An outboard motor includes an internal combustion engine powering the outboard motor and a cowl covering the engine and having a vent allowing air under the cowl. A throttle body meters flow of the air into the engine and an intake structure downstream of the throttle body delivers the metered airflow to one or more combustion chambers in a cylinder block of the engine. A sound enhancement assembly in acoustic communication with the intake structure collects sounds emitted by the engine. The sound enhancement assembly is configured to amplify a subset of the collected sounds that have frequencies within a desired frequency range. A method for modifying sounds produced by an air intake system of an internal combustion engine powering an outboard motor is also disclosed. The method includes positioning a sound enhancement assembly in acoustic communication with an air intake passageway located downstream of the engine's throttle body.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,300, hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a marine engine with a multi-section injection-molded thermoplastic air box directing air to the fuel system's air intake throat and silencing engine noise emitted back through the throat. The air box has a cover section and a base section mounted to each other solely by a seal along a peripheral seam around the entire perimeter thereof, to prevent fuel leaks. The housing sections are preassembled to each other prior to mounting to the air intake throat. A removeable plug in the cover section allows access through the cover section to bolts mounting the base section to the throat. Access is also enabled to a fuel adjustment screw to enable adjustment, with the air box fully assembled and mounted in place on the throat, to enable adjustment under actual operating conditions. Air guide passages and an air plenum chamber are all molded in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,538, hereby incorporated by reference, discloses an air intake system for an internal combustion engine associated with the power head of an outboard marine propulsion system. The engine includes a vertical crank shaft and a flywheel mounted to the crank shaft above the engine block. An air manifold is mounted to the forward side of the engine, and includes an air inlet for receiving intake air. The air intake system includes an air flow path or duct defined by a series of walls, a rearwardly facing air intake opening, and a discharge opening for supplying intake air to the air manifold inlet. The engine is enclosed within a cowl assembly, and the air intake opening is located toward the upper end of the cowl assembly interior. The walls defining the air flow duct are formed integrally with a flywheel cover for facilitating assembly of the air flow duct to the engine. The air flow duct minimizes ingestion of water into the engine and reduces engine noise in the boat.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,359,981, hereby incorporated by reference, discloses an outboard motor including a system for enhancement of a first subset of sounds having a desired frequency, and a method for modifying sounds produced by an air intake system for an internal combustion engine powering the outboard motor. The method includes collecting sounds emitted in an area proximate a throttle body of the engine. A first subset of the collected sounds, which have frequencies within desired frequency range, is then amplified. The amplified first subset of sounds is then transmitted to an area outside a cowl covering the engine.
Unpublished U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/091,007, filed Apr. 5, 2016, and hereby incorporated by reference, discloses an outboard motor including an internal combustion engine and a cowl covering the engine. An air vent allows intake air into the cowl, an air intake duct routes the intake air from the air vent to the engine, and a throttle body meters flow of the intake air from the air intake duct into the engine. A sound enhancement device is located proximate the throttle body. A sound duct is provided, and has an inlet end located proximate the sound enhancement device and an outlet end located proximate an outer surface of the cowl. The sound enhancement device is tuned to amplify a first subset of sounds having a desired frequency that are emitted from the throttle body, and the sound duct transmits the amplified sounds to an area outside the cowl. A method for modifying sounds produced by an air intake system of an outboard motor is also provided.

Outboard motor with sound enhancement device and method for modifying sounds produced by air intake system of an outboard motor


An ultrasound diagnostic device includes a plurality of channels configured to receive data and a scan line data forming unit including a plurality of sub-scan line data forming groups and a data summing unit. The sub-scan line data forming group forms partial data of scan lines, and the data summing unit forms scan line data of the scan lines by summing the partial data. The sub-scan line data forming group includes a plurality of sub-scan line data forming units for forming the partial data of the scan lines by using the receiving data and providing a transmission path of the receiving data. First data lines transmit the receiving data between at least one of the sub-scan data forming unit and the channels, and second data lines transfer the receiving data between the sub-scan line data forming units.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to an ultrasound diagnostic device, and more particularly to an ultrasound diagnostic device including receiving data a transmission lines between scan line data forming units and channels. The present invention also relates to a method of forming the scan line data.
2. Background Art
Ultrasound signals transmitted from a transducer (an element) of ultrasound diagnostic device are reflected on a discontinuous surface of acoustic impedance, i.e., on a surface of a reflector in a target object. The transducer converts the reflected ultrasound signals into electric receiving signals. An ultrasound image showing an internal state of the target object is formed with the receiving signals.
To improve the resolution of the ultrasound image, a plurality of transducers is adopted, which are aligned in an array. In case of adopting a plurality of transducers, an outspread of the ultrasound signals can be effectively prevented and receiving sensitivity can be increased compared to the case of adopting a single transducer. Further, it is possible to focus the ultrasound beam electrically.
Focusing of the ultrasound beam includes a transmitting focusing and a receiving focusing. In the transmitting focusing, a transmitting order of the transducers is determined in consideration of the distance differences between the transducers and a focal point. The ultrasound signals transmitted from all the transducers, which participate in simultaneous transmitting, are simultaneously added at the same focal point in a phase. Thus, amplitudes of the transmitting ultrasound signals are at maximum at the focal point. In the receiving focusing, time delays are applied to the ultrasound signals reflected from the focal point so that the ultrasound signals have the same phase, as if the reflected ultrasound signals respectively arrive at the transducers at the same time.
With more focal points, a better resolution can be guaranteed. However, in forming an ultrasound image, the same signal processes should be performed repeatedly as many as the number of the focal points. Thus, the frame rate is decreased in proportion to the focal points. In order to solve this problem, a dynamic receiving focusing is introduced for a fine focusing. According to the dynamic focusing, the number of the receiving focal points increases, while the number of transmitting focal points is fixed. However, the improvement in the resolution is limited due to the fixed number of the transmitting focal points. U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,511 discloses an ultrasound signal focusing method and apparatus for forming data of a scan line by using all the transmitting beams of neighboring scan lines.
For improving a lateral resolution of the ultrasound image and a signal to noise ratio (SNR), it is preferable to transmit the receiving signals (RF data obtained from the receiving signals) provided by all of the transducers participating in one time of receiving (simultaneous receiving), namely, the receiving signals form a full aperture, to a signal focusing unit and a beam former, and to perform synthetic aperture imaging (SAI) with a full frame rate. However, to perform the SAI with the receiving signals from the full aperture, low resolution images (LRIs) of all the scan lines should be formed at the same time, and the LRIs are used to update high-resolution images (HRIs) previously formed. Thus, the receiving signals forming the full aperture should be used to form the respective scan lines, which require more complicated hardware (H/W).
In case of adopting "N" number of channels and "M" number of scan line data former, M×N number of data lines should be configured between the channels and the scan line data formers. Further, M number of RF buffers and accumulators for storing and updating scan line data are needed in consideration of the focusing delay and the apodization. For example, if N=M=128, then 16384 data lines are needed for connecting channels CH0 to CH7 and scan line data formers SC0 to SC7 according to a connection scheme shown in FIG. 1. It is not easy to configure the complicated connecting structure of FIG. 1 on a printed circuit board (PCB), although the semiconductor fabrication technique is being developed rapidly.

Ultrasound diagnostic device and method for forming scan line data


A video camera which is able to reverse the direction of the moving focus lens if appropriate evaluation data is not obtained within a certain period of time after an intermediate point is detected during the focus lens movement in one direction. This eliminates the redundant operation of the focus lens moving away from the just-focus point all the way to the extreme of the current direction before heading back to the just-focus point during an auto focus operation. An efficient auto focus operation is thus achieved. In addition, control is provided for not using a decrease in accumulated data as auto focus control information if that decrease is judged to be an abrupt drop from the accumulated data obtained in the immediately preceding focus lens position. This makes it possible to prevent the focus lens from being erroneously focused in cases of panning and other focus-disrupting operations. In this manner, the photographing of high quality is always made available.

