A development apparatus according to an embodiment includes a development tank which accommodates developer containing toner and carrier, an agitating screw which agitates and transports the developer in the development tank, and a development roller which is provided close to or in contact with a photosensitive body and visualizes an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body. The toner and the carrier are externally replenished to the development tank, and excess developer in the development tank is discharged through a developer discharge outlet to outside of the development container. In the development container, the development apparatus further includes a flow regulating member for regulating a flow of the developer. The flow regulating member is provided facing the developer discharge outlet and extending vertically upward with respect to a bottom plane of the development tank.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a development apparatus which is used in an image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, or the like, and visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier using developer, and an image forming apparatus comprising the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a so-called trickle development apparatus which employs two-component developer containing toner and carrier, and supplies the toner and the carrier while discharging excess developer, and an image forming apparatus comprising the same.
2. Related Art
There is a known development apparatus which comprises a development container which accommodates two-component developer containing toner and carrier, an agitating-transport member which agitates and transports the developer in the development container, and a developer carrier which is provided close to or in contact with an image carrier, and visualizes an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier. In such a development apparatus of the two-component development type, a degradation in development performance is caused by a reduction in carrier performance, such as adhesion of the toner to the carrier (so-called "spent phenomenon"), peeling off of carrier coating, or the like.
As means for solving the above-described problems, for example, techniques as disclosed in JP H07-111598 B (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 1") and JP H02-21591 B (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 2") have been proposed. Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a so-called trickle development apparatus. Specifically, in the development apparatus, a small amount of carrier is replenished when replenishing toner, and excess carrier (or developer which is a mixture of carrier and toner) is discharged from a development unit, so that carrier performance is caused to be kept at substantially a constant level in the development unit, thereby stabilizing development performance over time.
As an important operation, for example, such a trickle development apparatus discharges an amount of developer corresponding to the amount of developer (amount of carrier) replenished to the development container, out of the development container, thereby keeping constant the amount of the developer contained in the development container. Here, in the development apparatus described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 discharges developer using a spontaneous discharge method (overflow method) with which the developer is overflowed. Specifically, in a desired state, the bulk of the developer is increased by an amount of developer replenished into the development container, and a portion of the developer located higher than a position of a developer discharge outlet for discharging developer is discharged therethrough. Due to such developer discharge, the amount of the developer in the development container is spontaneously kept constant.
However, a development apparatus which employs a simple overflow method has a drawback such that the height of a developer level in the development container is likely to vary due to external disturbance (e.g., the installed state of the image forming apparatus itself is tilted, an impact is externally applied, etc.), or an operation of agitating the developer in the development container. As a result, the developer is excessively discharged, so that the amount of the developer in the development container is not stable, possibly leading to an adverse influence on development performance of the development apparatus, and further, image formation of the image forming apparatus.
To solve such a problem, there have been various proposals as follows.
For example, a development apparatus has been proposed in which a shutter member is provided on a wall surface of the development container so as to detect a predetermined print amount or the amount of the developer in the development container. Based on a resultant detection signal, the shutter member is opened and closed so as to discharge excess developer.
Also, as disclosed in, for example, JP 2001-265098 A (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 3"), a development apparatus has been proposed in which two screw-type agitating members are provided, a developer discharge outlet is formed in a lower portion at a transport direction downstream side of the agitating members, and a member for imparting reverse transport force is provided at a developer discharge outlet side of the agitating member, so that the height of a developer level in the vicinity of the developer discharge outlet is forcedly lowered, whereby, when the developer exceeds a predetermined height of the discharge outlet, the developer is discharged. Although this development apparatus is basically an overflow-type development apparatus, the reverse transport member is provided so as to impart the reverse transport force, thereby preventing a significant change in the height of the developer level in the vicinity of the developer discharge outlet even when the image forming apparatus itself is tilted or an impact is externally applied. As a result, developer discharge can be stably carried out.
However, the above-described conventional development apparatuses have the following problem.
In the trickle development apparatus, the amount of excess developer is considerably small. Therefore, when the development apparatus is provided with a shutter member which is opened and closed so as to discharge excess developer, it is considerably difficult to discharge a considerably small amount of developer with high precision by opening and closing the shutter member. Therefore, in the above-described method, it is considerably difficult to maintain the developer of the development container in a desired amount with high precision.
In the development apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 3, since the developer discharge outlet is provided below the developer level in the development container, developer discharge is significantly affected when a property of the developer in the development apparatus changes. Specifically, when the flowability or bulk density of the developer in the development container is changed due to the environment or a change over time, the flow of the developer is likely to be significantly affected by an operation of the reverse transport member. Therefore, the height of the developer level in the vicinity of the developer discharge outlet may change to a level different from a desired state. When the whole image forming apparatus is tilted in a longitudinal direction of the development apparatus, the reverse transport member effectively works. However, when the whole image forming apparatus is tilted in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, i.e., a printing direction, the beneficial effect of the reverse transport member is not sufficiently obtained, so that the height of the developer level in the vicinity of the developer discharge outlet may be unstable.

Development apparatus and image forming apparatus comprising the same


Methods for detecting structured artifacts in a video may begin by accepting a video frame at a video input and then generating a filtered frame from the video frame. After a differenced image is produced, groups of connected pixels (blobs) within the differenced frame are identified, and isolated blobs are removed to produce a cleaned image. A Fourier transform is performed on the cleaned image, and structured artifacts may be identified based on a comparison of magnitudes of the Fourier components of the cleaned image. Devices that detect and identify structured artifacts are also described.

A video or video stream is a collection of sequential image frames. Occasionally, due to any of a number of reasons, artifacts may appear in portions of a video frame. Sometimes artifacts are produced by dropouts caused when a video is read from an imperfect portion of video tape. Imperfections may be caused by defects in the magnetic tape particles, tape aging, damage to the tape, dirt, or worn video heads, for instance. In other cases artifacts may appear that were not caused by tape defects, but could be caused by other means, and even in completely digital systems.
As used herein, artifacts may be considered to be a group of affected pixels of a video frame. The group is typically rectangular in shape, and the pixels within structured artifacts form patterns. The patterns may include, for example, alternating horizontal or vertical lines, or alternating pixels in a 2-D array pattern similar to a checkerboard, or their variants. FIG. 1 illustrates example structured artifacts. As seen in FIG. 1, a frame 5 includes multiple artifacts 8, a specific example of which is identified as an area 10. Typically the frame 5 would be filled with image data, and a few or several artifacts 8. As seen in the exploded section, an artifact 15 consisting of alternating horizontal lines may fill the area 10. This artifact may have been caused by a tape dropout, or by other means as described above.
FIG. 2 illustrates other artifact shapes that may fill any of the artifacts 8 of FIG. 1. For example artifact shapes may include vertical lines 25, a series of individual pixels 35, or a combination of vertical and horizontal lines and pixels, as illustrated by 45, 55, 65, and 75. The artifact patterns generally have a noticeable contrast when compared to surrounding unaffected pixels.
Small artifacts may go completely unnoticed by the viewer upon playback because standard error correction techniques may compensate for the artifacts. Large artifacts, however, are noticeable by viewers. Sometimes artifacts appear in a number of successive frames. Artifacts negatively affect the viewer experience by distracting the viewer from the content of the video itself.
Embodiments of the invention address these and other limitations of the prior art.

System for detecting structured artifacts in video sequences


Input image data (255, 100, 50) is first converted into output image data (240, 110, 40) based on the color conversion properties of the input end device and the output device, and is subsequently converted into final output image data (255, 115, 40). The latter conversion satisfies the relationship of (240−40):(110−40)=(255−40):(115−40). By changing the highest-gradation-level color in the output image data into the maximum gradation value (255), the complementary color component is made zero in the output results of the output device, thereby reducing granularity Since the middle-gradation-level color is corrected, variations in color hue are reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color-converting method and apparatus for matching colors on two differing devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Color conversion such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,624 is performed when attempting to match colors produced on two differing devices.


An improved implantable infusion pump comprises a propellant chamber, a medicament chamber, and a throttle section. Enclosed within the throttle section is a medicament delivery system comprising a chip having a fluid path etched in an upper surface, inlet and outlet depressions formed in the chip lower and upper surfaces respectively, and a channel formed through the chip connecting the inlet with the fluid path. A planar cover, preferably transparent, covers the chip upper surface. A pair of wafers surround the chip within the throttle section and pair of silicon coatings are positioned between the chip and the pair of wafers. Various bores, apertures, and recesses are formed in the wafers, the cover, and the coatings, for permitting the medicament fluid to pass through the throttle section. An alternate embodiment employs a plurality of fluid paths and a plurality of outlets permitting different throttle resistance.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an implantable infusion pump. More particularly, it relates to an implantable infusion pump employing a chip as a throttle section.
2. Background of the Prior Art
Implantable infusion pumps are known in the prior art and comprise of a housing having a pair of chambers formed therein. A first chamber receives a propellant for generating a vapor pressure, while a second chamber receives a medicament. Also provided is a throttle section for metering the delivery of medicament which is delivered to a catheter opening in the body of a patient, the throttle section formed as a chip with a fluid path etched therein. Such can be seen in European Patent 0 189 940. Unfortunately, such prior art devices have shown not to have a reliable inlet-outlet connection, nor one that is resistant against shock. Such an improved device is needed.


