A system upgrade assessment method based on system parameter correlation coefficients is provided. The problem that the existing system upgrade assessment method cannot accurately assess an upgraded system is solved. For such a purpose, the system upgrade assessment method comprises the following steps: acquiring first data for a plurality of parameters before system upgrade (S110); acquiring second data for the plurality of parameters after the system upgrade (S120); calculating first correlation coefficients of the first data and second correlation coefficients of the second data (S130); calculating third correlation coefficients between the first data and the corresponding second data (S140); and determining, based on the magnitudes of the first correlation coefficients, the second correlation coefficients and the third correlation coefficients, whether the system upgrade succeeds (S150). By comparing the correlation coefficients of the system parameters before and after the upgrade, the system upgrade assessment method can accurately determine whether the system upgrade succeeds.

In the prior art, when a system (e.g., a control system for a battery swapping station) is upgraded, a strategy of first gray-scale upgrade (first upgrade to small-range devices) and then gradual comprehensive upgrade is generally used, and then the upgrade results of gray-scale upgrade devices and comprehensive upgrade devices are assessed. The assessment method for upgrade results usually makes a determination by comparing system/device faults and whether the values of key parameters are still within a threshold range before and after the upgrade.
However, there are certain defects in this method. Specifically, some faults have a "cumulative effect" that is usually reflected after a period of time the upgrade is ended; moreover, the key parameters change within the threshold range, which does not mean that the changes of the parameters before and after the upgrade are still normal changes.
Accordingly, a new system upgrade assessment method is required in the art to solve the problems.

System upgrade assessment method based on system parameter correlation coefficients


A messaging module is configured to, in response to a first indicator indicating that a patient has opted into receiving text messages, selectively send and receives text messages to and from a mobile phone number of the patient. A refill by text (RBT) module is configured to, when a second indicator indicates that the patient is not included in an RBT program, trigger the messaging module to send a predetermined text message to the mobile phone number in response to a determination that: a name of a prescription drug prescribed to the patient is included in a stored list of prescription drugs associated with the RBT program; the first indicator indicates that the patient has opted into receiving text messages; and a number of refills of the prescription drug already provided to the patient without a change in the therapy of the prescription drug is greater than a predetermined number.

For some types of prescription drugs, a prescriber can authorize a prescription drug to be refilled one or more times without a patient obtaining a new prescription for the prescription drug. The patient may initiate a refill of the prescription drug, for example, via call or online with the pharmacy that initially fulfilled the prescription. The patient may retrieve the refill, once available, by traveling to the pharmacy.
The background description provided here is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Systems and methods for refilling prescriptions by text message

Express Scripts Strategie Development, Inc.


An optical fiber for an optical network is disclosed. The optical fiber includes a core having a core region having a first refractive index N1, and a refractive index depressed region surrounding the core region and having a second refractive index N2 that is lower than the first refractive index. A clad surrounds the core and having a third refractive index N4. The optical fiber has a zero-dispersion wavelength that is not less than 1555 nm and positioned in a wavelength range which does not exceed L-band. The optical fiber has negative dispersion values in C-band and positive dispersion values in L-band.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical network, in particular to an optical fiber for use as a transmission line in such an optical metro-area network.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, optical fibers, used in metro networks, have a negative dispersion characteristic. The fibers include core with a high refractive index and a clad surrounding the core. An annular region having a refractive index lower than that of the core may be interposed between the core and the clad.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,679 to Bhagavatula, which is entitled "Low Dispersion, Low-Loss Single-Mode Optical Waveguide," discloses a single mode optical waveguide consisting of a core having an annular refractive index depressed region and a clad enclosing the core.
When configuring a metro network, it is more economical, in a lower transmission rate, to configure the metro network in a direct modulation (DM) mode than in an external modulation (EM) mode.
FIG. 1a is a schematic diagram illustrating a direct modulation mode and FIG. 1b is a schematic diagram illustrating an external modulation mode.
Referring to FIG. 1a, light output from a laser diode (LD) 110 is modulated by applying a direct current (DC) voltage IDC and data to the laser diode (LD) 10. It is known that a directly modulated optical signal exhibits a positive chirp characteristic.
Referring to FIG. 1b, light is produced by applying DC voltage IDC to a laser diode 210, and a modulator 220 receives and modulates the light to the input data.
A conventional metro network or access network is configured using standard single mode fibers (SSMFs). In consideration of the fact that a directly modulated optical signal exhibits a positive chirp characteristic, a conventional method for configuring a metro network using non-zero dispersion shifted fibers (NZDSFs) having negative dispersion values (about −7 to −8 ps/nm/km at 1550 nm) is also known. However, such a method needs many restrictive requirements in order to achieve an effect on transmission characteristics. Furthermore, it is noted that when an optical communication network uses a 10 Gbps transmission rate and a 1550 nm band direct modulation mode, the SSMFs can be applied to a transmission distance of about 10 km and NZDSFs having negative dispersion values can be applied to a transmission distance of about 75 km. The SSMFs have difficulty providing good transmission characteristics due to the chirp phenomenon caused by the direct modulation, and the NZDSFs are not effective in a network longer than 100 km due to the excessively high negative dispersion values thereof. When a metro network is configured using SMFs, configuring such a network become more complex because one or more separate dispersion control optical fibers must be used.
FIG. 2 is a graph showing Q-factor curves with respect to individual transmission distances for a typical SMF and negative dispersion fibers (NDFs). FIG. 2 shows Q-factor curves of an optical signal with preamp and with 5 dB extinction ratio proceeds through a first NDF, in which an optical signal with preamp and with 8 dB extinction ratio proceeds through a second NDF, in which an optical signal without preamp and with 8 dB extinction ratio proceeds through a third NDF, and in which an optical signal without preamp and with 8 dB extinction ratio proceeds through an SMF, respectively. It can be seen that the typical SMF has difficulty providing good transmission characteristics due to the chirp phenomenon caused by the direct modulation, and the typical NDFs have a restriction in transmission distance in a metro network due to the high negative dispersion values thereof.
FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating characteristics of an erbium doped fiber amplifier. FIG. 3 shows gain curves in the individual cases in which a −40 dBm optical signal is input, in which a −10 dBm optical signal is input, and in which a +5 dBm optical signal is input; and a noise figure curve for a −10 dBm optical signal. The channel efficiency decreases in a wavelength band in the range of 1560 to 1570 nm, which is the dead zone of the erbium doped fiber amplifier.
It is also noted that because a typical NZDSF has dispersion values suitable for C-band (1530 to 1565 nm), it has a restriction in using L-band and contributes to deteriorate the channel efficiency of a metro network in combination with the dead zone of the erbium doped fiber amplifier.
FIG. 4 is a graph showing a refractive index profile of a typical NZDSF having negative dispersion values. The NZDSF includes a double-ring shaped core located at the center of the NZDSF, a refractive index depressed region, and a clad. The NZDSF has a poor coupling efficiency with an existing optical fiber due to its complicated refractive index profile. In addition, the NZDSF has a problem in that macro bending loss is very high due to its large refractive index depressed region.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an optical fiber having optical characteristics suitable for a 2.5 Gbps transmission rate, which is a principle transmission rate of metro networks at present, and a 10 Gbps transmission rate which will be widely used in the future.


