A multi-directional bar code reading device for reading an object that is to be read by projecting scanning beams from many directions, includes a plurality of mirrors (2) arranged around a beam scanning unit (1) and a plurality of beam sources (3) for emitting beams toward said beam scanning unit (1). The beam scanning unit (1) is irradiated with beams generated from the plurality of beam sources (3), scanning beams are reflected by the plurality of mirrors (2) and are projected from a plurality of directions onto an object (5) to be read, and light reflected from the object (5) is detected in order to read bar codes on the object (5) to be read.

The present invention relates to a multi-directional bar code reading device for reading a bar code on an object that is to be read by projecting scanning beams from many directions.
A POS system (point-of-sales data management system) has been used in department stores and in supermarkets in order to enhance efficiency in the management of goods and in the check-out operation. It is desired that the goods and products labelled with bar codes be efficiently read out irrespective of the positions where they are placed.
In general, the problem of expediting material handling in a manner to minimize the need for human intervention still exists. Numerous systems have been developed to achieve this end. Some of these systems require a hand held reader for special labels which are placed on the articles. In other systems, great care must be taken to insure that the articles pass through a detection zone with their labels properly positioned and oriented with respect to a reader.
In data acquisition systems developed for retail point-of-sale applications, the typical way in which data entry is effected requires that a clerk read sales data from a ticket associated with each item of merchandise and then manually enter this data into the system using a keyboard. Therefore, a hand-held reader has been developed for scanning machine readable optical and magnetic codes applied to tickets pursuant to entering the sales data into the system. As is apparent, the automatic entry of sales data encoded in machine readable form can be effected more rapidly and accurately than manual entry via a keyboard.
The ultimate approach to the problem of data entry in this area appears to be the use of a fixed scanner for reading from a distance, machine readable, optically encoded data from a ticket attached to each item. This approach frees the clerk from the task of having to manipulate a reader and also considerably eases the problems of variations in scanning rate inherent in hand scanning.
According to a fixed type scanner that has heretofore been used in supermarkets and similar stores, the directions in which the scanning beams are projected are limited to just straight up from one surface or upward tilted directions. Therefore, an operator must carry out a cumbersome operation in which he makes sure the position or surface where the bar codes are attached to the goods, directs the device toward the reading direction and executes the reading operation. Moreover, even when the bar codes attached to the articles on a production line are to be automatically read out, the articles have to be so arranged in advance that the positions or surfaces where the bar codes are labelled are oriented in a predetermined direction, causing such problems as the facility of handling bulky objects and difficulty involved in arranging products having dissimilar sizes on the same line.
From the above discussion of a fixed type bar code reading device, it is necessary to provide an appropriate optical scanner device including the following:
1. A beam scanning unit; a plurality of reflecting mirrors arranged around the beam scanning unit; and a plurality of beam sources for emitting beams toward the beam scanning unit.
2. In item 1, the beams are controlled so as to be emitted from only one of the plurality of beam sources.
3. In the beam scanning unit of the item 1, both beam reflecting surfaces and beam non-reflecting surfaces are mounted on a scanning mirror to always emit only one scanning beam in the beam scanning unit.
With regard to the above item 3, a prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,818,444 (Filed Jun. 29, 1972), was disclosed on Jun. 18, 1974, by Richard A. Connell (assignee: Pitney-Bowes, Inc.), entitled "Optical Bar Code Reading Method and Apparatus Having an X Scan Pattern".
4. In an optical scanning unit, a plurality of optical systems are exclusively controlled to always emit a scanning beam from only one optical system selectively.
This method includes: effecting scanning processes from a plurality of directions to select a beam from only one optical source by means of an operation of mirrors, selecting a beam mechanically by mirrors, and so forth.

Plural beam, plural window multi-direction bar code reading device


A power distribution apparatus includes an electronic chassis, a power distribution member and a first power supply. The electronic chassis includes a front wall, a back wall and first and second side walls. The power distribution member is positioned within the electronic chassis between the first and second side walls. The first power supply is mounted to an outer surface of the first side wall. Power is distributed from the first power supply to the power distribution member.

Within the telecommunications arena, the electronic chassis of power distribution devices are usually mounted on a rack within the central telecommunications offices. These rack-mounted devices, which are intended for use within telecommunication control offices, must conform to a series of Bellcore standards, in an effort to maintain uniformity in application. One such uniform standard concerns 19.000 inch wide equipment racks. These racks are typically found in Level Four switch rooms, and are most prevalent in Northeastern United States cities, such as New York and Boston. The 19.000 inch requirement, however, does maintain a distinct drawback: The available space for data transmission circuitry (also known as the density of the electronic chassis) is drastically reduced. As a result, the efficiency of the electronic chassis is similarly reduced. However, space is available outside the periphery of the electronic chassis. Thus, if a design could be utilized to take advantage of such presently wasted space, efficiency, as well as density, can be increased tremendously. In other words, a design that could get the power and performance of the 23.000 inch rack-mounted device from a 19.000 inch rack-mounted device. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a power distribution device attached to an electronic chassis that would resolve the above problems and still be simple and efficient to operate.


In a radio receiver for receiving vestigial sideband (VSB) signals including symbol codes descriptive of digital signals, HDTV signals being exemplary of such VSB signals, a tuner provides for selecting one of channels at different locations in a frequency band used for transmitting such VSB signals. The tuner also includes mixers for performing plural conversion of the selected channel to a final intermediate-frequency (IF) signal, which is digitized by an analog-to-digital converter. The pilot carrier is detected by a narrowband quadrature-phase synchronous detector operative in the digital regime, for controlling the frequency and phase of the local oscillations applied to one of the mixers in the tuner so that the pilot carrier component of the final IF signal is locked to a submultiple of symbol frequency. The fullband final IF signal is synchronously detected by an in-phase synchronous detector to detect symbol codes. The departures of the actual symbol code levels from the ideal ones are detected by a symbol synchronizer and are used in generating corrections for the phasing of the sampling of the final IF signal when it is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter. The ideal symbol code levels in the fullband final IF signal are inferred from the amplitude of the pilot carrier as detected by a narrowband in-phase synchronous detector operative in the digital regime, for example.

