A system and method for gamified crowdfunding over the Internet in order to crowdfund worthy or charitable causes while offering incentives and rewards in the form of an entertaining game and the potential added benefit of a share of the proceeds. Proceeds from the gamified crowdfunding could be shared between the worthy cause and the high scoring donor-participants. A host identifies and selects, through a contest or other selection process, a cause or beneficiary to be featured. The host possesses or owns a server with a processor and memory in which to store a game of knowledge or skill and the game interface and that server is accessed by users via a network. Through the game, queries and answers are exchanged. Through a personal computing device, a user creates an account, pays funds to support a cause, and competes and interacts with the game and other users.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to gamification of crowdfunding to increase user participation and contributions, crowdfunding which uses a competitive game of knowledge to dual fund a designated cause and the high-scoring participants, and more particularly to such a game which may be played by many participating funders at once through a network of computers and mobile devices such that they fund an aggregated set of loans.
Description of the Related Art
Through the Internet, a massive number of individuals interact virtually to form an online community communicating via a network. Entrepreneurs and groups have found ways to create or solicit these online communities which enables them to reach out to the many individuals to create unique opportunities to share knowledge, collaborate or even raise capital. Through use of the network, the online community may take initiative to support goals or causes which may be of common interest. Some exploits have allowed the network of connected individuals to realize grand accomplishments.
Crowdsourcing is one way individuals use the connections through the network to obtain services, products, or ideas by soliciting contributions from a large group of people. Online venture capital campaigns have improved the economy by raising money through a type of crowdsourcing called crowdfunding.
Meanwhile, the Internet and online social networks have been exploited by gaming companies for the capital gain of those companies. Participants in the online gaming communities pay large sums of money to be a part of the game. Online affiliates pay money to gaming companies in the form of advertising and other compensation.
Social connections within the online community are furthered by the use of social networks. Exploitation of these networks by crowdsourcing sites and gaming sites allows extra expansion of these programs and services.
It is ingrained in humans to seek knowledge. It is also innate that humans will seek to compete with other humans. Naturally, then, there has been a long history of trivia competitions where participants compare smarts. Online hosts have provided various incarnations of trivia competitions, some complimentary competitions, some requiring membership, and some for a fee. These trivia competitions typically incorporate a social network interface so that participants can interact with their existing communities or build more connections with individuals having like interests.

Method and system for gamified crowdfunding


A sheet folding device includes first and second folding rollers as a pair arranged on a sheet transfer path located downstream of a printing unit and configured to form a fold on a printed sheet. At least the first folding roller includes a small-diameter portion formed at a position corresponding to a range of a width of a separating roller in the sheet width direction, and a large-diameter portion formed at a position other than the position of the small-diameter portion.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to a sheet folding device configured to perform a folding process on a printed paper sheet (hereinafter, simply referred to as "sheet") printed in a printing unit in an image forming device, by using a pair of folding rollers arranged on a sheet transfer path downstream of the printing unit.
2. Related Art
In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-193544, a sheet folding device equipped with a sheet folding technique is used in a case of making a sealed letter or the like by folding a printed sheet which is printed in a printing unit in an image forming device.
In the above sheet folding device, though illustration is omitted here, a printed sheet which is printed in an image forming unit in the image forming device is transferred into a Z-folding process unit, for example.
In this Z-folding process unit, first to third folding rollers are each provided with three large-diameter portions at a sheet transfer center portion and sheet transfer end portions, and a small-diameter portion is provided between the sheet transfer center portion and each sheet transfer end portion.
A Z-folding process is performed by transferring a printed sheet between the first to third folding rollers with the sheet brought into contact with only the large-diameter portions provided at the sheet transfer center portions of the first to third folding rollers while both end sides of the sheet are left out of contact with the first to third folding rollers.
In this way, the area of contact of the sheet with the first to third folding rollers is reduced, thus making it possible to ensure paths to relieve sheet folding pressure on the sheet upon application of the pressure. Accordingly, formation of creases on the sheet is prevented.


A fast adaptive channel converting method and apparatus, and a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program to execute the fast adaptive channel converting method. The fast adaptive channel converting method includes generating adjacent channel data by pre-signal processing an adjacent channel signal of a reference channel, receiving a channel change request from a user, searching for channel data corresponding to a changed channel in the adjacent channel data, and reproducing the searched channel data. Unlike a conventional technology, the fast adaptive channel changing apparatus and method prevents a screen blank time that may occur while changing a channel in a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, and thus boredom or inconvenience of a user can be removed. Also, when a channel is changed by using a preferred channel list, a channel search time can be remarkably reduced, and the user can easily watch a program of a preferred channel.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to changing a broadcast channel, and more particularly, to a fast adaptive channel changing method and apparatus of a digital broadcast channel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, when a user changes from a currently watched broadcast channel to another channel while using a digital broadcast reproducing apparatus, such as a digital television (DTV) or a cable set-top box, the digital broadcast reproducing apparatus detects channel mapping information, such as corresponding channel frequency information, by interpreting a channel change request from the user. The digital broadcast reproducing apparatus tunes a broadcast signal using a tuner by referring to the detected channel mapping information, and reproduces the tuned broadcast signal via demodulation and decoding. Several signal processing operations are performed before the user finally watches a program of the newly changed channel. Accordingly, a halt time (hereinafter, referred to as a screen blank time) may occur in the digital broadcast reproducing apparatus for a predetermined time after changing the channel. However, since at least 1.8 seconds to 5 seconds are consumed as the screen blank time, the user may be bored while waiting, or may purchase an analog TV instead of a DTV.

Fast adaptive channel converting method and apparatus, and computer readable recording medium for executing the fast adaptive channel converting method


A method and device for void fraction measurement in a gas/liquid two-phase stratified flow system in disclosed. A couple of pressure-signal tubes are mounted to the through into the top and bottom walls of the horizontal pipeline portion of the flow system to measure the pressure differential value between the top and bottom interior position thereof. The height of liquid phase level of the stratified flow is calculated from the pressure differential value and the liquid-phase density. The void fraction is derived from the known geometric relation between the height of liquid-phase level and the cross section of the pipe. Each of the pressure-signal tubes is encased within a cylindrical cooling case to avoid flashing phenomenon from occurring within the pressure-signal tube. This method is applicable for the flow at steady or transient state under high temperature/pressure condition.

