer appears in the marketplace he/she has the opportunity to consult the MLS as a preliminary step in making a match between the buyer's needs and those properties that are currently available for sale. The MLS system, although a great improvement over its predecessor systems has many faults and problems. Although the MLS fulfills the need for providing information relatively quickly, inexpensively and locally, it does not provide appropriate and high quality information. The buyer still must travel to the site of prospective properties in order to obtain an understating of the most important architectural factors accounting for most purchase decisions.
In the prior art describing high data rate distributive information systems, although nothing seems to exist in either common practice or in the literature relative to the real estate industry, the following references are of interest:
Ballantyne et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,079, shows a new and useful method and apparatus for distribution of movies for viewing on a customer's television set. Digitized compressed signals containing audio and visual components of the movie selected by the customer are sent to the customer's receiver. The digital signals are converted to corresponding electronic signals; which are decompressed and converted to audio and video signals. These converted signals are passed to a conventional television set for viewing by the customer.
Litteral et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,347, shows a public switched telephone network (PSTN) which provides a digital video signals from a video information provider to one or more of a plurality of subscriber premises. A subscriber uses either a standard telephone instrument over the PSTN or a dedicated control device over an ISDN packet network to order video programming. The request is transmitted to a designated video information provider and digital transmission connectivity is established between the video information provider and the central office serving the subscriber. Connectivity between the central office and subscriber is provided by asymmetrical digital subscriber line interface units over a local loop. The interface units frequency multiplex digital video information with voice information to the subscriber and support transmission of a reverse control channel form the subscriber to the central office for transmission on the ISDN packet data network back the video information provider. The interfaces also allow base band signaling and audio between the central office and the subscriber for conventional telephone instrument connectivity.
Gelman et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,532, shows a store-and-forward architecture which stores and distributes information programs to subscribers on demand including: information warehouses which archive information programs from multiple service vendors and dispense information programs in segments to central offices in high speed bursts; central offices which manages subscriber's request for service and buffers segments of information programs for delivery to subscribers in real-time under the subscriber's interactive control; and customer premises equipment where a subscriber's requests and control signals for interactive play-out of information program are generated and information programs are received for the subscriber's use.
De Bey, U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,031, shows a system and method of optimizing transmission of a program to multiple users over a distribution system, with particular application to video-on-demand for a CATV network. The system includes, at a head end of the CATV network a scheduling and routing computer for dividing the video program stored in long term fast storage or short term fast storage into a plurality of program segments, and a subscriber distribution node for transmitting the program segments in a redundant sequence in accordance with a scheduling algorithm. At a receiver of the CATV network there is provided a buffer memory for storing the transmitted video program segments for subsequent playback whereby, in use, the scheduling algorithm can ensure that a user's receiver will receive al of the programs segments in a manner that will enable continuous playback in real time of the program. Under the control of controller the receiver distinguishes received program segments by a segment identifier so that redundant segments captured in capture memory are then stored in buffer memory from which the segments can be retrieved and decompressed in data compressor for immediate or subsequent viewing.
Walters et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,334, shows an apparatus and method for broadcast burst transmission of compressed audio/video programs from a stored library to a multiplicity of subscribers. The stored programs are burst transmitted repeatedly in a predetermined sequence of entire programs or segments thereof to a receiver at each subscriber's location. Each receiver is operative for accessing the predetermined broadcast schedule, inputting a subscriber's order for one or more programs, monitoring the broadcast burst transmissions for the one or more ordered programs, receiving the one or more ordered programs in a burst time period corresponding to the time period of the burst transmission, and storing the one or more ordered programs. The subscriber then enjoys full VCR-like control over playback at his convenience of the ordered, stored programs, that are then decompressed by the receiver for viewing in real time.
Hooper et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,390, shows in a system for interactively viewing videos, a selected video is transmitted as a plurality of frames of digitized video data for playback on a viewing device. The system received the transmitted video data and includes a memory buffer for storing a segment of a selected one of the videos. The segment includes a predetermined number of frames representing a predetermined time interval of the selected video. In addition, the memory buffer including a write pointer and a read pointer. Software controlled servers are provided for writing and reading video data of the selected video to and from the memory buffer, independently, at locations indicated by the write and read pointers to transfer the selected video to the viewing device. By using a remote controller the viewer can position the read and write pointers to view any portion of the selected video interactively.
Beriont, U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,202, shows a network interface module operably connected to a subscriber's television receiver and to a switched broadband digital network includes a fiber-compatible digital transceiver. A downlink receiver in the transceiver detects video/audio/data information that is time-multiplexed within a serially transmitted digital signal optically transmitted by the switched digital network as a broadband digital downlink channel. The detected information is decoded into a parallel format of video/data samples, audio samples, and recovered sample clock that are applied to a digital switch in the television receiver.

Large scale distributive video on demand system for the distribution of real estate properties information


A submicron CMOS transistor is mounted on the same substrate together with an analog CMOS transistor, a high voltage-resistance MOS transistor, a bipolar transistor, a diode, or a diffusion resistor, without degrading the characteristics of these components. When a punch-through stopper area is formed on a main surface side of a semiconductor substrate, an area in which an analog CMOS transistor, a high voltage-resistance MOS transistor, a bipolar transistor, a diode, or a diffusion resistor is formed is masked, and for example, an ion injection is then carried out. Thus, a punch-through stopper area is formed in the area in which a submicron CMOS transistor is formed, while preventing the formation of a punch-through stopper area in the area in which an analog CMOS transistor, a high voltage-resistance MOS transistor, a bipolar transistor, a diode, or a diffusion resistor is formed.

