Load bearing and non-load bearing frames for walls, roofs and floors are prefabricated according to a predetermined building plan and made to disengage and collapse to a compact and intact frame, where, as with a wall frame, studs are resting against one another and the upper and lower tracks are in close approximation to each other, separated only by said resting studs. Said frames for walls, roofs and floors can be readily be transported to a construction site, where the collapsed frames are expanded, engaged, stabilized and permanently plumbed and braced.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to prefabricated metal frames for walls, floors and roofs that can be readily disengaged and collapsed into a compact and intact frame for transport to the building site where the collapsed frames can be expanded, engaged, stabilized and permanently plumbed and braced as an integral part of a permanent structure.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Prefabricating portions, or all, of structures has long been recognized as a means of speeding erection and providing uniformity of construction. The advent of light gauge steel building components offer new prefabrication potential. Several patents have been issued addressing offsite fabrication ranging from entire structures to individual snap-together components.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,044 B1 issued to Campbell (2001) offers a prefabricated structure. Specially formed components are required to erect a structure, thereby increasing cost and reducing onsite flexibility. The patent offers a system for framing a complete building which must be accepted by the user as offered or a different structure must be engineered and fabricated at additional cost.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,100 issued to Campbell (1998) offers Folding Telescopic Prefabricated Framing Units for Non-Load Bearing Walls. The walls fold by beveling each stud which enables the stud to pivot against the upper and lower tracks. While these units fold, or collapse, there is no load bearing capacity.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,950 issued to Hardy (1998) involves a reinforcing brace frame which is intended to be inserted within a stud wall to offer shear capacity. It is not meant to be a complete framed wall. Rather it is meant to be placed within a framed wall to offer strength.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,335 issued to Petrecca (1993) offers studs which are dimpled to snap into a receiving track or spaced flaps which allow studs to be snapped into a predetermined position. Stud and track must be fabricated to afford this capability. Such fabrication is not common in the industry and does not lend itself to offsite prefabrication because members could fall apart in transit.

Collapsible stud wall, metal, load bearing and non-load bearing


A method and apparatus is disclosed for applying a label to a compact disc having a first planar side, a second planar side, the compact disc defining an aperture having an axis bisecting the planes defined by the first side and the second side. The apparatus includes a planar surface defining an aperture, the planar surface for supporting a compact disc label to be affixed to the compact disc first planar side. The apparatus further includes a plunger, having a top surface, disposed within the planar surface aperture for reciprocal movement between a first position where the plunger top surface is above the planar surface and a second position that where the top surface is lower than in the first position with respect to the planar surface. The apparatus further defines means for attaching and holding a compact disc contacting at least a portion of the compact disc second planar side.

The present invention pertains to the field of compact disc accessories and more particularly to devices used to apply labels to compact discs.
Audio, visual and other data may be contained on disc media as a metallic coating etched or cut on a small disc in a pattern that can be read by a laser during disc rotation, for instance in the disc drive of a audio or video CD player or computer disc drive. Typically, the disc is referred to as a xe2x80x9ccompact discxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cCDxe2x80x9d though such discs may go by other names and vary as to their sizes. Common features are their circumferential etched or cut periphery and a concentric aperture for use in their placement and/or storage, e.g. where some retention/attachment system is used to grip them as with retainers in a CD case. For purposes of the invention, xe2x80x9ccompact disc,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cdisc,xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cCDxe2x80x9d are used interchangeably in this application to refer to any disc type audio, visual, or data media.
For those who create, inscribe, copy or xe2x80x9cbornxe2x80x9d their own CD""s, labeling these to distinguish their content or use is necessary for proper identification, especially given the different media and data formats which may be involved. Clearly, marking the CD for identification without affecting the content of the CD is important. Ink or wax marks made directly to the disc may disrupt the contents of the CD. Even if the marking is made to areas not etched or cut, the ink may still damage the disc or a wax constituent may not adhere to the disc during its playback or operation given the significant speeds of rotation the CD may be subjected in a disc drive.
In contrast, self adhesive labels are superior identification means, provided they are attached so as not to affect the circumferential load and, hence, the balance of the disc during rotation. It is therefore necessary for proper operation of the CD that the label be applied in a generally uniform manner concentric with and encircling the entire central portion surrounding the disc central aperture. Placing the label manually in such a fashion involves skill and coordination to avoid placing the label too far off-center or otherwise folding over or wrinkling the adhesive label so that a surface irregularity disrupts the rotational balance of the disc.
