An endodontic procedure is disclosed which involves extirpating a root canal of a tooth, and then inserting a machine driven compactor which is coated with alpha phase gutta percha into the extirpated canal. The compactor is then rotated at a relatively high speed and so that the alpha phase gutta percha is plasticized solely by the frictional heat generated by the rotating compactor. The plasticized gutta percha is thrown radially outwardly, and pushed downwardly, so as to fill all of the voids of the canal, and the compactor is then withdrawn and the gutta percha cools and solidifies. A crown may be then fitted to the tooth above the gutta percha in the conventional manner.

The present invention relates generally to the field of endodontics, and more particularly to a method of applying a filler material in an endodontically prepared root canal.
Root canal therapy is a well-known procedure wherein the crown of a diseased tooth is opened so as to permit the canal to be cleaned and then filled. More particularly, a series of very delicate, flexible, fingerheld instruments or files are used to extirpate or clean out and shape the root canal, and each file is manually rotated and reciprocated in the canal by the dentist. Files of increasingly larger diameter are used in sequence, to achieve the desired cleaning and shaping. When the canal is thus prepared, it is obturated or solidly filled with a filling material, which typically comprises a waxy, rubbery compound known as gutta percha.
In the traditional method of obturating a root canal, strand-like pieces of gutta percha, commonly referred to as "points", are inserted into the extirpated root canal. The points are then physically compacted by a compactor, which may be heated, and which is manipulated into contact with the points to soften and compact the material into the canal. This is a time consuming procedure, and it is difficult to insure that all portions of the canal are filled.
The Thermafil.TM. compactor as sold by Tulsa Dental Products, consists of a compactor according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,312, with a manually engagable handle at one end. The opposite or distal end of the compactor is coated with a layer of alpha phase gutta percha. As hereinafter further described, alpha phase gutta percha has a somewhat different crystalline structure as compared to the more conventional beta phase, and alpha phase requires less heat to become plasticized than does beta phase.
To fabricate the Thermafil.TM. compactor, conventional beta phase gutta percha is placed in a cavity in a mold, and the mold is heated under conditions of controlled heat and time to plasticize the gutta percha, which also serves to convert the gutta percha to alpha phase. The distal end of the compactor is inserted into the gutta percha in the cavity, and upon cooling, the gutta percha solidifies about the distal end. When ready for use, the dentist heats the gutta percha by means of a separate heat source, such as an open flame, until the gutta percha again plasticizes. The compactor is then inserted into the root canal and manipulated by hand to cause the gutta percha to fill the canal.
In the above procedure, it is difficult for the dentist to control the application of the external heat, and if the gutta percha becomes too hot, it will unduly shrink upon cooling and voids will be formed in the canal, causing leakage.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,894,011 and 4,758,156 to Johnson disclose an obturating procedure which includes a carrier having a manual handle and a shaft with a reduced diameter portion which is designed to fail when a certain level of torque is applied. Gutta percha is molded to the carrier, and in preparation for use, the gutta percha is heated by an external source to a temperature at which the surface becomes "glossy". The heated instrument is then inserted into the root canal, and the handle is rotated until torsional failure occurs. Thus the distal end portion of the shaft remains in the canal.
The procedure of the Johnson patents involves the same limitations noted above with regard to the difficulty of controlling the temperature to which the gutta percha is heated by the external source, and the resulting problems of shrinkage and voids in the canal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,710 to Dr. John McSpadden discloses a procedure for obturating extirpated root canals wherein a gutta percha point is placed in the canal. A compactor having downwardly facing shoulders is then inserted in the canal and rotated at a speed of about 6,000 rpm or less, to thereby mechanically work the gutta percha and generate frictional heat which plasticizes the material. The compactor is then withdrawn longitudinally, with the shoulders of the compactor forcing the plasticized gutta percha downwardly and laterally.
A disadvantage of the procedure described in the cited McSpadden patent is the fact that the diameter of the compactor must closely approximate the diameter of the root canal, in order to insure that sufficient frictional heat is developed to plasticize the gutta percha, which has a relatively high melting point. More particularly, the gutta percha must be forced against the wall of the canal to cause enough friction to plasticize it, and a large diameter compactor is needed for this purpose. The use of a compactor of large diameter in turn causes problems, in that it does not have the ability to readily extend through the curves which are common in root canals. Also, they tend to extrude the gutta percha through the apex of the canal.
Dr. McSpadden has recently suggested a new procedure wherein gutta percha is placed in a tube which is supplied to the dentist. In use, the dentist heats the tube using an external heat source, and the compactor is then inserted into the tube to coat its distal end. The compactor with the heated gutta percha coating is then immediately inserted in the canal, together with an additional point of cold gutta percha, and the instrument is machine rotated at a relatively slow speed of about 2,000 rpm. The additional point of gutta percha is used to avoid an excessive amount of heated gutta percha with the attendant risk of shrinkage and voids. Also, the relatively slow speed is employed so as to avoid plasticizing the solid additional point, again to avoid the risk of overheating and shrinkage. This is seen to be a rather cumbersome procedure for the dentist, and there is a risk that the gutta percha in the tube may be overheated, causing its deterioration.
It is accordingly and object of the present invention to provide a method of applying gutta percha in an endodontically prepared root canal, and which avoids the above noted limitations and disadvantages of the prior art techniques.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a method of the described type which utilizes only the frictional heat generated by the rotation of the compactor to plasticize the gutta percha, and which thereby avoids the need to apply external heat to the gutta percha immediately before the instrument is inserted into the canal.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of the described type which permits the use of a compactor of relatively small diameter which serves to minimize the risk of damage by contact of the compactor with the walls of the canal.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel endodontic compactor for use in carrying out the method of the present invention.


A light emitting diode reflector molding process, and a construction thereof includes preparation of a first and a second green sheet structures, the first green sheet structure being provided with a first pattern; the second green sheet structure being placed on top of the first green sheet structure; a metallic layer being coated on the second green sheet structure, the second green sheet structure being molded along the opening pattern of and covering upon the first green sheet for the metallic layer to become the wall of the reflector opening.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a molding process of a light emitting diode (LED) reflector, its construction, and the reflector-applied LED loader, and more particularly, to a molding process of an LED ceramic reflector with variable LED loading angles.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Light emitting diode (LED) for compact in size, lower power consumption, low heat generation, and long service lift has gradually exited the conventional tungsten lamp of the similar function as found in Xmas light, flashlight, vehicle signal light, and traffic mark. An LED is essentially comprised of a transparent package containing conductive terminals of different polarities and a loader; a chip is disposed on the load; an electrode layer of the chip and those conductive terminals are connected to each other by means of a gold plated wire; and each conductive terminal extends out of the transparent package to become a contact to a power source.
A chemical compound semiconductor in the LED chip essentially decides spectrum or luminance characteristics of the LED. Optical characteristics of the LED including light emitting luminance or angle of filed of view are significantly subject to package substrate of the LED.
In a construction of an LED of the prior art, a reflector operates to reflect light emitted by the LED. Generally, the reflector is provided using the drilling, punching or laminating method. However, any of these methods is blamed for higher cost, rough inclined plane being detrimental to the pattern of light reflection, opening shape being limited, and prevention from producing packed circuits. As a result, efforts for reducing packaging cost of the LED and for improving the light selection efficiency of the LED are frustrated.

LED reflector molding process, construction, and loader thereof


An apparatus for controlling the transmission of electromagnetic radiation generated in a radiation generator is provided. The apparatus includes a printed circuit board having a substrate layer and at least one medium layer bound to the substrate layer. The printed circuit board is configured to control the transmission of the electromagnetic radiation.

The subject matter described herein generally relates to a radiation generator and more particularly to a radiation control apparatus configured to control radiation generated in a radiation generator.
Various types of radiation generators have been developed so as to generate electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation thus generated can be utilized for various purposes including medical imaging. One such example of a radiation generator is an X-ray generator. A typical X-ray generator generally comprises an X-ray tube for generating electromagnetic radiation (For example, X-rays), a power supply circuit configured to energize the X-ray tube in a conventional manner so as to emit X-rays through a port and toward a target. Radiation shielding is provided around the X-ray port in order to prevent the X-rays from undesirably reaching the operator. Radiation shielding is usually performed with a shielding material that comprises a heavy metal material such as lead. The shielding material is mixed with an insulation to provide radiation shielding.
The power supply circuit of a conventional X-ray generator generally includes a high voltage conductor configured to supply high voltage power so as to energize the X-ray tube. In one scenario, the radiation shield is placed between the X-ray tube and the power supply circuit, and the high voltage conductor is passed through the radiation shield requiring a use of insulating material along with the shielding material. A high electrical stress exists between the high voltage conductor and the shielding material of the radiation shield as the conductor carrying a high voltage is placed at a close proximity to the shielding material maintained at a ground potential. The positioning and dimensional control of the shielding material is critical in keeping the electrical stress at a safe value. One drawback of these certain known radiation shields is the difficulty in controlling the dimensional variations and positioning of the lead material particularly when used on or along an insulating surface. This difficulty in controlling the placement of the lead material increases opportunities of undesired electrical arcing of the high voltage electrical power causing failure of the X-ray generator.
Another drawback of conventional radiation shields is the technical difficulty associated with grounding the heavy metal material such as lead when used on or along with insulating surface. The soldering process for grounding the lead is generally performed by exposing a part of the lead material to insulating oil often used in the X-ray generator, which increases the likelihood of contamination of the insulating oil. Both, the process of manufacturing a radiation shield i.e., placing the shielding material on or along the insulating surface and soldering to the lead material to electrically ground the material are highly skilled operations.
Hence, there exists a need to provide a radiation shield that can be readily manufactured and sourced, while maintaining the insulating and radiation shielding properties.