An internal combustion engine which is provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio and a variable valve timing mechanism able to control a closing timing of an intake valve. The expansion ratio is made higher at the time of engine low load operation compared with at the time of engine high load operation. A fuel containing alcohol is used as the fuel, and the expansion ratio at the time of engine low load operation is made to fall when an alcohol concentration in the fuel is high compared with when the alcohol concentration in the fuel is low.

When using a fuel which contains alcohol as a fuel, the higher the alcohol concentration in the fuel, the higher the octane value and the harder it becomes for knocking to occur. Therefore, the higher the alcohol concentration in the fuel, the higher the compression ratio can be made. Therefore, there is known an internal combustion engine which is provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism which can change a mechanical compression ratio and a variable valve timing mechanism which can control a closing timing of the intake valve, which uses a fuel which contains alcohol as a fuel, and which raises the actual compression ratio the higher the alcohol concentration in the fuel (see Patent Literature 1).

Variable compression ratio type engine with fuel containing alcohol


An automatic steering control system comprises a behavior detector, a pattern matching section and a control parameter setter. The behavior detector sequentially determines a time duration of each of specific kinds of behaviors of a ship based on heading data detected by a heading sensor. The pattern matching section sequentially determines a behavior pattern which each of the behaviors of the ship matches from among multiple behavior patterns based on the heading data detected by the heading sensor during the time duration of each of the behaviors sequentially determined by the behavior detector. The control parameter setter sequentially reads out control parameters stored in a memory in correlation with the behavior pattern which each of the behaviors of the ship matches as determined by the pattern matching section and controls the ship based on the control parameters read out of the memory.

The present invention relates to a control system and a control method and, in particular, to a control system and a control method for properly controlling a subject to be controlled which repetitively performs one of multiple behavior patterns.
In generally used conventional real-time control technology, a control quantity at a particular point in time is assessed based on a deviation of a current value of the control quantity from a target value and an amount of operation to be used at a subsequent point in time is determined based on this deviation. If there exist disturbances of which frequency band overlaps the frequency band of a control quantity output signal, or the frequency band of the control quantity output signal is uncertain (unknown or variable with time), and the disturbances which are difficult to remove by conventionally available ordinary filtering techniques are superimposed on the control quantity, there arises a problem that it is difficult to properly assess the control quantity and, as a consequence, it is difficult to properly control a subject to be controlled.

Control system and method for controlling a moving body


A test apparatus assembly is provided for testing an AC generator having an exciter rotor mounted to a shaft. The apparatus includes an annular end bell, a carbon brush assembly coupled to the end bell including a housing coupled to the end bell inner peripheral surface, at least a conduit formed in the housing, and a spring-loaded carbon brush disposed in the conduit, and a slip ring assembly configured to be mounted to the shaft and to at least partially contact the carbon brush that includes a hub configured to couple to the shaft, the hub including an outer peripheral surface and a cavity extending therethrough, a first slip ring coupled to the hub outer peripheral surface, and a wire connector coupled to the first slip ring and extending through the hub cavity, the wire connector configured to electrically couple the first slip ring to the exciter rotor.

Alternating current (AC) generators are used for myriad applications, for example, in a gas turbine engine, such as that found in aircraft, ships, and some terrestrial vehicles. These generators may include three separate brushless generators, namely, a permanent magnet generator (PMG), an exciter, and a main generator. Each of these generators may include rotors and stators. When the rotor rotates, AC currents are induced in stator windings of the generator.
Periodically, an AC generator may need to undergo static and dynamic electrical performance testing. The test results allow an operator to determine the electrical integrity of the wires and/or coils therein and to assess the scope of repair or overhaul that the generator may need to undergo. Accordingly, the AC generator first may be separated from the engine and temporarily mounted to a test stand. Multiple test instruments are connected to the appropriate sections of the AC generator to obtain the appropriate readings therefrom.
Although conventional methods of testing electrical integrity of AC generators have been effective, these methods suffer from certain drawbacks. For example, typically, the exciter rotor is not directly tested. Instead, measurements for surrounding components are obtained and test data relating to the exciter rotor are calculated therefrom. As a result, the calculation may not be as accurate as desired. Additionally, because the exciter rotor is typically accessed and bench-tested while it is inactive, the condition of the exciter rotor during operation may not be assessed correctly. In either case, the operator may conclude that the exciter rotor, and hence, the AC generator, needs a larger scope of repair or overhaul than needed, which may unnecessarily increase the cost of repair.
Hence, there is a need for a device for testing an AC generator that is capable of directly testing the AC generator rotor. Additionally, it is desirable to have a device that is capable of assessing the condition of the generator during operation. The present invention addresses one or more of these needs.

AC generator exciter rotor slip-ring test apparatus


An apparatus for dispensing odorant vapor into an air stream is disclosed. The apparatus contains a reservoir for containing a volatilizable liquid, a dispensing well, liquid moving means for withdrawing liquid from the reservoir and causing it to flow into the dispensing well, and switch means for activating the liquid moving means.

Devices for dispensing deodorant into an air stream air stream are known to those skilled in the art. Thus, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,807,893 of Morey discloses a a dispenser 15 mounted in a clothes dryer. The dispenser is comprised of a container filled with deodorizing volatile liquid. When the clothes dryer is in operation, air generated by a blower in the dryer contacts the dispenser and volatilizes a portion of the liquid.
A somewhat similar system was described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,415 of Bryson. The Bryson patent discloses a portable dispenser 11 containing a basket 51 and posts 57 which, in combination, retain between them a series of envelopes 61 which contain an odorant to be dispensed. Air flowing past the envelopes 61 causes the volatilization of the odorant.
Another similar system was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,377 of Thomas W. Crafton. The device of the Crafton patent is a hot air hand dryer containing a container mounted in the intake grill; the container included openings allowing air flow through it. A stick or disk of vaporizable deodorant was disposed within the container, and the air flow through it caused vaporization of odorant.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,584 discloses a building air vent assembly containing a vent opening, a damper plate, a trough with an open side for receiving deodorant, and a deodorant sheet within such trough. When air flows through the vent, it passes over the deodorant sheet in the trough and partially vaporizes it.
To the best of applicant's knowledge, none of the prior art devices affords the user the flexibility of readily dispensing the amount of deodorant he or she desires only when so desired. The devices of U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,807,893, 4,383,377, and 4,903,584 function automatically when air is flowing through them and are not subject to a substantial amount of control and adjustment by a user. The device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,229,415 utilizes a deodorizing package which, to the best of applicant's knowledge, is not readily commercially available.
It is an object of this invention to provide a deodorizing system which utilizes volatile deodorant liquid.
It is another object of this invention to provide a deodorizing system which can be manually activated at any time, and to any extent desired, by a user.
It is another object of this invention to provide a deodorizing system which contains means for activating the system at one or more specified periods of time.


A valve train for an internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders having different valve mechanism constructions, in which the valve train has a correcting member for correcting a difference in valve lift amount that is produced between the plurality of cylinders due to a difference in construction between valve mechanisms so as to make valve lift amounts of the plurality of cylinders substantially uniform.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve train for an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to a valve train for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders in which valve operating characteristics of the respective cylinders are made different.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are proposed techniques for improving the fuel economy of a multi-cylinder engine including a plurality of cylinders by making valve operating characteristics of the respective cylinders different and stopping the actuation of inlet and exhaust valves of part of the cylinders, for example, when the engine is run at low speeds (refer to JP-A-2002-155712).
[Patent Literature No. 1]
JP-A-2002-155712
However, in the event that the constructions of the valve mechanisms provided for the plurality of cylinders are made different in order to make the operating characteristics of the valve mechanisms of the respective cylinders, it is considered that there is caused between the cylinders a difference in amount of lift of cams transmitted to valves which cams are formed on a common camshaft in such a manner as to correspond to the respective cylinders.
This is because when connection switching members are provided on rocker-arms provided between cams and valves of part of the cylinders so that the connection switching members are actuated in accordance with operating conditions of the engine to thereby enable a connection or disconnection between the cams and the valves, due to securing the smooth operation of the switching member for convenient, a locking error between the cams and valves has to be increased when compared with a case where there is provided no such switching member.
In addition, in a case where the rigidity of rocker-arms has to be made different for each cylinder for a convenient layout, because rocker-arms having a lower rigidity tend to deflect and deform largely, this can attribute to a possible cause for generating an error in locking conditions between the cams and the valves among the cylinders.
Namely, in the event that the construction or rigidity of the lift amount transmitting portions between the cams and the valves differs from cylinder to cylinder, there is caused a possibility that an actual valve lift amount differs from cylinder to cylinder. This can be a possible cause for generating a change in the revolution speed of the engine, in particular, when the engine is run at low rotational speeds.

