Only monitor side is caused to have decoding unit portion for bit stream, and reading unit portion for bit stream, decoding unit portion for bit stream and recording unit portion for bit stream are linked by digital network. Reproducing unit is caused to have a function to reproduce bit stream as it is, and recording unit is caused to have a function to record bit stream as it is. Bit stream reproducing unit and bit stream decoding unit of the monitor side, and such reproducing unit and bit stream recording unit are linked by high speed digital network. Thus, in the case where there is constructed a moving picture reproducing system such that a plurality of moving picture reproducing units are connected to one moving picture display unit to utilize source desired to see by selection of switch, cost can be reduced and degradation of the picture quality can be prevented.

In systems for transmitting moving picture signals to remote place, such as, for example, television conference system or television telephone system, etc., in order to efficiently utilize transmission path, picture signals are caused to be compression-coded by making use of line correlation or interframe correlation of video signal. As such compression encoding system, there are so called MPEG1 system and MPEG2 system (hereinafter encoding system including both systems will be called MPEG system).
When line correlation is utilized, picture signals are caused to undergo, e.g., DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) processing, etc., thus making it possible to compress them.
Moreover, when interframe correlation is utilized, picture signals are caused to be further compressed, thus making it possible to encode them. When it is assumed that frame pictures PC1, PC2, PC3 respectively take place at times t1, t2, t3 as shown in FIG. 1A, for example, difference of picture signal between frame pictures PC1 and PC2 is calculated to generate PC12, and difference between frame pictures PC2 and PC3 is calculated to generate PC23, as shown in FIG. 1B.
Since pictures of frames adjacent in point of time ordinarily have not so great change, when difference therebetween is calculated, its difference signal takes small value. Accordingly, if such difference signal is encoded, code quantity can be compressed.
However, even if only difference signal is transmitted, it is impossible to restore (reconstruct) original picture. In view of this, in MPEG, pictures of respective frames are caused to be any ones of three kinds of I picture, P picture and B picture, thus to compression-encode picture signals.
Namely, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, for example, picture signals of 17 frames of frames F1 to F17 are caused to be group of pictures, and this group of pictures is used as unit of processing. Picture signal of the leading frame F1 is encoded as I picture, the second frame F2 is processed as B picture, and the third frame F3 is processed as P picture. Further, the fourth frame and frames succeeding (subsequent) thereto which are labeled F4 and F17 are alternately processed as B picture and P picture.
As picture signal of I picture, picture signal of one frame is transmitted as it is. On the contrary, as picture signal of P picture, basically, difference from picture signal of I picture or P picture preceding thereto in point of time is transmitted as shown in FIG. 2(A). Further, as picture signal of B picture, basically, difference from mean value of both frames of frame preceding in point of time and frame succeeding in point of time is obtained as shown in FIG. 2(B) to encode its difference.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show the principle of method of encoding moving picture signal. As shown in the figure, since the first frame F1 is processed as I picture, it is transmitted to transmission path as transmit data F1X as it is (intra-frame coding). On the contrary, since the second frame F2 is processed as B picture, difference from mean value of frame F1 preceding in point of time and frame F3 succeeding in point of time is calculated, and the difference thus calculated is transmitted as transmit data F2X.
When further detailed explanation is given, there exist, in macro blocks, four kinds of processing as B picture as mentioned above. The first processing transmits data of original frame F2 as transmit data F2X as it is (SP1) (Intra Coding), and is a processing similar to the case in I picture. The second processing calculates difference from frame F3 succeeding in point of time to transmit its difference (SP2) (Backward Predictive Coding). The third processing transmits difference (SP3) from frame F1 preceding in point of time (Forward Predictive Coding). In addition, the fourth processing generates difference (SP4) from mean value of frame F1 preceding in point of time and frame F3 succeeding in point of time to transmit it as transmit data F2X (Bidirectionally Predictive Coding).
Among these four methods, a method in which quantity of data transmitted becomes minimum is adopted.
In this case, at the time of transmitting difference data, motion vector x1 with respect to picture (predictive picture) of frame subject to calculation of difference (motion vector between frames F1 and F2) (case of forward prediction), x2 (motion vector between frames F3 and F2) (case of backward prediction), or both x1 and x2 (case of bidirectional prediction) is or are transmitted along with difference data.
Moreover, with respect to frame F3 of P picture, with frame F1 preceding in point of time being as predictive picture, difference signal (SP3) between the frame F3 and the frame F1, and motion vector x3 are calculated, and they are transmitted as transmit data F3X (Forward Predictive Coding). Alternatively, data of original frame F3 is transmitted as transmit data F3X as it is (SP1) (Intra Coding). With respect to which method is employed in transmission, a method in which transmit data quantity becomes lesser is selected in macro block units similarly to the case of B picture.
FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of a system operative on the basis of the above-described principle so as to encode moving picture signal to transmit the coded signal to decode it. Coding unit 1 encodes inputted video signal to transmit it onto recording medium 3 as transmission path. Further, decoding unit 2 reproduces signal recorded on recording medium 3 to decode the reproduced signal to output it.
In the coding unit 1, inputted video signal is inputted to pre-processing circuit 11, at which it is separated into luminance signal and color signal (color difference signal in the case of this example). These signals are caused to respectively undergo A/D conversion by A/D converters 12, 13. Video signals converted into digital signals after undergone A/D conversion by A/D converters 12, 13 are delivered to frame memory 14, and are stored thereinto. Frame memory 14 allows luminance signal frame memory 15 to store luminance signal, and allows color difference signal frame memory 16 to store color difference signal.
Format converting circuit 17 converts signal of frame format stored in frame memory 14 into signal of block format. Namely, as shown in FIG. 5, video signal stored in frame memory 14 is caused to be data of frame format in which V lines comprised of H dots per each line are gathered. Format converting circuit 17 divides signal of one frame into M slices with 16 lines being as a unit.
Each slice is divided into M macro blocks. Each macro block consists of luminance signals corresponding to 16.times.16 pixels (dots). This luminance signal is further divided into blocks Y [1] to Y [4] having 8.times.8 dots as unit. Cb signal of 8.times.8 dots and Cr signal of 8.times.8 dots are caused to correspond to luminance signal of 16.times.16 dots.
Data converted into block format in this way is delivered from format converting circuit 17 to encoder 18, at which encode (encoding) operation is carried out. Since the detail thereof does not affect the subject matter of this invention, its explanation is omitted here.
Signal encoded by encoder 18 is outputted to transmission path as bit stream, and is recorded onto, e.g., recording medium 3.
Data reproduced from the recording medium 3 is delivered to decoder 31 of decoding unit 2, at which such data is decoded. Since the detail of decoder 31 does not affect the subject matter of this invention, its explanation is omitted here.
Data decoded by decoder 31 is inputted to format converting circuit 32, at which it is converted from block format to frame format. Luminance signal of frame format is delivered to luminance signal frame memory 34 of frame memory 33, and is stored thereinto. Color difference signal is delivered to color difference signal frame memory 35, and is stored thereinto. Luminance signal and color difference signal which have been read out from luminance signal frame memory 34 and color difference signal frame memory 35 are caused to respectively undergo D/A conversion by D/A converters 36 and 37, and are then delivered to post-processing circuit 38, at which they are synthesized. Synthesis output thus obtained is outputted to display, e.g., CRT (not shown), etc., and is displayed thereon.
There are instances where coded moving picture signals (bit streams) are transmitted from, e.g., antenna of broadcasting station, and there are also instances where such coded moving picture signals are recorded onto recording media such as digital VTR/digital video disc, etc.
System for recording/reproducing such coded moving picture signals (bit streams) is constituted as shown in FIG. 6, for example, in the prior art. Digital VTR recording/reproducing unit 51 reads out bit stream recorded on digital VTR to decode it to output video/audio signal. Digital video disc unit 52 reads out bit stream recorded on digital video disc to decode it to output video/audio signal. Digital TV receiving tuner 53 receives bit stream which has been transmitted as radio wave to decode it to output video/audio signal.
Video/audio signals outputted from these units are inputted to monitor 54. This monitor 54 is comprised of display, e.g., CRT, etc. to switch input source by using switch, etc., thereby making it possible to display moving picture signal from specified (designated) moving picture reproducing unit.
Moreover, in the case where moving picture signal received by, e.g., digital TV receiving tuner 53 is recorded by digital VTR recording/reproducing unit 51, video/audio signal that digital TV receiving tuner 53 outputs is inputted to digital VTR recording/reproducing unit 51. This digital VTR recording/reproducing unit 51 encodes inputted video/audio signal to write it onto recording media in the form of bit stream.
In the case where such a moving picture reproducing system is constituted as shown in FIG. 6 to connect a plurality of moving picture reproducing units to, e.g., one moving picture display unit to utilize source that user wants to see by selection of switch, decoding units for bit streams are respectively required in reproducing units connected to the system. Since encoding/decoding methods for bit stream are being standardized over the world by system such as MPEG, etc., these decoding units are of entirely the same structure. Accordingly, such system requires decoding units by the number of reproducing units are required, and is disadvantageous in terms of cost.
Furthers in the case where, e.g., moving picture signal reproduced by a certain moving picture reproducing unit is recorded by different moving picture recording unit, signal once decoded is encoded for a second time and is then recorded. Also in this case, it is sufficient that bit steam before subjected to decoding and bit stream after undergone encoding are the same. Accordingly, this system additionally requires encoding unit or units and is therefore disadvantageous in terms of cost. In addition, degradation of picture quality by encoding becomes problem.