Apparatus for controlling radiation in a radiation generator


The technical challenges for a smooth transition between using both a thermodynamic hydrate inhibitor (THI) and a kinetic hydrate inhibitor (KHI) to simply using only the KHI in multiple tie-in gas natural gas production systems is solved by adding more THI in a first pipeline leg of the production system while ceasing adding THI in a second pipeline leg of the system. Further, more KHI is added into the second leg of the system, and subsequently THI is gradually and/or slowly reduced in the remaining legs of the system until only KHI is being injected, after which the KHI amount in all legs may be reduced to the equilibrium or steady-state levels.

A number of hydrocarbons, especially lower-boiling light hydrocarbons, in formation fluids or natural gas are known to form hydrates in conjunction with the water present in the system under a variety of conditions—particularly at a combination of lower temperature and higher pressure. The hydrates usually exist in solid forms that are essentially insoluble in the fluid itself. As a result, any solids in a hydrocarbon or natural gas fluid are at least a nuisance for production, handling and transport of these fluids. It is not uncommon for hydrate solids (or crystals) to cause plugging and/or blockage of pipelines or transfer lines or other conduits, valves and/or safety devices and/or other equipment, resulting in shutdown, loss of production and, more seriously, risk of explosion, compromised safety of operating personnel and unintended release of hydrocarbons into the environment either on-land or off-shore. Accordingly, hydrocarbon hydrates have been of substantial interest as well as concern to many industries, particularly the petroleum and natural gas industries.
Hydrocarbon hydrates are clathrates, and are also referred to as inclusion compounds. Clathrates are cage structures formed between a host molecule and a guest molecule. A hydrocarbon hydrate generally is composed of crystals formed by water host molecules surrounding the hydrocarbon guest molecules. The smaller or lower-boiling hydrocarbon molecules, particularly C1 (methane) to C4 hydrocarbons and their mixtures, are more problematic because it is believed that their hydrate or clathrate crystals are easier to form. For instance, it is possible for ethane to form hydrates at as high as 4° C. at a pressure of about 1 MPa. If the pressure is about 3 MPa, ethane hydrates can form at as high a temperature as 14° C. Even certain non-hydrocarbons such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen and hydrogen sulfide are known to form hydrates under the proper conditions. Hydrate-forming guest molecules include, but are not necessarily limited to, methane, ethane, ethylene, acetylene, propane, propylene, methylacetylene, n-butane, isobutane, 1-butene, trans-2-butene, cis-2-butene, isobutene, butene mixtures, isopentane, pentenes, natural gas, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, krypton, and xenon.
There are two broad chemical techniques to overcome or control the hydrocarbon hydrate flow hazards, namely thermodynamic and kinetic. The thermodynamic approach is to prevent hydrate formation by addition of "antifreeze" to the production fluids. Suitable thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors include, but are not necessarily limited to, methanol (MeOH), monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG), propylene glycol (PG), certain salts, and mixtures thereof.
The kinetic approach generally attempts (a) to prevent the smaller hydrocarbon hydrate crystals from agglomerating into larger ones (known in the industry as an anti-agglomerate and abbreviated AA) and/or (b) to inhibit, retard and/or prevent initial hydrocarbon hydrate crystal nucleation; and/or crystal growth (known in the industry as a kinetic hydrate inhibitor and abbreviated KHI). Thermodynamic and kinetic hydrate control methods may be used in conjunction.
Kinetic efforts to control hydrates have included the use of different materials as inhibitors. For instance, onium compounds with at least four carbon substituents are used as AA to inhibit the plugging of conduits by gas hydrates. Additives such as polymers with lactam rings have also been employed as KHI to control clathrate hydrates in fluid systems. All these kinetic inhibitors are commonly labeled as Low Dosage Hydrate Inhibitors (LDHI) in the art. KHIs and even LDHIs are relatively expensive materials, and it is always advantageous to determine ways of lowering the usage levels of these hydrate inhibitors while maintaining effective hydrate inhibition. Other suitable KHIs include, but are not necessarily limited to, dendrimeric compounds, hyperbranched polymers, and linear polymers and copolymers. Dendrimeric compounds have also been referred to as "starburst conjugates". Such compounds are described as being polymers characterized by regular dendrimeric (tree-like) branching with radial symmetry. Suitable but non-restrictive examples of dendrimeric compounds include HYBRANE® polymers available from DSM. One suitable, but non-limiting linear polymer is polyvinylcaprolactam (PVCap). Suitable onium compounds include, but are not limited to, ammonium compounds, and phosphonium compounds, including, but not necessarily limited to those of U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0261529 A1, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
In the production of hydrocarbons, particularly natural gas, it is common for a wellhead platform (WHP) to be offshore and transport hydrocarbon through a subsea production pipeline "leg" which may join one or more other legs forming a larger pipeline to take the gas to another offshore facility, such as a slug catcher or the like. When the larger pipeline is submerged in the sea, the combination of lower temperatures with high pressures make the pipeline susceptible to gas hydrate formation which may cause the transport problems discussed above. It will be remembered that the flow in a hydrate-susceptible pipeline is multiphase that is both gas phase and liquid phase water and hydrate-forming guest molecules are present.
It is complicated if two or more hydrocarbon production pipeline legs join together to form the subsea pipeline that is susceptible to hydrate formation. It is not a simple matter to adjust the hydrate inhibitor in each leg that joins the subsea pipeline because the combined effect of the types and amounts of hydrate inhibitors may nor may not continue to inhibit hydrates. Further, when the sea temperature drops seasonally, while more of the present hydrate inhibitor may be used, and/or an additional hydrate inhibitor is injected, when warmer weather resumes and the sea gradually warms up it is not a simple or easy matter to then reduce the amounts and types of hydrate inhibitors used. That is, due to complex interactions of different additive types, as will be further explained below, reducing the THI and KHI to levels previously effective may, in fact, not be sufficiently effective, and may actually increase the tendency of hydrates to form. Because hydrate inhibitors are generally expensive, operators have an economic incentive not to use any more inhibitor than necessary. In a multiple tie-in well system (two or more hydrocarbon production pipeline legs joining a sub-sea hydrate-susceptible pipeline), it is often not apparent how to reduce the amounts and types of hydrate inhibitors used without incurring an increased risk of hydrate formation. Assuring smooth flow in these pipelines is very important since interruptions in flow can incur costs of millions of dollars.
Thus, it is desirable that new methods of transitioning between using multiple types of hydrate inhibitors in pipelines to using just one hydrate inhibitor be developed so that effective levels of hydrate inhibition may be maintained while using a minimum amount of hydrate inhibitor to reduce additive costs.

Method of transitioning to kinetic hydrate inhibitors in multiple tie-in well systems


An optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of optical fiber cores arranged in parallel spaced from each other; and a tape forming member having a coating portion covering an outer circumference of the optical fiber cores, and a coupling portion, integrally formed with the coating portion, intermittently coupling adjacent optical fiber cores, wherein the coating portion has an opening portion to expose a part of surfaces of the optical fiber cores, and at least a part of the coating portion is continuous in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cores.