An image forming apparatus in which an image is formed on a recording material includes an exposure unit that forms a non-image section potential through exposure of a photoconductor at a first laser power and forms an image section potential through exposure of the photoconductor at a second laser power that is greater than the first laser power. A control unit controls an output of laser power of the exposure unit. The output of the first laser power is controlled during formation of the non-image section potential, so as to be of a first intensity at the middle of an image forming region of the recording material, and to be of a second intensity, stronger than the first intensity, at end sections of the image forming region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which an image is formed on a recording material in accordance with an electrophotographic technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as copiers and laser beam printers, an electrostatic image (latent image) is formed through irradiation of light, corresponding to image data, onto an electrophotographic photoconductor (photoconductor drum) that is charged homogeneously by a charging means. Toner (developer) is supplied from a developing assembly to the electrostatic image, and the electrostatic image is made visible in the form of a toner image. The toner image is transferred from the photoconductor to a recording material such as recording paper, by a transfer device. The toner image is then fixed on the recording material in the fixing apparatus, to form a recorded image on the recording material.
Known developing assemblies that are provided in such image forming apparatuses include developing assemblies that rely on a dry one-component developing method. In such a developing assembly, firstly a one-component developer (hereafter, toner) is supported on a developing roller (developer carrier), a uniform toner layer is formed by a layer-thickness regulating member, and the developing roller is brought into contact with the photoconductor. For instance, developing bias voltage formed of a DC component is then applied to the developing roller, to generate a potential difference between the electrostatic image on the photoconductor and the developing roller, and to develop the electrostatic image by causing the toner to move onto the electrostatic image (contact developing scheme).
In image forming apparatuses relying on contact developing schemes, technologies are known in which a potential difference (back contrast) between a photoconductor charging potential and a developing roller applied voltage, and a potential difference (developing contrast) between the developing roller applied voltage and a latent image potential, are appropriately set, to suppress fogging or the like (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H08-171260).
In a case where the size of the developing device is to be reduced to cope with a reduction in apparatus size, the diameter of the developing roller has to be as small as possible. The developing roller that is pressed against the photoconductor drum deflects readily when the diameter of the developing roller is small. In a configuration where there is provided a toner supply roller for supplying toner to the developing roller, deflection of the developing roller can be suppressed by having the latter supported by the toner supply roller. However, a configuration in which support by a toner supply roller is lacking, through scrapping of the toner supply roller in order to reduce the size and price of the apparatus, entails significantly more pronounced deflection of the developing roller, which is a concern.
Ordinarily, at least the outermost layer of the developing roller is made up of an elastic rubber material, so as not to damage the photoconductor drum. When the developing roller flexes, however, the pressing force is stronger at the end sections than in the central section. As a result, the nip with respect to the photoconductor drum is thicker at the end sections, where the pressing force is strong, than at the central section (the width of the nip section in the recording material conveyance direction is larger at the end sections than at the central section).
In a case where the nip of the developing section was thick, reverse fogging might worsen, since the charge of the toner varied within the nip. Accordingly, the amount of fogging with respect to back contrast might be different between the central section and the end sections, in a case, as described above, where deflection was large and the nip width of the developing roller differed between the central section and the end sections.
FIG. 4 illustrates such a situation. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between back contrast and fogging amount in a case where the nip width between the developing roller and photoconductor drum differs between the central section and the end sections. As FIG. 4 illustrates, reverse fogging worsens at end sections of large nip width. The value of back contrast for which fogging is minimal differs between the central section and the end sections, due to the influence of worsened reverse fogging. A possibility arose herein in that fogging might occur at paper portions at which the back contrast at the central section and the end sections cannot be optimized due to worsened fogging accompanying toner degradation, in the case of repeated printing over long periods of time using such a developing assembly.
Therefore, an image forming apparatus is demanded that allows suppressing occurrence of fogging yet more effectively.


According to one embodiment, a display device comprises a collimating layer including first to third openings, first to third color filters overlaid on the first to third openings, respectively, a first sensor outputting a first detection signal corresponding to light made incident through the first opening and the first color filter, a second sensor outputting a second detection signal corresponding to light made incident through the second opening and the second color filter, and a third sensor outputting a third detection signal corresponding to light made incident through the third opening and the third color filter.

In recent years, display devices with built-in sensors for detecting biometric information, such as fingerprint sensors and vein sensors, have been developed. For example, an optical sensor using a photoelectric conversion element is used as this type of sensor.
For example, in the case of detecting a fingerprint by an optical sensor, even when a simulated body having unevenness similar to that of a fingerprint is held over the sensor the body can be detected similarly to a fingerprint of a user's finger (living body). Therefore, it is desired to be able to discriminate whether an object to be detected by the sensor is a living body or a simulated body.


Apparatus for image capture via a blemished sensor, comprising: a large area pixel based image sensor being actuatable to move between a first image capture position and a second image capture position, an image capture controller for controlling said sensor to move between said image capture positions during an image capture operation thereby to take a sub-image at each one of said positions so that each part of an image subject is captured by at least two separate pixels of said sensor, and an integrator, associated with said sensor, for integrating said sub-images into a single full image. Preferably, the sensor is tested to find blemish positions and a shift is calculated that minimizes the number of blemish positions that superimpose between the two pixel positions.

Digital cameras and other image capture devices have pixel based sensors. In the case of a digital camera the sensor is part of the digital camera back, hereinafter referred to simply as the back. The sensor comes in two types, those that substantially cover the full image capture so that only a single image capture operation is needed per image, and those in which the image size is a fraction of the full image capture area, so that the sensor needs to be shifted for separate captures over the capture area. The former are referred to herein as large area sensors. In state-of-the-art digital cameras or cameras with digital camera backs having large area sensors, the most costly component is usually the image sensor. This is primarily because fabrication yield, that is the proportion of sensors manufactured that are passed for use, is approximately proportional to the area. Typically, for sensors larger than 16 mm×24 mm, less than half of the sensors manufactured are passed as suitable for imaging. Sensors that are considered as not being suitable for imaging are generally rejected because they have blemishes that cannot be corrected using conventional means. Blemishes are regions of one or more unreliable pixels. In general single pixel, or close to single pixel, blemishes can be compensated for using conventional means. However, certain larger types of blemish such as clusters of more than 2×2 unreliable pixels, or adjacent multi-row or multi-column blemishes cannot be compensated for using conventional means and sensors having such blemishes are typically rejected.
An example of conventional blemish compensation is disclosed in JP3296375A2, which discloses a blemish correcting circuit for implementing blemish correction processing by subtracting a signal at a level indicating blemish level data from an output signal of a pixel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,457 assigned to Sony Corporation, discloses an adjustment operational mode, in which a charge coupled device (CCD) having pixels with a temperature dependent blemish is driven so that the CCD accumulates N times as much charge as in an ordinary operational mode. A corresponding offset voltage is supplied to a temperature sensor so that a blemish compensation signal from a blemish compensation signal generator can be adjusted with high accuracy. In the adjustment mode, the temperature of the CCD is raised, so that the level of the blemish component of the signal output from the CCD is large enough to be accurately adjusted. In an ordinary operational mode, the compensation signal from the blemish compensation signal generator which has been level-adjusted with high accuracy in the adjustment operational mode is added to an image pick-up output signal of the CCD to produce a blemish compensated signal adjusted with high accuracy. The above system is not suitable for most types of manufacturing blemish however.
Certain backs are designed to capture a full image in 3 separate image capture operations or shots. An example is the Leaf Volare camera back which implements color image capture by taking each shot through a different colored filter. Another example of multiple shot image capture is that of the Leaf Cantare XY camera back and similar devices, which use a color filter array sensor. The back is designed to capture the image in two or three shots wherein the sensor is moved by an exact pixel shift between the shots in order to obtain full color sampling. Such camera backs generally use a small size sensor, which does not cover the full imaging area, since the smaller sensor gives a higher fabrication yield and it thus cheaper to produce. Large area sensor, which cover the imaging area are prohibitively costly.
It would be advantageous to provide a camera back with a sensor whose area size is closer to the optical imaging area size, at a reduced cost.