Picture signal reproducing method and picture signal reproducing apparatus


The present invention relates to a process for producing dental working cast for use for preparing a crown or a denture of metal-bonded porcelein or of all ceramic in dental therapy, by preparing a removable positive model of tooth from impression, processing it into a model of the working cast and replicating the model using a suitable material chosen from resin, die material, refractory cast material and modified dental stone, to obtain the working cast.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to produce a dentition model for producing a crown or bridge for dental therapy purposes, by replicating the objective tooth by taking an impression of the dentition including the ambient area around the objective tooth, followed by plaster molding. The so-prepared model of the die is then processed in a dental laboratory by a dental technician to settle reference planes by trimming the tooth end and each face with a trimmer, whereupon a dowel pin is placed on the bottom face of the reference plane by a dowel pin drill or dowel pin setter and is fixed with an adhesive or plaster. Then, a groove is formed on the outer or inner face of the dowel pin for preventing rotation thereof. The groove is formed by cutting with a point, whereupon this is coated with a release compound. The resulting removable die model is embedded in a mass of secondary pour plaster filled in a rubber case, in such a manner, that the upper part of the model above the row of dowel pins sinks beneath the upper face of the plaster. After the plaster has hardened, the plaster block is taken out of the rubber case and is cut off to leave the portion of the objective die. Then, the model of the objective die is separated from the cut portion by withdrawing it therefrom. The die of the abutment tooth is worked up by trimming into a finished shape permitting easy fit of a crown, bridge or the like. The so-trimmed die is then placed in the proper position on the tray of secondary pour plaster and is used for preparing the corresponding crown or bridge by adjusting the relative posture to the neighboring tooth dies and adjusting the engagement with the opposing tooth to be engaged therewith.
Also for producing an all ceramic denture, the model entire act of teeth is first prepared using a silicone rubber impression material and replicating with a refractory material therefrom to produce renewedly the working cast. Here, the expensive heat resistant dowel pins used in these work procedures have to be handed over to the dental surgeon without removing them.
As explained above, the prior art technique requires the cost of the entire die of teeth for preparing the objective abattment tooth, so that a large amount of expensive material has to be employed for the preparation. Such material cost is especially high for all ceramic dentures using silicone impression material and refractory cast material. In addition, the prior art operates to finish the crude die model by trimming, whereby its original contour is altered, which makes it difficult to recognize the actual position of ginvals around the reference planes of the die and the transition areas therebetween, when the unprocessed denture to be prepared, such as, a crown or the like, is placed on the working model for the adjustment work thereof.

Process for producing dental working cast


An encoding method for error correction of digital information data is provided. The encoding method comprises the steps of arranging the digital information data in a plurality of blocks each including a plurality of symbols, and generating first redundacy data from first respective groups of digital information data constituting symbols which exist in at least two blocks in a first direction. Second redundancy data is generated from second respective groups of digital information data constituting symbols which are included in the plurality of blocks in a second direction. First code sequences are formed for first error detection from the first digital information data groups and the first redundancy data, and second code sequences are formed for second error detection from the second digital information data group and the second redundancy code. Blocks including at least one of the digital information data and the first redundancy data are transmitted, and blocks including the second redundancy data are also transmitted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an encoding method for error correction which is applied to record, for example, an audio PCM signal on a magnetic tape by a rotary head.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There is known a method for performing the error detection or encoding error correction codes in the longitudinal and lateral directions of digital information data arranged like a matrix, respectively. As one method in case of transmitting these codes for every column and decoding them on the reception side, there is considered a method whereby the error detection is performed by a first error detection code for each column, a pointer as a result of this is produced, and the data and pointer of each column are stored in a memory, then the error correction is performed for every row by a second error correction code with reference to this pointer.
Upon this decoding, a block address is added in order to write the data in each column (hereinbelow, referred to as a block) in the memory in accordance with the correct time sequence. However, in the case in which the error detection is performed for every block, there is a problem that if a block address is wrong, it is impossible to detect that the data is written in a wrong address of the memory, so that when the erasure correction using the pointer is performed by the second error correction code, the wrong error correction will have been done.


One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for reducing motion blur in a liquid crystal display (LCD) by pulsing each frame with a relatively short pulse of backlight illumination while driving pixels within the LCD with compensated intensity values to account for LCD settling time and vertical position. An LCD drive compensation unit implements the disclosed technique to generate an intensity value for each pixel that is scanned into the LCD. The technique advantageously reduces motion blur while preserving uniform vertical display accuracy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to liquid crystal display systems and, more specifically, to a low motion blur liquid crystal display.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (LCD) system comprises a two-dimensional array of pixels, where each pixel comprises various color elements, such as red, green, and blue color elements. In an active matrix LCD panel, each color element includes a liquid crystal cell and an active drive circuit. The active drive circuit receives a row select signal and a column drive signal. When the row select signal is active, the column drive signal is coupled to the liquid crystal cell to establish an intensity value corresponding to an analog voltage for the column drive signal. An intensity value for each pixel within a row of pixels may be set simultaneously when an associated row select signal is set active. During normal operation of an LCD panel, a frame of video information is displayed on the two-dimensional array of pixels by selecting sequential rows and establishing intensity values for pixels in each row. A backlight typically supplies illumination for the LCD panel.
In a typical LCD panel, each intensity value is established relatively quickly for a given pixel. Furthermore, each intensity value remains constant until a new intensity value is established for the pixel. As a consequence, a moving object being portrayed in sequential frames on an LCD panel remains stationary and fully illuminated for the duration of each frame, leading to a perception of motion blur. Motion blur in this type of setting diminishes image quality by making moving objects appear blurry and smudged.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a technique for improved motion clarity in liquid crystal displays.


The present invention provides a diagnostic agent for a therapeutic effect on cancer, containing a compound represented by formula (1-0).

Positron emission tomography (PET method) has better sensitivity, resolution, and quantitativeness than single-photon tomography (SPECT method), and therefore is attracting attention particularly in recent years.
For example, a neuropsychiatric disease is currently diagnosed by evaluating glucose metabolism of nerve cells by the PET method. In this instance, as a PET probe, 18F fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) is used.
Furthermore, diagnosis (judgement) of a therapeutic effect on cancer by the PET method is also attempted (Non-Patent Literatures 1 to 3).

Diagnostic agent for therapeutic effect on cancer

Abstract: (In formula (1-0), R represents —O(CH2)n—, —O(CH2)nOC2H4—, —CH2O(CH2)n—, or —CH2O(CH2)nOC2H4—, n represents an integer of 1 to 5, and Q1 represents F or —OCH3.)


A pillow having a pivoting butterfly structure with two cushions pivotably interconnected by a hinge element to pivot between an open position and a closed position. Each cushion has a hinge end adjacent the hinge element, and a connecting end disposed at the end of the cushion opposite the hinge end. A middle portion is located between the hinge end and connecting end of each cushion. The cushions have a relatively flat inner surface and a curved contoured surface that extend the length of each cushion. The contoured surface projects away from the inner surface and forms two peaks near the hinge end and connecting end of each cushion. Between the peaks, the contoured surface curves inward back toward the inner surface and forms a concave groove near the middle portion of each cushion. A cover encases both cushions and contours the shapes of the cushions.