In recent years, in an optical fiber cable, the desires of a higher density and a thinner diameter have been increased. In order to attain the ultimate thin diameter, it is more advantageous to gather optical fiber cores each having a single core together than a structure of the optical fiber ribbon. However, in a case that the optical fiber cores each having the single core are gathered together, there is a problem that a connecting workability may be deteriorated, for example, such that a batch fusion splicing is impossible.
In order to solve this problem, in the optical fiber ribbon having two or more optical fiber cores arranged in parallel to each other, the optical fiber ribbon of an intermittently fixed type in which a plurality of coupling portions coupling only the optical fiber cores adjacent to each other are arranged two-dimensionally and intermittently in a longitudinal direction and a width direction of the optical fiber cores has been proposed (for example, refer to patent documents 1 to 5).
In addition, by the expansion of recent FTTH (Fiber To The Home), the optical fiber ribbon often has been separated into single cores to connect to each of the optical fiber cores each having single core.
When this connecting work is carried out, an outer diameter of the coating of the optical fiber core becomes larger than a hole diameter of a mechanical splice or a field assembled connector if a tape forming member is left on the outer circumference of the optical fiber core having the single core, and thus, things may occur where the optical fiber core may not be inserted into those hole portions. Hence, after separating the optical fiber ribbon into the single core, processing for removing the tape forming member on the surface of the optical fiber core is required.

Optical fiber ribbon and optical fiber cable

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION


An ink jet printer includes paper supply rollers for supplying a paper, paper eject rollers for ejecting the paper supplied from the paper supply rollers, where the paper is transported along a paper transport direction in an approximately plane paper supply path between the paper supply and eject rollers, a nozzle for ejecting ink on the paper in a printing region between the paper supply and eject rollers, and a guide part for guiding the paper between the paper supply and eject rollers. A gap is formed between the guide part and the paper which is simultaneously transported by both the paper supply and eject rollers at least within the printing region. The gap decreases in the paper transport direction towards the paper eject rollers.

The present invention generally relates to ink jet printers, and more particularly to an ink jet printer which prints information on a paper by adhering on the paper an ink which is ejected from a nozzle having an ejection hole with an extremely small diameter.
Printers can roughly be categorized into impact type printers and non-impact type printers. The impact type printer includes wire dot printers and thermal transfer printers which print images directly on the paper. On the other hand, the non-impact type printers include ink jet printer which print images without making direct contact with the paper.
In the wire dot printers and the thermal transfer printers, the paper is fed to a platen roller and the images are printed on the paper which is located on the platen roller. The transport direction of the paper is changed approximately 180.degree. to make a U-turn by the platen roller, so that the paper is positively transported to the target position.
The printers which use the platen roller can be made relatively compact because only simple parts are required. However, there is a problem in that such printers are not suited for printing images on a thick paper or an envelope, because it is difficult to positively make the thick paper and the envelope make the U-turn at the platen roller. For this reason, printers have been proposed in which the U-turn of the thick paper and the envelope is avoided by providing an independent linear paper supply path. This linear paper supply path supplies the thick paper and the envelope to a printing part of the printer in an approximately linear path without the need for the thick paper and the envelope to make the U-turn.
On the other hand, the ink jet printer prints images on the paper by ejecting droplets of an ink which is ejected from a nozzle. Since the printing part of the ink jet printer does not need to make direct contact with the paper, it is unnecessary to provide the platen. In other words, the images can be printed on the paper in a linear paper supply path.
However, in the ink jet printer, a gap between the nozzle of the printing part and the paper must always be maintained constant. For this reason, measures must be taken so that this gap is maintained constant, and a method of transporting the paper through the printing part without slack is one of such measures which are conventionally taken.
If the ink ejected from the nozzle spreads in a range in which the paper does not exist in a direction taken along the width of the paper, the ink will adhere to a guide member which is provided within this range to guide the paper. As a result, when the paper having a greater width is next transported, the ink adhered on the guide member will stain this wider paper. For this reason, it is desirable to restrict the ink ejection region.
The ink ejection region (or the printing region) can be restricted with ease in the paper transport direction by providing sensors along the transport path, for example. However, it is difficult to restrict the ink ejection region in a paper width direction which is perpendicular to the paper transport direction, because it is difficult to detect all of the various paper widths and appropriately adjust the ink ejection region for each detected paper width.
Therefore, the ink ejection region in the paper width direction is set in accordance with the maximum width of paper used by taking into consideration the printing on the paper having the maximum width. But if the printing is made using the paper having a width smaller than the maximum width, the ink is ejected to parts where no paper exist as described above, and the paper which is transported thereafter will be stained by such ink.
The ink which is adhered on the parts such as the guide member described above cannot be cleaned in a simple manner, unlike the cleaning of the platen roller using a cleaning liquid and the like.

Ink jet printer having improved paper transport mechanism


An LED based illumination system with enhanced brightness is described. The system includes one or more light sources such as LEDs, one or more light couplers for efficiently collecting and collimating the light from the light sources, one or more wavelength selective filters, one or more light concentrators that focus the collimated light, and a cavity made of a layer of wavelength converting material such as a phosphorescent material located at the focus planes of the light concentrators. Each light coupler includes a light tunnel portion and a compound parabolic reflecting portion, and effectively collects and collimates light emitted by the LED in all directions. The wavelength selective filters pass the collimated light from the light sources and reflect light of a second wavelength generated by the phosphorescent material. The lights of both wavelengths exit the light cycling cavity through an aperture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to illumination system using a light emitting diode array and wavelength conversion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Solid-state illumination devices such as light emitting diodes have many benefits as compared with traditional illumination sources. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have long lifetime, high energy-efficiency, pure color characteristic, good modulation performance, and shock resistant. White-light generation using blue or UV LED to excite phosphorescent materials provides a great potential for replacing traditional light source such as incandescent lamp and even fluorescent lamp.
Although multiple LEDs can linearly scale up total output lumen, the average brightness of a simple LED array can be significantly lower as compared to a single LED due to the increase of effective emitting area. Therefore, a standard LED array has difficulties in providing sufficient brightness for many applications requiring directional beam such as projection light sources and automotive headlamps. Furthermore, as the LED chip temperature increase due to the increase of driving current, the phosphorescent material directly contacting the LED chip may reduce its wavelength converting efficiency and can even be damaged by the heat.

Brightness enhancement with directional wavelength conversion


The invention includes a three-position switch having a keycap connected to a housing for pivotal movement, and slidable movement in a vertical direction. The keycap is connected to the housing so that the keycap may be rocked to a first position in which one end of the keycap is depressed closing a first circuit. The keycap may also be rocked to a second position in which a second end of the keycap is depressed closing a second circuit. The keycap may also be pushed downwardly so that both ends of the keycap are depressed closing the first and second circuits simultaneously.

In some vehicles, a switch system may be utilized to raise and lower a door window glass. Some of these systems include a separate switch for selectively activating a motor to raise the window while the switch is depressed, a separate switch for selectively activating a motor to lower the window, and a third switch to activate a motor to lower a window completely in an express mode at any time that the switch is depressed.
Other switch systems are known to include multi-dome dual detent switches having at least a first and second collapsible dome structure. The dome structures have a conductive pellet on an underside. An elongated action bar extends across and bridges the first and second collapsible dome structures. A keycap is positioned for pivotal movement between first and second forward positions, and first and second rear positions. The keycap includes an engagement bar extending downwardly near one end of the keycap and positioned to engage the action bar. When the keycap is rotated forward to a first position, the engagement bar forces the action bar to pivot in a direction towards the first dome causing the dome to collapse. Movement of the keycap still further forward causes the action bar to rotate towards the second dome member collapsing the same. The keycap may be moved to first and second backward or rear positions to reverse the order in which the domes are collapsed. Although these systems are capable of producing a sequence of four functions, the switch systems include a multitude of components which complicate the assembly process and must cooperate together consistently to assure the desired results are achieved.
The present invention provides advantages to and alternatives over the prior art.


A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard, thumbwheel, display and associated software is optimized for use of the device with the thumbs. The associated software has a plurality of features to optimize efficient use of the limited keyboard space and encourage the use of the device by thumb-based data entry through the thumbwheel and/or through a combination of minimal number of keystrokes. Software features include international character scrolling, and auto-capitalization. The keys on the device keyboard are optimally shaped and configured for thumb-based input. In addition, the thumbwheel is inclined between the front and a side edge of the device so as to be reachable by either the thumb or index finger of the user""s hand at the side edge of the device.