In the prior art, small-scale logic circuits are mounted in power ICs and thus require no microfabrication process as in the case with memory or logic LSIs. However, in the field of power management for power ICs and the like, a self-correction process based on a CPU has recently been required to perform more sophisticated voltage monitoring and charging functions. This requires the mounting of large-scale logic circuits on power ICs.
In general, memory or logic LSIs comprise submicron MOS transistors having a channel length of 1 μm or shorter in order to further integration. Such a short-channel-type MOS transistor has a punch-through stopper layer formed therein in order to restrain punch-through between a source area and a drain area. A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising a punch-through stopper layer is described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 61-190983.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 60-10780 describes a method for forming a punch-through stopper layer using an ion injection method, while Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 60-105277 describes a method for manufacturing a MOS transistor employing an LDD structure with a P pocket in order to reduce the concentration of electric fields in the vicinity of the drain area.
However, when a submicron MOS transistor comprising a punch-through stopper layer as described above is integrated on the same substrate with an analog CMOS transistor, a high voltage-resistance MOS transistor, a bipolar transistor, a diode, and a diffusion resistor, if the analog CMOS transistor, high voltage-resistance MOS transistor, bipolar transistor, diode, and diffusion resistor also have a punch-through stopper layer formed therein, the accuracy of the threshold voltage of the analog CMOS transistor may decrease due to variations in the surface concentration of a diffusion layer of the punch-through stopper layer, or the high voltage-resistance MOS transistor may have a reduced voltage resistance.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a semiconductor integrated circuit device having a submicron CMOS transistor integrated on the same substrate with an analog CMOS transistor, a high voltage-resistance MOS transistor, a bipolar transistor, a diode, or a diffusion resistor, without degrading the characteristics of these components.
It would further be desirable to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device allowing a submicron CMOS transistor to be mounted on the same substrate together with an analog CMOS transistor, a high voltage-resistance MOS transistor, a bipolar transistor, a diode, or a diffusion resistor without degrading the characteristics of these components.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device and manufacture method therefore


A method and apparatus for supplying liquid anhydrous ammonia to a pump or other flow control system whereby a separation chamber removes vapor generated by friction in the flow path from a storage tank containing saturated anhydrous ammonia. Additionally, liquid ammonia in the separation chamber creates a static head pressure. The difference in height between the inlet near the top of the separation chamber and the outlet at the bottom causes the static head pressure. The static head assures pure liquid at the bottom since absolute pressure exceeds saturation pressure. As a result, the feed stream to the pump or other flow control system is free of ammonia vapor.

Injection of anhydrous ammonia into the soil is a commonly used method of supplying nitrogen fertilizer to grain and other crops using an applicator-vehicle pulled by a tractor. An ammonia storage tank is pulled behind the applicator. A hose connects the storage tank to the distribution system on the applicator. The distribution system splits the ammonia into separate lines which feed several knives. These knives are lowered into the soil several inches and ammonia is injected into the ground at the bottom of the knives as the knives are pulled through the soil.
It is normally desired that ammonia be applied uniformly over a field. One of the main problems is achieving this uniformity is difficulty in controlling a stream of mixed liquid and gaseous ammonia. Gaseous ammonia causes many flow sensors to supply incorrect data and causes many pump designs to become vapor locked. Refrigeration of the ammonia and pressurizing with a pump are methods of keeping liquid anhydrous ammonia below its saturation temperature.
A typical use of refrigeration is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,609 to Tofte. A part of the liquid ammonia is used as a refrigerant to cool the inlet liquid stream. This is accomplished in a heat exchanger which mechanically separates the stream of inlet liquid ammonia from a stream of coolant ammonia. Typically, the coolant stream taken from the main stream passes through a restriction, losing pressure. The lower pressure, lower temperature stream provides the cooling for the inlet liquid ammonia.
Another method of cooling the liquid ammonia stream is the use of an externally powered refrigeration system, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,757 to Kiest.
Pressurization of liquid ammonia for agricultural application is typically described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,592 to Ridgley and U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,079 to Swanson.
This invention relies on separation of gaseous ammonia from the liquid ammonia flow stream. Prior patents cover the separation of the gaseous phase for agricultural use. However, their methods and purposes are quite different from this invention. A typical example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,029 to Hudson which discusses the adiabatic expansion of anhydrous ammonia in an expansion chamber. This expansion creates a significant amount of gaseous ammonia. The gas and liquid are separated and utilized at relatively low pressures, generally close to ambient. The resulting liquid remains in a saturated state so that subsequent pressure drops create more gaseous ammonia. This approach is not useful as a method of feeding pumps or other flow control systems. Other similar patents are U.S. Pat. No. 3,978,681 to Kjelgaard et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,394 to Wiesboeck, U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,677 to Luria, U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,283 to Wiesboeck, U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,344 to Kjelgaard et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,555 to Kjelgaard et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,168 to Siebert, U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,500 to Kjelgaard et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,568 to Jones and U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,339 to Ward et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,217 to Jones removes gaseous ammonia from a pumped liquid stream. However, it separates out the gas phase after the pump inlet rather than before the inlet. This method requires a particular pump design. Many pump designs would become vapor locked with a mixed phase feed of gas and liquid as described in the patent.

Anhydrous ammonia fertilizer flow control apparatus and method


Conjugates containing a substance with coagulant activity, such as recombinant Factor IX, non-antigenic polymers, such as poly(ethylene glycol), are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of forming the novel conjugates of this invention.

