The invention relates to Chevrel-phase materials and methods of preparing these materials utilizing a precursor approach. The Chevrel-phase materials are useful in assembling electrodes, e.g., cathodes, for use in electrochemical cells, such as rechargeable batteries. The Chevrel-phase materials have a general formula of Mo6Z8 (Z=sulfur) or Mo6Z18-yZ2y (Z1=sulfur; Z2=selenium), and partially cuprated Cu1Mo6S8 as well as partially de-cuprated Cu1-xMgxMo6S8 and the precursors have a general formula of MxMo6Z8 or MxMo6Z18-yZ2y, M=Cu. The cathode containing the Chevrel-phase material in accordance with the invention can be combined with a magnesium-containing anode and an electrolyte.

High energy density, rechargeable electrochemical cells are known in the art. A rechargeable cell is theoretically capable of charging and discharging indefinitely. In producing a rechargeable battery system, a material for the cathode is selected. In certain instances, the cathode material is in the form of a liquid which allows reactions to readily take place. However, when in the form of a liquid, provisions are made to keep the cathode active material away from the anode, otherwise self-discharge can occur. As an alternative, the cathode material can be in the form of a solid which is essentially insoluble in the electrolyte. The solid cathode material is selected such that it absorbs and desorbs the anode ion because solubility of the anode ion occurs reversibly during operation of the cell. Such a solid cathode can be capable of intercalation of ions which are solubilized by the electrolyte. The electrolyte is selected to permit electroplating of solubilized ions at the anode. The plating of ions at the anode occurs during recharge of the cell and the intercalation of the cathode occurs during discharge of the cell.
Chevrel-phase compounds (CPs), also referred to as Chevrel materials, include an invariant portion which may consist essentially of molybdenum and a chalcogen. The chalcogen can be selected from elements in Group 16 of the Periodic Table, including sulfur, selenium, tellurium or mixtures of these, with or without minor amounts of oxygen. Ordinarily, this fixed portion has a stoichiometric formula of Mo6Zy where Z represents the chalcogen and y is usually between about 7.5 and 8.5, most typically about 8. The unique crystal structure of the materials permits intercalation of metals, so that the overall stoichiometry of the Chevrel-phase material is represented as MxMo6Zy where M represents the intercalated metal and 'x' may vary from 0 (no intercalated metal) to an upper limit which may be about 4 or less depending upon the particular metal.
Ternary CPs are a unique class of cluster compounds which exhibit remarkable magnetic, thermoelectric, catalytic, and superconductive properties. The crystal structure of CPs consists of Mo6-octahedron clusters surrounded by eight chalcogen (e.g., S and/or Se) atoms at the corners of a distorted cube. For example, Mo6S8 units are linked with each other and form a three-dimensional framework with open cavities/channels that can be filled with wide-variety of guest atoms and form ternary CPs MxMo6S8 (0<x<4). However, Mo6S8 binary CPs cannot be synthesized directly and indirectly stabilized via leaching metal from their ternary counterparts. For example, Mo6Se8 binary CPs include an iso-structure wherein Mo6Se8 clusters are rotated approximately 26° about the body diagonal (3 axis) of the rhombohedral symmetry (R3) which allows for bonding of Se atoms of one cluster to a Mo atom of a neighboring unit. The resultant three-dimensional Mo6Se8 framework has open cavities/sites that can be filled completely in the MxMo6Se8 CPs into triclinic (P1) forms due to intrinsic lattice instabilities. Among the three different families of CPs (Mo6Z8, Z=S, Se, Te), sulfide CPs have high ionic mobility at room temperature which allows them to transport monovalent (Li+, Na+) and bivalent (Mg2+) cations, and to act as a cathode for rechargeable batteries.
Energy is released upon intercalation of the metal into the CPs and as the intercalation process is partially or wholly reversible with certain metals, the CPs can therefore be used as cathodes in electrochemical cells.
A cell with a lithium anode and a Chevrel-phase cathode of the formula LixMo6S8, for example, can be subjected to a charge cycle in which lithium is removed from the Chevrel-phase by the applied electrical energy. In a discharge cycle, the lithium is re-intercalated into the Chevrel-phase releasing energy as electrical energy. The reaction mixture containing lithium, molybdenum and sulfur for direct formation of the lithium-intercalated CPs can be prepared by heating a precursor mixture. The precursor mixture including a heat-liable lithium compound together with molybdenum and sulfur, typically as a mixture of MoS2 and free Mo. Upon heating, the heat-labile compound yields volatile decomposition products which may be swept from the mixture, e.g., by a stream of inert gas, leaving behind the lithium, molybdenum and sulfur to form the Chevrel-phase material.
Intercalation reactions in typical battery development have focused on the use of alkali metals, specifically lithium as anodes. In comparison, there has been less research with respect to the use of alkaline earth metals, such as magnesium, for use as anodes and the use of cathodes capable of intercalation of alkaline earth metal ions.
It is known in the art to use lithium ion batteries for a wide variety of energy storage applications due to their very high energy density and flexible design. In considering alternative materials to lithium in producing electrochemical batteries, it is acknowledged that magnesium-based energy storage systems may be considered suitable alternatives because magnesium is environmentally safe, cost effective and abundant in the earth's crest. Further, magnesium is bivalent and theoretically capable of rendering higher volumetric capacity than lithium.
It has been found that conventional salts such as Mg(ClO4)2, Mg(CF3SO3)2, Mg[(CF3SO2)2N]2 and the like, dissolved in various non-aqueous solvents develop surface passivation on a magnesium anode and effectively block Mg2+ transport. Relatively fast and easy intercalation of Mg2+ ions at room temperature makes CPs a preferred material of the cathode for magnesium batteries. However, synthesis of the thermodynamically unstable Mo6S8 phase is challenging. Typically, a CuCP (CuxMo6S8) is synthesized by solid state reactions of elemental blends of copper, molybdenum, and MoS2 powders in an evacuated quartz ampoules at a temperature of approximately 1150° C. for one week or by a molten salt approach including heat treatment at approximately 850° C. for about 60 hours under an argon atmosphere. Both of these approaches require chemical leaching in solution for several days at room temperature for complete removal of the copper.
The conventional methods utilized are not convenient approaches that can be readily and effectively translated into large scale manufacturing processes for generating the Chevrel phase. For example, an elemental blend sealed in evacuated quartz ampoule and heated at high temperature (˜1273 K) for a long duration (˜7 days) to obtain CuxMo6S8 results in high manufacturing costs not withstanding generating reproducible large scale quantities. Further, a significant disadvantage is the high vapor pressure of sulfur inside the ampoule during heating which causes a safety hazard. Furthermore, the final product obtained from the quartz ampoule has non-stoichiometry due to sulfur volatilization and condensation on the ampoule walls further from the product and excess sulfur that may be hence required to compensate for sulfur vapor loss during heating. Attempts to use metal sulfide (CuS, MoS2) instead of elemental sulfur to avoid the high vapor pressure, has resulted in long and arduous synthesis time which is unreasonably long and thus not amenable large-scale production. Moreover, it was found that there can be difficulty in forming a reaction product at high temperature, e.g., the Chevrel phase may not be obtained and instead a sulfur deficient phase can form which adversely affects the desired and expected electrochemical performance.
In an attempt to reduce total synthesis time duration involved during the solid-state reaction method, cold-pressing and hot pressing have been employed as alternative means for the synthesis of a CuxMo6S8 phase. Neither the milling time nor the sintering temperature has been optimized for the synthesis of CuxMo6S8. However, it was found that pressure-assisted sintering at elevated temperature ˜1123-1473 K was capable of reducing the synthesis duration to ˜5-8 hours as compared to 7 days required for solid-state synthesis in an evacuated quartz ampoule.
The desired CPs also have been synthesized from soluble sulfide precursor, e.g., polythiomolybdate and metal salt, which form a chelated complex in ether or methanol solvent and directly forms the desired Cu2Mo6S8 phase when heated at ˜1073-1273 K under hydrogen atmosphere. An alternative soluble precursor method was proposed for the synthesis of nickel and lithium ternary CPs.
Obtaining Mo6S8 CPs from known soluble sulfide precursor methods requires the use of hydrogen gas during sulfurization. Final reduction of sulfur compounds to desired Chevrel phase at elevated temperature needs strict regulation and skills, and poses a safety concern for the synthesis of CPs.
Thus, there is a need for improvements in electrochemical cells incorporating Chevrel-phase cathodes and in the synthesis methods for the CPs, and furthermore, in the use of alkaline earth metals, such as magnesium, as anodes. Moreover, there is a need in the art to develop time-saving economical approaches and methods for the direct synthesis of CPs. In this respect, high energy mechanical milling (HEMM) is employed as a scalable, economical time-saving approach for the direct synthesis of ternary metal CPs (MxMo6Z8 and MxMo6Z18-yZ2y, wherein, for example, Z is S or Se, Z1 is S and Z2 is Se) using MZ, Mo and MoZ2 or MZ1, MZ2, Mo, MoZ21 and MoZ22 as the precursor. The invention provides easy, rapid and facile precursor approaches for the synthesis of CPs for use as a cathode and magnesium-containing material for use as an anode in an electrochemical cell.