The present invention is directed toward the field of small, hand-held electronic devices such as personal data assistants (PDA""s), personal information managers (PIM""s), two-way pagers and the like. In particular, the system and method of the present invention provide the user of the hand-held device with the ability to input data with a minimal amount of key strokes and optimized for use substantially with the thumbs.
In a two-way paging system that provides two-way, full text messaging, there is a need to permit the user to initiate messages and to respond to messages in a timely fashion and with text entirely created by the user. In order to keep the form factor of the two-way pager small enough to be worn on the body of the user, such as with a belt clip, the input device needs to be small, have a minimal number of keys and optimized for use with a minimal number of key stroke. Prior art systems have attempted to address these needs by incorporating virtual keyboards or pen-based input systems for user inputs to the device, but such systems require the user to input data in an unfamiliar manner. Additionally, in a small hand-held messaging device, such as a two-way pager, these systems prove awkward to use.
In order to provide a hand-held electronic device that permits a user the opportunity to enter data into an address book, a calendar, a task list, an email message or a similar text file that requires user-generated data, the instant invention is directed to an input device that is oriented to be used substantially through use of the thumbs. This is accomplished first by providing a keyboard with a minimal number of keys, but with the keys representing the alphabet generally placed in the same order as they would appear on a standard keyboard, such as in a standard QWERTY or a DVORAK keyboard layout. The use of a keyboard layout that is familiar to the user enables the user to immediately use the device without having to hunt for the keys he or she wishes to use.
Although the layout is similar to a standard keyboard, the keys are placed at an orientation 10 and in a particular shape that attempts to maximize the surface area of the thumb hitting the key and to provide the user with a comfortable position of the hands for data input. Also, the orientation encourages input by the thumbs, which the inventors of the instant invention have discovered to be faster and more accurate in small hand-held electronic devices than touch-typing or xe2x80x9chunting and peckingxe2x80x9d typing.
An additional feature of the invention is the use of an additional input means for control of functions that might otherwise be controlled by a keyboard that included function keys. To encourage data entry using thumbs and again to minimize the number of keys on the keyboard, the instant invention also includes a thumb-wheel for control of menus for selection of forms and functions relevant to data input. As discussed below, one of the data forms the thumbwheel is implemented to accommodate is a special character set. The thumb-wheel is positioned in close proximity to the keyboard to enable the easily transition from thumb-based typing to thumb control of forms and functions.
In addition to hardware features that encourage optimal data entry though the use of thumbs, there are several software features that are designed to minimize keystrokes and aid in entry of data.
The features of this invention, both individually and collectively, have not, to the knowledge of the inventors, been applied to a small hand-held electronic device that requires user-generated data entry. To permit efficient operation of such devices while keeping the form in factor of the device small enough to be worn on the body, there is a general need for a hand-held electronic device that can fit in the palm of the hand and that can be operated substantially with the thumbs.
There is a further need for a keyboard for a palm-size data entry device with keys placed at an angle to optimize operation of the keyboard by the use of the thumbs.
There remains another need for a keyboard with keys that are shaped and sized to maximize contact with the thumbs while minimizing the keyboard area required for such keys.
There also remains a need for an auxiliary input device that is to be operated by the thumb for data inputs forms and function control and that, in conjunction with the keyboard, encourages and permits data entry and management through input performed substantially by the thumbs.
There remains still another need for a software-implemented user interface system that is designed, at least in part, to support and encourage data entry through use of the thumbs.
There remains another need for facilitating entry of special or international characters with the thumbs while limiting the keyboard area.
There remains another need for automatically entering certain common punctuation thereby reducing repetitive key entry and increasing the speed of data entry.
There remains another need for automatically entering certain common phrases or electronic signatures without tediously typing the full phrase or electronic signature.
There remains another need for easily removing automatic features when such features are not desired.
There remains another need for executing a set of common instructions for a particular task with a minimum of user data entry.
The present invention overcomes the problems noted above and satisfies the needs in this field for a hand-held electronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hand-held electronic device is a two-way paging or wireless email device (such as the Inter@ctive(trademark) pager manufactured and marketed by the assignee of the present invention) that permits full-text, two-way messaging such as email messaging. The device may also include standard PDA or PTA features such as an address book, an electronic calendar, a task list and other text-based features. Such features require user input of text strings that can be lengthy and that cannot be reduced to pre-determined or xe2x80x9ccannedxe2x80x9d strings. Thus, for such a device, the efficient entry of data in a device meant to fit into the palm of one""s hand requires that two goals are achieved. First, the data entry must be relatively easy from a user perspective. This means that the user must be somewhat familiar with analogous forms of data entry and not have to be trained to use the data entry for the hand-held device. Second, the form factor does not permit a large number of keys or keys that are very large. Thus, efficient use of the keyboard space is required and functions that might be able to be performed by a standard keyboard are off-loaded to an auxiliary input device or are performed, through a normal number of keystrokes that encourage the use of thumb-based data entry.
To accomplish these goals, the invention first optimizes the placement of the keys on the device keyboard. In order to work within the limited space available for the keyboard, it was determined that it was preferable to use keys that were oval or oblong and that were placed at angles designed to facilitate use by thumb typing. An angle for the keys on the right side of the keyboard and a complementary angle for the keys on the left side of the keyboard are chosen based upon observation of the angle at which a user will orient his or her thumbs while thumb-typing.
The invention also minimizes the number of keys available or required for data input. In the preferred embodiment, only keys for the 26 letters of the English alphabet are available as well as a backspace key, a line feed key, an xe2x80x9caltxe2x80x9d key, a xe2x80x9ccapxe2x80x9d key and a space bar. The alt key enables the user in conjunction the other keys to input numbers and symbols to perform certain functions. The placement of the keys is designed to enhance the user experience while typing with the thumbs by meeting two seemingly opposite goalsxe2x80x94minimizing the keyboard footprint while maximizing the likelihood that proper keys will be struck by the thumb-typing user.
Alternative embodiments could include fewer or more keys, including, for example function keys or control keys. The form factor, however, generally limits the number of keys that may be implemented if the goal of facilitating thumb typing is to be met.
The invention also provides additional incentive for the user to use thumb input by providing an input device adjacent to the keyboard, but integral to the overall hand-held device. Although other devices can be used in an auxiliary fashion, the preferred device is a thumbwheel that registers movement of the wheel by measuring the number of indents traversed while rolling the wheel and that also registers as an input the depression or xe2x80x9cclickingxe2x80x9d of the wheel, which is performed by pressing the wheel toward the back of the pager. This clicking of the wheel is similar to the clicking of a mouse associated with a PC or any other input device that registers the depression of a button. The thumbwheel in the preferred embodiment is placed vertically on the two-way paging device so that the user can easily move his or her thumb from the thumbwheel to the keyboard and back for performing functions and retrieving data forms, such as an email template or address book entry template, for data entry.
Additionally, various software techniques can be implemented to enhance the thumb-typing user""s experience in using the device of the instant invention, in the preferred embodiment, for example, the user can change the capitalization of a particular letter simply by keeping a key depressed for a particular length of time without an intermittent release being detected by the keyboard controller.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of changing the character display of a key on a keyboard of a handheld wireless communications device comprising the steps of: receiving a first input from a depression of a keyboard key, the first input defining a first character associated with the depressed keyboard key; receiving a second input from an auxiliary input device in conjunction with the continual depression of the keyboard key; initiating of an altering character condition and processing the altering character condition; and, modifying the first character and submitting for display a second character associated with the depressed keyboard key.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of modifying the character display of a key on a keyboard comprising the steps of: receiving a first input from a depression of a keyboard key, the first input associating a first character associated with the depressed keyboard key; initiating of an altering character condition upon a continual depression of the keyboard key beyond a predefined period of time; processing the altering character condition; and, modifying the first character and submitting for display a second character.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a handheld two-way wireless communications device optimally configured for use with the thumbs of a user comprising, a keyboard; an auxiliary input device positioned in relative proximity to the keyboard and control logic circuitry associated with the auxiliary input device; a display positioned adjacent to the keyboard; a microprocessor to control the operation of the device; and, a software application residing in the communications device for providing a plurality of thumb-based operational features, the software application initiating certain operational features upon certain inputs from the keyboard or the auxiliary input device.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hand-held two-way wireless communications device optimally configured for use with the thumbs of a user comprising: a keyboard having a first set of keys and a second set of keys, wherein the first set of keys is positioned a positive predetermined degree relative to a vertical reference and the second set of keys is positioned a negative predetermined degree relative to the vertical reference; an auxiliary input device positioned in relative proximity to the keyboard; a display positioned adjacent to the keyboard; software residing in the communications device for providing functionality to inputs received from the auxiliary input device and the keyboard.
According yet to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a handheld two-way wireless communications device as described above, and having an auxiliary input device comprising a thumbwheel in a vertical orientation at the front of the device. In an alternative embodiment, the thumbwheel is inclined from the vertical orientation. The inclined thumbwheel is more easily accessible to either the thumb or index finger of a user""s hand at the edge of the device. Moreover, the easier accessibility allows the user to advantageously hold and operate the device in different ways, namely: a single-handed operation and a two-handed operation.
The primary advantage of the present invention is that it enables efficient and user friendly data entry into a palm-sized electronic device by maximizing the potential for user data entry through thumb typing.
These are just a few of the many advantages of the present invention, as described in more detail below. As will be appreciated, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment set forth bellow are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

Hand-held electronic device with auxiliary input device


A calcification treatment device includes an outer body (12) including an inner cavity and at least one outer calcification treatment member (16) facing towards the inner cavity. An inner body (18) is movable into the inner cavity and includes at least one inner calcification treatment member (20) facing towards an inner surface of the outer body. One of the outer and inner calcification treatment members includes an expandable treatment member and one of the outer and inner calcification treatment members includes one or more fracturing elements capable of fracturing a calcification of a valve tissue.