This invention relates to pillows or cushions, and more particularly to a pillow or cushion for therapeutic use.
The legs of a person lying in a supine, or sidelying, position are generally out of alignment with the person""s back and spine. This is commonly caused by the fact that a person""s back and legs slope downward from a high point near the hips when the person lies in a supine position. Pillows, cushions, and other support devices are used to separate a person""s legs, and slightly elevate the upper leg to bring the legs into proper alignment with the person""s back. Conventional head pillows have often been used to separate a person""s legs for this purpose. In addition, other pillows have been specially designed to serve this purpose as well.
One embodiment of the present invention provides a pillow having a pivoting butterfly design affording movement of the pillow components between a closed position and a splayed open position. This convertible features provides a versatile pillow that can be used for a variety of purposes. The pillow can be used to support and align a person""s head, elevate a person""s legs, space a person""s legs, or perform a variety of similar functions.
In one embodiment, the pillow includes two cushions that are pivotably interconnected by a hinge element. The hinge element interconnects the pillows near the end of each cushion, and the cushions may pivot between an open position and a closed position. Each cushion has a hinge end at the end of the cushion near the hinge element, a connecting end located at the end of the cushion opposite the hinge end, and a middle portion between the hinge end and the connecting end.
The cushions each have a relatively flat inner surface and a curved contoured outer surface that each extend the length of the cushion. The contoured surface projects away from the inner surface near the hinge end and connecting end and forms two peaks on each cushion. Between the peaks, the contoured surface curves inward back toward the inner surface and forms a concave groove near the middle portion of each cushion. Relatively flat lateral faces extend along the sides of the cushions, and are bordered by the inner surface and the contoured surface.
A cover encases the cushions, and contours to the shape of the cushions. The cover is removable and has a resealable slot through which the cushions may be inserted or removed. The slot extends across the portion of the cover adjacent the inner surfaces of the cushions. A zipper is preferably used to open and close the slot. Attachment elements are located near each end of the slot adjacent the connecting ends of the cushions. The attachment elements are preferably hook and loop fasteners, and secure the connecting ends of the cushions to one another to hold the pillow in a closed position.
As mentioned above, the pillow is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. When the pillow is in the open position, the pillow extends lengthwise such that the connecting ends are separated and located at opposite ends of the pillow, and the hinge ends are adjacent to one another near the center of the pillow. When the pillow is in the closed position, the pillow folds back upon itself and the inner surfaces of the cushions face each other. The hinge ends are adjacent to one another at one end of the pillow, and the connecting ends are adjacent to one another at the opposite end of the pillow.


For an inkjet printhead (10) with integral compensation for misdirection of ink drops (37) ejected through at least one nozzle (24) of the printhead (10), a system and method of modifying the nozzle cavity space (32a) so as to compensate for the effects of defects in the printhead (10) by altering the direction the ejected ink drops (37). The inkjet printhead (10) comprises at least one reservoir (28) integrated within the membrane (30). The inkjet printhead (10) also comprises a channel (38) extending from the reservoir (28) and terminating in the nozzle cavity (32). A hardening substance (40) within the reservoir (28) and channel (38) is a plastic material having a high thermal expansion coefficient. An internal heater (48) within the reservoir (28) and adjacent the hardening substance (40) is adapted to cause the plastic material (40) to flow in order to form a protrusion (44) of plastic material (40) within the nozzle cavity space (32a). Alternatively, the plastic material (40) can be recessed within the channel (38). Thus, the hardening substance (40) is adapted to internally alter the nozzle cavity space (32a) and cause ink (34) ejected from the nozzle opening (26) to be deflected with regard to a desired amount of compensation.