Cathodes and electrolytes for rechargeable magnesium batteries and methods of manufacture

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH—OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION


A multi-purpose covering for use with a medical device having a housing and an access port includes a substrate with a first end and a second end. The substrate defines the structure of the covering. The covering also includes a first securing portion nearer the first end of the substrate for securing at least one protective cap to the substrate, and a second securing portion nearer the second end for securing the substrate to the medical device. To protect the access port when the covering is sealed to the medical device, the covering can also include a sealing portion configured to be releasably secured to the medical device.

Standard institutional practice typically requires the top of a medical valve (or other medical device IV access ports) to be cleaned/swabbed prior to each access, such as prior to insertion of a syringe into the medical valve. The proper technique for cleaning medical device access ports requires attention, diligence and a small amount of time. It is critical that the access port is properly cleaned prior to each access. If the access port is not properly cleaned, microbes may be pushed into the medical device and enter the blood stream, which may cause serious infection (e.g., Catheter Related Blood Stream Infections or "CRBSI").
Several factors may lead to a medical device access port not being properly cleaned or protected. In many cases, the swabbing technique is inadequate due to lack of awareness. In other cases the access port top geometry contains features that trap debris and microbes that inhibit adequate cleaning and removal. Additionally, there are instances in which the access port does not get cleaned at all due to the many distractions that may be taking place, haste, or lack of disinfecting supplies available at the instance the medical device is to be used. Furthermore, the medical device may be exposed to debris and microbes for a period of time prior to first use, making cleaning more difficult.
The most common way of cleaning and disinfecting an IV access port is to use a single-use alcohol wipe (70% IPA). These wipes (pads) are commonly found throughout the institution packaged in foil pouches/packets, one per packet. Once removed from the packet, a user may grasp the wipe with their forefinger and thumb and swipe it across the top of the access port.
There are numerous problems associated with this method of cleaning a medical device. First, a single swipe may be insufficient to adequately clean the access port. Additionally, the alcohol wipe may be unable to clean in crevices and grooves in the access port.
Another way of cleaning and disinfecting a medical device is to use a swab cap. As the name suggests, swab caps are caps that may be placed over the medical device and used to swab the access port. Each swab cap may include a swab material pre-loaded with a cleaning agent (e.g. 70% IPA) within the interior of the cap. When the cap is placed over the access port of the medical device housing, the swab material contacts the access port, and the cleaning agent cleans/disinfects the access port. Problems associated with such caps are that they may not be readily available (e.g., the medical staff may not be near the supply of caps when needed), and they are easily lost/misplaced. Additionally, swab caps do not protect the access port upon the medical device's removal from a primary, sterile package. Furthermore, swab caps are typically not used until after the initial access of the medical device, which may be hours to days after the medical device is removed from the sterile package.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multi-purpose protective covering for use on a medical device


The invention relates to a liquid crystal display device that is used in display portions of electronics devices and a manufacturing method thereof, and an object is to provide a high quality liquid crystal display device where light is inhibited from leaking and a manufacturing method thereof. The projected structure formed of the first through the fourth columnar spacer receiving patterns, the insulating film and the final protective film is formed on the TFT substrate. The projected structure is buried in the columnar spacer disposed on the opposite substrate. Thereby, even when the liquid crystal display panel is surface pressed, both substrates are hardly displaced.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a liquid crystal display device that is used in display portions of electronics devices and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display device is advantageous in comparison with a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) in that it is thin, light, capable of driving at lower voltages and low in the power consumption. Accordingly, the liquid crystal display device is used in display portions of various kinds of electronics devices such as TV receivers, note-type PCs (personal computers), desktop computers, PDAs (portable terminal assistants) and portable telephones. In particular, an active matrix liquid crystal display device where a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) is disposed as a switching element to each of pixels (sub-pixels) shows excellent display characteristics comparative to the CRT owing to high drivability and has become being widely used in fields where CRTs have been used such as desktop computers and TV receivers.
A liquid crystal display device generally has two substrates provided with a transparent electrode and a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween. In the liquid crystal display device, a predetermined voltage is applied between the transparent electrodes to drive the liquid crystal and thereby to control the light transmittance of each of pixels to obtain a desired display. In recent years, a demand for liquid crystal display devices is increasing and requirements for liquid crystal display devices are becoming versatile. Among the requirements, an improvement in display quality is particularly strong. In order to obtain excellent display that is free from brightness irregularity, a technology where columnar spacers are formed on a substrate to control a thickness of a liquid crystal layer (cell gap) uniformly is becoming a main stream.
Existing columnar spacers are disposed in a predetermined arrangement pattern in a substrate plane. With the columnar spacers, a gap between a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate and an opposite substrate disposed opposite to the TFT substrate that are mutually adhered is supported. As a columnar space forming material, a resin material such as an acrylic resin or a novolak resin is generally used. However, the resin materials have an elastic deformation region and a plastic deformation region based on their physicality. When a localized force is externally applied on a liquid crystal display panel, the columnar spacers show plastic deformation and do not return to an original height even after the localized force is eliminated. Accordingly, at a weight-applied portion where the localized force is applied, the irregularity of the cell gaps are caused.
In order to inhibit the cell gap irregularity from occurring, the liquid crystal display panel may well be hardened by increasing the number of spacers or making an area of the column of the columnar spacer larger. However, when the density of the columnar spacers is made too high, when a volume of the liquid crystal decreases under low temperatures, the columnar spacers cannot follow to deform. Accordingly, there is a problem in that, inside of the liquid crystal display panel, a vacuum area is generated and therein an air bubble is generated. As a result, the arrangement density of the columnar spacers cannot be increased so high, that is, there is a restriction on the arrangement density. With the columnar spacers having the arrangement density under the restriction, the resistance of the cell gaps against the external localized force cannot be sufficiently obtained.
In order to overcome the foregoing problems, a patent document 1 discloses a technology where two kinds of columnar spacers different in height are formed. Furthermore, a patent document 2 discloses a technology where columnar spacers are arranged in two or more kinds of arrangement patterns, and, by making use of a step of a film thickness on a TFT substrate side, substrates are stacked to form two kinds of columnar spacers substantially different in height. Liquid crystal display devices described in patent documents 1 and 2, being provided with first columnar spacers that maintain the cell gap at room temperature and low temperature and second columnar spacers for maintaining the cell gap when the localized force is applied, has a structure that does not generate air bubbles at low temperatures and can withstand the externally applied localized force as well.
[Patent document 1] JP-A-2001-201750
[Patent document 2] JP-A-2003-156750
However, when a liquid crystal display panel of a liquid crystal display device is surface pressed, a displacement is caused between the TFT substrate and the opposite substrate to result in light leakage.

Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof


A towed snowplow includes a frame which is carried by at least one wheel. The frame includes at least one moldboard and is arranged to be towed behind a vehicle and movable from a transport position directly behind the vehicle to a deployed position in which the frame extends diagonally from the vehicle to enable plowing of pavement alongside and to the rear of the towing vehicle.

Typically, snow is removed from pavement by a truck that is provided with a snowplow having a moldboard that is mounted on the front end of the truck. Various arrangements are known for raising and lowering the moldboard of the snow plow as desired and for changing the angle that the moldboard of the snow plow makes with the longitudinal center axis of the truck, and therefore with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lane of pavement being cleared.
The moldboard of the snow plow may be selectively raised and lowered so that the plow truck may be driven with the lowermost edge of the moldboard either in contact (for conducting a plowing operation) or out of contact with the road, such as when the truck is being driven over pavement which has already been cleared of snow. Also, the snow plow is typically arranged to enable the angle of the plow with respect to the truck to be changed so that the snow plow can be used to divert snow to the left or to the right of the truck or used to push snow directly in front of the truck such as when clearing a driveway or parking lot.
Various wing plows and other attachments are also known in the snow removal art which effectively extend the width of the lane that can be plowed by a single truck in a single pass. However, such wing plows are typically mounted at one side of the truck and present significant problems for the operation of the truck in plowing situations. For example, the use of a wing plow produces significant torque and disruptive forces on the truck frame and the suspension of the snowplow truck. Also, the maximum practical length of a wing plow is relatively small and does not readily permit additional lanes of pavement to be cleared of snow during a single pass of the snowplow vehicle.
Accordingly, the need remains for a snowplow arrangement in which a relatively wide strip of pavement may be cleared of snow in a single pass of a snowplow vehicle, preferably without requiring an additional operator and without requiring an additional vehicle.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a snowplow which is towed by a vehicle such as a municipal truck and which can travel at relatively high speeds on highways and on roads while occupying generally only one lane of pavement or less. When it is desired to plow the pavement, the towed snowplow can then be quickly deployed to either the left or the right of the vehicle, depending upon the configuration of the towed snowplow, to plow either to the left or to the right of the towing vehicle. In this way, the towing vehicle together with the towed snowplow can simultaneously clear several adjacent lanes of a multilane roadway system or highway, as well as pavement shoulders, airport runways or other wide areas. The towed snowplow is configured to not require an additional operator for the towed snowplow and so the multiple lanes of pavement may be cleared of snow in a single pass of the combined towing vehicle and towed snowplow using only one truck and one operator.
It is a particular advantage of the preferred embodiments of the present invention that the towed snowplow can be transported from location to location like a trailer that is towed behind the motorized vehicle, such as a municipal truck, and then the towed snowplow can be deployed to the right (or left depending upon the configuration of the towed snowplow) using steering axles or pivoting axles to cause the trailer to swing out to one side of the towing truck. The towed snowplow automatically deflects or slides in the event that the towed snowplow blade(s) or moldboard(s) strike an obstacle, without incurring major damage to either the towed snowplow or to the towing vehicle.
In the preferred embodiments of the towed snowplow according to the present invention, roads and highways may be more quickly cleared of snow and other winter precipitation which improves safety by reducing accidents and by reducing the number of stranded vehicles and travelers. Because the towed snowplow does not require a second operator in the towing vehicle, the preferred embodiments of the present invention improve efficiency and production for snow clearing operations and reduce the need for additional numbers of snowplow trucks and operators.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention enable snow plow operations to also plow soft shoulders of roadways without placing the snowplow truck physically onto the shoulder of the pavement. In addition, plowing operations in mountainous situations are relatively safer because the snowplow truck may maintain a safer distance from the outside edge of the pavement and thereby more easily avoid inadvertently driving off of the roadway.
The wide plowing capability of the preferred embodiments of the present invention enables the towing vehicle and towed snowplow to plow irregular cross sections more quickly and efficiently as well as providing an arrangement to cut, blow or squeegee pavement by using two cutting edges.
Specifically, the towed snowplows according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention are much safer to use than conventional front and side (wing) plows which may be mounted on the front, the middle, or the rear of snowplow trucks. These conventional side (wing) plows can present major dynamic loads on the plow, as well as on the push frames and the truck frames, on the chassis of the snowplow, as well as on the axles and wheels of the snowplow truck.
The towed snowplow according to the present invention can strike relatively large or even permanent obstacles and deflect without causing great stress to the towing vehicle.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention can be used to plow more safely at relatively higher speeds than most or all conventionally known snowplows, while being stable, when compared to side or wing plows, which often tend to hop, lope, bounce or porpoise. In this way, the towed snowplow according to the present invention is suitable for use at relatively higher speeds while plowing on interstate highways as well as on high speed expressways.
Side or wing plows also cause significant loading on their deployed side while simultaneously causing the other side of the snowplow truck to become relatively much lighter. If a side or wing plow is relatively large, it can often overload the tires of the snowplow truck especially on the side of the truck where the side or wing plow is deployed. Overloading of the tires and the suspension of a snowplow truck presents a safety hazard and is likewise illegal in many states. The towed snowplow according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention does not overload the front steering axles of the towing vehicle as can occur with side or wing plows.
It is also common in some situations to initially plow the pavement or highway surface so as to remove snow. Subsequently, the snowplow truck is used to plow the shoulders of the roadway. This practice places the snowplow truck (typically heavily loaded with salt or sand or gravel) upon the dirt, sod or improved shoulder of the roadway. However, the heavily loaded trucks can make ruts in soft shoulders or can damage seal coats or other improved shoulders. The towed snowplow of the present invention can be used to plow highway shoulders without placing the loaded towing truck physically onto the shoulder, thus reducing shoulder damage.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention also enable the towed snowplow to be moved from one site to the next (while not in a deployed or plowing configuration) while located within a single conventional lane of traffic and without encroaching outside of the lane like wing plows and other conventionally known plowing systems.
The towed snowplow according to the present invention may have one or more moldboards totaling generally from 10 feet to 40 feet or more which may be towed directly behind the towing vehicle from a storage location such as a maintenance shop to the pavement to be plowed.
In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the towed snowplow is steered from the driver's seat of the towing vehicle which allows the driver or operator of the snowplow truck to selectively deploy and retract the towed snowplow from the transport position (directly behind the towed vehicle) to the plowing position (diagonally behind the vehicle) in 200′ or less.
In addition to moving the towed snowplow between the transport position and the deployed position, the steering of the towed snowplow can also be used to cause the plow to favor the left or right side during transport or to steer and negotiate the towed snowplow around hard turns. Typically during relatively gradual curves, such as are common on major highways and interstate road systems, the towed snowplow will remain in either the transport position or in the deployed position without additional steering.
During a plowing operation, the driver or operator of the vehicle can easily vary the plowing width of the towed snowplow such as to accommodate turn lanes or temporary increases or decreases in pavement widths. When in the deployed position, the towed snowplow of the present invention is stable at any desired angle with respect to the towing vehicle.
The towed snowplow according to the present invention can be easily steered around obstacles and then returned to its plowing or deployed position. Accordingly, the towing truck may remain in one lane of pavement without deviating and the operator may use the towed snowplow to plow around an obstacle such as a parked vehicle located on the highway shoulder. After passing the obstacle, the operator may rapidly return the towed snowplow to resume the plowing of one or more additional lanes of pavement. In addition, the towed snowplow is able to pivot around or easily pass over obstructions such as raised pavement markers, joints and other obstacles.
The towed snowplow can easily hook to conventional dump trucks, especially to municipal snowplow trucks, which have pintle hitches. Front and side plows typically require the installation of additional hardware that is attached or otherwise hooked to the truck frames or to bumpers. The towed snowplow of the present invention, however, can use the standard hitches normally used by trucks for pulling pups or trailers along with the standard hydraulic and electrical hookups conventionally provided on such trucks for use with towed trailers.