The process of blood clotting typically begins with trauma to a blood vessel. The damaged vessel wall initiates hemostasis by causing adherence and accumulation of platelets at the injury site and by activating plasma proteins which initiate the coagulation process. A series of proteins, including Factor IX, are activated sequentially by specific proteolytic cleavages and conformational changes leading to the deposition of insoluble fibrin which curtails the blood flow.
Blood coagulation Factor IX circulates as an inactive zymogen. It enters the coagulation cascade after activation in the presence of Factor XIa or VIIa and tissue factor. The activated Factor IX (IXa) in turn activates Factor X in the presence of Factor VIIIa, phospholipids and calcium.
Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder caused by the lack of an essential blood factor. Hemophilia A (classic hemophilia) is the most common and is caused by a genetic deficiency or abnormality of Factor VIII. Hemophilia B is caused by a deficiency or abnormality of Factor IX. The genetic deficiency of Factor IX results in hemophilia B. It has been estimated that about 3000 patients in the U.S. alone suffer from hemophilia B.
Hemophilia is a heterogeneous disorder. Mutant blood Factor IX proteins can have clotting activities that vary from near normal to severely deficient. The clinical features of hemophilia A and B are identical. Less than 1% clotting factor activity is defined as severe hemophilia, and is accompanied by spontaneous bleeding in the muscles and larger joints. Repeated bleeding in joints causes arthropathy or hemarthroses which is a major chronic complication. Hemarthroses are worsened by muscle atrophy due to muscle bleedings. Often, repeated hemarthroses result in eventual deformity and crippling. In mild hemophilia (5-40% FVIII or FIX activity), bleeding does not occur except after trauma. Moderately severe hemophilia (1-5% FVIII or FIX activity) has clinical features between the severe and mild hemophilia.
Conventional treatment of hemophilia B consists of replacement of the deficient Factor IX from pooled donor plasma including fresh, frozen plasma or Factor IX concentrates. Pooled donor preparations, however, have been associated with the transmission of viral diseases such as hepatitis (eg. B, delta, non A non B) and HIV. This is in spite of increased purification techniques to reduce the virus load. It has been estimated that 50% of hemophilia patients are either hepatitis positive or HIV positive. These viral infections are now the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with hemophilia.
Further disadvantages of pooled donor plasma include the cost and availability of the purified blood factors. With increased purification steps, the cost of blood factor therapy has increased. Availability of the blood factors is also a concern. Theoretically, these factors should be administered prophylactically in many cases to avoid the sequelae of uncontrolled bleeding such as the development of joint disorders. However, cost, availability and the pharmacokinetics make an effective prophylactic therapy unfeasible.
With the advent of DNA technology, researchers have now cloned and are testing a number of recombinant blood factors, including Factor IX in patients with hemophilia. While recombinant technology may overcome the problems of viral contamination and availability, it does not affect the pharmacokinetics of the factors nor the formation of inhibitors (antibodies) in patients. It is estimated that 2-3% of all patients with hemophilia B will develop IgG antibodies that will nullify the value of replacement therapy. Inhibitor development occurs primarily in patients with severe hemophilia although antibodies to Factor IX in mild hemophilia have been reported. Approximately 5-15% of patients with severe hemophilia have antibodies to Factor VIII or IX. It has been estimated that the actual risk of developing neutralizing antibodies by age 20 is as high as 15-24%. Joint bleedings often cannot be controlled and adequately treated and many of these patients are severely handicapped.
To overcome the neutralizing effect of the antibodies, physicians can be forced to increase the dosage to the factor. However, there is often a decreased response to the replacement therapy despite increases in dosage. Care in administering the factors as well as the administration of steroids and other immunosuppressive agents such as azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and high-dose gammaglobulin G is often required to prevent or limit the development of antibodies and hypersensitivity reactions. Antibody depletion through plasmapheresis has been used to decrease the inhibitor titers in circulation. However, such immunosuppressive techniques have been only partially successful and raise the risk that the patient will be more vulnerable to opportunistic infections, e.g. HIV or hepatitis.
In light of the complications and risks inherent in the conventional treatment of hemophilia B, it is desirable to provide compositions having Factor IX activity which are less likely to cause the formation of inhibitor antibodies. In light of the high costs of Factor IX, it is also highly desirable to increase the in vivo circulating life of Factor IX activity.


A communications assembly includes a central processing unit and a plurality of portable communication assemblies. The central processing unit transmits central signals and for receiving remote communications from the portable communications assemblies. The portable communications assemblies are operatively connected to the central processing unit transmit the remote communications and receive the central communications. A communications hub is operatively connected between the central processing unit and each of the portable communications assemblies to control independent communication between the central processing unit and the portable communications assemblies. The central processing unit includes an incident identification module for receiving the remote communications and for identifying a portion of the remote communications from a portion of the portable communications assemblies as indicating a situation requiring a communication to be sent to the portion of the portable communications assemblies. The portion may include one or more than one portable communications assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to condition responsive indicating systems. More particularly, the invention relates to condition responsive indicating systems that include personal portable devices, to be worn or carried by individuals.
2. Description of the Related Art
The current landscape for monitoring and analyzing data to improve health and safety outcomes shows significant potential for improvement. For example, industrial safety has traditionally focused on three things: (i) providing equipment for physical protection of the worker (e.g., hardhat, shoes, gloves, eye and hearing protection); (ii) training the worker to avoid possible safety incidents (e.g., seminars, certifications, on the job training); and (iii) auditing safety behavior and taking corrective actions. Depending on the underlying industry, some form of interaction/communication between the worker and his/her environment is typically added to the safety equipment (e.g., radio, carbon monoxide monitor).
On average, an entity may expend thousands of dollars per person per year on discrete health and safety equipment and training, which varies depending on industry specific requirements. More recently, industrial safety applications are increasingly using IT systems to improve safety processes as well as tracking safety compliance. Those solutions are either hardware solutions (e.g., PDAs, asset tracking) or software solutions (e.g., certification and compliance tracking, safety management dashboards).
All of the current industrial safety solutions, however, are facing one major issue: once the worker has received his/her equipment and training, the responsibility to comply with the safety standards remains with the worker, depending on many cases on his/her experience and personal foresight on how to behave and react in a certain situation.

Condition responsive indication assembly and method


A fixed pattern display device of the dynamic drive type with high definition including cathodes formed into a fine pattern by conventional photolithography. The cathodes are made of a metal material having a low resistance and arranged on an insulating substrate in the form of wiring patterns for fixed display segments of each of display patterns together with the display patterns. ITO which is resistant to water is exposed in the form of anodes each acting as a common electrode, resulting in arrangement of any protective film being eliminated.