Method and apparatus for capturing images using blemished sensors


A recording medium includes a substrate having a microscopic pattern, which includes a shape of continuous substance of approximately parallel grooves formed with a convex shaped section and a concave shaped section alternating on a surface of the substrate. A recording layer is formed on the microscopic pattern and a light transmitting layer has a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.12 mm formed on the recording layer. The microscopic pattern satisfies a relation of P≦λ/NA, wherein P is a pitch of the convex shaped section, λ is a wavelength of a reproducing light beam and NA is a numerical aperture of an objective lens. The microscopic pattern also includes modulated address information formed on both side walls of the convex shaped section viewed from the light transmitting layer as a wobble, both the side walls being parallel to each other, and furthermore wherein the address information is modulated by the phase-shift keying modulation system. A reproducing apparatus is particularly suited for the recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information recording medium used for a reproducing apparatus and a recording apparatus, which read out information from the information recording medium with making it move relatively, particularly, relates to an information recording medium to be recorded and/or reproduced by an optical device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Until now, recording and reproducing information by using a laser beam or like has been performed by an optical disc system.
There existed a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) as one of information recording mediums used for such an optical disc system. Such a DVD disc has an information recording surface composed of an information track and an information pit array, which are engraved in a rugged shape on a surface of a transparent plastic substrate having a thickness of 0.6 mm and a diameter of 120 mm by a forming process. The information track is provided for recording information, and the information pit array is provided for reproducing the information by scanning the pit array.
In a case of a reproducing type information recording medium, a reflective layer composed of a high reflectivity film such as gold and aluminum is formed on an information recording surface. Further, in a case of a recording type information recording medium, a dye film is formed on the information recording surface.
With respect to a recording type information recording medium formed with a dye film on the information recording surface, there is provided a DVD-R (Digital Versatile Disk-Recordable) as a recordable information recording medium. Furthermore, there is provided a rewritable information recording medium, which is formed with magneto-optical recording film on the information recording surface.
FIG. 32 is a cross sectional view of a conventional recording type DVD-R disc.
Such a DVD-R disc mentioned above is actually composed a structure shown in FIG. 32. In FIG. 32, a DVD-R disc 70 is composed of a transparent plastic substrate 71 having an information recording surface 710 on its surface, a recording layer 72, an adhesive layer 73 and a dummy substrate 74. The recording layer 72 and the adhesive layer 73 are laminated on the substrate 71 in order, and then the dummy substrate 74 is affixed on the adhesive layer 73. The information recording layer 710 is further composed of an information track and an information pit array, which are engraved in a rugged shape.
Generally, a convex shaped section, which projects into a side to be irradiated by a laser beam for recording and reproducing, is applied for an information track. In the convex shaped section, an information track composed of a groove and address information composed of a pit are formed as a continuous line or as an intermittent pit array with respect to a scanning direction of a laser beam. These information track and address information are formed by a forming method of a so-called stamper method. The intermittent pit array is provided for a user to record information in a predetermined information track accurately by positioning the predetermined information track.
According to a manufacturing method of recording type DVD-R disc by the stamper method, an information track and address information, which are formed by a cutting method, are provided in a concave shaped section "AA" of the substrate 71 as shown in FIG. 32.
The recording type DVD-R disc 70 is recorded and reproduced by irradiating a laser beam "LB" having a wavelength of 635 nm on the information recording surface 710 from the substrate 71 side. In other words, the laser beam "LB" is irradiated on the concave shaped section "AA" of the substrate 71, and then the recording type DVD-R disc is recorded and reproduced.
The concave shaped section "AA" and a convex shaped section "BB" of the substrate 71 are referred to as a groove and a land respectively.
FIG. 33 is a cross sectional view of a next generation type information recording medium having higher density than a current DVD disc. Such a next generation type information recording medium has been developed actively. In FIG. 33, a next generation type information recording medium 75 in high density is composed of a substrate 71 having an information recording surface 710 in a rugged shape on its surface, a recording layer 72 and a light transmitting layer 76 having a thickness of 0.1 mm, wherein they are laminated in order. The substrate 71 is made of a transparent plastic disc having a thickness of 1.1 mm and a diameter of 120 mm and manufactured by the stamper method as the same method as for a DVD disc. The next generation type information recording medium 75 is recorded and reproduced by irradiating a laser beam "LB" having a wavelength of 400 nm on an information track of the information recording surface 710 and a concave shaped section "AA" or a groove of the substrate 71.
That is to say, in either of the recording type DVD-R disc 70 and the next generation type information recording medium 75, recording and reproducing is performed with respect to the concave shaped section "AA" on the substrate 71. When viewing from a different angle, in the case of the recording type DVD-R disc 70, information is recorded on and reproduced from a concave shaped section, which projects into a side to be irradiated by a laser beam for recording and reproducing. On the contrary, in the case of the next generation type information recording medium 75, information is recorded on and reproduced from a convex shaped section, which becomes dented with respect to a side to be irradiated by a laser beam for recording and reproducing.
In other words, a groove to be an information track becomes projected into a side to be irradiated by a laser beam for recording and reproducing with respect to the recording type DVD-R disc. However, in the case of the next generation type information recording medium 75, the groove becomes dented with respect to a side to be irradiated by the laser beam.
Inventors of the present invention have actually performed recording and reproducing of such a next generation type information recording medium 75 in high density. The inventors founded a problem such that an output of reproduced signal has decreased and resulted in deterioration of information quality and an error rate of reproduced signal increased when information has been recorded in the concave shaped section "AA", which is a groove of the substrate 71, in comparison with recording and reproducing the convex shaped section "BB", which is a land of the substrate 71.
Further, since an information signal recorded in the concave shaped section "AA" has been deteriorated in quality, recording in high density could not be performed. Such deterioration of quality is supposed to be caused by that a direction of thermal diffusion in the recording layer 72 turns around.
In order to deal with the phenomenon, it is considered that information is recorded on the convex shaped section "BB" as a land and reproduced. However, an address to be reproduced were interfered and resulted in another problem such that accurate address information itself could not be reproduced.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Information recording medium having substrate with microscopic pattern and reproducing apparatus therefor


An apparatus includes a support member, a moveable member supported by the support member, a user support mechanically associated with the moveable member, and a sound producing mechanism that produces sound as a result of movement of the moveable member between a first position and a second position caused by the user's application of force to the urge the moveable member between the first position and second position. The applications include a play apparatus, wherein the user interacts with the moveable member with the result that the moveable member changes position and a selected sound is thereby produced.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices and equipment having moveable structures operable by the user to generate sounds, and more particularly to devices for play, exercise and recreational activity configured to produce sound when operated by the user.
2. The Relevant Technology
Various playground, recreational, and exercise devices and equipment involve the application of force by the user to produce motion. Examples include, but are not limited to, see saws, teeter-totters, swings, and manually operated merry-go-rounds, as well as exercise bicycles and rowing machines. Such equipment is not known to be connected to, or to include, sound-generating structures configured to produce sound when the user operates the equipment.


An air conditioning system is provided. A driving force is constantly transmitted to a clutchless compressor via a pulley. A condenser causes a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant compressed by the clutchless compressor to change to a high-pressure liquid refrigerant through heat exchange with external air. An expansion valve adiabatically expands the liquid refrigerant to thereby change the liquid refrigerant into a low-pressure atomized refrigerant. An evaporator evaporates the atomized refrigerant through heat exchange with the external air. The evaporator is heated when a thermal load on the compressor is low.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an air conditioning system, and more particularly to an air conditioning system for an automatic vehicle equipped with a clutchless compressor to which a driving force is constantly transmitted from an engine installed on the vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, an air conditioning system of this kind includes a clutchless compressor to which a driving force is constantly transmitted from an engine via a pulley, a condenser for causing a gaseous refrigerant compressed to high temperature and high pressure by the clutchless compressor to change to a high-pressure liquid refrigerant through heat exchange with external air, an expansion valve for adiabatically expanding the liquid refrigerant to thereby change the refrigerant into a low-pressure atomized refrigerant, and an evaporator for evaporating the atomized refrigerant through heat exchange with the external air.
As the above clutchless compressor, there has been proposed a variable capacity swash plate compressor in which the inclination angle of a swash plate thereof changes according to a suction pressure to thereby change a length of piston stroke for increasing or decreasing the delivery quantity of the compressor.
When a variable capacity swash plate compressor whose minimum delivery quantity is not reduced to zero is adopted as the clutchless compressor, if thermal load on the compressor is low (which corresponds to a state in which the clutch of a compressor of a clutch-equipped type is disengaged), the evaporator is cooled by the refrigerant to cause a surface of the evaporator to be frosted to freeze the evaporator, which makes it difficult to ventilate the evaporator, and in some cases results in a spoiled refrigerating function of the compressor.
To eliminate the above inconvenience, a technique of reducing the minimum delivery quantity to zero when thermal load is decreased has been proposed e.g. by Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-293437. This technique is based on the fact that a variable capacity swash plate compressor has a structure which permits the inclination angle of the swash plate to be reduced to zero (state in which the swash plate is at right angles to a drive shaft of the compressor), whereby the minimum delivery quantity can be reduced to zero.
Another technique for the same purpose has been proposed e.g. by Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-290940, in which a shortcut passage bypassing the evaporator is provided for the freezing circuit to directly connect the liquid tank and the compressor via the shortcut passage when thermal load on the compressor is low, to thereby inhibit refrigerant from circulating through the evaporator.
However, in the case of the technique of reducing the minimum delivery quantity to zero, the compressor is required to be constructed such that the refrigerant can be circulated within the compressor and the delivery quantity can be recovered from zero (by increasing the inclination angle of the swash plate from zero). This is because if the inclination angle of the swash plate is equal to zero when the compressor is started, it is impossible to obtain the back pressure of pistons.
Further, since the amount of refrigerant circulating through the compressor is largely reduced to zero or almost zero, it is required to eliminate heat generated in the compressor or cope with the shortage of lubricant which is to be supplied from the circulating refrigerant.
On the other hand, in the case of the technique of providing the shortcut passage for the freezing circuit, which bypasses the evaporator for use when the thermal load is low, the liquid tank is short-circuited or directly connected to the compressor to return the liquid refrigerant to the compressor, which causes so-called liquid compression, resulting in breakage of the compressor.