Valve train for internal combustion engine


The invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising diltiazem hydrochloride. The formulation is in the form of a mixture of beads blended so as to provide a dissolution profile that renders the formulation suitable for oral administration once daily.

Diltiazem is a benzothiazine derivative possessing calcium antagonist activity. Diltiazem blocks the influx of calcium ions in smooth and cardiac muscle and thus exerts potent cardio-vascular effects. Diltiazem has been shown to be useful in alleviating symptoms of chronic heart disease, particularly angina pectoris and myocardial ischemia and hypertension, while displaying a low incidence of side effects. The first dosage forms of diltiazem sold in the United States were tablets containing 30 mg or 60 mg of diltiazem hydrochloride sold under the tradename Cardizem by Marion Laboratories Inc. Single oral doses of 30 mg and to 120 mg of Cardizem tablets result in peak plasma levels about 2 to 3 hours after ingestion, and the elimination half-life is about 3 to 5 hours. Because of the relatively rapid absorption of diltiazem hydrochloride from such tablets and rapid elimination, the usual dosage regimen for immediate release tablets is for a dose to be taken three or four times daily. The need for such frequent administration may reduce patient compliance. Thus adverse therapeutic effects can arise. It thus became apparent that it would be preferable to administer diltiazem hydrochloride in a dosage form that releases the diltiazem hydrochloride much more slowly than Cardizem tablets, so as to enable the frequency of ingestion by the patient to be reduced to once daily.
A formulation of diltiazem hydrochloride that controls the rate of release to enable once daily administration is sold in the United States under the tradename Dilacor XR by Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Dilacor XR is produced as two-piece hard gelatin capsules, with each capsule containing a plurality of tablets. The 180 mg strength of Dilacor XR contains three tablets and the 240 mg strength contains four tablets. The same tablets are used in both capsules, and each tablet contains 60 mg of diltiazem hydrochloride.
The tablets used in Dilacor XR are made in accordance with the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,177.
Each tablet is comprised of a cylindrical core containing diltiazem hydrochloride mixed with inactive ingredients which include a polymer that swells and forms a gel upon contact with aqueous fluids. Because the gel has high viscosity it swells and dissolves only very slowly in the gastrointestinal fluids to thereby retard the rate of release of the diltiazem hydrochloride. To further retard the release, insoluble polymeric platforms are affixed to the top and bottom of the cylindrical core, thus leaving only the periphery exposed to the gastrointestinal fluid. The formulation of Dilacor XR capsules successfully accomplishes gradual release to enable once daily dosing, but the Dilacor XR formulation requires complex and expensive procedures to produce. In particular, production of the tablets contained in Dilacor XR capsules requires production of cores containing the diltiazem hydrochloride and the affixing thereto of the insoluble platforms.
Another formulation of diltiazem hydrochloride suitable for once daily administration is now sold in the United States under the trademark Cardizem CD, by Marion Laboratories Inc. Cardizem CD is sold as capsules containing a multitude of beads. The composition of the beads contained in Cardizem CD capsules is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,497. The beads are made using core seeds to which is applied a first coating containing the diltiazem hydrochloride. Over the first coating, further coatings of polymers are applied which serve to slow down and control the rate at which the diltiazem hydrochloride is released from the beads in gastrointestinal fluids.
As explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,497, there is a particular dissolution profile found to be optimum for once daily administration. This desired dissolution profile, when measured in a type 2 dissolution apparatus according to U.S. Pharmacopoeia XXII, in 0.1 NHCL at 100 rpm is as follows:
a) from 20-45% released after 6 hours PA1 b) from 25-50% released after 12 hours PA1 c) from 35-70% released after 18 hours PA1 d) not less than 70% released after 24 hours PA1 e) not less than 85% released after 30 hours
The invention of U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,497 achieves this dissolution profile by using a mixture of beads with two differing amounts of coating.
The beads with the lesser amount of coatings are referred to as "rapid release diltiazem beads" and the beads with the greater amount of coating are referred to as "delayed release diltiazem beads".
It is disclosed that by making each of these types of beads so as to comply with particular dissolution requirements, the mixture of the two types of beads produces the desired dissolution profile for the final composition.
A difficulty with the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,497 is that it is difficult to reliably make the two types of beads so as to get the required dissolution profile for the final mixture.
In particular, the desired dissolution profile requires that the amount released must exceed 20% after 6 hours, but must not exceed 50% after 12 hours.
This requires that the "rapid release diltiazem beads" give a sharp step-like release of the diltiazem. Otherwise, if the amount released increases only gradually with time, beads formulated to assure that at least 20% of the diltiazem is released from the final mix after 5 hours will also cause more than 50% to be released after 10 hours, thus causing the final composition to fail to meet requirements.
In view of the aforesaid problems with prior art formulations, it is an object of the invention to produce a composition of diltiazem hydrochloride suitable for once daily administration, in the form of a blend of beads that overcomes the difficulty in achieving the required dissolution profile that results from using a mixture of only two types of beads.


A polygon mirror includes a reflective surface group having n number of reflective surfaces (M(1), . . . , M(n)) formed individually as outer peripheral side faces, a flat portion which shuts one end portion of the reflective surface group, and n number of pin gate traces (L(1), . . . , L(n)) which are provided on the flat portion, correspond to the n number of reflective surfaces, individually, and are kept individually at distances from edge portions at which the reflective surfaces cross the flat portion. There are conditions DM(1)>DL(1)/2, . . . , DM(n)>DL(n)/2 and DM(1)>DL(n)/2, . . . , DM(n)>DL(n−1)/2, where DM(n) is a shortest distance from an edge portion at which the reflective surface M(n) and the flat portion cross each other to the pin gate trace L(n) and DL(n) is a shortest distance between the pin gate trace L(n) and the pin gate trace L(1).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polygon mirror molded by injection molding and a molding die used to mold the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A polygon mirror, which switches or scans reflected light by rotating, is provided with a plurality of reflective surfaces. The polygon mirror is molded by injection molding using a die. A polygon mirror manufacturing method is described in, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 8-238682 and Jpn. Pat. No. 2619244.
FIG. 10 illustrates the manufacturing method described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 8-238682.
A polygon mirror 110 includes a flat portion 112 and a plurality of reflective surfaces 114 that are coupled to the flat portion 112 so as to be arranged individually on its outer peripheral side faces. The flat portion 112 is coupled to an intermediate portion of the reverse side of each reflective surface 114. An annular boss portion 112a in which a rotating body is mounted is formed in the central part of the flat portion 112.
A die for injecting the polygon mirror 110 of this type includes a sprue 141 and a disc gate 140 that extends horizontally from a terminal end of the sprue 141. The sprue 141 extends along a rotation axis CL of the polygon mirror 110 to be molded. Numeral 145 denotes a sliding die for molding the reflective surfaces 114 of the polygon mirror 110.
In molding the polygon mirror 110, a molten resin material is injected to the sprue 141 under a given pressure. After the resin material is filled into a cavity of the die through the disc gate 140, the die is cooled to solidify the resin material. Thereafter, the die is opened, and a molded piece is ejected by an ejector pin 147, whereupon the injection molding terminates.
After the molding, the disc gate 140 is removed, whereupon an annular boss portion 112a is formed. The inner surface of the boss portion 112a serves as a mounting surface for the rotating body. In filling the resin material with this structure, the resin material is fed radially outward at a time from the rotation axis CL in the central part, so that weld lines cannot be easily produced.
FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate the manufacturing method described in Jpn. Pat. No. 2619244.
A polygon mirror 210 includes a boss portion 212a, plate-like portions 212, and reflective surfaces 214. The boss portion 212a is formed in the central part and serves as a mounting portion for a rotating body. A plurality of (e.g., eight) plate-like portions 212 extend radially from the boss portion 212a. The reflective surfaces 214 are formed individually on the respective distal ends of the plate-like portions 212 that extend from the boss portion 212a. A die is provided with a cavity that forms the boss portion 212a, plate-like portions 212, and reflective surfaces 214.
In order to fill a molten resin material into the cavity of the die, a sprue 241 extends corresponding to the central part of the boss portion 212a, as shown in FIG. 11B. Runners 242 extend radially from the sprue 241. The runners 242 extend corresponding to the plate-like portions 212, individually. The respective distal end portions of the runners 242 serve individually as pin gates 245 through which the resin material is fed into the cavity. The pin gates 245 as many as the reflective surfaces 214 are provided corresponding to the reflective surfaces 214, individually. The pin gates 245 are arranged substantially in the central part with respect to the transverse direction of the plate-like portions 212. Thus, the pin gates 245 are located individually on bisectors perpendicular to their corresponding reflective surfaces 214.
With this construction, the amount of the resin material injected through each pin gate 245 and the balance of pressure are fixed. The respective entire areas of the reflective surfaces 214 are located at substantially equal distances from the pin gates 245. Therefore, the molten resin material flows uniformly and spreads equally. Thus, weld lines formed between the adjacent reflective surfaces 214 are produced along ridges 235 (FIG. 11A) or boundaries between the plate-like portions 212, and weld lines on the reflective surfaces 214 can be prevented from being produced.