Human manual dexterity is simply too imprecise and subject to fatigue and other factors to consistently apply labels in a manner which consistently avoids impairing the operation of the disc. Other devices have been developed to affix a label to a compact disc. Some involve placing an adhesive label on a lower planar surface and using an apparatus to press a CD down on the label to affix it. Pressing downward on the CD to affix the label presents certain difficulties, however. Even if the apparatus can center the label properly, uniform pressure so that the label affixes evenly around the surface of the disc may require contacting much of the CD surface, and potentially damaging/the disc itself or the etched metallic surface. If uniform pressure is not applied, however, bubbles, wrinkles and other irregularities may result which need to be smoothed out after application.
Some devices incorporate a supporting surface biased to resist downward pressure, the surface supporting a label placed adhesive side up. The bias force allows some movement to the surface in response to downward pressure. Nonetheless, applying a bias in a uniform manner over the area of a surface may prove difficult under normal wear and tear of repeated use. Electrical or mechanical methods to support the surface evenly are prone to losing alignment. Compression against a spring bias still requires an even downward force, which invokes again the imprecision of manual dexterity. Moreover, the means. for attachment of the CD must be sufficiently snug to hold the CD in place during the pressing stage, yet flexible enough to allow easy removal of the CD.
What is needed is a CD labeler mechanism which quickly affixes a label to a CD which minimizes the need for manual dexterity and yet is reliably over protracted periods of use.
An apparatus and method is disclosed for applying a label to a compact disc. The apparatus works on a compact disc having a first planar side and a second planar side, the compact disc defining a central aperture having a diameter and a circumference, and the apparatus comprises a planar surface defining an aperture, the planar surface for supporting a compact disc label to be affixed to the compact disc first planar side, a plunger, having a top surface, disposed within the planar surface aperture for reciprocal movement between a first position where the plunger top surface is above the planar surface and a second position that where the top surface is lower than in the first position with respect to the planar surface, means for attaching and holding a compact disc, the means for attaching and holding engaging the compact disc central aperture circumference at a portion of the means defining a diameter larger than the diameter of the compact disc central aperture, the means coupled to the plunger top surface, and means for reciprocating the plunger from the first position to the second position such that the attachment means draws the compact disc first planar side to contact the label supported by the planar surface.
The method involves affixing a self adhesive label to a CD having an aperture, a top surface and a bottom surface, comprising the steps of affixing a CD to a shaft having an upper and a lower end, the shaft extending through the CD aperture, the shaft having a lip on its upper end contacting the CD top surface, engaging the shaft lower end to a source of downward pulling force, with the downward pulling source, pulling the shaft downward toward a surface bearing the self adhesive label such that the lip exerts a downward force on the CD top surface impelling the CD toward the surface, and contacting the CD bottom surface with the self adhesive label so as to affix the label to the CD.
An apparatus for removing the compact disc from its affixation to the labeler is also disclosed comprising a first segment engaging the compact disc central aperture circumference at a first point, a second segment engaging the compact disc central aperture circumference at a second point on a diametric axis, the second point approximately opposed to the first point, at least one brace having a retraction point, the brace operatively coupling the first segment to the second segment over the diametric axis such that contacting the brace retraction point with a force impels the first segment away from the first point and impels the second segment away from the second point, and means for contacting the retraction point.


An image capturing apparatus comprises: an acquisition unit; a smear detection unit; and a smear correction unit which corrects a level of pixels in a smear region in original image data by a first correction amount obtained by multiplying a smear amount by a first coefficient, thereby generating first image data, and corrects the level of pixels in the smear region in the original image data by a second correction amount obtained by multiplying the smear amount by a second coefficient, thereby generating second image data, wherein the first image data is used for at least either of image displaying and image recording, the second image data is used for at least one of exposure control, focus adjustment, and white balance control, and the first coefficient is smaller than the second coefficient.

It has conventionally been known that a smear phenomenon occurs when a bright object is captured with a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels (photodiodes) are arrayed in the row and column directions, and the captured signal is transferred by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). More specifically, an unwanted signal component generated by photoelectrically converting light corresponding to a bright object by pixels is mixed in a photoelectrically converted image signal transferred via a vertical transfer path. An image obtained from this image signal contains a vertical white streak, that is, smear region in the column direction of the pixel array (see FIG. 7). The luminance level of pixels in the smear region becomes higher than an actual luminance level.