One or more malware data pipelines is configured to provide malware data that includes original data fields identifying information for detected malware instances and corresponding files that are associated with the detected malware instances. Malware enrichment circuitry is configured to identify additional information to include in enriched data fields for the detected malware instances, the additional information being identified from one or more of: the original data fields, the corresponding files, and one or more third party services. A datastore is configured to store the malware data with the original data fields and the enriched data fields, wherein the datastore includes indices for both the original data fields and the enriched data fields to permit for searching and analysis across the original data fields and the enriched data fields.

Computer networks include hardware and software that allow nodes on the network to share data with other nodes. Network security includes policies, practices, and devices adopted to prevent and monitor unwanted access, misuse, modification, or attacks on computer networks and network-accessible resources. Malware includes software that preforms malicious actions on one or more nodes within a network, such as software with malicious code that is executed/interpreted by nodes within a network. Malware can expose not only the machine that is executing/interpreting the malicious code to vulnerabilities (e.g., cause the machine to download more malicious code, cause machine to transmit sensitive information to an external system/computer, cause machine to destroy/encrypt data stored on the machine), but it can expose other nodes within the network to malicious attacks. For example, nodes within a network may trust communications and instructions from other nodes within the network. However, once compromised, nodes may not be able to readily differentiate between secure (uncompromised) nodes and compromised nodes running malicious code. Detecting and preventing malware within a network is a constant challenge as software running on devices is constantly changing, creating possible new security vulnerabilities, and as malware evolves in attempts to exploit those vulnerabilities.

Enriching malware information for use with network security analysis and malware detection


A videoconferencing service operating method and the videoconferencing service system thereof in which Multipoint Control Units communicate with videoconferencing terminals through a communication network is disclosed in this invention, it is characterized that through a computer network, MCUs are connected with a service center that accepts and processes videoconferencing service request, dispatches MCUs resource, manages centrally and drives videoconferencing service. A service center that is used in the said videoconferencing service operating method and system includes a Web server that receives a subscriber service request on a network, a service-processing module that receives subscriber messages sent centrally by the said Web server and dispatches MCUs resources on the computer network.

Videoconferencing service provides distance multimedia service including video, audio and data. With videoconferencing service, when people communicates with each other in different places, voices of the participants can be heard and their images can be seen; thus the communication fills with feeling of reality, closeness and on location. Videoconferencing service can be used in military, politic, economic, education and health fields; the advantages of reality, high efficiency and real-time will give people an effective manner for communication, management and collaborative decision-making.
The videoconferencing service is a communication mean which is used for having a meeting among two or several places through transmission channel by means of video technology and devices. As shown in FIG. 1, in general, a videoconferencing system includes videoconferencing terminals, transmission channels and multi-point control units (MCUs); they will be described in the following.
A videoconferencing terminal is directly operated by the subscriber and provides input and output of video, audio and data signals to the videoconferencing system; a videoconferencing terminal includes a video input/output device, an audio input/output device, a terminal processor and a terminal management system, and optionally includes peripherals such as a power amplifier device, a big screen or an electronic white board etc.
A videoconferencing terminal, on the one hand, samples, compresses, codes and multiplexes the video, audio and data signals at the videoconference site in real time, and then transmits to a transmission channel; on the other hand, classifies, decodes and recovers the received signal to the original video, audio and data signals. Besides, a videoconferencing terminal also transmits control signals of the videoconference at local site, such as request to speak, request the videoconference control claim etc., to the MCU, and executes commands sent by the MCU.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the present technology the MCU is the control kernel of a videoconferencing system. When a videoconference has more than two participants, i.e. two videoconferencing terminals, it must be controlled by a MCU, and all videoconferencing terminals are connected to the MCU with standard interface; the MCU implements exchange and mixture of the video and audio signals according to the international standard protocols, such as H.221, H.242, H.243 and T.120. In general, a MCU is consisted of two parts: a central processing unit and a console; the central processing unit implements functions specified in the protocols and the console implements a man-machine interface where the operator sends commands and operations to the MCU; when the videoconferencing service is opened to the public, a service room is needed to implement videoconference registration, reservation and billing etc.
In a videoconferencing system, it is necessary that there is a communication network to connect videoconferencing terminals and MCUs; physically, these transmission channels may be a fiber, a cable, a microwave mode or a satellite mode. Usually communication networks for a videoconferencing system are: the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the Packet Switched Public Data Network (PSPDN) and the Digital Data Network (DDN) etc.; at present with the ATM technology, some broadband networks, such as B-ISDN, IP network and IQ network may be used for videoconferencing service. Along with popularization of the ISDN and Internet network, application of the videoconferencing service is spread.
Nevertheless, the present videoconferencing system lacks effective management mechanism on great capability, thereby the capability of the MCU cannot be extended on the great scale; they can be only used for a small number of services so that utilization efficiency of the network is low. In this case, it is difficult to open videoconferencing service to the public.

Videoconferencing service system, videoconferencing service operating method and service center


A pipe conveyed charge system, for example a junk shot, having a self-contained activating charge which may be activated by mechanical force applied through the pipe. The initiating charge is pressure actuated, and fluid pressure in the pipe is used to fire the charge. The system includes a circulating crossover coupling an explosive charge to a pipe string and including circulating ports directing fluid flow downhole to clear debris from the borehole. A ball, or other blocking material, is conveyed down the drill pipe to block circulating ports to facilitate raising pressure in the pipe to a sufficient level to fire the activating charge.