Polygon mirror and polygon mirror molding die


A turbine blade includes: a platform; an airfoil portion extending from the platform in a blade height direction and having a pressure surface and a suction surface extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge; a blade root portion positioned opposite to the airfoil portion across the platform in the blade height direction and having a bearing surface; and a shank positioned between the platform and the blade root portion. The shank has a cross-section which is perpendicular to the blade height direction of the airfoil portion, and in which a line segment connecting a widthwise center position of a leading-edge-side end portion of the shank and a widthwise center position of a trailing-edge-side end portion of the shank is sloped to a center line between a pressure-surface-side contour of the blade root portion and a suction-surface-side contour of the blade root portion.

A blade of a turbine such as a gas turbine or a steam turbine receives excitation force generated by change and rotation of combustion gas flow or steam flow during operation of the turbine. The resonance phenomenon caused by such an excitation force may cause damage to the turbine blade, rotor disc, or the like.
Therefore, it has been proposed to tune the natural frequency of the turbine blade in order to avoid the occurrence of resonance in the turbine blade.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a turbine blade (hollow blade) composed of a material having a multilayer structure including a core material and a skin material disposed on both sides of the core material. The core material of the turbine blade has multiple dimples to improve the stiffness of the turbine blade. The stiffness distribution of the turbine blade is adjusted by varying the dimple density in the core material, and the natural frequency of the turbine blade is adjusted accordingly.

Turbine blade, turbine, and method of tuning natural frequency of turbine blade


A shooting rest is disclosed herein. The shooting rest comprises a body a removable tool attachable to the body.

It is an advantage to use a stabilizing support when shooting, particularly if the target is far away. Movement while aiming can cause significant shifts in the point of impact downrange, so it is desirable to stabilize the firearm as much as possible when shooting. Conventional shooting rests for firearms in the form of bipods or monopods are known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,669,357 to Moody et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,478,496 to Bender, U.S. Pat. No. 7,197,844 to Benson, U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,528 to Long, U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,437 to Underwood and U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,614 to Pickett are all illustrative of the prior art.
While these devices accomplish the task of stabilizing a firearm for improved accuracy, they add a significant amount of additional weight and bulk in order to provide the desired function. Likewise, said devices require some form of manipulation by the user prior to being used. Furthermore, due to the complexity of the parts or materials used, the cost of manufacturing can be quite high. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a low cost and reliable shooting rest.
Firearm accessories generally include modifications for different parts such as the barrel, stock, slide, or sight. The accessories will modify the accuracy of the firearm, improve the weight of the firearm, or allow the firearm to be easier to take apart. One problem with firearms is a lack of storage. Creating convenient and lightweight storage space for tools on a firearm is desirable because having quick access to firearm tools is important if the firearm jams or malfunctions in some other way. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a lightweight and convenient storage space accessory for a firearm.

Magazine floorplate with one or more accessories


A process for preparing 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine of the formula ##STR1## wherein B is adenine, wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-12 acyl, C.sub.1-12 alkyl, C.sub.7-8 aralkyl, or silyl, said process comprising:. reducing a nucleoside of the formula IIIa or IIIb ##STR2## wherein R.sup.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-12 acyl, C.sub.1-12 alkyl, C.sub.7-8 aralkyl or silyl; X is Cl, Br or I; R.sup.5 is C.sub.1-12 acyl and B is adenine, with hydrogen in the presence of a palladium catalyst and aqueous solvent mixture of acetonitrile or ethyl acetate and water, said aqueous solvent containing a base selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide/sodium acetate and sodium carbonate/sodium acetate, wherein said solvent has a pH of 9-11.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to processes for producing nucleoside derivatives.
2. Discussion of the Background
Dideoxynucleosides are expected to be useful in the field of medicaments because of their antiviral activity. Dideoxynucleosides are known compounds (for example, cf., H. Mitsuya and S. Broder, Proc. Natl. Acad. Soc. USA, vol. 93, 1911, 1986). Notably, 2',3'-dideoxyinosine, with its antiviral activity, is expected to serve as an effective medicine.
2',3'-Didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-5'-O-acylinosines are important intermediates for the synthesis of various compounds having pharmaceutical activity.
The following documents disclose synthetic methods available for making 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides from nucleoside starting materials:
(1) M. J. Robins et al, Tetrahedron Lett., 25, 367 (1984);
(2) B. Samuelsson et al, Acta Chem. Scand, B36, 251 (1982); and
(3) J. Chattopadhyaya et al, Acta Chem. Scand., B40, 251 (1982).
The methods disclosed by these documents however employ adenosine or protected adenosine as the base material.
No method has yet been reported for producing 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides from inosine. The main reason appears to be that no methods for the efficient removal of the zinc complex generated during such a process and which acts as a catalyst poison in the step of catalytic reduction are available.
In addition, 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxyinosine derivatives tend to decompose during catalytic reduction when a hydrous solvent is used as the reaction medium, and no method is available to prevent this decomposition.
2',3'-Dideoxynucleosides of formula (B): ##STR3## also have antiviral activity making them utilizable as drugs for treatment of, e.g., AIDS, etc. They can be used as medicaments (cf., Japanese Laid-Open Unexamined Patent Application No. 280500/1986 and J. Med. Chem., 30 440 (1987)). In formula (B), B represents a base known in nucleic acid chemistry such as a purine base bound to the sugar via its 9-position, a pyrimidine base bound to the sugar via its 1-position, etc.
A method for the production of 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides is known in which the compound: ##STR4## is reduced with hydrogen (H.sub.2) using a palladium catalyst in the presence of triethylamine. The protective group is then removed to obtain the following 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine: ##STR5## (cf., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 95, 4025 (1973)).
According to this method, the following 3'-deoxyadenosine: ##STR6## is produced in large quantities as an undesirable by-product, with formation ratios of the 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine to the 3'-deoxyadenosine reaching even 40:46. This method is consequently hardly advantageous from an industrial standpoint. Thus, a method for efficiently and selectively obtaining 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides using readily accessible starting materials at low cost is needed.
Some methods for preparing nucleoside derivatives, such as dideoxynucleosides, etc., using nucleosides as raw materials are known. Notably, nucleoside derivatives which are substituted at their 2'-position and 3'-position (or at their 3'-position and 2'-position thereof) by an acyloxy group and a halogen atom are important intermediates for preparing various substances showing pharmacological activities.
Compounds of formula (C) or formula (D) are important intermediates in these preparations: ##STR7## wherein:
Base is a purine base or a pyrimidine base;
X' is Cl, Br, or I;
R' is H or a protective group which is readily removed; and
R" is an acyl group.
The compounds of formula (C) and formula (D) can be transformed into dideoxynucleosides by a known method which comprises reducing the compounds with hydrogen over a Pd/C catalyst and then, if necessary, subjecting the product to hydrolysis or ester exchange.
Known methods for preparing compounds of formula (C) or formula (D) include the following:
(1) The method of John G. Moffatt et al which comprises reacting nucleosides with 2-acetoxyisobutyric acid bromide ((1) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 95, 4025 (1973) (2) U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,787)). (2) The method of Morris J. Robbins et al which comprises reacting 2',3'-O-(1-methoxyethylidene)nucleoside with pivalic acid chloride in the presence of sodium iodide (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 98, 8213 (1976)).
(3) The method of Engels et al which comprises reacting 2',3'-O-(1-ethoxyethylidene) adenosine derivatives with sodium iodide in the presence of a boron trifluoride-diethyl ether complex (Tetrahedron Letters, 21, 4339 (1980)).
(4) The method of John G. Moffatt et al which comprises reacting 2',3'-O-(1-ethoxyethylidene) adenosine with lithium bromide in acetonitrile, in the presence of a boron trifluoride-diethyl ether complex (J. Org. Chem., 39, 30 (1974)).
(5) The method of Colin B. Reese et al which comprises reacting 2',3'-O-(1-ethoxyethylidene) adenosine with acetyl bromide in dichloroethane (Synthesis, 304, 1983).
Although the above-described methods for preparing the important intermediates of formulae (C) and (D) are known, they can not be used industrially because they suffer the following problems:
(1) the reaction proceeds in a high yield only when expensive reactants are used;
(2) many products are produced; and
(3) it is sometimes necessary to protect functional groups which do not take part in the reaction.
If any of these preparation methods were to be considered for the industrial production of nucleoside derivatives such as dideoxynucleosides, etc., these problems would all dramatically raise the cost of producing these materials.
In view of the growing importance of 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides in treating viral diseases, there is thus a distinct need for (an) efficient process(es) for producing these materials, and for (a) process(es) capable of efficiently providing intermediates used to make 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides.