When the photometry target includes a bright object, an image containing a smear region is obtained, and the exposure value is obtained using the image, underexposure may occur in actual photographing. To prevent this, according to a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-007335, the smear amount of pixels in the smear region is detected from a signal obtained by performing idle scanning (scanning before photometry) without reading out any signal from photodiodes before photometry. Then, photometric scanning is done to acquire an image signal (by reading out signals from the photodiodes), and the detected smear amount is subtracted from the image signal, obtaining an image signal in which the smear region is corrected. Then, the exposure value is obtained using the corrected image signal. This can prevent underexposure in actual photographing.
The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-007335 requires an extra period for performing scanning before photometry, so the frame period for capturing a 1-frame image may become long. When a moving image for EVF display on the display unit is captured, images which lose the continuity of operation may be obtained.
To prevent this, the smear amount is detected by an OB (Optical Black) portion arranged on the lower side of the pixel array, as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, the smear amount can be detected without setting an extra period for performing scanning before photometry. FIG. 7 shows the pixel array, the OB portion, and an image obtained by them, which are superposed on each other. The OB portion extends in the row direction of the pixel array.
Assume that a bright object stands still. In this case, the signal of a smear component detected in the row direction of the pixel array is extended in the column direction to estimate a corrected region CR1 as a smear region. Smear correction is performed by subtracting the smear amount of the corrected region CR1 as a correction amount from image data generated by capturing the object with the pixel array. At this time, the corrected region CR1 coincides with an actual smear region SR1.
Assume that a bright object moves in the row direction (lateral direction). In this case, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-268922, the smear region extends obliquely in an image obtained by capturing the object (see FIG. 8). The signal of a smear component detected in the row direction of the pixel array is extended in the column direction to estimate a corrected region CR2 as a smear region. Smear correction is performed by subtracting the smear amount of the corrected region CR2 as a correction amount from image data generated by capturing the object with the pixel array. At this time, the corrected region CR2 is shifted from an actual smear region SR2. In the corrected region CR2 and smear region SR2, only overlapping regions SR2a and CR2a are properly corrected, generating a false corrected region CR2b and uncorrected region SR2b. The luminance level of the false corrected region CR2b is lower than that of peripheral pixels by the correction amount.
As described above, when smear correction is done for image data generated by capturing a moving bright object, an image containing a black streak in the vertical direction is obtained. The contrast of the black streak with peripheral pixels is high, degrading the quality of an image to view.
The black streak can be made less conspicuous in the image by setting the correction amount to less than 100% (e.g., 50%) of the smear amount of the corrected region CR2. However, the smear component still remains. Thus, if control operations such as exposure control, focus adjustment, and white balance control are executed using this corrected image data, the precision of the control operations may decrease.
For example, when the exposure value is obtained using smear component-containing image data, underexposure may occur in actual photographing.
For example, when the focus state is detected using smear component-containing image data, the focus may be adjusted to a position where not the contrast of the object but that of the edge of the smear amount is maximized.

Image capturing apparatus and image capturing apparatus control method


A phone holster including a phone carrier attached to a foldable keyboard having a side movable about a pivot to allow the keyboard to extend from a closed position to an open position.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention is directed to a phone holster that is adapted to holster a wireless phone, and more particularly to a phone holster that includes a foldable keyboard as part of the holster.
2. Background of the Invention
The use of wireless phones has increased over the last several years. Moreover, wireless phones are now used for a number of additional purposes beyond simply having a telephone conversation. For example, in some instances wireless phones are now used to send text messages, to send e-mails, and to browse the web. As a result, users are often required to enter a substantial amount of text into their wireless phones. In addition, a number of games have been developed for use in a wireless phone. The traditional phone keypad is tedious and cumbersome to use for the entry of text or for use in playing the various games now available on wireless phones. Consequently, portable keyboards have been developed that may be attached to a wireless phone to allow a user to more easily enter text and to play games. Unfortunately, the portable keyboard constitutes a separate accessory from the phone requiring the user to carry both the wireless phone and the portable keyboard. It takes up a lot of space and is cumbersome to carry both the wireless phone and a portable keyboard. Oftentimes it is impractical to carry both a phone and a keyboard, and even when practical, the keyboard frequently gets left behind. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a way for a phone user to easily carry the phone as well as a keyboard.


