A magnetic marker has a plurality of thin strips or wires of saturatable magnetic material having square .phi.-H characteristics and coercive forces different from each other. Amorphous magnetic material may be used. When the marker is subjected to magnetization reversal by an external magnetic field, variations of magnetic flux corresponding to a plurality of magnetization reversals can be chronologically detected as a voltage pulse train by detecting coils. By processing this voltage pulse train, a pattern can be made, recognized, so that the magnetic marker effectively identifies the kind of article to which it is attached. A magnetic marker reading and identifying apparatus has a plurality of exciting coils for producing a rotating magnetic field, with the axis of at least one of the exciting coils being orthogonal to the axis of at least one other exciting coil. The rotating a.c. magnetic field can be applied to the magnetic marker while the marker passes across the magnetic field irrespective of the position and direction of the marker, with no deviation in the pulse voltage due to leakage flux from the magnetic marker, thereby permitting reliable detection of the pulse train so that the kind and quantity of articles can be identified with high accuracy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to magnetic markers applied to articles,, for identifying the kind, quantity and the like of the articles, and also relates to a reading and identifying apparatus therefor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has been known to apply markers to articles so as to count the number of the articles or to use the markers for burglar-proof measures by reading the markers. Further, it has been desired that such markers are small and cheap. Since these markers are attached to articles in such a way that they are not directly visible in order to prevent the markers from being intentionally or carelessly damaged, magnetism, microwaves and the like have been used for reading the markers. For example, amorphous magnetic thin, strips or fine wires which are read with the aid of magnetic fields, aluminum films which are irradiated with microwaves and the like have been used for the markers. In one particular, system, amorphous magnetic material markers which are applied to the articles to be detected are allowed to pass through an a.c. magnetic field in order to detect variations in the magnetic flux which occur in the amorphous magnetic materials. This system effectively utilizes the soft magnetization characteristics of the amorphous magnetic materials, and has the following desirable features: The markers are not subjected to serious, restrictions on the positions where the markers are attached or the kinds of articles to be detected, and the makers are highly sensitive and can be small and light in weight.
The main portion of a conventional magnetic marker reading and identifying apparatus is schematically shown in FIG. 1. In this figure, a magnetic marker 1 made of amorphous thin strips or fine wires is applied to an article 2 which is set on a belt 4 stretched between two pulleys 3, and is moved in a direction indicated by the arrow as the belt 4 runs. FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B), which are enlarged views, shown an exciting coil 5, an a.c. oscillator 6, detecting coils 7 and a measuring instrument 8. The exciting coil 5 for generating an a.c. magnetic field is connected to the a.c. oscillator 6 The detecting coils 7 detect, as an induced voltage, variations in the magnetic flux in association with a reversal of magnetization of the magnetic marker 1. The detecting coils 7 are connected to the measuring instrument 8, which identifies a voltage pulse train produced in the detecting coils 7 by means of, pattern recognition. Twin coils are used for the detecting coils 7 in order to cancel out induced voltage produced in the detecting coils 7.
The magnetic marker is composed of a plurality of magnetic thin strips or fine wires which are made of a Co base amorphous alloy or the like. However, a magnetic marker 1 which is fixed on a plastic element can be used for the same purpose.
In this apparatus, when a plurality of articles 2, i.e. objects to be detected, on which the magnetic markers 1 are applied pass over the exciting coil 5, being conveyed by the belt 4 as shown in FIG. 1, voltage pulses produced in the detecting coils 7 according to the a.c. magnetic field generated by the exciting coil 5 are detected, and the kinds of the articles are identified by the measuring instrument 8.
The above-mentioned magnetic marker made of amorphous magnetic materials is usable, but still offers the following problems which should be solved:
First, the identifying ability of the marker is a matter of concern. Conventionally, such markers are composed of fine strips or thin wires which are made of materials having one and the same magnetic characteristics. Therefore only data as to whether the marker or the article is present or not and as to the number of articles can be obtained by measuring voltage pulse produced by the magnetic field, but sorted articles cannot be identified. It would be desirable, for example, to use such markers for sorting and counting several identical products for each manufacturer. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to improve the arrangement and the manner of use of markers.
Second, a rapid variation of the magnetic flux is preferable, when the variation in the magnetic flux which is, generated in the amorphous magnetic substance due to the a.c. magnetic field is detected as an induced voltage by the detecting coils, because a steep voltage pulse can that be obtained in the detecting coils. A steep voltage pulse would make the detection of the voltage pulse easy and would substantially avoid effects by magnetic field disturbance. In order to produce a rapid variation in the magnetic flux, it is necessary to use a magnetic material which has .PHI.(magnetic flux) - H(magnetic field) magnetic hysteresis characteristic showing a square hysteresis loop. The shape of the magnetic material must be determined so as to decrease the demagnetizing field in order to maintain the square hysteresis loop characteristic. That is, the shape of the marker should be selected so that its length is sufficiently large in comparison with the width thereof. As a result, the size of the marker becomes larger as a whole.
Further, the installation condition of the exciting coil 5 causes a problem in the conventional magnetic marker reading and identifying apparatus shown in FIG. 1. That is, only one exciting coil is disposed below the belt 4 on which articles 2 are set. Since the positions and directions of the articles on which the magnetic markers 1 are applied are not always uniform on the belt 4, the outputs which are delivered from the detecting coils 7, when the magnetic markers 1 passes through the a.c. magnetic field area effected by the exciting coil 5, vary in response to the positions and directions of the articles on the belt so as to be unstable.

Magnetic marker and reading and identifying apparatus therefor


A headend communications device communicates via a network to downstream network elements, such as cable modems coupled behind optical network units, and allocates and grants timeslots for upstream transmissions from the network elements. The headend communications device has a scheduler for managing and controlling timeslot allocations in a manner avoiding interference such as optical beat interference or FM carrier collisions. The scheduler identifies two or more cable modems or like customer network elements served by the headend communications device that will cause at least a pre-determined intolerable level of interference when allocated overlapping timeslots for upstream transmissions and prevents these two or more cable modems or network elements from being allocated and granted overlapping timeslots.