Process for preparing 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine


A buffer circuit has a high-impedance function mode. The buffer circuit is for outputting a buffer output level. The buffer circuit comprises a buffer output control section for controlling the buffer output level to an opposite level in a moment before the buffer circuit becomes the high-impedance function mode. The opposite level is a level opposite to a present buffer output level.

This invention relates to a buffer circuit, and more particularly, to a buffer circuit capable of carrying out an interface with a high speed.
In general, a buffer circuit is known of which output electric potential has a tri-state which is represented by first through third states. In the first state, the output of the buffer circuit becomes a low (L) level. In the second state, the output of the buffer circuit becomes a high (H) level. In the third state, the output of the buffer circuit becomes a high impedance (Hiz). Such a buffer circuit may be called a tri-state buffer circuit.
In a first conventional tri-state buffer circuit, the output of the first conventional tri-state buffer circuit becomes the high impedance even if the input signal has a low or a high level. The state of the high impedance denotes the third state (tri-state) indicating that the output value is neither 1 nor 0. In other words, the buffer circuit is disconnected in the third state.
In a second conventional tri-state buffer circuit, the output of the second conventional tri-state buffer circuit becomes the high impedance even if the input signal has a high level.
However, it is difficult to transfer from one state to another state with a high speed as will be described later.
In order to improve the above-mentioned demerit, a first improved tri-state buffer circuit is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai Hei 7-321633 (321633/1995). In the first improved tri-state buffer circuit, it is possible to determine a potential level with a high speed and to reduce a consumption power when the output state becomes the high impedance.
In addition, a second improved tri-state buffer circuit is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai Hei 5-37321 (37321/1993). In the second improved tri-state buffer circuit, the potential level is set to an intermediate level by the movement of charges stored to a capacitance for a period of a potential except for the high impedance, when the output state becomes the high impedance.
Furthermore, a third improved tri-state buffer circuit is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai Syo 63-112893 (112893/1988). The third improved tri-state buffer circuit comprises an intermediate potential setting circuit. By the intermediate potential setting circuit, an intermediate potential is set without increasing a pass-through current.
Similarly, a fourth improved tri-state buffer circuit is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai Hei 4-245470 (245470/1992). In the fourth improved tri-state buffer circuit, the output state is driven to an opposite potential level once and the output state is thereafter set to the high impedance when the input state becomes a disabling state.
However, it is impossible to control the output state to only either one of the high and low levels in the first improved tri-state buffer circuit. In the second improved tri-state buffer circuit, it is difficult to design a capacitance in which charges are stored. In the third improved tri-state buffer circuit, an inverter of an output stage becomes short circuited and a consumption power is large. In the fourth improved tri-state buffer circuit, it is necessary to have a resistor for pull-up/pull-down. When the fourth improved tri-state buffer circuit is a semiconductor integrated circuit, it is difficult to provide the resistor on the semiconductor integrated circuit since a chip area increases, under the requirement that the integrated circuit be more miniaturized.
It is an object of this invention to provide a buffer circuit capable of carrying out interface with a high speed without restricting level control and without increasing consumption power.
It is another object of this invention to provide a buffer circuit capable of carrying out interface with a high speed without necessity of a difficult capacitance design and increase of a chip area.
Other objects of this invention will become clear as the description proceeds.
On describing a gist of this invention, it is possible to understand that a buffer circuit has a high-impedance function mode. The buffer circuit is for outputting a buffer output level.
According to this invention, the buffer circuit comprises buffer output control means for controlling the buffer output level to an opposite level in a moment before the buffer circuit becomes the high-impedance function mode. The opposite level is a level opposite to a present buffer output level.

Buffer circuit capable of carrying out interface with a high speed


Press forming for preventing the ball from slipping out from the pen tip of a ball-point pen is carried out twice creating a sealing face brim having a width S and a curvature R substantially equal to that of the ball, inside the front part of the pen tip. Provided in the rear of the ball is a ball seat, and channels and longitudinal backlash which allow the ink to flow to the pen point are provided. Further, the front part of the point assembly may be formed with an open V-shaped tapered portion. A spring which constantly urges the ball forward may be provided inside the point assembly.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a production of a point assembly for a ball-point pen in which a ball as a writing element is loosely held with some play and kept from slipping out with a properly sized gap which establishes a flow passage of ink, and further relates to improvement of a ball-point pen using a point assembly thereof.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
In conventional writing implements, ink evaporation occurring when the implement is not used for a long time is prevented by fitting a cap. Further, there are ball-point pens and small-tube type writing implements having a cap with a sealing element therein which is composed of elastic rubber, etc., and seals the pen point in order to prevent ink starvation or so-called forward leakage (ink drip from the pen point), which would occur due to drawing of air through the pen point when the pen is impacted by being dropped. However, in the case of a retractable or clicking type ball-point pen as well as in the case where the user has forgotten to fit the cap, in the case of a writing implement where the ink used is unavoidably volatile, and in other cases, ink starvation and air drawing tend to occur, and in the worst case the writing implement itself may accidentally become disabled. Countermeasures against such cases, include: inhibiting ink evaporation as much as possible by creating the point assembly of the ball-point pen of metal; increasing the viscosity of ink (up to 5,000 cp to 10,000 cp); increasing the content of non-volatile solvent; decreasing the out-flow of ink by narrowing the ink flow channel in the point assembly; and creating interior pressure within the barrel interior equal to or higher than the pressure of the surrounding air to cause the interior ink to flow out. In particular, these problems have not been resolved for so-called intermediate type ball-point pens which use ink of a medium viscosity and present intermediate properties between oily and aqueous ball-point pens. Although ball-point pens of this type have such imperfection, they have been put onto the market because of other merits.
In conventional ball-point pens, the problems of dry-up due to forward leakage, air drawing, evaporation or the like, are primarily solved by pressurizing the ink or the barrel interior, or by other appropriate mechanisms. Even if such a means is not provided, the point assembly is protected with a hermetic cap or by providing an elastic material such as rubber etc., in close contact with the tip of the point assembly. In the above cases, rather complicated mechanisms are needed, thus causing increased occurrence of accidents due to the imperfection of such mechanisms, or if the mechanism works well, it costs more increasing the price of the ball-point pen. For those in which the defects are offset by a cap only, it cannot provide an effective solution, for it has a further problem in that the performance cannot be maintained unless the user often puts the cap in place. For those in which the defects are solved by ink, this settlement is achieved by sacrificing the writing performances, such as drying performance of ink (i.e., ink not being likely to be dry after the drawing of lines) and writing sensation. To make matters worse, the ball seat in the point assembly will be worn out due to reduced smoothness of ink, so that the ink flow increases with use, and in the worst case, writing itself becomes impossible.


A light source control apparatus and a method for controlling light source are provided. The light source control apparatus is used to controlling N light-emitting devices connected in series. N+1 nodes are sequentially defined at two terminals of each light-emitting device mentioned above, where N is a natural number. The light source control apparatus includes a testing circuit and a compensation circuit. The testing circuit is coupled to the nodes to transmit a testing current to light-emitting devices between Ith node and Jth node, where I and J are natural numbers, and N+1>=J>I>=1. The compensation circuit is coupled to the nodes to measure a brightness of light-emitting devices between Ith node and Jth node, decide a value of a compensation current according to an intensity of the brightness, and provide the compensation current to light-emitting devices between Ith node and Jth node.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus and method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light source control apparatus and a method for controlling a light source.
2. Description of Related Art
RGB light emitting diodes (LEDs) can exhibit a wider color gamut as compared with cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs), wherein R, G, B are red, green, and blue signals of three primary colors. Therefore, LED has a more diversified color performance than the CCFL, and has been widely used as light-emitting sources of liquid crystal displays (LCD).
However, since the size of the LCDs is increasingly enlarged, and the number of the LEDs used in an LCD of a larger size usually reaches several hundreds. Therefore, the LEDs in the LCD are usually connected in series or in parallel, so as to reduce the number of parts for controlling the LEDs. However, this control method may degrade the quality of images, as shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional LED control apparatus disposed in the LCD. The LED control apparatus is used to control the light-emitting brightness of the LEDs 101-10N, and the LEDs 101-10N are a string of LEDs connected in series in the LCD. The control apparatus in the figure includes a brightness measuring circuit 100-1 having a photosensitive diode 100-2, an analog-digital converter 100-3, a control circuit 100-4, a power metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor 100-5, and a resistor 100-6. Moreover, a source voltage and a common level are respectively indicated by VCC and COM.
The conventional control device uses a resistor 100-6 to obtain a feedback signal FB, so as to make the feedback signal FB tracking a reference voltage VFB in the control circuit 100-4 to generate a pulse width modulation signal PWM to control the tuning on of the power MOS transistor 100-5, so that the current passing through the resistor 100-6 is I=VFB/resistor 100-6. According to Kirchhoff's current law (KCL), the current will also pass through the LEDs 101-10N. The spectrum emitted by the LEDs are measured through the brightness measuring circuit 100-1, and converted into a digital signal by using the analog-digital converter 100-3, and then transmitted to the control circuit 100-4, so that the control circuit 100-4 can adjust the LEDs to the desired spectrum range according to the pulse width modulation signal PWM.
However, the temperature coefficients and degrees of aging of the LEDs are not completely identical, so that the light-emitting situation of each LED varies, and the circuit architecture of the conventional control apparatus can not adjust the LED individually, thus degrading the image quality of LCDs.
Moreover, as the conventional architecture can only amend the brightness of the LEDs 101-10N at the same time, and the brightness compensation can not be performed on an individual LED, the image quality is degraded. Therefore, a strict quality control is necessary for mass production, and the manufacturing cost remains high, and the quality is still difficult to control.