While drilling boreholes, various types of equipment failure may occur. Such failures may result in blocking the borehole with a heavy steel part which prevents further drilling. For example, a drill bit may break or twist off the bottom of a drill string and become stuck in the borehole. Drill bits are made of very hard materials since they are designed to drill through rock. It is difficult to impossible to reliably use another drill bit to drill through a broken bit in a well.
One method of clearing a non-drillable obstruction in a borehole has been to use a large shaped charge to break the obstruction into small pieces which can be cleared from the hole by circulating fluid and/or which can be drilled through. Such charges are commonly referred to as junk shots. Originally, a junk shot was attached to the end of a wireline and lowered to the obstruction. The wireline provided electrical connections which were used to actuate an electrically fired firing head which in turn detonated the shaped charge. The use of wirelines to deliver junk shots was often not effective for several reasons. It is often difficult to know exactly how deep a wireline has conveyed the junk shot into the borehole. The junk shot charge should be very close to the obstruction, preferably in direct contact with the obstruction. Since a wireline does not provide reliably accurate depth indications, the charge may not be properly placed. Since wireline equipment is not normally kept at a well location during drilling, it may be several days after an obstruction occurs before wireline equipment can be run down a borehole. In the meantime, solids from drilling mud, the borehole walls, etc. may settle on top of the obstruction. A column of such solids may prevent the junk shot from reaching the obstruction and can effectively shield the obstruction from the full force of the charge when it is fired. A wireline is generally only useful in generally vertical boreholes since it depends on gravity to lower the junk shot into the borehole.
In view of the problems wit using wirelines to convey junk shots into boreholes, systems were devised to convey the junk shots on the end of a drill string or other work string. Since the blockage usually occurs during drilling, a drill string is usually available. In addition, drilling mud could be circulated down the drill string to clear debris which may have settled on the obstruction. Standard practice has been to attach a junk shot to the bottom of the drill or work string without a detonator and lower the string to the desired depth while circulating mud. The use of a drill string allows accurate measurement of depth, even in horizontal boreholes. Once the charge is positioned on the obstruction, an activating charge, e.g. an electrically activated firing head, has been conveyed, typically on a wireline, down through the drill string to the main junk shot. Once it is in place, the activating charge is fired, which then fires the main junk shot. This system also has several problems. The main charge is subjected to downhole pressure and temperature for prolonged times as the activating charge is prepared and conveyed downhole. These conditions may cause failure of the main charge. The extra time and equipment needed to convey the activating charge into the borehole greatly increases the cost of the operation.

Pipe conveyed explosive with self contained actuation


A plasma display panel has a matrix of plural first straight electrodes and plural straight second electrodes, respectively crossing each other, and a unit color element located at a crossing point of the first and second electrodes. A plurality of separator walls are spaced apart from each other and extend along the second electrodes, dividing a discharge space into a plurality of channels extending along respective, second electrodes. The separator walls undulate with a fixed periodicity so as to define alternating wide and narrow portions aligned along each channel and the respective first electrode. A fluorescent material is coated in each channel, the colors emitted from the fluorescent material being identical in each channel. A gas discharge takes place selectively at the wide portions in cooperation with the respective first and second electrodes. Optionally, connecting walls connect respective narrow portions of the adjacent separator walls, a height of the connecting wall being substantially lower than the height of the separator walls so as to allow the wide and narrow portions of each channel to be spatially continuous throughout a length of the channel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel, referred to hereinafter as a PDP, of matrix type.
2. Description of the Related Art
A PDP is a thin display device that is excellent in the visual observation of a display thereon, is capable of high speed displaying, and easily allows to accomplish a comparatively large screen size.
Especially a PDP of surface discharge type in which display electrodes are arranged on a single substrate in pairs, for voltage application therebetween, is suitable for a color display using fluorescent materials.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded, perspective view of a PDP 80 of a prior art, where is shown the structure of a part which corresponds to a single picture element, i.e. a pixel, EG. FIG. 2 is a plane view schematically illustrating an arrangement of the prior art display electrodes.
In prior art PDP 80, each of pixels EG which compose the screen is formed of three sub-pixels EU of R. i.e. red, G, i.e. green & B, i.e. blue, aligned on a line. That is, this arrangement form of the three colors for the color display is a so-called in-line type.
PDP 80 is an AC type PDP of the surface discharge type for allowing the color display, and is composed of front and back glass substrates 11 and 21, a pair of first and second display electrodes Xn & Yn, a dielectric layer 17, a protection film 1, a back glass substrate 21, address electrodes A, separator walls 26, which may be referred to as a separator rib (or a barrier rib), fluorescent layers 28R, 28G & 28B, and a discharge gas enclosed in a discharge space 30 between the front and back glass substrates 11 & 21. Each of first and second display electrodes Xn & Yn is formed of a transparent electrode 41 of a relatively large width and a relatively narrow width metal electrode 42, which may be referred to as a bus electrode, for supplementing the electrical conductivity of the transparent electrode 41. First and second display electrodes Xn & Yn, in a pair, provide the above-mentioned line. Address electrode A extends along a row direction, orthogonal to the line direction, to cross the display electrodes Xn & Yn, and a voltage applied therebetween causes a discharge with respect to the second display electrode Yn in order to control wall charges upon dielectric layer 17 at the crossing point.
Separator walls 26 are straight and parallel when looked down thereat, and are arranged with an equal space measured in the extending direction of display electrodes Xn & Yn, that is, measured in the line direction of the display screen. Discharge space 30 is thus divided by the plural separator walls 26 so as to provide a channel therebetween for each unit display element EU, which is referred to hereinafter as a sub-pixel, divided in the line direction. The height of discharge space 30 is uniform throughout the display area.
Upon an application of a predetermined voltage to between the first and second display electrodes Xn & Yn in pair, an electric discharge takes place therebetween along the surface of dielectric layer 17 at a sub-pixel which has been addressed in the address period, so that fluorescent layer 28R, 28G or 28B in the addressed sub-pixel is excited to emit a light by an ultraviolet ray emitted from the discharge gas.
In the prior art structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the distance d between a second display electrode Yn of one line (n) and the next first display electrode Xn+1 of the next line (n+1) had to be larger than a surface discharge gap g, which is a clearance between the paired display electrodes Xn and Yn, in order prevent an interference between the adjacent lines.
Therefore, there was a problem in that the area of non-luminant region, or portion, in the display screen was relatively large, resulting in a deterioration of the brightness of the whole screen.
There was also a problem in that the discharge in one line was apt to invade, along the row direction, the adjacent line, i.e. to interfere with the adjacent line, resulting in an obscure outline of the sub-pixel.
In addition, due to the sub-pixels EU for each of three colors being aligned on a single line, the width w of each sub-pixel EU measured along the line direction is one third of the pixel pitch ph. Therefore, it was difficult to further decrease the pixel pitch ph.
In order to solve the above problems, there was considered a mesh pattern of the separator walls as disclosed in Japanese Provisional Patent Publication Hei 3-84831. However, because discharge space 30 is divided into each sub-pixel which is divided not only in the line direction but also in the row direction, it was difficult to secure the reliability of the discharge control in driving the cells, and it was also difficult to properly coat the fluorescence layer and to clean up the inside of the divided cells.