Vestigial sideband (VSB) signals that are used in certain transmissions of HDTV signal have their natural carrier wave, which would vary in amplitude depending on the percentage of modulation, replaced by a pilot carrier wave of fixed amplitude, which amplitude corresponds to a prescribed percentage of modulation. This percentage modulation can be made the same as that associated with the smallest change in symbol code level. Such VSB signals will be used in over-the-air broadcasting within the United States, for example, and can be used in cable-casting systems.
Digital HDTV signal radio receivers for these signals have been proposed, which are of a type that uses double-conversion in the tuner followed by synchronous detection. A frequency synthesizer generates first local oscillations that are heterodyned with the received television signals to generate first intermediate frequencies (e.g., with 920 MHz carrier). A passive LC bandpass filter selects these first intermediate frequencies from their image frequencies for amplification by a first intermediate-frequency amplifier, and the amplified first intermediate frequencies are filtered by a first surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) filter that rejects adjacent channel responses. The first intermediate frequencies are heterodyned with second local oscillations to generate second intermediate frequencies (e.g., with 41 MHz carrier), and a second SAW filter selects these second intermediate frequencies from their images and from remnant adjacent channel responses for amplification by a second intermediate-frequency amplifier. The response of the second intermediate-frequency amplifier is synchrodyned to baseband with third local oscillations of fixed frequency.
The third local oscillations of fixed frequency are supplied in 0.degree.- and 90.degree.-phasing, thereby implementing in-phase and quadrature-phase synchronous detection procedures. The in-phase synchronous detection result is eight-level coding of digital symbols when HDTV signals are broadcast, and the quadrature-phase synchronous detection result is nominally zero-valued. Separately digitizing in-phase and quadrature-phase synchronous detection results generated in the analog regime presents problems with regard to the synchronous detection results satisfactorily tracking each other after digitizing; quantization noise introduces pronounced phase errors in the complex signal considered as a phasor. This problem can be avoided in HDTV signal radio receivers of types performing the in-phase and quadrature-phase synchronous detection procedures in the digital regime.
By way of example, the in-phase and quadrature-phase synchronous detection procedures are implemented by sampling the response of the second intermediate-frequency amplifier at twice the Nyquist rate of the eight-level coding when digitizing. The successive samples are considered to be consecutively numbered in order of their occurrence; and odd samples and even samples are separated from each other to generate respective ones of the in-phase (or real) and quadrature-phase (or imaginary) synchronous detection results. The eight-level coding in the digital in-phase synchronous detection result is filtered to remove co-channel interference from NTSC signals and is subjected to equalization filtering. The equalization filter response is supplied as input signal to a trellis decoder. The response of the trellis decoder is supplied as input signal to a data de-interleaver, and the de-interleaved data are supplied to a Reed-Solomon decoder. Error-corrected data are supplied to a data de-randomizer which regenerates packets of data for a packet decoder. Selected packets are used to reproduce the audio portions of the HDTV program, and other selected packets are used to reproduce the video portions of the HDTV program.
Synchrodyning is the procedure of multiplicatively mixing a modulated signal with a wave having a fundamental frequency the same as the carrier of the modulated signal and lowpass filtering the result of the multiplicative mixing to recover the modulating signal at baseband, baseband extending from zero frequency to the highest frequency in the modulating signal. To implement the synchrodyning used in the in-phase and quadrature-phase synchronous detection procedures, the quadrature-phase synchronous detection results are used to develop automatic-frequency-and-phase-control (AFPC) signals for a controlled oscillator that generates the second local oscillations. The digital quadrature-phase synchronous detection result is low-pass filtered to generate an AFPC signal that adjusts the frequency and phase of the second local oscillations to minimize the amplitude of the quadrature-phase synchronous detection result. However, in practice this automatic frequency and phase control has previously been found to be inadequate in providing the desired degree of phase stability for the in-phase synchronous detection result. The adaptive equalization filtering of the digitized in-phase synchronous detection result can correct for static phase error in the synchrodyning used in the in-phase and quadrature-phase synchronous detection procedures, but the adaptive change in the filter coefficients of the equalization filtering is too slow to compensate for phase jitter in the AFPC feedback loop or for changes in phase error that occur during rapid changes in multipath reception of the HDTV signal.
Accordingly, in HDTV signal radio receivers of a type previously proposed, a phase tracker is cascaded with the equalization filtering of the digitized in-phase synchronous detection result. The equalized in-phase synchronous detection result is supplied in digitized form to a Hilbert-transform finite-impulse-response filter. The response of this FIR filter and the equalized in-phase synchronous detection, as delayed to compensate for the latency of the Hilbert-transform FIR filter, are applied as real and imaginary input signals to a complex-number multiplier, to be multiplied by a complex-number multiplier signal for generating a complex-number product. A feedback loop ascertains the departure of the imaginary component of the complex-number product from zero to develop an error signal for adjusting the phase angle of the unit Euler vector used as the complex-number multiplier signal. The real and imaginary values of the unit Euler vector are drawn from a sine/cosine look-up table (LUT) stored in read-only memory (ROM) addressed by the output of an accumulator used for integrating the error signal. A problem with this phase tracker is that the Hilbert-transform FIR filter has to have many, many taps in order to provide the requisite 90.degree. of phase shift at close to zero frequencies.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/237,896 filed on 4 May 1994 and entitled DIGITAL VSB DETECTOR WITH BANDPASS PHASE TRACKER, AS FOR INCLUSION IN AN HDTV RECEIVER, which application is incorporated herein by reference and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,449 on 26 Dec. 1995. In the modified HDTV signal radio receiver the second local oscillations, which are heterodyned with the first intermediate frequencies to convert them to second intermediate frequencies, are of a fixed frequency. Accordingly, phase jitter in the AFPC feedback loop of a controlled oscillator is eliminated as a problem in the generation of the second local oscillations. The second local oscillations are at a fixed frequency offset from the frequency of the carrier for the second intermediate frequencies. The second local oscillations therefore heterodyne with the first intermediate frequencies to downconvert them to third intermediate frequencies, rather than synchrodyning with the second intermediate frequencies to downconvert them to baseband. The third intermediate frequencies are then digitized with a bandpass, rather than baseband, analog-to-digital converter; and the rest of the detection procedures are carried out in the digital regime. The third intermediate frequencies will still exhibit changes in phase error that occur during rapid changes in multipath reception of the HDTV signal, so a phase tracker is still desirable. The phase tracker is implemented at the third intermediate frequencies during complex synchronous detection, and is therefore implemented before equalization filtering, rather than the phase tracker being implemented after complex synchronous detection and equalization filtering as in the prior-art receiver. The phase tracker is a bandpass phase tracker, rather than the baseband (or lowpass) phase tracker used in the prior-art receiver.
The in-phase and quadrature-phase sampling procedures used in the bandpass phase tracker are adapted from ones previously used for complex synchronous detection of digitized bandpass signals having symmetrical sideband structures. HDTV signals for over-the-air broadcasting are vestigial sideband (VSB) amplitude-modulation signals, rather than double sideband (DSB) amplitude-modulation signals, and have asymmetrical sideband structures. The complex synchronous detection of the HDTV signals, used for developing error signal in the bandpass phase tracker, must be sufficiently restricted in bandwidth that response is to a symmetrical sideband structure contained within the asymmetrical sideband structure of the VSB signal. The synchronous detection of the HDTV signals to recover the eight-level (or 16-level) VSB coding is not so restricted in bandwidth.
The in-phase and quadrature-phase sampling procedures used in the bandpass phase tracker are generally similar to those described by D. W. Rice and K. H. Wu in their article "Quadrature Sampling with High Dynamic Range" on pp. 736-739 of IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AEROSPACE AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS, Vol. AES-18, No. 4 (November 1982), for example. Quadrature-phase synchronous detection is performed using a Hilbert-transform FIR filter on the digitized bandpass signals; in-phase synchronous detection is performed after compensating delay equal to the latency time of the Hilbert-transform FIR filter. Performing complex synchronous detection on digitized bandpass signals has the advantage that the direct components introduced by the mixer are suppressed by the bandpass filter and do not affect digitization. In the complex synchronous detection of digitized VSB signals in bandpass form, the direct component of the complex synchronous detection result arising from the partially suppressed carrier wave is unaffected by the direct components introduced by the mixer. The Hilbert-transform FIR filter only has to provide 90.degree. of phase shift above a megahertz or two, where delay requirements are modest, up to a frequency of seven to eight megahertz. The relatively small ratio between the uppermost response frequency and the lowermost response frequency required of the filter keeps the number of taps required in the filter relatively low.
The in-phase and quadrature-phase sampling procedures used in the bandpass phase tracker are alternatively implemented by other types of paired all-pass digital filters that exhibit a constant .pi./2 difference in phase response for the digitized bandpass signals. Such modifications of the HDTV signal radio receiver are described and claimed by C. B. Patel and A. L. R. Limberg in U.S. patent application Ser. No. filed on May 1994 and entitled DIGITAL VSB DETECTOR WITH BANDPASS PHASE TRACKER USING RADER FILTERS, AS FOR USE IN AN HDTV RECEIVER, which application is incorporated herein by reference. C. M. Rader in his article "A Simple Method for Sampling In-Phase and Quadrature Components", IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AEROSPACE AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS, Vol. AES-20, No. 6 (November 1984), pp. 821-824, describes improvements in complex synchronous detection carried out on digitized bandpass signals. Rader replaces the Hilbert-transform FIR filter and the compensating-delay FIR filter of Rice and Wu with a pair of all-pass digital filters designed based on Jacobian elliptic functions and exhibiting a constant .pi./2 difference in phase response for the digitized bandpass signals. A preferred pair of such all-pass digital filters has the following system functions:
H.sub.1 (z)=z.sup.-1 (Z.sup.-2 -a.sup.2)/(1-a.sup.2 z.sup.-2) a.sup.2 =0.5846832 PA1 H.sub.2 (z)=-(z.sup.-2 -b.sup.2)/(1-b.sup.2 z.sup.-2) b.sup.2 =0.1380250
Rader describes filter configurations which oversample the signal and require only two multiplications, one by a.sup.2 and one by b.sup.2, which Patel and Limberg indicate are suitable for an HDTV signal radio receiver.
In the invention herein described an automatic phase and frequency control (AFPC) signal is developed in the digital circuitry following the analog-to-digital converter and is used to control the frequency and phase of one of the local oscillators in the tuner. This control is effected so as to lock the pilot carrier of the final intermediate-frequency (IF) signal in frequency and phase to a submultiple of the symbol clock frequency. Using a fixed-frequency third local oscillator, and controlling the frequency and phase of the oscillations the second local oscillator provides, is preferred in that alignment of the second IF signal with the second SAW filter can be readily assured. The second SAW filter usually contains traps for adjacent-channel signal components, in which case proper alignment of the second IF signal between these traps is important for preserving its integrity. The symbol clocking is made to exhibit a high degree of frequency stability. Controlling the frequency and phase of one of the local oscillators in the tuner so that the pilot carrier of the final intermediate-frequency (IF) signal is locked in frequency and phase to a submultiple of the symbol clock frequency is advantageous in that the AFPC of the IF signals to remove pilot carrier variations during changes in multipath conditions can correct variations of symbol phasing in the received signals as well. These corrections are made responsive to a pilot signal of appreciable energy that is continuously transmitted. Tracking the changes in pilot phasing is accordingly much more accurate in a short term than attempting to track changes in symbol phasing, in which latter form of tracking the formidable problems of accurately defining inter-symbol transitions on a short-term basis have to be dealt with. Since variations of symbol phasing in the received signals are corrected by correcting pilot phasing, when the pilot carrier is locked in frequency and phase to a submultiple of the symbol clock frequency, the speed-of-tracking requirements on the symbol synchronizer are substantially reduced. By locking the pilot carrier of the final intermediate-frequency (IF) signal in frequency and phase to a submultiple of the symbol clock frequency, the AFPC for correcting pilot error invariably operates to correct dynamic symbol phase error as well, eliminating the need for a separate phase tracker to correct dynamic symbol phase error.