A communications device such as a cable modem termination system (CMTS) is typically provided at a headend or hub site of a broadband network for providing high speed data services such as Internet, Voice over Internet Protocol, or digital video services to subscribers of a cable TV operator or to like customers. The CMTS hosts downstream and upstream ports and contains numerous receivers, each receiver handling communications between hundreds of end user network elements connected to the broadband network. Examples of network elements include cable modems, set top boxes, televisions equipped with set top boxes, Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) terminal devices, media terminal adapters (MTA), embedded media terminal adapter (eMTA), and the like. An example of a CMTS is the Motorola Broadband Service Router 64000 (BSR 64000).
Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) is a cable modem standard used for transferring data over a cable TV network. The CMTS carries IP traffic (downstream traffic) destined for cable modems and like network elements. The downstream traffic is carried in IP packets encapsulated in MPEG transport stream packets carried on data streams that are typically modulated onto a TV channel.
DOCSIS specifies that cable modems and like network elements obtain upstream bandwidth according to a request/grant scheme. A cable modem sends a bandwidth allocation request when subscriber network devices need to send traffic upstream into the network. The CMTS grants these requests using bandwidth grant messages. Thus, the CMTS must arbitrate bandwidth among a plurality of network elements such as set top boxes and cable modems configured for bi-directional communications. Upstream data (data from cable modems to the headend or Internet) is carried in Ethernet frames encapsulated inside DOCSIS frames using time-division multiple access (TDMA) sharing mechanisms.
The CMTS can be used to serve customers on a Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) broadband network, a Radio Frequency over Glass (RFoG) broadband network, or a mixed HFC and RFoG network. Traditionally, cable TV operators have used HFC broadband networks combining the use of optical fiber and coaxial cable. The fiber optic portion of such a network extends from the headend to a hub and/or to a fiber optic node. Various services of the operator may be encoded, modulated and upconverted onto RF carriers, combined onto a single electrical signal, and inserted into an optical transmitter at the headend. The optical transmitter converts the electrical signal to a downstream optically modulated signal that is transmitted to the nodes. The node may be connected to many network elements of subscribers via the coaxial cable portion of the network. By way of example, a single node may be connected to thousands of cable modems or other network elements.
Each node includes a broadband optical receiver which converts the downstream optically modulated signal received from the headend/hub to an electrical signal provided to the subscribers' network elements via the coaxial portion of the HFC network. Each node may also contain a reverse/return path transmitter that is able to relay communications from a subscriber to the headend. Thus, the HFC network uses optical fiber for communications between the headend and nodes and coaxial cable for communications between the nodes and the end user network elements. Downstream (also referred to as forward path) optical communications over the optical fiber are typically converted at the nodes to Radio Frequency (RF) communications for transmission over the coaxial cable. Conversely, upstream (also referred to as return path) RF communications from the network elements are provided over the coaxial cables and are typically converted at the nodes to optical communications for transmission over the optical fiber to the headend.
As an alternative to the above referenced HFC system, a cable TV operator may also use Radio Frequency over Glass (RFoG) systems to deliver the same services as an RF/DOCSIS/HFC network. RFoG and HFC systems can concurrently operate out of the same headend/hub, permitting RFoG to be a solution for node splitting and capacity increases on an existing HFC network. RFoG permits the continued use of traditional HFC equipment and back-office applications with fiber-to-the-premise deployments. Thus, use of existing CMTS platforms, headend equipment, set-top boxes, and cable modems can continue while gaining benefits inherent with RFoG systems.
In an RFoG system, RFoG optical networking units (R-ONUs) terminate the fiber connection at a subscriber-side interface and convert traffic for delivery over the in-home network at the customer premises. For example, the R-ONU may connect to set-top boxes, cable modems, or like network elements via coaxial cable, and one or more of the cable modems may connect to the subscriber's internal telephone wiring and/or to personal computers or like devices via Ethernet or Wi-Fi connections. The return path for voice, data, video, and like upstream traffic from a cable modem or like network device is through the R-ONU which converts the upstream signal to an optical upstream signal and which transmits the optical upstream signal to the return path RFoG optical receiver at the headend or hub. The RFoG optical receiver converts the upstream optical signal at the headend to an RF electrical signal for the CMTS.
Accordingly, R-ONUs convert optical signals from the headend into electrical signals at the customer premises and thereby terminate the RFoG system at the subscriber-side interface. This is accomplished in place of the same function traditionally performed back at the higher-level serving area optical nodes in the HFC network. The RF infrastructure remains in place; the difference is that the optic fiber termination is moved from an optical fiber node of the HFC network to the R-ONU at the customer premises. By way of example, the R-ONU can be located at a single home, a business, a multi-tenant dwelling (MTU/MDU) or an individual living unit within an MTU.
Although RFoG systems provide a possible capacity increase relative to traditional HFC systems, an undesired effect of an RFoG system is the potential for upstream interference that may occur when more than one R-ONU has the optical return path activated at any given time. For example, when amplitude modulation (AM) is used in the upstream path and optical upstream signals are received by the RFoG optical receiver at the headend corresponding to overlapping transmissions or bursts from multiple R-ONUs of about the same wavelength or of close wavelengths, an optical collision or optical beating may occur and cause optical beat interference (OBI). OBI is a signal degradation mechanism in systems using amplitude modulation that occurs when two or more lasers with closely-spaced optical frequencies or wavelength transmit into optical fiber and mix together in the RFoG optical receiver causing splatter in the RF spectrum. The impact of OBI is packet loss, i.e. the transmissions received via the R-ONUs cannot be properly demodulated at the headend. This may particularly be a problem if the bursts or transmissions contain voice packets. In systems that use frequency modulation (FM) in the upstream path, any overlap of transmissions from different R-ONUs may cause upstream interference, even if the transmit wavelengths are far apart.
In Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 2.0 deployments, cable modems are capable of transmitting in only a single channel at a time (i.e., no channel bonding capability). Thus, for multiple cable modems in an RFoG system to transmit simultaneously requires the cable modems to be tuned to different RF channels. This is a common practice for purposes of increasing throughput and thus OBI and upstream interference are a potential problem. In DOCSIS 3.0 deployments, cable modems have upstream channel bonding capability and are therefore able to simultaneously transmit in different RF channels. The resulting simultaneous use of multiple channels by different cable modems in an RFoG system and increased usage of networks further enhance a likelihood of OBI, upstream interference, and modulation errors.

System and method for avoiding upstream interference in RF-over-glass network


A replenisher supply device for photosensitive planographic printing plate processing apparatus, the supply device being arranged independently of each photosensitive planographic printing plate processing apparatus, which includes: a unit for opening a seal for a processing replenisher contained in each of containers; a tank for receiving the processing replenisher from the container; sensors for detecting the levels of the processing replenisher in each tank; and piping for supplying the processing replenisher from each tank to sucking inlets of processing replenisher supply pumps which are arranged in each photosensitive planographic printing plate processing apparatus body. Accordingly, the replenishers and water can be supplied to a plurality of photosensitive planographic printing plate processing apparatus by a reduced number of replenisher supply devices. In addition, when each solution level has reached its minimum level, the power supply of a replenishment controller is disconnected, thereby preventing pump failure by operating the pumps without sufficient replenishers.

The invention relates to a replenisher supply device for photosensitive planographic printing plate processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "PS plate processing apparatus") which adds replenishers to the processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive planographic printing plate (hereinafter referred to as "PS plate") on which an image has been exposed.
Generally, a PS plate on which an image has been exposed is fed into a developing tank, where the surface of the plate receives a developing solution by means of spraying or the like and is developed while being rubbed by a brush, sponge, or the like. The light-sensitive layer of the non-image area of the exposed PS plate is swollen by applying developing solution containing an organic solvent and an alkaline aqueous solution. The swollen layer of the non-image area is then removed with ease by rubbing means such as a brush or sponge, leaving only the image area on the PS plate. This means that the developing solution contains, at this point of process, eluted substances such as a photosensitive substance. Further, since the developing solution is applied to the PS plate usually by means of showering when the plate passes through the developing tank, the solution is subjected not only to deterioration due to its being in contact with air, such as reduction in pH of the developing solution by dissolution of carbon dioxide gas, but also concentration due to evaporation of water from the processing solutions including the developing solution and a gum arabic solution. Once the developing solution loses its developing capability by processing a large volume of PS plates and/or the elapse of time and has finally reached its life limit, it must be replaced with a new developing solution. If the PS plates are processed beyond the limit of the developing solution, the photosensitive layer of the non-image area of PS plate remains, which may result in pint stains or instability in printing quality such as tone reproduction. To compensate for deterioration of the processing solutions caused by the processing of PS plates, the influence of carbon dioxide gas in the air, concentration of the processing solutions caused by evaporation of water, a replenisher for the developing solution, a replenisher for the gum arabic solution, and diluting water, and the like are supplied to the corresponding processing tanks.
However, in the conventional PS plate processing apparatus, each apparatus has a single replenisher supply device in the processing apparatus. As a result, when a plurality of PS plate processing apparatus are installed, a replenisher for each apparatus must be prepared and the labor for preparation operation is extremely cumbersome.
This invention has been made to overcome the above circumstances. Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a replenisher supply device for PS plate processing apparatus capable of simplifying preparatory and supplying work of replenishers.

Replenisher supply device for photosensitive planographic printing plate processing apparatus


A digitally activated ringing circuit for use in conjunction with a central processing unit of an electronic telephone central office is connected between the central processing unit and a telephone subscriber via the central office switching network. The ringing circuit generates an analog signal representing a particular one of a plurality of possible ringing frequencies to be applied to the subscriber line. The instantaneous values of the ringing signal are approximated by information contained within a read only memory.

(1) Field of the Invention
Generally, this invention pertains to a circuit for the generation of AC ringing voltages for use in conjunction with a central processing unit of a telephone central office and more particularly pertains to a digitally activated ring generation circuit for approximating the sinusoidal ringing voltage by incremental steps and applying the voltage thereby generated to the subscriber line.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Typically, ringing generators are implemented via a collection of analog circuit equipment. With the advent of computer controlled electronic switching systems, a need arose for simple interfacing between the computer control and the ringing generator circuit. Usually elaborate interface connections had to be designed for interfacing the computer controlled logic with the logic of the ringing circuit. The logic of computers is digital in nature and of relatively low power, whereas the logic of ringing circuits is analog in nature and the ringing voltages themselves are of a relatively high level.
Such analog interface circuits as those mentioned above are costly, complex in design and require that high voltages be distributed throughout the ringing circuitry of a telephone central office.
Typically, the hazardous high voltages were developed at one particular point and bused out to the various circuits requiring this voltage. Consequently, protection was required for the AC converters. Due to the busing arrangement and the number of terminals required to connect these high voltages, a considerable amount of space was consumed by the resultant designs.
Typical analog ringing generator circuits are shown by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,015,091, issued on Mar. 29, 1977, to T. N. Rao, et al and 4,025,729, issued on May 24, 1977 to D. E. Stone. Such circuits disclose ringing signal generators comprising direct current level converters having the ringing voltage level thereby generated interrupted at a particular rate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,516, issued on Jan. 4, 1977 to G. Weisigk, et al teaches an apparatus for feeding ringing currents from a ringing current supply to particular line circuits. Such an elaborate design as taught by Weisigk et al is not required in the present invention due to the fact that each frequency is derived upon a single circuit card.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,786, issued on Aug. 16, 1977, to L. Freimanis teaches a telephone ringer circuit. A high capacitance element is charged by DC voltage present on the telephone line and discharged across an electric mechanical ringer when a tone detector receives a tone alerting signal.
Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a ringing circuit for use in conjunction with a central processing unit of a telephone central office which digitally interfaces with the central processing unit and manipulates the high voltages associated with ringing circuit in a safer, more efficient and less costly manner.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide for the generation of a plurality of distinct ringing frequencies and to provide as an option selection of a particular set of ringing frequencies for each of such ringing circuits that are provided. Flexibility is provided by information representing an approximation to each of the particular frequencies stored in a read only memory.
Further, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a quick response in order to remove the ring once the particular subscriber has answered the phone but not to respond so quickly that transient errors are handled as true ring trip.
In addition, it is the feature of the present invention to provide a ring generating circuit for use in conjunction with a coin collection/refund circuit, so that the two circuits are compatible and utilize common circuitry. Thereby, both the functions of ringing and coin collect can be provided on one circuit, thereby necessitating no further network connections for ringing and coin control operations. A circuit comprising both operations may be connected by the telephone switching center in one operation.
Also, it is the feature of the present invention to provide for the elimination of protectors for the high voltages which must be bused throughout the network in conventional ringing schemes.