PCT Patent Applications PCT/US2010/058810 and PCT/US2012/067812, assigned to the present assignee, describe devices for fracturing calcifications in heart valves. The device includes a catheter that has an expandable stabilizer, an impactor shaft and an internal shaft, all disposed in an external shaft. Expandable impactor arms are mounted on the impactor shaft. The internal shaft is movable to cause the impactor arms to expand outwards and be locked in an expanded shape. An impacting element is movable to cause the impactor arms, while in the expanded shape, to move towards the tissue with sufficient energy so as to fracture a calcification located in tissue which is fixed by the stabilizer in a certain position vis-à-vis the impactor arms. The internal shaft may be lockable relative to the impactor shaft so that the impactor arms are fixed.
The impaction struts and stabilizer are shaped in accordance with a shape of the desired fracture site, e.g., leaflet bases (close to the annulus) and central folding lines of the native valve. Accordingly, the shapes of the impaction struts and of the stabilizer may include portions with a bicuspid shape, a tricuspid shape, or a semilunar shape, and may additionally have a portion with a depression corresponding to the folding lines, depending on the valve to be treated. Due to these predetermined shapes, the impactor, by impacting against the stabilizer, is able to generate fractures along the leaflet bases (close to the annulus) and central folding lines of the valve.

Remodeling of calcified aortic valve leaflets


A method is described for managing a print shop system in which a plurality of printers are connected to and managed by a server. The server receives a print job including a job ticket and source document to be printed, and generates two or more sub-jobs each including a sub-job ticket and a sub-document by analyzing the job ticket and the content of the source document. The two or more sub-jobs are submitted to a plurality of printers and/or finishing devices in accordance with the sub-job tickets. One particular example is color split printing where black and white pages and color pages of a source document are split into two sub-jobs to be printed by a black and white printer and a color printer, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for managing a print shop system in which a plurality of printers and finishing devices are connected to and managed by a server. In particular, it relates to a method and apparatus for managing and performing print jobs using a plurality of printers and/or finishing devices.
2. Description of Related Art
A professional print shop typically has a plurality of printers and finishing devices connected to a server by a network, where the server controls the printing of customer jobs on one or more printers. The printers and finishing in a print shop typically have different characteristics and capabilities. For example, a print shop typically has both black and white printers and color printers. Printers may also include certain finishing capabilities. Depending on the requirements of the customer's print job specified in a print request (referred to as a job ticket) and the capabilities of the available printer and finishing devices, different parts of the job may be printed using different printers and appropriate off-line finishing devices may used to perform finishing functions. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0042798 describes "a printing system capable of reducing workload of an operator by automatically separating finishing specifics of a printed product into tasks to be performed by an on-line printer and tasks to be performed by an off-line finishing device. The printing system comprises an on-line client, print server and printer as well as an off-line finishing device, and the print server receives the job ticket from the client, separates the finishing specifics included in the received job ticket into those to be performed by the printer and those to be performed by the finishing device based on information regarding specifications and installed options of the printer and finishing device, sets in the printer parameters for the finishing specifics separated and assigned to the printer, and creates data for a finishing device job ticket that includes the finishing specifics separated and assigned to the finishing device." (Abstract.) U.S. Pat. No. 7,061,636 describes a system and method "for a production monitor controller used in a finishing system wherein the controller uses information concerning the constraints of devices within the system to break the job into job segments wherein each job segment conforms to the constraints of the devices operating on the job segment." (Abstract.)

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Print shop management method and apparatus for printing documents using a plurality of devices


A touch sensing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a sensor (13), a flip-flop (16), and a microcontroller unit (17). The sensor is connected to one of input of the flip-flop for receiving electricity signals from an object that touches the sensor. The MCU respectively supplies two AC signals at two outputs thereof to two inputs of the flip-flop. The flip-flop outputs a first type output signal at the output thereof when the sensor not being touched. When being touched, the sensor receives electricity signals from an object, and causes a delay of an AC signal to be inputted to the input of the flip-flop to which the sensor is connected, the delay of the AC signal to be inputted to the input of the flip-flop further causes the flip-flop to output a second type output signal at a output thereof. The MCU detects a change of the output signals of the flip-flop from the first type output signal to the second type output signal and accordingly identifies a touch on the sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to touch sensing apparatuses, and particularly to a touch sensing apparatus for sensing electricity signals of an object.
2. Description of Related Art
There are several available types of touch-sensing apparatuses that may be employed for use as positional indicators in apparatus such as personal computers. Among them, resistive-membrane positioning sensors and capacitive positioning sensors are well known and typically used in several applications. However, the resistive-membrane positioning sensors generally have poor resolutions. In addition, surfaces of the resistive-membrane positioning sensors are often exposed in air, and therefore are easily worn out. Furthermore, resistive-membrane positioning sensors are relatively expensive.
A capacitive positioning sensor typically includes a substrate which supports a first and second interleaved, closely spaced, non-overlapping arrays of conductive plates. An insulating layer overlies the first and second arrays. When an outer surface of the insulating layer is touched, the capacitances of at least one of the columns of plates of the first array and one of the rows of plates of the second array underlying the insulating layer at a location being touched exhibits a change with respect to ambient ground. Based upon the measured capacitance of each column of the first array and row of the second array, a microcomputer produces output signals representing the coordinates of the location being touched. These output signals can be used, for example, to control a position of a cursor on a display screen of a personal computer or to make a selected function command. Although the capacitive positioning sensor has been designed to avoid being exposed in air and thereby to avoid being easily worn out, however, by overlying the insulating layer thereon, the sensitivity of the touch sensing apparatus is reduced.
What is still needed is a touch sensing apparatus with reduced circuitry complexity, improved sense sensitivity, improved efficiency, and lower manufacturing costs.

Touch sensing apparatus using varying signal delay input to a flip-flop


A method and an apparatus provide for determining whether a data terminal equipment (DTE) device represents a compatible device lacking an independent power supply and adapted to be powered using phantom power over a wired connection from a communications device such as a switch. A detection signal may be transmitted from the communications device to an identity network connected to the DTE. A response detection signal may be returned and checked in a receiver at the communications device. A switch may then be closed to provide phantom power if the result of the check indicates that the DTE is a compatible device adapted to receive phantom power. Compatible DTE device may include telephones, Voice over IP (VoIP, IP or Ethernet) telephones, network access devices, computers, and the like.