A release mechanism for manually securing a pluggable fiber optic transceiver to a cage mounted on a host circuit board. The transceiver is secured to the cage by a boss extending from a lower wall of the transceiver housing that is received in an opening formed in a resilient transceiver latch of the cage. The release mechanism includes a locking mechanism including a shaft rotatably connected to the transceiver body, a lever extending from a front end of the transceiver body and connected to a first end of the shaft, and a cam mounted at a rear end of the shaft adjacent to the locking mechanism. When the lever is manually rotated, the cam pushes the transceiver latch away from the boss, thereby allowing the transceiver to be pulled from the cage by the lever.

This invention relates to fiber optic (optoelectronic) communications, and more particularly to pluggable fiber optic transceivers utilized in fiber optic systems.
Fiber optic transceivers facilitate bi-directional data transmissions between electronic devices (e.g., computer, input/output system, peripheral device, or switch) and optical data links in fiber optic (optoelectronic) systems. Each transceiver includes a photodetector for converting optically encoded data received from an optical data link to electrically encoded data readable by a host electronic device, and a laser diode for converting electrically encoded data signals from the host electronic device that are converted into optical signals and transmitted to the optical data link. Each transceiver is mounted onto a circuit card assembly of the host electronic device, and is therefore typically packaged such that it occupies as little circuit card surface area as possible.
Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) transceivers are one type of transceiver having standardized physical dimensions and performance characteristics that are defined in the xe2x80x9cCooperation Agreement for Small Form-Factor Pluggable Transceiversxe2x80x9d, as executed on Sep. 14, 2000 (herein xe2x80x9cthe Cooperation Agreementxe2x80x9d), which is incorporated herein in its entirety. The Cooperation Agreement is part of an SFP Transceiver multi-source agreement whose purpose is to establish internationally compatible sources of pluggable fiber optic transceivers in support of established standards for fiber optic systems. Specifically, the Cooperation Agreement sets forth transceiver package dimensions, cage and electrical connector specifications, host circuit board layouts, electrical interface specifications, and front panel bezel requirements that are followed by each party.
FIG. 1 is a simplified exploded perspective view depicting a transceiver assembly 100 that complies with the Cooperation Agreement. Transceiver assembly 100 includes a host circuit board 130 upon which is mounted a standard female electrical connector 140, a pluggable transceiver 150, a cage 160, and an optional bezel 180 (shown in dashed lines) that is mounted over the front end of transceiver assembly 100.
Pluggable transceiver 150 includes transceiver electronics that are mounted in an elongated transceiver housing 151 that is designed for xe2x80x9cpluggablexe2x80x9d insertion into cage 160. Transceiver housing 151 includes an upper surface defining several vent holes, a lower surface including a boss 152 (shown in dashed lines), and a front surface defining pair of receptacles 153 for receiving standard optical connectors 190 (e.g., duplex LC, MT-RJ, or SC connectors). Mounted within housing 151 is a circuit board 154 for supporting the transceiver electronics, which process data signals from and supply data signals to a photodetector 155 and a laser diode 156, respectively. A pair of ferrules 157 is mounted in receptacles for aligning standard optical connectors (not shown) with photodetector 155 and laser diode 156. Extending from the back end of circuit board 154 is a male connector card 158 including contacts 159 that mate with corresponding contacts 144 of female connector 140 when cage 160 is mounted on host circuit board 130 and pluggable transceiver 150 is fully inserted into cage 160.