Digitally activated ringing circuit for generation of AC voltages

GTE Automatic Electric Laboratories Incorporated


An evaporative fuel control device for an engine used in an automobile is provided. The device comprises a charcoal canister for temporary adsorbing fuel vapor produced in a fuel tank, an air introducing means for introducing air into the canister, a purge control means for controlling the amount of purge gas, purged from the canister into a intake passage of the engine and containing air and fuel vapor desorbed from the canister therein, a purge gas amount detecting means for detecting the amount of the purge gas, an air amount detecting means for detecting the amount of air introduced into the charcoal canister and a desorbed fuel amount calculating means for calculating the amount of fuel desorbed from the canister on the basis of the amount of purge gas detected by the purge gas amount detecting means and the amount of air introduced into the charcoal canister detected by the air amount detecting means.. The purge control means controls the amount of purge gas on the basis of the amount of fuel desorbed from the canister calculated by the desorbed fuel amount calculating means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an evaporative gas control device for an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
An evaporative fuel control device for purging evaporative fuel, which is produced in a fuel tank and temporary adsorbed in a canister, into an intake passage of an engine is commonly known and used. A number of devices have been proposed for controlling the amount of purge gas or correcting, based thereon, the amount of fuel injected by a fuel injector (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-26118).
Due to recent strict emission regulations, the effect of purge gas on an exhaust emission must be tightly controlled and, accordingly, it has become important to accurately detect the amount of the fuel contained in the purge gas which is purged from the canister into the intake passage.
In the above mentioned device, the correction of the amount of fuel injected by the fuel injector, or the control of purging, is on the basis of the flow rate of a purge gas through a purge line. However, the purge gas contains air which is introduced into the canister and fuel which desorbed from the canister, therein. Therefore, the flow rate of purge gas does not accurately correspond to the amount of the fuel desorbed from the canister.
Accordingly, in the above mentioned device, an unsuitable amount of fuel can be injected from the injector, or an unsuitable control of purging can be carried out and this can cause harmful exhaust emissions.


The laminar article of the invention comprises a mixture of a polyolefin matrix with a barrier resin of polyethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and a compatibilizer selected from an ethylene-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer such as ethylene methacrylic acid or ethylene acrylic acid, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyethylene vinyl alcohol or mixtures thereof. A process is also claimed for preparing a laminar article with multiple thin, overlapping layers, comprising preparing a melted heterogeneous blend of a polyolefin, an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, and the above compatibilizer; extending the body of the melt; and cooling the extended body to below the melting point of the polyolefin.

This invention relates to laminar blends of polyolefins and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers which have superior barrier and physical properties.
Polyolefins have been broadly used as packaging materials for foodstuffs and the like because of excellent mechanical strength and sanitariness. However, polyolefins disadvantageously permit high permeability of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. As a result, foodstuffs cannot be preserved for a long time with use of containers or the like formed of polyolefins.
Containers and films which are blends or laminates of polyolefins and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers have been the subject of several investigations because this combination of polymers has the potential for providing high resistance to permeation by water, oxygen and hydrocarbons.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,975,463 discloses a molded structure having a specific multilayer structure and good resistance to gas permeation made from (a) 30 to 98% by weight of a crystalline polyolefin, (b) 2 to 70% by weight of a saponified product of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, and (c) 0.5 to 15 parts by weight of a thermoplastic polymer containing a carbonyl group in the main or side chain. The thermoplastic polymer (c) can be a copolymer of maleic anhydride or an acrylic acid grafted polyethylene.
Prior art laminar articles were found to exhibit significant variation in resistance to permeation by hydrocarbons, water and/or oxygen and in mechanical strength. Such variations are undesirable in laminar structures which are to be used in applications such as containers for hydrocarbon fuels and packaging for perishable foodstuffs. In addition, the components used in laminar articles to be used as containers for foodstuffs often must be approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration or other regulatory authorities. Thus, a need exists to provide polyolefin/ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer laminar structures which will consistently provide optimum barrier properties and mechanical strength, and which are approved for use as a container for foodstuffs.

Laminar articles from a polyolefin matrix, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers and a compatibilizer


A two piece vase adapted to house flowers or a floral arrangement. An insert is adapted to be mounted in a chamber of a vase structure. The insert is not readily visible when inserted into the vase structure and provides a watertight seal. The insert is further easier to clean and provides a more convenient method of mounting the flowers into the vase.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to vases and devices to display flowers or the like.
Vases or other devices adapted to hold flowers traditionally have sufficient open areas that allow the interior portion to be cleaned by hand. However, with vases having a narrow dimension portion the opening to the interior chamber does not allow easy access to the chamber region for cleaning. Further, when a vase is comprised from heterogeneous materials it is not readily feasible to provide a watertight vase.
Therefore, it is advantageous to have a heterogeneous vase that provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance while providing a waterproof chamber. To maintain a waterproof chamber brings forth numerous challenges with discrete components and especially when the components are of different materials.
The applicant has experimented with sealing the first chamber of the vase using caulking materials and other transparent adhesives; however, the applicant could not provide satisfactory results. Namely, any caulking material or glue would diminish the visible characteristics around the perimeter of the first and second transverse visible portions. Further, given the different characteristics of glass and a stone type material such as marble, it was extremely difficult to provide a first chamber that could hold water even at low head static pressure. Finally, trying to seal the first chamber did not remedy the problems with cleaning the vase.
Therefore, the applicant remedied these problems by retrieving a transparent insert having an upper end that is open and provides access to a second chamber that is watertight. The insert can be placed in the first chamber and is nearly unnoticeable when in an operating position (i.e. with flowers and fluid contained therein).
The insert is much less expensive than the remainder of the vase and in the preferred form is made from a unitary transparent plastic structure. The insert can be machine or hand washed or can be easily replaced. Further, the insert allows the stem portions of the flowers or floral arrangements to be inserted therein and water poured into the chamber of the insert (referred to as the second chamber) and then the insert can be placed into the first chamber of the vase structure.
2. Background Art
A search of the patent literature produced the following applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,164 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,592 Weder et al, shows a flower container and various aspects of a water proof cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,950 Glassman, shows a receptacle in which an inner container 10, is surrounded by an outer container. The containers are both fluid tight and fluid may be placed in one or in both. The inner container is adapted to hold dried flowers, while the outer volume contains a decorative fluid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,506 Hanson, shows a system in which a smaller flower pot is suspended in a larger container.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,856,179 Wells, shows an ornamental outer container used to house a flower pot containing a plant.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,087,546 Nies, shows a plant container formed of wood, with an outer layer of bark provided with a metal insert for containing a plant.
The invention comprises a frame and an insert. The frame consists of at least one transparent portion and has an upper opening that provides access to an inner chamber. The insert has a chamber portion and an upper opening and is adapted to fit within the said chamber of the frame. The insert has a transparent portion that corresponds to the position transparent portion of the frame. The insert is waterproof and adapted to receive flowers and water therein. Further, the insert is replaceable at a lower cost than the frame.


An apparatus, method and system are provided for carrying and dispensing an ink into a printing system. A system configured to dispense an ink comprises an ink carrying apparatus having a container, a movable cover, a unit monitor, a film, and a locking tab. The system also comprises a docking station configured to accept the ink carrying apparatus and engage the locking tab when the movable cover is in an open position. The system further comprises a processor configured to communicate with the unit monitor to facilitate a movement of the movable cover from a closed position to the open position. Based on a detection of a type of ink in the container, the movable cover is allowed to be moved from the closed position to the open position so as to facilitate removal of the film and cause the ink to be dispensed.

Conventional high volume print systems often have large barrels for storing inks that are to be used in various printing processes. These barrels typically are specific with regard to the types or colors of inks that are contained within them. Operator errors may occur such as dispensing an incorrect ink type and/or color into a particular barrel because conventional containers for various inks are simple in design and do not communicate with the print system to prevent such operator errors.