This invention in general relates to the void fraction measurement in gas/liquid two-phase flow system. Particularly, the invention relates to a method and a pressure-differential device to measure the void fraction of a gas/liquid two-phase stratified flow within a horizontal pipeline system. The said method and said device are applicable to flow at steady and transient states, and at high-temperature/pressure conditions.
Void fraction is a crucial parameter in the determination of energy and momentum transfer in a two-phase flow system. In usual practice, the void fraction is defined two-dimensionally, in reference to a chosen cross section of the pipe under measurement, as the area of gas phase passing through that cross section divided by the whole cross-sectional area. At present, the instruments most often used for void fraction measurement are the expensive and complicated xcex3-ray and "khgr"-ray densitometers, in which void fraction is derived from radiation attenuation of one or several xcex3-ray or "khgr"-ray beams traversing through the gas/liquid two-phase flow. FIG. 6 illustrates such a densitometer commonly used in industry, which includes radiation source 60, collimators 61, two-phase flow measurement section 62, radiation shields 63, and a detector and counting system 64. This layout was first reported by Edelman et. al. in International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 28, no. 7, 1985, where xcex3-ray is applied to measure the average cross-sectional void fraction of a steady-state boiling flow within a stainless steel pipe. FIG. 7 is another example, presented by Kagawa et. al. in International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics, NUREG/CP-0014, vol. 2, 1990, where "khgr"-ray scanning method is applied to a high-temperature/pressure flow system to measure the distribution of cross-sectional void fractions in a horizontal pipe and the system is at transient state due to a severe leakage somewhere in the pipeline system. This is an even more complicated instrument than the xcex3-ray densitometer just mentioned, in that, more than those basic component parts shown in FIG. 6 the instrument has, referring to FIG. 7, a radiation scanning location-control mechanism 65 and a radiation scanning beam-control electronic system 66. The measurement accuracy of xcex3-ray or "khgr"-ray densitometer depends on the degree of homogeneity of the gas/liquid two-phase flow: better homogeneity of the fluid obviously promises more reliable measurement result. However, it is well known that, the void fraction of a gas/liquid two-phase flow seldom is, if ever, homogeneously distributed. The measurement accuracy of a radiation densitometer also depends on the incident angle and location of each radiation beam, because each beam, different from the rest, is specifically attenuated by a certain wall thickness of pipe and by a certain portion of gas/liquid two-phase flow. As a rule, the farther away is a radiation beam from pipe axis, the less reliable is the measurement data. Moreover, depending on the material and thickness of pipe wall, the radiation attenuation may be so great as not to leave any useful information for the detector to resolve. For a specific example, one may consider the case of a horizontal natural circulation of a gas/liquid two-phase thermal-hydraulics system, in which the density difference between low flow rate liquid phase (e.g. water) and high flow rate gas phase (e.g. vapor) is usually so large that, under the influence of gravity, the two phases virtually separate and become two quite distinct flows, namely the upper layer gas flow and the lower layer liquid flow, thus the term flow stratification. Neither xcex3-ray nor "khgr"-ray densitometer is at all suitable for such flow condition for the want of fluid homogeneity.
To overcome the aforesaid deficiencies of radiation method for void fraction measurement, the present invention, taking advantage of the fact that flow stratification phenomenon often occurs in natural circulation of gas/liquid two-phase flow within horizontal pipeline system, discloses a method to determine the void fraction of gas/liquid stratified flow; wherein a couple of pressure-signal tubes are vertically flush-mounted to the top and bottom interior surface of the horizontal pipeline to measure the pressure differential across the pipe. A thermocouple-rake temperature probe assembly is used to obtain the average temperature of the liquid phase of a gas/liquid two-phase stratified flow, in which the thermal stratification also occurs. Therefore, the average mass density of the liquid phase of the stratified flow is obtained. Then the liquid-phase level of the stratified flow is calculated from the aforesaid pressure-differential data and liquid-phase mass density data. Finally the void fraction is derived from the known geometric relation between said liquid-phase level and the cross section of the pipe.
Since commercialized instruments for void fraction measurement of gas/liquid two-phase flow, such as xcex3-ray or "khgr"-ray densitometer, are far from satisfactory when flow stratification occurs, owing to the reasons briefly discussed in the foregoing, it is the principal objective of this disclosure to resolve this problem by providing a novel method for void fraction measurement, applicable to vapor/water, or any other kind of gas/liquid two-phase stratified flow within a horizontal pipeline system. According to this disclosure, a couple of pressure-signal tubes are vertically flush-mounted to the top and bottom interior surface of the pipe at a selected location, so as to measure the pressure differential across the cross section at that location; and, through liquid-phase mass density correction, this pressure-drop data is transformed into the liquid-phase level within the pipe; and the said liquid-phase level, by its geometric relation with the cross section of the pipe, is then transformed into void fraction. The device herein disclosed can accurately determine the void fraction of a horizontal gas/liquid two-phase stratified flow, be the flow at steady or transient state, and whether or not the flow is at high-temperature/pressure condition.
When the flow being measured is at high-temperature/pressure condition or is at transient state, physical effects like gravity and heat that may render pressure-differential measurement difficult must be put into consideration. Not only does gravity produce flow stratification, but it may also pull down some pressure-signal transmitting medium from the upper pressure hole, resulting in voids or even void sections present within the upper pressure-signal tube. To obviate the gravitational effect four measures are taken: (1) keep as small as possible the diameter of pressure-signal tube that is near the pressure hole, (2) keep as short as possible the vertical section of the upper pressure-signal tube that is near the pressure hole; (3) keep as small as possible the two locations at top and bottom pressure holes where pressure-signal transmitting medium is present; and (4) have pressure-signal tubes flush-mounted to the top and bottom interior surface of the pipe. As to heat, obviously it can increase the temperature of pressure-signal tubes, especially at the sections near the pressure holes, because of thermal conduction. A density gradient will therefore occur within pressure-signal transmitting medium. This problem will be especially serious at the upper vertical section of the pressure-signal tube, and will greatly affect measurement accuracy of the liquid-phase level of a gas/liquid two-phase stratified flow within a horizontal pipeline system. If accident such as leakage or cleavage occurs in a high-temperature/pressure closed system, resulting in pressure decrease faster than temperature decrease, vaporization of the liquid phase within the system may begin rapidly (this is called flashing phenomenon), and this may sometimes lead to vaporization of pressure-signal transmitting medium near the pressure holes. Flashing of pressure-signal transmitting medium may also result in voids or even void sections within pressure-signal tube. Once voids or void sections are present within the vertical section of pressure-signal tubes, any further measurement is not merely futile but, in some cases, possibly dangerous may result. This is because the measurement device is no longer reliable: it may produce false signals which may accordingly trigger the safety systems of, say, a nuclear reactor to work, or, contrariwise, it may ignore accident evolution and delay the safety systems, and neither case is exactly desirable. To mitigate the effects of thermal conduction and flashing phenomenon, this invention has each one of the pressure holes and its nearby space encased within a cylindrical coolant cladding to keep the temperature of the pressure-signal transmitting medium at safe condition. Experiments done in this laboratory prove that this local cooling strategy can effectively prevent loss of pressure-signal transmitting medium due to density gradient or vaporization. Thus, more than providing a method and a device to measure the void fraction of a gas/liquid two-phase stratified flow within a horizontal pipeline system, this invention provides a preventive method and a device to effectively overcome the problem of loss of measurement accuracy due to loss of pressure-signal transmitting medium encountered in transient flow system by the commonly used pressure-based instruments such as fluid-level meter, flowmeter, pressure-drop meter, pressure meter, etc.

Method and device for void fraction measurement and adverse output signal mitigation on pressure-base instruments


An electronic connector system includes an electronic package and an interposer connector assembly. The electronic package has a body with a conductive member disposed on a mating surface of the body. The conductive member is coupled with a conductive via that extends into the body and is oriented along a center axis. The interposer connector assembly includes a substrate with an elongated conductive pad mounted to the substrate and a contact joined to the conductive pad. The contact engages the conductive member when the electronic package mates with the interposer connector assembly such that the center axis extends through the contact.

The invention relates generally to connectors that electrically couple two or more other connectors or devices, and more specifically, to an interposer connector assembly.
The ongoing trend toward smaller, lighter, and higher performance electrical components and higher density electrical circuits has led to the development of surface mount technology in the design of printed circuit boards and electronic packages. Surface mountable packaging allows for the connection of a package, such as a computer processor, to pads on the surface of the circuit board rather than by contacts or pins soldered in plated holes going through the circuit board. Surface mount technology may allow for an increased component density on a circuit board, thereby saving space on the circuit board.
One form of surface mount technology includes interposer connectors. Interposer connectors may include a substrate with conductive contacts on both sides of a dielectric substrate. Conductive vias, or holes that are filled with a conductive material, extend through the substrate to electrically couple the contacts on opposite sides of the substrate. The contacts on each side of the substrate engage conductive members or terminals of different electronic packages, such as a processor and a circuit board, to electrically couple the electronic packages with each other.
As the need for smaller, lighter, and higher performance electrical components and higher density electrical circuits increases, the density of the contacts and vias on each side of the substrate may increase. For example, the contacts and vias may be located closer together. As the contacts and vias move closer together, the data and/or power signals that are conveyed between the electronic packages using the contacts and vias may induce noise, crosstalk, and other electromagnetic interference on the data signals being carried by nearby or neighboring contacts and vias.
A need exists for an interposer connector assembly that enables a relatively high density of contacts while reducing noise and other interference on signals being transferred by the contacts.