A Business Process Management (BPM) information display system and method includes identifying a BPM asset that has been modified, comparing the modified BPM asset to a second version of the BPM asset, and identifying an activity within the modified BPM asset that has been modified. A user interface is generated by a computing system in which the modified BPM asset and the second version of the BPM asset are displayed, including highlighting the modified activity on the user interface.

Business Process Management (BPM) is an approach to identify, design, execute, document, measure, monitor, and control both automated and non-automated business processes. Various computer-based BPM applications are available to facilitate BPM for an organization. BPM applications may be implemented through software application suites operating on local computer networks, or through cloud computing solutions, for example.
BPM applications provide software components that allow users to understand and better manage their processes. Graphical user interfaces illustrating business processes in a flow chart-like manner provide concise views of the processes and allow for easier manipulation of the various aspects of the business processes.

Business process management information display


A piezoelectric substance has a substrate, an electrode formed on the substrate, and a piezoelectric film formed on the electrode. The piezoelectric film is formed of crystals having a main phase of (NaxKyLiz)NbO3 (0<x<1, 0<y<1, 0≦z≦0.1, x+y+z=1). The piezoelectric film is a polycrystalline thin film preferentially oriented to either or both of <001> and <110> crystalline axes in the direction normal to the substrate surface, and the axes of its crystals oriented to each crystalline axis are also formed in the same direction in the in-plane direction of the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a piezoelectric substance and a piezoelectric element using the piezoelectric substance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Piezoelectric substances are processed into various piezoelectric elements according to various purposes, and are utilized widely particularly as functional electronic components, such as an actuator, which applies voltage to cause deformation, a sensor, which conversely uses deformation of an element to generate voltage. As piezoelectric substances utilized in actuator and sensor applications, there have hitherto been widely used lead-based dielectrics possessing large piezoelectric properties, especially, Pb(Zr1-XTiX)O3-based perovskite-type ferroelectrics called PZT, which are formed typically by sintering oxides comprising individual elements. Also, in recent years, from environmental concerns, the development of piezoelectric substances that contain no lead has been desired, and lithium potassium sodium niobate (general formula: (NaxKyLiz)NbO3 (0<x<1, 0<y<1, 0<z<1, x+y+z=1), etc. has been developed. This lithium potassium sodium niobate (herein, referred to as LKNN) possesses as good a piezoelectric property as PZT, and is therefore expected as a major candidate for lead-free piezoelectric material.
On the other hand, at present, with reduction in size and enhancement in performance of electronic components of each kind, there is also a strong demand for size reduction and performance enhancement of piezoelectric elements as well. However, the thickness of piezoelectric material produced by a conventional manufacturing method using primarily sintering is particularly below 10 μm that approaches the size of crystal grains constituting the material, so the effect thereof becomes unnegligible. For that reason, there arises the problem of noticeable property variation and degradation. In order to avoid it, piezoelectric thin film-forming methods have, in recent years, been studied that apply thin film technology, etc. replaced for the sintering method. A PZT thin film formed by RE sputtering has recently been used practically as an actuator for heads of high-definition high-speed inkjet printers. In this piezoelectric thin film, there is also obviously a demand for lead-free piezoelectric material, as in the above piezoelectric substances.
As the related art, there is JP-A-2002-151754, for example.
As mentioned above, it is possible to produce very thin piezoelectric films, and therefore attempts to use the piezoelectric films in sensors are made at present. The piezoelectric films are deformed to produce voltage in proportion to their displacement (by producing charges in their surface). As sensors utilizing this phenomenon, there are gyrosensors, pressure sensors, etc. These sensors produce displacement as voltage where the voltage for no displacement is a reference. The gyrosensors receive Coriolis force, and also pressure sensors receive pressure, to cause displacement in the piezoelectric thin film. Accordingly, the piezoelectric thin film used in these sensors is required to be able to output sufficient voltage even for slight displacement. Such a piezoelectric thin film is a film having a fixed piezoelectric constant regardless of voltage where the piezoelectric constant is calculated by measuring displacement when applying voltage, utilizing the reverse piezoelectric effect.
The piezoelectric thin film is formed, for example, by sputtering, etc. We examine LKNN films that are lead-free piezoelectric substances. To make the above sensor using this thin film, a SiO2 film is formed on a low-cost silicon substrate. On that SiO2 film is formed an electrode of platinum (Pt), or the like. On that electrode is formed a piezoelectric thin film, using sputtering. The piezoelectric thin film having such structure formed is in a polycrystalline state.
The above piezoelectric thin film, like general ceramic piezoelectric substances, is prominent in having the dependence of piezoelectric properties on the magnitude of displacement but no linear relationship between displacement and voltage. Namely, only slight voltage is produced for small displacement, while large voltage is produced for small displacement. Such a film is a film having a small piezoelectric constant for small voltage and a large piezoelectric constant for large voltage when measuring displacement by applying voltage, utilizing the reverse piezoelectric effect. The piezoelectric thin film having such properties is not suitable for producing a high-sensitivity sensor.

Piezoelectric substance and piezoelectric element


A seat cushion for prolonged sitting, having a thigh cushion coupled to and spaced apart from a back cushion. A seat well is defined between the thigh cushion and the back cushion to remove pressure from the buttocks region. Coupling members couple the thigh cushion and the back cushion, and extend there between on either side of the seat well.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cushion support apparatus.
More particularly, the present invention relates to seating devices which support various parts of the body and reduce pressure exerted on other parts.
In a further and more specific aspect, the present invention concerns providing a supporting cushion for persons unable to control their evacuative functions, and the removal of waste resulting from their incontinence.
2. Prior Art
Persons who remain seated for extended periods of time or who have a long term immobility which confines them to a wheelchair are highly susceptible to pressure related problems such as decubitus ulcers. These ulcers generally occur on bony portions of the body where the tissue covering is relatively thin. Decubitus ulcers result from prolonged pressure on the thin body tissues which cause reduced blood flow to those tissues.
In the prior art, seating devices have been developed which attempt to minimize the pressure on body prominences. These prior art cushions include softer foam, gels, doughnut inflatable ring, and geometries which remove cushion material in areas directly associated with these prominences. While these prior art cushions may have some success in reducing pressures to the sensitive areas, many do not provide back support in combination with the pressure reducing means. Prior art cushions rely on a very delicate balance of the front legs acting as levers, the cushions providing the fulcrum for the lever and the rear portion of the cushion providing a very soft pressure Without back support, this lever mechanism does not always work and may result in excessive back pressure Also, since many of the prior art cushions require mechanical contact with the most sensitive areas, moisture and heat build up naturally occurs and may result in accelerated tissue break down problems with extensive use.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved seat cushion.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a seat cushion which can be used on a wide variety of seating devices such as chairs and wheelchairs.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a seat cushion which will eleviate pressure related problems to the buttocks area.
And another object of the present invention is to provide a seat cushion which distributes the body weight over the thighs and back of an individual.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a seat cushion which supports the lumbar region of the back.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a seat cushion which removes all pressure from the buttocks region while still allowing for some lateral movement of an individual.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a seat cushion which allows air movement around the buttocks area, reducing moisture and heat build up.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a seat cushion having a seat well for collecting waste when used by individuals unable to control evacuative functions.


The system for assisting the regeneration of depollution means (1) integrated in an exhaust line (2) of a heat engine (3) of a motor vehicle, by switching the engine between operation in lean mode and operation in rich mode in accordance with various parameters (7, 8) for controlling the operation of the engine, is characterized in that it comprises means (9) for measuring the temperature of the gases for supplying the engine and means (8) for correcting at least one parameter for controlling the operation of the engine in rich mode as a function of the measured temperature.

