According to the present invention, when electronic money is sent from a given network to another network, a money change apparatus performs a money change process to change electronic money current on the given network into electronic money current on another network, and therefore when a user of the given network uses a settling process, by managing this money change process, it is possible to manage the interchange of electronic money between each of the users of the given network and each of the users of another network without affecting the working environment of electronic commerce. Electronic money current on LAN20 is referred to as local electronic money current only on the network. When a terminal NLU4 connected to LAN20 sends money to a terminal NWU2 connected to WAN10, GW1 for controlling the flow of data between LAN20 and WAN10 receives local electronic money sent from the terminal NLU4, changes the local electronic money into electronic money current on WAN10, then sends the electronic money to the terminal NWU2, and when a terminal NWU2 sends money to a terminal NLU4, GW1 receives electronic money sent from the terminal NWU2, changes the electronic money into local electronic money and sends the local electronic money to the terminal NLU4.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to technology for managing electronic money that circulates on networks, such as the Internet.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic commerce (EC) on networks such as the Internet is now spreading widely. Under the circumstances, technology has been proposed for settling accounts in electronic commerce on a network. This technology is called electronic settlement. Some systems and protocols proposed so far are listed in the following.
(1) First Virtual
An electronic settlement system proposed by First Virtual. Credit card settlement is used. It is a precondition that only digital information goods transferable on a network are dealt with. Electronic mail is used to give and accept orders, but facsimile is used to transmit card numbers for security reasons.
(2) CyberCash
An electronic settlement system proposed by CyberCash. Credit card settlement is used. In addition to giving and accepting orders, networks such as the Internet are used to transmit information about card numbers or the like, which need to be safeguarded. Therefore, a powerful encryption process is performed on those items of information before transmission to ensure security.
(3) SET (Secure Electronic Transaction)
This is an electronic settlement protocol, proposed by Visa International, Master Card International, etc. Credit card settlement is used. As in CyberCash, a strong encryption process is conducted on information about giving and accepting orders and card numbers or the like before transmission.
Furthermore, SET provides means for authenticating credit card users and means for authenticating member stores where the credit cards can be used.
(4) Ecash
Ecash is an electronic settlement system proposed by DigiCash and uses the electronic money digital cash system. More specifically, cash settlement is made by electronic money having a value equal to an actual paper currency. The user draws electronic money corresponding to the sum of payment from the storage medium, and sends the money to the recipient.
The above examples (1) to (3) are applications of settlement by credit card to settlement in electronic commerce. Therefore, credit cards are required to settle accounts. Information about a card number or the like, which needs to be protected, must be sent in one form or another. Moreover, the flow of money (who spent how much, and where) is known to a third party, in other words, it shows low anonymity.
In contrast to these, ecash in (4) applies cash settlement by bills and coins for settlement in electronic commerce. Unlike (1) to (3) above, credit cards are not required. Like in cash settlement by bills or coins, it is difficult for a third party to detect the flow of money (strong anonymity).
As has been described, ecash is highly convenient because it does not use credit cards as a means of settlement. Technology, like ecash, which realizes settlement on a network by electronic money, is generally called network type electronic money. Unless otherwise defined, the network type electronic money is hereafter referred to simply as electronic money.
As described in RELATED ART above, there are a variety of kinds of electronic money. It can easily be foreseen that many other kinds of electronic money will appear and circulate intermingling on the networks in the future. At present, however, electronic commerce is impossible between the users of different kinds of electronic money, a fact which greatly reduces the effectiveness of electronic settlement.
With the progress of electronic money, it will become possible for individual persons to easily remit large sums of money across the boundaries of countries. Under such a situation, there are possibilities for the management of currency transfer from one country to another to get out of control, which easily gives rise to financial insecurity, such as inflation or deflation on an international scale.
As described above, electronic money is characterized by its strong protection of anonymity of the user. However, in the case of the conventional ecash described above, when members of organizations, such as business firms, use electronic money, owing to its characteristic, it is anticipated that problems will arise which would not be so troublesome when individual persons use electronic money. To cite some examples,
(1) When a member of an organization settles an account with a user outside the organization by using electronic money, the administrative department (e.g., the accounting or materials department) of the organization is unable to manage the settlement of the account.
(2) Since it becomes possible to send remittance outside the organization easily by the use of electronic money, the amount of damage may run up to an alarming sum in the case of a remittance error, embezzlement or fraud.
With the conventional form of ecash, if a payment is made by electronic money on hand, a sum of payment is collected as a combination of different nominal values of electronic money and the money is sent. For this reason, the user must always be cognizant of the numbers of different pieces of electronic money of different nominal values that he possesses.
The present invention has been made with the above problems taken into consideration, and has its object to enable management of the transfer of electronic money without affecting the working environment of electronic commerce when settlement systems for different kinds of electronic money are used.
To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a method of managing electronic money in a network apparatus installed between a first network and a second network, wherein electronic money circulating only within the first network is designated as electronic money current on the first network (This electronic money is hereafter referred to as electronic money A), the method comprising the steps of:
when a first terminal connected to the first network sends money to a second terminal connected to the second network, receiving electronic money A sent from the first terminal, changing the electronic money A into electronic money current on the second network (The latter electronic money is hereafter referred to as electronic money B), and sending electronic money B to said second terminal; and
when the second terminal sends money to the first terminal, receiving electronic money B sent from the second terminal, changing the electronic money B into electronic money A, and sending electronic money A to the first terminal.
In the above case, the network apparatus is a gateway or a router, for example.
In the present invention, electronic money that can be handled by the first terminal connected to a certain network is assumed to be electronic money A current in that network, in other words, electronic money A is assumed to be a different kind of electronic money from electronic money B current on another network. According to the present invention, a network apparatus connected both to one network and another network is charged with performing a money change function between electronic money A and electronic money B. By this arrangement, the money change process is always performed by the network apparatus during the settlement process when electronic commerce is performed between the first and the second terminals.
Therefore, according to the present invention, when a user of the first terminal connected to a certain network conducts electronic commerce with a user of the second terminal connected to the other network, the network apparatus invariably performs the money change process between electronic money A and electronic money B to settle accounts. Accordingly, the organization (the administrative department, namely, the accounting or materials department) that manages the users connected to that certain network can manage the settlement of accounts between the user at the first terminal connected to the certain network and the user at the second terminal connected to the other network by, for example, recording a history of the money change process at the network apparatus and monitoring the records. As a result, it is possible to minimize trouble in electronic commerce, such as errors in remittance or embezzlement.
Local electronic money can be transferred directly between the users of the terminals connected to a certain network without intervention of the network apparatus, so that anonymity as the advantage in payment by electronic money can be maintained.
In the present invention, when the first terminal sends money to the second terminal, if the nominal value of electronic money A sent from the first terminal is larger than the amount of money previously allotted to the user at the first terminal, the money change process may be designed such that electronic money A is sent back to the first terminal without being converted into electronic money B.
By this arrangement, in electronic commerce between the user at the first terminal connected to the certain network and the user at the second terminal connected to the other network, trouble in electronic commerce, such as an error in remittance or embezzlement, can be further minimized efficiently.
Further, in the present invention, the network apparatus may be so arranged as to change electronic money A sent from the first terminal into a desired combination of different nominal values of electronic money A in response to a command from the first terminal.
In this case, the user at the first terminal can get a desired amount of electronic money A generated even if he is not aware of the quantities of different nominal values of electronic money A that he possesses.

Method and apparatus for managing electronic money and storage for storing an electronic money management program


The display device of this invention, in which the retaining circuit for retaining the image signal is provided for each of the pixel elements, is capable of operating under two operation modes, a normal operation mode and a memory mode. Since the placement of the retaining circuit 110, which requires relatively large area, is confined to the area for the pixel element electrode 17 not in between the neighboring pixel element electrodes 17, the required area for one pixel element is minimized, resulting in the size reduction of the liquid crystal display device. By placing at least a portion of the retaining circuit in the area of the pixel element electrode 17 of the neighboring pixel element, the detour of the wiring can be omitted, resulting in the efficient use of the space. By this, the area required for the retaining circuit is minimized, directly resulting in the reduction of the size of the liquid crystal display device.