Referring to the center of FIG. 1, cage 160 includes a first side wall 161, a second side wall 162, a top wall 163, and a bottom wall 164 that collectively define a front opening 165 for receiving pluggable transceiver 150. Cage 160 also includes a back wall 166, which includes a leaf spring for biasing transceiver 150 toward opening 165. Extending downward from side walls 161 and 162 and back wall 166 are feet 167 that are press fitted into holes 135 formed in host circuit board 130. Note that holes 135 are plated with a conductive material 136 to provide a ground connection between cage 160 and host circuit board 130. Bottom wall 164 and back wall 166 define an opening for receiving female connector 140 when cage 160 is press fitted onto host circuit board 130. A series of resilient clips 168 are formed by folding elongated tabs extending from walls 161, 162, 163, and 164, and are utilized to provide electrical connection between cage 160 and optional bezel 180. Formed on bottom wall 164 of cage 160 is a transceiver latch 170 that defines a latch opening 175 for receiving boss 152 provided on the lower surface of transceiver housing 151 to secure transceiver 150 inside cage 100. A series of vent holes are formed on top wall 163 that align with vent holes formed in transceiver housing 151 (discussed above), and cooperate with an optional system ventilation (cooling) system to maintain transceiver 150 at a desired operating temperature. Cage 160 includes dimensions that are consistent with the standards set forth in the Cooperation Agreement, and is discussed in further detail in co-pending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 09/810,820-6776, entitled xe2x80x9cSINGLE-PIECE CAGE FOR PLUGGABLE FIBER OPTIC TRANSCEIVERxe2x80x9d, which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIGS. 2(A) through 2(D) are simplified partial side views depicting the attachment and subsequent removal of transceiver 150 to/from cage 160. As indicated in FIGS. 2(A), 2(B) and 2(C), as transceiver 150 is pushed into cage 160 (i.e., between upper wall 163 and lower wall 164 in the direction indicated by arrow A), transceiver latch 170 is pushed downward (i.e., bent away from transceiver housing 151 in the direction indicated by arrow B) by boss 152 until boss 152 enters latch opening 175, at which point transceiver latch 170 is resiliently biased upward (i.e., in the direction indicated by arrow C; see FIG. 2(C)). In this latched state, movement of transceiver 150 out of cage 100 (i.e., in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 2(C)) is prevented by the contact between boss 152 and the inner edge of latch opening 175. As shown in FIG. 2(D), subsequent manipulation of latch 170 (e.g., by a manual force F) releases boss 152 from latch opening 175, thereby allowing removal of transceiver 150. Ideally, the spring provided on back wall 166 of cage 160 pushes transceiver 150 forward (i.e., in the direction of arrow D) when latch 170 is manipulated as shown in FIG. 2(D).
A problem associated with the conventional transceiver latching mechanism depicted in FIGS. 2(A) through 2(D) is that in highly populated arrangements (i.e., in which many transceiver assemblies are mounted in close proximity), it is often very difficult to manipulate transceiver latch 170, thereby making it difficult to remove transceiver 150 from cage 160.
FIG. 3 is a simplified side view showing a xe2x80x9cbelly-to-bellyxe2x80x9d configuration in which two transceiver assemblies 100-1 and 100-2 are mounted on opposite sides of host circuit board 130. Specifically, a first cage 160-1 is mounted on an upper side of host circuit board 130 into which a first transceiver 150-1 is inserted, and a second cage 160-2 is mounted on a lower side of host circuit board 130 into which a second transceiver 150-2 is inserted. Such a xe2x80x9cbelly-to-bellyxe2x80x9d arrangement is utilized to facilitate highly populated circuit boards that minimize space requirements. A problem with this and other highly populated transceiver arrangements is that they make accessing and manipulating transceiver latches (e.g., transceiver latches 170-1 and 170-2; see FIG. 3) very difficult, thereby increasing maintenance costs. Further, manipulation of conventional transceiver latches is not reliable and confusing.
What is needed is a release mechanism for pluggable fiber optic transceivers that is easy to access in highly populated transceiver arrangements, and is both reliable and intuitive.
The present invention is directed to a release mechanism for pluggable fiber optic transceivers including an intuitive, reliable and easily manipulated key-like locking member that is easily accessed for locking, unlocking, and removing a host transceivers from an associated transceiver cage.