A siren detection system controls the lights at an intersection to direct traffic and permit an emergency vehicle to travel through the intersection unimpeded. The system determines the frequency of the sound emanating from a siren carried by the emergency vehicle by counting pulses that indicate the frequency of the sound, by determining the elapsed time necessary to count a selected number of pulses, and by utilizing the elapsed time and number of pulses counted to determine the frequency of sound emitted by the siren.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to sound detection systems.
More particularly, the invention relates to a system for detecting the siren of an approaching emergency vehicle and for controlling the traffic lights at an intersection to facilitate passage of the vehicle through the intersection in a desired direction.
In a further respect, the invention relates to a siren detection system which accurately determines the frequency of sound from a siren by counting pulses that indicate the frequency of the sound, by determining the elapsed time necessary to count a selected number of pulses, and by utilizing the elapsed time and number of pulses counted to determine the frequency of sound emitted by the siren.
In another respect, the invention relates to a siren detection system which identifies the presence of a siren by taking a sequential series of samples of sound frequencies being emitted by the siren and by determining whether the series of samples includes a selected number of sequential frequency samples having rising values and includes a selected number of sequential frequency samples having falling values, the specific value of each frequency sample being irrelevant as long as each value falls within a broad frequency band occupied by sound frequencies produced by conventional sirens.
In still a further respect, the invention relates to a siren detection system which can be adjusted to be activated when an approaching siren is at one of a selected number of different distances from the detection system.
In yet another respect, the invention relates to a siren detection system in which the volume of sound from an approaching siren is determined by averaging the amplitude of each of a selected sequential series measured frequency values which represent the sound produced by the siren.
2. Description of the Related Art
Systems for detecting the siren of an approaching emergency vehicle are well known in the art. See for example, U. S. Patent Nos. 4,759,069 to Bernstein et al., 4,625,206 to Jensen, and 4,806,931 to Nelson. The Bernstein et al. patent provides a useful summary of prior art systems. The system described in the Jensen patent, require the sequential or cascading detection of specific signal frequencies. The system in Bernstein et al., identifies a siren by using a bank of stepped, narrow band frequency filters to detect a series of frequencies each in a specific range. This predisposition toward premising the detection of a siren on the identification of a series of specific frequencies appears central to the prior art. In the Nelson patent, a series of frequency samples is fit to a specific algorithm which defines the sound pattern of the siren detected by the system.
In practice, attempting to identify and correspond a sequential series of sound frequency sample values to a specific selected series of reference frequency values appears difficult to do, probably because of the presence of buildings and of other surfaces which reflect sound, of systems to accurately extraneous noise, and of other unknown factors which affect the ability of prior art systems to accurately detect specific sound frequencies. In particular, attempting to make the system described in U. S. Pat. No. 4,806,931 to Nelson function is not readily accomplished. Obtaining a sequential series of sound frequency sample values and fitting the values to a reference algorithm or curve in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C of the Nelson patent was found difficult.
Also central to the prior art is the determination of the frequency of sound from a siren by counting direct current pulses derived from sound received from the siren. The number of pulses counted during a set sampling period of time is, as is well known in the art, used to determine the frequency of the sound. The drawback to such counting techniques is that only "complete" pulses are counted during the set sampling period of time. Once the sampling period of time expires, counting stops. When a relatively small number of pulses is detected and counted during a sampling period, a large error in counting can occur. If, for example, three pulses are counted during a sampling period, it is possible that a fourth pulse was about to be counted at the instant the sampling period terminated. The failure to count this fourth pulse would introduce an error of about 25% into the count samples
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved siren detection system which would count with improved accuracy the number of pulses derived from sound emitted by a siren and which would, without requiring the fitting of a group of sequential frequency sound sample values to a specific sequential series of reference values, permit the presence of a siren to be determined from the group of sample values.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved sound detection system.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved system to detect an approaching emergency vehicle siren, to identify the direction of approach of the emergency vehicle, and to control the traffic lights at an intersection to facilitate passage of the emergency vehicle through the intersection.
Another object of the instant invention is to provide an improved siren detection system which can identify the presence of a siren from a sequential series of sound frequency sample values without requiring that the sound frequency sample values fit a selected series of specific reference values.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved siren detection system which more accurately counts the number of direct current pulses derived from siren sound received by the detection system.

System for detecting the siren of an approaching emergency vehicle


The current invention provides a device, and a method for using the device, for ensuring that a capillary or wicking fill device is fully filled. In particular this invention is directed to, but not limited to, use with capillary or wicking action filled electrochemical sensors suitable for use in analyzing blood or interstitial fluids.

The management of many medical conditions requires the measurement and monitoring of a variety of analytes, e.g., glucose, in bodily fluids. Currently, the measurement of analytes in blood typically requires a venipuncture or finger puncture to obtain blood for sampling purposes. More recently, techniques for analyzing interstitial fluid components have been developed. Regardless of the bodily fluid tested or analytical method used, it is important that sufficient sample is collected in order to ensure adequate test results. In prior art methods, however, adequate sample collection is often a matter of trial and error.
It is therefore desirable to have a sampling and analyzing device giving a clear signal that adequate sample has been collected before the sampling device, e.g., a needle or other penetration device, is removed from the patient's body. It is also desirable that such a device be suitable for hospital bedside and home use.
Capillary and wicking fill devices are well-known as sampling devices and as sensing devices. However, one of the deficiencies of the prior art is that there is either no cue, or only a user-reliant visual cue, to indicate whether the device is fully filled.

Method of preventing short sampling of a capillary or wicking fill device


An image forming apparatus includes a memory, an interface to receive image data to perform an image forming job, and a controller to, when the image data is input in a power save mode of the image forming apparatus, send the image data to an external image forming apparatus, and when the image forming apparatus switches to a normal mode, control the image forming apparatus to perform an image forming job using the image data sent to the external image forming apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept relates generally to an image forming apparatus, a host apparatus, and a method of performing an image forming job thereof. More particularly, the present general inventive concept relates to an image forming apparatus to reduce power consumption, a host apparatus, and a method of performing an image forming job thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming device generates, prints, receives and sends image data. Examples of the image forming device can include a printer, a scanner, a copier, a fax machine, and a multi-functional peripheral combining functions of these devices.
Recently, attempts are being made to reduce power consumption in a normal mode where the image forming device operates normally, and in a power save mode where the image forming device conducts no particular operation.
When an image forming job command is received from a host device in the power save mode, the image forming device consumes considerable power as it switches from the power save mode to the normal mode and operates its components (for example, a printing unit or a scan unit).
In particular, even when the image forming job (such as receiving and printing a fax, for example) is requested at night, the image forming device switches from the power save mode to the normal mode for every image forming job received, which consumes a lot of power.

Image forming apparatus to reduce power consumption, host apparatus, and method of performing image forming job thereof


A golf ball having a core, and at least one layer about the core, wherein the core or the layer is formed from partially or fully neutralized butyl ionomers or their blends to improve the resiliency and impact durability over a conventional butyl rubber. The core comprises a thermoplastic material, a thermoset material, or a rubber-based material, while at least one layer is formed from a composition comprising a partially or fully neutralized butyl rubber ionomer. The butyl rubber ionomer comprises repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin monomer, at least 0.5 mol % of repeating units derived from at least one multiolefin monomer, at least 0.5 mol % of repeating units derived from an allylic halide, and at least 0.5 mol % of an ionomeric moiety. The isoolefin comprises isobutylene, the multiolefin comprises isoprene and the allylic halide comprises a bromide.

Conventional golf balls can be divided into two general classes: solid and wound. Solid golf balls include one-piece, two-piece (i.e., solid core and a cover), and multi-layer (i.e., solid core of one or more layers and/or a cover of one or more layers) golf balls. Wound golf balls typically include a solid, hollow, or fluid-filled center, surrounded by a tensioned elastomeric material, and a cover. It is also possible to surround a hollow or fluid-filled center with a plurality of solid layers. Solid balls have traditionally been considered longer and more durable than wound balls, but many solid constructions lack the "feel" provided by the wound construction.
More recently, by altering ball construction and composition, manufacturers have been able to vary a wide range of playing characteristics, such as compression, velocity, "feel," and spin, optimizing each or all be optimized for various playing abilities. In particular, a variety of core and cover layer(s) constructions, such as multi-layer balls having dual cover layers and/or dual core layers, have been investigated and now allow many non-wound balls to exhibit characteristics previously unattainable in a solid-construction golf ball. These golf ball layers are typically constructed with a number of polymeric compositions and blends, including polybutadiene rubber, polyurethanes, polyamides, and ethylene-based ionomers.
It is well known in the golf ball art as well as in the polymer and rubber science that conventional butyl rubber is typically an energy absorbing material, hence its vast use in applications such as a shock absorbing medium, this characteristic reduces the resiliency of the golf ball as in the case of developing a low flight golf ball. The use of butyl rubber in golf balls has not been fully explored since it's been found that even a small amount of butyl rubber will significantly reduce the golf ball resiliency and performance. There is a need in the golf ball industry to find a way to overcome this deficiency. The present invention introduces a new ball construction and attacks the above deficiency by forming golf ball layers with partially or fully neutralized butyl ionomers which are developed by carrying out a halogenation process to produce a halobutyl polymer followed by a nucleophilic reaction with the allylic halide functionality to produce an ionomer moiety. This is further described in U.S. Patent Publication 2007/0218296.