Digital VSB detector with final IF carrier at submultiple of symbol rate, as for HDTV receiver


A device for transmitting in multiple coupling modes has a transmission module (11), at least one periphery module (18), and an antenna (16, 17) for each of the multiple coupling modes. Further, in a method of switching between multiple coupling modes, switching is conducted between at least polling and listening phases of first and second coupling modes. The device and the method enable a seamless switching between e.g. a near field communication and a body coupled communication. Such a coupling or switching is particularly useful for performing secure transactions whereby through body coupled communication a body-worn tag is interrogated which provides a secure code for a transaction initiated through near field communication with a transaction terminal.

Up to now the need and the desire for communication has steadily increased and has now reached an extent such that communication means are ubiquitous in today's life and society. Further, among various communication possibilities, wireless communication has established itself as an option for day-to-day communication needs that is equal to, if not in some cases superior over, wired communication solutions. With wireless communication any distance from several hundreds of kilometers to millimeters can be bridged, depending on the technique and transmitting power used.
In recent years different methods for communication over short ranges, e.g. several centimeters, as well as different methods for communication over ranges up to several meters have been extensively investigated.
For example, a combination of smart cards and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags is widely used in various fields such as transport (ticketing, road tolling, baggage tagging), finance (debit and credit cards, electronic purse, merchant card), communications (SIM card for GSM phone), and tracking (access control, inventory management, asset tracking). In electronic ticketing for public transport, for example, a traveller just waves his/her card over a reader at a turnstile or entry point. The RFID tag of the card is coupled to the reader, and a respective fare is deducted from the card.
Another example of a method for communication over short ranges is body coupled communication (BCC). BCC is a wireless technology that allows electronic devices on and near the human body (up to about 15 cm) to exchange digital information through near-field electrostatic coupling. Information is transmitted by modulating electric fields and electrostatically (capacitively) coupling picoamp currents into the body. The body conducts the tiny currents to body mounted receivers. The environment (the air and earth ground) provides a return path for a transmitted signal.
A further example of a communication method for short ranges is near field communication (NFC), wherein a short-distance communication via networking technology is established between two devices that are not physically connected. Such devices can communicate with each other either peer-to-peer or on a client-server basis. NFC is optimised for easy and secure communications between various devices, e.g. mobile phones, without user configuration. In order to make two devices communicate, users bring them close together or even make them touch. The devices' NFC interfaces will automatically connect and configure themselves to form e.g. a peer-to-peer network. NFC can also bootstrap other protocols like Bluetooth™ or Wireless Ethernet (WiFi) by exchanging the configuration and session data.
However, NFC has two severe limitations. On the one hand, the communication range is limited to about 10-20 cm, which is not always sufficient to perform a desired action. Therefore, it is always necessary to bring a NFC enabled device close to a respective reading terminal. On the other hand, in view of the communication range, financial or other security critical transactions are insecure, as eavesdropping of the communication is possible.

Switching between multiple coupling modes


A device, a sensor arrangement, a system and a method are provided for checking the plausibility of sensor data. The plausibility of the results of processing of sensor data is checked with an independent module by an alternative verification method at each stage, and quality indicators are calculated for the reliability of the calculated data from this plausibility check, which can be taken into account during further processing.

One of the fundamental problems of the safety-related functions of driver assistance systems is verifying the sensor data received from the various connected sensors. To this end, the sensors are frequently designed to be redundant, in order to be able to establish the plausibility of the sensor data.
The particular problem of e.g. a lane detection system in a vehicle is detecting when the calculation results of certain calculation steps can no longer be trusted due to unreliable sensor data. In such a case, the respective safety-related functionality is then disabled. In the case of a lane detection system the lane detection is disabled, in order to exclude the possibility of accidents caused by faulty lane detection. Traditionally, the sensors on safety-related systems such as lane detection systems are therefore designed to be redundant. A module constantly monitors the results and/or sensor data of two sensors. If these fail simultaneously and/or in extremely similar ways, the relevant system remains activated. If the results and/or sensor data fail at different times, the functionality of the lane detection is disabled. However, the redundant design requires high installation costs and is therefore technically complex.
A central control unit for a plurality of assistance systems provided in a motor vehicle is known from WO 2009/071345 A1, which, in order to also be able to make safety-related interventions in the driving dynamics, comprises a safety control unit which checks non-redundant sensor information of the individual assistance systems by means of analytical redundancies of different information contained by the central control unit, in order to be able to guarantee the plausibility of the sensor data.

System, device and method for functional plausibility checking of sensor data


An image processing apparatus includes a corona device with a charging grid for charging a photoreceptor to voltage levels, an exposure device for projecting an image onto the photoreceptor, a developer for applying toner to the photoreceptor, and a sensor for providing a signal in relation to current flow between the photoreceptor and the developer. An exposure device control adjusts the exposure device by setting the exposure device to an intensity level of approximately 50%. A photodetector sensor provides signals to the exposure device control in relation to the 50% intensity level in response to developing the predetermined test patches on the photoreceptor and the exposure device control adjusts the exposure device in response to the photodetector sensor signals without the use of test patches to an intensity level of approximately 100%.

The invention relates to xerographic process control, and more particularly, to using current sensing technology for automatic exposure correction to compensate for loss of exposure due to contamination of the optical system.
Xerographic control is well known in the prior art. The art is replete with various sensors and systems for charging control, for exposure and illumination control, for developer control, and for measuring toner concentration and adjusting toner dispensers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,099 discloses the uses of test patches, an infrared densitometer, and an electrometer for charge, illumination, toner dispenser, and developer bias control. It is also known in prior art machines to automatically compensate for optics contamination by periodically adjusting exposure components.
One difficulty, however, with the prior art systems, has been that the periodic adjustments for contamination usually are part of an overall system reset that is relatively time consuming. For example, during the exposure adjustment to compensate for contamination, usually there is an exposure adjustment for best background suppression and for low density line development. In addition, there is an exposure reset to compensate for changes in dark development potential due to photoreceptor dark decay variation as the photoreceptor ages. During this time, toner test patches fill up the cleaning sump and belt cycles are run without copies being generated. This is an inefficient use of the machine.
It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide new and improved automatic exposure reset for contamination compensation that is not part of a comprehensive xerographic system set up. Another object of the present invention is to avoid inefficient component usage in order to automatically reset the exposure system to compensate for optics contamination. Another object of the present invention is to automatically determine illumination levels without the use of toner patches that burden the machine cleaning system. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features characterizing the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Automatic exposure correction using current sensing technology


Elastomeric polymers comprising polymerized alpha-olefins or conjugated alkadienes are produced by cationic polymerization in the presence of titanium tetrachloride and an electron pair donor selected from pyridine or a non-hindered alkylpyridine. The polymers have very narrow, mono-modal molecular weight distributions such a achived by anionic polymerization. Polymerization of each monomer is terminated prior to broadening of the molecular weight distribution which significantly detracts from polymer properties.

Elastomeric homopolymers and copolymers of more than one monomer are well known in the art. A particularly useful class of synthetic elastomers comprises adjacent blocks of a polymerized elastomer such as a conjugated alkadiene and a polymerized non-elastomer such as styrene wherein the blocks have narrow molecular weight distributions. Anionic polymerization of such block copolymers is well known in the art and a number are commercial, being marketed by Shell Chemical Company as KRATON.RTM. Thermoplastic Rubber.
Cationic polymerization of elastomeric polymers is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,899. A cationic polymerization initiator of desired functionality is reacted with one or more monomers in the presence of a complex of a Lewis acid such as titanium tetrachloride or boron trichloride and an electron pair donor (Lewis base) such as ethyl acetate, dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, hexamethyl phosphoric triamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, pyridine, acetone, methylethyl ketone, etc. Elastomeric polymers of isobutylene, including block copolymers with styrene or styrene derivatives, were found to have narrower molecular weight distributions than previously achieved by cationic processes. However, the molecular weight distributions are significantly broader than is achieved b anionic polymerization.
Further narrowing of the molecular weight distributions achieved by cationic polymerization is essential to prepare elastomeric polymers having comparable properties to polymers produced by anionic polymerization.


A catheter check valve assembly has a body member with a wall defining a generally cylindrical chamber and a transverse wall having an aperture lying on the axis of such chamber. A duckbill valve and an end cap supporting a catheter are positioned on one side of the transverse wall. A separator has a major portion positioned in said cylindrical chamber and an elongated cylindrical probe extending from said major portion. The separator is axially moveable from a retracted position where the probe is out of contact with the duckbill valve to a forward position extending through and opening the duckbill valve. A trocar may be extended through the catheter check valve assembly when the separator is in the forward position.