1. Field of the Invention;
The present invention relates to a video camera that provides an auto focus function not only in a normal region ranging from telephoto to wide angle settings, but also in a macro region.
2. Description of the Prior Art;
Prior art video cameras having an auto focus function automatically drive the focus lens in what is known as a normal region between two extreme settings, i.e., between telephoto and wide-angle settings.
One known focus lens drive control method (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 62-146628) is based illustratively on the principle that the frequency components of the video signal, with the exception of the DC component thereof, are maximized at a point where the lens is in focus. Under this method, the frequency components of the video signal excluding the DC component thereof are accumulated, and the result is used as evaluation data. In operation, the lens is positioned so that the evaluation data is maximized. This is the so-called mountain climbing control. The focus ring for the lens is driven by a motor arrangement controlled in speed by varying the supplied DC voltage.
Assume that the focus lens, i.e., its focus ring, is controlled in movement relative to an object within a region between a near position N (wide angle) and a far position .infin. (telephoto) so that the curve of evaluation data Dt is obtained as shown in FIG. 9. In that case, if the focus lens is at a point P.sub.1 at the start of an auto focus operation, the focus lens is moved in a given direction so as to verify the direction in which the evaluation data Dt is maximized. As the focus lens is driven in that data maximizing direction, the evaluation data Dt is consecutively acquired. Near the peak of the evaluation data curve, the focus lens is fine-tuned in movement toward either the N or the .infin. setting. Ultimately, the focus lens is positioned at a point P.sub.j where the maximum evaluation data Dt is obtained.
The direction in which the auto focus operation starts, i.e., the direction in which the direction determining operation starts, is illustratively set based on the focus position derived from the immediately preceding auto focus operation. That is, the initial direction of focus lens movement is not predetermined to be either in the N or in the .infin. direction.
One disadvantage of the above-described auto focus control method is as follows: Assume that when the evaluation data Dt with its curve depicted in FIG. 10 is obtained regarding a given object, the focus lens is positioned at point P.sub.1 and that the focus lens is driven in the .infin. direction for direction determination at the start of an auto focus operation. In such a case, the appropriate evaluation data cannot be acquired during the direction determining operation. That is, when the lens is driven from a point P.sub.1 to a point P.sub.2 (i.e., a maximum telephoto position), the evaluation data Dt remains fairly constant at a very low level or is hardly obtained. This makes it impossible from point P.sub.1 to determine in which direction (toward .infin. or N) the peak of the evaluation data Dt is located. Thus the focus lens is driven up to the extreme point P.sub.2, where the lens changes its direction and starts moving in the N direction. It is only after the lens passes the point P.sub.1 that the appropriate evaluation data Dt is acquired. Thereafter, point P.sub.j is reached under mountain climbing control. That is, there occurs quite a redundant operation between points P.sub.1 and P.sub.2.
This is especially the case when the just-focus position is near either of the two extreme lens positions. If the focus lens starts being driven in the opposite direction of the just-focus position at the start of an auto focus operation, the focusing is inefficient and takes time. Furthermore, the sight of the focus lens moving in a redundant manner looks a little unseemly.
Some other disadvantages of the prior art will be mentioned below. The curve of the accumulated data shown in FIG. 9 necessarily varies in peak position and shape depending on the distance to the object and on the nature thereof. Thus, in an auto focus operation, the distance to the object always varies and the peak of the accumulated data curve varies accordingly. The varying peak position leads to focusing error.
Assume that when the object whose accumulated data curve is shown in FIG. 9 is being photographed, a second object such as a person or a car moves across between the object and the video camera. The evaluation data is accumulated with respect to the second object at the very moment the latter hides the original object when passing in front of the video camera. At that moment, the lens is automatically moved for focusing from point P.sub.1 to point P.sub.2. At point P.sub.2, the accumulated data drops abruptly as illustrated in FIG. 11. A drop in accumulated data under mountain climbing control causes the auto focus controller of the video camera to conclude that the lens position has gone past the peak of the accumulated data. Reversing the direction of lens movement, the auto focus controller erroneously judges that point P.sub.x immediately preceding the drop in the accumulated data is the just-focus position.
This is also the case where, during an auto focus operation with respect to a nearby object, the video camera is abruptly panned to take pictures of far-off sceneries. Assume that the video camera is panned while an auto focus operation is being carried out under mountain climbing control from point P.sub.1 to point P.sub.j(1) (i.e., a just-focus point) in accordance with the accumulated data curve shown by a solid line in FIG. 12. In that case, the broken line curve of the accumulated data is obtained starting from point P.sub.2, where the video camera was panned, in the .infin. direction. The accumulated data drops suddenly at the point P.sub.2, and the auto focus controller of the video camera erroneously concludes that the point P.sub.x is the peak of the curve. The same error also occurs when the video camera is abruptly panned from a far-off object to a nearby object.
The trouble above is summed up as follows: When a sudden change occurs to the current object during an auto focus operation under mountain climbing control, an erroneous judgment of the situation by the auto focus system makes it impossible to move the focus lens to the appropriate focal point. Thus, the photographing of high quality is not available.
To effect auto focus control requires detecting the focus lens position. If the focus lens is to be controlled in conjunction with a zoom lens, it is also necessary to detect the zoom lens position.
One prior art detection method for the focus lens position involves attaching a reflective film arrangement to a lens-mounted cylinder and providing a detecting means comprising light-emitting and light-receiving diodes, the reflective film arrangement giving reflected light whereby the lens position is detected. A method for effectively detecting the maximum positions of the lens is proposed by Japanese Patent Application No. 63-51293. The zoom lens is conventionally positioned in a simple manner illustratively involving the use of a resistor switch arrangement.
Auto focus control may be desired not only over the normal region but also over the macro region, i.e., ranging from the widest-angle position to the shortest-distance position of the normal region. This requires driving the zoom lens under the same mountain climbing control as for the focus lens. In that case, it is necessary to detect zoom lens positions with precision. For example, as depicted in FIG. 16, it is indispensable to detect various positions of the zoom lens, such as in telephoto T, middle telephoto MT, middle wide MW, or wide W intervals in the normal region, as well as the macro region area which includes at least two macro edge positions MCa and MCb of the zoom lens at the edges of the macro region and ma macro region MC in between them. A disadvantage is experienced with the prior art where seven zoom lens positions from telephoto T to macro region edge position MCb are to be detected, the disadvantage being the need to provide a large number of switching means for on/off control over the zoom lens positions within the respective regions. The numerous switching means tend to constitute a large-scale detecting mechanism that is difficult to incorporate in a compact video camera.
Furthermore, to drive the zoom lens requires relatively high levels of torque. Because the driving torque varies significantly from one driving unit to another, simply raising or lowering the DC voltage supply to the zoom ring motor is not sufficient to fine-tune the zoom lens movement while the lens movement speed is being adjusted. Where it is desired to move the zoom lens for a very short distance by lowering the DC voltage, one of two things may occur: the coefficient of mechanical static friction in the lens moving mechanism may be high enough to prevent the lens from moving at all, or the lens may move suddenly--and unpredictably--when the rising voltage reaches a certain critical level.
The above impediment makes it impossible to improve the means of the video camera for searching for the just-focus point in a narrow area in a fine-tuning manner during an auto focus operation within the macro region.

Zoom and auto focus controls for video camera


After registration of a subprogram is completed, a flag indicating that the subprogram has been registered is set. The flag is referred to in response to a subprogram registration request from an IC card reader/writer. Registration of the subprogram is performed only when the flag is not set. A BCC of the subprogram is calculated and stored in a memory upon subprogram registration. When the registered subprogram is to be executed, a BCC of the subprogram read out from the memory is calculated and compared with the BCC stored in the memory. The subprogram is executed only when the two BCCs coincide with each other. If the subprogram has been registered, a BCC check is performed for the registered subprogram. If the BCC check indicates an error, registration of the subprogram is enabled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable electronic device called an "IC card" incorporating an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip having an erasable nonvolatile memory and a control element such as a CPU and, more particularly, to a portable electronic device in which subprograms to be executed by a control element can be registered in a nonvolatile memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an IC card incorporating an IC chip having an erasable nonvolatile memory and a control element such as a CPU has been developed as an advanced portable data storing medium. In such an IC card, the internal control element accesses the internal memory to input/output necessary data in accordance with a request from external equipment.
As an IC card of this type, an IC card in which subprograms (e.g., an encryption program used in a data write mode) to be executed by a main program of the card can be registered in a nonvolatile memory has been developed.
In a conventional IC card of this type, however, since subprograms can be registered a number of times, the subprograms may be illegally rewritten.
In addition, in order to execute a subprogram, whether data in the subprogram is valid must be checked. If the subprogram is invalid, an operation error is caused.
Furthermore, in order to execute a subprogram, whether the subprogram is registered must be checked. Otherwise, whether the subprogram is to be executed cannot be determined.

Portable electronic device capable of registering subprograms


An AC voltage source connected to at least one cathode is switched off rapidly upon the occurrence of a critical number of so-called "microarcs" which precede a "large arc". In order to be able to differentiate between large arcs and microarcs, a special counting and evaluation device is provided.