This invention relates in general to inkjet printheads and, more specifically, to control in the directionality of ink drops ejected from a printhead in order to improve image quality. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of modifying a nozzle cavity space so as to compensate for the effects of defects in an inkjet printhead by altering the direction of ink drops ejected from a nozzle.
Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with inkjet printers, as an example.
Modern color printing relies heavily on inkjet printing techniques. The term xe2x80x9cinkjetxe2x80x9d as utilized herein is intended to include all drop-on-demand or continuous inkjet printer systems including, but not limited to, thermal inkjet, piezoelectric, and continuous, which are well known in the printing industry. Essentially, an inkjet printer produces images on a receiver medium, such as paper, by ejecting ink droplets onto the receiver medium in an image-wise fashion. The advantages of non-impact, low-noise, low-energy use, and low cost operations, in addition to the capability of the printer to print on plain paper, are largely responsible for the wide acceptance of inkjet printers in the marketplace.
The printhead is the device that is most commonly used to direct the ink droplets onto the receiver medium. A printhead typically includes an ink reservoir and channels, which carry the ink from the reservoir to one or more nozzles. Typically, sophisticated printhead systems utilize multiple nozzles for applications such as high-speed continuous inkjet printer systems, as an example. Continuous inkjet printhead device types include electrostatically controlled printheads and thermally steered printheads. Both printhead types are named according to the means used to steer ink droplets ejected from nozzle openings.
It is well known in the art of inkjet printing that image quality suffers from a failure to accurately control the direction from which ink drops exit the printhead. Variations in the direction of ink drops ejected from a given nozzle from a desired direction of ejection (usually perpendicular to the printhead surface) can occur due to changes in the nozzle during operation, as a result of manufacturing defects present before operation, or both. In most instances, repairs are too difficult and costly, resulting in scrapped parts and decreased manufacturing yields. Accordingly, a cost effective way of increasing printhead lifetimes and printhead production yields would be advantageous.
For any given nozzle, the direction of the exiting ink drop stream is controlled by the physical characteristics of the nozzle. Where misdirection occurs, the ink drops can produce printing artifacts such as random placement errors between subsequent drops from a single nozzle or placement errors of drops from one nozzle with respect to those from another nozzle. Variations in the direction of ink drops ejected from a given nozzle may occur over a variety of time scales. For example, in Bubble Jet printheads, made by Canon Company, rapid variations may occur when bubbles nucleate randomly on the surfaces of heaters, causing random variations in the velocity and direction of ejected ink drops from each nozzle. Variations in the direction of ejected ink drops may also be caused by sources external to the inkjet printhead such as, for example, vibrations of the inkjet printer. It is difficult or impossible to correct such random variations in the direction of ejected ink drops, which typically change rapidly with time.
In other cases, factors causing deviation of the direction of ejected ink drops from a desired direction can occur slowly over a long period of time. Such slowly changing variations may arise, for example, from gradual changes in the material properties of the nozzle, such as changes in the stress of the materials comprising the nozzle or surrounding the nozzle openings, from changes in the resistance of heater materials during operation, or from wear of nozzle materials during operation.
In still other cases, factors causing deviation of the direction of ejected ink drops from a desired direction can be essentially permanent. Deviations caused by manufacturing defects in nozzles, for example defects that alter or vary the shape of the nozzle openings, are essentially permanent. Permanent deviations may also arise after a period of time of operation of a nozzle. For example, a piece of material may become permanently chipped away from a portion of a nozzle after a period of time of operation, or a piece of material may lodge permanently within a nozzle during operation.
Thus, it is desirable to compensate for slowly changing variations in the directionality of ejected ink drops. For slowly changing variations, compensation may be needed from time to time during operation. It is also desirable to compensate for permanent changes in the directionality of ejected ink drops in order to improve image quality and increase manufacturing yield. Compensation cannot be applied before operation of the nozzles, since it is generally not possible to predict the direction and magnitude of deviations in the direction of ejected drops for a particular nozzle, which occur after operation. Compensation applied after or during operation of nozzles is herein referred to as active compensation.
Substantial effort has been directed toward active compensation for slowly changing variations in the direction of drop ejection for drop-on-demand printers, as discussed and illustrated, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,804, assigned to Xerox Corporation, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,036, assigned to IBM, which teach measuring the position of ejected ink drops and compensating for variations from the ideal direction by electrostatic means. While such electrostatic deflection can be used to direct ink in a desired direction, as is well known in the art, electrostatic deflection in these cases adds mechanical complexity. Also, correction techniques of this type are largely ineffective in cases where large variations in the direction of ejected ink drops occur.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,202, assigned to Laser Master Corporation, teaches an electronic means to correct inaccuracies in ink drop placement by advancing or retarding the time of a drop-on-demand actuation pulse. However, this method does not correct variations in both of the directions of ink drop ejection in a plane perpendicular to the direction of drop ejection, as it is more suited to adjusting ink drop placement only in the scan direction of the printhead. Moreover, not all printhead circuits can be easily adapted to control the firing times of individual ink drops, since the firing pulses may be derived from a common clock.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,962, assigned to Xerox Corporation, teaches the application of a moveable vacuum priming station that can access groups of nozzles to remove entrained air in one or more nozzles. Although entrained air is known in the art to cause variations in the direction of ink drop ejection, it is only one of many mechanisms causing variations. Also, entrained air principally refers to failure of the ink to fill the printhead, not to a change in the head itself. Removal of trapped air serves to restore the nozzle to its original condition, but does not alter the physical characteristics of the nozzle.
Other prior art techniques for achieving compensation include the selection of one nozzle among a plurality of redundant nozzles for printing a particular imaging pixel, the preferred nozzle having favorable ink drop ejection characteristics. However, redundancy selection techniques of this type are complex in nature and require substantial real estate space on the printhead form factor to implement. Such methods also increase cost and/or reduce productivity.
In the case of continuous inkjet printheads using electrostatic steering of ink drops, as in the current generation of commercialized continuous inkjet printheads, for example those manufactured by Scitex Corporation, compensation for variations in the direction of ejected ink drops from an ideal direction can be accomplished by electrostatic means; and in this case, additional mechanical complexity is not required, since the means of printing itself is based on electrostatic deflection and the required hardware is already in place. Printheads of this type produce electrically charged ink drops, which are deflected using a charged electrode at each nozzle. The electrode voltage is set to one of two discreet values (for example, either 100 volts or 0 volts) each time an ink drop is ejected, causing ink drops to be deflected either in a printing direction (for example, in the case the voltage is 100 volts), or into a gutter (for example, in the case the voltage is 0). To correct for slow or permanent deviations of the direction of ejected drops from a particular nozzle, the voltage corresponding to printing at that nozzle might be set, for example, to 110 volts. The use of electrostatic techniques such as these, however, requires additional voltage control hardware.
In the case of continuous inkjet printheads using thermal steering of ink drops, an electrode apparatus is not already in place, and other means of correction are desired to correct for the effects of slow variations in direction of ink drop ejection, as well as for permanent manufacturing defects.
Accordingly, a need exists for a cost effective method of correcting defects in inkjet printheads to permit compensation in the direction of ink drops ejected from the nozzles. A means of increasing manufacturing yields by permitting active compensation for ink drop ejection misdirection from a nozzle would provide numerous advantages.
The present invention provides a system and method of modifying nozzle cavity space in order to compensate for the misdirection of ink drops ejected through at least one nozzle of the printhead. With the present invention, printheads that would normally be discarded due to defects that cause ink drop misdirection can be repaired rather than discarded.
Accordingly, disclosed in one embodiment is an inkjet printhead with integral compensation for misdirection of ink drops ejected through at least one nozzle of the printhead. The inkjet printhead comprises a substrate forming a wall, which defines a nozzle adapted for facilitating the flow of ink from an ink reservoir to a nozzle cavity having a nozzle opening via an ink stream pathway. The inkjet printhead also comprises a membrane predisposed over the nozzle having a nozzle cavity to create a resistive barrier against ink flow. The membrane includes the nozzle cavity and the nozzle opening through which ink drops are ejected.
The inkjet printhead further comprises at least one reservoir integrated within the membrane and a channel formed within the membrane underlying an upper layer and extending from the reservoir to a nozzle cavity. The reservoir and channel are initially filled with a hardening substance, which can include a plastic material having a high thermal expansion coefficient.
The inkjet printhead also comprises at least one internal heater, which is predisposed within the reservoir and/or the channel adjacent the hardening substance. The internal heater(s), when operated in a first mode, are adapted to cause the hardening substance to soften and flow. Furthermore, the internal heater(s) are configured to cause the plastic material to expand and enter the nozzle cavity when activated in order to modify the nozzle cavity space; and, when cooled, to remain in the cavity. That is, the plastic material is adapted to either form a protrusion in the nozzle cavity, thereby decreasing the nozzle cavity space. Alternatively, when heat is applied to the heater(s) in a second mode of operation, the plastic material is caused to flow and increase the nozzle cavity space. Thus, the hardening substance is adapted to internally alter the nozzle cavity space and cause ink ejected from the nozzle opening to be deflected with regard to a desired amount of compensation.
In accordance with yet another embodiment, disclosed is a method of modifying the nozzle cavity space of an inkjet printhead having at least one reservoir with a channel so as to compensate for the effects of defects in the printhead by altering the direction of ink drops ejected from a nozzle. Initially, the printhead is tested to determine the ink stream directionality onto a receiver medium, such as paper, from a nozzle opening. Variability in the direction of the ink drops ejected from a nozzle of the inkjet printhead caused by manufacturing defects is then identified. Thus, the amount of misdirection from a nozzle of an inkjet printhead can be quantified and the amount of compensation desired in the direction of ink,ejected from the nozzle opening can be determined.
The method comprises the step of causing ink ejected from the nozzle opening to be deflected with regard to the desired amount of compensation. In one embodiment, an internal heater is activated within a reservoir. The application of heat via the internal heater causes a hardening substance, or plastic material, within the reservoir and channel to protrude into the nozzle cavity. A change in temperature is sustained until the desired amount of compensation is obtained. Thus, the nozzle cavity space is internally modified in order to correct the misdirection of ink ejected from the nozzle opening.
Once the desired amount of compensation has been achieved by modifying the nozzle cavity space, the hardening substance within the channel is cooled. The decrease in temperature causes the hardening substance to freeze in a protruding state, thus decreasing the nozzle cavity space. The step of cooling is then followed by the step of deactivating the internal heater. The elimination of heat causes the hardening substance within the reservoir to harden.
According to another embodiment, the step of causing ink ejected from the nozzle opening to be deflected with regard to the desired amount of compensation further includes the step of heating and cooling the hardening substance, preferably using two heaters, one within the reservoir and one within the channel. This, in turn, causes the hardening substance, or plastic material, within the channel to form a recession. Thus, the nozzle cavity space is increased in order to correct the misdirection of ink ejected from the nozzle opening.
Technical advantages of the present invention include a cost effective method of compensating for the effects of defects in inkjet printheads that would otherwise result in misdirection of ink drops ejected from the nozzles. As such, printing artifacts caused by irregularities in the ink drops landing onto a receiver medium are eliminated.
Other technical advantages include the increase in manufacturing yields as printheads that would be typically discarded can be repaired and used.

Active compensation for changes in the direction of drop ejection in an inkjet printhead


A bird deterrent device and method which combines the deterrence of an inanimate bird deterrent device with the erratic behavior of a movable deterrant device without injury to the brids or the use of sharp and portions. The present invention uses a multiplicity of projecting members which radiate out from a flange and base that is secured to a bird perching area. The projecting members may be aligned in a coplanar fashion with the flange so as to be suited to deter birds from perching on narrow building ledges or the wires may extend outward in different planes. The projecting members are of sufficient length so as to be visibly disturbed by an available draft of air but are not strong enough to support the weight of a perching bird. The physical presence of the device and the erratic independent movement of the projecting members, with the resulting physical obstruction so created, deter birds from perching at or near the device.