Connector system having contact overlapping vias


Systems and methods for measuring similarity between a first set of clusters and a second set of clusters apply a first clustering procedure and a second clustering procedure to a set of objects to cluster the objects into a first set of clusters and a second set of clusters, respectively, calculate a similarity index between the first set of clusters and the second set of clusters, calculate an expected value of the similarity index, wherein the expected value is a value of the similarity index one would expect to obtain, on average, between a randomly generated third set of clusters and a randomly generated fourth set of clusters with a same number of clusters as the first set of clusters and the second set of clusters, respectively, and adjust the calculated similarity index based on the expected value of the similarity index.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to data clustering, and more particularly relates to organizing objects into clusters of related objects, such as organizing a group of images into one or more clusters of related images.
2. Background
In the field of digital imaging, a large set of images may be partitioned into smaller clusters of images. For example, a computing device may organize a large collection of images into a two or more clusters of images in which the images in a certain cluster are similar to each other. To that end, a number of different clustering procedures have been developed to automatically cluster images based on features of the images.
The performance of a clustering procedure may vary depending on the set of images being clustered. Thus, in some situations it may be better to choose one clustering procedure over another.

Systems and methods for cluster comparison


An apparatus (10) for determining a change in a condition in an item, and in particular overheating of a big end bearing (120). The apparatus (10) comprising a thermally reactive means (14) mountable on the big end bearing (120) and arranged to react to a temperature change so as, to move to a detectable position such that at the respective part of the stroke it can be sensed by a fixed proximity sensor (20) located spaced from the bearing (120), to activate an alarm.

This invention relates to apparatus for detecting changes in conditions; particularly but not exclusively to apparatus for determining temperature and/or pressure changes; and especially changes in conditions in items, and for example in big end bearings for internal combustion engines.
In an internal combustion engine, problems can be encountered with the big end bearing overheating which can lead to the engine seizing up. This may occur due to low oil pressure in the bearing. It is generally difficult to detect this overheating due to the movement of the big end, and particularly in larger engines as used in marine applications or power generation.
According to one aspect of this invention there is provided an apparatus for determining a change in a condition in an item, the apparatus comprising a reactive means arranged to react to a change in a condition so as to move a detectable part in one of two directions dependent on the sense in which the condition changes, and a detection means arranged to sense the detectable part when in a predetermined proximal range, the reactive means being mountable on an item, such that when the condition is below a predetermined level the detectable part will be in a position to be sensed by the detection means, but when above the predetermined level the detectable part will not be detected by the detection means, or vice-versa.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first member comprising the reactive means and a second member comprising the detection means, the first member being mountable on the item and the second member being mountable in a location spaced from the first member. In this embodiment, the detectable part constitutes a part of the first member, and movement of the reactive means moves the part towards or away from the detection means.
The reactive means may be thermally reactive, and preferably comprises an element of a material, and suitably a metallic material, which expands on heating and contracts on cooling. Alternatively, the thermally reactive means may comprise an element of a thermoplastic material which expands on heating. In such case, the expandable element would not contract on cooling, and is preferably replaceable after each expansion.
Where the thermally reactive means comprises an element of a metallic material, the element may be a bimetallic member, for example a bimetallic strip or a bimetallic washer which changes shape upon heating. Alternatively, the thermally reactive means may comprise an element in the form of a shape memory metal. Where the thermally reactive means comprises a bimetallic washer, the first member may comprise one or more domed bimetallic washers which flatten upon heating.
In a further embodiment, the thermally reactive means may comprise a housing containing a fluid which expands on heating. The housing may be provided with a piston adapted to be moved to the expanded condition on expansion of the fluid under the action of heat. Alternatively the housing may be expandable, and may be in the form of bellows.
In a still further embodiment the reactive means may comprise a thermally expandable fluid in a closed channel which channel is provided in a shaped member, such that a change in temperature causes a change in volume of the fluid which causes the shape of the member to change.
The channel may have a sensing portion, which may be spaced from the shaped member, which sensing portion is locatable at the location where conditions are to be monitored.
The shaped member may have a substantially S-shaped or C-shaped profile. The fluid in the channel preferably has a substantially linear thermal expansion, and may comprise xylene.
Alternatively or in addition, the reactive means may be reactive to pressure and may comprise a sprung member or housing in communication with an area where conditions are being monitored, such that increased pressure causes outward movement of the sprung member, or expansion of the housing.
The item may be capable of motion, and preferably rotational or reciprocal motion, such that reaction of the reactive means can bring the detectable part into or out of a detectable position intermittently, on each stroke of the reciprocating motion, or each rotation of the rotational motion. Alternatively, the item can be stationary such that reaction of the reactive means can bring the detectable part of the first member into or out of a continuously detectable position.
The first member may comprise resilient urging means acting against the reactive means. The use of the resilient urging means is particularly suitable when the item is capable of motion, particularly rotational or reciprocating motions, to prevent movement of the detectable part due solely to motion of the first member. The resilient urging means may be a spring, for example a compression spring.
The first member may comprise a securing portion enabling the first member to be secured to the item. The resilient urging means may be arranged in a space defined in the securing portion. The securing portion is preferably provided with a securing formation, e.g. a thread, cooperable with a corresponding formation on the item. Preferably, the securing portion is adapted to be screwed into a threaded core defined in the item.
The securing portion may define a space in which the resilient urging means is arranged. An elongate rod may extend through said space and is preferably attached to the reactive means towards one end thereof and also to the resilient urging means.
An iron containing member or a permanent magnetic member is preferably provided on the rod adjacent the one end thereof.
Alternatively, the reactive means may be mounted to a pivoted member on one side of the pivot with a equaliser member on the opposite side of the pivot, such that the reactive means causes pivoting of the member in response to a change in condition, but the equaliser member substantialy prevents pivotal movement of the member due to movement of the reactive means and/or the item as a whole.
The equaliser member may be arranged to substantially prevent pivotal movement of the member due to ambient temperature changes at the reactive means.
The equaliser member may be substantially physically equivalent to the reactive means to provide a substantially equal resistance to pivotal movement of the member.
Where the reactive means comprises a closed channel in a shaped member, the equaliser member may also incorporate a closed member, which may be filled with a fluid.
Where the reactive means comprises a metallic material element, the equaliser member may be arranged to operate in an opposite direction to the reactive means, to double the effect.
Preferably the equaliser member provides a substantially equal resistive force to the pivoted member as provided by the reactive means. Desirably the equaliser member has a substantially equal mass to the reactive means.
Alternatively, the equaliser member may have a different form to the reactive means.
A detectable part may be provided on the member on each side of the pivot.
The detection means may comprise any sensor suitable for sensing the proximity of an article, for example, a Hall effect sensor or a proximity switch, or a mechanical switch which may comprise a micro switch. The second member is preferably provided with a suitable formation to mount-the second member in the said location. The formations may be in the form of a thread.
The invention further-provides apparatus for detecting overheating-of a big end bearing in an internal combustion engine, the apparatus being according to any of the preceding twelve paragraphs.


An automatic document feeding apparatus in which a plurality of documents are sequentially fed to an image exposure section. Before the completion of the exposure of a foregoing document, the feeding of a following document is started to place the document on a given position before the image exposure section and stopped thereon temporarily for stand-by. The position of the temporary stop of the following document can be varied in accordance with document size detecting signals from a document size detector or selected in such a manner that the distance between the trailing end of the foregoing document and the leading end of the following document becomes constant substantially irrespective of the size of the document.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvement of an automatic document feeding apparatus mounted on a recording apparatus of an electrophotographic reproducing machine and others.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The automatic document feeding apparatus is generally mounted for use on a document glass plate (platen glass). In a reproducing machine using a movable optical system on which this automatic document feeding apparatus is mounted, documents in sheets (hereinafter referred to simply as documents) of standard sizes (for example, JIS Standard A series, B series, or USA Standard sizes) are stacked on a document stacker (stacking section), and each sheet of the documents is fed out one by one from the stack by feed rollers and others of the automatic document feeding apparatus and is carried by a carrier belt onto the document glass plate where exposures of a given number of copies are conducted with an exposure lamp equipped in the body of the reproducing machine. Then, each of the documents is delivered onto a document delivery tray.
Conventionally, in such an automatic document feeding apparatus, the operation of replacing documents on the document glass plate is possible only for the documents having standard sizes such as series A, B, and others. Accordingly, the control can be applicable only to the documents of these standards. Also, the next document is fed out from the stack after a delivery sensor has detected the delivery of the preceding document from the document glass plate. Then, this next document is carried to the document glass plate and placed at a given position thereon. Thus, it takes a long time to complete replacing the document. Hence, the productivity of copying is lowered because a considerably long time is necessary for performing copying operation, and further it is impossible to reproduce documents of non-standard sizes.
However, in a case where documents are automatically fed and delivered onto the document glass plate for replacement using an automatic document feeding apparatus, the productivity of copying documents becomes 100% and no wasteful time is consumed, if the replacement of the documents is performed during the period in which the scanning optical system is returned to its home position.
In order to materialize this, it is necessary to carry the document at a high speed from the position for prevention of double-feed in the stacking section to the position where the document is stopped on the document glass plate.
However, carrying a document at a high speed causes various problems to arise, such as the necessity of using a larger driving motor, the increase in power consumption, the higher possibility of damages on documents, the lower performance of document separation. There is some apparatus in which when a document is automatically fed and delivered onto the document glass plate for replacement by the automatic document feeding apparatus, the feeding is performed during the period of exposure or during the period in which the scanning optical system returns to its home position to eliminate wasteful consumption of time. However, anyone of the automatic document feeding apparatuses is structured and controlled to handle only the documents of standard sizes. Hence, there is a problem that documents of sizes other than the standard ones (hereinafter referred to as non-standard standard sizes) cannot be handled by the automatic document feeding apparatuses.