There has been a great demand in the market for portable communication and computing devices such as a portable TV and cellular phone. All these devices need a small, light-weight and low-consumption display device, and development efforts have been made accordingly.
FIG. 6 shows a circuit diagram corresponding to a single pixel element of a conventional liquid crystal display device. A gate signal line 51 and a drain signal line 61 are placed on an insulating substrate (not shown in the figure) perpendicular to each other. A selection pixel element selection TFT 70 connected to the two signal lines 51, 61 is formed near the crossing of the two signal lines 51, 61. The source 70s of the selection pixel element selection TFT 70 is connected to a pixel element electrode 17 of the liquid crystal 21.
A storage capacitor element 85 holds the voltage of the pixel element electrode 17 during one field period. A terminal 86, which is one of the terminals of the storage capacitor element 85, is connected to the source 70s of the selection pixel element selection TFT 70, and the other terminal 87 is provided with a voltage common among all the pixel elements.
When a gate signal is applied to the gate signal line 51, the selection pixel element selection TFT 70 turns to an on-state. Accordingly, an analog image signal from the drain signal line 61 is applied to the pixel element electrode 17, and the liquid crystal 21 through the pixel element electrode 17, and the storage capacitor element 85 holds the voltage. The voltage of the image signal is applied to the liquid crystal 21 through the pixel element electrode 17, and the liquid crystal 21 aligns in response to the applied voltage for providing a liquid crystal display image. By disposing the pixel elements as a matrix as described above, the LCD is achieved.
The conventional LCD is capable of showing both moving images and still images. There is a need for the display to show both a moving image and a still image within a single display. One such example is to show a still image of a battery within area in a moving image of a cellular phone display to show the remaining amount of the battery power.
However, the configuration shown in FIG. 6 requires a continuous rewriting of each pixel element with the same image signal at each scanning in order to provide a still image. This is basically to show a still-like image in a moving image mode, and the scanning signal needs to activate the selection pixel element selection TFT 70 by the gate signal at each scanning.
Accordingly, it is necessary to operate a driver circuit which generates a drive signal for the gate signals and the image signals, and an external LSI which generates various signals for controlling the timing of the drive circuit, resulting in a consumption of a significant amount of electric power. This is a considerable drawback when such a configuration is used in a cellular phone device, which has only a limited power source. That is, the time a user can use the telephone under one battery charge is considerably short.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Hei 8-194205 discloses another configuration for display device suited for portable applications. This display device has a static memory for each of the pixel elements. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the circuit diagram of the active matrix display device with a retaining circuit disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent publication Hei 8-194205. A plurality of gate signal lines 51 and reference lines 52 is disposed in a predetermined direction. And a plurality of drain lines 61 are disposed in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction. Between a retaining circuit 54 and a pixel element electrode 17, a TFT 53 is formed. By displaying image based on the data retained in the retaining circuit, the operation of a gate driver 50 and a drain driver 60 is stopped for the reduction of the electric power consumption.
FIG. 8 shows a circuit diagram corresponding to a single pixel element of the liquid crystal display device. On a substrate, the pixel element electrode is deposed in a matrix. configuration. Between the pixel element electrodes 17, the gate signal line 51 and the drain signal line 61 are placed perpendicular to each other. The reference line 52 is disposed parallel to the gate signal line 51, and the retaining circuit 54 is formed near the crossing of the gate signal line 51 and the drain signal line 61. A switching element 53 is formed between the retaining circuit 54 and the pixel element electrode 17. A static memory (Static Random Access Memory: SRAM), in which two inverters INV1 and INV2 are positively fed back to each other, works as the retaining circuit for holding the digital image signal. Since the SRAM dose not need to refresh the memory for retaining the data, the SRAM, which is different from DRAM, is suitable for the display device.
In this configuration, the switching element 53 controls the resistance between a reference line and a pixel element electrode 17 in response to the binary digital image signal held by the static memory and outputted from the retaining circuit in order to adjust the biasing of the liquid crystal 21. The common electrode, on the other hand, receives an AC signal Vcom. Ideally, this configuration does not need refreshing the memory when the image stays still for a period of time.
However, when the static RAM is used in the retaining circuit 54, the number of the required transistors of the retaining circuit is 4 or 6, resulting in the enlargement of the circuit. Also, if the static RAM is placed between the pixel element electrodes 17, the area for the pixel element electrode is reduced. Thus, the following problems result; the numerical aperture of the liquid crystal display device is reduced, and the display device can not be made compact because of the enlargement of the size of the pixel element.


A method for processing optical proximity correction includes preparing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) map; extracting calibration data depending on a focus degree with the CMP map; and correcting optical proximity with the calibration data.

The present invention generally relates to a method for processing optical proximity correction, and more specifically, to a method for processing optical proximity correction with uniformity of the wafer surface in order to secure a process margin.
As the design rule is reduced due to increased integration of semiconductor devices, various researches for forming a fine pattern have been made.
Since the wavelength of exposure lights used in an exposing process becomes shorter, a pattern is not patterned according to a designed layout but is instead distorted.
As the pattern becomes smaller, a light strength of a specific pattern affects that of its adjacent pattern to cause an optical proximity effect where a pattern of the layout on the design has a different shape from that formed over a wafer.
The optical proximity effect needs to be compensated because it degrades performance of semiconductor devices. Optical proximity correction refers to correction of the layout to be formed over the wafer for compensation.
The optical proximity correction includes rule-based optical proximity correction for correcting the layout based on rules of mask layout correction, and model-based optical proximity correction for correcting the mask layout by predicting an image transcribed over the wafer based on mask pattern information and a wafer process condition.
For the model-based optical proximity correction, factors that cause the optical proximity effect should be considered. These factors include a process condition where a pattern of the designed layout is patterned over an actual wafer, and an exposed resulting structure.
In other words, these factors include exposure energy of an exposure light source, a focus and a topology of patterns formed over the wafer through an exposing process.
However, since the topology is measured only in consideration of the average thickness of a thin film of the wafer, variables generated from a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process or a deposition process cannot be verified accurately.
That is, since the topology is measured by the average thickness of patterns formed in the wafer, the topology is different in each region depending on the patterns. As a result, it is difficult to prevent collapse of the patterns in a region that is not exposed by the best focus because the focus is different.
Although the optimum condition is set for optical proximity correction, an optical proximity correction condition is different depending on the topology of the wafer, so that it is difficult to prevent damages generated in each region of the wafer.

Method for processing optical proximity correction


The tradeoff between breakdown voltage and on-resistance for LDMOS devices has been improved by having two epitaxial Nxe2x88x92 regions instead of the single epitaxial Nxe2x88x92 region that is used by devices of the prior art. The resistivities and thicknesses of these two Nxe2x88x92 regions are chosen so that their mean resistivity is similar to that of the aforementioned single Nxe2x88x92 layer. A key feature is that the lower Nxe2x88x92 layer (i.e. the one closest to the Pxe2x88x92 substrate) has a resistivity that is greater than that of the upper Nxe2x88x92 layer. If these constraints are met, as described in greater detail in the specification, improvements in breakdown voltage of up to 60% can be achieved without having to increase the on resistance. A process for manufacturing the device is also described.