Apparatus, method and system for carrying and dispensing an ink useful in printing


Methods and devices are provided for performing various procedures using interchangeable end effectors. In general, the methods and devices allow a surgeon to remotely and selectively attach various interchangeable surgical end effectors to a shaft located within a patient's body, thus allowing the surgeon to perform various procedures without the need to remove the shaft from the patient's body. In an exemplary embodiment, multiple end effectors can be introduced into a body cavity. The end effectors can be disassociated or separate from one another such that they float within the body cavity. A distal end of a shaft can be positioned within the body cavity and it can be used to selectively engage one of the end effectors. In particular, the device can be configured to allow each end effector to be remotely attached and detached from the distal end of the shaft.

As the range of therapeutic endolumenal and transgastric treatments available to gastroenterologists and surgeons expands, the tools used to perform such procedures are becoming more complex. Increasingly sophisticated maneuvers demand greater functionality within the limited space offered by the gastrointestinal tract. Consequently, the size of surgical end effectors developed to achieve this functionality will increase, preventing operation through a working channel of an endoscope, which is the traditional approach to endoscopic procedures. Unfortunately, if an instrument is not passed through an endoscope, articulation and control of a distal end of the instrument is difficult if not impossible.
Instruments have been developed that do provide control of tools extending tangential to an endoscope. For example, accessory channels that run along side an endoscope have been developed with steering mechanisms at the distal end for effecting movement of a tool inserted therethrough. While this provides the advantage of articulation independent of a working channel, the size of the tool cannot exceed the diameter of the body lumen, e.g., the esophagus, less the diameter of the endoscope.
Accordingly, there remains a need for methods and devices for delivering end effectors through a body lumen without the size constraints required by a working channel, yet that allows for endoscopic control. There also remains a need for methods and devices for performing multiple surgical procedures using multiple end effectors without the need to exchange the end effectors through the working channel of an endoscope.


A laparoscopic suturing method comprises the steps of (a) disposing a trocar sleeve in an abdominal wall of the patient, (b) moving a first end section of a suture through the trocar sleeve and into an abdominal cavity of the patient so that a second end section of the suture remains outside the patient, (c) passing the first end section of the suture through organic abdominal tissues of a patient, and (d) drawing the first end section of the suture back out through the trocar sleeve upon passing of the suture through the abdominal tissues of the patient. Upon drawing of the first end section of the suture out of the patient, a suture locking device is slid along the suture end sections and through the trocar sleeve until the locking device is substantially juxtaposed to the organic tissues at the opening. Then, the suture end sections are severed on a side of the locking device opposite the abdominal tissues and the opening. The locking device has a pair of channels with barbs pointed in one direction for preventing the suture end sections from being removed from the device.

This invention on relates to a suturing technique. More particularly, this invention relates to a suturing technique of particular applicability to laparoscopic surgery. This invention also relates to an associated suture closure device.
Laparoscopic surgery is currently a rapidly spreading innovative medical technique. In laparoscopic surgery, internal organs of the patient are operated upon through a plurality of sleeves inserted in the abdominal wall of the patient. The progress of the operation is continuously monitored by the surgeon and assisting personnel with the aid of a specialized camera device called a laparoscope. The laparoscope is itself inserted into the patient through one of the sleeves in the abdominal wall. The action of the distal ends of laparoscopic instruments on the internal tissues of the patient is observed on one or more television monitors connected to the laparoscope.
One of the drawbacks of laparoscopic surgery is the inability to effectively form sutures.

Laparoscopic suturing technique and associated device


The width of a mold is controlled effectively to produce a slab having a desired and constant width associated therewith. More particularly, the speed of the output slab and the temperature of the molten metal contained within tundish are measured and the pressure exerted by the received molten metal within mold is determined. These measured and determined values are used to appropriately modify the width of the mold so as to produce a slab of constant width.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for slab width control and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for allowing a casting mold to produce a steel slab having a substantially constant width.
2. Discussion
Steel casting molds are normally adapted to receive molten metal and to use the metal to produce a continuous slab of steel. The slab is often cut into various lengths, each of which is used in the manufacture of diverse products. Each manufacturing process requires slab lengths of a constant and certain width.
These molds usually have means to control the output slab width, based on a desired slab width. Each slab width also requires a certain mold taper. That is, an initial mold width and taper, associated with the desired slab width, is usually set before the metal is poured and modified for different required slab widths. Casting parameter variations, such as temperature, line speed and ferrostatic pressure cause the mold to produce a portion of the slab having a different width, from that of the initially cast portion. Consequently, the produced slab is of a varying width.
This lack of slab width control is particularly troublesome in applications requiring long slab lengths of a relatively large width, where the actually produced slab has long lengths of a very small width. In this situation, most of the slab is wasted or used for an alternate application. Moreover, even if the produced slab has a wider than desired width, it still must be cut, or sized by strip mill edgers in order to ensure a constant slab width. The edgers are relatively inefficient and expensive. Moreover, many mills do not ever have the edger capacity to appropriately size the slabs. Therefore, these slabs cannot be processed unless the slabs are actually cut to size.

Method and apparatus for slab width control


The present invention is directed to a process of treating carpets and other large fabric coverings with a product dispensed from an appliance. This appliance comprises a reservoir for the product and means for dispensing this product which comprises a detachable and extendible spray arm. Preferably, this appliance is a portable electrical sprayer, and the spray arm comprises a handle, a telescopingly extendible wand connected to this handle, and a dispensing tube that is attached outside the extendible wand, and at least one portion of the detachable and telescopingly extendible wand is arranged inside the handle, when the spray arm is in the collapsed position.

The present invention relates to a process of treating carpets and other large fabric coverings with a product dispensed from an appliance.
Trigger spray devices are known for the purposes of domestic cleaning, for example for cleaning hard surfaces such as windows, baths and ovens, as well as for spot cleaning of floor coverings such as carpets. Most trigger spray devices which are commercially available are manually activated, that is to say that the devices comprise a trigger which is activated by hand by the consumer. Most commonly this manual activation generates liquid pressure in a chamber by means of a positive deplacement pump by means of a positive deplacement pump which in turn drives the liquid from the chamber usually through a dispensing nozzle. Many dispensing patterns are possible, but a conical spray is the most common.
Large surfaces, such as carpets and other floor coverings are, however, difficult to treat with a hand activated trigger spray device. The large surface area demands repeated manual activation of the device many times. This is laborious, and usually results in an uneven application of product over the whole of the surface.
An electrically activated sprayer is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,250, issued on Nov. 23, 1976, however there is no suggestion that this sprayer could be used for the purpose of cleaning surfaces such as carpets. Furthermore while this sprayer could take some of the laborious work out of the task when compared to manually activated trigger sprayers, it still does not fully address the problem of uneven application of product over the whole surface of the carpet or floor covering.
An extended arm is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,116, issued on Sep.9, 1975. This device is taught principally for use with the application of insecticides.
The object of the present invention is to provide a process of cleaning carpets and other large fabric covering with a product dispensed from an appliance, said appliance comprising an extendible and detachable spray arm that allows even dispensing of the product, and easier control of the surface to aim at. The spray arm avoids the need to bend down, allows straight back position, allows to reach difficult areas in a controlled fashion.
The present invention is directed to a process of treating carpets and other large fabric coverings with a product dispensed from an appliance, said appliance comprising a reservoir for said product and means for dispensing said product, wherein said means comprises a detachable and extendible spray arm.
Preferably, said appliance is a portable electrical sprayer, and said spray arm comprises a handle, a telescopingly extendible wand connected to said handle, and a dispensing tubing attached outside said extendible wand, and at least one portion of the detachable and telescopingly extendible wand is arranged inside the handle, when said spray arm is in the collapsed position.

Process of cleaning carpets and the like


A display device and a method for displaying an image thereof are disclosed. The display device includes a display panel, a gray scale voltage output circuit, a common voltage output circuit and a control circuit. The display panel, according to a first gray scale voltage signal and a first common voltage signal, display an image; the control circuit is used for controlling the gray scale voltage output circuit and the common voltage output circuit to output a second gray scale voltage signal and a second common voltage to the display panel when at a predetermined time to display another image. The present invention can cause the blink rate to be maintained over time at a relatively stable range.