The present invention relates to a catheter check valve assembly that prevents unintended back flow of body fluids through the catheter when the trocar used in placing the catheter in the body is removed. Body fluids may be withdrawn from the catheter check valve assembly while the catheter is inserted into the patient without the necessity of reinserting a trocar into the patient.
One significant problem with implanting a catheter in the bloodstream of a patient is the tendency of blood to squirt through the catheter during the implanting procedure, particularly upon removal of the trocar used in piercing the body for placement of the catheter therein.
An additional problem with prior art catheters used for transmitting fluids intervenously to a patient is that the patient frequently dislodges the intervenous feeding mechanism from the implanted catheter with the result that blood can then flow from the patient out of the catheter. Needless to say, any spillage or leakage of blood from the patient should be avoided if at all possible. The catheter check valve assembly of the present invention is designed such that, when in one operative position, blood or other bodily fluids may not flow from the body out of the catheter check valve assembly even if the intervenous fluid assembly mechanism inadvertently becomes detached therefrom and yet permits the intervenous fluid to be introduced into the patient while the catheter check valve assembly is in the same operative position.
Additionally, the catheter check valve assembly of the present invention, when moved to a different operative position, permits the withdrawal of blood or other bodily fluids therethrough without requiring reinsertion of a trocar. In other words, blood or other bodily fluids can be withdrawn from the patient directly through the catheter check valve assembly when such assembly is in a second operative position.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a catheter check valve assembly designed to avoid unintended spillage of blood or other bodily fluids while at the same time permitting, when in a different operative position, withdrawal of such blood or other bodily fluids directly therethrough.
A number of prior art patents show various types of catheter check valves. These include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,449,693; 5,073,168; 5,112,301; 5,156,600 and 5,167,636.


The image processing system includes a reading unit configured to read an image of a document for each line to generate image data, a generation unit configured to generate a horizontal synchronization signal, the horizontal synchronization signal indicating a pixel at an initial position in each line of the image data that is generated through the reading of the image, a transmitting unit configured to transmit the image data through the reading of the document, and the horizontal synchronization signal, a receiving unit configured to receive the image data and the horizontal synchronization signal transmitted from the transmitting unit, and a requesting unit configured to request retransmission of the image data under transmission from the transmitting unit when the receiving unit receives an horizontal synchronization signal which is different from normal, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the image data in response to the request by the requesting unit.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing system, a document reader, an information processing apparatus, a method of controlling the image processing system, and a storage medium.
Description of the Related Art
When a document reader reads a document image, an unusual image signal acquired by noise may occur. Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-162343 discusses a document reader that monitors an image signal, and determines an error and instructs performing of reading operation again when an unusual signal occurs on the image signal.
It is, however, necessary to instruct performing of the reading operation again by a user in order to perform the reading operation again, which is troublesome for the user.
In addition, in scanning by an auto document feeder (ADF), when an unusual signal is detected in the document reading, documents including documents that have been successfully read are conveyed again, which results in useless processing.

Image processing system for retransmitting image data based on detection of abnormality of reception timing of a horizontal synchronization signal


A device for determining a register error in the case of a multi-color print made with a printing press includes a handheld housing containing a sight formed in a bottom surface of the housing; an optical system disposed at a distance from the sight and having an optical axis directed towards the sight; a mirror disposed between the optical system and the for deflecting light reflected from within the sight; a light-receiving unit disposed so as to be irradiated with the light deflected by the mirror; and an evaluation unit connected to the light-receiving unit for evaluating information from the light received by the light-receiving unit; a register mark to be measured by the device; and a method of operating the device.

1. Field of the Invention:
The invention relates to a register-measuring system and, more particularly, to such a system which is of the type used in offset printing for checking the position of the printing plates.
In multi-color printing, several printing plates are required for the different color separations. Particular importance is attached in this regard to the position of the individual printing plates; in particular, the relative positions of the individual printing plates with regard to circumferential and side register, respectively, are of great importance for the quality of the printed product. Incorrect positioning of the printing plates leads to a reduction in quality. In general, therefore, efforts are in progress to create means by which it is possible to provide precise position-determination and, as a consequence thereof, precise positioning of the printing plates. In order to facilitate the positioning of the individual printing plates for the various color separations, use is made at present of, for example, cross-shaped register marks, so-called register crosses, on the individual printing plates. These register crosses are usually in the non-printed area of the printed sheet, for example, in the region of the edges or corners of the sheet. By means of these register crosses an adjustment of the position of the plates is possible, a relative superimposition of the individual register crosses being assessed or detected.
If the register crosses of the individual printing plates are not exactly superimposed relative to one another, the degree of deviation is usually established by an inspection on the part of the observer. Adjustment is then made to the printing plate in question and is repeated until the register crosses of all of the colors are exactly superimposed.
A disadvantage thereof is the time-consuming process of adjustment owing to the fact that the very thin lines (approx. 0.1 mm) are difficult to see, even when examined with a magnifying glass, and the estimation of the dimensional deviations in relation to one another (which is necessary within the range of 0.01 mm) is difficult and imprecise, so that the duration of the adjustment process depends upon the eyesight, skill and experience of the machine operator. Efforts are therefore also in progress to replace visual examination by an automatic reading device which determines the positions of register marks provided for this purpose.
Yet, even with an automatic reading device, great importance is attached to the formation of the register mark, because the reliability with which the reading device recognizes the register mark depends decisively on how the register mark is embodied or shaped.
2. Description of the Related Act
Automatic register-measuring systems operating on a photoelectric basis have become known heretofore from German Patent Nos. 32 48 795 and 32 26 078. These systems are on-line systems that perform measurements of the register marks during the production process.
The state of the art likewise includes television cameras that communicate with on-line and off-line systems and which scan and transmit register marks. This method, however, has the disadvantage that these systems are too complex and therefore too expensive. Moreover, the measuring systems belonging to the state of the art are predominantly of the stationary type and are difficult to install flexibly, respectively.