Telephones and other types of data terminal equipment (DTE) are routinely used for voice data and other forms of telecommunication. Examples of these include voice communication devices or telephones operating through a private branch exchange (PBX) or key telephone system. PBX-type and key telephone system-type telephones typically require the application of external electrical power in order to operate. The power is used to energize circuits within the telephone circuitry, such as processing displays and the like.
There are essentially two practical methods available for powering such telephones. The first method provides power directly to the telephone. This may be accomplished by a wall-mounted transformer providing a direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) low voltage power supply to the telephone from the electric power grid. Such direct power methods have a number of drawbacks. Apart from continuous occupation of a potentially scarce electrical outlet, during a power grid disruption, the power to the telephone may be disconnected rendering the telephone inoperative and effectively precluding emergency telephone usage during the black out.
The second method for providing telephone power involves supplying so-called "phantom power" by coupling a power signal (typically up to about 48 volts DC) to the telephone over twisted pair lines as taught, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,468 entitled "Power Feed for Ethernet Telephones via Ethernet Link". In accordance with a specific embodiment of the aforementioned patent, as illustrated in FIG. 1 hereof, a system 10 including a plurality of data ports 12, 14, and 16 within a communication device such as a switch 18 is provided to transmit data on lines 20 and 22, 24 and 26, and 28 and 30 to and from first, second, and third load devices 32, 34, and 36, respectively. Load devices 32, 34, and 36 may be associated with Ethernet telephones and/or other Ethernet devices 38, 40, and 42 respectively, requiring power to be transmitted to them in addition to data over Ethernet twisted pair lines.
Turning to the first port 12 in FIG. 1 as an example, data on lines 22 and 20 are provided to transmitter 44 and from receiver 46, respectively. Transmitter 44 drives data traffic along pair 48, while receiver 46 receives data from pair 50. First transformer 52 includes a first primary 54 connected to pair 48, and a second primary 56 connected to pair 50.
A similar arrangement exists at first load 32. Second transformer 58 includes a first secondary 60 and a second secondary 62. These are respectively connected to pairs 64 and 66 that are, respectively, connected through receiver 68 and transmitter 70 to load device 32. Ethernet link 72 couples first and second secondaries 74 and 76 of first transformer 52 to first and second primaries 78 and 80 of second transformer 58. Ethernet link 72 preferably comprises a pair of twisted pair conductors 82a and 82b, wherein twisted pair 82a connects first secondary 74 to first primary 78 and twisted pair 82b connects second secondary 76 to second primary 80.
Power coupling may be provided as follows: Secondaries 74 and 76 of first transformer 52 each include a center tap 84 and 86 respectively. Center tap 84 connects to the positive lead 88 of a power supply 90, and center tap 86 connects to the negative lead 92 of power supply 90, which may, preferably, include an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). DC filtering components 94a, 94b, and 94c may be provided as well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Now the entire loop of twisted pair 82a is at the potential of positive lead 88 while the entire loop of twisted pair 82b is at the potential of negative lead 92 without any impact on data transmission. A power processor 96 may preferably be attached to center taps 98 and 100 of first and second primaries 80 and 82 of second transformer 58, respectively, so as to provide a DC power source to the power processor 96.
The power processor 96, shown in more detail in FIG. 2, conventionally includes a filter 102, a rectifier 104, a filter capacitor 106, and a DC—DC converter 108. Other similar arrangements are also well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The power processor 96 may perform DC—DC power conversion and filtering required, as well as provide power over leads 110 and 112 to load 32, which may be an Ethernet telephone or other device.
Returning to FIG. 1, the communication system 10 may be divided into a switch 18 and DTE devices 38, 40 and 42. The switch 18 may be found within a telephone equipment room, for example. Cables may then be routed from the load devices 32, 34, and 36 to the switch 18 for connecting to conventional jacks or connectors of the switch (not shown) such as the well-known type RJ-45 connectors (as used herein the term RJ-45 type connector is intended to include both male (plugs) and female (sockets) variants thereof). Because the switch 18 supplies a DC bias to the center taps 84 and 86, and because the switch 18 may conceivably be used with legacy DTE potentially not compatible with the application of such a voltage, it would be desirable to provide a mechanism for detecting which ports of such a switch 18, should and should not have phantom power applied. Phantom power should then be supplied to a DTE if the switch establishes that the DTE is a compatible IP telephone or other compatible powerable network device. However, a priori determination of this condition is not presently available, and thus a requirement for power at the DTE cannot presently be determined. Accordingly, there exists a need for an efficient, simple, and inexpensive method and apparatus for detection of a compatible IP device that should be provided with phantom power.

Method and apparatus for detecting a compatible phantom powered device using common mode signaling


There is provided a voice input support program, voice input support device, and voice input support method for assisting users to input voice properly. A voice input support program executable from a computer, for assisting voice input under a noisy environment by executing: a noise measurement step that obtains a measured noise level value by measuring a noise level; and a notification step that outputs an instruction about at least one of a voice level at which voice should be spoken and speak timing, based on at least one registered voice level reference value and the measured noise level value measured by the noise measurement step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voice input support program, voice input support device, and voice input support method that assist inputting of voice under noisy environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, voice input support devices are used in various scenes. For example, use of voice input support devices has resulted in practical utilization of a car navigation system that enables handsfree operation during driving.
If a noise level is higher than a predetermined threshold value when users are going to speak, a conventional technique relevant to the invention is, for example, a voice recognition device that does not perform voice recognition (see Patent Document 1: Jpn. Pat. Appln. Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-29785). Another example of relevant technique is a voice recognition device that can change a sound volume and quality in voice synthesis and change an acoustic model in voice recognition (see Patent Document 2: Jpn. Pat. Appln. Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-122042).
However, voice recognition devices often cause recognition errors and irritate users. A major factor causing recognition errors is influence of noise, such as driving noise. Even under equal environments, recognition error rates differ depending on loudness of users' voices. When recognition errors occur, users cannot find out why errors are occurring, recognition errors are repeated, and hence feel much stressed.
According to the technique of the Patent Document 2, users are notified of neither reasons why voice recognition has not been carried out nor how voice recognition can be carried out. Therefore, acceptance of voice recognition can be rejected again so that users feel more stressed. In this technique, a threshold value for noise levels is constant while noise levels that disable voice recognition differ depending on users.
Since users also cannot know how loud users had better speak, users can speak too loud or softly compared with a suitable sound volume. Even if an instruction such as "loud voice", "normal voice", or "low voice" is given to users, users individually speak at different levels of volumes.

Voice input support program, voice input support device, and voice input support method


The present invention provides a method and apparatus for authenticating the identities of network devices within a telecommunications network. In particular, multiple identifiers associated with a network device are retrieved from and used to identify the network device. Use of multiple identifiers provides fault tolerance and supports full modularity of hardware within a network device. Authenticating the identity of a network device through multiple identifiers allows for the possibility that hardware associated with one or more of the identifiers may be removed from the network device. For example, a network device may still be automatically authenticated even if more than one card within the device are removed as long as at least one card corresponding to an identifier being used for authentication is within the device during authentication. In addition, the present invention allows for dynamic authentication, that is, the NMS is able to update its records, including the identifiers, over time as cards (or other hardware) within network devices are removed and replaced.

Telecommunications networks typically include many network devices (i.e., routers, switches, hybrid switch/routers), and the network devices are generally managed/configured through a Network Management System (NMS). The NMS associates each network device with a set of attributes corresponding to the network device's capabilities and current configuration. A network manager may spend a significant amount of time establishing the set of attributes for a particular network device, and when the NMS connects to a particular network device, the NMS must have a mechanism for ensuring that it is definitively linking/synchronizing the correct set of attributes with the correct network device. If the NMS synchronizes a set of attributes with the wrong network device, network performance may be degraded, data may be lost or the network may crash.
Usually the NMS connects to a network device using an Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to the network device. Some NMSs use the network device's assigned IP address as the mechanism for ensuring that the network device to which the NMS is connected is in fact the network device the NMS believes it to be. Unfortunately, the IP address assigned to a network device may change, for example, during a network re-configuration. If a network device's IP address is changed, the NMS would no longer be able to associate that network device with the correct set of attributes unless further steps are taken to associate the new IP address with the existing list of attributes. Moreover, the IP address previously assigned to the network device may be assigned to a different network device, and if the association at the NMS between the list of attributes and the IP address have not been changed, then the NMS would incorrectly associate the set of attributes for one network device with a different network device. This mis-configuration will lead to serious network errors and/or a network crash.
To improve the authentication process, some NMSs take both the IP address and another identifier into consideration. For example, some NMSs allow network managers to input a unique identifier for each network device. The NMS then associates the network device's set of attributes with both the IP address and the unique identifier. For typical transactions with the network device, the NMS uses only the IP address to connect with the network device and complete the transaction. Periodically, however, the NMS connects to the network device using the IP address, retrieves the unique identifier from the network device (e.g., from non-volatile memory or from software) and then compares the retrieved unique identifier to the stored unique identifier that the NMS associates with the IP address. If the unique identifiers match, then authentication is complete. If the identifiers do not match, then the network manager is notified. The identifiers may not match due to a legitimate network change, however, the network manager must go through a manual process of re-synchronizing the NMS association with the network device.
One concern with allowing users to input identifiers is uniqueness. A mechanism must be put in place to insure that similar identifiers are not used within the same network. In addition, if two or more networks are combined—for example, after the merger of two carrier companies—then again, the identifiers must be checked for uniqueness. If two or more identifiers are not unique, typically a manual process must be implemented for changing the identifiers of one or more of the network devices to again insure uniqueness.
Instead of using a user input identifier, an identifier tied to the network device itself may be used. For example, a Media Access Control (MAC) address may be used along with the IP address to definitively authenticate a network device. Many network devices include hardware (e.g., Ethernet access card) for connecting to a Local Area Network (LAN), and in general, MAC addresses are used to send data between devices connected to a LAN. A unique MAC address is assigned to each card having a LAN connection and is typically stored in non-volatile memory (e.g., PROM) on the card. Thus, the NMS may associate a network device's set of attributes with the assigned IP address as well as the MAC address of a LAN connection card within the network device, and periodically, the NMS may retrieve the MAC address from the card and compare it to the stored MAC address associated with the set of attributes and IP address.
Today, network devices often allow for hot swapping of cards, and if the card including the MAC address is replaced with a new card (e.g., an upgraded card), a new MAC address will be read by the NMS during the periodic poll, authentication will not complete successfully and the network manager will be notified. Moreover, for fault tolerance, many network devices have redundant network device cards. If the primary card fails and the redundant card takes over, a new MAC address will be read by the NMS during the periodic poll, authentication will not complete successfully and the network manager will again be notified. Thus, where a card has been replaced as part of a legitimate network device change or a redundant card has taken over as a primary, the new MAC address does not represent an error with respect to the replacement card. Regardless of whether the change in MAC address is due to an error or a planned for network change, the network manager is notified and forced to manually synchronize the NMS with the network device and the network device may not be configured/managed until such synchronization is complete. In addition, the card that was removed from the first network device may be swapped into a second device and the NMS may become out-of-synchronization with both network devices and, due to the MAC address, believe that the second network device is associated with the set of attributes actually belonging to the first network device. This can also crash the network.
As will be readily understood, an improved mechanism for allowing the NMS to definitively link each set of attributes with the appropriate network device in a network is needed.