The invention relates to the general field of lateral diffused MOS (LDMOS) devices with particular reference to improving voltage breakdown without increasing on-resistance
An LDMOS device is basically a MOSFET fabricated using a double diffusion process with coplanar drain and source regions. A typical structure of the prior art is shown in FIG. 1. Nxe2x88x92 body of silicon 12 (that typically has a resistivity between about 0.1 and 1 ohm-cm) is isolated from Pxe2x88x92 substrate 11 by P+ boundaries 13. Pxe2x88x92 well 18 extends dohwnwards from the top surface and includes N+ source 17 whose distance L from the junction between 12 and 18 defines the channel. With the application of positive voltage VG to polysilicon gate 16 (beneath which is a layer of gate oxide not explicitly shown), current can flow through the channel from source 17 into Nxe2x88x92 body 12 to be collected at N+ drain 17.
Metal contact 15 shorts source 17 to P+ ohmic contact 19 and thence to substrate 12. This allows source current to be applied through the substrate which can then be cooled through a heat sink. The role of field oxide regions 14 is to release electric field crowding at poly edge of drain side.
The on-resistance of devices of this type is roughly proportional to their breakdown voltage because the value of the latter is determined by the resistivity of Nxe2x88x92 region 12. Thus, a compromise has to be made between minimum on-resistance and maximum breakdown voltage. Additionally, the higher the on-resistance the lower the high frequency cutoff of the device.
FIG. 2 is a plot of drain current vs. drain voltage in the off state for a device of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 This device had an on-resistance of around 1.1 mohm.cm2 and, as can be seen, breakdown has occurred at about 40 volts. The present invention discloses how the voltage breakdown of such a device may be raised by about 60% without having to increase the on-resistance.
A routine search of the prior art was performed with the following references of interest being found:
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,046, Hsing et al. disclose a DMOS device with a 2 step doping Nxe2x88x92 and N+ in an epi layer. As will become apparent, this invention teaches directly away from the present invention. Gregory, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,069,034, shows a DMOS with a buried drain that is connected to the surface through a sinker. U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,371 (Blanchard) discloses a VDMOS device similar to that of Hsing et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,314 (Depetro et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,48,147 (Mei) show related patents.
It has been an object of the present invention to provide an LDMOS device having significantly higher breakdown voltage, for the same on-resistance, than similar devices of the prior art.
This object has been achieved by having two epitaxial Nxe2x88x92 regions instead of the single epitaxial Nxe2x88x92 region that is used by devices of the prior art. The resistivities and thicknesses of these two Nxe2x88x92 regions are chosen so that their mean resistivity is similar to that of the aforementioned single Nxe2x88x92 layer. A key feature is that the lower Nxe2x88x92 layer (i.e. the one closest to the Pxe2x88x92 substrate) has a resistivity that is greater than that of the upper Nlayer. If these constraints are met, as described in greater detail in the specification, improvements in breakdown voltage of up to 60% can be achieved without having to increase the on-resistance.

Method of forming LDMOS device with double N-layering

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company


A surgical implant or external wound dressing which functions as both a hemostat and a device to safely and effectively deliver any of a number of pharmaceuticals to targeted tissue at a controlled rate is disclosed. The device generally comprises a carrier in the form of fibers, sutures, fabrics, cross-linked solid foams or bandages, a pharmaceutical in solid micoparticulate form releasably bound to the carrier fibers, and a lipid adjuvant which aids the binding of the microparticles to the fibers as well as their function in the body.

In order to improve the effectiveness and functionality of wound dressings and surgical implants, various attempts have been made to incorporate them with a variety of medicaments such as antibiotics, analgesics, and the like.
Examples of antibacterial wound dressings are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,743 to Klemm et al. , U.S. Pat. No. 2,804,424 to Stirn et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 2,809,149 to Cusumano. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,987,797 to Stephenson discloses a suture rendered antimicrobial.
Dressings which attempt to promote wound healing are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,155 to Reich. Most prior art surgical bandages and dressings which incorporate medications are made by soaking the material in an aqueous solution of the medicine. This can render the carrier brittle and inflexible upon drying. Moreover, it is difficult to control the rate of release of the medicament, or its effect on peripheral tissues, when it is applied to the carrier dissolved in a liquid state. Also, many important medicines are water insoluble and cannot be applied by this technique. Alternatively, the medicament is applied to the dressing or implant as a powder or dust which is quickly released and possesses a danger that large drug particles may irritate tissue or enter the circulatory system where they can block capillaries.
In addition to externally applied dressings, it is also known to impregnate an implantable surgical material with a medicament. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,977 to Hoffman Jr. et al. disclose a synthetic vascular graft that is impregnated with collagen and a medicament.
Additionally, Boyes-Varley et al. in Int.J. and Maxillafac. Surg. 1988; 17:138-141, describe the use in an animal study of a the Gelfoam.RTM. brand sponge with a saline solution of medicaments. However, the Physicians' Desk Reference, (Medical Economics, Co., Oradell, N.J.) 1992 edition warns that "it is not recommended that Gelfoam.RTM. be saturated with an antibiotic solution or dusted with antibiotic powder." A similar warning is provided with the entry of another popular surgical implant--the Surgicel.RTM. brand absorbable hemostat--which states that "the Surgicel.RTM. hemostat should not be impregnated with anti-infective agents."
It would be desirable to have a method for safely and effectively impregnating externally applied dressings as well as implantable sponges and hemostats, especially the popular Gelfoam.RTM. and Surgicel.RTM. brands. More particularly, it would be desirable to impregnate the dressings or implants with medicament in neither a solute nor a powder form, but a form which permits the drug concentration and release rate to be controlled.

Drug releasing surgical implant or dressing material

The Unites States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


The present invention relates to a jet regulator (1) having a jet fractionating device inside a mounting housing (6). The jet regulator (1) according to the present invention is characterized in that the mounting housing (6) is divided into at least two housing parts (7, 8), and that the housing parts (7, 8) can be connected to one another, and that a housing part (7) at the flow inlet side is connected fixedly and non-releasably with the jet fractionating device (2). The jet regulator (1) according to the present invention is distinguished by a high degree of shape stability and by manufacturing costs that are nonetheless low, even for small housing diameters (see FIG. 1).