Multiplex communication system for transmitting different signals through a plurality of channels comprises a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter comprises a transmitting section for multiplexing and transmitting the different signals through the plurality of channels, and an adder for adding channel identification signals for identifying the respective channels to the signals to be transmitted through the respective channels. The receiver comprises a setting device for setting a desired channel, a detector for detecting the channel identification signals from the signals transmitted from the transmitter, and a channel selector for selecting the channel signal preset by the setting device in accordance with the outputs of the setting device and the detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiplexed digital communication system for transmitting channel identification information, and particularly to a multiplex communication system which enables a desired channel to be selected by users from frequency-multiplex or time-division-multiplex channels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to utilize frequency-division multiplex technology and time-division-multiplex technology for transmitting a multichannel video signal to a receiving side from a transmitting side.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram indicating the construction of a frequency division multiplex coherent optical communication system, disclosed in "Beat Count Tuning Method for Optical Frequency-Division-Multiplex Transmission" by Kitajima, et al., "Proceedings of the Spring National Convention of the Electronics, Information and Communication Society in Japan, 1990", Article No. B-997.
In this figure, the reference numeral 1 denotes a signal beam of a certain channel; 2 a local oscillation frequency beam; 3 a photo coupler; 4 a photo sensor; 5 an intermediate frequency amplifier; 6 a demodulator; 7 a variable wavelength LD (laser diode) for outputting local oscillation frequency beam 2; 8 a drive circuit for driving LD 7; 9 an AFC (Automatic Frequency Control) circuit; 10 a switch; 11 a channel number input terminal; 12 a bias circuit; 13 a digital comparator; 14 a selected channel counter; and 15 a beat detector. Digital comparator 13 is provided with a register at an input terminal.
An operation of the system will next be explained. When a desired channel has been selected, switch 10 is closed and AFC circuit 9 controls a current to be applied to variable wavelength LD 7 in order to stabilize the intermediate frequency. When a channel number to be selected is input to digital comparator 13 through input terminal 11, a difference between the currently selected channel number and the target channel number is output from digital comparator 13. Depending on this output, switch 10 is turned OFF and a bias signal applied to LD 7 is scanned toward the target channel by bias circuit 12. Beat detector 15 outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the number of channels to be scanned until the target channel is obtained. Selected channel counter 14 counts the pulse signals sent from beat detector 15. When the channel number counted by beat detector 15 becomes identical to the target channel number, switch 10 is turned ON by an output from digital comparator 13 and the scanning of the bias signal is stopped. Finally, the intermediate frequency of the target channel is locked by AFC circuit 9, thereby ensuring stable reception of the target channel.
Next, the channel identification in a TDM system will be explained. FIG. 2 indicates a frame format in the time division multiplex communication system disclosed in the Japanese Patent Public Disclosure No. 91534/1989. A frame is composed of eight subframes and the leading one word of each subframe is used as frame synchronization channel (H channel). Identification information (ID channel) of the frame synchronization channel is inserted in unused seven bits of each H channel. When the channel identification information inserted in the transmitting side is read in the receiving side, it can be detected which channel is currently being received.
Therefore, a desired channel can be finally received by sequentially reading the channels to control the read operation to reduce a difference between receiving and target channel numbers.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the construction of the time-division-multiplex video signal transmission system disclosed on pages 9 to 14 of the 3rd Optical Communication System Symposium Material (edited by Authorized Committee for Optical Communication System Research of the Electron, Information and Communication Society in Japan, December 1989).
In FIG. 3, the reference numerals 20a-20x denote a plurality number N of A/D converters for converting multi-channel analog video signals (#1, #2, . . . , #N) sent from the head end to digital video signals. These converters comprise low-pass filters for removing a high frequency spectrum which is not related to the video signal. The reference numeral 21 denotes a TDM multiplexing apparatus which time-division-multiplexes the outputs of A/D converters 20a-20x; 22 a TDM signal demultiplexing apparatus which executes functions reverse to those of apparatus 21; 23a-23x a plurality number N of D/A converters for converting the demultiplexed digital video signals of the respective channels to analog video signals; 24a-24x N modulators for frequency-modulating the analog signals; 25 an FDM multiplexing apparatus for generating a frequency-division-multiplex signal from the outputs of N modulators 24a-24x; 26 a video signal receiver; 27 a channel decoder for generating a channel selection signal; and 28 an input unit for channel selection.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing in detail constructions of TDM multiplexing apparatus 21 and TDM signal demultiplexing apparatus 22. In FIG. 4, 30a-30x are N input buffers provided for the respective channels; 31 a shift register for converting a parallel signal input from the buffers to a serial signal; 32 a clock generator; 33 a frame synchronization pattern inserter; 34 a frame synchronization pattern generator; 40 a shift register for converting a serial input signal to a parallel signal; 41 a clock generator for extracting a clock element from an input signal; 42 a frame counter; 43a-43x AND circuits for controlling the timing to output the demultiplexed signals; 44a-44x output buffers;.45 a frame synchronization pattern detector; and 46 a frame synchronization circuit.
An operation of the system will next be explained.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the case of multiplexing, for example, N-channel video signals, parallel N-channel input video signals are respectively converted to digital signals by M-bit A/D converters 20a-20x. These digital signals are then converted to a time-division-multiplex signal by TDM apparatus 21 and are transmitted to the transmission line as a serial video signal. On the other hand, the received video signal is separated into each channel by TDM signal demultiplexing apparatus 22. The demultiplexed video signals of the respective channels are input to M-bit D/A converters 23a-23x and then converted to analog signals. These analog signals are then frequency-modulated by modulators 24a-24x, frequency-division multiplexed by FDM apparatus 25, and then sent to video signal receiver 26 as RF signals. A desired video signal can be obtained in video signal receiver 26 as explained hereunder. An input signal from input unit 28 is decoded to a channel selection signal by channel decoder 27. An oscillation frequency of a local oscillation circuit within video signal receiver 26 is changed depending on the channel selection signal to tune to one channel of the received RF signals. In this manner, the baseband signal of the selected channel is regenerated and a video signal is displayed on receiver 26.
In TDM multiplexing apparatus 21 and TDM signal demultiplexing apparatus 22 shown in FIG. 4, pieces of data of the respective channels are input in parallel to shift register 31 through input buffers 30a-30x in the transmitting side. The contents of shift register 31 are read sequentially from channel #1 to channel #N under the control of clocks output from clock generator 32. A frame synchronization pattern generated in frame synchronization pattern generator 34 is inserted in the output of shift register 31 in frame synchronization pattern inserter 33 and a TDM signal thus prepared is then transmitted to the transmission line as a serial signal.
In the receiving side, a received serial signal is input to shift register 40. The contents of the shift register 40 are sequentially shifted under the control of clocks output from clock generator 41. When the data of the respective channels have been shifted to the normal position, an output-enable signal is output from frame counter 42 and AND circuits 43a-43x open, whereby the pieces of data of the respective channels are output through output buffers 44a-44x.
The received signal is also sent to frame synchronization pattern detector 45 through shift register 40. A frame synchronization pattern is here detected, frame synchronization circuit 46 establishes the frame synchronization, and the clock synchronized with the detected frame synchronization pattern is output from clock generator 41.
The conventional frequency-division-multiplex coherent optical communicate system shown in FIG. 1 malfunctions when, for example, a certain channel other than the channel to be selected is in a silent state or when the receiving level is temporarily lowered to prevent the beat detector from detecting a beat signal, and cannot recover to the normal condition unless the system is reset. Moreover, the system as a whole is made complicated due to the necessity for a beat detector.
In addition, a method of inserting a channel number merely enables identification of the channel currently received, and all channels existing between the channel being received and the target channel must be received sequentially and the target channel number must be compared with a received channel number until the target channel has been selected.
In the time-division-multiplex signal transmission system explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a demultiplexing operation is performed in all channels in the receiving side and thereafter channel selection is carried out after the D/A conversion, FM modulation and frequency-division multiplex for each channel. This makes the scale of circuits very large.
In addition, the quality of a received image is deteriorated due to the troublesome processing including D/A conversion followed by FM modulation, FDM, FDM signal demultiplexlng and FM modulation.

Multiplex digital communication system for transmitting channel identification information


An apparatus for producing a stable, high pressure plasma column with long length, and high axial uniformity. Rotating a gas-filled tube about an horizontal axis creates a vortex with minimal, or no shear flow. Such a vortex provides a stable equilibrium for a central column of high temperature gas and plasma when, for a given rotation speed, the centrifugal force dominates over the gravitational force inside the smallest radial dimension of the containment envelope. For gas pressures sufficiently high that the particle mean free path is short compared with the thickness of the gas layer between the central plasma column and the wall, thermal transport across this sheath layer is small and its temperature is low. High pressure discharges inside a rotating envelope may be sustained by a variety of means, including electrical, electromagnetic and chemical; they may find application in plasma torches, light sources, etc. One preferred embodiment used direct current between co-rotating electrodes to sustain a one-meter-long plasma column less than 5 mm in diameter. Another preferred embodiment employed microwave heating to produce a perfectly centered plasma flame 0.5 meters long into which tens of kilowatts of power can be coupled.

Over the years, many devices have been evolved which attempt to generate, control and use high pressure plasmas for various applications. Each of these devices has certain disadvantageous limitations. The embodiments of the present invention overcome many of the disadvantages of existing technologies by utilizing rotation of the containment envelope to establish a nearly perfect, rigid rotor flow of the gases within. The artificial gravity associated with this rotational flow acts to both center and confine a bubble of plasma and hot gases.
In the context of the present patent document, a plasma is a vapor (usually created from a plasma forming fill in gaseous phase) which includes both neutral particles and charged particles, the latter consisting of electrons and ions. The ions, in turn, may be a combination of atomic ions, charged radicals and/or molecular ions, in which the balance among these different species is dependent on temperature, pressure and the nature of the plasma forming fill. By carefully controlling the environmental conditions in and around the plasma, a plasma column can be formed which is physically isolated from the material boundary of the confinement envelope by an intervening layer of neutral gas. Thus, the plasma column may occupy a cylindrical volume that is smaller than the volume enclosed by the containment envelope.
Since the early 60s, high pressure rf (radio frequency) heated discharges have relied on the use of a "swirl gas" to center the plasma columns produced in such electrodeless devices and to prevent hot plasma from contacting the walls of the containment envelope. Because of the circulatory flow of the injected swirl gases, the term "vortex stabilization" is generally used to characterize this technique. The swirl gas method of vortex stabilization has been applied to a broad range of rf devices. See, for example, Boulos, M. I., in "The Inductively Coupled Radio Frequency Plasma," High Temp. Material Processes, 1, 17 (1997) or Reed, T. B., J. Appl. Phys., 32, 821 (1961) both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The swirl gas technique makes it possible to establish plasma columns within containment envelopes at gas pressures from a fraction of atmospheric pressure to many times atmospheric pressure. The plasma columns need not be straight. With the aid of vortex stabilization, a high pressure, rf-heated toroidal discharge has been achieved. See, for example, A. Okin et al., in "Generation of Toroidal Plasma—Atmospheric Ar Gas-Insulated Plasma Source with Quartz and Metallic Discharge Tubes," Proc. Symp on Plasma Science for Materials, ISSN 0919-7621 (1993) which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In addition to electrodeless discharges heated with rf power, the swirl gas method of vortex stabilization has been applied in electrodeless, high pressure torches powered with microwaves. (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,045).
Although the plasma columns formed by the swirl gas technique of vortex stabilization are approximately centered within their containment envelopes and stationary in a gross sense, they are not quiescent on the microscopic level. Viscous drag on the stationary wall of the containment envelope results in a sheared flow of the gas which generates turbulence, giving rise to enhanced thermal transport of energy from the hot plasma column to the cooler envelope walls. Such a degradation in the insulating properties of the annular sheath of cooler gas surrounding the plasma column necessitates an increased power to sustain the plasma discharge. Additionally, turbulence causes mixing of the gas within the sheath and between the gas in the plasma column and that in the sheath. As a practical matter, when such a technique of vortex stabilization is used, the turbulence so generated manifests itself as excess noise in the light emission of the plasma column, which can degrade the accuracy of certain spectroscopic measurements. As a further practical matter, the tip of the plasma plume in vortex stabilized torches is not perfectly stable, demonstrating the characteristic of "wandering" or "flickering" with respect to the center axis of the torch. Therefore, such torches are unsuitable for applications in which precise positioning is required.
The concept of rotating a containment envelope has been used in "sulfur bulb" lamp technologies (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,902,935 and 5,404,076) to minimize variations in the spherical bulb's surface temperature (that is, to eliminate hot spots caused by locally high electric fields occurring in resonant microwave cavities or in coaxial termination fixtures) and to make the spatial distribution of visible light emission from these bulbs more uniform. The patents referenced above deal only with sealed bulbs powered by microwaves for application to high intensity lighting. To eliminate hot spots, these patents state that the axis of rotation should be oriented in a certain angular range with respect to the electric field direction in the resonant microwave cavity.
Therefore, what is needed is a method and apparatus for producing a stable, high pressure plasma discharge that can be sustained with a minimum of power. Also, there is a need for creating stable plasma columns which are both long and straight. Also, there is a need for methods and apparatus for generating a stable plasma column inside a containment envelope whereby the effects of shear flow-generated turbulence and buoyancy-driven radial convection are substantially reduced in the gas outside the radius of the plasma column. There is also a need for methods and apparatus for forming a plasma torch having a plasma plume, or flame, which maintains a stable position centered on an axis of rotation of a containment envelope.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for forming a high pressure plasma discharge column