A method for monitoring performance of an electric submersible pump. The method includes receiving data indicating a plurality of observable parameters from one or more sensors, generating a reduced set of components representative of at least some of the observable parameters and the reduced set having a dimensionality less than the plurality of observable parameters, identifying one or more components of the reduced set that captures a total variance of the plurality of observable parameters above a predetermined threshold, constructing at least one manifold of normal operation of the electric submersible pump in a reduced component space, receiving additional data from the sensors, transforming the additional data into the identified components establishing an electric submersible pump performance, and detecting whether a deviation of the electric submersible pump performance from a normal mode of operation of the electric submersible pump exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Electric submersible pumps (ESPs) may be deployed for any of a variety of pumping purposes. For example, where a substance (e.g., hydrocarbons in an earthen formation) does not readily flow responsive to existing natural forces, an ESP may be implemented to artificially lift the substance. If an ESP fails during operation, the ESP must be removed from the pumping environment and replaced or repaired, either of which results in a significant cost to an operator. The ability to predict an ESP failure and/or detect early warning signs, for example by monitoring the operating conditions and parameters of the ESP, provides the operator with the ability to perform preventative maintenance on the ESP or replace the ESP in an efficient manner, reducing the cost to the operator.
Conventional approaches to gauging ESP performance include standard two-dimensional performance curves. FIG. 1 shows typical ESP performance curves. Commonly used two-dimensional curves include head (in height of water column) versus flow rate 102 across the ESP for various rotational speeds, power (hp) versus flow rate 104, and pump efficiency versus flow rate 106. Operators are provided these curves from the manufacturer and performance degradation is measured by the operational envelope or operating point deviating from the standard performance curves. For example, if an operator plots a performance point on any of these plots after operation of the ESP for some time in the field, currently, one of the only ways of gauging performance issues with the ESP is if the operating point deviates or falls below the expected efficiency, or head for a certain flow rate. Alternatively, the expected power requirement (in hp) could be higher (than predicted by the standard performance curve) for the same flow rate.

Fault detection in electric submersible pumps


An apparatus and method to compensate for variations in effective electrical impedance of a digital bus having plurality of transmission lines in a very large scale integrated circuit includes bus driver circuitry, which comprises a plurality of transistors coupled to an output node that is connected to a corresponding one of the transmission lines. Control circuitry is utilized to selectively enable/disable the transistors, thereby adjusting the driver impedance of the bus driver circuitry so as to match a state of the digital bus.

Integrated circuit technology has continually advanced to produce increased device performance largely by shrinking the dimensions of the physical structures fabricated on semiconductor chips. For example, the trend today is to produce devices in signal lines having physical dimensions in the sub-micron range.
As structures have been scaled down in size, factors such as noise and signal interference have become major problems. Basically, the close physical distance between adjacent bidirectional signal lines leads to unintentional coupling and interference. This problem is commonly referred to as crosstalk.
A variety of techniques have been used to reduce crosstalk between adjacent signal lines. In the field of random access memory arrays, shielded bit line architectures have been employed in which two pairs of opposed bit lines associated with a common sense amplifier have an adjacent unselected line pair that is clamped to AC ground to shield the selected line pair from dynamic coupling effects. This approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,524. A similar approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,646,556, which teaches an apparatus for precharging pairs of bus conductors to alternating rails in order to minimize crosstalk and speed degradation problems. Another example of modifying the spacing and physical arrangement of the signal lines to prevent crosstalk is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,643.
Other practitioners have approached the problem from a different perspective. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,506 teaches a method for predicting respective magnitudes of crosstalk voltages before the actual fabrication of an integrated circuit (I/C) chip. Following circuit simulation, the signal line layout of the chip is modified according to an algorithm, which includes changing driver circuits, moving signal lines, and inserting buffer circuits into the chip. U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,074 attempts a more radical approach to reducing crosstalk by reducing signal line voltages through a large scale cell array region of the chip. The signal voltages are restored back to their original logic levels upon exiting the cell array.
Because digital busses typically consist of numerous transmission lines routed in close proximity to each other--with the individual signal lines providing bi-directional transmission capabilities--one of the effects of coupling is an electrical change in the impedance of the transmission line due to the state of neighboring transmission lines. By way of example, coupled transmission lines have various orthogonal impedance modes that can be used in superposition to describe any set of bus states. For a N conductor coupled bus, there are N different modes. Each of these N modes has an associated impedance that is commonly referred to as the modal impedance.
Any given state of the digital bus causes a member transmission line to have an effective electrical impedance that is a combination of the modal impedances. This effective electrical impedance is always greater than or equal to the lowest modal impedance. Similarly, the effective electrical impedance is always less than or equal to the largest modal impedance. In the context of the present application, the effective electrical impedance of a transmission line is referred to as the crosstalk induced impedance. Thus, crosstalk induced impedances are state dependent impedances.
In a high performance, bidirectional digital bus implemented with CMOS circuit technology, it is important to match the driver impedance to the transmission line impedance in order to obtain good signal quality, and also to reduce inter-symbol interference (ISI). Inter-symbol interference refers to the timing and signal quality impact of the previous state of the transmission line on the current state. In CMOS and other types of bidirectional busses, ISI is a function of the mismatch between the driver impedance, the transmission line impedance, and the transmission line length. Most often, it is impractical to reduce the transmission line length. Therefore it is crucial to match the driver impedance to the line impedance as closely as possible to reduce ISI and to obtain acceptable signal quality. However, an unfulfilled need exists for an apparatus and method capable of compensating for the differences in crosstalk induced impedances for coupled busses.

Apparatus and method for reducing crosstalk in an integrated circuit which includes a signal bus


The invention relates to a DDX3X inhibitor for use in the treatment of pneumovirus infection in a mammal, wherein the DDX3X inhibitor may be a compound of Formula (I) wherein y, Z, R1, X, L, Ra and Rb are as defined herein. The invention also relates to compounds of Formula (I).