The present invention relates to a jet regulator having a mounting case that is divided into at least two case parts that can be connected to one another. A jet regulator of the above-noted type is known for example from DE 30 00 799 A1. The known jet regulator, which can for example be built into the outflow mouth of a sanitary outflow armature, has in the interior of its mounting housing a jet fractionating device, formed as a perforated plate, that divides the inflowing jet of water into a multiple of individual jets. In a jet regulating device, these individual jets are formed (after an admixture of air if necessary) into a homogenous, soft-beading, non-spraying water jet.
In the known jet regulator, the perforated plate that acts as a jet fractionating device is formed as a separate plastic part that can be placed into the mounting housing of the jet regulator from the flow inlet side. In order to enable good fractionation of the inflowing jet of water into the individual jets in the perforated plate, it is desirable that the axial longitudinal extension of the flow holes in the perforated plate be relatively short, thus resulting in a correspondingly small thickness of the perforated plate. However, because the perforated plate, whose plane is oriented transverse to the direction of flow, can be exposed to high water pressures, and because the perforated plate, which is made of plastic, tends to exhibit undesirable deformations that negatively affect its functioning, especially at high water temperatures and if the plate thickness is too small, a certain minimum thickness of the perforated plate is nonetheless required.
From DE-U-200 06 163, a jet regulator of the above-noted type is known whose mounting housing is divided into two housing parts that can be connected to one another. Inside the housing of the known jet regulator, there is provided a flow rectifier, a homogenizing device being connected downstream in the direction of flow from this flow rectifier. While the flow rectifier directs the individual jets flowing in the line cross-section in approximately the same direction of flow, these individual jets flowing in the same direction are subsequently combined in the homogenizing device to form a homogenous, soft-beading, non-spraying water jet. Here, the flow rectifier, which is comparatively large and has significantly larger flow openings in comparison with the subsequent homogenizing device, is connected fixedly and non-releasably with the case part at the flow inlet side of the mounting case.
Because a flow rectifier for the regular orienting of the individual jets must also have a comparatively large axial longitudinal extension, and thus a correspondingly large plate thickness, the plate-shaped flow rectifier, which is provided with through-holes, of the jet regulator known from DE-U-200 06 163 is sufficiently stable to withstand high water pressures on its own. Because the jet regulator known from DE-U-200 06 163 does not have a jet fractionating device, in this known prior art the problems stated above in relation to DE 30 00 799 A1 do not arise here.
The object therefore arises of creating a jet regulator of the type named above, having a jet fractionating device, said jet regulator being distinguished by a high degree of stability in its shape, even at small housing diameters, while nonetheless being inexpensive to manufacture.
In the jet regulator of the type named above, the solution according to the present invention of this problem is to be found in the features recited in patent claim 1.
The jet regulator according to the present invention comprises a jet fractionating device, to which there is connected downstream, at the flow outlet side, a jet regulating device and/or a flow rectifier. So that this jet fractionating device can divide the inflowing water jet into a multiplicity of individual jets, the flow holes of the jet fractionating device have a smaller inner diameter in comparison with the flow openings of the jet regulating device, or of the jet rectifier. In contrast to the prior art known from DE 30 00 799 A1, which, unlike the jet regulator known from DE-U-200 06 163, likewise has a jet fractionating device, the jet fractionating device of the jet regulator according to the present invention is connected fixedly and non-detachably with a case part at the flow inlet side. Because a sensitive jet fractionating device, for example a thin perforated plate, is also connected at its peripheral edge with the case part in a secure, fixed, and protected manner, no significant deformation of the jet fractionating device, negatively affecting its functioning, is to be expected, even at hot water temperatures and high water pressures. Because the jet fractionating device of the jet regulator according to the present invention is held fixedly and non-detachably on the inner case wall, and because an annular flange is no longer required there as a support for the jet fractionating device, the jet regulator according to the present invention can be constructed with a comparatively small case diameter even for high flow rates; in the prior art known from DE 30 00 799 A1, this was possible only in jet regulators having low flow rates. Due to the jet fractionating device, connected fixedly with the mounting housing, the mounting housing experiences a radial stiffening that also makes the sleeve-shaped mounting housing more stable and resistant to breakage overall. While in known jet regulators, in which a separate perforated plate was mounted in the external housing as a jet fractionating device, sealing problems constantly arose between the perforated plate and the sleeve-shaped external housing, the jet regulator according to the present invention offers the essential advantage that these sealing problems do not arise, due to the fact that the jet fractionating device and the housing part at the flow inlet side are constructed in one piece. Because the mounting housing is made of at least two housing parts that can be connected to one another, it is nonetheless possible as needed to place a jet regulating device, connected downstream from the perforated plate in the direction of flow, and additional required functional units as needed, into the mounting housing. The jet regulator according to the present invention is therefore distinguished by a high degree of shape stability while at the same time having a low manufacturing cost.
In order to make it possible to construct the jet regulator according to the present invention in modular form if necessary, and in order to be able to exchange the functional units situated in at least one of its housing parts as needed, it can be advantageous if at least two housing parts can be connected to one another in releasable fashion.
As a jet fractionating device, any suitable design can be used that divides the jet of water flowing into the jet regulator into a multiplicity of individual jets. In this way, the jet fractionating device can for example also be realized as a baffle plate. In a preferred specific embodiment according to the present invention, however, it is provided that the jet fractionating device is formed as a perforated plate.
Insofar as a strong or less strong braking of the flow of water in the jet regulator according to the present invention is desired, it is possible to adapt the jet regulator by exchanging the jet regulating device as well as the functional units connected downstream therefrom. A preferred specific embodiment of the present invention therefore provides that at least two jet regulating devices that can optionally be placed into the mounting housing are allocated to the mounting housing, which is made up of at least two housing parts that can be connected to one another.
The housing part at the flow inlet side of the jet regulator according to the present invention can be manufactured at low expense as a one-piece plastic injection-molded part, if the jet fractionating device is connected in one piece with the housing part allocated thereto.
The expense associated with the manufacture of the jet regulator according to the present invention is further reduced if the mounting housing has two adjacent housing parts that can be connected to one another in a dividing plane oriented transverse to the inflow direction.
It is possible for at least two housing parts of the jet regulator according to the present invention to be connected with one another for example by gluing or welding.
However, the housing parts of the jet regulator according to the present invention can be connected to one another in a particularly simple and convenient fashion if the housing parts of the mounting housing can be locked with one another in releasable fashion.
A preferred specific embodiment of the present invention provides that a housing part at the flow outlet side is constructed in the form of a sleeve, and that at least one insert part of the jet regulating device or a functional unit of this sort can be placed into this housing part. Here, it is advantageous if the at least one insert part can be placed into the housing part allocated to the functional unit from the flow inlet side of this housing part, up to an insert stop or a support.
In order to make it possible to easily adapt the jet regulator according to the present invention to a wide range of requirements, while using the same mounting housing, a plurality of jet regulating devices that can optionally be placed into the mounting housing can be allocated to this mounting housing. In addition, or instead of this, it is possible for the jet regulating device of the jet regulator to have a modular construction, and for a plurality of insert parts that can optionally be combined with one another to be allocated to this jet regulating device.
In a specific embodiment, warranting separate protection, of the jet regulator according to the present invention, it is provided that the jet regulating device comprises at least one insert part that can be placed into the mounting housing and that has webs that are oriented transverse to the direction of flow and that delimit between them through-openings, and that the webs of at least one insert part are disposed in the fashion of a grid or net, intersecting at intersect nodes.
In the interior of its mounting housing, this jet regulator has a jet regulating device that has at least one insert part that can be placed into the mounting housing. This at least one insert part has webs that are situated in a plane oriented transverse to the direction of flow, with the webs being disposed in the manner of a grid or net, intersecting at intersect nodes. Due to this grid- or net-type structure, the at least one insert part can comprise a large number of webs even on a comparatively small cross-sectional surface, which separate the incoming jet of water into a multiplicity of individual jets. Thus, an effective mixing and jet regulation can be achieved even with high flow rates on a comparatively small cross-sectional surface. Even given a large number of webs, these webs can be disposed in the fashion of a grid or net in such a way that the through-openings are nonetheless sufficiently large to allow dirt particles carried along in the stream to pass.
A preferred specific embodiment according to the present invention provides that the at least one insert part of the jet regulating device is situated relative to the jet fractionating device in such a way that the individual jets produced in the jet fractionating device impinge on intersect nodes of the at least one insert part.
In order to additionally increase the effectiveness of the dividing of the individual jets, and in order to additionally improve the jet regulating properties even for the smallest cross-sectional surface, it is advantageous if at least two adjacent insert parts are provided that have webs that are disposed in the manner of a grid or net. In this specific embodiment, the jet regulating device comprises at least two insert parts having webs that intersect at intersect nodes in, for example, the manner of a grid. At these intersect nodes, each individual jet of water is again effectively divided into a plurality of individual jets in such a way that an effective mixing and jet regulation can be achieved even at high flow rates and with a comparatively small cross-sectional surface of the inventive jet regulator.
A specific embodiment of the present invention thereby provides that the webs and intersect nodes of the at least two adjacent insert parts align with one another. A particular advantage of such a specific embodiment is that at least two insert parts can be identical in construction.
In another specific embodiment that represents a further development of the present invention, distinguished by an especially effective division of the water jets in the smallest space, it is provided that the intersect nodes of an adjacent insert part are connected downstream in the direction of flow from the through-openings of the insert part to which it is adjacent.
A simple specific embodiment according to the present invention that can be manufactured at low cost provides that at least one insert part, situated at the flow inlet and/or flow outlet side, has a grid-type construction, and comprises two intersecting sets of parallel grid webs. In addition, or instead of this, an insert part at the flow inlet and/or flow outlet side can have a set of radial webs that intersect at the intersect nodes with a set of webs that are arranged concentrically or in annular fashion. According to a further proposal of the present invention, it is provided that an insert part at the flow inlet side and/or an insert part at the flow outlet side has webs that intersect in stelliform fashion, or in the manner of a net.
However, it is also possible that the webs of at least one insert part form a honeycomb-shaped grid structure.
A construction of the jet regulator according to the present invention that saves space in the axial direction as well is favored if the webs of at least one insert part are situated in a plane that is preferably oriented transverse to the direction of flow, and if in particular the insert parts have a plate-shaped design. In order to unite, at the flow outlet side, the individual jets produced in the jet regulating device to form a homogenous non-spraying overall jet, it is advantageous for the width of the through-openings of the flow rectifier to be smaller than their length in the direction of flow. Here it is particularly useful for the flow rectifier to be situated at the exit end of the mounting case.
The flow rectifier can be connected in one piece with the mounting housing, or can be placed into the mounting housing as a separate insert part. While a jet regulator that can be placed into the mounting housing as a separate insert part further supports the modular design of the jet regulator according to the present invention, a flow rectifier connected in one piece with the mounting housing can also act as a guard against vandalism of the jet regulator at the flow outlet side.
The flow rectifier of the jet regulator according to the present invention can also be adapted in its construction to the particular housing of application and the purpose of use. Thus, it can for example be provided that the flow rectifier has through-openings that are rectangular, shaped as segments of a circle, or honeycomb-shaped.
However, it is also possible for the flow rectifier and/or the jet regulating device to comprise at least one metal sieve.
The effectiveness of the jet regulating device used is further increased if the intersect nodes of an insert part of the jet regulating device that immediately follows the perforated plate are connected downstream from the through-holes of the perforated plate.
A preferred specific embodiment according to the present invention provides that the housing part at the outflow side has a soft and/or water-repellent surface at least in the area of the water exit opening. The advantage of this specific embodiment consists in the freedom from calcification in the area of its water exit opening. In addition, a soft surface is easy to clean, in particular by manual stripping off of deposits that may accumulate.
For the same reasons, it can be advantageous if, in addition to or instead of the measure just described, the housing part at the outflow side is manufactured from an elastic material, at least in the area of the water exit opening. Here, rubber, silicon, thermoplastic elastomers, or other rubber-like materials are preferably to be used.
In order to promote simple manufacture of the jet regulator according to the present invention even in the area of its housing part at the outflow side, it is advantageous if the housing part at the outflow side is made essentially of an elastic material and/or a material having a surface that is soft or that repels water.
So that a housing part made from a rubber-like material is inherently sufficiently stable, and can also be fastened to the adjacent housing part by, for example, a locking connection, it is advantageous if the housing part at the outflow side is reinforced by longitudinal webs that are preferably distributed uniformly in the circumferential direction.
A preferred specific embodiment according to the present invention thereby provides that the longitudinal webs are provided at least in the area of the exit opening.
A particularly advantageous development according to the present invention, warranting separate protection, provides that the housing part at the outflow side comprises, in the area of the water exit opening, at least one constriction or similar narrowing of its flow cross-section. This constriction or similar narrowing of the flow cross-section has a calibrating effect on the outflowing jet of water and its flow pattern. The narrowing of the flow cross-section is provided in the area of the water exit opening, and thus in an area that is connected downstream from possible disturbing contours in the direction of flow. The calibration of the water jet significantly promotes a homogenous, non-spraying, and low-noise flow pattern.
In order to further simplify the manufacture of the jet regulator according to the present invention, it is advantageous if the housing part at the outflow side can be connected with the housing part that is adjacent at the flow inlet side, preferably via a locking connection, in particular a peripheral one.
Additional features of the present invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in connection with the claims and the drawing. The individual features can be realized individually or in combination in a specific embodiment of the present invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In a radar image processing device and a radar image processing method which can accurately extract a change of a ground surface, a communication interface unit (10) obtains a plurality of radar image data of a same observation target obtained at different times and stores in a radar image storage unit (12), and a registration processor (14) reads the plurality of radar image data from the radar image storage unit (12) and registrates the radar image data with respect to each other. Then, a characteristic value calculating unit (18) calculates a plurality of characteristic values indicating a state of a ground surface which is the observation target based on the positioned radar image data. A change candidate region extracting unit (34) extracts change candidate regions for each of the characteristic values, and a judging unit (36) extracts a region of land cover change of the observation target from the change candidate regions using a threshold value, an extracting condition, and a judging function determined by a judgment method determining unit (24).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radar image processing device and a radar image processing method which extracts a region of land cover change of an observation target from time series of image data obtained at different times by a radar device equipped in a flying object such as an artificial satellite and an airplane.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, techniques are put in practical use having a part of a ground surface as an observation target and which observes a change of the observation target. For example, there is known a method in which a change of a ground object is extracted using optical image data. However, because it is not possible to acquire optical image data at bad weather, there is a problem in that the method is not practical.
In consideration of this, a technique has been proposed for observing a change of a ground surface using a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) or the like. The SAR is an active sensor which measures reflection, from the ground surface, of a microwave pulse irradiated from an artificial satellite or the like, and can observe in daytime and at nights and regardless of the weather. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique which detects a change based on a correlation value of two radar image data of the observation target obtained at different times by a radar device. In addition, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a technique which extracts a region of change of a ground surface based on a change in time of a backscattering coefficient of the radar image data.
[Patent Document 1] JP 2006-3302 A
[Non-Patent Document 1] Yuichiro USUDA, et al., "A study on Early Detection Method for Land Cover Change using Time-series SAR Images", Journal of the Japan Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 44, 6, 48-57, 2005
In the above-described Patent Document 1, a coherence value indicating a correlation of two radar images obtained at different times is calculated, and the change with respect to time of an observation target occurring between the different times when the two radar images are obtained is detected through a threshold value process based on the coherence value, taking advantage of the fact that the coherence value is 1 when the two radar images completely match each other and approaches 0 as the difference between the two radar images is increased. However, in a region of vegetation, the coherence value is reduced due to change in season. In addition, there has been a problem in that when the baseline length of the SAR is large, the coherence value is reduced over the entire image.
In Non-Patent Document 1, on the other hand, a backscattering coefficient which depends on the projections and depressions on the ground surface and dielectric constant obtained from the SAR is obtained, a difference of scattering coefficients between different times is calculated, and pixels having a difference of a predetermined threshold value or greater is extracted as a region of land cover change. However, there has been a problem in that the scattering coefficient may change due to a change in the amount of moisture in soil even though the surface is not changed and the scattering coefficient may significantly change for a building with a slight difference in the angle of incidence.
Because of these circumstances, it has been difficult to accurately extract the presence/absence of a change in a ground surface by only one of the coherence value and the scattering coefficient, due to a difference in the imaging time, weather, angle of incidence, and ground coverage of the observation target.
In addition, when SAR data of a high resolution is used for extracting a region of land cover change such as a ground coverage, if a small region of land cover change is to be extracted, an excessive extraction part becomes large. For example, there is a possibility that a moving object such as an automobile is excessively extracted.
Moreover, the mechanism of the scattering of the microwave by a ground object is very complex and a speckle noise in a shape of dispersed dots is present in the image. Because of this, when it is determined whether or not there is a change merely by the threshold value, there is a possibility that many noise is erroneously extracted.