The invention relates to a device for suppressing arcing in cathode sputtering installations in which at least one electrode is connected to an AC voltage source.
In cathode sputtering for the purpose of producing thin layers with the aid of medium-frequency techniques in which work takes place in a frequency range of a few hundred Hz to a few hundred kHz, arc discharges can be generated which can damage or destroy the layers to be produced as well as also the targets used in sputtering. This applies especially to the production of dielectric layers by means of reactive gas techniques in which into the receptacle a reactive gas is introduced with which the sputtered target material can react on the substrate. For example, to sputtered aluminum is added O.sub.2 as the reactive gas in order to produce a thin layer of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.
Numerous devices have already been suggested with which it is possible to recognize arc discharges, to interrupt them or even to prevent their generation (German Patent Applications 42 30 779, 42 39 218, 42 42 633, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,931,169, 5,192,894, 5,281,321, 5,286,360, and 5,415,757. However, these devices are either not suitable for use in installations operating with AC voltages or they are not suited for recognizing and suppressing flashovers in the "germination phase", i.e. micro-flashovers or microarcs.
Micro-flashovers or microarcs which can be observed with an oscilloscope occur only over a halfwave or over a few halfwaves of the applied AC voltage. At an AC voltage frequency of 40 kHz this means that the arcs occur only for approximately 12.5 .mu.s or a multiple thereof. In particular with readily melting sputtering targets, such as for example Al, these microarcs lead to damage of the layer to be produced, since the energy present in the microarcs is already sufficient to melt droplets having a diameter of a few .mu.m off the target material and to sputter them onto the substrate. As a rule, the longer the duration of the microarc the more severe the damage.
Micro-discharges occur also as silent discharges in dielectrics and, specifically, in irregular sequences and with a duration in the range of nanoseconds. Their distribution in terms of space and time is statistical. Each micro-discharge comprises a thin nearly cylindrical canal with a pinched electrode spot on the metal electrode (B. Eliasson, M. Hirth and U. Kogelschatz: Ozone synthesis from oxygen in dielectric barrier discharges, J. Phys. D.: Appl. Phys. 20 (1987) 1421-1437). The silent discharge is preferably used in plasma chemistry to produce, for example, ozone (B. Eliasson, U. Kogelschatz: Nonequilibrium Volume Plasma Chemical Processing, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 19, No. 6, 1991, pp. 1063-1077). The micro-discharges according to the invention, however, refer to discharges in plasmas.
Microarcs are typical for medium-frequency sputtering and, as a rule, represent precursor stages of large arcs. But this does not mean that every microarc must by necessity lead to a large arc. Depending on the target state, microarcs occur with greater or lesser frequency and it is not possible to even detect these microarcs with conventional methods.
A device for detecting micro-flashovers or microarcs has already been suggested, which comprises a counter for microarcs (non-published German Patent Application P 44 20 951.7). In this device a substrate to be coated is disposed opposing at least one sputtering cathode and one electrode is provided with a target. This electrode is connected to a medium-frequency source. By means of a device for recognizing micro-flashovers these micro-flashovers are detected and counted in a counting device. In the presence of a given number of micro-flashovers or in the presence of a given frequency of micro-flashovers, measures are taken to prevent large flashovers.

Device for suppressing flashovers in cathode sputtering installations


An ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention has an ink jet recording head having an orifice from which an ink drop is ejected and an energy generation means for ejecting an ink fluid in the orifice. A first electrode is formed in the orifice and is connected electrically to the ink fluid. A second electrode is formed in an opposite position to the orifice with a designated distance from the orifice. A voltage controller applies a first voltage during a time period from a time when an ink fluid is ejected from the orifice to a time when the ink fluid is separated in 2 or more ink drops during traveling, and immediately after applying the first voltage, applies a second voltage which has an identical polarity to a polarity of the first voltage and has an absolute value less than an absolute value of the first voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and more particularly to a recording apparatus for recording by whole or part of ink drops ejected from the recording head are controlled or collected by means of electrostatic power, and an ink drop control method and an ink mist adsorption method, both for use in the apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus is known as to record characters and images by ejecting ink fluids in the recording head toward the recording medium. In comparison with another recording apparatus, this apparatus has such advantages as enabling (1) high speed recording, (2) multiple-color recording, (3) recording on ordinary papers that has not been specially processed, and (4) noise-free recording operations.
Such an ink jet recording apparatus has at least a recording head having an orifice from which ink fluids are ejected. The recording head ejects ink drops from the orifice selectively in responsive to recording information supplied to the recording head itself in order to form characters and images onto the recording medium.
An ink jet recording apparatus using electrostatic force for ejecting ink fluids is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 13768/1961.
An ink jet recording apparatus which enables the increase of the recording quality by accelerating the ejected ink drop by electrostatic force developed by a designated electric field applied to the ink drop ejected by the electro-thermal conversion device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying-Open No. 46257/1985.
A structure for the recording method using the electro-thermal conversion device and electrostatic force is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying-Open No. 151348/1987.
A method for ejecting ink fluids by electrostatic force developed by the electric field generated at the time when the ink fluids are heated up to the high temperature by the electro-thermal conversion device is shown in Japanese Patent Application Laying-Open No. 225353/1987.
Some recording methods involve using charging electrodes for transferring charges to the traveling ink drops and deflecting electrodes for deflecting charged ink drops.
In a prior art recording method not using electrostatic forces, a single ink drop ejected from the orifice of the recording head in a single ejection operation may be broken into several pieces of ink drops during its traveling. Among these broken pieces of ink drops, fine-sized ink drops located in the backward side of the ink drop mist tend not to travel in straight lines but to reach positions on the recording medium different from positions to which large-sized ink drops are projected, which leads to a reduction in the recording quality of recorded characters and images.
In a recording method where ink fluids are extracted for ejection by electrostatic forces and/or ejected ink fluids are forced by electrostatic forces, the electric field developed for ejecting the ink fluid or accelerating the ink drop between the orifice of the recording head and the recording medium may disturb the trajectory of traveling ink drops. Specifically,
(1) the amount of ink fluids transported from the orifice of the recording head to the recording medium is less than that in the case where the electric field does not exist; or PA1 (2) for satellite drops, the backward part of the ejected ink drop goes back to the orifice of the recording head and blocks the ordinary ejection operation of ink fluids. More specifically, due to ink fluids piled up on and near the orifice, the trajectory of ejected ink drops may not be straight or, in the worst case, the ink fluids can not ejected at all. PA1 a voltage control means which applies a first voltage during a time period from a time when an ink fluid is ejected from the orifice to a time when the ink fluid is separated in 2 or more ink drops during its traveling, and immediately after applying the first voltage, applies a second voltage which has an identical polarity to a polarity of the first voltage and has an absolute value less than an absolute value of the first voltage.
FIG. 1 shows an outline of the prior-art ink jet recording apparatus using electro-static forces.
In FIG. 1, a recording head 1 has a plurality of nozzles 10 which are arrayed perpendicularly to a front surface of the recording head 1. In this case, the recording head 1 has four nozzles 10. Each of the nozzles 10 has an orifice 21 which is formed at the front thereof. A resistor 2 is disposed within the nozzle 10 and serves as an electro-thermal conversion device. Each of the resistors 2 is connected through a wiring 11 to a resistor driving circuit 3 for driving the resistor 2. A common fluid chamber 22 is disposed within the recording head 1 and is connected to all of the nozzles 10. The common fluid chamber 22 is connected to an ink supply tube 23 for introducing an ink 24 from a tank (not shown) into the common fluid chamber 22. A first electrode 6 is provided in the common fluid chamber 22. A second electrode 8 is disposed at a distance of d from the recording head 1 and is opposite to the front surface thereof as shown in FIG. 1. A recording medium 7 is placed on a surface of the second electrode 8. The first and second electrodes 6 and 8 are electrically connected to each other. By applying a voltage to the resistor 2, an ink drop 4 is ejected. A voltage V is applied between the first and second electrode 6 and 8, and the ejected ink drop 4 is accelerated to reach to a surface of the recording medium 7. The faster the ink drop travels, the higher the recording quality of recorded characters and images are.
FIG. 2 is the side view of what is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the ink drop ejection state of a specific nozzle in case that the voltage V is 0. What is shown in FIG. 3 is the trajectory of the ink drop at the time between 10 and 100 .mu.sec after the signal for requesting the ejection of the ink drop is received by the recording head. The distance, d, between the top of the orifice, x=0, and the surface of the recording medium is 0.5 mm. At t=50 .mu.sec, the ejected ink drop is completely separated into the main drop at the forward part and the satellite drop in the backward part, and both separated drops reach the recording medium.
However, due to the air flow generated by the relative movement of the recording head in the recording operation to the recording medium 7, the satellite drop may be projected onto unexpected positions in a definite probability or may go back to the top face of the nozzle of the recording head 1.
In contrast to FIG. 3, what is shown in FIG. 4 is the case where the voltage V is+1000 V in order to form an electric field E with its intensity being 2000 V/mm(=1000 V/0.5 mm). In case shown by FIG. 4, the ink drop is separated at the time t=50 .mu.sec. After 50 .mu.sec, the main drop is accelerated until reaching the recording medium. The speed of the satellite drop is reduced and finally moved backward to the orifice 21 until reaching to the orifice 21 of the recording head 1. As a result, the phenomena (1) and (2) described above arise. These phenomena are considered to be caused by the mechanism such that an extended ink fluid to be separated in drops is polarized dielectrically, and immediately after that, two distinctive parts, the major drop and the satellite drop, are developed, where the major drop is charged with the opposite polarity to that of the surface of the recording medium and the satellite drop is charged with the identical polarity to that of the surface of the recording medium.