Partially or fully neutralized butyl ionomers in golf ball layers


An operating system provides extensions through which application developers may extend the capabilities of a shell of the operating system. For example, application developers may add menu items to context menus for objects that are visible within an integrated system name space. In addition, developers may add property sheet pages for such objects. Application developers also have the option of providing per-instance icons for each instance of an object. Application developers may provide data object extension handlers for customizing data sources on a per-object class basis and may provide drop target extension handlers on a per-object class basis to customize drop target behavior. Developers may additionally provide copy-hook handlers to regulate file system operations on objects. Developers may also extend the functionality provided by the shell of the operating system by adding their own custom name spaces to the integrated system name space. The mechanism provided by the operating system to add such a name space is polymorphic and transparent to users.

Conventional operating systems include shells that provide user interfaces. Unfortunately, such shells are often limited in their capabilities and in the flexibility of options that they provide to an applications developer. For example, such conventional operating systems often provide shells that define context menus for each file system object. The list of menu items and associated operations provided by the shells for the context menus are often limited. Moreover, the menu items cannot be changed by applications.
Conventional shells are often additionally limited in that they predefine property sheet pages for file system objects. The property sheet pages are user interface elements that display property values for the associated file system objects and typically allow a user to change some of the displayed property values. Each property sheet page is associated with a subset of related properties for the objects.
The shells of conventional operating systems are further limited in that they provide predefined icons only for file types or objects classes. These shells do not facilitate the use of per-instance icons that are associated with each instance of an object or file. The shells of the conventional operating systems are further limited in that they only provide access to objects in the file system name spaces and provide no easy mechanism for integrating additional name spaces into the system.
Conventional operating systems are also limited as to drag-and-drop operations. In particular, applications have no ability to customize the functionality of a drop based upon a file object type in conventional systems. Further, these conventional operating systems provide no ability to customize source objects in drag-and-drop operations.

Shell extensions for an operating system


A dynamic bandwidth allocation method of an Ethernet passive optical network, comprises a predictor and a rule of QoS-promoted dynamic bandwidth allocation (PQ-DBA); the predictor predicts a client behavior and numbers of various kinds of packets by using a pipeline scheduling predictor consisted of a pipelined recurrent neural network (PRNN), and a learning rule of the extended recursive least squares (ERLS); the present invention establishes a better QoS traffic management for the OLT-allocated ONU bandwidth and client packets sent by priority.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA) method of an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON), and more particularly, to a DBA method which is based on a pipeline scheduling predictor consisted of a pipelined recurrent neural network (PRNN) and a learning rule of the extended recursive least squares (ERLS) to predict a client behavior and numbers of various kinds of packets for new arriving packets of each optical network unit (ONU) in a cycle time to provide a reference for a optical line terminal (OLT) in granting bandwidth allocation, thereby increasing the transmission performance between the OLT and the ONU while reducing a packet loss rate of the ONU.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have been studies of the scheduling of uplink signals in an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON). Since the uplink bandwidth of EPON is shared between ONUs, it is vital to allocate the uplink bandwidth for ONUs. The earliest proposition for uplink signals scheduling is Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), as recited in reference [1], wherein each ONU is allocated a fixed timeslot. Although TDMA is easy to implement in EPON, it can't handle the varying data packet demands of ONUs and has a low bandwidth utilization rate. Therefore, Kramer (reference[2]) proposed a method of Interleaved Polling with Adaptive Cycle Time (IPACT) to deal with the burst traffic of data communication to improve the dynamic bandwidth allocation of ONU, this method is also proposed to the IEEE 802.3ah committee as a standard proposition for the MultiPoint Control Protocol (MPCP) of the Ethernet passive optical network. However, the IPACT does not take the issues of delay and drop probability into consideration as to the QoS demands of services provided by ONUs;
According to the rule of IPACT, packets from the ONU are processed in a First Come First Serve (FCFS) manner, so each packet would have a fixed delay time, which is not acceptable for voice or real-time video traffic since it could cause higher jitter. Many studies have been proposed to improve QoS, such as the DBA-High Priority cited in reference [3], which reduces the delay time and the jitter of high-priority services but also increases the drop probability and the delay time of low-priority services and thus results in lower throughput for low-priority services. Furthermore, an intra-ONU, inter-ONU, two layer bandwidth allocation (TLBA) method has proposed to increase the cycle time of each ONU to solve the unfairness in dealing with high- and low-priority services as recited in reference [3]; however, it increases the delay time and reduces the throughput of high-priority services and fails to meet the demands of burst traffic.
The burst-polling based delta DBA method (reference[6]) and the DBA with multiple service (DBAM) method (reference[7]) are proposed to improve the average delay time by predicting the arriving packets, however, the maximum window mechanism proposed in both references is designed to let the OLT give more bandwidth than that required by the ONU and tends to waste valuable bandwidth and reduces transmission performance.
Therefore, the traditional DBA methods still present some shortcomings to be overcome.
In view of the above-described deficiencies of the TDMA-based or the IPACT-based dynamic bandwidth allocation method, after years of constant efforts in research, the inventor of this invention has consequently developed and proposed a dynamic bandwidth allocation method of an Ethernet passive optical network, which is based on a pipeline scheduling predictor consisted of a pipelined recurrent neural network (reference[8]) and a learning rule (reference[9]) of the extended recursive least squares (ERLS) in the present invention.

Dynamic bandwidth allocation method of Ethernet passive optical network


The present invention provides a positive resist composition comprising a resin which itself is insoluble or poorly soluble in an alkali aqueous solution but becomes soluble in an alkali aqueous solution by the action of an acid, an acid generator, and multifunctional epoxy compound, wherein the content of halogen atoms in the resin is 40% by weight or more, at least one of structural units constituting the resin is a structural unit having an alicyclic hydrocarbon skeleton, and the structural unit having an alicyclic hydrocarbon skeleton contains therein at least one group rendering the resin soluble in an alkali aqueous solution by the action of an acid, and at least one halogen atom.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chemical amplification type positive resist composition.
2. Prior Art
For fine processing of semiconductors, a lithography process using a resist composition is usually adopted, and in lithography, it is theoretically possible to increase resolution higher when exposure wavelength is shorter as represented by the Rayleigh diffraction limitation formula. As the exposure light source for lithography used for production of semiconductors, there are g ray having a wavelength of 436 nm, i ray having a wavelength of 365 nm, KrF excimer laser having a wavelength of 248 nm and ArF excimer laser having a wavelength of 193 nm, developed in this order, the wavelength becoming shorter year by year. Further, as the exposure light source of the next generation, F2 excimer laser having a wavelength of 157 nm is promising. For exposure to KrF excimer laser and ArF excimer laser, what is called chemical amplification type resists utilizing the catalytic action of an acid generated by exposure are often used due to excellent sensitivity. Further, also for exposure to F2 excimer laser, there is a high possibility of use of chemical amplification type resists due to excellent sensitivity.
However, resins used in resists for KrF excimer laser exposure and ArF excimer laser exposure do not show sufficient performance for lights of wavelengths of 170 nm or less, for example, F2 excimer laser having a wavelength of 157 nm.
An object of the present invention is to provide a resist composition which is suitable for F2 excimer laser lithography, and which show excellent in various resist properties such as sensitivity, resolution and the like, and especially excellent in durability against dry etching.
The present inventors have found that a resist composition showing improved durability against dry etching as well as excellent in properties such as sensitivity, resolution and the like can be produced by using a resin, which contains a structural unit having a specific skeleton, and a polyfunctional epoxy compound.


A method and apparatus for chroma keying filtered textures are provided. Chroma keying is performed which replaces the input texel color with a new color if the input texel color matches the chroma color. The chroma key circuitry keeps the input texel color and sets the alpha component to 1 if the input texel color does not match the chroma color. The chroma keyed texels are filtered using bilinear filtering. The color components of the filtered texels are fogged using a fog factor, a fog color, and the alpha component of the filtered texel. The fogged and filtered signal is blended with a background color to produce an output color for the texels.