In accordance with a first embodiment, the locking member includes a lever that extends from a front end of the transceiver housing. When the transceiver is unlocked, the lever is in a vertical position that blocks the transceiver receptacles, thereby intuitively notifying a user of the unlocked condition by blocking the insertion of fiber optic connectors. Conversely, when the transceiver is locked, the lever is rotated into a horizontal position and below the transceiver receptacles, thereby allowing insertion of a fiber optic connector. Accordingly, the lever intuitively notifies a user when a transceiver is locked and unlocked. Further, because the lever is actuated like a key, a user intuitively pulls on the lever when the lever is in the unlocked position, thereby facilitating a convenient and intuitive mechanism for removing transceivers from associated cages. Moreover, the levers are do not interfere with each other in belly-to-belly highly populated transceiver assemblies by rotating in opposite directions.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the release mechanism includes a cam positioned in a recess formed in a bottom wall of the transceiver housing adjacent to the latch boss. When the lever is rotated into the unlocked position, the cam extends out of the recess and pushes the transceiver latch of a host cage away from the boss, thereby reliably facilitating removal of the transceiver. Conversely, when the lever is rotated into the locked position, the cam is rotated into the recess, thereby allowing the transceiver latch to move toward the bottom wall of the transceiver housing such that the boss engages the latch opening formed in the transceiver latch to reliably secure the transceiver in the cage.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the locking member further includes a shaft that is rotatably coupled to the transceiver housing to transmit torsion from the lever to the cam. In one embodiment, the release mechanism includes a snap-coupling structure provided on the bottom wall of the transceiver housing for receiving the shaft to facilitate low cost assembly. In addition, the shaft includes one or more self-alignment rings that maintain the release mechanism in a proper position on the transceiver housing.

Release mechanism for pluggable fiber optic transceiver


An improved drain hole cover for use in all types of planting containers is described. A preferred embodiment of the drain hole cover comprises a single generally discoid layer of lofted synthetic nonwoven material with a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to one side. Generally, the adhesive can be applied to a periphery of the one side of the drain hole cover in a pattern so as to leave a central portion uncoated by the adhesive. The drain hole cover can be disposed, adhesive side down, on an inner surface of a planting container concentric to a drainage hole of the planting container. In use, the drain hole cover allows water to drain out of the container and prevents the egress of soil through the drainage hole.

Gardeners have long been challenged to find an effective covering for the drain holes in planting containers. The drain hole must remain open to allow for the free passage of water out of the container. At the same time, the hole must also be covered in some way to prevent the egress of soil or planting medium.
The longstanding traditional answer to this problem has been to cover the drain hole with bits of gravel or broken pieces of old clay pots. However, these broken clay shards are becoming less available with increased use of planting containers made of plastic and synthetic materials. In addition, many urban and small-scale hobby gardeners in particular now find that they have neither the space nor lifestyle to maintain a stockpile of old broken pots or gravel solely for this limited purpose. Despite the shortcomings and decreasing availability of these materials, they are still the drain hole coverings widely recommended by expert gardeners, and virtually every book, magazine, and Internet website addressing the subject to date.
Such popular recommendations also often include the addition of a layer of gravel to the bottom of the pot, assuming that the unobstructed pathways of larger pore spaces will speed evacuation of water from the pot. However, observable soil mechanics and fluid dynamics argue against this practice. Modern agricultural and horticultural science has proven and teaches that water will not pass gravitationally from a finely textured soil mass into a markedly coarser underlying layer until the interface portion of the upper finer layer is fully saturated. The coarser the underlying material, the more difficult it is for water to move across the upper interface. Therefore, contrary to conventional wisdom, the addition of a coarse bottom layer actually impedes planting container drainage rather than promoting drainage.
The growing trend from clay pots to plastic and synthetic ones creates other challenges to gardeners. This change in materials technology greatly expands the possible profiles of planting containers, and the placement and number of their drain holes. Especially problematic are drain holes placed at the angle formed by a container's bottom and its vertical side wall.
Watering plants normally from the top erodes soil through the drain hole, but bottom watering and drenching do so even more. These two common horticultural practices involve placing filled planting containers directly in larger containers of water, for purposes of insect control or remoistening of overdried soil, and can erode the planting medium considerably over the life of the planting.
Bonsai gardeners have dealt with the problem of drain hole coverage by using small pieces of metal window screen, or similar material made of plastic. However, this improvisation is only effective with the very coarse soils used in this specialized field of horticulture.
The patent record describes a number of planting containers with a variety of configurations and compositions with no provision for the covering of their drain holes or channels. The following are offered as examples:                U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,814 issued to Blicha on 18 May 1982;        U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,665 issued to de Oliviera on 2 Nov. 1982;        U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,490 issued to Bodine on 10 Jun. 1986;        U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,686 issued to Whitman on 24 Feb. 1987;        U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,345 issued to Bloch on 12 Feb. 1991;        U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,995 issued to Huber on 5 Sep. 1995;        U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,411 issued to Lin on 31 Oct. 2000; and        U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,632 issued to Boling on 18 Sep. 2001.