Ink jet recording apparatus, and method with control of ink drops and ink mist


In a dynamoelectric generator, a low-resistance electrical contact is provided by using a spring below the rotor slot wedges to bias the wedges against the overlapping retaining rings. This biased contact between the wedges and retaining rings forms a conductive current path for high-frequency eddy currents induced on the surface of the rotor and retaining rings at all operating speeds and at rotor standstill. In addition, the spring reduces gauling between the rotor key slots, wedges and retaining ring.

This invention was made with United States Government support under a contract with the United States Navy. The federal government has certain rights in this invention.
Generator rotors have a large diameter cylindrical body from which extends at both ends a smaller diameter shaft. The rotor body has a series of longitudinal slots cut deep into its outer circumference. In these slots are inserted field windings that extend the length of the rotor body. There are rotor wedges in the slots that hold the windings in place against centrifugal forces exerted when the rotor rotates. These rotor wedges are above the windings in the rotor slot.
The end turn portions of the windings extend axially out beyond each end of the rotor body. These end turns electrically connect the longitudinal section of a winding in one slot with a similar winding section in another slot. As the rotor spins, the end turns are thrust radially outward by centrifugal force. This radial movement of the end turns is confined by cylindrical retaining rings that constrain the end turns.
The retaining rings slide over the ends of the, rotor body. They are usually attached to the ends the rotor body by shrink fitting. The rim of the retaining ring is shrink fitted tightly around a circumferential lip on the end of the rotor body. In addition, locking keys securely hold the retaining rings onto the rotor body to prevent axial movement of the rings. These keys fit in opposing grooves the retaining ring and in both the rotor teeth and wedges. Without these keys, thermal expansion of the field coils and the retaining rings may cause the retaining rings to slide axially off the rotor.
In some applications, high frequency currents exist on the surface of the rotor body and retaining rings. For example, when the generator is used in conjunction with a load commutated inverter (LCI), cycloconverter (CCV) or other non-linear load, eddy currents are induced on the surface of the rotor. These rotor eddy currents are the results of harmonics of the input and/or output currents of the LCI and CCV devices. These eddy currents have high frequencies and, thus, primarily reside at and near the surface of the rotor and retaining rings.
Losses due to eddy currents in the rotor result in undesirable I.sup.2 R (Joulean) heating. Accordingly, low resistance harmonic current paths are needed to reduce eddy current losses and thus minimize heating. The rotor body and retaining rings, typically made of high strength steel alloys, are not themselves good electrical conductors. The relatively high electrical resistance of the retaining rings and rotor body to the eddy currents will cause high losses and heating. To avoid these losses, eddy current shields cover the outer surfaces of the rotor body and retaining rings to provide a low resistance electrical path for surface eddy currents. The shields reduce losses of eddy currents and prevent localized heating of the rotor body and retaining rings.
An eddy current shield is commonly a thin copper layer applied to the outer surfaces of the rotor body and retaining rings. The shield can be a jacket or a cladding. In the alternative, an eddy current shield for the rotor can be provided by specially configured wedges made of conductive chromium-copper or other alloys that have wings that overhang the rotor teeth adjacent the wedge.
While eddy current shields substantially reduce current losses, they do not reduce the magnitude of the eddy current. The current shields merely provide low resistance paths for the currents. Any interruption or point of high resistance in these current paths will cause additional loss and localized heating. The gap between the outer surface of the rotor body and the inner surface of the retaining ring is an interruption to eddy current and a long time aggravating source of eddy current losses. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a reliable low resistance electrical connection between the rotor body and retaining rings.
In addition, galling occurs in prior art devices between the top surface of the wedges in the rotor slots and the retaining rings. Generally, galling occurs on the mating surfaces of the wedges, rotor slots and retaining rings. When frictional movement occurs between these mating parts, localized hot spots and even spot welding can arise. Especially at rotor standstill, prior art wedges can be subjected to extremely high pressure (for example, on the order of 5000 psi) if the shrink fitted retaining ring unintentionally pushes the wedge against the keyed surfaces of the rotor slot.
Because of the wedge crushing pressure that can result when a retaining ring shrinks onto a wedge, wedges have been typically designed so as to be at or below the surface of the rotor where the retaining ring covers the rotor. The compression of the wedge down into the slot is most severe when the rotor is stationary and centrifugal forces do not counteract the forces from the overlapping retaining ring. Since the wedges do not fit perfectly within their key slots in the rotor, the wedges can move slightly in the slot. Small gaps exist between the wedges and retaining ring. These gaps close as the wedges are forced radially outward by the centrifugal forces of rotor rotation. The opening and closing of the gaps between the wedge and retaining ring creates undesirable wedge chattering and causes galling between the wedges and both the rotor slots and retaining rings.
The current invention solves the wedge crushing pressure problem of retaining rings and provides a reliable electrical contact for eddy currents between the surface of the wedges and the retaining ring. The key slots in the rotor allow a top step on the wedge surface to extend radially beyond the rotor teeth surface where the retaining ring overlaps the wedge and rotor. The key slot also allows the wedges to move radially in the slot. The rotor wedges are biased radially outwardly by springs, e.g., arc leaf springs, immediately underneath the wedges. The springs flex under the pressure from the retaining ring and relieve the pressure from the retaining ring on the wedges, especially at rotor standstill when there are no counteracting centrifugal forces. In addition, these springs bias the wedges against the inner surface of the rim of the retaining ring to provide an electrical path for harmonic eddy currents.
It is an objective of this invention to reduce galling between rotor slots, wedges and retaining rings. Another object is to provide a reliable electrical junction between a rotor and a retaining ring for high-frequency eddy currents from standstill to operating speed. In addition, it is an object of this invention to provide such a junction by means of a spring mounted underneath rotor wedges to bias the wedges against the inner surface of the overlapping end of the retaining ring.

Harmonic current path spring device between retaining ring and rotor wedge of a dynamoelectric generator


A spherical rotary valve assembly for an internal combustion engine of the piston and cylinder type wherein the spherical rotary valve assembly is positioned within a split cylinder head having an upper and lower section, such when secured defines a cavity for a rotational shaft having mounted thereon, an intake drum and exhaust drum for each cylinder, the lower half of the split head cylinder head having positioned therein, the inlet port and outlet port for the cylinder, the split cylinder head having an intake passageway and an exhaust passageway in communication with the drum cavities in the split cylinder head, the rotation of the respective intake drum and exhaust drum within their respective cavities interrupting the respective flow of the fuel air mixture or the exhaust gases to or from the cylinder by means of passageways within the drums, the drums rotating within the cavities in a gas tight sealing rotation on an annular sealing means axially positioned about the inlet port and outlet port in the lower section of the split head assembly such that the frictional contact encountered is that of the drums in contact with the seals and the shaft in contact with journaled bearings in the split head assembly, there being a pair of drums associated with each cylinder.