The field of the present invention is mechanical devices and methods for deterring birds from landing at undesirable perch locations. Historically, birds have been a constant pest to all types of structures and activities of man. Particularly troublesome are areas with large populations of swallows, seagulls, and pigeons although other species such as starlings, sparrows, swallows and blackbirds create problems. These unwelcome birds create unwanted noise and their droppings are an unsightly testimony to their presence on public structures and private residences. The bird droppings can also present a threat to human health. Fungi in these bird droppings can transmit diseases to humans, with potentially fatal consequences to those suffering from diabetes, blood diseases or a respiratory disease.
A particular problem is the narrow ledges common in our urban areas. Numerous methods and devices have been utilized to keep birds away from these areas where the birds are known to roost and subsequently build their nests. Several methods have utilized inanimate devices comprised of a continuous metal strip or spine with sharp, protruding spikes. However, to be effective, these must be accurately placed on the nesting area. Also, this device is conducive to nest building by the more industrious of the bird pests, due to its immobile character. Such devices may be injurious to the birds that impale their wings onto the sharp spikes. These devices are also potentially injurious to humans who unknowingly venture too close. These devices are also surprisingly expensive. Also, leaves become impaled on the pointed spikes, decreasing their effectiveness. Others have tried certain chemical gels that are applied to the perching area giving the perching birds a chemical hot foot. These, however, have a limited life span, as the gel collects debris, rendering it ineffective and, to no one's surprise, the gel eventually wears off the perching area. Mock predators have been used, but these eventually lose their deterrence effect. After a short time period, pigeons will sit quite comfortably atop these "artificial adversaries." It is noteworthy that none of these bird deterrents display the erratic motion which especially frightens the birds.
Another popular device is an electrified wire draped strategically around the nesting or perching area of the birds. These have been used at public buildings, but their high installation cost prohibits use at residences or smaller public facilities. Also, there is the constant cost of keeping the wires electrified and the potential for injury to humans.
Noise deterrent devices have been used but these also annoy the human occupants of the building or residence. Ultrasound emitters effectively deter birds but also household pets, such as cats and dogs, and thus are not real solutions. Another device emits an intermittent flash of light that is disruptive to the birds. This device is ineffective for exterior areas during daylight hours and requires constant upkeep.
Others have employed real life predators such as peregrine falcons to get rid of the bird pests. These are unreliable over the long run as the predator may do away with small dogs, cats and anything else seen as potential prey. Also, they do not address the problem of the offensive mess left by the predator itself. Still others have employed the particularly offensive method of shooting large numbers of the offending birds only to have others replace the killed pests.
Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,914 for "Method and Apparatus For Deterring Birds" issued to V. Chatten illustrating an inanimate bird deterrent. Reference is also made to a pending application entitled "Mechanical Apparatus for Deterring Birds," Ser. No. 07/475,215, filed Feb. 5, 1990, and to a Continuation-In-Part of that application entitled "Methods and Apparatus for Deterring Birds", Ser. No. 07/523,744, filed May 15, 1990. These illustrate an animated bird deterrent device. The aforementioned patent and patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
In view of the foregoing, a need has arisen for a bird deterrent device that is effective on narrow building ledges which combines the best features of the inanimate devices with the best features of the movable devices and behaves in an erratic bird deterring fashion. It must be adaptable to public buildings and private residences, be relatively inexpensive and easy to install, and not be injurious to the birds or offensive or injurious to humans.


A member having a coating film capable of suppressing whisker generation is provided. The coating film (3) including a plurality of crystalline grains (3a) made of tin or tin alloy is formed above the surface of the base member (1). An intermetallic compound (3b) of tin and the first metal is being formed along the crystalline grain boundaries of the coating film.

Tin-lead solder plating has been conducted conventionally for connector terminals, semiconductor integrated circuit lead frames and the like. For the recent viewpoint of environmental protection, studies have been made on usage of tin (Sn) plating, tin-copper (Sn—Cu) alloy plating, tin-bismuth (Sn—Bi) alloy plating, tin-silver (Sn—Ag) alloy plating and the like not containing lead, as a substitute for tin-lead solder plating. A technique of Sn—Cu alloy plating is disclosed in Patent Document 1 described below.
If a coating film is made of the above-described alloy not containing lead, needle-like tin crystals called whiskers are likely to be generated. As whiskers are generated and grown, an electric short circuit failure may occur between adjacent electrodes. Since a whisker is as fine as about 1 μm and has a length of 1000 μm or longer in some cases, the whisker may be came off from the coating film and dispersed. Dispersed whiskers may cause a short circuit failure in or out of the apparatus.
One of the reasons of generating whiskers is an internal stress of a plated coating film. While tin recrystallizes by using the internal stress as a drive force, whiskers are grown. The internal stress of a plated coating film is accumulated by strain caused by lattice mismatch between an underlying metal film and a plated coating film, strain caused by eutectoid of additive of plating solution, strain caused by fine crystalline grains formed by brightener added to plating solution, and other strain. It is said that the larger the internal stress, i.e., strain, in a plated coating film is, recrystallization progresses in shorter time, and whiskers are likely to be grown.
The internal stress can be relaxed by non-gross plating which uses plating solution reducing brightener extremely or by semi-gross plating. It is confirmed that generation of whiskers can be effectively suppressed by adopting an approach to relaxing stress by performing heat treatment at about 150° C. after plating.
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2001-26898

Member formed with coating film having tin as its main component, coating film forming method and soldering method


An embodiment of the present invention provides a facility for securing the use of a distinguished operation, such as a computer system administration operation, to authorized users. The facility first displays an ornamental image to a user. The displayed ornamental image contains a visual key feature that the facility uses to discern the authority of the user to perform the distinguished operation. The facility then determines whether the user has selected the key feature within the ornamental image. The facility invokes the distinguished operation only in response to a determination that the user has selected the key feature. In this way, only authorized users informed to select the key feature may invoke the distinguished operation.

It is sometimes necessary to restrict the use of sensitive operations performed by a computer program to an authorized subset of the users of the program so that users not among the subset are prevented from using these "restricted operations." As an example, in some cases it may be necessary to restrict the use of certain system administration operations (e.g., a Registry editor for altering the configuration of a computer system) of a computer program to members of a computer support staff, as improper use of such system administration operations by users not among the computer support staff can render a computer system inoperable.
Such restriction of the use of operations to an authorized subset of users is sometimes performed by requiring users to enter a secret password before they may use a restricted operation. FIG. 1 is a display diagram showing the conventional use of a secret password to secure restricted operations. The display diagram shows a window 100 containing a field 101 in which a user attempting to use restricted operations of a program must type a secret password. If the user types a correct password into the field 101, the user is permitted to use the restricted operations. If, on the other hand, the user does not type a correct password into the field 101, the restricted operations are unavailable to the user.
While this secret password approach can be effective to prevent unauthorized users from using restricted operations, it has the disadvantage that it requires each authorized user to memorize a password. This requirement can be especially burdensome for users that are required to memorize several different passwords for various purposes. This requirement is also difficult for authorized users who use the restricted operations infrequently, since it is common for a user's memory of a secret password to fade if not reinforced by regular use.
In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings of the secret password approach to securing restricted operations, a facility capable of effectively restricting use of restricted operations to authorized users without requiring authorized users to memorize a password would have significant utility.

Securing restricted operations of a computer program using a visual key feature


In a process for forming a solid lubricating film on an iron-base substrate, an organic material having a vapor pressure of 10.sup.-4 Torr or less at room temperature is deposited on an iron-base alloy substrate in a vacuum atmosphere in a vacuum degree of 10.sup.-4 Torr or more, and simultaneously ions of a metal element having a chemical affinity to carbon is irradiated on the iron-base alloy substrate at a dose of 1.times.10.sup.16 ions/cm.sup.2 or more, the ions having an energy of 5 keV or more. Accordingly, the iron-base substrate is coated with a solid lubricating film which includes an atom mixture layer including carbide of the metal element and alloy of iron and the metal element and a carbon layer including amorphous carbon. Hence, the solid lubricating film has an excellent lubricating property as well as a high adhesion property to the iron-base substrate. Namely, the excellent lubricating property will last for a long period of time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for forming a solid lubricating film on an iron-base alloy substrate such as steel or the like, and a sliding member having a solid lubricating film. In particular, the present invention is applicable to precision sliding component parts for automobiles, electronic appliances or the like. For instance, it is applicable to bearings, mechanical seals, sliding component parts of various pumps or the like therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A carbonaceous film has been formed on a substrate of a sliding component part in order to give a lubricating property thereto. The carbonaceous film comprises a carbon-base solid lubricant such as graphite or the like. As for a process for forming the film, a substrate is first coated with an organic polymer, and thereafter an ion irradiation is carried out thereon. Further, another process is proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 215578/1988, in which an organic material is heated and deposited on a substrate comprising a ceramic, and ions of a predetermined gas element are irradiated thereon, thereby forming a carbonaceous film having a high adhesion property.
In the precision sliding component parts, their sliding portions are required to have a high dimensional accuracy, and further the high dimensional accuracy should be maintained for a long period of time. Accordingly, the film thickness of the carbonaceous film should be made as thin as possible, and the adhesion property thereof to a substrate should be enhanced.
However, the carbonaceous film formed by the above-described process, in which a substrate is first coated with an organic polymer, and thereafter an ion irradiation is carried out thereon, suffers from a large density variation (i.e., contraction) occurring therein. Accordingly, a large strain stress occurs in an interface between the carbonaceous film and the substrate. Therefore, the carbonaceous film has a poorer adhesion property to the substrate, and also has a shorter life.
Further, in the carbonaceous film formed by the process set forth in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 215578/1988, the density variation, resulting from the carbonizing organic material, occurs during a stage of an extremely thin film thickness, e.g., during a stage of a single molecule layer or a couple of molecules layer. Therefore, the contraction occurs freely without being restricted. Since the extremely thin film layers are deposited continuously in this process, the carbonaceous film thus formed does not contain the strain stress substantially. Therefore, the carbonaceous film has an enhanced adhesion property to the substrate made of a ceramic, and has a longer life.
However, the carbonaceous film, formed by the process set forth in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 215578/1988, comes to have a shorter life when it is slided under a severer sliding condition. Further, in the case where a substrate made of an iron-base alloy is employed in this process, it might be pointed out that the adhesion property of the carbonaceous film to the substrate is expected to improve due to a chemical bond which arises between the substrate made of an iron-base alloy and the carbonaceous film and binds the iron and carbon elements. Although there arises the chemical bond between the iron and carbon elements, it cannot make the carbonaceous film into a solid lubricating film having a longer life under a severer sliding condition.