Pneumoviruses, such as human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), are viruses that cause respiratory tract infections. Infection with hRSV is widespread. Although infection in adults is usually mild (or even asymptomatic), with any symptoms similar to those of the common cold, the virus can cause severe lower respiratory tract infections in young children or the elderly.
Pneumovirus infections are also commonplace in animals, particularly cows, sheep and goats, with bovine RSV (bRSV), ovine RSV and caprine RSV respectively. An additional pneumovirus, pneumonia virus of mice (PVM), has been shown to infect a wide range of species including rodents, dogs and humans. The pneumoviruses display structural and functional homology, and similar respiratory tract infections in animals.
The current treatment options for hRSV are limited. There is therefore a need for new treatments for hRSV infection and other pneumovirus infections.
DEAD box RNA helicases are a family of ATP-dependent RNA helicase enzymes. These enzymes have a conserved sequence Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (DEAD). DDX3X is a DEAD box RNA helicase, encoded by the DDX3X gene. DDX3X and homologs thereof can be found in humans and other mammals, such as cows and sheep. DEAD box proteins are associated with many processes ranging from RNA synthesis, RNA degradation and translation initiation. A DDX3X homologue expressed from a gene on the Y chromosome shares 91% sequence identity.
It is known that infection with HIV-1 or HCV (hepatitis C virus) can lead to DDX3X expression being induced, and that certain cancer types are associated with overexpression of DDX3X. Thus, WO 2011/039735 describes the use of certain DDX3X inhibitors to suppress in vitro activity of DDX3X, suppress HIV-1 replication, and suppress proliferation of tumour cell lines. DDX3X does not apparently play a role in regulating HIV-1 transcription, but apparently acts as a nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling protein for the export of HIV-1 transcripts. Similarly, DDX3X is known to interact with HCV core proteins, and alter their intracellular location. However, no link has previously been suggested between DDX3X and pneumovirus infection.
Pneumovirus replication requires translation of two open reading frames (ORF) from the M2 mRNA. ORF-2 overlaps with ORF-1. Host ribosomes access and translate the pneumovirus M2 ORF-2 by using one of two or three AUG codons located upstream of the ORF-1 termination codon. Expression from these initiation codons requires the prior termination of M2 ORF-1 translation. The hRSV M2-2 protein produced by coupled translation has been proposed to be involved in the switch between virus transcription and replication.

Use of DDX3X inhibitors for the treatment of pneumovirus infections


A repertory dialer having a greater telephone number dialing capacity than the number of its selection buttons has each button selectively associated with more than one name. Actuation of a selected button will automatically dial the telephone number of the name which is associated with the button at the time of actuation. The names and corresponding telephone numbers are each formed into groups with each selected group of names having a name selectively associated with each selection button and with either manual or automatic electrical switching to cause the group of telephone numbers corresponding to the selected group of names to be operatively connected with the selection buttons.

This invention relates to the telephone index used with telephone automatic calling devices such as telephone repertory dialers.
Telephone repertory dialers are subscriber's telephone sets in which frequently called telephone numbers may be stored. During use, the subscriber needs to push one or a few buttons only to initiate the call instead of "dialing" all digits of the said telephone number. Therefore, they are very convenient for subscribers. However if the capacity of the dialer is large, for instance accommodating more than 100 frequently called telephone numbers, the subscriber will have difficulty remembering each abbreviated number of those telephone numbers. This may be one of the main reasons why no large capacity telephone repertory dialers of the push button type are found on the market. Telephone repertory dialers of large capacity are very useful to many businessmen because they need to call many of the same customers frequently. The telephone indices described herein will eliminate the need for the subscriber remembering the abbreviated numbers of all stored telephone numbers.
This invention describes various telephone indices. Different methods of indexing may be used for different capacities of the dialers. For a small capacity dialer, the name corresponding to a frequently called telephone number is generally written adjacent to the button representing it. For dialers of large capacity, this method will occupy too large a space. The telephone indices of this invention will describe apparatus and methods of placing names of frequently called telephone numbers on strips of paper, which may be put upon the dialer in different ways without occupying large table space, and the physical size of the dialer need not be materially increased over a smaller capacity dialer. The location of the desired repertory button representing the required telephone number may be found simultaneously with the operation of the dialer. This means that no additional operation will be required such as referring to different strips of paper of the telephone index, thereby also saving much time.
The main object of the invention is to provide several forms of telephone indices which are simple in construction, compact in space, simple in operation, and in which it is easy for the subscriber to find the particular repertory button representing the telephone number wanted.
Another object of the invention is to incorporate such forms of automatic telephone indices in dialers of large capacity so that the desired repertory button may be found simultaneously by the subscriber during initiation of the telephone call without an additional operation being required.

39-1 Alley 30, Lane 172, Section I, Keelung Rd.


A hand operated bending apparatus is provided for the bending of metal such as tubing and bar by the application of a force to a sweep lever arm cooperating with a preset pivoted force link, thereby urging the metal to follow the contour of a forming die and automatically terminating the bending action at a preset point by the disengagement of the force link from the metal bar.

Description of the Prior Art
Hand-operated bending apparatus using a sweep arm is well known. There are many patents disclosing the use of a sweep arm cooperating with either a fixed or rotating shoe to urge the metal to be bent against a forming die. Most of the existing apparatus requires the clamping of the metal in order to prevent movement of the metal bar during the bending operation. Scoring or marking the metal is another problem that has occurred in bending metal when using existing apparatus. It has been found that prior art patents require a considerable amount of force to bend tubing having a medium to thick gauge wall when heat has not been applied to the metal.
The present invention provides a relatively simple, light-weight and inexpensive bending tool which effectively and accurately bends metal while requiring less force on the part of the operator.

Hand operated bending apparatus and method for metal bar, tubing and the like


An integrated circuit can be made more secure by programming a one time programmable circuit so that different signals are provided on terminals as compared to when the integrated circuit was not secure. Instead, or in addition, the integrated circuit can be made more secure by providing decode circuitry that can be used with the one time programmable circuit to select different internal address maps in response to an address value. The decode circuitry can use a first address map when the integrated circuit is secure, and a different address map when the integrated circuit is non-secure.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to a system using an integrated circuit (IC), and more specifically, to increasing security in a system which uses an integrated circuit.
2. Related Art
Security is a significant issue for many systems that use integrated circuits. As hackers become more capable and sophisticated, new security approaches are needed to safeguard systems and to thwart the efforts of such hackers.

Method and apparatus for increasing security in a system using an integrated circuit


Disclosed is an adhesive generating layer for use in an overcoated photoreceptor system, this layer containing a generating pigment dispersed in a copolymer of a siloxane and a dihydroxy compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R and R' are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenes, substituted alkenes, aryl and substituted aryl; Y is a dihydroxy radical; and n is a number of sufficient value that the average molecular weight of the resulting silicone copolymer is between about 2,000 and 250,000. Examples of copolymers include those wherein R and R' are alkyl groups such as methyl and Y is a biphenol such as 2,2-bis-(4-hydroxy phenyl)-propane, one preferred material being a methyl octyl siloxane 2,2-bis-(4-hydroxy phenyl)-propane copolymer. Examples of pigments that are dispersed in the generating layer include metal free phthalocyanines, such as X phthalocyanine, alpha phthalocyanine, beta phthalocyanine, metal phthalocyanines such as vanadyl phthalocyanine, selenium, selenium containing compounds such as selenium alloys including selenium arsenic, selenium bismith, and other types of selenium compounds such as trigonal selenium. This adhesive generating layer is useful in an overcoated photoreceptor containing for example an electrically conductive substrate, overcoated with a layer of material capable of injecting holes into a layer on its surface, a hole transport layer in operative contact with the layer of hole injecting material, overcoated by a layer of the charge generating adhesive material on and in operative contact with the charge transport layer and a layer of an insulating organic resin overlaying the charge generating layer.