This invention relates to an organic electroluminescence device, and more particularly to an organic electroluminescence device which is constructed into a laminate structure including anodes, hole transport layers made of an organic compound, luminous layers made of an organic compound and cathodes laminated on each other and includes a plurality of fixed display segments and a method for manufacturing the same.
An organic electroluminescence device (hereinafter also referred to as "organic EL") is expected to be a device which is capable of being accommodated to a variety of applications extending from a back light and a fixed pattern display device to a dot matrix device.
A typical organic EL which has been conventionally known in the art is reported by Tang et al of Kodak in Appl. Phys. Lett. in 1987 and generally constructed as shown in FIG. 4. More particularly, the organic EL reported generally includes cathodes 31 each of which is an electrode made of Mg:Ag, Al:Li or the like, anodes 32 each of which is a transparent electrode made of indium tin oxide (ITO), light-emitting or luminous layers 33 and organic hole transport layers 34 laminated on each other and interposed between the cathodes 31 and the anodes 32, and a glass substrate 35 arranged on an outside of the anodes 32. The luminous layers 33 each are made of a thin film of an organic phosphor.
In the organic EL thus constructed, the luminous layer 33 made of the organic phosphor thin film has electrons and positive holes injected thereinto from the cathode 31 and anode 32. Then, the electrons and positive holes thus injected are subject to recombination to form excitons, so that display may be carried out utilizing emission of light (fluorescence or phosphorescence) obtained due to deactivation of the excitons. The light thus emitted is externally observed through the glass substrate 35.
Unfortunately, the conventional organic EL causes problems when it is used for fixed pattern display of increased density. More particularly, when a wiring of the cathode 31 is made of ITO inherently increased in specific resistance in the case that it is required to form a fine pattern by dynamic driving or to stretch wirings, a resistance of the wirings is caused to be increased, resulting in both non-uniform display and an increase in drive voltage being due to voltage drop through the wiring, leading to a failure to provide a fixed pattern display device of the dynamic drive type with high definition which has a wiring width as small as 0.1 mm or less. In order to address to the problem, it is required to remove a display section to carry out specific patterning such as, for example, a two-layer wiring or the like, to thereby correct the resistance, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 307997/1993. Unfortunately, this causes a deterioration in productivity of the organic EL.
Another problem of the conventional original EL is that when a signal electrode is formed by forming a metal material for the cathode with a fine pattern while using ITO as a common electrode, it is required to subject the cathode 31 made of a metal film formed on the organic luminous layer 33 to patterning by dry processing. This is for the reason that water absorbed on the organic EL deteriorates quality of the organic EL to adversely affect performance thereof, therefore, it is substantially impossible to subject the organic EL to a wet treatment after formation of the organic layer. Thus, photolithography cannot be applied to formation of the cathode 31 which is a metal electrode. Substitutionally, mask deposition or patterning by laser is attempted for this purpose as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 3076/1993. However, the mask deposition substantially fails to render the patterning fine, to thereby reduce a degree of freedom in design of the original EL. Also, the patterning by laser requires to scan laser, resulting in being time-consuming and deteriorating productivity of the original EL.
Further, in the conventional original EL, the cathode 31 is made of a metal material decreased in work function such as Al:Li, Mg:Ag, Mg:In or the like. Thus, the organic EL has a further disadvantage that it is required to form a protective film of fluororesin such as SiO, GeO or the like on the cathode 31, because the cathode 31 is exposed on the organic luminous layer 33.

Organic electroluminescence device having apertured insulation layers and method for manufacturing the same


A lensed fiber array is provided with lensed fibers whose front end faces are formed in a lens shape, a substrate in one of whose faces a plurality of grooves respectively matching said lensed fibers are formed, and a fixing member which aligns and fixes said lensed fibers by suppressing them against the grooved face of the substrate. The substrate, lensed fibers, and the fixing member are fastened to one another with adhesive. The front end faces of the lensed fibers are protruded from the front end face of either the substrate or the fixing member. This lensed fiber array can prevent deterioration in optical characteristics by preventing the adhesive from sticking to the front end faces of the lensed fibers.

The present invention relates to a lensed fiber array using lensed fibers each consisting of an optical fiber whose front end face is formed in a lens shape and a production method therefor, and more particularly to a lensed fiber array prevented from deterioration in optical characteristics by any adhesive sticking to the front end faces of its lensed fibers and a production method therefor.
In recent years, lensed fibers have come into use as optical fibers for coupling to laser diodes (LD) and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA). Lensed fibers are optical fibers whose front end faces are formed in a lens shape; they can converge lights having come incident by the lens effect of the fiber themselves and take those lights into the fiber cores without fail. Therefore, they have the advantage of being able to enhance the coupling efficiency of LDs and SOAs. And along with the increasing arrayed (multi-core) use of LD and SOAs, the demand is also rising for lensed fiber arrays in each of which lensed fibers are aligned in a multi-core manner.
Incidentally, an ordinary optical fiber array is configured of a plurality of optical fibers, a substrate in one of whose faces a plurality of grooves respectively matching the plurality of optical fibers are formed, and a fixing member which aligns and fixes the plurality of optical fibers by pressing them against the grooved face of the substrate, and these elements are fastened to one another with an adhesive.
Therefore, an ordinary optical fiber array can be produced by preparing a substrate in one of whose faces a plurality of grooves respectively matching the plurality of optical fibers are formed, mounting the plurality of optical fibers over the plurality of grooves in that substrate, aligning and fixing the plurality of optical fibers by pressing them against the grooved face of the substrate with a fixing member, and fastening these elements to one another with an adhesive.
The optical fiber array produced in this manner undergoes a process known as facing, namely polishing of its front end faces, to polish the front end faces of the optical fibers or to remove any adhesive that may have become stuck to the front end faces of the optical fibers, because if any adhesive is stuck to the front end faces of the optical fibers (especially the front end faces of the fiber cores), the optical characteristics of the optical fibers may be significantly deteriorated.
As a lensed fiber array has a basically similar structure to the ordinary optical fiber array, it can be produced in a manner similar to the above-described production method.
However, if a lensed fiber array is subjected to end face polishing after it is produced according to the above-described production method, there arises a problem that the lens parts at the front ends of the lensed fibers will be chipped off and become unable to function as originally intended, even though any adhesive that may have become stuck to the front end faces of the optical fibers can be removed. Thus, it is difficult to remove any adhesive stuck to the front end faces of lensed fibers subsequently by facing (i.e., polishing) as in the case of ordinary optical fibers.
The present invention has been completed, in view of the above-mentioned problem, and therefore its object is to provide a lensed fiber array of such a structure that, when the substrate, the lensed fibers and the fixing member are to be fastened to one another with adhesive, the adhesive is not allowed from the outset to stick to the front end faces of the lensed fibers and a production method therefor.