Process for forming solid lubricating film on iron-base alloy substrate and sliding member having the solid lubricating film


A table designed for use in a restaurant. The table enables a patron of such restaurant to communicate with at least one of a hostess, waiter, waitress, chef and manager at such restaurant. The said table includes at least one leg member. A table top, having a predetermined configuration, is secured to the at least one leg member. Such table top includes at least one screen formed in a top surface thereof to enable viewing pre-selected information. A terminal control panel engages with the table top for at least indicating at least one of the table is in use, the table is being cleaned and the table is ready for seating a patron. Finally, there is a computer device that includes a server connected to the table for communicating with at least one of a hostess, waiter, waitress, chef and manager at such restaurant.

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, as is generally well known in the prior art, a waiter or waitress would come to the table and take an order for food and beverages from the patron. In many instances, such person taking the order may not hear the customer correctly and write the wrong thing down on the order. When this happens the food is often times sent back thereby causing the restaurant owner money.
Another problem is that the time the food order is given to the chef is not available on the order and the chef may take such order out of turn thereby causing an unhappy patron due to a delay in receiving their food.
Additionally, the tables presently available to restaurants are not usually pleasing to the sight of the customer and are certainly not equipped to provide pre-selected entertainment to such customer. Nor are the prior art type tables presently available equipped to allow the customer to pay the tab at the table with their credit card.


A ribbon handler device holds a twelve fiber ribbon during thermal stripping, cleaving and mass fusion splicing. The handler device includes a first body having a first array of grooves that are tapered to reduce a nominal spacing of a first set of optical fibers and a second body having a second array of grooves that are tapered to increase a nominal spacing of a second set of optical fibers such that each fiber of the first set of optical fibers aligns with a corresponding fiber of the second set of optical fibers for efficient splicing.

The disclosure relates generally to optical communication cables and more particularly to tools and methods for mass fusion splicing of the optical fibers in those cables. Demand is growing for higher fiber count cables and/or higher density of optical fibers in a single cable. As cable prices have decreased over the years, cable installation costs have continued to increase. Accordingly, there is a desire to put more fibers in the same space in order to reduce total installed costs. The trend is toward smaller diameter cables and/or the most fibers possible that can fit inside a given diameter duct space. One option for cable manufacturers to meet this demand is with ribbon cables having densely stacked ribbons of optical fibers or solutions that rely on rollable ribbon concepts, which incorporate, for example, intermittent webs lightly tacking the fibers together to create flexible ribbons that can be more easily rolled to conform to high density packing in a cable jacket or duct. Moreover, new optical fiber designs, in particular those having smaller outside diameters, such as 200 μm optical fibers, are available for use in these ribbon cables. Replacing the larger 250 μm fibers that have been used in conventional ribbon cables can allow even denser fiber counts in cables having the same or smaller size parameters as those conventional ribbon cables.
However, a key customer value for these cables remains the desire that the fibers can still be mass fusion spliced, for example in units of 12. In addition, the ability to mass fusion splice twelve 200 μm to twelve 250 μm fibers is required to enable successful integration of these new cables into existing network infrastructures.

Ribbon handling device for fusion splicer and methods of fusion splicing

CORNING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION


According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for generating a policy event record (PER). The method includes receiving one or more policy event attributes (PEAs) and using the received PEAs to select one or more policy definitions that are associated with a communication session. The method also includes analyzing the selected one or more policy definitions and initiating one or more associated policy actions. The method further includes generating a policy event record that includes information that identifies the one or more selected policy definitions.

Traditionally, control of quality of service (QoS) within telecommunications networks has been achieved using a combination of best-effort data delivery, network resources reservation, or data packet marking on data communication paths. However, the design of emerging next generation network (NGN) architectures (e.g., Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) and long term evolution (LTE)) will render this approach no longer viable. One feature of network topology within the various NGNs is that the signaling required to negotiate a data transfer (e.g., application signaling) may not travel on the same logical path as the actual data transfer itself (e.g., data traffic). Therefore, a policy entity is needed to link the application signaling on the service plane to data traffic on the transport plane in order to allow applications to request QoS to be performed on the traffic plane.
One example of such a policy entity is a policy and charging rules function (PCRF). The PCRF, or policy engine, generally is a policy decision point that may be centrally located in the network and may communicate with access edge devices (e.g., policy enforcement points), applications, and operational support systems/business support systems (OSS/BSS) platforms to manage subscriber and network information according to policy rules. These policy rules may be used to define how broadband network resources should be allocated to subscribers and applications and under what conditions. Policy rules may encompass the business and technological rules that govern which network services a subscriber can access, at what bandwidth level, when, and for how long. The PCRF may identify appropriate policy rules by querying a subscription profile repository (SPR) for relevant policy information and may enforce them by sending them to a policy enforcement node, such as a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF).
Generally, policy information is retrieved or provided in response to one or more policy event triggers, such as a subscriber requesting a service via the Internet. By analyzing policy information and associated policy event triggers, network operators may perform various actions. For example, a network operator may analyze policy information and associated policy event triggers and may use this information to improve quality of service and to increase revenue.
Accordingly, a need exists for methods, systems, and computer readable media for policy event record generation.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for policy event record generation


A system and method is provided for converting wellhead pressure of natural gas wells, or for converting water head pressure of water towers, to rotational power for operating rotated equipment, such as electrical generators, electrical alternators, pumps, air compressors, and other rotated equipment.

High pressure gases or fluids can be used to drive a turbine for power generation purposes. Turbine generators often use stream to drive turbine but any high pressure gas may be used to drive the turbine. Water contained by a dam can also drive turbines to power electrical generators. Passive pressurized sources can also be used to provide the means to drive the turbine. For example, high pressure natural gas wells can be used as a source of pressurized gas. Natural gas wells often require the pressure to be reduced in order to safely transport the natural gas. The potential energy stored in the pressure of the natural gas when it is reduced for transport is often unutilized.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a system for generating rotational power using high pressure natural gas from a natural gas wellhead, or from water head pressure from a water tower, to operate rotated equipment such as turbines and the like to provide environmentally-friendly generated electricity from a source of energy that would otherwise be remain unutilized.

System and method for generating rotational power


Method and apparatus for separation of an isotope substance from a mixture of isotope substances such as UF.sub.6 by adiabatically decompressing the mixture in vaporous or gaseous form to cool the mixture to a temperature below 100.degree. K. and irradiating by an electromagnetic wave selectively absorbed by an isotope substance, passing the mixture after cooling and irradiating in a diffuser at a velocity greater than the speed of sound and decelerating to convert the velocity into pressure with reduced velocity of the mixture. The higher pressure results in substantial reduction in operating costs and capital investment.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the separation of a substance from a mixture of substances and more particularly refers to a new and improved method and apparatus for the separation of an isotope substance from a mixture of isotope substances subjected to irradiation by an electromagnetic wave.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The separation of mixtures of substances, particularly of isotopes or isotope compounds, using the principle of selective excitation, dissociation or ionization of the one substance, preferably under conditions to chemically react with a separately supplied other reaction partner is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 614,213. In the process of the latter application, the initially vaporous substances are decompressed adiabatically to temperatures below 100.degree. K. and then before condensation occurs are irradiated by an electromagnetic wave, preferably by a laser beam of appropriate frequency confined in a resonator. The expansion usually takes place in a vacuum chamber which is connected to appropriate vacuum pumps and/or is equipped with condensation devices. The pressure reduction required with this method is about 4 to 5 orders of magnitude, for example, for an adiabate coefficient K=1.33 corresponding to UF.sub.6 with supplemental gas, necessitating considerable pumping and cooling capacity to maintain the high vacuum.
In the case of installations of considerable capacity, this means large expenditures in capital investment, and also substantially affects the economy of the method because of the high operating costs.