Radar image processor and method of radar image processing


Compositions comprising epoxy resins containing one or more rodlike mesogenic moieties per molecule are cured with polyamines containing one or more rodlike mesogenic moieties per molecule. These curable compositions can be oriented by the application of an electric field or magnetic field or drawing and/or shear flow prior to and/or during curing. The resultant cured products exhibit an improvement in one or more physical and/or mechanical and/or thermal properties as compared to a like epoxy resin system which does not contain any rodlike mesogenic moieties.

Epoxy resins are a well established class of curable (thermosettable) compositions which find utility in a myriad of applications. The curing of epoxy resins is effected by a wide range of curing agents, for example, the primary and secondary polyamines including the aliphatic amines, cycloaliphatic amines and aromatic amines; dicarboxylic acids and anhydrides thereof; aromatic hydroxyl containing compounds; imidazoles; guanidines; urea-aldehyde resins, melamine-aldehyde resins and alkoxylated derivatives thereof; amidoamines, and various combinations thereof. In many of the applications served by epoxy resins, it would be desirable to improve one or more of the physical and/or mechanical and/or thermal properties of the cured products.
Corley et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,154 (issued Dec. 13, 1988) discloses the use of aromatic azopolyamine curing agents with epoxy resins. A compound included as an azopolyamine curing agent is ##STR1## while the diglycidyl ether of 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl is included as one of the epoxy resins suitable for use.
Dhein et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,901 (issued Aug. 9, 1988) discloses the preparation of polymeric networks having superstructures via polymerization of liquid crystalline materials within the liquid crystalline temperature range of said materials. Certain specific epoxy resins and certain specific diamines containing a liquid crystalline moiety are described in the teachings, with a specific example of the glycidyl ether of 4'-hydroxyphenyl-4-hydroxybenzoate cured with 4'-aminophenyl-4-aminobenzoate being disclosed.
The present invention provides a method for improving one or more of the physical and/or mechanical and/or thermal properties of cured epoxy resins by incorporating one or more specific rodlike mesogenic structures into the epoxy resin and one or more of any rodlike mesogenic structures into the polyamine curing agent used therewith. These epoxy resin and polyamine curing agent compositions exhibit ordering of the molecular chains in the melt phase. This morphology is susceptible to flow induced orientation during processing which can result in enhanced unidirectional mechanical properties. This is not possible to any extent with conventional (non-mesogenic) epoxy resin and curing agent compositions. The simultaneous presence of rodlike mesogenic moieties in the epoxy resin as well as the polyamine curing agent allows for a greater concentration of said moieties in the cured products thereof and thus a higher susceptibility to induced orientation.