In an internal combustion engine of the piston and cylinder type, it is necessary to charge the cylinder with a fuel and air mixture for the combustion cycle and to vent or evacuate the exhaust gases at the exhaust cycle of each cylinder of the engine. In the conventional piston and cylinder type engine, these events occur thousands of times per minute per cylinder. In the conventional internal combustion engine, the rotation of a cam shaft causes a spring-loaded valve to open to enable the fuel and air mixture to flow from the carburetor to the cylinder and combustion chamber during the induction stroke. This cam shaft closes this intake valve during the compression and combustion stroke of the cylinder and the same cam shaft opens another spring-loaded valve, the exhaust valve, in order to evacuate the cylinder after compression and combustion have occurred. These exhaust gases exit the cylinder and enter the exhaust manifold.
The hardware associated with the efficient operation of conventional internal combustion engines having spring-loaded valves includes items such as springs, cotters, guides, rocker shafts and the valves themselves which are usually positioned in the cylinder heads such that they normally operate in a substantially vertical position, with their opening, descending into the cylinder for the introduction or venting or evacuation of gases.
As the revolutions of the engine increase, the valves open and close more frequently and the timing and tolerances become critical in order to prevent the inadvertent contact of the piston with an open valve which can cause serious engine damage. With respect to the aforementioned hardware and operation, it is normal practice for each cylinder to have one exhaust valve and one intake valve with the associated hardware mentioned heretofore; however, many internal combustion engines have now progressed to multiple valve systems, each having the associated hardware and multiple cam shafts.
In the standard internal combustion engine, the cam shaft is rotated by the crankshaft by means of a timing belt or chain. The operation of this cam shaft and the associated valves operated by the cam shaft presents the opportunity to decrease engine efficiency through the friction associated with the operation of the various elements. Applicant's invention is directed towards a novel valve means which eliminates the need for spring-loaded valves and the associated hardware and in its simplest explanation, enlarges the cam shaft to provide for spherical rotary valves to feed each cylinder. This decreases the number of moving parts and hence the friction involved in the operation of the engine and increases engine efficiency. It also eliminates the possibility of the piston contacting an open valve and thus causing serious engine damage. In fact, where an individual may have difficulty turning a conventional cam shaft by hand, the same individual can easily turn Applicant's apparatus.

Spherical rotary valve assembly for an internal combustion engine


An integrated circuit package system comprising: providing a package substrate; attaching an integrated circuit over the package substrate; and attaching a side substrate adjacent the integrated circuit over the package substrate.

Packaged integrated circuits are in all portable electronic products, such as cell phones, portable computers, voice recorders, etc. as well as in many larger electronic systems, such as cars, planes, industrial control systems, etc.
Across virtually all applications, there continues to be demand for reducing the size and increasing performance of the devices. The intense demand is no more visible than in portable electronics.
The demands for smaller, higher performance semiconductor devices have motivated the development of new techniques for producing smaller and less expensive semiconductor devices.
One of these technologies involves packaging the integrated circuit chip in as small a form factor as possible and manufacturing the integrated circuit chip as efficiently as possible.
Higher integration and more functions result in large integrated circuit die size. New integrated circuit technology has advanced from Non-low k to 90 nm Low k, and ETC to provide the integration and functionality but introducing problems in package substrates.
Process complexity and cost have become issues with more dense and increased layer substrates such as 2-2-2, 3-2-3, 4-2-4, 5-2-5, etc. The more complex integrated circuits require package substrates with increased manufacturing difficulty and higher costs.
Attempts to meet the package substrate requirements such as "Build-up" methodology result in high cost substrates to accommodate large numbers of power and ground lines as well as signal lines.
These high end packages also often require stiffeners, heat spreaders or hat type spreaders for structural integrity or thermal management. These often-necessary additions can also increase size, complexity, and costs in addition to the substrates.
Virtually all electronic products benefit from increasing features (including functions and performance) in integrated circuit chips all while being designed into ever smaller physical space. These demands are often very visible with the many consumer electronic products including but not limited to personal portable devices, such as cellular phones, digital cameras, and music players.
Despite the advantages of recent developments in semiconductor fabrication and packaging techniques, there is a continuing need for improving performance, functions, manufacturing processes, and costs.
Thus, a need still remains for an integrated circuit package system to provide increased performance, more functions, improved manufacturing processes, and reduced costs. In view of the increasing demand for improved density of integrated circuits and particularly portable electronic products, it is increasingly critical that answers be found to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Integrated circuit package system with side substrate having a top layer


An imaging system for achieving enhanced image detail includes a sensor subsystem, an electronic image processing subsystem, and an automatic gain control (AGC) unit. The sensor unit is operative for sensing an image received from an exterior environment and for converting the image to an electrical representation having a peak value that is related to the dynamic range of the image. The electrical representation is then processed in the electronic image processing subsystem using a unique multiple order, non-linear transfer function that processes the signal in a manner that is dependent upon the dynamic range of the input image. The output signal of the electronic image processing subsystem is then applied to the AGC unit which performs a conventional AGC function on the signal. Thus, the imaging system automatically adjusts to changing scene content in the input image in a dynamic manner.

The invention relates generally to imaging systems and, more particularly, to techniques for processing image signals in an imaging system.
Since the advent of low light imaging, concerns have centered on the ability to enhance or stretch low light level details within a single image frame while preserving higher light level information within the same image. In the past, fixed, non-linear routines were used that amplified the low level signal detail to a greater extent than the higher level signal detail. These fixed algorithms provide some degree of image enhancement, primarily in the low light portions of the image, but are not capable of dynamically adjusting to changing scene content (e.g., changes in the relative amount of light and dark content). In addition, these prior systems often use a xe2x80x9cfirst orderxe2x80x9d correction function (e.g., a gamma function) that seriously compresses the high light level detail, thus reducing contrast in the image. Other prior art systems have used a feedback approach to enhance signal quality by feeding back a signal from the signal processing circuitry to the image sensor circuitry for use in adjusting the sensor settings based on image content. While such feedback systems can improve signal quality significantly, the delays caused by the feedback loop often result in slow, choppy video operation characterized by frequent blankouts and the like.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus for enhancing low intensity detail in an electronic image signal without adversely effecting the high intensity detail of the image. Preferably, the method and apparatus will be capable of enhancing both the low and the high intensity detail. In addition, there is a need for a method and apparatus for processing an image signal that is capable of automatically adjusting to changes in scene content without the use of signal feedback techniques.
The present invention relates to an image processing technique that is capable of enhancing both high and low level detail in an image signal simultaneously. In addition, the image processing technique automatically adjusts the type of processing applied to the image signal based on the content (i.e., the dynamic range) of the input image. The processing technique of the present invention is particularly suited for use in low-light-level imaging systems where a typical scene includes a large amount of low intensity detail. Occasionally, a low-light-level scene will have one or more high intensity point sources of light (e.g., headlights on an automobile) that significantly increase the overall dynamic range of the scene, but which add relatively little mid-intensity detail to the scene. The principles of the present invention allow such low light level scenes to be processed in a manner that enhances both the low light level detail and the high light level detail (when present) at the expense of the middle level portions of the scene. In addition, the type of processing that is applied to the input image will automatically adjust as the dynamic range of the scene varies (e.g., as point sources of light appear and disappear from the scene). This automatic adjustment is achieved without the use of feedback between the processing circuitry and the sensing circuitry, thus avoiding the problems often associated with such feedback techniques.
A sensor subsystem is provided that senses an external image and converts the image to an electrical representation having a peak value that is indicative of the dynamic range of the image. The electrical image signal is then applied to an electronic image processing subsystem having a unique multiple order, non-linear transfer function. The transfer function of the electronic image processing subsystem includes a first portion for modifying low level components of the image signal using gains in a first gain range, a second portion for modifying medium level components of the image signal using gains in a second gain range, and a third portion for modifying high level components of the image signal using gains in a third gain range. Both the first and third gain range are higher than the second gain range so that high and low level components in the image signal are expanded while medium level components are compressed. The multiple order, non-linear transfer function of the electronic image processing subsystem can be implemented using either analog or digital circuitry.
Because the sensor subsystem outputs an image signal having a peak value that is indicative of the dynamic range of the image, the type of processing that is applied using the transfer function of the electronic image processing subsystem will automatically adjust to the dynamic range of the image. That is, low dynamic range signals will be processed solely by the first portion of the transfer function, medium dynamic range signals will be processed by both the first and second portions of the transfer function, and high dynamic range signals will be processed using all three portions of the transfer function. Thus, the third portion of the transfer function will only be used when the difference between the lowest level detail and the highest level detail in the scene exceeds a predetermined value (e.g., a low light level scene with one or more point sources of light).
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second portions of the transfer function utilize a non-linear transfer characteristic that provides elevated gain to lower level input signal components while providing a more compressed gain as input levels rise. The third portion of the transfer function utilizes a linear transfer characteristic that provides a relatively large linear gain to the high level input signal components. This transfer function can be generated, for example, using a log amplifier, a linear amplifier, and a selection unit. The log amplifier and the linear amplifier each receive the electronic image signal from the sensor subsystem and amplify the signal according to respective transfer profiles. The selection unit then selects the larger of the output signals from the two amplifiers to generate the output signal of the electronic image processing subsystem. By properly selecting the gain characteristics of the two amplifiers, an overall transfer function can be generated that has the desired shape.
The output of the electronic image processing subsystem is applied to an automatic gain control (AGC) unit that modifies the signal so that a peak amplitude of the signal assumes a predetermined value. Preferably, the AGC unit will be a linear device that applies equal gain to all input signal levels. The output image signal of the AGC unit is delivered to a storage/display unit for storage and/or display.