Bodine does consider the issue of soil loss through the drainage openings of his patented container. However, instead of a drain hole cover, Bodine specifies erosion baffles to impede the flow of water along the container's bottom and thereby control fine soil erosion to a limited extent.
Before beginning the planting process and enjoying any advantages offered by even the most improved containers, the individual gardener is thus required to solve the drain hole cover problem on his or her own. The following patents have attempted to address that problem.
An early invention, U.S. Pat. No. 611,523 issued to Springer on 27 Sep. 1898, teaches an imperforate disk or plate with a convex upper side and a series of radial grooves on its lower side, which converge into a depending stud which is to be inserted into the drain hole. Its rigid construction and direct fluid communication would not completely retain soil, and would not be effective for a drain hole located in an angular or concave area of a container.
Weidig's U.S. Pat. No. 1,453,216 issued on 24 Apr. 1923 calls for the insertion of a wire mesh baffle into the drain hole of a concrete planting container during the molding process. This device is clearly of limited use, being incorporated into the particular container under patent.
Wittbold includes a fragile paper drain hole cover in his U.S. Pat. No. 1,789,994 issued on 17 Jun. 1929 for a commercial plant transport container which can be later adapted as a permanent planting container by the customer upon purchase. At such time, the paper is intended to be manually ruptured, or degenerated by means of water contact. Once the paper seal is broken, no other means is provided for securing the soil within the drain hole.
The device of U.S. Pat. No. 1,869,606 issued to Mennell on 2 Aug. 1932 is a cap or disk molded integrally with a pot and centered over its drain hole. Water exits the pot through slots occurring at its angle of attachment. Its use is clearly limited to the specified container of the patent.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,884,204 issued to Pilkington on 25 Oct. 1932 teaches a drain hole cover of any number of intersecting and integrally formed curved resilient arms attached to one flat end of a small cylindrical member, the opposing flat end of which fits into the pot's drain hole. Its stated objective is to retard flow of water before allowing it to exit the container. This device is only useful in non-angular applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,026,679 issued to Higgins on 7 Jan. 1936 is for a drain hole cover of a vertical truncated cone shape with an open bottom end, and with a plurality of notches radially formed in its lower edge. Its open bottom and notched bottom edge rest on the container's interior bottom and fully cover its drain hole. This device is limited to use in flat-bottomed containers, and allows direct fluid communication.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,120,599 issued to Brown on 14 Jun. 1938 sets forth a vertical finned spindle joined to the center of a shallow receptacle by means of a threaded shaft. The spindle stabilizes the filled planting container in an upright position, while the vertical fins direct the outflow of water. This assembly is useful only with containers having a centered drain hole, and its complexity increases its cost.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,672 issued to Chatelain on 3 Feb. 1976 describes an upright, generally cylindrical structure which is placed over a planting container's drain hole, allowing drainage to occur only when the water level reaches the upper, open end of the cylinder. Consequently, there would remain in the bottom of the pot a stagnating, perpetually undrained volume of water equal in depth to the height of the cylinder. This invention encourages incomplete drainage and an overly wet environment, widely known to be detrimental to plants in containers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,803 issued to Sherlock on 13 Feb. 1979 describes a container employing a completely obstructive drain plug. A perforated plate rests horizontally inside the container and somewhat above the obstructed drain hole. This allows a small volume of water to collect beneath the plate, providing beneficial moisture to plants during the brief period of commercial transport. For long term health, however, plants would need to be freed quickly from such a water-retentive environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,883 issued to Shaw on 25 Feb. 1986 describes a perforated cylindrical structure with a hemispherical top, which is limited to use with a corresponding dedicated planting container. Therefore this drain hole cover is not universally useful.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,491 issued to Panuski on 29 Aug. 1989 relates to a molded plastic disc with a plurality of arcuate openings and graduated standoffs. Its channels and openings are in direct fluid communication and therefore minimize erosion but do not prevent it. This drain hole cover is limited to use in planting containers with flat bottoms.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,854 issued to Hirsch, et al on 12 Sep. 1995 seeks to improve upon and simplify Shaw's complex device, but is still a somewhat complex molded plastic or ceramic configuration. Direct fluid communication between its passageways allows free drainage but does not protect completely against soil erosion.