Lensed fiber array and production method thereof


The system provides improved procedures to estimate head motion between two images of a face. Locations of a number of distinct facial features are identified in two images. The identified locations can correspond to the eye corners, mouth corners and nose tip. The locations are converted into as a set of physical face parameters based on the symmetry of the identified distinct facial features. The set of physical parameters reduces the number of unknowns as compared to the number of equations used to determine the unknowns. An initial head motion estimate is determined by: (a) estimating each of the set of physical parameters, (b) estimating a first head pose transform corresponding to the first image, and (c) estimating a second head pose transform corresponding to the second image.

One interesting and difficult problem in computer graphics is the effortless generation of realistic looking, animated human face models. Animated face models are essential to computer games, film making, online chat, virtual presence, video conferencing, etc. So far, the most popular commercially available tools have utilized laser scanners. Not only are these scanners expensive, the data are usually quite noisy, requiring hand touchup and manual registration prior to animating the model. Because inexpensive computers and cameras are widely available, there is a great interest in producing face models directly from images. In spite of progress toward this goal, the available techniques are either manually intensive or computationally expensive.
Facial modeling and animation has been a computer graphics research topic for over 25 years [6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 30, 31, 33]. The reader is referred to Parke and Waters' book [23] for a complete overview.
Lee et al. [17, 18] developed techniques to clean up and register data generated from laser scanners. The obtained model is then animated using a physically based approach.
DeCarlo et al. [5] proposed a method to generate face models based on face measurements randomly generated according to anthropometric statistics. They showed that they were able to generate a variety of face geometries using these face measurements as constraints.
A number of researchers have proposed to create face models from two views [1, 13, 4]. They all require two cameras which must be carefully set up so that their directions are orthogonal. Zheng [37] developed a system to construct geometrical object models from image contours, but it requires a turn-table setup.
Pighin et al. [26] developed a system to allow a user to manually specify correspondences across multiple images, and use vision techniques to computer 3D reconstructions. A 3D mesh model is then fit to the reconstructed 3D points. They were able to generate highly realistic face models, but with a manually intensive procedure.
Blanz and Vetter [3] demonstrated that linear classes of face geometries and images are very powerful in generating convincing 3D human face models from images. Blanz and Vetter used a large image database to cover every skin type.
Kang et al. [14] also use linear spaces of geometrical models to construct 3D face models from multiple images. But their approach requires manually aligning the generic mesh to one of the images, which is in general a tedious task for an average user.
Fua et al. [8] deform a generic face model to fit dense stereo data, but their face model contains a lot more parameters to estimate because basically all of the vertexes are independent parameters, plus reliable dense stereo data are in general difficult to obtain with a single camera. Their method usually takes 30 minutes to an hour, while ours takes 2-3 minutes.
Guenter et al. [9] developed a facial animation capturing system to capture both the 3D geometry and texture image of each frame and reproduce high quality facial animations. The problem they solved is different from what is addressed here in that they assumed the person's 3D model was available and the goal was to track the subsequent facial deformations.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method providing improved head motion estimations for animation

Abstract: The head motion estimate can be incorporated into a feature matching algorithm to refine the head motion estimation and the physical facial parameters.

Abstract: In one implementation, an inequality constraint is placed on a particular physical parameter—such as a nose tip, such that the parameter is constrained within a predetermined minimum and maximum value. The inequality constraint is converted to an equality constraint by using a penalty function. Then, the inequality constraint is used during the initial head motion estimation to add additional robustness to the motion estimation.


A folding lawn chair with tray including a left support member and a right support member. Each support member has a first end, a second end and four bends that form two upper bends, a front lower bend and a rear lower bend. The front lower bend and the rear bend, of each support member, have a linear portion therebetween for resting on a receiving surface. A pair of long bars are coupled to the left support member. A pair of short bars are coupled to the right support member. A tray is fixedly attached to the long bars when they are the coupled to the left support member. Included are a pair of sheets, with one sheet positionable over the first end of each support member and another sheet having a first and second pass through. A pair of tubular members are positioned within the first and second pass through. A pair of cross-bars being positioned between the left and right support members. Each cross-bar is coupled to the long bar of the left support member and the short bar of the right support member. Lastly, a plurality of bracket members with two of the plurality of brackets coupled to the linear portion of each of the support members and a bottom end of each cross-bar for coupling the support members and cross-bar to form a chair.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a folding lawn chair with tray and more particularly pertains to providing a lawn chair that is portable and further has a collapsible tray attached to one of the support members.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of a lawn chair is known in the prior art. More specifically, lawn chairs heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of sitting outside are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,956 to Hofmeyer discloses a foldable table attachment for a collapsible chair. U.S. Pat. Des. No. 346,516 to D'Anna et al. discloses an attachable lawn chair table. U.S. Pat. Des. No. 299,991 to Hershberger discloses a table attachment for folding chair. U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,206 to Pribble discloses a table attachment for chairs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,685 to Leonhart discloses a combined lawn chair and table recliner. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,496 to Phillips and Shipley discloses a folding lawn chair table.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe folding lawn chair with tray that has a lawn chair with a tray attached that folds in and out while the tray collapses with the folding of the chair.
In this respect, the Folding lawn chair with tray according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a lawn chair that is portable and further has a collapsible tray attached to one of the support members.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved Folding lawn chair with tray which can be used for providing a lawn chair that is portable and further has a collapsible tray attached to one of the support members. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


An optical accessory holder such as an adapter or a focuser drawtube having a passageway through the holder body defining a lengthwise central axis through the passageway. The holder body has an inner surface which includes two substantially linear inner edges parallel to the lengthwise central axis. The inner edges are fixed with respect to the holder body. The holder also includes a clamping member opposite the two inner edges which may be moved with respect to the holder body toward the two inner edges. The holder body may have a partially cylindrical exterior surface. The holder body may also include two substantially linear exterior edges parallel to the lengthwise central axis.