A laser cutting machine having a cutting head that is positionable in X-, Y- and Z- directions and which comprises a laser oscillator for supplying a beam via a plurality of mirrors to the cutting head and onto a workpiece mounted on a flat table surface with rising rollers or a retractable rotatable support in the table. The locations and center-of-gravity positions of the machine components are disposed for optimum maneuverability and balance. The plurality of mirrors in the optical system have a first bend mirror, that is a precision-adjustable, circular-polarizing mirror, and a plurality of subsequent bend mirrors that are disposed to counterbalance any resulting phase shift amounts. The subsequent mirrors can be ES or PS coated mirrors and can be accompanied by convex, concave, collimating, etc. mirrors and lenses as needed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-scanning laser cutting machine in which a cutting head is moved to cut a workpiece.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic view showing a conventional cantilever-type, light-scanning laser cutting machine disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. SHO58-134289, for example, and FIG. 20 is a plan view thereof. In these drawings, a Y arm 1 is movable in a Y-axis direction and a Y-axis rail 2 is disposed under the Y arm 1 with Y-axis rail supports 3 being oriented to hold the Y-axis rail 2. A laser beam 4 is gathered by a cutting head 5 and irradiates the beam onto a workpiece 6. Bend mirrors 7, which reflect the laser beam 4 to lead it to the cutting head 5, comprise a first bend mirror 7a and a second bend mirror 7b. A Y-axis bellows 8 is used to cover the beam path opening and drive of the Y arm 1 and a support plate 9 is fitted to the Y-axis rail supports 3 to hold the Y arm 1 and its drive and is movable in an X-axis direction. Also forming part of the machine are X-axis rails 10, X-axis rail supports 11 installed on the underside of the support plate 9 to hold the X-axis rails 10, and an X-axis bellows 12 which covers an X-axis direction drive. Finally, there is a cutting table 13 which retains the workpiece 6, a machine base 14 which supports all of the above components, a cutting chamber 15 and a laser oscillator 16 which outputs the laser beam 4.
In operation, the Y arm 1 is allowed to move in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis rail 2 installed thereunder and by the Y-axis rail supports 3 installed on the support plate 9. The support plate 9 holds the Y arm 1 and its drive and is allowed to move in the X-axis direction by the X-axis rails 10 installed to the machine base 14, which supports all components, and by the X-axis rail supports 11 installed on the underside of the support plate 9.
In the meantime, the laser beam 4 output by the laser oscillator 16 is reflected by the first bend mirror 7a, which is contained in the Y arm 1 and is fixed to the support plate 9 (and therefore does not move if the Y arm 1 moves in the Y-axis direction), and then by the second bend mirror 7b fitted to the front end of the Y arm 1, and is led to the cutting head 5 installed under the second bend mirror 7b. The laser beam 4 is gathered by the cutting head 5 and irradiated on the workpiece 6 which is held on the cutting table 13 secured by the machine base 14.
By moving the Y arm 1 in the Y-axis direction and the support plate 9 in the X-axis direction at this time, the cutting head 5 can be moved in any axis direction on an X-Y plane, whereby the workpiece 6 can be cut into any desired shape.
Also, the Y bellows 8 is fitted to the opening and drive of the Y arm 1 and the X bellows 12 fitted to the X-axis direction drive to provide protection from dust.
Further, the movable area of the Y arm 1 and the whole cutting area are enclosed by the cutting chamber 15 to provide safety measures.
To move the cutting head in the Y-axis direction in the conventional cantilever-type light-scanning laser cutting machine shown in FIG. 19 constructed as described above, the Y arm itself must be moved, and because of the heavy weight of the moving section, vibration during the Y-axis direction movement increases, giving adverse influence on cutting accuracy.
Moreover, since the moving range of the Y arm in the Y-axis direction is quite large, the Y arm offers the possibility that it will collide with a human body or other object, posing a problem in safety.
For these reasons, a laser cutting machine which can solve such problems, i.e., a laser cutting machine in which only the cutting head is disposed movably in the Y-axis direction on a Y arm that is movable in the X-axis direction, is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. SHO61-242782, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI5-77075.
As an alternative conventional example, a laser cutting machine has a laser oscillator for oscillating a laser beam, and a first bend mirror for receiving the laser beam which is disposed on a first plane intersecting the axis line of the laser beam, a second bend mirror which is opposed to the first bend mirror on the intersecting portion of the first plane and a second plane intersecting the first plane, a third bend mirror which is opposed to the second bend mirror on the intersecting portion of the second plane and a third plane intersecting the second plane, a fourth bend mirror which is opposed to the third bend mirror on the intersecting portion of the third plane and a fourth plane intersecting the third plane, and a fifth bend mirror which is opposed to the fourth bend mirror on the intersecting portion of the fourth plane and a fifth plane intersecting the fourth plane to form a beam axis on each of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth planes. In that system, a beam axis distance between the second bend mirror and third bend mirror and a beam axis distance between the fourth bend mirror and fifth bend mirror change. The system is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. SHO63-16894.
As an alternative conventional example, a laser cutting machine, in which a mirror for receiving a linear-polarized laser beam output by a laser oscillator is a circular-polarizing mirror, is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. SHO61-296985, etc.
As a further alternative conventional example, a laser cutting machine in which a laser cutting head equipped with a bend mirror and a condenser is moved to change the length of a laser beam between a laser oscillator and a cutting point where a workpiece is laser-cut, wherein a collimating apparatus movable by a drive motor is provided between the laser oscillator and the laser cutting head to nearly uniform the diameter of the laser beam and the focal distance of the condenser, is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI4-327394.
Among the conventional laser cutting machines designed as described above, the laser cutting machines disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. SHO61-242782, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI5-77075, etc., can solve said disadvantages of the machine shown in FIG. 19. However, because of the center-of-gravity position of the Y arm is always located outside the pair of X-axis rails, a large load difference and bending moment is applied to the rails are large. Consequently, an unusual stress and strain are provided, and a problem for the lives of the rails and rail supports will result.
Also, the laser cutting machines disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. SHO63-16894, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. SHO61-296985, etc., do not have a means for transmitting the circular-polarized laser beam to the cutting point without reducing a circular polarization factor, whereby the circular polarization factor is reduced during the transmission of the circular-polarized laser beam to the cutting point.
Further, the laser cutting machine disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI4-327394, etc., requires the collimating apparatus to be moved by the drive motor, whereby the means for reducing a beam diameter change in the movable range of the cutting head becomes complicated.


A method for drying biomass fuel using waste heat of flue gas from a power plant. The method includes: 1) stepwise recovering, by multi-stage condensation, sensible heat of flue gas; stepwise heating air using the sensible heat, to yield first-stage dry air and second-stage dry air; 2) convectively drying and dehydrating biomass fuel using the first-stage dry air having a temperature of between 150 and 180° C.; 3) further convectively drying and dehydrating the biomass fuel using the second-stage dry air having a temperature of between 80 and 100° C.; and 4) drying and dehydrating the biomass fuel using the third-stage dry air having a temperature of less than or equal to 25° C.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and a device for drying biomass fuel using waste heat of flue gas from a power plant.
Description of the Related Art
Typically, biomass fuel for use in a power plant is dried by open-air drying followed by machinery-based drying. Specifically, the biomass fuel is first air-dried to reduce the moisture content to a certain extent, and then is dried using drying machinery. However, the drying method has the following disadvantages:                1) The existing drying equipment is inefficient.        2) The existing drying equipment contributes to high generation cost.        3) The open-air drying occupies a large land area, involves heavy workload, and causes environmental problems.

Method and apparatus for using excess heat from power plant flue gas to dry biomass fuel

ZHONGYING CHANGJIANG INTERNATIONAL NEW ENERGY INVESTMENT CO., LTD.