In the conventional TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display), there is often parasitic capacitance Cgd. When the current/voltage of the gate line changes, the parasitic capacitance Cgd will produce the capacitive coupling (Feed Through) voltage ΔV, so that it cannot use the common voltage Vcom as a middle value in respect to which the voltage changes symmetrically when the voltage forms polarity inversion, which causes DC residual effects to appear.
Under the influence of the DC residual effects above, if the voltage of the bipolar plate of LCD capacitive of the thin film transistor liquid crystal display panel remains the same value for a long time, then the residual and movable ions in the liquid crystal molecules can move in the same electric field direction to accumulate on the same side of the liquid crystal molecules, thereby forming an inner electric field.
When the displaying image (as shown in FIG. 1) of the thin film transistor liquid crystal display turns from a high gray scale to a low gray scale, the inner electric field and the electric field between the plates of the liquid crystal capacitance are offset with each other, so that the liquid crystal molecules cannot be twisted to a predetermined angle, which will eventually lead to an image sticking phenomenon, as shown in FIG. 2.
In particular, in the process of users who use mobile phones, tablet computers, desktop computers, and other electronic products, since the screen area of the electronic products will sometimes display a static picture for a long time. When the screen is switched, the screen of the electronic products will produce an image sticking phenomenon which is easily recognizable to the human eye.
In order to reduce the above image sticking phenomenon, the conventional technical solutions are: the asymmetric adjustment is used to grayscale voltage which is used to display images.
Due to the nature of the portion of parts or materials of the conventional displaying panel (e.g., the nature of the liquid crystal material) having variations over time (changing with time and having varying characteristics), the optimum common voltage value of the conventional display panel will vary with time variation, and the above portion of parts or materials of the conventional displaying panel are able to stabilize after booting for a long time. During this long time, if the Vcom, etc., are kept constant, then the flicker rate of the conventional display panel image will be in a variation state continuously, as shown in FIG. 3, which would greatly increase the image sticking phenomenon.
Therefore, it is necessary to propose a new technical solution to solve the above technical problems.

Display device and method for displaying an image thereon

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A printing system includes a printer head with an airflow management system. The airflow management system includes an air splitter on the leading edge of the printer head and side members that extend the length of the printer head. The air splitter and members are positioned so that a gap is formed between the printer head and the air splitter and members. A vacuum fan positioned within a duct on top of the printer head can draw air through the gap at the leading edge of the printer head and return the air on the trailing side of the printer head. The airflow management system can permit increased printing distances.

The present embodiments relate generally to printer heads and in particular to systems for managing airflow patterns around moving printer heads.
Printers are commonly used in printing graphics or text on to sheets of material. These sheets of printed material may be used for many purposes, including formation into articles of manufacture. The printer heads of these printers typically move at speeds sufficient to create turbulence around the printer head. This turbulence may negatively impact the print quality on the sheets, particularly if the sheet is textured or if the print head is positioned at a distance that exceeds current standards for recommended print distance.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for managing the airflow patterns around moving printer heads to reduce the impact of air flow on print quality, particularly over large print distances.

Printer head with airflow management system


Disclosed herein is a semiconductor package including: a semiconductor chip having a bonding pad; and a first substrate including a rerouting layer having short type rerouting patterns electrically connected with the bonding pad and formed to be seamlessly connected with each other and a plurality of open type rerouting patterns separately formed on the same layer as the short type rerouting patterns and connection terminals for signal connection each formed on the open type rerouting patterns.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor package and a semiconductor package module having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a semiconductor industry, one of the main tendencies of a technology development has focused on the reduction in a size of a semiconductor device. Even in the semiconductor package field, with the sudden increase in a demand of a small computer, portable electronic devices, or the like, a semiconductor package such as a fine pitch ball grid array (FBGA) package or a chip scale package (CSP), or the like, capable of implementing a plurality of pins while being formed at a small size have been developed.
The semiconductor packages such as the fine pitch ball grid array package, the chip scale package, or the like, that are being currently developed has physical advantages such as miniaturization, lightness, or the like. However, the semiconductor packages do not yet secure reliability equivalent to a plastic package according to the prior art and have the reduced competitive price due to the increased cost of materials consumed during a production process and the increased processing cost.
In particular, a representative type of the current chip scale package, a so-called micro ball grid array (micro BGA (μBGA)) has excellent characteristics more than the fine pitch ball grid array or the chip scale package, but has also the reduced reliability and competitive price.
In order to overcome the disadvantages, as one type of the developed packages, there is a so-called wafer level chip scale package (wafer level CSP (WL-CSP)) using redistribution or rerouting of bonding pails of semiconductor chips formed on a wafer.
The wafer level chip scale package using the redistribution has a structural feature that the bonding pads on the semiconductor substrate is directly redistributed with other pads having a larger size and then, external connection terminals such as solder balls are formed thereon.
Meanwhile, the semiconductor package according to the prior art is disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-0032158.
The semiconductor package according to the prior art may be configured by a multilayer of two layers or more according to expandability of rerouting patterns. As such, the process cost, the number of processes, and the process time may be increased, due to the multilayer manufacturing of the semiconductor package.

Semiconductor package and semiconductor package module having the same


A head load/unload mechanism for a rotating magnetic memory, such as a single or double sided floppy disk drive, comprises a lifter arm which is mounted for viscously damped rotation on a control arm for selectively loading and unloading the read-write head or heads of the drive under the control of a snap action solenoid. A pressure pad may be mounted on the control arm for movement into and out of pressure transmitting relationship with a recording medium supporting platen under the control of the solenoid whereby the recording medium is flattened between the pressure and the platen when the head or heads are loaded to transfer data to or from the recording medium.

This invention relates to head load/unload mechanisms for rotating magnetic memories and, more particularly, to solenoid controlled head load/unload mechanisms for loading and unloading the read/write head or heads of single or double sided floppy disk drives into and out of data transfering relationship with a magnetic recording medium.
Floppy disk drives customarily employ a recording medium comprising a thin, pliant, disk-shaped substrate which has a magnetic oxide surface coating. Such a recording medium is conventionally encased within a protective outer jacket, but there normally are radially extending access slots which pass through the opposing faces of the jacket so that the read/write head or heads of a drive can be compliantly loaded directly against the recording medium to transfer data thereto or therefrom. In operation, the recording medium is inserted into a drive where it is clamped on a spindle for rotation at a substantially constant rate within its protective jacket. The head or heads of the drive are aligned with the access slots in the jacket and are mounted for movement radially of the recording medium so that any selected one of a plurality of concentric data tracks may be accessed. As will be appreciated, a double sided drive provides access to the data tracks on either side of the recording medium, while a single sided drive only has access to the data tracks on one side of the recording medium.
To avoid excessive head/media wear, most single and double sided floppy disk drives have a solenoid controlled head load/unload mechanism for selectively "loading" and "unloading" the read/write head or heads depending on whether the drive is operating in an active data transferring mode or not. When the drive is selected for a data transfer with, say, a host computer, the heads are "loaded" against the recording medium. Otherwise, however, the head or heads are displaced or "unloaded" from the recording medium to prevent any significant head/media wear from occurring, even if the drive is operated for extended periods of time in a standby mode.
Prior solenoid controlled head load/unload mechanisms have generally included means for damping the unloading motion of the head or heads to prevent them from bouncing back into contact with the recording medium. Moreover, it has been suggested that the head/media wear can be further reduced if the loading motion of the head or heads is also damped, but the mechanisms which have been proposed for accomplishing that are not completely satisfactory. For example, one proposal has involved the use of an internally damped solenoid, but cost effective snap action solenoids do not readily lend themselves to internal damping because they generate substantial forces. Another proposal has been based on the use of a dash pot to reduce the velocity of the head or heads as they impact against the recording medium, but that adds an additional component which must be individually aligned with the head/carriage assembly of the drive.

Head load/unload mechanism for rotating magnetic memories


An adjustable flow rate implantable shunt device for use in treating glaucoma is provided. The device comprises a tubular member having a first sealed end and an open second end which are joined by a wall. The first end is inserted into the anterior portion of the eye for receipt of aqueous humor, and the second end is fastened to the sclera of the eye. The first end of the shunt device is sealed when implanted, so that flow of aqueous humor through the device immediately after implantation is prevented. After a sufficient post-implantation period such that a fibrous capsule has formed around the shunt device, at least one perforation is made along the segment of the wall of the tubular member which is located within the anterior portion of the eye to allow aqueous humor to flow through and out of the device, thereby lowering intraocular pressure within the eye. The flow rate of aqueous humor through the device can be adjusted periodically by placing additional perforations along the portion of the tubular member located within the anterior chamber of the eye. The perforations are conveniently made using a laser.