Electronic image processing technique for achieving enhanced image detail


A foil strain gauge pick-up is protected against environmental adverse influences by a multi-layer covering hermetically sealing and enclosing substantially the entire pick-up including its terminals. The covering includes at least two layers, preferably three layers. The first layer adjacent to the foil strain gauge proper is an electrically insulating layer. The outer layer may be a vapor deposited metal or oxide layer. An intermediate layer may be electrically conducting.

The invention relates to a method for covering a foil strain gauge arranged on a foil strain gauge pick-up and to a foil strain gauge pick-up having a foil strain gauge with terminals and with a covering for performing the method.
The foil strain gauges are generally embedded in organic materials which exchange water vapor with the surrounding atmosphere. If such a foil strain gauge is connected with a pick-up, the measured signal is influenced by the exchange due to a swelling or shrinking of the support. Such influence necessarily has a negative effect on the constancy of the zero point of the measured signal being provided by the pick-up. In order to remove this disadvantage prior foil strain gauge pick-ups are, for example hermetically encapsulated by means of folding bellows. Such encapsulations cause difficulties with regard to the stiffness of the hermetic enclosure. Besides, they are elaborate and very expensive.

Method and apparatus for covering a foil strain gauge


The electric lamp has a lamp vessel (1) having seals (4, 5) onto which respective bases (20, 21) are secured. Each base comprises a cylindrical insulator body (22) in a free end of which a contact member (30) is accommodated, having a contact face (31) and a protruding portion (33) which has a connection area (32) to which a current supply conductor (8) of the lamp is secured. The contact member (30) is a body made from metal foil.

The invention relates to an electric lamp comprising a lamp vessel which is closed in a vacuumtight manner, in which an electric element is arranged, and which has a first and a second seal. Current supply conductors are connected to the electric element and issue from the lamp vessel to the exterior through the first and second seal, respectively.
Lamps caps fastened to the first and second seal, respectively, each comprise a cylindrical insulator body having a centreline. In a free end of each body a contact member is accommodated which has a contact face and a protruding portion with a connection area where a current supply conductor is fixed.
Such an electric lamp is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,001,096.
The contact members therein consist of solid nickel bodies. A disadvantage of this is that the contact members are difficult to manufacture by means of operations such as pressing and cold deformation, and that machining operations such as milling, drilling and grinding may be necessary.
An electric lamp is known from CA-828 294 in which the contact member is a disc of metal plating against which the current supply conductor is fastened with solder in a butt joint. A disadvantage of this lamp is the use of solder, both because of the long process time in making the joint and because of the low heat resistance of this joint. A welded joint, however, would involve the risk of the contact face having a deformation owing to welding.


Systems and methods for using selective inter-layer prediction during layered video coding operations are described. In one aspect, a layered coded video structure is generated by selectively employing only objectively efficient inter-layer predictions between respective frames. Responsive to receiving a request for coded video data, one or more layers of the layered coded video structure are communicated to an application for decoding and presentation of video data to a user.

Layered video coding is common in video coding standards such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.263, scalable extension of MPEG-4 AVC, etc. By coding an input video sequence into different layers, layered video coding provides decoding applications and devices with direct access to different coded versions of the input video. FIG. 1 shows an exemplary layered coded video bitstream structure, wherein an original video data sequence has been coded into multiple different layers. In this example, the video has been coded into two layers. Each layer is coded to represent different respective qualities or resolutions as compared to the other layers in the structure. For example, and referring to FIG. 1(a), layer 0 represents a coded low resolution version of video data, and layer 1 represents a coded high resolution version of the same video data. In this scenario, when a decoding application desires to use a low resolution version of the video, the application accesses the bitstream of layer 0. Analogously, when the application desires to utilize a high resolution coded version of the video, the application accesses the layer 1 bitstream. In this manner, a decoding application can rely on characteristics of the layered video coded structure of FIG. 1(a) to obtain one or more coded versions of a same video sequence.
Based on layer-to-layer relationships in a layered coded video structure, the encapsulated layers are either independent of other layers in the structure (representing a "simulcast" structure) or dependent on other layers in the structure. That is, all of the layers in a structure either do not rely on inter-layer prediction, or all of the layers user inter-layer prediction. The simulcast scheme can optimize each layer's performance since each layer is independent. However, when all layers are required by a requesting application, the simulcast scheme is not efficient. This is because each layer respectively represents a same set of video signals, resulting in significant amounts of data redundancy across the various layers. On the other hand, layered video coding with inter-layer prediction can leverage inter-layer correlations across image frames to improve coding performance.
For purposes of exemplary illustration, FIG. 1(a) represents a layered coded video structure comprising layers that utilize inter-layer prediction, and FIG. 1(b) represents a simulcast-based layered coded video structure. Referring to FIG. 1(a)), the arrow from layer 0 to layer 1 indicates that the coding of layer 1 uses layer 0 as prediction. Correspondingly, layer 1 can be coded more efficiently as compared to a similarly situated layer that is based on the simulcast layered video coding scheme. However, a disadvantage of layered video coding with inter-layer prediction is that the low layer bitstream should always be sent to the decoder, even when the decoder only needs to generate the high layer video. So when all layers are required, inter-layer prediction provides superior coding performance. In contrast, when only one layer is required, the simulcast scheme provides better performance.

Selective inter-layer prediction in layered video coding


Disclosed are novel compounds having the formula or a physiologically acceptable salt, amide, ester or prodrug thereof. The compounds can be used to modulate (antagonize, agonize) chemokine receptor function. Also disclosed is a method for treating a patient having an inflammatory disease and/or viral infection comprising administering an effective amount of a compound of Formula I. In particular embodiments, the invention is a method for treating a patient infected with HIV.

Chemokines mediate a range of proinflammatory effects on cells (e.g., leukocytes), such as chemotaxis, degranulation, and integrin activation (Baggiolini et al., Adv. Immunol., 1994;55:97-179; Oppenheim et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol., 1991;9:617-648; Miller et al., Crit. Rev. Immunol., 1992;12:17-46). These effects are mediated by binding to the seven-transmembrane-spanning G-protein coupled receptors (Baggiolini et al., Adv. Immunol., 1994;55:97-179; Murphy, Annu. Rev. Immunol., 1994;12:593-633; Schall et al., Curr. Opin. Immunol., 1994;6:865-873; Gerard et al., Curr. Opin. Immunol., 1994;6;140-145; Mackay, Curr. Bio., In press). Chemokine receptors also serve as coreceptors for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) entry into cells. This came from observations that RANTES, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β suppressed infection of susceptible cells in vitro by macrophage-tropic primary HIV-1 isolates (Cocchi et al., Science (Wash. D.C.), 1995;270:1811-1815). The chemokine receptor CXCR-4 was found to support infection and cell fusion of CD4+ cells by laboratory-adapted, T-tropic HIV-1 strains (Feng et al., Science (Wash. D.C.), 1996;272:872-877). CCR-5, which is a RANTES, MIP-1α, and MIP1β receptor, was subsequently identified as the principal coreceptor for primary macrophage-tropic strains (Choe et al., Cell, 1996;85:1135-1148; Alkhatib et al., Science (Wash. D.C.), 1996;272:1955-1958; Doranz et al., Cell, 1996;85:1149-1158; Deng et al., Nature (Lond.) 1996;381:661-666; Dragic et al., Nature (Lond.), 1996;381:667-673). The importance of CCR-5 for HIV-1 transmission was underscored by the observation that certain individuals who had been repeatedly exposed to HIV-1 but remained uninfected had a defect in CCR-5 expression (Liu et al., Cell, 1996; 86:367-377; Samson et al., Nature (Lond.), 1996;382:722-725; Dean et al., Science (Wash. D.C.), 1996;273:1856-1862; Huang et al., Nature Med., 1996;2:1240-1243). These noninfectable individuals were found to be homozygous for a defective CCR-5 allele that contains an internal 32-base pair deletion (CCR-5 Δ32). The truncated protein encoded by this gene is apparently not expressed at the cell surface. CCR-5 Δ32 homozygous individuals comprise ˜1% of the Caucasian population and heterozygous individuals comprise ˜20%. In studies of about 2700 HIV-1 infected individuals, no Δ32 homozygotes were found. Individuals who are heterozygous for Δ32 CCR-5 allele have been shown to progress more slowly to AIDS than wild-type homozygous individuals (Samson et al., Nature (Lond.), 1996;382:722-725; Dean et al., Science (Wash. D.C.), 1996;273:1856-1862; Huang et al., Nature Med., 1996;2:1240-1243). Thus, the identity of CCR-5 as the principal coreceptor for primary HIV isolates provides an opportunity to understand pathogenesis HIV infection and to identify new avenues for the treatment of HIV (e.g., HIV-1) infection. Prior studies of CCR5 also provide a basis for further studies into the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases and for developing novel treatments for inflammatory diseases.