It is known that such depollution means may comprise, for example, a NOx trap which is a system for reducing the polluting emissions of the heat engines of motor vehicles.
The engine is then associated with means for controlling its operation in order to switch it between standard operation in lean mode and regeneration operation in rich mode, in accordance with various parameters for controlling the operation of the engine.
In the standard operating mode in lean mode, the NOx trap stores the nitrogen oxides and, when the trap is saturated, its regeneration is triggered by switching the engine to rich operating mode, for the purpose of removing the NOx from the store, in which mode the engine produces reducing agents, such as, for example, CO and HC.
This is conventionally effected by modifying at least one parameter for controlling engine operation, that is to say, at least one parameter relating to the injection of fuel into the engine (quantity, phasing, pressure, etc. . . . ) and/or at least one parameter of the engine air supply loop (air flow rate, recycling, pressure of the turbocompressor, etc. . . . ).
The various adjustments to those parameters enable predetermined performance objectives in terms of torque, pollutant emissions, noise, etc. . . . to be achieved.
However, the calibration of the engine in rich operating mode is effected on the workbench under standard environmental conditions.
The object of the invention is to improve such a system in order to take into account variations in the environmental conditions.

System for assisting the regeneration of depollution means integrated in an exhaust line of a heat engine


A driving device of a liquid crystal display device includes a timing controller for receiving image information and a control signal from a graphic processor through an interface unit; a gate driver integrated circuit for receiving the control signal from the timing controller and a gate on/off power from a DC/DC converter and for supplying a scan signal to a gate pad area in a periphery of a liquid crystal panel; a data driver integrated circuit for receiving the image information and the control signal and for supplying the image information to a data pad area in a periphery of the liquid crystal panel; a first gamma voltage generator for supplying a first gamma voltage to the data driver integrated circuit in a general driving mode; and a second gamma voltage generator for supplying gamma voltages to the data driver integrated circuit in a halftone gray driving mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display driving device and a method of driving a liquid crystal display. More particularly, the present invention relates to a driving method and device using a halftone gray driving method in enlarging an image, wherein the driving device and method are capable of enhancing viewing angle characteristics of a liquid crystal display.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, liquid crystal display (LCD) devices include a liquid crystal display panel having a plurality of liquid crystal cells arranged in a matrix pattern and a driver integrated circuit (IC) for driving the liquid crystal cells. Data signals containing image information are received by the driver IC and are applied to individual liquid crystal cells. Accordingly, light transmittance characteristics of the individual liquid crystal cells may be controlled by the applied data signals to display images across the LCD panel.
The liquid crystal panel generally includes a color filter substrate separated from a thin film transistor array substrate by a layer of liquid crystal material. A common electrode and pixel electrodes are formed on the opposing surfaces of the color filter and thin film transistor array substrates, respectively, and apply electric fields to the layer of liquid crystal material. The pixel electrodes are formed within liquid crystal cells on the thin film transistor array substrate and the common electrode is formed over the entire surface of the color filter substrate. By controlling voltages applied to the pixel electrodes while a voltage is applied to the common electrode, light transmittance characteristics of the individual liquid crystal cells is controlled.
The thin film transistor array substrate supports a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines crossing the data lines. Liquid crystal cells are defined where the gate and data lines cross each other. The data lines transmit data signals supplied from a data driver IC to the liquid crystal cells while the gate lines transmit scan signals supplied from a gate driver IC to the liquid crystal cells.
The gate driver IC sequentially supplies a scan signal to the plurality of gate lines such that the liquid crystal cells are sequentially selected one line at a time. Data signals are supplied from the data driver IC to the liquid crystal cells within the selected line.
Switching devices such as thin film transistors are provided to control the voltage applied to the pixel electrode by liquid crystal cells. Via the gate lines, scan signals are applied to gate electrodes of the thin film transistors to form a conductive channel between a source/drain electrode of the thin film transistor within the liquid crystal cell. Via the data lines, data signals are applied to source electrodes of the thin film transistors and then to pixel electrodes to control the light transmittance characteristics of individual liquid crystal cells.
The LCD panel described above will now be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a related art LCD panel including the thin film transistor array and color filter substrates attached to, and facing each other.
Referring to FIG. 1, the LCD panel 10 includes an image display area 13 having a plurality of liquid crystal cells arranged in a matrix pattern, a gate pad area 14 connected to a plurality of gate lines within the image display area 13, and a data pad area 15 connected to a plurality of data lines within the image display area 13.
The gate and data pad areas 14 and 15, respectively, are formed at peripheral portions of the thin film transistor array substrate 11 that do not overlap with the color filter substrate 12. The gate pad area 14 receives scan signals from the gate driver IC and supplies the received scan signals to the plurality of gate lines within the image display area 13. The data pad area 15 receives image information from the data driver IC and supplies the received image information to the plurality of data lines within the image display area 13.
Though not shown in FIG. 1, switching devices such as thin film transistors are formed where the plurality of gate and data lines cross each other on the thin film transistor array substrate 11 and within the image display area 13. The thin film transistors control the light transmittance characteristics of the liquid crystal cells within which they are formed. Pixel electrodes are connected to corresponding thin film transistors and drive the liquid crystal cells. A passivation film is formed over the entire surface of the thin film transistor and protects the thin film transistor.
A plurality of color filters, a black matrix, a common transparent electrode, and counter electrodes of the pixel electrodes are formed on the color filter substrate 12 and within the image display area 13. The color filters are coated within individual cell regions and separated by the black matrix.
Spacers are provided between the thin film transistor array and color filter substrates 11 and 12 to create a uniform cell gap that may be filled with liquid crystal material. The thin film transistor array and color filter substrates 11 and 12 are attached by a sealant 16 formed at a periphery of the image display area 13.
The LCD device illustrated in FIG. 1, however, has a small optical viewing angle and displays images at lower brightness levels than other display devices. Accordingly, recent LCD development seeks to increase the optical viewing angle and light transmittance characteristics.

Driving device of liquid crystal device and driving method thereof


In one embodiment, an impulse radio is provided that includes: a signal source operable to provide a sinusoidal source signal; a pulse shaping circuit having a plurality of selectable delay paths, the pulse shaping circuit being configured to rectify and level shift the sinusoidal source signal through selected ones of the selectable delay paths to provide an impulse signal output; a substrate; a plurality of antennas adjacent the substrate; an RF feed network adjacent the substrate and coupled to the pulse shaping circuit, the RF feed network being configured to transmit the impulse signal output to the plurality of antennas, and a distributed plurality of amplifiers integrated with the substrate and operable to amplify the impulse signal output propagated through RF feed network.

Ultra-wideband wireless communication has great promise in that high data rates may be achieved using a relatively low power transmitter. Ultra-wideband wireless communication may also be denoted as impulse radio because of its use of very short pulses (approximately 1 nanosecond or less). By varying individual pulse positions within a waveform of such pulses, high-data-rate information may be transmitted using very low average power such as in the milliwatt range.
Much interest has been generated for impulse radio because of its low power consumption, extremely high data rate, and excellent multipath immunity. By integrating impulse radio with beamforming capabilities, very low probability of detection performance may be achieved. In contrast to mechanically steered antennas, electronically-controlled beamforming systems are lighter, more agile, and more reliable. A key element of beamforming systems is the design of the phase shifter, which is conventionally implemented using a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC). However, MMICs are costly and introduce a relatively high insertion loss. As a result, Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS)-based phase shifters have been developed. But MEMS-based phase shifters are not compatible with conventional semiconductor processes. Moreover, regardless of whether beamforming is provided, the generation of impulses has proven to be extremely difficult to master.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved impulse radio generation and for the integration of such impulse radio generation with beamforming capabilities.

Ultra-wideband pulse shaping for wireless communications


The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a display device comprising: a data driver; a display panel for displaying an image in response to a data signal supplied from the data driver; and a programmable gamma unit for supplying a gamma reference voltage to the data driver, wherein a different number of bits is allocated to each of decoders included in the programmable gamma unit.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This document relates to a display device.
2. Related Art
With the development of information technology, the market for display devices (i.e., media connecting users and information) is growing. In line with this trend, the use of flat panel displays (FPDs), such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device, and a plasma display panel (PDP), is increasing. Of the aforementioned display devices, the liquid crystal displays are in widespread use since they can implement high resolution and be configured to have a large size as well as a small size.
Such a display device uses a programmable gamma unit that generates a gamma reference voltage by a programming method in order to represent desired luminance and color coordinates on a display panel. The programmable gamma unit comprises decoders for generating a gamma reference voltage, and the gamma reference voltage is supplied to a data driver for supplying a data signal to the display panel.
On a gamma curve, gamma changes a lot toward the center even with a slight change in voltage level. However, it is difficult to finely regulate the voltage level of a gamma reference voltage for a gray scale positioned at the center of the gamma curve because the same number of bits (e.g., 3 bits) is allocated to the decoders of the conventional programmable gamma unit. That is, it is difficult to finely regulate the voltage level of the gamma reference voltage because the number of bits allocated to the corresponding area is small.
Although there may be no problem with the same number of bits allocated to all the decoders as long as the number of bits is increased, an increase in the number of bits leads to an increase in the use of registers and a cost rise. Therefore, there is a demand for solving these problems.