As used herein an optical instrument is defined as any type of complex optical device including but not limited to telescopes, microscopes or similar optical devices. Typically, an optical instrument will include multiple optical elements such as mirrors, lenses, or prisms arranged to collect and focus light for observation, analysis or imaging. For example, a telescope may include an objective lens set, an objective mirror, or a combination of objective lens and mirror elements which function primarily to collect and focus light. Similarly, a microscope may include multiple selectable objective lens elements.
Both telescopes and microscopes configured for visual use also include ocular elements, commonly referred to as eyepieces, which are positioned in the optical system at or near the image plane formed by the objective. Alternatively, a camera having a film surface or electronic detector may be placed in the optical system at or near the image plane. In other instances an instrument such as a spectrometer may be positioned at or near the system focal plane. Typically, an optical system is designed so that eyepieces, cameras, imagers or other tools which in use are positioned at or near the image plane may be removed or interchanged as needed. For example, a telescope may be designed to interchangeably receive and hold various eyepieces having different selected focal lengths so that a user of the telescope may readily select an appropriate magnification and field of view for viewing an optical image. Similarly, optical instruments such as telescopes are typically configured to selectively receive either an eyepiece or an imaging device depending upon whether the user wants to record an image or directly view through the instrument. Furthermore, many important tasks such as the collimation of the optical elements in a complex optical instrument may be best performed with various tools which are received and held in the optical instrument at or near the eyepiece/image plane position.
Accordingly, telescopes, microscopes and similar optical instruments typically include an opening and clamping mechanism away from the objective, which opening is appropriately sized to receive and support the types of accessories which will typically be used with the selected optical instrument. For example, many telescopes and microscopes have an opening and associated clamping mechanism associated with a focusing mechanism that can receive selected eyepieces, the nose pieces of cameras, collimation tools or similar accessories. All of these accessories typically have a cylindrical barrel which is clamped into a corresponding cylindrical opening with a set screw or similar device.
The proper operation of an optical instrument requires that the various optical elements of the system be properly aligned with respect to an optical axis. For example, the proper operation of a telescope requires that the optical axis of the various lens elements within an eyepiece be aligned with the overall optical axis of the objective. Misalignment between these axes will introduce aberrations into the image viewed through the eyepiece. Similarly, the film plane or plane of an electronic image detector associated with a camera attached to a telescope must be normal to the optical axis of the telescope objective to avoid aberrations in the recorded image. Accordingly, it is desirable that an eyepiece holder support an eyepiece or other accessory such that the optical axis of the eyepiece or other accessory is both parallel to the main optical axis of the instrument and concentric with the main optical axis of the instrument.
As mentioned above, an eyepiece or accessory holder is typically sized to receive eyepieces or accessories having a standard barrel diameter. For example, most modern telescope eyepieces have a diameter of either 1¼ inches or 2 inches. Accordingly, the nose pieces for cameras or the barrels of other accessories such as collimation devices are also prepared to have either a 1¼ inch or 2 inch diameter. Many telescopes have an eyepiece holder which is slightly greater than 2 inches in diameter. By optionally using an adapter with a 2 inch outer diameter and a 1¼ inch opening, the 2 inch holder of the instrument may be utilized with both 1¼ or 2 inch diameter accessories and eyepieces.
Most known holders or adapters feature a slightly over-sized cylindrical opening into which the cylindrical barrel of an eyepiece or accessory is placed. The eyepiece may then be clamped with a set screw, multiple set screws, a collet or a combination of set screws and compression bands. The foregoing clamping strategies typically rely in part upon contact between the cylindrical exterior surface of the accessory and a cylindrical interior surface of the holder, a telescope drawtube for example. As shown in FIG. 1, a prior art holder 1 having a cylindrical drawtube 3 and a clamping mechanism such as set screw 5 allows significant misalignment between the accessory 7 and the primary optical axis. The source of much misalignment is the contact point 9 between the accessory barrel and the inner cylindrical surface of the drawtube 3. Misalignment can be reduced by precise machining of the corresponding surfaces; however this is not practical as very close tolerances will result in some accessories jamming in the drawtube opening. Also, the precision of the sizing of an accessory barrel is outside of the control of an instrument manufacturer.
There are two components to the potential misalignment. First, there may be lateral displacement of the axis of the accessory with respect to the primary optical axis. Lateral displacement does not destroy the parallel relationship between these two axes but does result in the primary and accessory axis no longer being concentric. In addition, the axis of the optical accessory may be tipped or skewed with respect to the primary optical axis, such that the parallel relationship of these axes is lost. In many applications moderate lateral misalignment can be tolerated, but even small amounts of tipping or skew will negatively affect optical performance. In other applications, such as imaging, or the precise collimation of instrument optics using collimation tools even relatively small levels of lateral misalignment or skew may be problematic.
The embodiments disclosed herein are directed to overcoming one or more of the problems detailed above.