A computer graphic image is typically composed of a number of objects. Objects are rendered onto a background image. Portions of the objects can be defined as transparent to enable overlay of the objects onto a variety of later defined background images. During rendering, the object may be combined with previously generated objects (e.g., to reuse a complex background) using compositing techniques.
Compositing is the combining of two images by overlaying or blending them. In a composited image, the value of each pixel is computed from the component images. One technique typically used is an overlay in which the pixels of the foreground image must be given transparency values as well as whatever other values the pixels may have, such as color information. Therefore, in the composited image, a pixel's value is taken from the background image unless the foreground image has a nontransparent value at that point. If the foreground image has a nontransparent value at that point, the value is taken form the foreground image. Multiple images may also be blended resulting in pixel values that are linear combinations of the values of the multiple component pixels.
Problems arise, however, when drawing an image which contains transparent elements. As an example, consider rendering an image of a tree. While it is desired to render only the tree, the tree picture is typically stored in a rectangular image, not a tree-shaped image. Thus, some method is required to identify the parts of the image that are not to be considered part of the tree, and then these parts, to be called the transparent parts, are to have no effect on the image drawn. Thus, when drawing the tree image, the display hardware will draw the non-transparent parts of the tree and not draw the transparent parts.
Two common compositing techniques used in the prior art to render an object onto a transparent background are alpha-channel compositing and chroma keying. Alpha-channel compositing solves the problem of drawing a transparent image by storing an alpha channel which utilizes an alpha value to encode the transparency of each pixel. However, this requires additional memory to be allocated in addition to that allocated for the image. Chroma keying, however, does not require additional storage space because this technique represents the transparent areas of the image by a specific color, known as the chroma color. With chroma keying, the hardware compares each pixel with the chroma color, and if they are identical, does not draw the pixel on the display. These techniques have been expanded to be applicable to texture mapping. Sophisticated computer graphic renderings typically include patterns or images that are mapped to a surface. This approach is known as texture mapping; the pattern or image is called a texture map, and its individual elements are often called texels. The texture map resides in its own (u, v) texture coordinate space. At each rendered pixel, selected texels are used either to substitute for or to scale one or more of the surface's material properties, such as its diffuse color components. One pixel is often covered by a number of texels. It should be noted that chroma keying as described above only works if the image is point sampled; i.e., one texel is read for each pixel displayed.
Prior art rendering as performed by chroma keying typically is applied on unfiltered and unfogged textures. However, texture maps are generally filtered because improving the appearance of texture-mapped polygons requires antialiasing texture mapping. There are many well-known techniques for antialiasing texture mapping. One such technique employs bilinear filtering which utilizes the colors of the four nearest texels and weighs the colors together to acquire a filtered representation of that texture. For a further description of bilinear filtering, see Wolberg, George, Digital Image Warping, IEEE Computer Society Press (1990) pp. 57-61.
However, a problem arises if the texture map is to be filtered. Instead of reading a single texel at a time and using that texel, multiple texels are read and filtered, and the filtered result is then displayed. This results in three scenarios: (a) all texels read are the chroma color; (b) no texels read are the chroma color; or (c) some texels read are the chroma color. In the case where all texels read are the chroma color, the filtered result will generally be the chroma color, and the prior art will properly not draw that texel. In the case where none of the texels read are the chroma color, no transparent texels are involved, the chroma color will not be a likely result of filtering, and the prior art will properly draw that texel.
In the case where some texels read are the chroma color, the aforementioned problem arises. In this case, the texel should be considered partially transparent (as it has some transparent texels and some opaque texels) but what happens with the prior art is that the texels and the chroma color will be filtered together and, since the resulting color is very unlikely to match the chroma color, the filtered result displayed. Thus, the act of filtering changes the colors at the boundary of the texture map, mixing the image colors with the colors of the surrounding background texels, so that the background texels in the immediate vicinity of the image no longer match the chroma color. This causes a border or outline to appear around the rendered image so that if the chroma color is blue, as it often is, the resulting image will display a blue fringe. Consequently, it is desirable to perform chroma keying of filtered textures.
The technique of "fogging" or adding a fog effect to an image displayed is popular in video games to generate fog or smoke special effects. Fogging adds an additional level of complexity to renderings.

Method and apparatus for performing chroma key, transparency and fog operations


An amplifier system includes a constant current unit which produces a constant current in response to a source voltage from a source voltage terminal. An emitter follower unit has a base, an emitter and a collector, an input signal being supplied to the base, the emitter being connected to the constant current unit, the source voltage being supplied to the collector, the emitter follower unit producing an output signal at the emitter in response to the input signal. A current regulating unit regulates the constant current in response to a collector current fed into the collector of the emitter follower unit, so that the constant current is fed from the emitter of the emitter follower unit into the constant current unit.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an amplifier system, and more particularly to an improvement of an amplifier system including an emitter follower unit and a constant current unit, the constant current unit producing a constant current being fed from the emitter follower unit.
(2) Description of the Related Art
An amplifier system, such as a buffer amplifier system, is installed into a semiconductor device for use. Recently, there is an increasing demand for a semiconductor device which operates with a low voltage level and a small power consumption. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an amplifier system which can be driven with a low voltage level and a small current consumption, for use in the semiconductor device.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional buffer amplifier system. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional buffer amplifier system 1 comprises a capacitor C1, a resistor R1, a resistor R2, a resistor R3, and an NPN transistor Q1.
The conventional buffer amplifier system 1 has an input terminal Tin to which an input signal from a signal source 2 is supplied, a source voltage terminal Tvcc to which a source voltage Vcc from a source voltage supply (not shown) is supplied, and an output terminal Tout to which an output signal from the NPN transistor Q1 is supplied. The NPN transistor Q1 has a base connected to the input terminal Tin, a collector connected to the source voltage terminal Tvcc, and an emitter connected to the output terminal Tout. As shown, the above-mentioned elements constitute an emitter follower unit.
The capacitor C1 is connected at one end to the input terminal Tin and connected at the other end to the base of the NPN transistor Q1. The capacitor C1 removes a DC (direct current) component of the input signal which the signal source 2 supplies, and the input signal from the capacitor C1 is supplied to the base of the NPN transistor Q1.
The resistor R1 is connected at one end to the base of the NPN transistor Q1 and connected at the other end to the source voltage terminal Tvcc. The source voltage Vcc from the source voltage terminal Tvcc is supplied to the buffer amplifier system 1, as shown in FIG. 1. The resistor R2 is connected at one end to the base of the NPN transistor Q1, and the other end of the resistor R2 is grounded. The resistors R1 and R2 are connected to each other at a connection point where the capacitor C1 and the base of the NPN transistor Q1 are connected. The source voltage Vcc is supplied to the resistor R1, and the resistors R1 and R2 serve as a voltage divider of the source voltage Vcc. Thus, a bias voltage is produced at the connection point by the resistors R1 and R2.
Since the input terminal Tin is connected to the connection point between the resistors R1 and R2 via the capacitor C1, the input signal from the capacitor C1 is biased by the bias voltage at the connection point, and the resulting input signal is supplied to the base of the NPN transistor Q1.
In the NPN transistor Q1, the base is connected to the input terminal Tin via the capacitor C1, the collector is connected to the source voltage terminal Tvcc, and the emitter is connected to the output terminal Tout. Also, the emitter of the NPN transistor Q1 is grounded via the resistor R3. The resistor R3 is a load resistor, and a constant current is fed from the emitter of the NPN transistor Q1 into the resistor R3.
The NPN transistor Q1 produces the output signal at the emitter in response to the input signal at the base, and an emitter current (or the constant current mentioned above) is fed from the emitter into the resistor R3. The output terminal Tout to which the output signal from the NPN transistor Q1 is supplied is connected to a connection point at which the resistor R3 and the emitter of the NPN transistor Q1 are connected to each other.
In the NPN transistor Q1, an emitter current, the amount of which is, for example, "k" times as large as the amount of a base current fed into the base, is fed from the emitter. "k" is called a ratio of current amplification of the buffer amplifier system. The NPN transistor Q1 supplies an output signal, produced at the emitter in accordance with the emitter current, to the output terminal Tout.
When the input signal supplied to the NPN transistor Q1 is increased, the emitter current is increased so that the level of the output signal from the NPN transistor Q1 ascends. On the other hand, when the input signal is decreased, the emitter current is decreased so that the level of the output signal descends.
In the buffer amplifier system 1 of FIG. 1, a capacitor CL is connected at one end to the output terminal Tout and connected at the other end to a load resistor RL. The capacitor CL removes a DC component of the output signal supplied to the output terminal Tout, and a current in accordance with the output signal is fed into the load resistor RL.
FIG. 2 shows another example of the conventional buffer amplifier system. In FIG. 2, the elements which are the same as corresponding elements in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional buffer amplifier system 11 comprises the capacitor C1, the resistor R1, the resistor R2, the NPN transistor Q1, and a current mirror unit 12.
The current mirror unit 12 is a constant current unit which produces a constant current in response to the source voltage Vcc, the constant current being fed from the emitter of the NPN transistor Q1 into the current mirror unit 12. The current mirror unit 12 of FIG. 2 can produce the constant current with a high level of accuracy.
The current mirror unit 12 comprises an NPN transistor Q11, an NPN transistor Q12, and a resistor R11. The NPN transistor Q11 has a collector which is connected to the emitter of the NPN transistor Q1, an emitter which is grounded, and a base which is connected to a base of the NPN transistor Q12.
The NPN transistor Q12 has a collector which is connected to the source voltage terminal Tvcc via the resistor R11, the base which is connected to the base of the NPN transistor Q11, and an emitter which is grounded. The NPN transistor Q12 has the base and the collector which are connected to each other by a connecting wire, and the NPN transistor Q12 forms a diode. The collector of the NPN transistor Q12 and the base of the NPN transistor Q12 are set at the same voltage level by the connecting wire.
In the current mirror unit 12, the source voltage Vcc is supplied to the resistor R11, and the emitters of the NPN transistors Q11 and Q12 are grounded. A base current is fed into the base of the NPN transistor Q12. The NPN transistor Q12 is driven by the base current, and a collector current is fed into the collector of the NPN transistor Q12. Since the base of the NPN transistor Q11 is connected to the base of the NPN transistor Q12, a constant current which is the same as the collector current of the NPN transistor Q12 is fed from the emitter of the NPN transistor Q1 into the collector of the NPN transistor Q11.
Accordingly, the current mirror unit 12 produces a constant current in response to the source voltage Vcc from the source voltage terminal Tvcc, the constant current being fed from the emitter of the NPN transistor Q1 into the collector of the NPN transistor Q11. By using the current mirror unit 12, it is possible to make stable the flow of the constant current fed from the emitter of the NPN transistor Q1 into the current mirror unit 12. Thus, the conventional buffer amplifier system 11 of FIG. 2 can amplify the input signal into the output signal with a high level of accuracy.
FIG. 3 shows a further example of the conventional buffer amplifier system. In FIG. 3, the elements which are the same as corresponding elements in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional buffer amplifier system 21 comprises the capacitor C1, an NPN transistor Q21, an NPN transistor Q22, a PNP transistor Q23, a PNP transistor Q24, a resistor R21, and a resistor R22.
The conventional buffer amplifier system 21 has the input terminal Tin to which an input signal from a signal source 22 is supplied, and the source voltage terminal Tvcc to which a source voltage Vcc from a source voltage supply (not shown) is supplied.
The capacitor C1 is connected at one end to the input terminal Tin and connected at the other end to an emitter of the NPN transistor Q21 and an emitter of the PNP transistor Q23. The NPN transistor Q21 has a base and a collector which are connected to each other by a connecting wire, and the NPN transistor Q21 forms a diode. In the NPN transistor Q21, the base and the collector are connected to the source voltage terminal Tvcc via the resistor R21, and the emitter is connected to the input terminal Tin via the capacitor C1.
The PNP transistor Q23 has a base and a collector which are connected to each other by a connecting wire, and the PNP transistor Q23 forms a diode. In the PNP transistor Q23, the emitter is connected to the input terminal Tin via the capacitor C1, and the base and the collector are grounded via the resistor R22.
The source voltage Vcc is supplied to the resistor R21, and the resistor R22 is grounded. The resistor R21, the NPN transistor Q21, the PNP transistor Q22 and the resistor R22 are connected in series. The NPN transistor Q21 produces a first intermediate voltage at a connection point between the resistor R21 and the NPN transistor Q21 from the voltage of the input signal, the first intermediate voltage being biased in the forward direction from the center voltage of the input signal. The PNP transistor Q22 produces a second intermediate voltage at a connection point between the PNP transistor Q22 and the resistor R22 from the voltage of the input signal, the second intermediate voltage being biased in the reverse direction from the center voltage of the input signal.
The first intermediate voltage at the connection point between the resistor R21 and the NPN transistor Q21 is supplied to the base of the NPN transistor Q22. Also, the second intermediate voltage at the connection point between the PNP transistor Q23 and the resistor R22 is supplied to the base of the PNP transistor Q24.
The NPN transistor Q22 has a collector which is connected to the source voltage terminal Tvcc, and an emitter which is connected to the output terminal Tout. The first intermediate voltage biased in the forward direction from the center voltage of the input signal is supplied to the base of the NPN transistor Q22, and the NPN transistor Q22 produces an output signal at the emitter. The output signal from the emitter of the NPN transistor Q22 is supplied to the output terminal Tout.
The PNP transistor Q24 has a collector which is grounded, and an emitter which is connected to the output terminal Tout. The second intermediate voltage biased in the reverse direction from the center voltage of the input signal is supplied to the base of the PNP transistor Q24, and the PNP transistor Q24 produces an output signal at the emitter, the output signal being the same as that at the emitter of the NPN transistor Q22.
The conventional buffer amplifier system of FIG. 3 is called a single-end push-pull amplifier circuit. The voltage of the input signal is amplified into the positive side and the negative side of the center voltage of the input signal separately. The conventional buffer amplifier system of FIG. 3 can produce an adequately high level of the output signal from the input signal.
However, when the above-described buffer amplifier systems of FIGS.1, 2 and 3 are used with a low voltage level and a small current consumption, the output signal produced by these systems will be at a too low level. It is difficult to avoid the lowering of the level of the output signal when the above-described amplifier systems are used.