A process for the production of Li2MSiO4 where M is selected from the group Fe, Mn, Co, and Ni, is disclosed. The process uses an atmospheric-pressure solvothermal synthesis and a calcining step wherein the solvent is selected to be stable from decomposition over the solvothermal process conditions. The solvothermal solvent is recoverable and reusable. The process also relies on an excess of lithium in the starting materials mix to promote phase-purity of the Li2MSiO4 crystalline phase. The Li2MSiO4 material is used as a cathode material in a lithium ion battery cell.

Given the importance of battery technology in enabling of the profusion of portable/mobile electronic and cordless electric devices, battery materials with improved performance and lower cost are of continuing interest. Electric and hybrid vehicles are another major application for high performance battery technology. Commercially, the most important battery class under development today, one having the highest energy density and excellent cycling performance, is the lithium ion battery. Although performance improvement is an ongoing goal, the biggest challenge for lithium ion batteries is achieving low cost.
Research and development is active around the world in all aspects of lithium ion battery composition, design, and manufacturing. Of particularly high importance are efforts aimed at the development of new lower cost, high performance anode and cathode electrode materials, and low cost material preparation methods. The safety of lithium batteries is also a general concern.
A known class of cathode materials receiving attention is that of the lithium metal-silicates having the general formula Li2MSiO4, wherein M can be Fe, Mn, or Co. These materials crystallize as layered intercalation compounds in which Li ions can freely drift in and out of the structure. Of particular interest is the possibility that up to 2 Li ions per formula unit may be extracted from, and returned to, the structure in a given charge/discharge cycle, thereby leading to very high charge storage capacities. While this remains an attractive goal for continuing development of these materials and lithium ion battery cells that incorporate them, this theoretical advantage has not yet been realized in a practical cell.
Once more, cost is a major concern for commercial applications, and from the point of view of raw element cost, and potentially high storage density, the Li2MSiO4 materials offer the opportunity for an improved cost/performance ratio in lithium ion battery technology. Of course material processing cost must also be considered, as material synthesis/processing technology is an important contribution to the overall cost. In general, traditional solid state synthetic methods use substantial amounts of time and energy to achieve a level of comminution of the input materials required to form sufficiently small particles that eventually enable the solid state reaction of the input materials to progress during a calcining and/or a sintering step that gives rise to the desired reaction product phase. This high temperature reaction portion of the process, known as calcining, is energy intensive, requiring both high temperatures and long times a high temperature, because the process relies on diffusion in the solid state over relatively long distances, given the particle-sizes typically achieved by mechanical milling of input materials.
Materials in the Li2MSiO4 family have been produced by a number of routes including traditional solid state ceramic processes. Aravindan et al. in J. Mater. Chem., 2011, 21, 2470, entitled "Influence of carbon towards improved lithium storage properties of Li2MnSiO4 cathodes" disclose a process that uses a stoichiometric solid state synthesis, wherein the starting materials LiOH hydrate, MnCO3, and SiO2 are combined in a stoichiometric manner. They report that the Use of tetraethylene glycol (TEG) in a solvothermal process results in the formation of tarry thermal decomposition by-products that are tedious to remove, and are difficult to control. A sintering temperature of 900° C. is reported, whereby the resulting Li2MSiO4 material is not phase-pure, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals grain sizes in the 1 to 10 micrometer range with substantial particle aggregation. The use of adipic acid as a gelling and capping agent to assist in the synthesis and to prevent aggregation during sintering is also Reported.
US 2011/0269022 A1 to Takahiro Kawakami and Masaki Yamakaji discloses the synthesis of Li2MnSiO4 and Li2FeSiO4 by a traditional solid state synthetic approach, the latter from lithium carbonate, iron oxalate and silicon dioxide. Also disclosed are positive electrode materials comprised of Li2MSiO4, wherein M can be Fe, Mn, or Co, alone or in combination. Sintering temperatures reported are in the range of 700-100° C.
In "Microwave-Solvothermal Synthesis of Nanostructured Li2MSiO4/C (M=Mn and Fe) Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries" by T. Muraliganth et al., Chem. Mater. 2010, 22, 5754-5761, the solvothermal preparation of the title compounds is disclosed. Tetraethylene glycol (TEG) is reported as the solvent for the process. Lithium hydroxide, manganese acetate, and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), in stoichiometric ratios of the cations, are combined in TEG solvent and sealed in a closed reaction vessel. The mixture is heated under stirring by microwave excitation to a temperature of 300° C. and a pressure of 30 atmospheres. However, the requirement of high-pressure sealed-reactor processing is a significant detriment to low cost, high volume manufacturing of Li2MSiO4. The reaction product was washed repeatedly in acetone to remove unwanted reaction by-products, and the authors report a high air sensitivity of the reaction product. The authors report single phase target product after a process step of heating at 650° C. (in Argon) of the solvothermal reaction product, the single phase target product is characterized by an average grain size of about 20 nm. The small grain size results from the solution-based preparation and is beneficial because of improved ionic and electronic conduction. Because of the low intrinsic electronic conductivity of the Li2MSiO4 materials, it is common in the art to coat the Li2MSiO4 particles with carbon. The authors report poor rate performance and severe capacity fade during cycling of the Li2MSiO4/C composite.
What is needed is a process for forming cathode materials of the class Li2MSiO4 having a low cost preparation process that produces a lithium ion battery with superior charge storage density, good rate performance, and extended cyclability, while offering safety in end-use applications.

Method for production of Li2MSiO4 electrode materials


Disclosed is an artificial bone structure for replacement of natural bone and comprising a solid cylindrical portion having an elongate shape. The solid cylindrical portion comprises an auxetic structure of a plurality of artificial osteons and each artificial osteon comprises a first hexagonal unit and a second hexagonal unit having corresponding edges. Furthermore, a first artificial osteon and a second artificial osteon of the plurality of artificial osteons are connected to each other using an edge of a third artificial osteon and about a central axis of each of the first artificial osteon and the second artificial osteon. Moreover, the artificial bone structure comprises a hollow cylindrical portion having an elongate shape, disposed inside of and concentrically with the solid cylindrical portion. The hollow cylindrical portion is configured to comprise an artificial bone marrow therein.

Generally, medical implants have been used for replacement of natural body tissues in a person having suffered from damage thereof. For example, a person having suffered from an accident leading to damage of an arm bone may have to undergo a surgery to get the damaged arm bone replaced with a corresponding medical implant. Such a medical implant is required to be fabricated using a biocompatible material, such that medical implant can be accepted by body of the person as though naturally belonging as a part of the body. Correspondingly, conventional medical implants have improved biocompatibility associated therewith owing to advancement in medical science. However, limited advancement has been made to improve various properties, such as tensile strength and/or elasticity of the medical implants, to enable the properties to correspond to properties of corresponding natural tissues.
In one contemplated solution, provided is an implant including a first disc portion shaped and sized generally to correspond to a first intervertebral disc section having a pivot point positioned relative to a first surface opposite a second surface of the first disc portion and a lattice structure with a negative Poisson's ratio; a second disc portion being shaped and sized generally to correspond to a second intervertebral disc section having a pivot point receptacle positioned relative to a third surface opposite a forth surface of the second disc portion and a lattice structure with a negative Poisson's ratio where the first disc portion and the second disc portion are configured to exhibit an auxetic behavior when subject to compression generally perpendicular to a surface plane of the first surface and the second surface.
In another contemplated solution, provided is an intervertebral disc replacement includes a first layer having a lower surface for contacting a first vertebral bone, a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer comprising a plurality of compressible column springs, and a third layer coupled to the second layer, the third layer having an upper surface for contacting a second vertebral bone. Each of the plurality of compressible column springs comprises a plurality of stacked coils, and each of the plurality of stacked coils has a spring constant (K). At least one of the plurality of compressible column springs includes a first coil having a first spring constant and a second coil comprising a second spring constant, wherein the first spring constant is different from the second spring constant.
However, none of the aforementioned contemplated solutions provide an implant that has properties similar to natural properties of corresponding natural tissues that are to be replaced using the implant.
Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome various problems associated with conventional medical implants.