Curable mixtures of mesogenic epoxy resins and mesogenic polyamines and cured compositions


A hollow handle accommodates a reversible shaft with a different functionality at each end. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a first end of the shaft is configured with an integral telescoping magnetic pick up tool, and a second end of the shaft is adapted to receive modular double-ended screwdriver bits. The reversible shaft is retained within the handle by a conventional spring loaded ball configuration located at the mid-point of the shaft and is prevented from rotating within the handle by preferably two wings projecting radially outwardly from the shaft. The spring loaded ball and the two wings are retained within a corresponding recess and two co-operating slots, respectively. The recess and slots are defined in a metal sleeve molded into the handle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to hand tools, and in particular, to a screwdriver or nutdriver or the like. For convenience, the specification will refer to "screwdrivers", but it should be clearly understood that it is a convenience only, and does not exclude other similar tools.
Screwdrivers with a shaft adapted to retain modular bits which are stored in either the handle or the shaft are well known. Similarly, screwdrivers with modular shafts for different types of screws which are stored in the handle are also well known. However, greater flexibility is often desirable, and accordingly, it would be advantageous to create a self-contained tool which can possess an additional function other than that of a screwdriver.


The present invention is directed to the use of sterol absorption inhibiting compounds, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, therapeutic combinations and their use in combination with other lipid lowering agents to treat or prevent sitosterolemia and/or to lower the concentration of sterol(s) other than cholesterol in plasma or tissue of a mammal. Methods of treating or preventing vascular disease and coronary events also are provided.

Sitosterolemia is a genetic lipid storage disorder characterized by increased levels of sitosterol and other plant sterols in the plasma and other tissues due to increased non-selective intestinal absorption of sterols and decreased hepatic removal. Individuals having sitosterolemia can exhibit one or more of the following conditions: tendon and tuberous xanthomas, arthritis, hemolytic episodes, accelerated atherosclerosis and myocardial infarctions, and can die at an early age due to extensive coronary atherosclerosis. See Nguyen et al., "Regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis in sitosterolemia: effects of lovastatin, cholestyramine, and dietary sterol restriction", Vol 32, Journal of Lipid Research, pp. 1941-1948, (1991), incorporated by reference herein.
Sitosterolemia can be treated with bile acid sequestrants (such as cholestyramine, colesevelam hydrochloride and colestipol), however, these compounds have a tendency to cause constipation in patients and therefore compliance with this treatment is difficult. Bile acid sequestrants (insoluble anion exchange resins) bind bile acids in the intestine, interrupting the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids and causing an increase in the fecal excretion of steroids. Use of bile acid sequestrants is desirable because of their non-systemic mode of action. Bile acid sequestrants can lower intrahepatic cholesterol and promote the synthesis of apo B/E (LDL) receptors which bind LDL from plasma to further reduce cholesterol levels in the blood.
Alternative treatments include ileal bypass surgery and selective low density lipoprotein plasmapheresis, which are physically undesirable for the patient.
An improved treatment for sitosterolemia is needed which can reduce the concentration of sterols in plasma and tissues and inhibit associated debilitating physical effects. Also, treatments which reduce the plasma or tissue concentration of non-cholesterol sterols such as phytosterols and 5α-stanols are needed.

Use of substituted azetidinone compounds for the treatment of sitosterolemia


A method and apparatus is presented where similar Internet site names are handled in an improved manner at a Domain Name Server. In one example, a first site name from a computer system coupled to the Internet is compared to a variety of site names through a regular expression comparison. Thus, a site that has a number of similar site names (and potentially new site names that will have a similar format) will be better able to handle attempted accesses to site names that should logically go to its site.

A network system includes a number of computer systems and local networks connected in such a manner to allow communication between them. The Internet, which includes the so-called World Wide Web, is an example of a global network system. A computer system coupled to the Internet (e.g., via a dial-up connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP)) may communicate with any of the computer systems coupled in the Internet system. In other words, data, such as a request for information, may be directed to a particular computer system on the Internet.
Because of the number of computer systems in the network, a system is present to properly route data communicated by one computer system to another. This is assisted in the Internet system with a plurality of Domain Name Servers. These servers communicate directly with a subset of the servers that are coupled in the Internet system. When a first computer seeks to send data intended for a second computer, a request is made to a first Domain Name Server to find the address of the second computer system on the Internet. As is known in the Internet art, the second computer system is identified by a unique site name such as something having the form "abrainc.com." The first Domain Name Server that receives the request from the first computer system checks its stored site name information to see if there is an exact match for the "abrainc.com" character stream. If there is not a match, the first DNS sends a responsive message back to the first computer system. If there is a match, the first DNS forwards the request to another DNS where a similar comparison between the "abrainc.com" string and those strings stored at the DNS. If there is a match at this DNS, associated with the match is a detailed Internet address (typically a string of numbers and periods) that is sent back to the first computer system. After the Internet address is supplied to the first computer system, the first computer system then sends its data, request, etc. to the second computer. Through this system, data, requests, etc. are forwarded between nodes in the Internet until it reaches its destination.
In actuality, each unique Internet site name has associated with it a numerical Internet address. The DNS system is a hierarchical system. There are a small number of root DNSs which are responsible for tracking the top level domains such as .com, .net, .edu, etc. These servers are instrumental in identifying valid site names. The system for locating properly addressed computer systems is a very robust system. The goal of the system is to forward requests to server systems that are more knowledgeable about the appropriate location of the DNS. The information that is stored in the DNSs is repeatedly updated so that future requests to a particular site name can be properly handled.
One problem associated with this system is in how it handles similar site names (i.e., site names that have a similar number of characters or have character strings that are in common). In the art, similar site names are handled in exactly the same manner as for every other site name. In other words, though similar site names may be directed to the same computer system, the DNS system must be updated for each and every site name to the computer system. This leads to inefficiency, in that it takes some time for the DNS system to be updated with the correct information so that newly created site names can be quickly located for communication.

Method and apparatus for processing internet site names through regular expression comparison


A method includes performing an automatic partitioning of Neuro-vessels into a plurality of anatomically relevant circulatory systems using a CT system.

This invention relates generally to imaging methods and apparatus, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus that provide for vasculature partitioning.
Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) and Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) protocols for Neuro-imaging are done during stroke workup to identify vascular root causes for the stroke. The review of CTA and MRA datasets sometimes can be difficult due to any bone obstructions, and/or any clutter from any overlapping of Neuro-vessels in a three dimensional (3D) visualization.
Clinically there is a need to be able to generate views that can offer a clear picture in a 3D visualization of the Neuro-vasculature that can allow radiologists to rule out aneurysms. One way to solve that need is to create views that remove the bone obstruction and reduce the clutter through anatomically relevant division of the Neuro-vascular volume. Therefore it would be desirable to have a workflow that provides for the efficient and timely review of CTA (and MRA) data by automatically generating 3D views rendered in maximum intensity projection (MIP) views and automatically perform a volume rendering of the Neuro-vasculature to automatically anatomically divide the vasculature into left, right, anterior, and posterior circulatory regions, in one embodiment.

Vasculature partitioning methods and apparatus


The system achieves high-resolution imaging with low-resolution two-dimensional imagers whose sensors are only a fraction of a selected pixel area. Sensors are stepped across an image with an optical or mechanical stepper to acquire an image at each sensor position. Thereby, resolution is defined by a step size which is comparable to the sensor size, rather than by pixel resolution. The system thus uses multiple image, obtained from individual sensors, which have a sensed area substantially less than the area of the pixels of the sensor array. Such rescanning is accomplished by movable mirrors or lenses that are disposed between an illuminated specimen and a sensor area.