The semiconductor storage device of this invention includes memory cells each having two transistors and one storage capacitor. Each memory cell is connected with a first word line and a first bit line for a first port and a second word line and a second bit line for a second port. The first and second bit lines are alternately disposed in an open bit line configuration. In the operation of the semiconductor storage device, in a period when a first precharge signal for precharging each first bit line or a first sense amplifier activating signal for activating a first sense amplifier is kept in an active state, a second precharge signal for precharging each second bit line and a second sense amplifier activating signal for activating a second sense amplifier are both placed in an inactive state.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor storage device including a dynamic random access memory circuit and the like, and more particularly, it relates to a semiconductor storage device comprising memory cells each including two transistors and one storage capacitor.
A low latency DRAM cell of a dual word line and dual bit line system disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,856,940, 5,963,468 and 5,963,497, in which each memory cell is provided with two transistors and one storage capacitor and is connected with two word lines and two bit lines, will now be described with reference to a drawing.
FIG. 7 shows the circuit configuration of a memory cell of a semiconductor storage device including the conventional low latency DRAM cell. The memory cell 10 of FIG. 7 includes, for example, a first switch transistor 102 that is connected with a first word line WL0A at its gate, with a first bit line BL0A at its drain and with a storage node 101 at its source; a source switch transistor 103 that is connected with a second word line WL0B at its gate, with a second bit line BL0B at its drain and with the storage node 101 at its source; and a storage capacitor 104 that is connected with the storage node 101 at one electrode and uses a cell plate as the other electrode.
In this manner, the memory cell 100 includes the first switch transistor 102 and the second switch transistor 103 independently controllable with respect to one storage capacitor 104. Accordingly, an interleaving operation can be conducted between a combination of the first word line WL0A and the first bit line BL0A and a combination of the second word line WL0B and the second bit line BL0B all extending over plural memory cells 100, resulting in rapid read and write operations.
In the semiconductor storage device including the conventional low latency DRAM cells, however, the interleaving operation is conducted on bit lines adjacent to each other. Therefore, when first bit lines BLnA and second bit lines BLnB (wherein n is 0 or a larger integer) are operated independently of each other, a coupling noise derived from change of a bit line potential caused during the operation can be disadvantageously introduced into an adjacent bit line. In the worst case, the introduction of such a coupling noise can cause inversion of a data value held by the memory cell 100.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A source current measurement apparatus for supplying a source voltage to an electronic device and measuring a source current supplied to the electronic device includes a reference voltage generating unit for generating a reference voltage, a supply unit for generating the source voltage based on the reference voltage and supplying the source voltage to the electronic device, wherein the supply unit is provided between the reference voltage generating unit and the electronic device, a feedback unit for controlling magnitude of the reference voltage generated by the reference voltage generating unit based on the source voltage applied to the electronic device, and a measurement unit for measuring the source current, wherein the supply unit includes a first differential amplifier for outputting the source voltage corresponding to a differential between the reference voltage and a predetermined comparison voltage and a second differential amplifier for generating the comparison voltage corresponding to the source voltage outputted by the first differential amplifier and supplying the comparison voltage to the first differential amplifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a source current measurement apparatus is for applying a source voltage to an electronic device and measuring the source current supplied to the electronic device and a test apparatus using the source current measurement apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the conventional test of an electronic device such as a semiconductor circuit, a source current supplied to the electronic device used to be measured. For example, a predetermined source voltage is applied to the electronic device, and the source current is measured at that time, so that the quality of the electronic device is judged on the basis of the source current measured.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a conventional measurement apparatus 200. The measurement apparatus 200, which supplies a source voltage to an electronic device 300 and measures the source current supplied to the electronic device 300 at that time, includes a power source 202, a resistor 204, an amplifier 206, a resistor 208, a buffer 210, a current amplifier 212, an AD converter 214, an amplifier 216, a resistor 218, and a capacitor 220.
The voltage generated by the power source 202 is supplied to the non-inverting input of the amplifier 206 via the resistor 204. And the current amplifier 212 generates a source voltage corresponding to the voltage outputted by the amplifier 206 and supplies it to the electronic device 300 via the resistor 218. Here, by supplying the AD converter 214 with the voltage difference between both ends of the resistor 218 via the amplifier 216, the source current supplied to the electronic device 300 is measured. And the buffer 210 and the resistor 208 feed back the source voltage supplied to the electronic device 300 to the non-inverting input of the amplifier 206 so as to control the source voltage to be a predetermined value, and the capacitor 220 restricts the change of the source voltage.
In the conventional measurement apparatus 200, as an example of the current amplifier 212, a bipolar transistor is used, where a predetermined direct voltage is applied between the emitter and the collector of the bipolar transistor, the output voltage of the amplifier 206 is applied to the base, and the emitter terminal is coupled to the resistor 218.
FIG. 2 shows the changes of the source voltage VO and the source current IL. As shown in FIG. 2, when the source current IL changes, the source voltage VO changes in response to the change of the current. At this time, it is preferable that the recovery time Δt of the change of the source voltage VO should be small. In the conventional measurement apparatus 200 as described in connection with FIG. 1, however, the source voltage is generated using the amplifier 212, so the recovery time Δt becomes large.
In order to solve the above problem, a voltage controlled amplifier using a capacitor of large capacitance as the capacitor 220 is used in place of the current amplifier 212. Since the capacitor 220 of large capacitance is controlled by the voltage controlled amplifier at a high speed, the recovery time Δt can be reduced.
FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the voltage controlled amplifier. The voltage controlled amplifier includes a pnp transistor 56 and an npn transistor 58 provided in series with resistors 54 and 60 between two different direct voltages (V1 and V2), and voltages corresponding to a reference voltage are applied to the base terminals of the pnp transistor 56 and the npn transistor 58 via a resistor 47, diodes 48 and 50, and a resistor 52 provided in series between the two different direct voltages (V1 and V2). By the above configuration, the source voltage is outputted from the connection point between the pnp transistor 56 and the npn transistor 58.
In the above voltage controlled amplifier, a plurality of diodes or transistors are used, so the deviation in the characteristics of the elements included in the voltage controlled amplifier is liable to occur, and the source voltage cannot be generated with high precision.
And in case that a large source current is supplied to the electronic device 300, the voltage controlled amplifiers may be provided in parallel. In the test of the source current in that case, it is necessary to detect the output current outputted by each of the voltage controlled amplifiers and calculate the sum of the output currents. However, it is undesirable that the circuit size increases due to the operational amplifier circuits. And although it is possible to reduce the increase of the circuit size by detecting the output current of any of the voltage controlled amplifiers and the source current by multiplying the number of the voltage controlled amplifiers provided in parallel, the deviation occurs in the output current of each of the voltage controlled amplifiers due to the element variation or temperature variation described above, so the source current cannot be detected with high precision.

Source current measurement apparatus and test apparatus


A collapsible shelf assembly that may be adapted to be supportably engaged by a cooking structure. The collapsible shelf assembly may comprise a first support panel and a second support panel for supporting a shelf panel, and may be stabilized by stabilizer members. The collapsible shelf assembly may be moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position.

Grilling foods on a cooking structure is a pastime enjoyed by people around the world. Many people use a free-standing cooking structure including a grill configured to use a heat source to grill foods. In preparation for grilling foods, foods may be prepared in a kitchen and then foods may be moved along with various grilling items, outside for grilling. Traditionally, these items are placed on a table or another similar independent support structure away from the grill.
However, tables and other independent support structures may be large and cumbersome such that they are difficult to position near the grill when grilling. In this regard, tables may fail to provide a surface sufficiently close to the grill to receive items allowing ease of access while grilling. Furthermore, while transportation of a grill may be relatively easy, transportation of a table along with the grill may be challenging due to their bulkiness.
As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for novel and improved devices and methods for grill tables.