Method and apparatus for the separation of isotope mixtures


A multi-stage latching device for a carburetor which controls the idle speed by defining various throttle plate positions according to deceleration sensor switch, air conditioning switch and ignition switch states. The mechanism which moves the throttle plate consists of a primary force coil which energizes an armature against spring return and the position of the armature coupled through a shaft establishes the idle speed. The throttle position is determined by any one of three adjustably disposed latch coils which when energized, magnetically couple to a casing to define a stop. A circuit control associated with each latch deenergizes the primary force coil while maintaining the magnetic coupling of the stop. With primary force off, the return spring forces the armature back against the energized stop and hence establishes the throttle position and idle speed.

There are numerous fuel supply and carburetor linkage control mechanisms all of which are intended to control the position of a throttle to effect an appropriate engine idle speed. Idle speed controls operable by solenoid operated devices have been widely proposed. In still other engine idle speed controls, control means have been adapted to operate from an output signal derived from an input signal which represents a given engine speed, thereby accomplishing a feedback control of engine idling speed. In still other throttle positioning devices, various diaphragm means have been used to establish a throttle position. These expedients, the usage of feedback control signals, have achieved various degrees of success. But the basic approaches of these various prior art devices is discarded in the present invention in favor of a latching mechanism wherein a latching device develops a defined extended position for a throttle control. This defined position is intended to define specific idle positions of the throttle.

Method and apparatus for step positioning an engine speed control


A computer system allocates locations in DASD to store a specified length of data. The allocation attempts to minimize the number of I/O operations and seek time for accessing the DASD. The system records addresses and lengths of sets of contiguous available storage locations in the DASD. Then, the system searches the record to attempt to identify a set of contiguous available storage locations having the specified length and another set of contiguous available storage locations having a length which exceeds the specified length by an amount likely to accomodate most lengths of data subsequently to be stored on the DASD. If the search is successful in identifying a set of contiguous available storage locations having the specified length, the set is allocated to store the data, and if the search is not successful in identifying a set of contiguous available storage locations having the specified length but is successful in identifying another set of contiguous available storage locations having a length which exceeds the specified length by an amount likely to accomodate most subsequent lengths of data to be stored in the DASD, then the other set is allocated. To minimize radial movement of the read/write head, only sets that are located within the same extent are recorded.

The invention relates generally to computer systems, and deals more particularly with a technique for allocating locations on DASD to store data; the allocation efficiently uses available storage in the DASD and minimizes overhead associated with accessing of the data on DASD.
In many computer systems, such as an IBM VM/ESA 1.1 computer system, external storage is provided by a direct access storage device (DASD). The DASD can comprise one or more magnetic disks. If more than one magnetic disks is included in the DASD, they are stacked as "platters" along a common axis. Each of the disks comprises a large number of coaxial circular tracks to store the data. If the DASD comprises a single disk, then a single read/write head is provided. The disk rotates such that when the read/write head is stationary, the read/write head can read all the information stored on a track during one complete rotation of the disk. The read/write head can also move radially to read other tracks. If the DASD comprises multiple disks, then one read/write head is provided for each disk. All the read/write heads are aligned under the same location of each disk and fixedly connected to each other to move in unison. Only one read/write head is sensed at any one time. A "cylinder" is defined as a collection of circular tracks, one per disk, that are vertically aligned. For a DASD comprising multiple disks, an extent comprises one or more cylinders. To read one cylinder, the DASD is rotated a number of times equal to the number of platters, and during each rotation, a different one of the read/write heads is sensed. To read one extent of the type comprising multiple adjacent cylinders, the foregoing process is repeated for each cylinder with a corresponding radial movement of the read/write head.
In the foregoing DASD arrangements, one factor which limits the speed of accessing (writing to or reading from) the DASD, is the time required to move the read/write head(s) radially from cylinder to another. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the amount of radial movement of the read/write head required for each access. If the allocated addresses are not contiguous, then the allocated addresses may be radially spaced from each other, and require additional radial movement of the read/write head between the spaced addresses. A second factor which limits the speed of accessing the DASD is the time required for the data to rotate so that it is positioned under the read/write heads. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the amount of rotational movement required for each access. When I/O is performed to non-contiguous addresses, extra time is required to allow the data that is not being accessed to pass under the read/write heads. A third factor is the number of I/O operations required to complete the access. An I/O subsystem controls the DASD and must specify a start location on DASD and length information for each discontiguous set of storage locations. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize the number of I/O operations that are required for each I/O access. If the data to be written to DASD can all be stored in one contiguous set of locations in DASD, then a single I/O operation suffices because only one start location and one length need be specified. However, if there is not one contiguous set of locations which is available to accomodate all the data, then the data must be split between discontiguous of locations, and this requires one I/O operation for each discontiguous set.
A fourth factor in managing the DASD is to avoid waste of storage capacity. Unfortunately, during continued usage of the DASD the available storage areas may become fragmented. For example, assume that ten pages of data (4,096 bytes per page) are stored in a fully utilized area of DASD. Each page utilizes one "slot" of storage. Next, an application program requests access to the ten pages, and the ten pages are written into main storage (RAM) to facilitate such access. The application program modifies eight of the ten pages and adds a page, but does not change the other two original pages. Subsequently, the operating system detects that the main storage is nearly full, and initiates a "block paging" operation to free-up the main storage by writing some of the pages in the main storage to DASD. There are various criteria by which the operating system decides which pages to write to DASD to free-up the main storage. According to one common criterion, the operating system selects a group of pages that were accessed at approximately the same time. This may lead to the selection of all of the foregoing ten pages. However, to minimize the amount of I/O work, the two unchanged pages are not written back to DASD; the original copy on the DASD is still valid. Therefore, only the eight updated pages and the additional page must be written to DASD, but the original location in the congested area can only store eight pages in contiguous locations. Therefore, a new location must be selected to store some or all of the nine pages. If a single set of nine contiguous slots is sought to minimize the number of I/O operations and limit radial movement of the read/write head, there will be an isolated set of eight contiguous slots which is available for other data. This process frequently repeats so that over time, there may be many isolated sets of different numbers of available slots on the DASD. To avoid wasting available storage on the DASD, techniques must be used to either avoid creating such isolated sets or to locate and use them for subsequent write operations. However, as noted above, the number of I/O operations and amount of radial head movement and rotational delay should be minimized.
One prior art technique logically divides the DASD into sets of slots of a fixed size, for example, ten slots per set. Whenever the operating system needs to write data to DASD, one or more of such sets is allocated to accomodate the request. Because of other criteria which govern the amount of data to be written to DASD, the amount of data to be written is often less than the allocation. This wastes storage capacity and leaves gaps which require rotational movement to bypass. Also, if the data to be written requires more than one set of the slots, then two or more I/O operations are normally required. The two or more sets are selected by a "moving cursor" which steps through the DASD in ascending DASD address to satisfy each successive request.
Another prior art technique utilizes a moving cursor to step through the DASD in ascending DASD address to satisfy each storage request made by the operating system. According to this technique, the allocations are not restricted to sets of fixed size, but instead attempt to precisely match the length of the storage request. As the moving cursor proceeds through the DASD to satisfy new requests, some of the data previously written to the DASD is accessed, i.e. read into main storage. Then a subset of those pages may be modified or regrouped and rewritten to a new DASD address, freeing the old DASD locations. This leaves gaps in the DASD. Another operating system function constantly monitors the availability of storage behind the cursor, and when seventy five percent of the slots behind the cursor become available, the cursor is moved back to the beginning. Then, the cursor moves forward again and allocates the available slots in order of location on the DASD to accomodate subsequent requests. While this technique minimizes the amount of available sets of isolated slots, the technique tends to fragment the storage of related data requiring extra I/O operations and radial and rotational movement of the read/write head.
Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a computer system, program or method which allocates DASD to minimize the number of I/O operations required to accomodate the data to be written to DASD, yet efficienlty utilizes the available storage on the DASD.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a computer system, program or method of the foregoing type which minimizes the amount of radial read/write head movement and rotational movement required to access the data.