This application pertains to the art of electronic imaging, and more particularly to obtaining high-resolution images using relatively low-resolution image sensor arrays.
The invention is particularly applicable to digital image acquisition arrays that have a relatively small area from which they derive their information, which area is relative to an entire pixel area as defined on a specimen.
The invention will be described with particular reference to obtaining such a resolution translation. However, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader application such as obtaining additional or redundant information during the scanning process so as to allow a higher-definition or integrity image capture.
Much of the work associated with present-day image acquisition, manipulation, and printing is done via digitization. However, hard or printed copy is still an essential step in most applications.
Conversion between hard copy images and digital representations thereof are accomplished by scanners. Such scanners typically include a sensor array such as charge-coupled devices ("CCDs"). In such CCD arrays, a real image of a specimen is focused onto a planar array. Each CCD element of the array provides a digital signal representative of light exposed thereto. Fabrication techniques inherent in CCD construction provide a finite distance between respective elements of the array. Thus, each array element provides a digital signal representative of a sub-portion of the corresponding image resultant from the associated specimen. Information provided in image interstices is therefor lost. This results in lessened image integrity or degradation by loss of this associated, visual data.
The present invention contemplates a new and improved system which overcomes the above-referred problems, and others, and provides a digital image acquisition system which allows for capture of high-resolution images by use of multiple scan from sensors of individual sensor elements of sensor arrays.

Resolution enhancement by multiple scanning with a low-resolution, two-dimensional sensor array


An improved data retiming circuit which is capable of more effectively retiming an externally inputted data by using a plurality of clocks from a voltage controlled oscillator of a phase-locked loop. The circuit includes a first delay unit for increasing a rising and falling time from an externally inputted data by a predetermined time as much as a clock phase difference, a first data latch unit connected so that the phase from the clock generator can be to correspond with the number of different clocks for latching the data inputted in accordance with the clock, a second delay unit for receiving the data from the first delay unit and for delaying the data so that a clock is selected and coincides with the timing until the output of the clock, a data latch state determination unit for determining the logic signal state of the data latched by the first data latch unit in an analog method, a clock selection unit for logically compares a plurality of clocks inputted and a data state signal outputted from the data latch state determination unit and for selecting a retiming signal, and a second data latch unit for latching the data relayed by the second delay unit in accordance with the retiming clock signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data retiming circuit, to an improved data retiming circuit which is capable of more effectively retiming an externally inputted data by using a plurality of clocks from a voltage controlled oscillator of a phase-locked loop.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
Generally, a receiving unit of a high speed data transmission circuit which uses a high frequency signal uses a data retiming circuit for improving a noise characteristic.
The data retiming circuit which uses a plurality of channels is configured to be made simpler for a desired integration by using one chip.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a conventional data retiming circuit.
As shown therein, there are connected a PLL 10, a delay unit 20, and a clock selection unit 30. The clock selection unit 30 includes a data sampling unit 31 and a voting circuit 32 for selecting a clock.
However, the conventional data retiming circuit is complex due to a plurality of digital logic circuits. In particular, if there are provided a plurality of channels, it is difficult to integrate into one chip.
There is a conventional method of "Metastability behavior of CMOS ASIC flip-flops in theory and test" (Jens u., etc.,; JSSC Vol-24 No.-1, 1989, USA) which is directed to using a digital logic circuit in order to implement a data retiming method, for thus forming a clock selection unit, so that the construction of the circuit is made complex.

Electronics And Telecommunications Research Institute


A disk device 1 comprising a disk cartridge 3 and a disk 2 accommodated therein. The disk cartridge 3 includes a body case 11: opened with a window for exposing a recording surface 5 of the disk 2; and provided with a shutter 26 to be moved in a manner capable of opening/closing the window. The body case 11 is provided with: a rotating body 30 in a gear shape having an outer peripheral surface exposed to the exterior of the body case; and transmission 35 for transmitting the rotation of the rotating body 30 to the shutter 26. Provided in a disk driving apparatus for recording a piece of information into or reproducing the information from the disk 2 are: a guiding rib; and an operation rack along the disk inserting direction. Provided on an outer surface of the body case 11 is an operational-position determining groove. 17 in a recessed groove shape along the inserting direction of the disk device 1 and near the rotating body 30, and the rotating body 30 is engaged with the operation rack while engaging the groove 17 with the guiding rib so as to conduct the positioning, to thereby open/close the shutter 26.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to: a disk cartridge capable of rotatably accommodating a disk therein and of being loaded in a disk driving apparatus for recording a piece of information into the disk and for reproducing the piece of information recorded in the disk; a disk device comprising such a disk cartridge and a disk accommodated therein; and a shutter opening/closing mechanism for opening/closing a shutter for opening/closing a window for exposing a disk by moving a shutter.
2. Description of Related Art
As conventional recording media, there have been widely utilized: disk cartridges removably accommodating disks therein such as CD-ROM's (Compact Disc Read Only Memory); and those disk devices such as MO (Magneto-Optical), FD (Floppy Disc: Trade Mark), MD (Mini Disk), which include disk cartridges integrally and rotatably accommodating disks therein. Known as these disk cartridges and disk devices are those having structures such as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.
The structure shown in FIG. 11 is a disk device 105 comprising: a body case 102 rotatably accommodating a disk 101 therein, and formed with a window 103 for exposing a recording surface of the disk 101; and a shutter 104 moveably disposed on the body case so as to open/close the window. The shutter 104 of the disk device 105 is integrally provided with a belt 106 in the moving direction of the shutter, and this belt 106 has its tip end provided with a pawl portion 107. The shutter 104 for opening the window 103 is further provided with a coil spring 108 for influencing a counteracting force or pulling force onto the shutter 104 in a direction opposite to the moving direction thereof.
The disk device 105 shown in FIG. 11 is constituted such that this disk device 105 is inserted into a disk driving apparatus (not shown) for recording and reproducing a piece of information into and from the disk 101, such that the pawl portion 107 of the belt 106 is engaged by a pin 110 protruded within a zone through which the disk device 105 placed in a transferring path is moved when the disk device is transferred up to a predetermined operational position by transferring structure disposed in the disk driving apparatus. This moves the belt 106 against the pulling force of the coil spring 108 dependently of the transferring movement of the disk device 105, so that the shutter 104 is moved to open the window 103 to thereby expose the recording surface of the disk 101 at the operational position.
In the constitution shown in FIG. 11, the belt 106 is moved by engaging the pin 110 with the pawl portion 107 of the belt 106. Thus, by virtue of the side surface of the movement path through which the disk device 105 is moved to the operational position, there is restrictedly avoided such a situation that: the disk device 105 escapingly moves in a faraway direction from the pin 110 so that the pin 110 is disengaged from the pawl portion 107.
Meantime, the structure shown in FIG. 12 is a disk device 125 comprising: a body case 121 rotatably accommodating a disk (not shown) therein, and formed with a window 122 for exposing a recording surface of the disk; and a shutter 123 moveably disposed on the body case so as to open/close the window. The body case 121 of the disk device 125 is provided with a concaved portion 127 for forming a stepped portion between the shutter 123 and body case 121, within a moving region of the shutter 123 and in a state where the shutter 123 closes the window 122. Provided within the body case 121 is counteracting structure (not shown) for influencing a pulling force onto the shutter 123 in a direction opposite to the moving direction thereof for opening the window 122.
Provided in a disk driving apparatus (not shown) for recording and reproducing a piece of information into and from the recording surface of the disk of the disk device 125 are: an insertion opening for inserting the disk device 125 therethrough; an operational position communicated with the insertion opening so as to record/reproduce the information; and a movement path for moving the disk device 125 therethrough from the insertion opening toward the operational position. The disk driving apparatus is further provided with shutter driver 131 for opening/closing the shutter 123 of the disk device 125 which is moving through the movement path, to thereby open/close the window 122. This shutter driver 131 comprises: an arm portion 132 having one end rotatably disposed within the movement path, and the pivoted other end; a pin portion 133 disposed at the tip end or the one end of the arm portion 132, so as to engage in the concaved portion 127 of the disk device 125 which moves through the movement path; and a coil spring 135 for influencing a pulling force onto the arm portion 132 in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the arm portion 132 which is rotated as the disk device 125 is moved to the operational position.
In the case where the disk device 125 is to be inserted into the insertion opening of the disk driving apparatus, the concaved portion 127 is engaged with the pin portion 133 of the shutter driver 131 positioned in the movement path, so that the arm portion 132 is rotated as the disk device 125 is moved. This rotational movement pushingly moves the shutter 123, so that the window 122 is opened at the operational position to thereby expose the recording surface of the disk.
In the constitution shown in FIG. 12, the pin portion 133 provided on the arm portion 132 of the shutter driver 131 engages with the shutter 123 from the concaved portion 127 to thereby move the shutter 123. Thus, by virtue of the side surface of the movement path through which the disk device 125 is moved to the operational position, there is restrictedly avoided such a situation that: the disk device 125 escapingly moves in a faraway direction from the pin portion 133 so that the pin portion 133 is disengaged from the shutter 123.
However, in the shutter opening/closing mechanism in the conventional disk device shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12, the side surface of the movement path for restricting the escaping movement of the disk device 105 or 125 is designed based on the dimension of the body case having a relatively large tolerance, thereby resulting in an increased wobble upon movement of the disk device 105 or 125. As such, the pin 110 may be disengaged from the pawl portion 107 to thereby fail to open/close the shutter 104 in the constitution shown in FIG. 11, while the pin portion 133 may be disengaged from the shutter 123 to thereby fail to open/close the shutter 123 in the constitution shown in FIG. 12.