This invention is generally directed to an electrophotographic imaging device and more specifically a generating layer for use in overcoated photoreceptors, which generator acts as an adhesive and is capable of generating charges when a pigment is dispersed therein.
The formation and development of images on imaging surfaces of photoconductive materials by electrostatic means is well known, one of the most widely used processes being xerography which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,297,691. Many types of photoconductors have been developed over the years for use in such imaging methods, these photoconductors including well known organic materials, inorganic materials and mixtures thereof. Recently there has been developed overcoated photoreceptor materials which comprise a series of layered compositions which photoreceptors can be used in electrophotographic imaging systems to obtain higher quality images with the overcoating acting as a protection for the photoreceptor. The details of this type overcoated photoreceptor are fully disclosed in copending application U.S. Ser. No. 881,262, filed Feb. 24, 1978 on Electrophotographic Imaging Method, S. Tutihasi, and U.S. Ser. No. 905,250, filed May 12, 1978 on Dielectric Overcoated Photoresponse and Imaging Member and Imagining Method, J. Y. C. Chu, S. Tutihasi, the specification, working examples and drawings of these applications being totally incorporated herein by reference.
While these types of photoreceptors have many advantages, there continues to be a need for a more simplified type of organic photoreceptor which can be more easily prepared and which has greater mechanical stability. Also in the photoreceptors described in the copending applications identified above where the overcoating layer constitutes a preformed mechanically tough film, it may be necessary to provide sufficient adhesive material in order to provide an integral structure which can be useful in a repetitive imaging method. It would be desirable to eliminate the need for a separate adhesive layer as this would simplify the manufacture of an overcoated photoreceptor and would additionally improve the mechanical stability of such a photoreceptor. Further if such a layer can also be made to function as a generating material while at the same time being compatible with other materials used in the system, there would be provided an improved overcoated photoreceptor which could be used over long periods of time without materially adversely affecting the quality of the image produced with such a photoreceptor. Thus, for example, should there be insufficient adhesion of the generating layer to the transport layer beneath it and the overcoating layer above it, separation and peeling can occur which will result in low quality images over a period of time when using a photoreceptor containing such layers.
Overcoated photoreceptor devices such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,167 and in the copending applications mentioned hereinbefore, as well as the improved photoreceptor of the present invention, which will be discussed in detail hereinafter, can be used in a number of imaging systems. In one preferred method of operation as described in the copending applications mentioned above the photoconductor member is charged a first time with electrostatic charges of negative charge polarity, subsequently charged a second time with electrostatic charges of a positive polarity for the purpose of substantially neutralizing the charges residing on the electrically insulating surface of the member, and subsequently exposing the member to an imagewise pattern of activating electromagnetic radiation thereby forming an electrostatic latent image. The image can then be developed to form a visible image which is transferred to a receiving member. The photoreceptor imaging member used may be subsequently reused to form additional reproductions after the erase and cleaning steps are accomplished. Other imaging methods in which overcoated photoreceptors can be used are described by Mark in an article appearing in Photographic Science and Engineering, Volumne 18, No. 3, Pages 254-261, May/June 1974.

Electrophotographic imaging processes utilizing adhesive generator overcoated photoreceptors


Minimum guaranteed wireless network bandwidth is provided to client network devices by monitoring the performance of network connections to identify client network devices experiencing network congestion. Congested network connections are then analyzed to determine the source of the network congestion. Depending upon the source of the network congestion, an embodiment of the invention may undertake steps to either improve the quality of the network connection or to mitigate the impact of this network connection on other network connections. High quality network connections may be allocated additional bandwidth, airtime, or other resources to reduce the network congestion. Low quality network connections are not allocated additional bandwidth, airtime, or other resources. Instead, the impact of this network connection on the other network connections is mitigated. Additionally, the low quality network connection may be transferred to another wireless networking device that may be able to provide a better quality network connection.

The present invention relates to the field of communication networks, and in particular to the systems and methods for ensuring the provision of minimum wireless network bandwidth to wireless network devices. Communications networks allow computers and other electronic devices to exchange data. Wireless networks, which exchange data without wires, typically using radio waves, are popular with users due to the ability to send and receive data almost anywhere within the physical coverage area of the network. This allows users to access communication networks, including local area networks, organization or company intranets, virtual private networks, and wide area networks, such as the Internet, anywhere within the physical coverage area of the wireless networks.
Networking devices may handle packets generated by and directed to large numbers of clients over the same interface. The bandwidth or data communications capacity of networking devices limits the amount of data or the rate of network packets passing through network devices. The limits on bandwidth are particularly acute in network devices including wireless network interfaces. If the bandwidth limit of a networking device is reached or exceeded by its clients network traffic, packets may be delayed or dropped. Depending on the type of data being communicated over the network, these traffic disruptions caused by reaching or exceeding bandwidth limit of a networking device may adversely affect the performance of applications on a client. For example, clients receiving voice or streaming video data may be adversely affected by even small delays or losses of packets.
Because of the limits on network device bandwidth, many network devices include quality of service (QoS) functionality. Quality of service functionality allows network administrators to provide different priority for packets or other network data based on factors such as the associated client, user, client application, or data flow. Typically, users, clients, or applications are assigned to different quality of service profiles. Each quality of service profile specifies a quality of service parameters to associated packets or other network data. Networking devices use the scheduling weights to prioritize packet traffic and potentially guarantee a minimum level of performance to some or all of the network data flows.
Unfortunately, there are situations in which a wireless network device cannot provide a minimum level of performance to some or all of its associated network traffic flows. This may be occur for a number of reasons, including RF interference or a client device that is malfunctioning, mis-configured, or near the limit of its reception range. In these situations, many types of network traffic prioritization or compensation will have little or no effect of the network connection performance; thus, allocating additional bandwidth, airtime, or other network resources to these network connections is wasteful. However, because prior QoS functions do not attempt to diagnose the cause of network congestion, they waste network resources on attempting to improve the performance of network connections in these situations.


An electro-optical device is disclosed in which dimensional accuracy in a space between an opposite substrate and an electro-optical device substrate is increased, and thus, display quality is enhanced by improving the structure in which a lens array substrate and a sheet covering the lens array substrate are adhered to each other on the side of the opposite substrate. In a liquid crystal apparatus, an opposite substrate includes a lens array substrate provided with a step portion equal in height to microlenses in the region overlapping the region in which a sealing material is formed, and a glass sheet adhered to the lens array substrate by an adhesive. In the region overlapping the region in which the sealing material is formed, since the lens array substrate and the glass sheet are adhered to each other with a thin layer of the adhesive, the opposite substrate and a liquid crystal apparatus substrate can be adhered to each other with a space therebetween having high dimensional accuracy without any problem.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an electro-optical device in which an electro-optical material such as a liquid crystal is enclosed between a substrate for an electro-optical device, such as a liquid crystal apparatus provided with a plurality of pixels formed in a matrix and an opposite substrate. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electro-optical device in which microlenses are formed on an opposite substrate, and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of Related Art
As shown in FIG. 11, a liquid crystal apparatus as an example of electro-optical devices substantially includes a liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30 provided with a pixel electrode 8 and a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as TFT) 10 for pixel-switching, an opposite substrate 20 provided with an opposite electrode 32, and a liquid crystal 39 as an electro-optical material enclosed and retained between the substrates. The liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30 and the opposite substrate 20 are adhered to each other with a given space therebetween by a sealing material 52 containing a gap material, and the liquid crystal 39 is enclosed in the space. Accordingly, in the liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30, by image signals applied to the pixel electrode 8 from a data line (not shown in the drawing) through the TFT 10, the alignment conditions of the liquid crystal 39 between the pixel electrode 8 and the opposite electrode 32 can be controlled. Therefore, in a transmissive liquid crystal apparatus, light incident on the side of the opposite substrate 20 is aligned into a predetermined linearly polarized light by an incident side polarizer (not shown in the drawing), and then enters the layer of the liquid crystal 39 from the side of the opposite substrate 20. The linearly polarized light passing through one region is emitted from the liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30 with the polarization axis of the transmitted light being twisted, while the linearly polarized light passing through another region is emitted from the liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30 with the polarization axis of the transmitted light not being twisted. Therefore, one of the linearly polarized light in which the polarization axis has been twisted by the liquid crystal 39 and the linearly polarized light in which the polarization axis has not been twisted passes through an outgoing side polarizer (not shown in the drawing). Thus, by controlling the polarization conditions in each pixel, predetermined information can be displayed.
When incident light from the opposite substrate 20 side enters a channel forming region (not shown in the drawing) of the TFT 10, a photoelectric current occurs in the region by a photoelectric conversion effect, resulting in a deterioration of transistor characteristics of the TFT 10. Therefore, generally, a light-shielding film 6 referred to as a black matrix or black mask composed of a metallic material such as chromium or a resin black is formed on the opposite substrate 20 at the position opposing each TFT 10. However, although the light-shielding film 6 must be formed widely in order to securely prevent light from entering the channel forming region of the TFT by means of the light-shielding film 6, if such a wide light-shielding film 6 is formed, the amount of light for display decreases. Even if the wide light-shielding film 6 is formed, oblique incident light cannot be shielded securely.
Such being the case, a structure in which microlenses L (small condenser lenses) are arrayed on the side of the opposite substrate 20 in the longitudinal direction has been invented. In such a structure, since incident light entering from the opposite substrate 20 side can be condensed toward each pixel electrode 8 by the respective microlenses L, even if the width of the light-shielding film 6 formed on the opposite substrate 20 side is narrow, or there is no light-shielding film 6 on the opposite substrate 20 side, light can be prevented from entering the channel forming region of the TFT 10. Thus, as the deterioration of transistor characteristics of the TFT 10 and the decrease in the amount of light for display can be prevented, reliable liquid crystal apparatuses which produce a bright display can be fabricated.
A method for fabricating such an opposite substrate 20 includes the steps of producing a lens array substrate LA in which a plurality of microlenses L are formed by etching the surface of a transparent substrate using a photolithographic technique, and then adhering a glass sheet 49 as a transparent cover to the lens array substrate LA by an adhesive 48. That is, in the conventional lens array substrate LA, since the entire region is etched excluding a portion in which microlenses L are formed, a peripheral region LB of the region in which microlenses L are formed is also etched, the peripheral region LB being lower in height comparison with the microlenses L. With respect to the opposite substrate 20, an opposite electrode 32 and a light-shielding film 6 are formed, in that order, on the surface of the glass sheet 49 adhered to the lens array substrate LA, and then, a polyimide resin 47 is applied thinly thereon and thermally cured at temperatures of approximately 150 to 200° C., followed by rubbing. With respect to the liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30, after the TFT 10 and the pixel electrode 8 are formed, in that order, a polyimide resin 46 is applied thinly thereon and thermally cured at temperatures of approximately 150 to 200° C., followed by rubbing. Then, after a sealing material 52 containing a gap material is applied to the surface of the liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30 in the region which overlaps the peripheral region LB of the opposite substrate 20, the opposite substrate 20 and the liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30 are adhered together with the sealing material 52. The step of adhering the opposite substrate 20 and the liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30 together is important in determining a space between the substrates. Generally, the sealing material 52 is preliminarily cured by emitting light on the sealing material 52 from the side of the opposite substrate 20 while the opposite substrate 20 is being pressed to the liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30 to secure a given space between the opposite substrate 20 and the liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30, and then the sealing material 52 is post-cured.
In the known lens array substrate LA, however, since the peripheral region LB in the region in which microlenses L are formed is lower in height in comparison with the microlenses L, various adverse effects are caused because the cover (glass sheet) 49 is adhered to the lens array substrate LA with a significantly thick adhesive 48. For example, when the opposite substrate 20 and the liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30 are adhered together with the sealing material 52, even if the opposite substrate 20 is pressed to the liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30, the thick adhesive 48 functions as a cushion in the peripheral region LB, and thus, a space (cell gap) between the opposite substrate 20 and the liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30 cannot be controlled. As a result, display quality deteriorates in the liquid crystal apparatus.
Also, with respect to the fabrication of the opposite substrate 20, if the adhesive 48 in the peripheral region LB is thick when the polyimide resin 47 as an alignment layer is thermally cured, warpage, waviness, or the like may occur in the opposite substrate 20 because of stress due to the adhesive 48. In such a case, the space between the opposite substrate 20 and the liquid crystal apparatus substrate 30 cannot be controlled, resulting in a deterioration of display quality in the liquid crystal apparatus.