Display device with programmable gamma unit


Provided are methods of forming contact structures and semiconductor devices fabricated using the contact structures. The formation of a contact structure can include forming a first molding pattern on a substrate, forming an insulating layer to cover at least a sidewall of the first molding pattern, forming a second molding pattern to cover a sidewall of the insulating layer and spaced apart from the first molding pattern, removing a portion of the insulating layer between the first and second molding patterns to form a hole, and forming an insulating pattern between the first and second molding patterns, and forming a contact pattern in the hole.

1. Field
The field relates generally to semiconductor devices and semiconductor device fabrication and, more particularly, to memory devices and methods of memory device fabrication.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, low-power small-sized semiconductor devices have been utilized. Thus, research has been conducted on methods for downscaling elements of the semiconductor devices.
Methods of forming contact structures in semiconductor devices have involved forming insulating layers and contact holes on the conductive region of a semiconductor substrate. These integrated circuit memory devices, which are formed on a semiconductor substrate, store data in a plurality of memory cells. The memory cells are arranged in rows and columns with corresponding word lines and bit lines, respectively. Collectively, the conductive word lines and bit lines are address lines that allow data storage and retrieval for the memory cells. Data storage elements, such as capacitors, and switching devices, such as diodes and transistors, are electrically coupled together to form a memory cell. Thus, contact areas having a variety of geometric shapes and silicon and non-silicon materials have been used to couple the data storage elements and the switching devices. Large contact areas, however, limit efforts to reduce semiconductor device size and power consumption.

Methods of forming contact structures and semiconductor devices fabricated using contact structures


A data structure that uses one or more keys which are members of a multidimensional composite key to partition sparse data (FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B) into a hypercube like structure (FIG. 1). Only the data structure produced by the method in this invention is actually better than a hypercube since all involved keys can have true symmetric access as opposed to just the keys that have the highest sort order significance. Equivalent query efficiency could only be otherwise obtained through storing multiple copies of the sparse data sorted on different permutations of the member keys of the multidimensional composite key (FIG. 2C). The data structure has two major components: the partitioned data with or without the boundary keys and the non-dense index necessarily containing the boundary keys (FIG. 3). This data structure and partitioning method can be used to partition multidimensional data across physical hardware storage devices and parallel computer architectures (FIG. 4) to produce variable grained data partitions that can be queried, loaded, or updated in parallel and simultaneous multidimensional index selectivity. And finally, as noted above, this same partitioning method can be used in a nested fashion or in combination with other data structures to provide good performance for the batch maintenance of volatile data and special performance advantages for true time-series data.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to OLAP (OnLine Analytical Processing) and Data Warehouse applications, specifically to data structures and algorithms providing better performance and efficiency for these applications by providing a very effective storage and retrieval mechanism for multidimensional data.
2. Description of Prior Art
Data Warehouse and OLAP applications have highlighted the need for a fast way to store and retrieve multidimensional data. To date other attempted solutions have not met this need.
To illustrate the prior art and how it differs from this invention consider sales data dimensioned by zip code, day, and product. Sales data is stored for 50,000 zip codes, 1000 days, and 10,000 products. The sparsity factor is 1% on average so that of the 500,000,000,000 records that would result from all possible combinations of zip code, product, and day only about 5,000,000,000 records actually have associated data and need to be stored in the fact table. In addition to the keys, the record format contains a field for sales so that the record format is represented by FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B below.
Even with a very efficient table and index design, the space required to store only the records with actual data is at least 5,000,000,000.times.(2 bytes+2 bytes+2 bytes+4 bytes+4 bytes) or approximately 65.19 gigabytes.
Couple this with the fact that users of the data may want to query the data by any combination of zip code, product, and/or day. They may want the total sales dollars for a given product and day. Or they may want to know the average sales volume per month in a certain zip code for the past 12 months. Any combination of key fields along with any possible values of those key fields may be chosen. The data truly must be multidimensional with efficient and symmetric query access paths.
There is not a good way to store and retrieve this data with today's database technology. Consider the alternatives:
1) Store the data in a heap table (as is commonly done in relational databases) and use some combination of one or more indexes.
The type of index does not matter. They could be traditional B-trees, more sophisticated star-join indexes, bit maps, and/or hashing routines. No matter how efficient the index is, all table pages that contain data satisfying the query must be accessed at least once in order to produce a query result set. If the data for a zip code, for example, is spread thinly over many table pages as opposed to clustered or grouped together in fewer pages, query performance is degraded by the additional I/O that is necessary to retrieve the extra table pages.
In addition, as many developers and DBAs know from experience, the problem can be much more severe than this. A combination of poor optimizer access plans and the use of dense indexes with low data cardinality often causes more harm than good. The optimizer plan can access a given table page many times during the life of the query in lieu of extracting all rows satisfying the query during a single pass of the table page. This might be true in the business example above if the data in the table were sorted by product and all the data for a group of days for all products were queried. The problem literally can cause a query to run for days. Ironically, via indexes, the query can end up requiring much more time than a single full table scan would have required in the first place.
The use of indexes that are managed as heaps in combination with tables that are managed as heaps makes it difficult to combine indexed access with parallel query processing. Since records that have equal key field values can randomly be stored in the heap, it is difficult to partition the table and index data into component pairs that can be run independently.
As if the other problems were not enough, the solution also wastes too much space. Data must be stored in indexes as well as tables. Albeit, some indexes are more frugal in their use of space than others. Any duplication of data, however, is magnified by the fact that tables of this type can range into several terabytes in size.
While this solution is excellent for OLTP applications, it is clearly less than optimal for OLAP applications.
2) Take advantage of modem hardware technology and store the data in a non-indexed table and allow parallel processors and high capacity I/O subsystems to do the work.
Obviously, this is too inefficient. No matter what degree of parallelism is used, queries in the example above should not have to access 65 gigabytes of data to retrieve a 10 kilobyte result set.
If 10's or 100's of users are running these type queries on one or more tables, database server resources can be quickly depleted.
This solution causes queries to run too long and uses too many resources. The data should be organized in such a way that data accessed together is stored together. Then queries can perform I/O only for the table pages that are needed to satisfy the query.
3) Store the data in a cube-like data structure as depicted in FIG. 1 below. Many niche OLAP products use a similar structure.
If the data were not sparse, this would work pretty well. It would provide efficient and fast access to the data and, the query access would be fairly symmetrical. But, with the sparse sales data in the example above, approximately 6.5 terabytes of data would be required to store a cube large enough to house the data. This would be 100 times larger and 100 times slower in terms of I/O to access than the original data. In addition, a more subtle problem emerges. If the order in which the data is stored in the cube is by zip code then product and finally time, access may not be so symmetric. Access for the outer-most key fields is fine but, restricting the data by choosing a small subset of days from the possible choice of 1000 days may not yield improvement over a full table scan in query performance. If the data is stored in a database with 16 kilobyte table pages, then to access all the sales data for one day, all data in the entire fact table would have to be scanned because an occurrence of that particular day would exist on nearly every table page. This is in contrast to the fact that the data for one day should constitute about 1/1000th of the size of the complete fact table.
This solution is not realistic for sparsely populated OLAP fact tables. Attempts have been made to pack sparse fact tables into smaller cubes but, this further limits the symmetric or multidimensional capabilities of the cube.
4) Use clustering and/or partitioning to "divide and conquer" the data.
This method works pretty well as long as the data is clustered or partitioned in the same way that it is accessed. But, query performance is not symmetric with this solution. If the data is accessed in a way that is different, performance can be as bad or even worse than storing the data randomly or in a heap like structure. This is true since clustering or partitioning the data by one set of keys, distributes or disperses data with the same key values that are not part of the cluster or partition or are not in the prefix of the clustering or partitioning key.
Multiple partitions and clusters can be constructed for the same data. This improves query performance since it provides the clustering or partitioning advantage for a wider range of queries. However, each new cluster or partition requires an additional copy of the complete table. Of course this is very expensive in terms of disk space. And in order to make this approach completely general so that queries involving any combinations of key fields from the composite key of the table can take advantage of the technique, an exponential number of clusters or partitions with respect to the number of fields in the key must be built. To be completely effective, each of these clusters must replicate the data.
For generalized, symmetric OLAP access, this method is less than ideal.
5) Use a special approach just for OLAP or GIS/spatial data that combines the best part of the previously mentioned methods.
The most successful method of this type to date has been the grid file.
The grid file actually works very well in terms of query efficiency since it clusters data based on all key fields in the composite key of an OLAP table. Therefore, no matter which combination of key fields and values within those key fields are used to qualify a query, the grid can be used to narrow the number of table pages that must be accessed in order to retrieve the query set. In addition, grid file indexes or scales are usually designed small enough so that they can be stored entirely in RAM memory to further aid query speed.
Never the less, grid files are not without problems. The way in which data is divided leaves large holes in the storage space thus wasting space and slowing queries down by requiring more I/O.
To compound this, grid files also usually store the actual table pages in a heap like fashion. This makes the combination of grid files with parallel processing more difficult to achieve.
This method also leaves much to be desired but, there is a better way.

Interval-partitioning method for multidimensional data