Functionalized heterocycles as modulators of chemokine receptor function and methods of use therefor


In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a bi-directional coupler for coupling an upstream signal and a downstream signal to a termination load. A test point detection mechanism is configured to detect when a test point device is inserted in a test point connector. The test point device is configured to perform a test of the upstream signal or the downstream signal. A switch is configured to switch from being coupled to the termination load to being coupled to the test point device when the test point device is detected as being inserted in the test point connector. The switch is configured to switch from being coupled to being coupled to the test point device to the termination load when the test point device is detected as being removed from being inserted in the test point connector.

A test point may be used to measure the performance of an upstream or downstream connection in a network. In one implementation, two separate directional couplers are used to connect two test points (TPs) to measure an upstream and a downstream signal. One directional coupler for a first test point is used for the downstream direction and a second directional coupler for a second test point is used for the upstream connection. This leaves an isolating port that is terminated by a termination load, such as a 75-ohm termination load if the test point also has a load of 75-ohms. The coupler directivity is limited by how good the isolating port is terminated and this achieves maximum directivity performance because the load of the isolating port is the same as the load of the test point.
In a full duplex node design, the use of two separate couplers may add too much of a loss at an output of a power amplifier connected to the coupler. With use of two separate couplers, the insertion loss will be doubled, from 1 dB in single coupler case to 2 dB in two coupler case. The output RF amplifier may already be running very close to its clipping point. With the use of a single coupler, the RF amplifier will not need to provide as much amplification compared to the two coupler case, which will improve the system level modulation error ration or bit error ratio (MER/BER) performance. Accordingly, a single bi-directional coupler may have to be used for both the upstream direction and the downstream direction. One advantage of using a bi-directional coupler is there is a lower insertion loss in the connection because only one coupler is used in both the upstream and the downstream directions. However, isolation between the upstream connection and the downstream connection may be an issue. The directivity of a coupler is defined as the power difference at any given coupling port when the same amount of power is injected into either the downstream direction or the upstream direction. A coupler may have around 25-30 decibels (dB) directivity, which means there may be 25-30 dB isolation between the upstream direction and the downstream direction at any given coupling port. However, this is based on an ideal 75-ohm termination at the isolating port. In a bi-directional coupler, the termination at the isolating port is typically not the perfect 75-ohm termination and thus will limit the isolation between the downstream and the upstream to the return loss of the isolating port. For example, the ideal isolation may not be achieved because one or both of the upstream test point and the downstream test point may not be connected to the bi-directional coupler. For example, a user may only be using one of the test points to test network traffic in one direction. This leaves an open test point port. In the full duplex node design, a 20 dB test point is required and a 10 dB coupler is used. The best return loss from the open test point port is 20 dB, which would limit the coupler directivity at 20 dB even when the coupler has 30 dB directivity by design when all ports are properly terminated. In the worst case, when two reflections are added in phase from two open test point ports, the total isolation between the downstream connection and the upstream connection could be as low as 16 dB.

Bi-directional coupler with termination point for a test point


A fuel cell for a microcapsule-type robot uses alcohol or an aqueous alcohol solution as a fuel and was hydrogen peroxide or an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution as an oxidizing agent. A microcapsule-type robot also uses the fuel cell. The fuel cell may be used in a microcapsule-type endoscope and have an operating time that is long enough to diagnose human organs. The fuel cell may comprise hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent instead of air or oxygen such that the fuel cell can operate inside the human body. Thus, an oxygen source, which cannot be obtained in a human body, can be easily supplied to the fuel cell, and the fuel cell has higher performance than a fuel cell in which air is used as an oxidizing agent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell for a microcapsule-type robot and a microcapsule-type robot that uses the fuel cell. In particular, the present invention relates to a fuel cell for a microcapsule-type robot in which alcohol or an aqueous alcohol solution is used as a fuel and hydrogen peroxide or an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution is used as an oxidizing agent, and a microcapsule-type robot that uses the fuel cell.
2. Description of the Background
An endoscope is widely used to examine or treat lesions of the internal organs in a human body without performing surgery that incises the skin. However, when patients are examined or diagnosed using a cable endoscope, they may experience pain and discomfort, and thus, these procedures have not been welcomed by patients. This owes primarily to the significant size of the endoscope itself and the sensation of a wire that supplies power to the endoscope. Recently, patients are subjected to a general anesthetic so that they can avoid these discomforts and pain. However, the use of such a general anesthetic can be dangerous, so endoscopy with anesthesia is typically avoided.
In order to overcome these problems, indirect procedures including virtual colonoscopy and gene examination methods have been developed. However, a doctor cannot directly observe and treat an affected part or perform a biopsy, etc.
In order to overcome the above problem, a microcapsule-type endoscope has been developed in which a unit that photographs and transmits images is installed in a swallowable capsule. When a patient swallows the microcapsule-type endoscope, the endoscope travels along the digestive organs while obtaining image information from the organs and transmits the image information to a receiving unit outside the patient's body. The receiving unit interprets the received image information which is used to diagnose the condition of the patient's organs. The conventional cable endoscope can diagnose only the large intestine or stomach, but the conventional microcapsule-type endoscope can diagnose the small intestine in addition to the large intestine and stomach. Thus, the microcapsule-type endoscope provides a wider range of medical diagnosis.
A mercury oxide (HgO2) cell that uses mercury is used as a power supply for the microcapsule-type endoscope. When the sheathing of the microcapsule-type endoscope is damaged due to gastric acids and various enzymes in the human body and other unexpected chemical reactions of digested foods, etc., there is a risk that the body will be exposed to the mercury. In addition, the mercury oxide cell has a short operating time of 4-6 hours, so while it passes through the small intestine, the power may be exhausted and thus the large and small intestines cannot be diagnosed at the same time.
A microcapsule-type endoscope that is equipped with a pose control and/or a location control unit has been developed (Korean Patent Application No. 10-2002-81935), but such an endoscope consumes more power than a conventional microcapsule-type endoscope that does not have the pose or location control unit. Thus, there is an increasing need to develop a power supply that has a larger capacity for use in a microcapsule-type endoscope.

Fuel cell for microcapsule-type robot and microcapsule-type robot powered by the same


Metadata items commonly included in all sets are specified and displayed as common metadata items. When the user selects one of the displayed common metadata items as a designated common metadata item, metadata values in respective sets of an item indicated by this designated common metadata item are classified to any of a plurality of classification items determined based on the set condition. The plurality of classification items are list-displayed. When the user selects one of these plurality of classification items as a selected classification item, icons of contents data as sets with the metadata values classified to this selected classification item, and common metadata items other than the designated common metadata item of the displayed common metadata items are displayed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data management technique.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, apparatuses which generate digital data such as personal computers (PCs), digital still cameras, digital video cameras, hard disk recorders, and the like have rapidly prevailed. In addition, since improvement of the inter-connectability of apparatuses via a network, development of the data distribution channels such as e-mail that distribute digital data, and the high-speed Internet and intranet, and an increase in capacity of storage devices in PCs, hard disk recorders, portable music players, and the like used to store digital data have progressed, various apparatuses around us store large amounts and a wide variety of digital data. In this way, in circumstances in which various apparatuses store large amounts of data, it becomes difficult to efficiently search for target data.
In contrast, a method of classifying data based on auxiliary information of data, for example, information such as the dates of creation, types of data, sizes of data, titles, and the like (these pieces of information are called "metadata", items such as the dates of creation, types, sizes, and the like are called "metadata items," and values set for these items are called "metadata values"), holding data together in folders and the like for respective metadata items, and hierarchically laying out and displaying these folders has been devised. In this method, the user can search for required data by tracing the hierarchically laid-out folders (called folder hierarchy) without working out complicated search formulas.
However, even when the predetermined folder hierarchy is one-sidedly presented, they may often not have a structure that the user intended, and it is not so efficient to search for data by tracing such a folder hierarchy.
Hence, a method which allows the user to designate the order of layers of the folders which hold data together for respective metadata items, and helps the user form the intended folder hierarchy has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-250798).
However, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-250798 provides means for forming folder hierarchy that reflects the user's intention, but the user must decide the hierarchical relationship of metadata items in a trial and error manner, and the user still bears a heavy burden. Depending on the data to be handled, the display system of the folder hierarchy that the user requires may change. However, there is no mechanism to form the folder hierarchy that can follow such changes.