Electro-optical device and method for fabricating the same, and projection display device


A protective device with a pressure tank (1) includes an elastic extinguishing agent balloon (3) filled with an extinguishing agent (23) and a propellant, where the elastic extinguishing agent balloon (3) borders onto at least one elastic component (32) and this elastic component is fluid permeable. The upper part of the elastic extinguishing agent balloon (3) is formed as a sealing ring. The device has the advantage that when it is used in mobile and stationary objects, where vibrations and other forces act on the extinguishing device, a high degree of operational safety of the extinguishing device can be assumed, that makes it possible to discharge almost 100 percent of the extinguishing agent without any malfunctioning. The operation of the extinguishing device is also temperature independent so that no additional safety measures are required in the case of a change in the spatial attitude of the pressure tank.

The term protective device is understood to mean an extinguishing device or a device for dispensing a cooling liquid. Since extinguishing liquids have a cooling effect, the term extinguishing agent is further also understood to mean a coolant. The term protective device refers both to mobile and portable devices such as fire extinguishers and stationary installations.
The invention is applicable wherever a protective device must reliably fulfill its function, even under the effect of vibrations, shocks, temperature fluctuations, acting external forces, forces of inertia and other influences.
This may be the case in moving objects, in particular driving, floating, or flying objects such as vehicles, ships or aircraft. In particular when the inventive protective device is installed in moving objects such as tour busses the functionality of the protective device is ensured even in the case of a change in the spatial attitude of the object, for example an accident (the bus turning over).
However the invention can also be applied to protect stationary objects that transmit vibrations and other effects to the protective device.
Protective devices for dispensing liquids (extinguishing agents or cooling liquids) usually use pressure tanks for storing the extinguishing agent. Pressure tanks are known in which there are elastic extinguishing agent balloons. A propellant gas ejects the extinguishing agent out of the extinguishing agent balloon and/or the pressure tank when released.
Various fire extinguishing installations are known for vehicles. For example EP 1 500 412 B1 describes a device for fighting fires in a motor vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, with an extinguishing liquid that is held in a state of readiness, a pressure source, and a spraying unit that serves to bring the extinguishing liquid to the scene of the fire using the pressure from the pressure source. The solution is characterized in that the extinguishing-pressure source is formed by the plant air that is present in one or more air reservoirs for vehicle operation in a vehicle, it being the case that additional feed pressure is applied to the extinguishing liquid in the case of a fire.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,016 A likewise describes a fire extinguishing installation for a vehicle, where a tank is securely installed in the vehicle and extinguishing lines lead to fire-extinguishing nozzles in various areas of the vehicle. An air tank provides for the corresponding compressed air to be discharged to the nozzles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,189 describes a fire-extinguishing mechanism, where a bladder is arranged in a container and holds a liquid, a gas that is also arranged in a bladder that is present below the liquid acting against this liquid and discharges it out of the tank that surrounds the liquid.
Fire-extinguishing installations are known with fire-extinguishing tanks in which elastic extinguishing agent balloons are arranged.
DE 946 684 describes a fire extinguisher with a pressure tank in which a bag is disposed that contains a foam-generating agent. When a gas cartridge above it is opened this leads to the bag being destroyed and an extinguishing liquid exiting into an extinguishing line. The fire-extinguishing process therefore presupposes the destruction of a bag by mechanical forces.
DE 28 38 341 describes an extinguishing agent balloon for fire extinguishers, in whose rigid interior a container made from an elastic metal or rubber is arranged, one container being filled with an extinguishing agent and the other with a compressed gas and a pressure accumulator being arranged outside the container.
Between the containers a screen body is present that prevents arbitrary expansion of the elastic container.
WO 98/13292 A1 describes a pressure tank in which a liquid is arranged in an elastic liquid container. This elastic liquid container can also serve as a seal. It can be arranged in a rigid container that represents a lateral boundary. This liquid-permeable component is not elastic. Also no elastic fluid-permeable component is arranged on a fluid-permeable part or on the floor of the pressure tank. An extinguishing agent for a fire-extinguishing installation is not described in this document.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,945 describes a container for a liquid in which an elastic container is disposed, the liquid being dispersed through an opening. The elastic container that does not represent any extinguishing agent balloon is in part formed as a seal.
GB 2 431 455 A describes a pressure tank in which an elastic liquid container is arranged, the elastic liquid container being filled with an extinguishing liquid and being surrounded by a propellant gas. Part of the elastic extinguishing agent balloon is formed as a seal. Stabilizers, elastic fluid-permeable components cannot be derived from the document.
DE 102 29 011 A1 describes a fire extinguisher, in particular a fire-extinguishing device that can be carried by hand for fighting a fire preferably in aircraft. The fire extinguisher exhibits a mixing chamber arranged at the container in which the extinguishing agent and the propellant gas can be combined and the extinguishing agent and the propellant gas can be expelled into the open in a nozzle connected to the mixing chamber.
In the extinguishing agent balloon itself a hose is arranged with helical windings in which the extinguishing agent is situated. Around the hose the propellant gas is disposed that drives the extinguishing agent out of the hose. By stabilizing the hose or the elastic extinguishing agent balloon a certain stability of the hose material is assumed or that the propellant gas surrounding the extinguishing agent balloon provides the requisite stability.
Disadvantages of these solutions are that when fitting such extinguishing agent balloons on vibrating objects to be protected, when changing the attitude of the extinguishing agent balloon that is connected to a moving object to be protected and/or on a deformation of the outer extinguishing agent balloon it is not guaranteed that the functions will be preserved.
By vibrations and forces acting on the extinguishing agent balloon and/or a change in attitude as they can be encountered for example when using them on a machine or in a means of transportation, in the case of known solutions the elastic inner extinguishing agent balloon can rub against surrounding parts and thus experience wear and be damaged. Similar effects can occur as a result of changes in volume of the elastic extinguishing agent balloon due to temperature changes if the fluid contained therein expands or contracts. If a fluid that cannot be compressed or can be compressed only little such as water is stored in the elastic extinguishing agent balloon and the device is to be used in a greater temperature range of e.g. 4° C. to 90° C., then either an expansion space must be present between the elastic inside container and the non-elastic outer pressure tank or the outer container must be of an extremely pressure-safe design. However such a free space would make possible the undesired relative movements between the inner elastic extinguishing agent balloon and the outer non-elastic container.
It is therefore the objective of the invention to develop a simple protective device for mobile and stationary objects and apparatus that guarantees discharge of the extinguishing agent as intended even under the influences of vibrations, shocks, temperature fluctuations, forces of inertia and changes in attitude, among others.