The present invention relates to a portable, hand-held distance-measurement apparatus comprising a laser range finder which is aimed by an active viewfinder. The active viewfinder improves the accuracy of the range finder by giving the user more visual feedback and thus allowing the user better control over the ranging operation. Under user command, the viewfinder enters a targeting mode wherein the user is presented with a illuminated targeting indicator inside the viewfinder. The indicator is superimposed upon the field-of-view seen through the viewfinder. In the targeting mode, the user aims the range finder by placing the targeting indicator on the object to be ranged. Once the device is aimed, the user commands the distance-measurement device to execute a distance measurement cycle. In one embodiment, targeting indicator flashes in various ways to indicate the quality of the data being obtained during the distance measurement cycle. When enough data has been obtained to compute the distance, then the targeting indicator turns off, letting the user know that the display has been updated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the field of laser range finding devices for measuring the distance between the device and a remote object or surface. In particular, the present invention pertains to portable, hand-held distance-measurement devices.
2. Background Information
There are several prior art distance-measurement systems that have utilized a laser range finder. These systems generally transmit a beam of light energy, receive a reflection of the light beam, and measure the difference in time between the transmission and reception of the light beam.
Most laser range finding systems utilize a high-speed clock to count the time lapse between the transmission and reception of light pulses. High-speed clocks and other high-speed components required to implement such a technique consume too much electrical energy for practical use in a portable, battery-operated range finder. Most of the prior art range finder systems cannot operate for an adequate period of time using conventional batteries that are small enough for truly portable use.
In addition, most of the prior art distance-measurement systems require that the light beam from the range finder be incident on the intended target for a specified minimum period of time. If the user of the range finder even slightly moves the range finder so that the light beam no longer contacts the intended target, the measurements obtained by the range finder are generally inaccurate. Thus, most distance-measurement systems require that the range finder be mounted on a steady and secure surface, which prevents their use in an application that calls for a hand-held device.

Hand-held distance-measurement device with an enhanced viewfinder


Compounds of formula (I) wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, X are as defined in the specification and are prepared by elimination of one of the groups X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 from a compound of formula (II) wherein X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 each independently represent a carboxylic acid group or salt thereof, or a protected carboxylic acid group, the non-eliminated group X.sub.1 or X.sub.2 corresponding to the group X in the desired compound of formula (I). ##STR1##

Compounds which have the property of inhibiting the action of metalloproteinases involved in connective tissue breakdown such as the collagenases, stromelysins and gelatinases (known as "matrix metalloproteinases", and herein referred to as MMPs) are thought to be potentially useful for the treatment or prophylaxis of conditions involving such tissue breakdown, for example rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteopenias such as osteoporosis, periodontitis, gingivitis, corneal epidermal or gastric ulceration, and tumour metastasis, invasion and growth. It has been found that hydroxamic acid MMP inhibitors can also inhibit the production of the cytokine tumour necrosis factor ("TNF"). Compounds which inhibit the production or action of TNF are thought to be potentially useful for the treatment or prophylaxis of many inflammatory, infectious, immunological or malignant diseases. These include, but are not restricted to, septic shock, haemodynamic shock and sepsis syndrome, post ischaemic reperfusion injury, malaria, Crohn's disease, mycobacterial infection, meningitis, psoriasis, congestive heart failure, fibrotic disease, cachexia, graft rejection, cancer, autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, radiation damage, toxicity following administration of immunosuppressive monoclonal antibodies such as OKT3 or CAMPATH-1 and hyperoxic alveolar injury.
Metalloproteinases are characterised by the presence in the structure of a zinc(II) ionic site. It is now known that there exists a range of metalloproteinase enzymes that includes fibroblast collagenase (Type 1), PMN-collagenase, 72 kDa-gelatinase, 92 kDa-gelatinase, stromelysin, stromelysin-2 and PUMP-1. Many known MMP inhibitors are peptide derivatives, based on naturally occuring amino acids, and are analogues of the cleavage site in the collagen molecule. Other known MMP inhibitors are less peptidic in structure, and may more properly be viewed as pseudopeptides or peptide mimetics. Such compounds usually have a functional group capable of binding to the zinc (II) site in the MMP, and known classes include those in which the zinc binding group is a hydroxamic acid, carboxylic acid, sulphydryl, and oxygenated phosphorus (eg phosphinic acid and phosphonamidate including aminophosphonic acid) groups.
Two known classes of pseudopeptide or peptide mimetic MMP inhibitors have a hydroxamic acid group and a carboxylic group respectively as their zinc binding groups. With a few exceptions, such known MMPs may be represented by the structural formula (A) ##STR2## in which Z is the zinc binding hydroxamic acid (--CONHOH) or carboxylic acid (--COOH) group and the groups R.sub.1 to R.sub.5 are variable in accordance with the specific prior art disclosures of such compounds. Examples of patent publications disclosing such structures are given below.
The following patent publications disclose hydroxamic acid- and/or carboxylic acid-based MMP inhibitors:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,361 (Searle) PA1 EP-A-2321081 (ICI) PA1 EP-A-0236872 (Roche) PA1 EP-A-0274453 (Bellon) PA1 WO 90/05716 (British Biotech) PA1 WO 90/05719 (British Biotech) PA1 WO 91/02716 (British Biotech) PA1 WO 92/09563 (Glycomed) PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,900 (Glycomed) PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,326 (Glycomed) PA1 WO 92117460 (SB) PA1 EP-A-0489577 (Celltech) PA1 EP-A-0489579 (Celltech) PA1 EP-A-0497192 (Roche) PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5256657 (Sterling) PA1 WO 92/13831 (British Biotech) PA1 WO 92/22523 (Research Corp) PA1 WO 93109090 (Yamanouchi) PA1 WO 93/09097 (Sankyo) PA1 WO 93/20047 (British Biotech) PA1 WO 93/24449 (Celltech) PA1 WO 93124475 (Celltech) PA1 EP-A-0574758 (Roche) PA1 EP-A-0575844 (Roche) PA1 WO 94/02446 (British Biotech) PA1 WO 94/02447 (British Biotech) PA1 WO 94/21612 (Otsuka) PA1 WO 94/21625 (British Biotech) PA1 WO 94124140 (British Biotech) PA1 WO 94/25434 (Celltech) PA1 WO 94/25435 (Celltech PA1 WO 95/04033 (Celltech) PA1 WO 95/04735 (Syntex) PA1 WO 95/04715 (Kanebo) PA1 WO 95/09841 (British Biotech) PA1 WO 95/12603 (Syntex) PA1 WO 95/19956 (British Biotech) PA1 WO 95/19957 (British Biotech) PA1 WO 95/19961 (British Biotech) PA1 WO 95/19965 (Glycomed) PA1 WO 95123790 (SB) PA1 (a) one or more substituents independently selected from hydroxyl, halogen, --CN, --CO.sub.2 H, --CO.sub.2 (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, -(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl-CO.sub.2 (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, --CONH.sub.2, --CONH(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, --CON((C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl).sub.2, --CHO, --CH.sub.2 OH, --(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)perfluoroalkyl, --O(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, --S(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, --SO(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, --SO.sub.2 (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, --NO.sub.2, --N H.sub.2, --NH(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, --N((C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl).sub.2, or --NHCO(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, or PA1 (b) a group selected from (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, (C.sub.2 -C.sub.6)alkenyl, (C.sub.2 -C.sub.6)alkynyl, (C.sub.3 -C.sub.8)cycloalkyl, (C.sub.4 -C.sub.8)cycloalkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, heteroaryl or heteroarylmethyl any of which groups may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen, hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)perfluoroalkyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, --O(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl or --S(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl; and PA1 --CH(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 perfluoroalkyl).sub.2 ; PA1 --C(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 perfluoroalkyl).sub.3 ; or PA1 --C(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl).sub.2 R.sup.11 or a 3 to 8 membered cycloalkyl group substituted by (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl or R.sup.11 at the alpha-position, wherein