A thrust drive unit for generating side thrust for improved maneuverability of a marine vessel employs a peripherally-driven propeller situated below the waterline and remotely powered by a motor situated well above the waterline via a drive belt. The propeller is supported by the two ends of the coaxial shaft by a pair of supports which are mounted on either side of the casing and are angularly adjustable with respect thereto about the thrust axis to a position which is least resistance-generating for a particular installation of the thrust drive unit on a vessel. The lower portion disposed for submerged operation has a substantially blade-like cross section with a narrow thickness aligned transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vessel. The cross section of the submerged portion is streamline shaped to help further minimize the resistance. Such hydro-dynamically efficient design makes the present invention well suited for being fixedly mounted in the operating position on a vessel for mechanical simplicity and ease of use, without compromising the vessel's performance.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a lateral thrust drive unit externally mounted at the bow or the stern of a vessel for improving the slow speed maneuvering thereof, more particularly to such thrust drive unit which is adapted for fixed mounting in the operating position for simplicity and ease of operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
The maneuvering of a vessel in close quarters as during docking and undocking is often challenging using only the vessel's main propulsion and steering systems. It is especially difficult for those vessels equipped with an inboard engine with a single screw propulsion system and steered by an ordinary rudder. In most cases, the rudders are configured for optimum performance within the structurally acceptable limits for the maximum operating speed intended for the vessel, and as a result, are often insufficient for adequate steering control at slow speeds. The problem is compounded by the presence of a paddle-wheel phenomenon pronouncedly noticeable with such inboard single screw vessels, wherein the prop-wash created by the rotating propeller generates a swirling movement in the water below the hull to cause the stern of the vessel to drift sideways. In the case of a clockwise rotating propeller, as viewed toward the bow, this phenomenon causes the stern of the vessel to tend to drift toward the starboard side while traversing forward and toward the port side while in reverse. The effect is opposite with a counter-clockwise rotating propeller. The steering control at slow speeds may prove further challenging if there are any prevailing wind or current conditions which may cause the bow and/or stern of the vessel to veer off from the intended course in an unpredictable manner. As a result of all of these, a vessel with an inboard engine and with single screw propulsion system therefore is known to have a very little steering control while traversing forward at a slow speed and a little or no steering control at all while traversing in reverse.
A vessel with other types of propulsion and steering systems, such as those with an outboard engine or an outdrive system as commonly used in many small modern pleasure and fishing crafts have the ability to adjust the thrust vector via steering control input. That is, by pivoting the rotating axis of the propeller about the vertical axis, a lateral component in the propeller thrustline may be created which will enable the vessel to be steered even at a slow speed and while moving forward or rearward. Also, a vessel with a counter-rotating twin-screw propulsion system as commonly found in many larger pleasure and commercial vessels have the ability to independently control the thrust direction of each of the two propellers. By operating one propeller in the forward direction and the other in reverse, the vessel may be rotated about a vertical axis even without any substantial longitudinal movement of the vessel. Thus, vessels incorporating these types of propulsion systems are inherently more maneuverable. However, piloting even these types of vessels in close quarters, especially the larger of these, many be challenging to all but the most experienced helmsmen, especially with presence of unfavorable wind and/or current conditions.
There are various prior art examples aimed at enhancing the slow speed maneuverability of a vessel, however, the most common commercially available involves an internally mounted bow thruster system. The internal bow thruster systems, as based on such prior arts of Aron, Denston, and Kuss, comprise a thrust drive unit mounted within a transverse ducting installed at the bow section of a vessel below the waterline connecting the port and starboard sides of the hull. The drive unit is powered by an electric or a hydraulic motor to drive a single or a multiple propellers coaxially positioned within the tube to induce water flow in the transverse axis of the hull. Such thrust drive unit may also be mounted within a transverse ducting similarly installed at the stern section of a vessel to create the stern thruster system. The bow or stern thrusters normally remain unused, except only while slow speed maneuvering. The bow and stern thruster systems may be operated independently or simultaneously in opposing directions to cause the vessel to rotate about a vertical axis, or simultaneously in the same direction to cause the vessel to laterally traverse.
There are many problems associated with an internally mounted bow or stern thruster system. First, these are costly to install. The installation requires a major below-the-waterline structural modification to the hull of the vessel to incorporate the ducting, which must be performed while the vessel is dry-docked and by a skilled hand. There are various models of such thrust drive units currently available in the after-market. However, the complexity and the cost involved with the installation of such are beyond the means of most pleasure vessel owners, and therefore, the use and the benefits of these devices are generally reserved only for the larger and expensive pleasure yachts or commercial vessels.
Second, the installation of the internal thrust drive unit potentially risks the degradation in the structural integrity in the bow and/or stern sections of the vessel. The weakened structure may develop a failure as a result of navigating through the rough waters or from light bumps or collision with other vessels or the dock structure which otherwise may have been non-detrimental to a hull which had not been so modified.
Third, a structural crack or any failure in the below-the-waterline seal joint, including those seal joints integral to the drive unit mechanism, will results in the water ingestion aboard the vessel. The leakage aboard may take place while the operator is unaware, and if the rate of such leakage is greater than the rate at which the vessel's overboard pump system is able to discharge overboard the vessel may sink.
Fourth, the ducting will incur marine growth and unless costly maintenance is performed regularly, result in reduced performance of the thruster system. With the vessel at dock, the cleaning may be performed only by accessing from a duct opening from either side of the hull. The access to clean the interior of the ducting and the gearbox portion of the drive unit within the ducting is difficult, because the accessibility thereto is inhibited by the propeller(s) and the narrowness of the passageway within the ducting. For similar reasons, the maintenance repair is costly. For maintenance operations requiring the removal of the drive unit from the vessel, either the vessel must first be hauled out of the water and dry-docked, or if the operation must be performed while at dock, special tooling, preparation, and care will be required to properly seal off all of the openings below the waterline prior to detaching the drive unit from the ducting.
Fifth, because holes are created on both sides of the bow due to the ducting, the hydrodynamic effects reacting against the discontinuous surfaces on either side of the hull will generate resistance, and thus reduces the operating efficiency of the vessel.
Finally, yet importantly, the internally mounted system detracts from a valuable and limited usable onboard space within the hull.
Some prior art devices, such as of Wardell and Van Breems address some of the concerns dealing with the internally mounted thruster, especially with one regarding the reduced performance due to the hydro-dynamic resistance, by employing a system of mechanisms for retracting and stowing the thrust drive unit to within the hull cavity while it is being unused. The Van Breems further addresses the maintainability concern by making a detachable thrust drive unit, which may be easily removed from the vessel from the surface of the deck. However, both of these devices still have the disadvantages of costly hull modification and installation, possible reduction in the structural integrity of the hull, and mechanical complexity resulting from the incorporation of the retracting system.
The prior art of Roestenberg is an externally mounted pivotal bow thruster. This device is advantageous over the others in that it may easily be installed from above the waterline and without a major modification made to the hull of the vessel, and thus it is possible for a moderately skilled user to self-install the device using only ordinary tools. The device also has an advantage of incorporating a pivotal retracting mechanism, which stows the drive unit out of the water while the vessel is cruising, and therefore preventing any degraded vessel performance due to the hydrodynamic resistance caused by the drive unit. In addition, the maintenance of the device may be performed easily as the entire drive unit and the pivotal actuator assembly may be detached from the vessel. However, the drawback of the Roestenberg is mechanical complexity and delicate nature of the pivotal retracting mechanism, which may easily incur damage while the vessel is navigating through rough waters.
Similarly, the prior art of Pinsof presents an externally mounted stern thruster adapted for mounting on the transom or on the swim platform attached to the transom in a typical small powered vessel. The installation is performed above the waterline and without a major modification performed to the hull of the vessel, and thus, this enables a moderately skilled user to self-install the device using only ordinary tools. However, the Pinsof's stern thruster has a disadvantage of mechanical complexity associated with the linear or rotary deployment and retracting mechanism employed thereby.
While Wardell, Van Breems, Roestenberg, and Pinsof all cite the advantages of incorporating retractability feature to their thruster systems, it is noted that there are also disadvantages associated with the same. The operator must first deploy the thrust drive unit to the submerged operating position prior to energizing the device. A sustained dry operation of the thruster while the drive unit is out of the water may lead to premature failures of the drive shaft seal(s) or the motor. In addition, the operator must retract the drive unit out of the water prior to commencing high-speed cruise, or the hydrodynamic forces may cause damages to the drive unit and its support structure. It is possible to exclusively interlock the deployment and energization of the drive unit by using position sensors and such, and similarly, to have the retracting operation interlocked with the vessel's instrumentation, so that it automatically retracts when a preprogrammed vessel speed is reached. However, incorporating such safety features will increase complexity and cost and decrease the overall reliability of the thruster system.

Lateral thrust drive unit for marine vessels


The present disclosure relates to a wearable article including a wearable article body, a light collector, and a light source. The wearable article body is formed by weaving a plurality of textile threads with a plurality of light-guiding filaments, and provided with a light-collecting region. The light collector is provided at the light-collecting region, and is provided with a light source placement region. Light-guiding entrances of the plurality of light-guiding filaments being grouped together at the light collector to respectively transmit light received by the light collector. The light source is detachably placed in the light source placement region. An intellectual wearable device is also disclosed.

At night or in low visibility condition, in order to make wearable articles (such as clothes, shoes and caps, etc.) produce strong lighting decoration or warning effect, two methods, namely active light emission and passive light emission are often used in the prior art to realize lighting or warning effect.
For active light emission method, usually a light-emitting element such as an LED lamp is disposed on a wearable article to realize active light emission. When this active light emission mode is used, it is often necessary to have a large area of circuit or electrical signal transmission wirings provided on the wearable article. Since the shape of the wearable article is constantly changing, it is therefore easy to cause damage to the circuit structure. On the one hand, this shortens the working life of the light-emitting components; and on the other hand, this causes potential safety issue when short circuit of the circuit structure occurs.
For the passive light emission method, a reflective material, such as fluorescent paint or the like, is usually applied to the wearable article and is visualized by reflection. However, light intensity produced by such passive lighting is limited by the intensity of the light source. When the intensity of the light source is insufficient, the light reflection effect is poor, and the object of showing of clear illumination cannot be achieved.
Therefore, how to improve luminous effect of a wearable article while reducing its potential safety hazard has become a technical problem to be solved urgently.

Wearable article and intelligent wearable device

Terry Electronics Technology Company Limited