Method for fabrication of a plasma display panel


A method for separating protein from plant or algae material is disclosed. The method comprises mixing the protein-containing material with a solvent, preferably water; extracting the protein-containing material at pH>7; and acidifying the mixture, thereby precipitating protein and fiber together. In some embodiments of the invention, the separation additionally comprises decanting the mixture to recover a protein/fiber solid; adding water to the protein/fiber solid; adding a predetermined quantity of base to the protein/fiber/water system, thereby precipitating fiber; separating the fiber from the protein in a decanter; and drying the protein solution. In other embodiments, the protein/fiber solid is processed directly, e.g. by being passed to an extruder. The use of the fiber as a carrier for the protein makes the inventive method more efficient than methods known in the art; in particular, the inventive method does not require the use of a high-g clarifier centrifuge.

Plant matter, particularly from plants such as legumes, is a well-known source of protein. In methods known in the art, the extraction process generally comprises mixing the plant matter with a solvent, centrifuging and decanting or filtration to remove fibrous matter and acidifying the remaining material after separation in the clarifier to produce a crude protein extract. Sugars and starch are generally separated at this point for concentration to produce molasses. The crude protein extract is rehydrated, the water additionally being used to wash out salts, sugars, and starch from the protein extract. The crude protein extract is then fed to a clarifying centrifuge to produce a second extract. Water is added to this second extract in order to adjust the solid content to 8-15%, and the pH is then brought to near neutral by addition of base. Dry protein powder is then produced by spray-drying the second extract. A schematic outline of the steps in methods known in the art such as the one described here is presented in FIG. 1A.
In methods known in the art, the clarifier used for isolating the protein from the supernatant liquid represents a bottleneck in the process, limiting the throughput of the process as well as the efficiency of the separation and purification.
International (PCT) Pat. Appl. Pub. No. WO2018/011786 (henceforth '786) discloses a method for producing a protein concentrate derived from legumes such as chickpeas. The method comprises suspending legume material in water, debittering the legume material, and extracting the proteins from the debittered material. The debittering is preferably performed by reacting the legume material with fumaric acid, and the extraction is preferably performed by basifying the debittered legume product.
There thus remains a long-felt yet unmet need for a process for extraction of protein from plant matter that separates the protein more efficiently than those methods known in the art.

Process for extraction of protein from plant or algal matter

IMI TAMI INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD.


A detachable auxiliary sunglasses with magnets are provided, including a rim, sunglasses lenses mounted within the rim, and two magnets each pivoted to a respective endpiece of the rim. The auxiliary sunglasses can be secured to a primary eyeglasses, which have two magnets in positions corresponding to the positions of the magnets of auxiliary sunglasses, by means of a bond between the magnets attracting each other. The magnets are pivoted to the endpieces of the auxiliary sunglasses are capable of turning according to the position of the magnets of the primary eyeglasses so as to maintain a close contact with the same when distance between two temples of the primary eyeglasses broadens when wearing the eyeglasses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to eyeglasses and auxiliary lenses capable of being detachably coupled to eyeglasses. More particularly, the present invention relates to means with which auxiliary lenses are attached to eyeglasses. And still more particularly, the present invention proposes a structure for the auxiliary lenses to form a secure connection when attached to the eyeglasses, without worry of falling apart from the eyeglasses due to slight change of shape of the frame of the eyeglasses when the eyeglasses fit on a human wearer's head.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past various means have been utilized to secure auxiliary lenses to eyeglasses. One of them is clipping device, which is permanently attached to the auxiliary lenses. The clipping device fits around the frames of the eyeglasses to clip the auxiliary lenses to the eyeglasses. However, the clipping devices the eyeglasses look unattractive.
Another means for securing auxiliary lenses to eyeglasses is to use magnetic material. This is currently a popular way to secure auxiliary lenses to eyeglasses, and several devices have been proposed and patented, including Magnetic Means For Securing Auxiliary Lenses To Eyeglasses, patented by U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,537, and Detachable Sunglasses With Magnets, also patented by U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,177.
According to the above mentioned patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,416,537 and 5,642,177, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, magnets 101 are fixed to two end portions of rim 10 of the eyeglasses while magnets 201 are fixed to two end portions of rim 20 of the templeless auxiliary sunglasses; thus, the templeless auxiliary sunglasses can be secured to the eyeglasses by means of the magnets 201, 101 attracting each other to form a bond.
Another device proposed for the same purpose is a patent application with PCT, with application number WO 90/09611. Referring to FIG. 8, a magnet 302 is provided on bridge 301 of rim 30 of the eyeglasses while a second magnet 402 is mounted on bridge 401 of rim 40 of the templeless sunglasses; thus the templeless sunglasses can be secured to the eyeglasses by means of the magnets 402,302 attracting each other to form a bond.
However, through experience, it is found that the temples of the eyeglasses would broaden when fitting on a wearer's head, causing the end portions of the rim to angularly turn. The turning of the end portions of the rim would change the position of the magnets mounted thereon, resulting in loss of close contact between the magnets of the templeless sunglasses and the magnets of the eyeglasses and consequently the sunglasses fall from the eyeglasses under extreme conditions.
As for the sunglasses with magnets mounted on the bridge, the bond is found to be too weak and the sunglasses would easily turn at an angle from the desired position.
To overcome the disadvantages of the above mentioned means, other means have been proposed, including U.S. Patents Auxiliary Lenses For Eyeglasses, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,568,207 and 5,737,054.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,207, referring to FIG. 10, magnets 503 are mounted on endpieces 502 of rim 50 of the eyeglasses, the endpieces 502 being provided to connect temples 501. Second magnets 602 are mounted on supporting end portions 601 of templeless sunglasses 60 so that the templeless sunglasses 60 can be secured to the eyeglasses by means of the bond between the magnets 503 and 602, the supporting end portions 601 resting on the endpieces 502 of the rim 50 to provide a stable support for the tempteless sunglasses 60, as shown in FIG. 11.
As for U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,054, Auxiliary Lenses For Eyeglasses, referring to FIG. 12, a magnet 702 is mounted on a bridge 701 of the eyeglasses 70 while a second magnet 803 is mounted on bottom portion of a protrusion 802 provided above a bridge of the templeless eyeglasses 80; thus, the templeless sunglasses can be secured to the eyeglasses by means of bond between the magnets 803 and 702 attracting each other.
Moreover, the inventor of the present invention proposed a means for securing auxiliary lenses to eyeglasses, which was filed at U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 28, 1997 with application Ser. No. 08/959,486 referring to FIG. 13, magnets 901 are mounted on endpieces 902 of eyeglasses 90 in a way that recesses 903 are formed on the endpieces 902. A templeless eyeglasses 905 is provided, having extending portions 906 at two ends and magnets 904 mounted on the extending portions 906 in a way that the magnets 904 each forms a protrusion; thus, the templeless sunglasses 905 can be coupled to the eyeglasses by means of bond between the magnets 901 and 904 attracting each other, with the recesses 903 retaining the magnets 904 to strengthen the bond, as shown in FIG. 14.
The above mentioned three means provide a stabler and more secure connection between the eyeglasses and the templeless sunglasses, however the wearer has to put on the templeless sunglasses from above the eyeglasses fittings on his/her head due to presence of the extending portions 906 in FIG. 13, the protrusion 802 in FIG. 12, and the supporting end portions 601 in FIGS. 10 and 11. This is different from the way the wearer is used to when putting on the templeless sunglasses, i.e. from ahead of the eyeglasses. So it is not very convenient in using securing means of this kind.