Amplifier system having a constant current regulating unit


A device for regulating the suction flow in a flexible connection pipe between a tool for machining surfaces and a machining dust suction unit. The device includes a tubular terminal connector fitted with internal threading for attaching the flexible pipe and at least one side opening on the external surface. The device also includes a hollow cylindrical body that rotatably embraces at least one portion of the terminal connector and is fitted on its external surface with at least one opening that can be adjusted angularly in relation to the opening of the terminal connector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention refers to a device for regulating the suction flow in a flexible connection pipe between a tool for machining surfaces and a machining dust suction unit.
2. Background Information
Devices for regulating the suction flow that can be coupled to a tool for machining surfaces are known.
In addition flexible pipes suitable for the connection of a tool to a suction unit located at a distance are also known.
The object of the present invention is to produce a device for regulating the suction flow that can be removably coupled, both to the tool and to the flexible pipe.

Device for regulating the suction flow in a flexible connection pipe between a tool for machining surfaces and a machining dust suction unit


A gear wheel is connectable to a transmission shaft of a vehicle gear transmission arranged in a gearbox housing. The gear wheel being configured to be lubricated by a lubricant in a lubricant reservoir of the gearbox housing, wherein the gear wheel comprises a first axial end surface; a second axial end surface arranged on an opposite side of the gear wheel relative to the first axial end surface; and a plurality of gear teeth arranged circumferentially on the gear wheel and positioned between the first and second axial end surfaces; wherein the first axial end surface comprises a plurality of angularly spaced protrusions extending axially from the first axial end surface in a direction of a surface normal of the first axial end surface.

In connection to e.g. low-, medium and heavy duty vehicles, also commonly referred to as trucks, a transmission arrangement is connected to a prime mover for controlling torque loads from the prime mover to the propelled wheels of the truck.
The transmission arrangement is positioned in a gearbox housing and preferably comprises a plurality of transmission shafts, wherein a first shaft often comprises at least one gear wheel which is arranged in meshed connection with a gear wheel arranged on a second shaft.
The lubrication and cooling of the gear wheels are conventionally accomplished by means of a lubricant arranged in a lubricant reservoir of the gearbox housing. Preferred lubricant is an oil lubricant and the lubricant reservoir is often referred to as an oil sump. The gear wheel is at least partly positioned below the lubricant surface when the transmission shaft, at which the gear wheel is connected, rotates, the gear wheel transports the lubricant to e.g. other gear wheels arranged within the gearbox housing.
However, the rotation of the gear wheel in the lubricant represents a source of power losses for the transmission arrangement due to the inherent inertia and friction of the lubricant. There is thus a desire to further reduce the power losses generated by this type of cooling and lubrication arrangement.

Gear wheel and a vehicle transmission arrangement


Disclosed is a ropeless elevator system having: a car mover operationally connected to an elevator car, the car mover configured to move along a car mover track in a hoistway lane, thereby moving the elevator car along the hoistway lane, wherein the car mover has a first tire of a first wheel that is configured to engage the car mover track when the car mover moves along the car mover track, wherein one or more of the first tire and the car mover track has an engagement feature for increasing traction between the first tire and the car mover track.

Embodiments described herein relate to a multi-car elevator system and more specifically to autonomous elevator car movers and traction surfaces therefor, configured with traction increasing and guidance enhancing implements.
An autonomous elevator car mover may use motor-driven wheels to propel the elevator car up and down on vertical I-beam tracks. Two elements to this system include the elevator car which will be guided by rollers guides on traditional T-rails, and the autonomous car mover which will house two (2) to four (4) motor-driven wheels. A goal of the connection between the car mover wheels and the I-beam track includes maximizing friction between these elements. In addition, to the extent feasible, another goal is to minimize normal forces required between the car mover wheels and the I-beam tracks while maximizing friction between these elements.

Autonomous elevator car movers and traction surfaces therefor, configured with traction increasing and guidance enhancing implements


An escalator includes a truss formed of a support structure that bridges a lower landing and an upper landing of the escalator. The truss includes two rising side sections extending upwards from a bottom plane of the truss, the side sections extending along a length of the truss and being joined together with cross braces. The escalator includes a subframe attached to an outer side of at least one side section of the truss, the subframe being arranged to receive an outer cladding of the escalator.