Disk cartridge with shutter regulator, disk device and shutter opening/closing mechanism


A separator-type lithium ion secondary battery having large capacity and charge-discharge performance not destroying the separator, even with an active material layer having concavo-convex structure of high aspect ratio. The battery comprises a first electrode comprising a first current collector, and a first active material layer formed by plural convex first active material parts provided on the first current collector, a second electrode comprising a second current collector, and a second active material layer formed by plural convex second active material parts provided on the second current collector, and a separator provided between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are integrated so that the convex first active material part is faced between the adjacent convex second active material parts, and the convex first active material part does not enter between the convex second active material parts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lithium ion secondary battery and preparation process of the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lithium ion secondary batteries have a light weight, a large capacity and high charge-discharge performance, and thus have been widely used in fields of mobile devices such as laptop computer and cellular phone and field of automobiles. Various studies have been done for establishing larger capacity and higher charge-discharge performance.
As such a lithium ion secondary battery, there has been known, for example as disclosed in FIG. 3 of JP2008-288214 A, a separator-type battery that a positive electrode composed of a positive electrode active material layer and a metal foil and a negative electrode composed of a negative electrode active material layer and a metal foil are integrated via a separator, and the separator is immersed with an electrolyte.
On the other hand, as disclosed in JP2011-70788 A, there has also been known a all-solid lithium ion secondary battery having a construction that a positive electrode, an electrolyte and a negative electrode are integrated without a separator.
Since the rate determining factor to enlarge the capacity and to enhance the charge-discharge performance of the lithium ion secondary battery is a rate of reaction of an electrolyte with a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, it is important to make a distance between the positive electrode and the negative electrode shorter, and to increase areas of the positive and negative electrodes as large as possible. Considering this viewpoint, JP2011-70788 A proposes a process for preparing an all-solid battery which includes three-dimensional electrodes containing active materials of concavo-convex structure (convex linear active material parts having a high aspect ratio).
In order to enlarge the capacity and to enhance the charge-discharge performance, if the active material layer having concavo-convex structure as proposed in JP2011-70788 A is employed in the separator-type lithium ion secondary battery shown in JP2008-288214 A, for instance, there is a risk that the convex positive electrode active material part is entered into the corresponding concaved portion between the convex negative electrode active material parts, and destroys a separator. Of course when the separator is broken, there is a risk that battery performances are lost due to short-circuit of the positive electrode active material part and the negative electrode active material part.
Namely, it was difficult that the active material layer having concavo-convex structure in the all-solid lithium ion secondary battery as proposed in JP2011-70788 A was employed in the separator-type lithium ion secondary battery shown in JP2008-288214 A.
Considering the aforementioned problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a separator-type lithium ion secondary battery having large capacity and excellent charge-discharge performance without destroying the separator, even if an active material layer having concavo-convex structure of high aspect ratio.

Lithium ion secondary battery and preparation process of same


A light guide plate that eliminates haze while obtaining a desired uniformity of luminance to enhance light efficiency. The light guide plate can be used with a backlight unit using the light guide plate and an LCD using the backlight unit. The light guide plate includes an incidence face to allow light emitted from a light source to be incident to the light guide plate, an outgoing face to allow the incident light to exit the light guide plate, a backside face opposite to the outgoing face, and mirror patterns provided at the outgoing face or backside face, and adapted to increase an exiting rate of the light at a low luminance region defined in a vicinity of the light source. The light guide plate is manufactured by a method including a mold machining operation including a prism face milling operation to form, at a mold, a prism face corresponding to a prism face of the light guide plate, and a mirror pattern milling operation to mill the prism face formed at the prism face milling operation using a bit having a predetermined cross-sectional shape, thereby forming mirror patterns at the prism face, and a light guide plate injection-molding operation to mill a molten resin into the mold completely machined at the mold machining operation, thereby injection-molding the light guide plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The general inventive concept relates to a light guide plate, a backlight unit, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a method of manufacturing the light guide plate, and more particularly, to a light guide plate capable of achieving an enhancement in light efficiency while ensuring a desired uniformity of luminance of a backlight unit used in an LCD, and a method of manufacturing the light guide plate.
2. Description of the Related Art
LCDs, which are widely used in notebook computers and monitors, require a separate illumination device because they employ elements having no function of emitting light by themselves, as compared to cathode ray tubes (CRTs). Illumination devices for LCDs are classified into a reflection type, a transmission type, and a combination type thereof in accordance with operating systems thereof. The transmission type illumination device, which is most widely used, is also called a "backlight unit" since it irradiates illumination light onto the backside of a liquid crystal panel.
Among various types of backlight units, a sidelight type is widely used. The reason why this type of backlight unit is called a "sidelight type" is that a light source for emitting illumination light is arranged at one side of a light guide plate adapted to propagate the illumination light therethrough. Such a backlight unit includes a light source, a light guide plate for directing the light emitted from the light source toward a liquid crystal panel, a prism sheet for correcting the directionality of the light going out of the light guide plate, thereby directing the outgoing light to a front side of the liquid crystal panel, and a diffusion sheet for relaxing the directionality of the light outgoing from the prism sheet.
The light guide plate generally has a tapered plate structure having a thickness gradually reduced as it extends away from the light source. The light guide plate has an incidence face provided by one of the minor faces thereof facing the light source, and an outgoing face provided by one of the major faces thereof and adapted to allow light propagated through the light guide plate to exit the light guide plate. The other major face is referred to as an "opposite face or backside face," and is opposite to the outgoing face.
The illumination light exiting the outgoing face of the light guide plate exhibits a non-uniform distribution of light amount over the outgoing face because the amount of light thereof in the vicinity of the light source is relatively small. As a result, the outgoing face of the light guide plate has a region exhibiting a relatively low luminance as compared to other regions. This is because the light exiting the outgoing face of the light guide plate has a large amount of components having an exiting angle larger than a critical total-reflection angle at a region of the outgoing face in the vicinity of the light source, so that these light components are totally reflected, thus being re-propagated into the light guide plate without exiting the outgoing face.
In order to eliminate such a low luminance region, thereby ensuring a desired luminance uniformity, various methods have been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 11-119219 discloses a method in which a light scattering pattern is provided at a low luminance region of an outgoing face by locally roughening the low luminance region. Also, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-083507 discloses a method in which the entire portion of an outgoing face is roughened such that the roughness at a low luminance region of the outgoing face is larger than that of other regions. For the manufacture of such a roughened light guide plate, an injection mold partially processed by a blasting or etching method may be used.
In accordance with the above mentioned conventional methods, the mean inclination of a light guide plate at an outgoing face or backside face thereof is increased to cause illumination light exiting the outgoing face to have an increased amount of components having an exiting angle smaller than a critical total-reflection angle, thereby achieving an increase in the exiting rate of the illumination light.
In the case of a light guide plate roughened at an outgoing face or backside face thereof, as described above, however, scattering of the exiting light may occur. As a result, there may be an increase in the loss of light caused by haze. Furthermore, where such a roughened face is formed using an etching process, its shape is irregular, so that it is impossible to implement a desired mean inclination at all regions of the roughened face. For this reason, there is a problem in that luminance defects may be easily generated. In addition, there is a difficulty in accurately reproducing the roughened face.

Light guide plate, backlight unit, liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the light guide plate