Structure of detachable auxiliary lenses with magnets


A solderable lead structure adapted for joining or soldering to a substrate carrying electrical components, comprising a double comb-like configuration made of conductive material, having two rows of contact strips or leads that are connected to opposite edges of a common carrier strip. At the free or distal ends of the leads, individual clips are formed for resiliently engaging both sides of a substrate. The leads extend from the carrier strip from opposite edges and are then folded to result in a linear, intermeshed arrangement.

Leads for substrates that are pushed onto an edge of the substrate have been formed with a spring clip on each lead, which engages the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate to hold the lead in its desired location. Resilient fingers of the clip grip opposing sides of the substrate by spring tension between the lead and the substrate, with the lead in contact with a conductive area or contact pad on the substrate. One or both of the fingers of each lead may hold a solder mass, to be positioned at the contact pad, to which it becomes soldered upon application of heat and subsequent cooling. Such arrangements are shown in the prior art illustrated by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,605,278; 4,597,628; 4,679,889; 4,697,865 and 4,428,305 of the present inventor.
Certain difficulties have been associated with the prior art applications of leads to substrates which are overcome or avoided by the present invention. Some substrates have contact pads on one surface of a substrate that are closely spaced. Other substrates have sets of contact pads adjacent the substrate edge on both opposing surfaces of the substrate, with the two sets of contact pads offset from each other, i.e. a contact pad on one side is between two pads on the opposing surface along the edge of the substrate. With the present trend toward having more and more leads attached to a substrate, leads to be attached to the substrate must have extremely close spacing between adjacent leads. Desirable known constructions for holding solder to a lead have tabs that initially extend laterally from the side edges of the leads and are then bent to hold the solder. With conventional lead arrangements, the lead spacing becomes too close to allow for these laterally extending solder-holding structures.
One arrangement that has partially solved these problems is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,115 of the present inventor. In that patent, two sets of leads are formed to extend from opposite edges of a central carrier strip. Once folded over, the leads become interleaved to form a single row of leads. The solder is held on the lead tip without the laterally extending structures. By applying pressure to the leads, the two sets of leads separate to receive a substrate edge between them, suitable for substrates with staggered contact pads on opposed faces. This arrangement partially avoids the described problem by eliminating the laterally extending tabs, but does not permit taking advantage of the desirable features of the lateral tabs. Further, this arrangement can not be used with closely spaced contact pads on the same substrate surface.
There also exists a need for a solderable lead construction that is both easy to manufacture as well as being easy to assemble onto multiple contact pads of a substrate with stable retention on the substrate during a soldering process.


Systems, devices, and methods for coupling a tracheostomy tube to a source of humidified breathing gas are disclosed. An adaptor includes a housing, a tracheostomy tube connection device, and a baffle. The housing has an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a breathing gas port. The tracheostomy tube connection device is positioned within the housing and includes an input port for receiving a flow of humidified breathing gas from the breathing gas port and an output port for coupling with the tracheostomy tube. The tracheostomy tube connection device has an internal surface defining a breathing gas passage and an external surface spaced from the interior surface of the housing to create a condensation passage. The baffle may be positioned between the breathing gas port and the input port to cause controlled condensation from the flow of humidified breathing gas by disrupting the flow of humidified breathing gas.

Patients with respiratory ailments may be administered supplemental breathing gases, such as oxygen, for example, to aid in respiration. These breathing gases are typically provided from a breathing gas supply, such as an oxygen tank. A delivery device, such as a nasal cannula, may be coupled to the breathing gas supply and inserted into a patient's nasal passages for delivery of the breathing gas to the patient for inhalation. Alternatively, for patients that have had a tracheostomy, a surgical procedure to create an opening through the neck into the trachea, breathing gas may be supplied directly to the trachea through a tracheostomy tube (also known as a trach tube) that extends from the patient's neck.
During treatments in which the breathing gas is humidified, moisture may condense near the connection of a breathing gas supply tube to the tracheostomy tube. This moisture may drip into the trachea, causing irritation and discomfort. Accordingly, systems, devices, and methods for handling this moisture are desirable.
Furthermore, in a healthy patient, the upper airway warms, cleans, and moistens the air that a patient breathes. However, these mechanisms are bypassed when a patient breathes through a tracheostomy tube. Mucus secretions may accumulate in the tracheostomy tube, impairing proper breathing and potentially causing infection. Accordingly, systems, devices, and methods for clearing mucus from the tracheostomy tube are desirable.

Respiratory therapy condensation adaptor


A motion detecting circuit for a video signal processor having a filter arrangement for separating the video signal into the low and high frequency components, a first detecting circuit for detecting a low frequency luminance moving signal, a second detecting circuit for detecting a high frequency luminance moving signal, a third detecting circuit for detecting a chrominance moving signal, a first threshold circuit for generating a low band luminance motion digit signal, a second threshold circuit for generating a high band luminance motion digit signal, a control circuit coupled for generating a control signal in response to the low and high band luminance motion digit signals, a gate circuit for selectively transmitting the chrominance moving signal in response to the control signal and a selector for selectively outputting the one of the low frequency luminance moving signal and the chrominance moving signal having the high signal intensity.