This invention relates generally to the drainage of aqueous humor from an eye to relieve the elevated pressure characteristic of glaucoma. More specifically, the present invention relates to an implantable glaucoma shunt device and related method, which prevents or limits drainage of aqueous humor from the eye initially after implant to avoid damage to the eye, and additionally allows the rate of flow of aqueous humor from the device to be initiated or adjusted periodically after implantation.
Aqueous humor is continuously produced by the ciliary body in the posterior chamber of the eye, and from there it flows through the pupil into the anterior chamber of the eye. In order to maintain relatively constant intraocular pressure, aqueous humor must be drained away continuously. It passes primarily through the trabecular meshwork of the anterior chamber and into the canal of Schlemm, before draining into the veins leaving the eye.
Normal intraocular pressure is typically about 15.+-.4 mm Hg, but may rise to 21 mm Hg. Pressures within the eye that are substantially above this range are considered abnormally high. Chronically elevated intraocular pressure (resulting, for example, from a defect in intraocular drainage) can give rise to glaucoma. Glaucoma can cause irreversible damage to certain structures of the eye, including the optic nerve, and is a leading cause of blindness in the United States.
There are many types and causes of glaucoma. Treatment of the disease depends on both the patient and the form of glaucoma. As a rule, the damage caused by glaucoma can not be reversed. The goal, therefore, of glaucoma treatment is to prevent further damage and to preserve existing vision.
Glaucoma can often be controlled with medical therapy, typically through topical medications, such as pilocarpine, timolol maleate, betaxolol, or epinephrine, and also through systemic medications, including acetazolamide. Medical therapy either decreases the rate of production of aqueous humor, or increases its outflow from the anterior chamber. However, with many patients these procedures are not effective because the patients fail to follow the treatment prescribed, due to either negligence or the relatively high cost of the medication. Other potential problems with medical treatment include side effects and inadequate control of the intraocular pressure.
If the maximum-tolerated dose of medication fails to control the intraocular pressure, then laser trabeculoplasty or filtering surgery to increase aqueous drainage is usually indicated. These procedures seek to increase the rate of outflow of aqueous humor. Other types of surgical procedures seek to reduce the formation of aqueous humor, by destroying the tissue where it is created. These procedures are typically indicated only after filtering surgery has failed. If such filtering surgery has failed to control the intraocular pressure, or if the patient has a poor prognosis for filtering surgery, implantation of a glaucoma shunt may be indicated.
Glaucoma shunts typically drain aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye to the fibrous capsule (bleb) which forms around a collecting device placed on the posterior portion of the globe of the eye, and the humor is then reabsorbed into the vascular system. The bleb is formed apparently due to an immune response against the shunt, which the host recognizes as a foreign body. Bleb formation is essential for a successful implant procedure and recovery by the patient.
Glaucoma shunts typically consist of a silicone elastomer catheter which is inserted into the anterior chamber, and which connects to an episcleral plate or an encircling band. Episcleral plates are commonly made of silicone elastomer, polypropylene or acrylic materials.
Glaucoma shunt implantation is subject to a number of complications. In the early post-implantation period, excessive drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber can cause low intraocular pressure (hypotony), resulting in shallow anterior chamber depth. This can lead to choroidal detachment, hemorrhage or hypotony maculopathy. The hypotony is typically alleviated as the fibrous capsule forms around the posterior plate or encircling band. In the long-term, excess fibrous tissue can obstruct the flow of aqueous humor from the shunt through the bleb and into the vascular system. This causes an increase in the intraocular pressure and results in clinical failure of the device. The shunts known in the art typically have had some ligature or plug which was removable or biodegradable, to prevent flow of aqueous humor through the device for an initial period after implantation, allowing sufficient time for the bleb to form before drainage begins. Further, if the flow rate from the shunt is too low, insufficient amounts of aqueous humor may be drained from the eye. Such drainage may be insufficient to lower intraocular pressure to a degree which will prevent further damage from glaucoma.
Prior art shunt devices had attempted to adjust the flow rate of aqueous humor from the device by varying the radius of the shunt tube. However, the rate of flow (f) of aqueous humor through a tube is proportional to the radius (r) of the shunt tube to the fourth power (f.varies.r.sup.4). Therefore, attempts to a adjust the flow rate by changing the radius of the shunt tube were not practical due to the inability to make precise adjustments. For example, changing the radius of the shunt tube from 2 mm to 3 mm resulted in an increase of flow rate from 16 to 81. Therefore, a shunt device that allows the flow rate of aqueous humor to be adjusted in a linear fashion, which would allow precise and accurate adjustments to be made in the flow rate of aqueous humor, would be desirable.
In order to adequately relieve intraocular pressure, it is advantageous for an implant device to meet three requirements: (1) the device must be able to block most or all of the flow of aqueous humor through the device for the initial period after implantation until the bleb has formed about the device; (2) the device must be able to prevent collapse of the eye after the flow of aqueous humor through the device is increased to a level sufficient to relieve intraocular pressure; and (3) the device must allow aqueous humor to drain from the eye at a sufficient rate to successfully treat the glaucomatous condition. Prior art shunt devices to prevent excess flow of aqueous humor from the device utilized complicated systems of pressure sensitive slit valves, check valves or photosensitive polymers.
Accordingly, there has been a need for a novel glaucoma shunt which, in the immediate post-implantation period, can provide resistance to flow to prevent hypotony and its complications until the fibrous capsule forms around the end of the shunt from which the aqueous humor drains, to prevent damage to the eye. Additionally, such a shunt should be capable of having its flow rate initiated or increased, and thereafter adjusted incrementally in a quick and easy fashion, after implantation by the physician. Further a glaucoma shunt is needed which accomplishes its desired function and is easy to manufacture and use, and which provides a desirable shunting function reliably over an extended period of time. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.

Adjustable flow rate glaucoma shunt and method of using same


An aircraft comprises a hollow elongated body having a plurality of short wings projecting outwardly form the body in a vertically stacked array. The wings transverse substantially the entire length of the body. Engines with diameters substantially equal to the maximum width of the wings are mounted behind the wings, with at least one engine mounted on either side of the aircraft. Honeycomb structures mounted behind each engine cause the air thrust rearward by the engines to be directed as a smooth laminar flow of air. Air deflectors mounted behind the honeycomb structures deflect the air thrust rearward by the engines. A steering mechanism can orient the deflectors: (i) in a downward direction to provide an upward lifting force on the aircraft, or (ii) in an upward direction to provide a downward force on the aircraft, or (iii) in a port or starboard direction to steer the aircraft. Landing gear is attached to the bottom of the aircraft. Resilient structures are used to absorb shock in case of a crash.

This invention relates to an aircraft design.
There are two principal types of aircraft designs. The first type, such as an airplane, has aerofoil-shaped wings extending outwardly from the sides of the aircraft to provide the lifting force necessary for the aircraft to fly. A second type of aircraft, such as helicopters, have vertically mounted aerofoil-shaped rotors that provide hovering capability.
When air flows past the surfaces of the aerofoil-shaped wings and rotors, a low pressure region forms above the aircraft thereby causing a lifting force on the aircraft which causes the aircraft to move upwardly into the low pressure region. The upward force is proportional to the area of the rotor or wing. The larger the area the higher the upward force. Consequently, airplanes and helicopters have elongated wings and rotors extending from the aircraft, in order to obtain strong lifting forces.
In many airplanes, the length of the elongated wings is often between 4 to 5 times the width of the body of the aircraft. Airplanes with elongated wings have several disadvantages. The large size of the wings necessitate runways with large widths for taking-off and landing the airplane. Runways with long lengths are also necessary because these aircraft must travel at high speeds in order to provide sufficient airflow over the wing surfaces for the aircraft to take-off. It is expensive to construct and maintain numerous long and wide runways within the confines of a city. Thus, it is impractical to use these aircraft to fly short commuting distances, such as for example, for commuting within a city, or between the city and the suburban areas.
Airplanes with wings are also difficult to fly at low speeds and/or low altitudes. High speeds are necessary to generate sufficient air flow across the wing surfaces to provide the necessary lifting force. Low altitude flying is precluded because of the high speeds required for flight.
Helicopters can land and take-off from a smaller runways than airplanes. However, they have other safety-related disadvantages, as discussed below. Aircraft which combine the characteristics of airplanes and helicopters, such as vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft can also land and take off from small runways. Although these aircraft are used by the military, they have limited commercial applications, because of their high cost.
Both airplanes and helicopters have significant safety-related disadvantages. Helicopters cannot glide to safety when the rotor engine stops malfunctions because helicopters lack wings. Thus, fatal accidents can result even while flying at low speeds or at low altitudes. Furthermore, engine failures in both airplanes and helicopters often result in fatalities and severe passenger injuries, because modern aircraft lack the ability to absorb the shock of even low impact crashes.
Thus, there is a need for aircraft with short wings that can take-off and land from small runways. There is also the need for aircraft which can fly at low speeds and at low altitudes. Finally, there is a need for safer aircrafts that can endure low impact collisions, without endangering its passengers or cargo.


A smart card that is compatible with the USB protocol and may be compatible with multiple different protocols includes a standard set of contacts that comply with the protocols of a published standard. Another contact, not designated by the standard, may be added and used to indicate whether the card is to operate in one of a number of protocol modes. When the card is to operate in the USB mode, a simple start-up procedure is employed which does not require strict timing constraints, enabling a less expensive interface device to be used. The interface device can be connected to any bus of a computer which operates in accordance with a desired protocol. Due to the flexibility and functionality offered by smart cards that have microprocessors incorporated therein, the multi-protocol smart card can be used to drive, or otherwise communicate with, any of a variety of peripheral devices, whether or not a personal computer is present in the system. The smart card can also be configured to function as a hub between a computer CPU and peripheral devices connected to the USB by being fitted with two USB ports to allow for simultaneous communication between the CPU and the peripheral devices.

Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
1. Description of the Related Art
The use of secure smart cards that provide information specific to an individual is becoming more prevalent in a number of different types of situations. Examples of such include electronic commerce, security access control and health care record maintenance. Each system which employs smart cards contains two fundamental components, namely the smart cards themselves and an interface device, commonly known as a reader. The smart cards are carried by the users of the system, and include a memory which stores information that is pertinent to the user""s interaction with the system. In an electronic commerce system, for example, each smart card may contain the balance in an account maintained by the user, as well as details of account transactions. More recently, the smart cards also include microprocessors, which provide for an increased level of security over the information stored in the cards. The incorporation of microprocessors into the cards also enhances their flexibility, for instance by facilitating the storage of executable programs in the cards that can be used to provide expanded functionality.
The readers communicate with the cards in a secure manner to access the information stored therein. In one type of system, the card is inserted into a slot in the reader, which brings electrical contacts in the reader into engagement with mating contacts on the exterior of the card. The engaged contacts enable a microcontroller in the reader to communicate with the memory and/or microprocessor in the card. Typically, the reader is connected to a peripheral device that is associated with the particular type of system into which the reader is incorporated. In a security system, for example, the reader might be connected to an electronic lock that permits a door to be opened. In a banking system, the reader could be incorporated into an automatic teller machine.
To permit the cards and readers of different manufacturers to be compatible with one another, a set of standard specifications has been developed. One of the common standards that applies to smart cards and readers is ISO 7816, promulgated by the International Standards Organization. This standard provides specifications for the location of the electrical contacts on the exterior of the cards, as well as the functions of the electrical signals that are present at the respective contacts. In this regard, the standard provides for up to eight electrical contacts, although specific signals are defined for only five of these contacts. The standard also contains specifications for the power-up, or initialization, procedure that is carried out when a card is first inserted into the reader, and the protocol for communicating between the card and the reader.
Due to the need to comply with the published standards, a conventional card reader can turn out to be a relatively expensive item of equipment. For instance, the ISO standard requires that different respective signals be applied to the five designated contacts on the card in a specific sequence at predetermined times during the power-up procedure. As a result, the reader must include a controller which supervises the application and timing of these signals, thereby adding to its cost.
In many systems which currently employ smart cards, the number of users can be quite large. For example, in an electronic banking system, a considerable number of customers might be expected to access an automated teller machine each day. Consequently, the cost of the reader is amortized over a sufficient number of transactions that it can be readily justified by the provider of the services.
More recently, there has been a trend toward personalized types of smart card applications. For instance, the ability to execute software programs from a microprocessor-based smart card makes it desirable to be able to connect the card to a personal computer. One approach for doing this is to add a smart card reader to the computer, either as an integral device or as a peripheral add-on. However, due to the appreciable cost of a reader, personal computer users may not be inclined to adopt this approach. In contrast to large institutions such as banks and the like, individual computer users may not be able to amortize the cost of the reader over a sufficient number of transactions to justify its cost.
Another limitation associated with the ISO protocol is that it provides relatively slow exchange of data between the smart card and the reader or other peripheral devices. For cards which have a small amount of internal memory and therefore store a limited amount of data, the slow speed is not a major concern. However, as technology progresses, the current trend is to provide larger amounts of storage capacity in smart cards, e.g. one million bytes of data. At slow transfer rates, the time that is required to load this amount of data can become significant. In particular, during manufacturing operations where each card is electronically personalized, slow data transfer rates can present a considerable bottleneck in the overall process.
It is desirable therefore, to be able to use protocols other than the ISO standard protocol, to thereby reduce the costs for card readers as well as increase data transfer rates. Consistent with this objective, however, it is further desirable to maintain compatibility with currently existing smart card systems that comply with established standards.
2. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to microprocessor-based user cards, commonly known as xe2x80x9csmart cardsxe2x80x9d, and more particularly to a smart card that is capable of communicating with a variety of external devices using different protocols that are respectively associated with the various devices.
In accordance with the present invention, these objectives are achieved by providing a smart card that is compatible with multiple different protocols. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention utilizes the Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol to allow a smart card to communicate with other peripheral devices at rates that are 10-100 times faster than the rates associated with the ISO protocol.
Such a card may be fully compatible with the protocols of the ISO standard and the USB protocol. One of the contacts of the card which is not designated by the ISO standard is used to indicate whether the card is to operate in the ISO-standard mode, or in the USB mode. When no signal is present at this terminal, the card operates in the conventional ISO-standard mode. However, the presence of one or more predetermined signals provides an indication that the card is to operate in a USB mode.
In a specific embodiment, the USB mode can be used for standard communication protocols with personal computers. An interface device which communicates with a multi-protocol smart card can be connected to any bus of the computer which operates in accordance with the USB protocol. For example, the interface device can be connected directly to the computer system""s bus, where it can act as either a master or a slave. Acting as a master, this device can be made operative to control other peripheral devices also connected to the bus.
The applications of the multi-protocol card are not limited to communications with personal computers. Due to the flexibility and functionality offered by smart cards that have microprocessors incorporated therein, the multi-protocol smart card can be used to drive, or otherwise communicate with, any of a variety of peripheral devices, whether or not a personal computer is present in the system.
Further features of the invention, and the advantages offered thereby, are explained in detail hereinafter, with reference to specific embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Smart card which operates with the USB protocol


The invention is directed to an apparatus for an electrophotographic process, equipped with a charging device of a contact type using a conductive roller or brush, and the charging device used therefor. The apparatus is characterized in the following constructions: roll-shaped fiber aggregation that is rotated in contact with the photoconductive surface through a spacing member; use as applied voltage to the fiber aggregation of periodically oscillating voltage having a lower limit exceeding the surface potential of the photoconductor in the aforementioned device; a brush-type charger that is vibrated while contacted with the photoconductor surface and regulated as required; a fiber roll-type charger wherein ventilation holes are disposed on the roller substrate surface; the fiber roll-type charger with holes further including a closed container with exhausting means enclosing the charger; set-up of a product of planting fiber intervals on a fiber roller and a peripheral velocity ratio of the photoconductor to the roller such that the product is smaller the average particle size of the developer used; changing application voltage to a charger roller depending transfer-treated portion or portions otherwise on the photoconductor surface; and provision of dirt preventer, aligned with the longitudinal direction to the charging roller with conductive fiber, and shiftable between contact and spaced position.