Information processing apparatus and information processing method


A networked health care and monitoring system (10) capable of providing an updated reliable vital information on the health condition of individuals and adapted to support home health care and maintenance. The system includes testing and measuring instruments (39; 43; 46; 49; 56) associated with certain household appliances such as a toilet system (12) and adapted to monitor the vital information passively in response to the use thereof in connection with routine living activities of the individuals. The system may further include control devices (39; 46; 49; 56) associated with certain household appliances, such as an ergometer (15), having health care and maintenance functions and adapted to control the appliances based on the vital information monitored by the testing and measuring instruments in the system. In one embodiment wherein the system is arranged in the centralized network configuration, the testing and measuring instruments and the control devices are connected via a local area network with a data controller (20) wherein all the vital information obtained in the system is stored. Instruments and devices (39; 43; 46; 49; 56) are permitted to access the controller through the network to retrieve necessary vital information therefrom. In another embodiment arranged in the distributed network configuration, the vital information obtained by respective measuring instruments is stored therein and is furnished upon request to the other appliances.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a health care and monitoring system which is capable of detecting and monitoring vital signs and information of individuals during the course of routine living activities of individuals taking place in routine living environments such as homes and offices and wherein the vital information thus obtained is used in connection with routine health care and maintenance activities of individuals for the purposes of health care and maintenance, including prophylactic medicine, early detection of diseases and continuation of therapy.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Due to recent trends for longevity, the importance of self health care and maintenance has been receiving increasing attention irrespective of age of people. Today, many people, elderly or young, not only periodically consult professional medical institutions such as hospitals and clinics for diagnostic and various professional advices helpful in prevention and early detection of diseases, but also are constantly rendering considerable effort by themselves to maintain their health by making use of non-medical health maintenance facilities such as gymnastic or sport clubs. Also, a variety of home health care and monitoring instruments, such as home sphygmomanometer and home urinal assay assemblies, are available to enable people's home health check in support of professional medical monitoring as well as to assist in continuation of home care.
Primarily, the vital information useful in health care and maintenance of individuals is monitored at professional medical institutions such as hospitals wherein various medical testing and measuring instruments are provided. In certain occasions, the vital signs and information detected thereby are forwarded through a local area network or telemetry to a host computer or work station of the hospital for centralized storage and processing, as described, for example, in Japanese Patent Kokai Publication Nos. 2-140875(1990); 2-116351(1990); 2-164336(1990); 2-299632(1990); and European Patent Publication No. 269,907 A1.
The medical services for testing and vital information monitoring at such professional institutions are generally available whenever required to inpatients who are under hospital care. Therefore, the inpatients have the benefit of increased chance of testing and monitoring and may thus be subjected to a continuous and updated care.
Outpatients, home care patients and those individuals who desire a periodical health check, however, must visit the hospital from time to time in order to have their health condition monitored. This will involve considerable economical burden and time loss. In the case of home care patients, in particular, a visit to hospital may often involve substantial physical and mental exhaustion. As a result, there is a tendency that people are discouraged from visiting hospitals adequately frequently whereby the occasions of sampling and monitoring of the vital data are limited to the minimum. This results in the disadvantage that it is difficult to obtain and accumulate the latest vital information due to failure of updating.
Another important problem associated with vital data monitoring at the professional institutions is related to the possible insufficiency or lack of reliability of obtained data. It has been experienced by skilled medical professionals that, during electrocardiography and measurement of the artery blood pressure, for example, a patient who has realized measurement is apt to be overly excited and becomes hypertonic so that the resulting data often exhibits unusual value. Accordingly, repeated measurements are often necessary until a reliable data is resulted.
It is known in the art to arrange a testing and measuring instrument within the residence of a patient and to transmit the obtained vital information to a host computer of professional medical care institutions via public telecommunication line as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Kokai Publication Nos. 2-54031(1990); 2-279056(1990); 2-121627(1990); U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,550; and European Patent Publication No. 292,311 A2. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,550 assigned to the assignee of the present invention describes a home health monitoring system associated with a toilet system incorporating a built-in apparatus for urinalysis which is adapted to transmit the obtained urinalysis data to a remote computer. Home health monitoring device is also described in International Patent Publication No. WO 91/05311. This publication proposes a medication delivery system adapted to support home care of patients wherein a terminal equipment having a physical measuring device such as sphygmomanometer is provided in the home of a patient. In response to instructions from a central station, the patient wears and operates the sphygmomanometer to permit measurement of the artery blood pressure, the resulting data being in turn forwarded to the central station for professional decision and instructions on medication.
Advantageously, these household testing and measuring systems ensures monitoring of the latest daily health information because measurement at home may be carried out readily and more frequently. Furthermore, measurements may be performed under adequately relaxed conditions. However, the problem encountered with these household systems is that a series of testing and measuring procedures must be performed by the individuals by themselves on their own judgement and manipulation. In contrast to health monitoring conducted at hospitals wherein testing and measuring instruments are operated by a physician or nurse skilled in their manipulation and procedures, a patient or user of the household measuring system must be positively engaged in electronic dialogue with a computer of the measuring system by manipulating a man-machine interface such as a computer keyboard in order to cause the measuring system to successfully perform a predetermined program of testing and measurement. To perform automated urinalysis, for example, it is necessary for the user to manipulate the keyboard to select the program menu, to input his or her name, date and time of measurement and so on, and then to depress a start button at a proper timing. Such electronic dialogue by way of the man-machine interface is cumbersome even for ordinary person and is especially difficult to perform for elderly individuals who are encountering loss of memory, degradation in eyesight and decreasing muscle response.
Manipulation of the man-machine interface is also necessary to operate those household appliances which are used in homes for the purposes of health care and maintenance of individuals and which require a certain vital information for their intended operation. For example, an indoor exercise apparatus such as a bicycle-simulated ergometer requires that various parameters including the stature, body weight, age, sexuality, body fat content and desired amount of exercise of the user be input through an input device. Similarly, for measurement of the body fat content, it is desirable to input a vital data on the stature, body weight, age, sexuality and the amount of daily exercise. A conventional computerized menu processor adapted to provide alimentary menu requires input of vital information on the body weight, the results of urinalysis, the amount of exercise, etc. As information input operation of all these data must be performed by the manipulation of the man-machine interface such as a keyboard device, it has been cumbersome to set up the health care and maintenance appliances.

Networked health care and monitoring system


A labyrinthine mechanical seal in a bore of a casing for a rotatable shaft which is substantially free of axial forces and mounted for axial movement while carried by bearings in the casing. The seal includes a first group of discs arranged in an axial spaced-apart relation on the rotatable shaft and a second group of discs arranged in a non-rotatable manner at axial spaced-apart locations in the bore of the casing to extend around the shaft and mesh with the first group of discs in a manner of a labyrinth. The axial clearances between the groups of discs is 0.2 millimeter or less and the radial clearance between the groups of discs is only slightly greater than the radial clearance in the bearings. The discs are resilient and consist of hardened steel. Alternatively, the discs of one of the groups consist of hardened steel and the other consists of bronze. If desired, according to a further embodiment, the discs comprising both groups each has an annular groove extending in the side face over substantially half the radial height of the meshing disc portions.

This invention relates to a mechanical seal for a rotatable shaft which is substantially free of forces in an axial direction of the shaft, and more particularly to such a mechanical seal located in a mechanically-live bore or bushing or the like wherein the seal includes two groups of discs arranged in axial spaced-apart and generally face-to-face relationships to mesh with one another in the manner of a labyrinth, one group of discs is disposed on the rotatable shaft; while the other group of discs is disposed in a nonrotatable manner in a bore of a bushing extending centrally around the shaft.
A labyrinthine seal for a rotatable shaft is generally well known in the art. Such a seal is constructed in a manner generally similar to the mechanical seal described hereinbefore and is classified in the category of a contactless seal.
West German Pat. No. 2,647,016 discloses a sliding ring-type seal disposed in a casing wherein a relatively low average flow of a pressurized medium acts on one side of the seal and a relatively high average flow of a pressurized medium acts on the other side. The sliding ring seal extends around a shaft that rotates in the bore of a casing. This kind of seal comprises relative rotatable sliding rings or slip rings, that is, one ring is secured to the casing and another ring is secured to the shaft. The two rings have contacting seal surfaces, one of which is larger than the other. The larger seal surface is acted upon by the average flow pressure of the medium in a non-contacting region. A pressure difference of the medium is produced by the flow of the medium which distorts the larger surface of the ring and permits a leakage flow of the medium between the contacting surfaces.

Eickhoff Maschinenfabrik und Eisengiesserei m.b.H