In order to improve separation performance for a luminance signal (Y) and a chrominance signal (C), a motion adaptive three-dimensional Y/C separator has been incorporated in video processing equipment, such as TV receivers and VCRs. In these motion adaptive three-dimensional Y/C separators, a motion in a composite video signal is detected based on the magnitude of the inter-frame difference. This motion is then used for selecting between the processing of moving images and stationary images. Thus, a signal with a detected motion, i.e., a moving image, utilizes a Y/C separation implemented by an inter-line correlation, while a signal without such a detected motion, i.e., a stationary image, utilizes a Y/C separation implemented by an inter-frame correlation. Accordingly, in motion adaptive three-dimensional Y/C separators, precision of detecting motion has a significant influence on the performance of Y/C separation.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional video signal processor containing such a motion adaptive Y/C signal separation circuit. See, e.g., Miyazaki et al. "Development of Three-Dimensional Y/C Processing LSI", pp. 215-216, on Report in the 1989 National Meeting of the Television Society, the circuit of which will be incorporated herein as FIG. 1 for reference.
In FIG. 1, a composite video signal (e.g., NTSC signal) is applied to an A/D converter 102 through an input terminal 101. The A/D converter 102 converts the composite video signal to a digital form. The composite video signal is then applied to a moving image Y/C separation circuit 103 in a Y/C separation LSI 115. The moving image Y/C separation circuit 103 takes three consecutive line signals at a time, by using two 1H delay circuits ("H" represents one horizontal period) 104 and 105, to perform the Y/C separation for moving images. That is, the moving image Y/C separation circuit 103 first detects the vertical correlation of images from the horizontal low band components of the three consecutive line signals and then mixes two comblike filter outputs, based on the result of the vertical correlation, to obtain a vertical high frequency component (component not containing line correlation) for a center line signal and upper and lower line signals. The vertical high frequency component extracted by the moving image Y/C separation circuit 103 is then applied to a band-pass filter (hereinafter referred to as BPF) 106 wherein a color subcarrier band component is extracted from the vertical high frequency component. The color subcarrier band component is applied to both a subtracter 107 and a mixing circuit (hereinafter referred to as MIX circuit) 108 as a chrominance signal of moving images (hereinafter referred to the moving image C signal). The subtracter 107 receives another input from the 1H delay circuit 104 and subtracts the moving image C signal from the 1H delayed NTSC signal, thus resulting in a luminance signal of the moving image (hereinafter referred to as the moving image Y signal). This moving image Y signal is applied to another MIX circuit 109.
The NTSC signal on the output of the 1H delay circuit 104 is applied to a stationary image Y/C separation circuit 112 directly as well as through a one-frame delay circuit 110 with 525H (one-frame period) delay time. The stationary image Y/C separation circuit 112 separates a stationary image luminance signal (hereinafter referred to as the stationary image Y signal) by adding two frame signals with one-frame difference therebetween and a stationary chrominance signal component (frame non-correlative component) by subtracting the two frame signals. The stationary image Y signal separated in the stationary image Y/C separation circuit 112 is applied to the MIX circuit 109, while the chrominance signal component (frame non-correlative component) is applied to the MIX circuit 108 as the stationary chrominance signal (hereinafter referred to as the stationary image C signal) through another BPF 113.
The NTSC signal at the output of the 1H delay circuit 104 is applied to a motion detecting circuit 114. Furthermore the NTSC signal at the output of the one-frame delay circuit 110 is applied to the motion detecting circuit 114 directly as well as through another one-frame delay circuit 111 with 525H (one-frame period) delay time. Thus three consecutive frame signals obtained by the 1H delay circuit 104 and the two one-frame delay circuits 110 and 111 are applied to the motion detecting circuit 114. The motion detecting circuit 114 outputs the larger one of the motion signals detected based on an inter-frame difference between the outputs of the one-frame delay circuit 110 and the 1H delay circuit 104, and an inter-frame difference between the outputs of the 1H delay circuit 104 and the one-frame delay circuit 111. The motion signal from the motion detecting circuit 114 is applied to control terminals of the MIX circuits 108 and 109.
Thus the MIX circuit 109 receives the moving image Y signal and the stationary image Y signal, as well as the motion signal, as a control signal. The moving image Y signal and the stationary image Y signal are combined together at a ratio corresponding to the motion signal, so that a combined Y signal output from the MIX circuit 109 is obtained through a Y signal output terminal 116.
The MIX circuit 108 receives the moving image C signal and the stationary image C signal, as well as the motion signal, as a control signal. The moving image C signal and the stationary image C signal are combined together at the ratio corresponding tot he motion signal, so that a combined C signal output from the MIX circuit 108 is applied to a color processing LSI 117.
Additionally are shown synchronized processing LSI 140, abnormal detector 141, vertical and horizontal synchronized regenerator 142, feed forward ACC color filter and color phase adjustment 150, and burst detector 151.
In the conventional video signal processor, however, the motion detecting circuit 114 requires two large memories for configuring the one-frame delay circuits 110 and 111 as described above. Thus the conventional video signal processor has a disadvantage in cost and space for implementing the processor on IC chips.

Motion detecting circuit for video signal processor


A sheet cassette (1) according to the present invention has a double structure portion (10) including an upper plate (11) and a lower plate (12). The lower plate (12) has a first guide groove (13) elongated widthwise of a sheet to be contained in the cassette and having a plurality of inch-based size engagement recesses (17) and a plurality of centimeter-based size engagement recesses arranged longitudinally thereof. The upper plate (11) is movable along the lower plate (12) widthwise of the sheet to be contained in the cassette. The inch-based size engagement recesses (17) are effectuated by locating the upper plate (11) at a first position, and the centimeter-based size engagement recesses are effectuated by locating the upper plate (11) at a second position. The sheet cassette (1) further has a width limiting plate slidable widthwise of the sheet to be contained in the cassette according to the width of the sheet. A claw engageable with the effectuated inch-based size or centimeter-based size engagement recesses is attached to the width limiting plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet cassette for use in an image forming apparatus. Particularly, the invention relates to a sheet cassette which is capable of containing inch-based size sheets as well as centimeter-based size sheets, and to an image forming apparatus including the sheet cassette.
2. Description of Related Art
In an image forming apparatus, a sheet is fed from a sheet cassette, and an image is formed on the sheet. The sheet cassette includes a width limiting plate which is slidable widthwise of sheets contained in the cassette according to the width of the sheets (as measured perpendicularly to a direction in which the sheets are fed out of the sheet cassette). By preliminarily positioning the width limiting plate in the sheet cassette according to the size of the sheets, the sheets can be aligned widthwise in a predetermined position in the sheet cassette. Thus, a sheet fed out of the sheet cassette is properly transported, and an image is formed on the sheet in the image forming apparatus.
The sheet cassette includes a rail for guiding the width limiting plate in the movement direction of the width limiting plate, and recesses are provided at positions corresponding to various sheet sizes on an edge of the rail. The width limiting plate has a claw engageable with the recesses. The width limiting plate can be fixed at a position corresponding to the size of the sheets with the claw thereof in engagement with a predetermined one of the recesses.
Meanwhile, sheets to be used in the image forming apparatus include inch-based size sheets and centimeter-based size sheets, which are often selectively contained in a single sheet cassette. In this case, recesses for the widths of the inch-based size sheets (hereinafter referred to as "inch-based size engagement recesses") and recesses for the widths of the centimeter-based size sheets (hereinafter referred to as "centimeter-based size engagement recesses") are provided on the edge of the rail. See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-256274.
A user of the image forming apparatus properly positions the width limiting plate with the claw in engagement with the predetermined recess, whereby the centimeter-based size sheets or the inch-based size sheets can be set in a proper position in the sheet cassette.
In the prior art, however, the inch-based size engagement recesses and the centimeter-based size engagement recesses are provided in very close relation on the edge of the rail. For example, a so-called letter size based on inch is 216 mm×279 mm, and a Japanese Industrial Standard Column-A No. 4 size (A4 size) based on centimeter is 210 mm×297 mm. That is, a difference in short edge length between the letter size and the A4 size is 6 mm. In a sheet cassette adapted to limit the position of the sheets by sliding a pair of width limiting plates symmetrically widthwise, inch-based size engagement recesses for the letter size are spaced only 3 mm from centimeter-based size engagement recesses for the A4 size on the edge of the rail.
Hence, there is a possibility that the user of the image forming apparatus sets the claw in engagement with a wrong recess. In this case, the sheets cannot be aligned widthwise in the proper position in the sheet cassette by the width limiting plate. Therefore, a sheet fed out of the sheet cassette is offset widthwise from a predetermined position when transported through a sheet transport path in the image forming apparatus.
Accordingly, an image formed on the sheet will be offset widthwise and, in the worse case, the sheet is jammed in the sheet transport path in the image forming apparatus.

Sheet cassette and image forming apparatus