1. Filed of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic process and more particularly to an improvement of an electrophotographic copier and charging means used therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, there have been many proposals for duplicating machines and particularly, in recent years, most of these are proposed electrophotographic copiers. Such an electrophotographic copier is typically, elementally constructed of a photoconductor drum, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, an image transfer unit, an erasing unit and a cleaner, and all the elements are disposed around the photoconductor drum to effect a series of electrophotographic process. In addition, there are arranged elementally a paper feed tray, paper guides, paper feed rollers, the image transfer charging unit, a suction unit (for conveying), a fixing unit and paper discharge rollers. With such configurations, an image transferred on a sheet is fixed to create a duplication. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 of a schematic view, an image forming apparatus based on electrophotography comprises a photoconductor drum 1, in which a photoconductive film is formed on a conductive support, and a series of the following elements disposed upstream to downstream of a rotational direction of the photoconductor drum 1, that is, a charging unit 102, an exposure unit 103 for illuminating light on the photoconductor drum 1 impressed at a charging potential by charging unit 102 to discharge the static charges on the photoconductor drum 1 and create a desired electrostatic latent image, a developing unit 104 for supplying toner powder to the photoconductor drum 1 having the electrostatic latent image, an image transfer unit 106 for transferring the toner powder image on the photoconductor drum 1 onto a recording sheet 105, a fixing unit 107 for melt-fixing the tonered image transferred on the recording sheet 105 by heating and/or pressing, an erasing unit 108 for erasing the static charges remaining on the photoconductor drum 1 after light-irradiation on the photoconductor drum 1 and image transfer, and a cleaner 109 for removing the residual toner on the photoconductor drum 1.
Of these, as the charging unit for charging the photoconductor at a desired potential a corona charger utilizing a corona discharge phenomenon has been used in the prior art. This means requires a high voltage, so that there has been a fear that the voltage may influence a microcomputer, etc. To make the matter worse, upon the corona-discharging, a large quantity of ozone gas will be generated which not only deteriorates resin material used for the cleaning blade, etc, but also gives unpleasant feelings, causing environmental problems. To eliminate such problems, charging means which charges a photoconductor by an electro-conductive roller or fiber aggregation applied with a voltage has been proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open sho-55 No.29837.
FIG. 2 shows an oblique view of an example of such a prior art charging means. In the figure, reference numeral 1 designates a photoconductor drum, of which surface 1a is in contact with conductive fiber 5a planted brush-wise on a fiber substrate 5d made of aluminum or other conductive material.
In this case, since the mechanism is constructed such that the conductive fiber 5a fixed is brought into contact with the photoconductor surface 1a, the structure might be simple, but the developer and other foreign substances easily to build up between fibers or tips of fibers, causing abnormal discharge resulting in a reduction of the fiber life, and/or causing changing unevenness.
On the other hand, in order to improve the situation, there is disclosed a charging device which, obliquely shown in FIG. 3, comprises, for example, a shaft 5c and conductive fiber 5a (as stated above) planted therearound to form a roll-shaped member. This roll-shaped member is rotated relative to the photoconductor drum 1 by a driver (not shown). As a result, the reduction of the fiber life and changing unevenness which are caused by the adhesion of foreign substances or other reason can be remedied and bettered remarkably.
Another example of prior art is shown perspectively in FIG. 4, in which there are provided a photoconductor drum 1, a photoconductive medium 1a made of a photoconductive dielectric layer, a charging member 5 comprising a roller shaft 5c covered with conductive rubber therearound. As shown in the figure, the charging mechanism of this kind has typically utilized elastic rollers as its changing means. In other words, a substance used for the member had to have a highly smooth surface and to be less changed or degraded with the passage of time, in order to afford uniform discharge. In addition, the means was required to be constructed such that, the charge supplying member should be prevented from damaging and the charge supplying member should not be voltage-dropped totally, the in case where an abnormal current arose through the charge supplying member due to pinholes on the photoconductor, or other cause.
Accordingly, in order to provide a charging member as described above, Japanese Patent Laid-Open hei-2 No. 62563 discloses use of a charging brush that is planted with the fibers looped substantially perpendicular to a rotational direction of the image bearing medium (photoconductor) formed on the photoconductor drum surface.
FIG. 5 is an illustration showing the structure, and there are disposed photoconductor drum 1 with an image bearing medium 1a (photoconductor). Reference numeral 5 designates a charging member having charging brush which is formed with conductive fibers 5a looped shown in the figure. The looped fibers 5a are planted on a conductive substrate 5d with a 5g conductive adhesive to thereby form charging brush 5. In this case, the photoconductor drum 1 rotates in a direction shown by arrow R, while the conductive fibers 5a are planted so that the loop structure is perpendicular to the moving direction of the photoconductor drum surface.
Using this means could reportedly inhibit stripe-like charging unevenness from occurring, compared to the conventional charging brush.
Meanwhile, charging members using such conductive fiber can be conceivably classified into two kinds, one of which is constructed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 such that a charging member is formed like a brush and fixed stationary in sliding contact with the surface of the photoconductive material 1a. The other type of the charging members is formed as a roll and the roll-shape member is brought into contact with photoconductive material 1a relatively with moving on the surface of photoconductive material 1a. The former one has a simple structure but exhibits a tendency that the fiber is built up with toner or other foreign substances, still likely causing charging unevenness. In the latter case, since the conductive fiber aggregation 5a moves, foreign substances is hard to build up, and an additional cleaning means might also be provided. Nevertheless, the structure becomes complicated, and when for example, the conductive fiber cloth is wound roll-shaped or belt-wise, the seam formed may cause charging unevenness.
Causes of thus occurring charging unevenness were studied, and the following views were realized.
First, it is generally known that the surface of photoconductor 1a will be charged when photoconductor 1a is brought into contact with conductive fiber aggregation 5a to which a voltage is applied. This electrification is conceivably caused both by discharge across the micro-clearance and by charge-injection from the contact points. The discharge across the micro-clearance starts to occur when the voltage across the clearance reaches a certain level. This voltage is determined by Paschen's rule of discharge, and an example of the relation is shown in FIG. 6. Once the discharge occurs, charges transfer all at once from conductive fiber aggregation 5a to photoconductor 1a. This transfer causes the surface potential of photoconductor 1a to heighten and then the discharge stops. Even after completion of the discharge, photoconductor 1a is still elevated in its surface potential by the injection of charges from the contacts points. For this reason, a portion which comes in touch with conductive fiber aggregation 5a in a longer time, or a portion which contacts thereto at a higher possibility will bear higher potentials. This can be realized as to be the cause of charging distribution unevenness appearing in broomed traces or seams of conductive fiber aggregation 5a.
On the other hand, charging unevenness of the stripe-type generated in the brush-type charger is mainly attributed to long-term contact of the brush-like charging member made up of conductive fiber against the same contacting point on the image bearing medium. In addition, such a contact over a long period of time not only rubs certain points on the image bearing medium repeatedly causing possible scratches and wounds on the medium, but also wears the brush itself quickly. To make the matter worse, the developer may gradually be built up in the tips of the brush resulting in pollution.
The adhesion of the developer to the ends of nap or fibers of the conductive fiber in the charger may deteriorate the fiber itself in its durability. Further, a long term contact of the charger onto the surface of the image bearing medium brings down the conductive fibers in a rotating direction of the medium, and the thus worn-out fiber cannot allow itself to keep uniform contact with the surface of the image bearing medium, causing non-uniformity of charging to generate charge-distribution unevenness.
Still, fibers are generally liable to absorb moisture, and fibers with dampness become too flexible, making it difficult for the fibers to stand upright. For this reason, once the fiber is exposed in a high humidity environment, the worn-out, or the state of being brought down of, the fiber cannot be cured.
Meanwhile, used as a photoconductive material for the photoconductor drum are organic semiconductors, CdS, SeTe, As.sub.3 Se.sub.2, etc, of which organic semiconductors are mostly used. Typically, an N-type organic semiconductor bearing negative charges presents good attenuation characteristics in response to light exposure, but the same semiconductor bearing positive charges exhibits poor light-attenuation characteristics.
For this reason, when a positive transfer voltage, that is, the same polarity with the charging voltage, is applied by the transfer roller to the surface of the photoconductor drum even through a recording sheet therebetween and thereafter the recording sheet is separated from the photoconductor drum, the potential of the photoconductor drum surface to which the transfer voltage is not applied receives some influence. Accordingly, when the charging voltage is applied by the roller to the photoconductor drum after the transfer, a difference due to the aforementioned transfer voltage is caused to appear in the surface potential of the drum, by the electrificability of the charge roller. The difference in the surface potential has influence on image, causing fog and density irregularity in the final image.
There have been several proposals other than the above that use such charging means of contact type.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open sho-59 No. 204859 discloses a means for preventing deterioration due to wear-out of a brush for use in a brush roller, planted with conductive fibers thereon as charging means, and contacted against a photoconductor. This mechanism is provided with a cum and a tracking roll in each end of the photoconductor and in each end of the brush roller, respectively, and the tracking rolls run on the cum surfaces and the tracking rolls step on respective projections disposed on the cums when the copier is out of operation, whereby the front ends of the brush are kept spaced from the surface of the photoconductor. However, such a structure not only increases the number of parts for the copier, but also requires control of the tracking rolls to step on the projections, and consequently the means cannot be realized as being very practical.
Another publication in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open sho-60 No. 216361 discloses a means serving as both charging means and transfer means, comprising a roller or brush planted with conductive fibers to be brought in contact with a photoconductor, the means in which a first cycle performs a charging operation while a second cycle effects a transfer operation. In this case, a conductive member is applied by a combined voltage of a d.c. voltage and an a.c voltage of 20% or more of the d.c. voltage, where maximum and minimum values of voltage waveform for the a.c.-overlapped d.c. voltage are to be within .+-.200 to .+-.2000 volts. This measure requires no switching of the applied voltages between a charging operation and a transfer operation, and improves uniformity of charging as well as achieves an excellent transfer efficiency. However, since this means is oriented to suffice a special usage for effecting both charging and transfer operations, the structure tends to be complicated.
Another disclosure in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open sho-64 No. 73367 shows a charging means constructed such that, in charging a photoconductor by bringing a contact-type charging member, such as a conductive roll, which is applied with a combined voltage of d.c. and a.c. voltages, into contact with the photoconductor, a portion by which the charging member is in contact with the photoconductor is formed with a resistance layer and a dielectric layer as a surface layer, and therefore a reactance of the charging member to a.c. voltage is smaller than the resistance of the charging means. Use of this means may prevent voltage-drop of the voltage supplying portion due to a leak even though pin-holes may happen to occur on the surface of the photoconductor, and thus the image unevenness that would be caused by the voltage drop will not occur. Here, according to this publication, it is described that the frequency of the a.c. voltage used should be within a range of 50 to 2000 Hz. This proposal was made mainly to eliminate the lowering of image quality attributed to wounds such as pin-holes and other defects arising on the surface of the photoconductor, therefore, the concept on which the technology is based is quite different from what the present invention intends to achieve.

Electrophotographic copier and charging means used therefor