Allocation of uniform contiguous blocks of DASD storage by maintaining both a bit and a bit map record of available storage

International Business Machines Corporation


A procedure for scheduling multiple process requests for read/write access to a disk memory device within a computer system. The procedure considers disk characteristics, such as the number of sectors per track, the number of tracks per cylinder, speed of disk rotation and disk controller queuing capability in determining the optimal order for executing process requests. Process requests are placed in packets within an execution queue, each packet including up to a predetermined maximum number of requests. Within the packets, the process requests are sorted in ascending/descending order by the cylinder number to which the requests desire access, while within each cylinder the requests are placed in next-closest-in-time sequence.

Operating systems for many present day computer systems include multiprogramming and multitasking procedures in order to provide more efficient utilization of the processing capabilities of the system. These procedures interleave several jobs or processes so that as soon as the system processor becomes idle, such as when the process in execution enters an input/output (I/O) activity, another process is executed by the processor. However, with several, possibly many processes executing concurrently, more than one process may request access to the same I/O device. Contention between processes for use of I/O devices, such as printers and memory storage devices, is also common in computer networks wherein I/O devices are shared by many users, and in parallel processing systems.
I/O scheduling is performed by the system processor, or by processors associated with the individual I/O devices, to provide orderly execution of multiple requests for utilization of I/O devices. The scheduler maintains a queue for each I/O device wherein processes waiting to use the I/O device are stacked. The order in which process requests are stacked and executed may vary from the order in which the requests are received by the scheduler in order to make the most efficient use of the I/O device or to provide preferential scheduling of higher priority requests.
Several scheduling methods are known for optimizing data retrieval and storage operations for disk drives and stacked disk drives. These methods seek to minimize access time between process requests, (or "functions") involving data stored at different locations on the disk or disk stack. Access time delays inevitably result due to the manner in which data is organized on the disk and the mechanics of accessing that data.
Data is organized on the surface of a magnetic disk as shown in FIG. 1. The disk drive unit includes a circular disk 102 having its surface coated with a magnetizable material and a read/write head 104 attached to a movable arm 106. Data is recorded onto the disk in a concentric set of rings T0 through T3, called tracks. Arm 106 is movable in the directions indicated by arrows 108 to position head 104 over any one of tracks T0 through T3. Each track is seen to be divided into sections identified as sectors, wherein blocks of data are stored. The sectors corresponding to tracks T0, T1, T2 and T3 have been numbered S0 through S9, S10 through S19, S20 through S29, and S30 through S39, respectively. A second read/write head, not shown, may be provided to provide access to the bottom surface of disk 102.
A disk stack, shown in FIG. 2, consists of multiple disks 202 through 208 affixed to a common shaft or spindle 220. Each disk is similar in construction to disk 102 of FIG. 1. Multiple read/write heads H1 through H7 provide access to disk surfaces 202A, 202B, 204A, 204B, 206A, 206B, 208A and 208B, respectively. The heads are moved in unison in the directions indicated by arrows 210 to locate corresponding tracks on each disk. The corresponding concentric tracks on disks 202 through 208 are referred to as cylinders.
The disk or disk stack is rotated at constant speed during operation. To read or write information, the read/write head must be positioned contiguous to the desired track and at the beginning of the sector to be accessed. Access time includes the time it takes to position the head at the desired tract or cylinder, known as seek time, and the time it takes for the head to line up with the sector to be accessed, known as rotational latency. Seek time can be eliminated by providing a fixed head for each track. Track selection for a fixed head system involves electronically selecting the proper head.
According to one method for optimizing disk drive operations, identified as the "elevator sweep" method, processes requesting access to disk storage are collected, sorted and then queued in an ascending/descending order by sector number. Thus, process requests are executed as the read/write head first sweeps up the disk and then down it. Seek time is reduced as successively executed requests call for access to sectors closely located on the magnetic disk. Thus, excessive head movement is reduced. However, such a method is unfair in that operations requiring access to sectors located at either extreme of the elevator sweep, such as the innermost and outermost tracks on a single disk, are executed less frequently than operations requiring access to sectors located in the middle of the elevator sweep.
According to another "modified elevator sweep" method, process requests are sorted and queued in strictly ascending order by sector number. The queue has a direction, up or down, and a maximum reverse count associated with it. The method selects the next request to execute by determining which is next closest by sector number. To limit movement in the direction opposite the queue direction a counter is incremented whenever the next request is in the direction opposite the queue direction. When the counter value exceeds the maximum reverse count, the next request in the queue's direction is selected for execution. The counter is zeroed whenever a request in the queue's direction is selected. The queue direction is reversed whenever the start or end of the queue is encountered. This method also suffers from unfairness as process requests requiring access to sectors located far from the current head position may take a long time to execute.
In accordance with another scheduling method, requests are queued into packets. Within the packets, the requests are sorted in ascending order by sector number. Requests are executed in a "sawtooth" manner as the read/write head sweeps up the disk executing process requests contained in a first packet and is then returned to the "bottom" of the disk to begin a sweep for the next packet.
In addition to the disadvantages of the disk operation scheduling methods discussed above, none of the above-discussed scheduling methods effectively lessens delays due to rotational latency. Furthermore, all of the above-discussed methods are hampered by using only logical block address for request re-ordering causing them to miss optimization opportunities that could be realized by considering disk geometry in the scheduling process.

Method for scheduling the execution of disk I/O operations

AT&T Global Information Solutions Company


Disclosed is an antenna for use in transmitting and/or receiving both optical, including infrared, and high-frequency electro-magnetic radiation. The antenna is comprised of a hollow conductor in the interior of which is arranged a light conductor as a dielectric. Arranged in the wall of the hollow conductor is at least one slot which acts as an input and/or output coupling opening for the hollow conductor and as an inlet and/or outlet window for optical radiation. Also disclosed is an antenna assembly unit consisting of a plurality of the individual antennas arranged to give omni-directional capabilities for receiving and transmitting of optical and high-frequency electro-magnetic radiation.

This invention relates to an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving electro-magnetic radiation, from the infrared and visible range of wavelengths to the radar and microwave wavelengths. For purposes of this application the term optical radiation will be used to refer to the electro-magnetic radiation in the visible and infrared spectrum while the terminology high frequency electro-magnetic radiation will be used to identify radiation in the range of centimeter or millimeter wavelengths, such as radar and microwaves. These antennas may be used in the military field.
Modern, well equipped armies increasingly need to provide their armoured vehicles and other battle participants with devices for receiving and/or transmitting laser radiation, particularly in the infrared range, as well as radar radiation. Devices for laser and radar warning, e.g. warning of incoming airplanes which make use of radar fire control, or warning of battle field surveillance radar, are practically indispensable. Fire control radar for artillery must also be able to be detected, preferably with detection of the arrival direction, in order to gain reaction time when a risk is in the offing. Facility for detection as well as emission of infrared types of signal is likewise necessary because infrared fire searchlights, laser target illuminators, laser range-finders, and laser interrogation signals for friend/foe recognition (IFF) are used on the battlefield. Laser transmission paths for communication and laser weapon simulators used for the purposes of practice and training are also desirable.
Communication between units which may move freely and independently in the battlefield is important. The hopeless overcrowding of the militarily usable wireless frequency signals demands escape solutions for direct communication on the battlefield. Therefore increased utilization of radar and laser frequency bands for short communication paths with free optical sight is necessary. For this purpose, microwave signals in the centimeter and millimeter range, as well as laser signals of wave lengths from 0.9 to approximately 2 microns (.mu.) for example are of interest. Furthermore, for reasons of energy, as well as for avoiding the risk of interception, it is advantageous in many cases to be able to directionally transmit and receive in each sector.
Heretofore, transmitting and receiving devices for optical signals and for radar signals have been constructed fundamentally separate from each other. This has disadvantages because of space requirements, and because of the difficulty of finding suitable locations for attachment of the equipment. For example, on an armoured vehicle, the difficulty in locating the transmitting and receiving devices arises because of the need to protect the devices as much as possible from damage and yet to place them so that the emission and/or reception of signals in largely unimpeded. When the transmitting and/or receiving device must additionally have a directional characteristic or with a freely selectable transmission and/or reception direction, the realization of a usable device with the means known heretofore is even more difficult. For example, the rotatable parabolic antennas known in the art and used for radar reception are too heavy, too expensive and too sensitive for military use. Moreover, while such antennas admittedly have a directional characteristic, they must be swung or continuously rotated for the reception of signals coming from any desired direction and for the reply thereto in the same direction. Furthermore, these antennas are unsuitable for the reception of modern pulse-coded signals, since the adjustment periods necessary for this purpose are longer by orders of magnitude than the duration of such signals.

Antennas for use with optical and high-frequency radiation