Synthesis of carboxylic acid derivatives


An inflatable pillow having fastening strips along one edge thereof is attachable to an external structure to enable easy attachment of the pillow to the structure, followed by inflation and use by a user. Suction cups may also be provided along the pillow edge for attachment to a vertical galss window.

Many passengers, when falling asleep during a journey, tend to lean and bump their heads against the car side or car window. This may endanger them and cause lasting damage (headaches etc.) in the future. Using any known pillow (either inflated or not) is not successful because the pillow tends to slide down along the vertical surface. The present invention relates to an inflatable pillow for passengers which can be hung upon vertical surfaces (e.g. car windows) to improve passengers comfort.


Compositions for treating fabric articles, especially articles of clothing, linens and drapery, wherein the compositions provide improved cleaning of soils from and/or care of and/or treatment of fabric articles, especially while providing an antimicrobial agent.

For the cleaning of fabric articles consumers currently have the choice of conventional laundry cleaning or dry cleaning.
Conventional laundry cleaning is carried out with relatively large amounts of water, typically in a washing machine at the consumer's home, or in a dedicated place such as a coin laundry. Although washing machines and laundry detergents have become quite sophisticated, the conventional laundry process still exposes the fabric articles to a risk of dye transfer and shrinkage. Significant portions of fabric articles used by consumers are not suitable for cleaning in a conventional laundry process. Even fabric articles that are considered "washing machine safe" frequently come out of the laundry process badly wrinkled and require ironing.
Dry cleaning processes rely on non-aqueous solvents for cleaning. By avoiding water these processes minimize the risk of shrinkage and wrinkling; however, cleaning of soils, particularly water-based and alcohol-based soils, is very limited with these processes. Typically, the dry-cleaner removes such soils by hand prior to the dry-cleaning process. These methods are complex, requiring a wide range of compositions to address the variety of stains encountered, very labor intensive and often result in some localized damage to the treated article.
Non-aqueous washing technologies are now emerging for home use. These technologies typically involve the use of a specialized laundering device equipped to utilize various solvents. An example of such washing technologies is illustrated in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0133886 to Severns et al. In order to obtain the most thorough cleaning, these technologies use various compositions for cleaning.
When dealing with any cleaning process, microbes and microbe concentrations are extremely important. The presence of microbes can cause cleaning results that are unsatisfactory. For instance, microbial infestations in fabric cleaning can result in fabric articles having an unpleasant odor or discoloration.
Non-aqueous washing techniques have many areas where microbial contamination could become problematic. Accordingly there is an unmet need providing antimicrobial agents to laundering devices and compositions for non-aqueous washing.

Fabric care compositions for lipophilic fluid systems containing an antimicrobial agent


A waste toner collecting device incorporated in electrophotographic equipment of the type electrostatically forming a latent image on a photoconductive element, developing the latent image by a toner, and transferring the resulted toner image to a recording medium. The device collects a waste toner having been removed from the photoconductive element after the image transfer in a storing section thereof. An auger for conveying the waste toner to the storing section is operatively connected to a drive shaft by a mechanism which is disposed in the storing section and constituted by pin gears each having a number of uniquely configured pins.

The present invention relates to electrophotographic equipment of the type electrostatically forming a latent image on a photoconductive element, developing the latent image by a toner, and transferring the resulted toner image to a recording medium. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a device incorporated in such equipment for collecting a waste toner having been removed from the photoconductive element after the image transfer.
An electrophotographic copier, laser printer or similar equipment of the type described is extensively used today. It is a common practice with such equipment to incorporate a device for collecting a waste toner which is removed from a photoconductive element by a cleaning device after the transfer of a toner image to be discarded. A predominant type of waste toner collecting device has an auger for conveying the waste toner to a waste toner storing section. The auger is implemented by, for example, a helical wire which is connected to a drive shaft to be rotated thereby. Usually, the auger is operatively connected to the drive shaft by gears or a belt and pulley device. Specifically, when the drive shaft and auger extend perpendicular to each other, the interconnection thereof is implemented by a worm gear or bevel gears.
A problem with the conventional implementation using a worm gear or bevel gears as stated above is that the waste toner conveyed by the auger is apt to enter and fill the space between nearby teeth of each gear element. It is likely, therefore, that the coactive gear elements are partly brought out of mesh to prevent the auger from rotating smoothly. Further, when use is made of a belt and pulley device for the interconnection of the auger and drive shaft, the waste toner is apt to enter the grooves of the pulleys, causing the belt to slip out of the pulleys.

Waste toner collecting device for electrophotographic equipment