An escalator is a type of vertical transportation in the form of a moving staircase i.e. a conveyor transport device for carrying people between floors of a building. The device consists of a motor-driven chain of individually linked steps that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step treads to remain horizontal. The steps move upwards and/or downwards on a transport side of the escalator and return back on a return side of the escalator.
An escalator may comprise landing platforms, a truss, tracks, steps and a balustrade.
The landing platforms house the curved sections of the tracks, as well as the gears and motors that drive the stairs. The top platform contains the motor assembly and the main drive gear, while the bottom platform holds the return cogwheel. These sections also anchor the ends of the escalator truss. In addition, the platforms contain a floor plate and a comb plate. The floor plate provides a place for the passengers to stand before they step onto the moving stairs. The floor plate is flush with the finished floor and is either hinged or removable to allow easy access to the machinery below. The comb plate is the piece between the stationary floor plate and the moving step. It is so named because its edge has a series of cleats that resemble the teeth of a comb. These teeth mesh with matching cleats on the edges of the steps. This design is necessary to minimize the gap between the stair and the landing, which helps prevent objects from getting caught in the gap.
The truss may be formed of a hollow metal structure that bridges the lower and upper landings. It may be composed of two side sections joined together with cross braces across the bottom and just below the top. The ends of the truss may be attached to the top and bottom landing platforms via steel or concrete supports. The truss carries all the straight track sections connecting the upper and lower sections.
The track system may be built into the truss to guide the steps and the chain, which continuously pulls the steps from the bottom platform and back to the top platform in an endless loop. The steps may be supported be two pairs of wheels on respective pairs of tracks. The axial distance between the wheels in two pairs of wheels and thereby also the axial distance between the two pairs of tracks may be different. The relative position of the two pairs of tracks cause the steps to form a staircase as they move out from under the comb plate. Along the inclined section of the truss, the tracks are at their maximum distance apart. This configuration keeps the step tread always horizontal on the escalator, whereby the steps resemble a staircase on the inclined section of the escalator. At the top and bottom of the escalator, the two tracks converge so that the two pairs of wheels are almost in a straight line. This causes the stairs to lay in a flat sheet like arrangement, one after another, so they can easily travel around the bend in the curved section of track. The tracks carry the steps down along the underside of the truss until they reach the bottom landing, where they pass through another curved section of track before exiting the bottom landing. At this point the tracks separate and the steps once again assume a staircase configuration. This cycle is repeated continually as the steps are pulled from bottom to top and back to the bottom again. The track system comprises transport guide rails on the transport side and return guide rails on the return side of the escalator.
The steps themselves are solid, one piece, die-cast aluminum or steel. In most escalator models, both the riser and the tread of each step is cleated i.e. given a ribbed appearance with comb like protrusions that mesh with the comb plates on the top and bottom platforms and the succeeding steps in the chain. The steps are linked by at least one continuous metal chain that forming a closed loop. The steps may be supported by two pairs of wheels. The wheels in one of the pairs of wheels are set further apart in an axial direction compared to the other pair of wheels.
A balustrade may be positioned at opposite lateral sides of the steps. The balustrade may comprise a base supported on the truss, a balustrade panel extending upwards from the base, and a moving handrail supported on an upper edge of the balustrade panel. The base of the balustrade may be covered with a skirt panel located adjacent to the steps and running parallel to the step travel. A gap is formed between the skirt panel and a vertical side surface of the steps. The handrail provides a convenient handhold for passengers while they are riding the escalator. The handrails are pulled along their track by a chain that may be connected to the main drive gear by a series of pulleys.
The truss is normally manufactured by a subcontractor. There may be small mistakes in the dimensions of the trusses and the trusses may not be quite straight in the longitudinal direction of the escalator. The installation of the motor, the driving mechanism and other equipment into the truss at the escalator factory may cause further distortion in the dimensions and the straightness of the truss. The installation of the escalator at the site might also cause further distortion in the dimensions and the straightness of the truss.
It is expensive and time consuming to try to repair the previously caused distortions and damages to the truss in each of the consecutive stages of the process.
JP S58 192867 U discloses an escalator provided with an exterior structure.
US 2001/0025763 discloses an escalator provided with underneath view paneling.
JP 2 909896 B1 discloses an escalator provided with a side exterior structure that can easily be attached to a truss in the escalator.
JP 2004 137014 A discloses an escalator provided with hook members on the truss and members in the side panels and the bottom panels for attaching to the hook members.


A difunctional weather-resistant stabilizer having one terminal semicarbazide functional moiety and one terminal hindered phenol functional moiety is disclosed. The difunctional weather-resistant stabilizer is represented by:

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a difunctional weather-resistant stabilizer, more particularly to a difunctional weather-resistant stabilizer having one terminal semicarbazide functional moiety and one terminal hindered phenol functional moiety.
2. Description of the Related Art
Common organic polymer materials, for example, plastics, resins, cosmetics, pigments, paints, and textiles, are liable to be damaged due to the influence of light, heat, acid, base, or nitrogen oxide (NOx) to result in discoloration or material decomposition. If a suitable organic additive such as an antioxidant or a photostabilizer is added to the organic polymer material, the organic polymer material may be protected from damage. For instance, adding chemical substances that have an antioxidant capability or a UV light absorbing characteristic to absorb or convert UV light energy can help maintaining the luster and durability of the material.
Current industries increase the antioxidant capability of organic polymer materials by adding additives such as a hindered phenolic antioxidant or a phosphorus-containing organic antioxidant. Both US 2013/0225734 A1 and US 2012/0252931 A1 disclose a hindered phenolic antioxidant which is used to increase antioxidant capability. Although the antioxidant capability of organic polymer materials in a heating or baking process may be enhanced by adding the hindered phenolic antioxidant, yellowing resistance (NOx resistance) and alkali resistance of the organic polymer material are significantly insufficient.
It is reported by Shevchenko, V. V. et al. (Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii (1982), 18 (12), 2547-9 (USSR)) that a compound having 1,1-dimethylhydrazine functional moieties on its two terminals is obtained by reacting 1,1-dimethylhydrazine with hexamethylene diisocyanate or by reacting 1,1-dimethylhydrazine with (methylene biphenyl)diisocyanate.

Difunctional weather-resistant stabilizer and polymer composition containing the same

Abstract: wherein        R1 represents a C1-C8 alkyl group;        each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a C1-C8 alkyl group; and Z is a divalent organic group.


A teleconferencing system for voice and data provides interconnections among user sites via a central station. User stations at user sites each alternate operation between a data mode connecting a user computer and modem to a user telephone communication path and a voice mode connecting a telephony circuit to the communication path. The teleconferencing system is adapted for conducting a voice conference over standard telephone lines while allowing simultaneous viewing of data objects such as slides, graphs, or text. A host computer connected to the central station serves as a central repository for storage and retrieval of data objects for use in teleconferences.

During a voice teleconference, it is often desirable for two or more conference participants to be able to both view and discuss common data objects such as a set of images. For example, one participant may desire to conduct a slide presentation concurrent with a voice conversation among the participants. Systems which enable a person to receive and view image data over a telephone line concurrent with voice conversation are known. One such system interrupts the telephone conversation momentarily to allow visual data to be transmitted over the telephone line. Following the transmission of visual data, the voice communication can be automatically resumed. Other known systems for sharing voice and image data generally require relatively complex equipment, specially enhanced modems, or dedicated high speed digital lines such as ISDN. Still other systems require multiple telephone lines to handle both data object manipulation and voice. Generally, the known desktop teleconferencing systems are for point-to-point communications rather than multipoint, multiparty communications.

Intelligent switching system for voice and data


Provided are, among other things, apparatuses for supporting a video camera. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: a harness adapted for wearing on a user's upper body, the harness including a front section which, in use, covers at least a portion of at least one of the user's chest and abdomen, and a rear section which, in use, covers at least a portion of the user's back; and a flexible rod having a proximal end secured to the rear section of the harness and a distal end that extends up above the harness when the flexible rod is unweighted.

It often is the case that a video camera operator needs or wants to hand carry his or her video camera, e.g., to obtain a certain shooting style in a movie, to capture news on location, because the situation otherwise demands flexible mobility, or simply because setting up dollies or other camera gear would be cost-prohibitive or overly time-intensive. For example, independent movies often are shot entirely or almost entirely using a handheld video camera.
Unfortunately, shooting video in this manner has several drawbacks. First, it often is difficult to obtain smooth camera motion when the camera is being carried and manipulated by hand. Second, particularly with respect to professional video work, the cameras often are large, making it difficult and strenuous to shoot in this manner for a long period of time.
Several conventional systems have been proposed for addressing one or both of these problems. However, the present inventor has discovered that each such conventional system has problems and/or shortcomings associated with it, including, e.g., high costs and/or inability to adequately address one or both of the foregoing problems.