Artificial bone structure and method of manufacturing artificial bone structure


A signal reproducing apparatus operates on a magnetic tape on which information is recorded according to one of first, second, and third predetermined recording formats. The signal reproducing apparatus includes first and second heads. The first head reproduces a signal from the magnetic tape, and has a first predetermined azimuth angle. The second head reproduces a signal from the magnetic tape, and has a second predetermined azimuth angle different from the first predetermined azimuth angle. A first detector detects a level of the signal reproduced by the first head. First components are separated from the signal reproduced by the second head. The first components have frequencies in a first predetermined band. A second detector detects a level of the first components. Second components are separated from the signal reproduced by the second head. The second components have frequencies in a second predetermined band separate from the first predetermined band. A third detector detects a level of the second components. A decision is made as to which of the first, second, and third predetermined recording formats the signals reproduced by the first and second heads correspond to in response to the levels detected by the first, second, and third detectors.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for reproducing a signal from a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese published examined patent application 6-14723 discloses a method of tracking control in a home-use VTR (video tape recorder). In the method disclosed by Japanese application 6-14723, detection is made as to the presence and the absence of an audio FM signal reproduced via an audio head. In the presence of a reproduced audio FM signal, the tracking error of a rotary head assembly relative to a track on a magnetic tape is detected on the basis of the level of the reproduced audio FM signal. In the absence of a reproduced audio FM signal, the tracking error of the rotary head assembly is detected on the basis of the level of a video FM signal reproduced via a video head. Tracking control is implemented in response to the detected tracking error.
There are plural recording formats used by home-use VTR's. The plural recording formats include first, second, and third recording formats indicated hereafter.
According to the first recording format, an analog video signal is separated into a luminance signal (a Y signal) and a color signal (a C signal). The Y signal is converted by a frequency modulation (FM) process into an FM luminance signal in a frequency band of about 3.4 MHz to 4.4 MHz. The C signal is frequency-down-converted into a signal (a down-converted color signal) in a frequency band under the frequency band assigned to the Y signal. The FM luminance signal and the down-converted color signal are mixed with each other, and the resultant signal mixture is recorded on a magnetic tape via a group of rotary video heads. On the other hand, an audio signal is recorded via an audio head on a linear track extending along an edge of the magnetic tape.
The second recording format is a version extended from the first recording format. The second recording format prescribes audio-signal recording tracks in addition to a linear track. According to the second recording format, 2-channel analog audio signals are converted by frequency modulation (FM) processes into audio FM signals having carrier frequencies of 1.3 MHz and 1.7 MHz respectively. The audio FM signals are recorded on the magnetic tape via a group of rotary audio heads. The rotary audio heads have an azimuth angle considerably different from azimuth angles of the rotary video heads. The rotary audio heads positionally precede the rotary video heads. The rotary audio heads are designed to write the audio FM signals into a deep layer of the magnetic tape on which the rotary video heads can not act. Accordingly, the video signal and the two-channel audio signals are satisfactorily recorded on the magnetic tape.
The third recording format is a version extended from the second recording format. According to the third recording format, 2-channel analog audio signals can be replaced by digital information signals. Thus, digital information signals can be recorded instead of 2-channel analog audio signals.
Japanese published unexamined patent application 6-84107 discloses a video-signal reproducing system. The system of Japanese application 6-84107 includes an analog-signal reproducing head and a digital-signal reproducing head mounted on a same drum. The analog-signal reproducing head is successively followed by an analog-signal reproducing amplifier and an analog-signal processing circuit. The digital-signal reproducing head is successively followed by a digital-signal reproducing amplifier and a digital-signal processing circuit. In the system of Japanese application 6-84107, a sync detector connected to the analog-signal processing circuit decides whether an H-sync signal (or a V-sync signal) in a reproduced analog signal is present or absent. The decision by the sync detector is to detect whether a signal recorded in a magnetic tape is analog or digital. One of the reproduced analog signal and a reproduced digital signal is selected as a final output signal of the system in response to the result of the decision by the sync detector.
There is a known analog/digital VTR using the third recording format. The known analog/digital VTR is able to reproduce signals from a magnetic tape which have been recorded thereon according to any one of the first, second, and third recording formats.

Apparatus for reproducing a signal from a magnetic recording medium


A light beam deflection unit for deflecting a light beam has a carrier seated in rotatable fashion around an optical axis, a reflector arranged at the rotatable carrier, and a reflection face oriented transversely relative to the optical axis. The carrier is connected to a sleeve that laterally surrounds the reflector at least in certain regions, and that rotates with the carrier. The sleeve has a light entry aperture for the incident light beam at an end face facing away from the reflector, and a light exit aperture for the deflected light beam in the generated surface. An achromatic lens that is displaceable in the direction of the optical axis for the purpose of focussing the light beam and that is held by the sleeve is located in the light entry aperture. A wedge-shaped, transparent insert is arranged in the light exit aperture for astigmatism correction.

The invention is in the field of electronic reproduction technology and is directed to a light beam deflection unit in a scanner device for an originals scanning apparatus or recording apparatus. Such a scanner device essentially comprises a light source, for example a laser light source, that generates a light beam that is periodically deflected across a subject with the rotating light beam deflection unit.
In an originals scanning apparatus, also referred to as input scanner, a light beam generated in a scanner device is conducted pixel-by-pixel and line-by-line over an original to be scanned, and the scan light the original reflects or allows to pass is converted into an image signal by an optoelectronic transducer. In a recording apparatus, also referred to as a recorder, exposer or output scanner, the light beam acquired in a scanner device is modulated in intensity by an image signal for recording information and is conducted pixel-by-pixel and line-by-line across a light-sensitive recording material.
In the case of a flat bed scanner, the holder for the original or, the recording material is a plane surface over which the light beam is conducted pixel-by-pixel and line-by-line, and which moves relative to the scanner device. In the case of an inside drum apparatus, the holder for the original or, for the recording medium is designed as a stationary half-shell or trough. The scanner device moves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the holder, and the light beam is radially conducted over the original or, the recording material perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
An inside drum apparatus is disclosed, for example, by EP-A-0 354 028. The light beam deflection unit therein is designed as a reflective surface arranged transversely relative to the direction of light propagation and is connected to a rotating shaft. The light beam is conducted onto a recording material with the assistance of the reflective surface.
Contaminants can collect at the reflective surface during operation of the recording apparatus, and air turbulence can arise at high speeds due to the asymmetrical design with respect to the axis of rotation. This air turbulence leads to noise loads, causes additional dirt in the region of the reflective surface and deteriorates the uniform rotation of the reflective surface.
DE-A41 24 229 already discloses a light beam deflection means with a light entry face and a light exit face for the perpendicularly deflected light beam that is composed of a rotationally seated carrier prism and of a light-transmissive deflection prism that extends in the direction of its rotational axis. The surface of the deflection prism adjoining the carrier prism is designed as a reflection face that proceeds transversely relative to the rotational axis. The deflection prism is glued to the carrier prism, and the two prisms supplement each other at least in regions to form a unit that is symmetrical relative to the rotational axis. Disk-shaped cover elements that project beyond the unit in radial expanse are arranged to the side of the unit.
Only slight air turbulence, contamination and unquiet running in fact occur in this light beam deflection unit due to the cover elements; the manufacture thereof, however, is comparatively complicated since the cover elements must be precisely manufactured and precisely centered at the unit.
DE-A41 30 977 discloses another light beam deflection unit that is composed of a transparent body designed as a spherical segment that has a light entry face, a reflection face, and a light exit face, and is further composed of a carrier member likewise designed as a spherical segment that is glued to the transparent body at the reflection face. The unit formed of the transparent body and of carrier member is rotatable around an axis residing vertically relative to the light entry face and has an outside contour that is rotational-symmetrical at least with reference to the axis. As a result of the spherical designing of the light beam deflection unit, this can rotate at a relatively high speed without creating significant air turbulence and bearing noise.
The known light beam deflection units have proven themselves well up to now. However, light sources, preferably laser light sources, with higher luminous power are required for exposing certain recording materials. In practice, the required luminous powers can currently only be generated by light sources that generate light with a greater wavelength of, for example, 1064 nm. In order to deflect a light beam having a greater wavelength, the light beam deflection units must have a correspondingly large entry aperture in order to obtain comparable pixel sizes and line widths in the exposure, despite the greater wavelength.
The enlargement of the entry aperture in a light beam deflection unit, however, results in an increase in the running noises and in unquiet running. A further disadvantage is that the air turbulences contaminate the reflective surfaces of the light beam deflection unit, this leading to optical losses and, thus, poorer reproduction quality.