Protective device having a pressure tank


An optical apparatus detects the moving velocity of a main object on an imaging plane and computes the moving velocity of the main object on the basis of the difference between the detected moving velocity on the imaging plane and the velocity of a panning shot captured by a user. During exposure, the optical apparatus detects the difference between the computed moving velocity of the main object and the panning-shot velocity, that is, an error of the panning-shot velocity, and decenters the optical axis of an imaging lens so as to correct the error, thereby enabling the user to capture a satisfactory panning shot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical apparatus, such as a digital video camera, a video camera, or a lens, provided with a function of correcting an image shake caused by hand motion, and more particularly, to an optical apparatus that facilitates effective panning shots.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many currently available cameras are automated to perform most important operations involved in capturing images, such as exposure determination and focusing. Therefore, even beginners are less likely to fail in capturing an image.
Nowadays, apparatuses provided with a function for correcting an image shake caused by hand motion are one of the aforementioned automated operations available in cameras. As a result, the user rarely fails in capturing a satisfactory image.
An anti-shake system will be briefly described. Hand motion in capturing an image with a camera is normally a vibration with a frequency of about 1 to 10 Hz. In many methods, image blur due to the above-described frequency is prevented by detecting a camera shake caused by hand motion using an angular velocity sensor or the like and displacing a correction lens along a plane perpendicular to an optical axis in accordance with the detection result. This is the optical anti-shake shifting system (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-218967).
One mode of image capturing with a camera is a panning shot. This is an image capturing technique whereby the camera follows, for example, a main object moving in the horizontal direction. Generally, the shutter speed is reduced to enhance the vividness of the motion of the main object. Typically, the panning shot technique requires an experienced photographer with good skills to accurately track the motion of the object with the camera. That is to say, it is difficult for beginners to capture a panning shot.
In contrast, there is disclosed a camera that can automatically take a panning shot while remaining still. The speed and distance data of a main object are input in advance to the camera, and, in the panning shot mode, the camera remains still on standby. When the main object appears on the screen, the camera remains still, and only a camera-shake correction optical system of the camera moves automatically and horizontally, thereby tracking the main object and taking a panning shot of the main object in accordance with the input speed and distance (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-154214).
With respect to video shooting, there is disclosed a function of tracking the moving direction of an object and maintaining the size of the object in captured images constant (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-86766). Changes in the moving direction and the size of the object in the captured images are detected from a plurality of video signals generated at different times. For the moving direction, a shake correction lens is driven. And, for the size, a zoom lens is driven, so that there will be no change in the moving direction and the size. Accordingly, the camera can track the moving direction of the object while maintaining the size of the object in the captured images constant.
A satisfactory panning shot is a picture where the main object remains still while the background is flowing in the direction of movement of the main object. A condition for taking such a satisfactory panning shot is that it is necessary to capture an image while the camera tracks the motion of the main object. If an image of the main object can be observed in a viewfinder or the like, it is easy to some degree to track the motion of the main object with the camera. However, in the case of, for example, a single-lens reflex, a quick return mirror is lifted in exposure, and it thus becomes impossible to observe an image of the object. Therefore, it is difficult to track the motion of the main object with the camera during exposure.
In the above-described Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-154214, it is necessary to input in advance the speed and distance data of the main object. Every time the moving speed of the main object changes, new data must be input. In the actual image capturing, the main object does not necessarily move according to the input speed data. If the data does not coincide with the speed of the object, a satisfactory panning shot cannot be captured.
Since the above-described Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-86766 assumes video shooting, a plurality of video signals generated at different times can be obtained, and changes in the movement direction of the object in the images can be detected on the basis of the obtained plurality of video signals.
However, when this is applied to capturing a still image, it is difficult to use the method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-86766 since an image pickup device merely accumulates imaging signals during exposure. That is, it is difficult to detect the amount of movement in an object image during exposure.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an optical apparatus, such as a camera, a camera system, or a lens, which is capable of detecting the moving velocity of a main object and of which further is capable of capturing a satisfactory panning shot of the main object.


A surgical fixation pin for use in fractures of bones in arms or other body parts to achieve support of the bone while the fracture heals. The pin is formed of a spring material and includes at opposite ends an angled, rounded front section and a double bent, extracortical section equipped with a fixation eye for receiving a fixation screw for securing the pin to a bone at a fracture site.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pin for use in fractured bones in arms or other parts of the body, to bring about support of the fractured bone while it is healing.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is generally known within the health care field that in the treatment of fractured bones means are used to allow reinforcement and support to the area surrounding a fracture in the bone in question.
Fractures of the distal forearm (wrist fractures) are the most common of all fractures (annual incidence about 3,000/1,000,000 inhabitants in the industrialized world) and constitutes by it's abundance a major therapeutic problem. Simple fractures are treated with just a bandage while more complex fractures often require open reduction and plate fixation. For a large number of the intermediate complex fractures the choice of treatment is less obvious; while plate fixation may be a too extensive and expensive procedure bandage immobilization may be insufficient to hold fracture fragments in the desired position while the fracture heals. Other therapeutic modalities also have their drawbacks: classic external fixation immobilizes the wrist joint during treatment and wrist stiffness may ensue. To avoid that, the external fixation is often removed before the fracture is consolidated, which may lead to secondary displacement of the fracture.
Another method is to use straight fine wires (1.5-2.0 mm in diameter) drilled into the fragments or introduced through the fracture site. While that is a simple and minimally invasive procedure it requires power tools. Also, the wires, being left protruding through the skin, have to be removed before the patient is able to mobilize her wrist.
The second bone of the forearm, the ulna, is notoriously difficult to fix, and fractures of the distal ulna are therefore often neglected. Pins have been used, among others, to hold together the bone fragments, or they have been inserted in the bone's inner canal. The pin has then either been allowed to remain in place after the fractured bone has healed, or it has been extracted afterwards. Plates similar to angle iron have also been used and are attached with screws to the bone by the fracture. Examples of such aids are shown in International Publication No. WO 01/56452 A2.
It has been difficult to operate in such supports by the fracture area, and even more difficult to remove them. Neither have those supports constituted an especially good pin in themselves, i.e., they have not interacted with the bone to achieve contact against the same during simultaneous tensioning of the pin. The introduction of the pin in the bone has not been facilitated with similarly known pins, and neither has the screwing of them into the bone been proven to be easy to achieve.
It is difficult to insert pins in the bone, and sometimes a power drill is required. It is also difficult to securely anchor the pin in the bone, which is why they frequently slide out. In addition, they are frequently left protruding from the skin, with the risk of both inflammation around the pin as well as infection, which can spread to the bone and develop into osteomyelitis.
An object of the present invention is thus primarily to produce a pin that is suitable for use in the healing of fractured bones in the arms or other parts of the body, and which solves, among others, the problems identified above, and which is also easy and cost effective to manufacture.