The drain hole cover of U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,579 issued to Pavelka on 3 Oct. 2000 is limited to use in planting containers with elevated drain holes, and its inflexible molded plastic composition precludes its conformation to a variety of contours.
The planar device of U.S. Pat. No. 7,743,554 B2 issued 29 Jun. 2010 to Morris is elevated on three legs, and can only address drain holes located entirely on a container's lower horizontal surface. Its rigidity likewise renders it non-universal, since it may only be used in containers of a greater diameter than itself.
The above methods and devices offer no fully satisfactory answer to the need for an inexpensive, convenient, and universally useful drain hole cover for planting containers. The direct fluid communication common to the above methods and devices permit soil erosion to some extent during normal top watering and to a greater extent during bottom watering and soil drenching. Rigidity of material and particulars of configuration are limiting factors, and suggest looking to other more flexible materials to solve this problem. The following patents suggest such materials.
Brandell's U.S. Pat. No. 1,996,898 issued 9 Apr. 1935 presents a departure from rigid and solid materials. He specifies flexible, interstitial knitted metal mesh formed into a sleeve and folded in on itself to form a spongiform metal ball, which is placed over the drain hole in the base of the planting container. This allows water to drain freely and prevents the roots of the plant from clogging the drain hole, but is not stated to retain soil in the container. Furthermore, Brandell teaches no mechanism to keep the metal ball centered while the soil medium is being placed in the container. Most notably, depending on choice of metal, this device would possibly degrade in the constantly moist environment presented by a filled and watered planting container, either rusting or forming corrosive metal salts.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,368 issued to Nustad on 11 Jul. 1972 for a large rooftop planter box has a glass wool mat used primarily as insulation. This mat secondarily provides a drainage layer, presumably into which water can collect away from the planting medium, as no drain holes appear in the patent drawings. When handled, glass wool, often referred to as fiber glass, sheds tiny glass particles which are irritating to the skin. Therefore this would not be a material favored by consumers for drain hole cover application.
As a wire hanging planter basket may be considered a planting container with the spaces between the crossed wires constituting enlarged drainage voids, the following two patents are also considered prior art drain hole covers.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,365 issued to Proctor on 25 May 1976 specifies a loosely felted fibrous material consisting principally of coconut fiber to which a waterproof adhesive bonding substance has been applied, to be used primarily as a ground cover mat or soil cover. The biodegradability of the coconut fiber would eliminate this as an effective permanent drain hole cover solution.
The invention of U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,022 issued 20 Nov. 2001 to Just is a compressed sheet form of sphagnum moss which can be precut to fit planting containers in a variety of shapes. When moistened, the moss expands to its original natural thickness, and well retains soil within a basket's metal frame. While attractive in this application, sphagnum moss is well-known for its ongoing tendency to drop loose filaments. Also, such a biodegradable liner requires periodic replacement, a messy and inconvenient task.
Henson has submitted a patent application for a container lining, published as U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0060933 on 24 Mar. 2005. His invention is made from the fibers of the kenaf plant mixed with a binding agent. This liner could be used in either hanging baskets or pots, but like Proctor's, the base fiber would eventually biodegrade.
Materials described above will rust, irritate the skin or biodegrade, and still leave gardeners looking for a better alternative to cover their planting container drain holes. Man-made fibers present no such objections, however, and their compatibility with plant materials has been well established.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,352 issued to Herveling, et al on 18 Feb. 1975 is a pot liner made of a random nonwoven fiber mat of looped, intersecting and amorphous filaments of melt-spun polymers which are bonded together at their intersections. This bonding necessarily effects a rigidity and results in high cavity volume. As an improvement upon an earlier German utility patent which places the mat only at the bottom of a planting container, this version combines vertical and horizontal portions to line the interior bottom and sides of planting containers. The high cavity volume interstices of the vertical portion serve as pathways for evaporation of the excess water from the bottom of the container. Rather than being designed to cover a drain hole, this invention serves to compensate for the lack of one, none being shown in the patent drawings. Should this mat be applied over a drain hole, however, its rigidity and high cavity volume would allow direct fluid communication, resulting in soil erosion from the bottom of the container.
In contrast, U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,340 issued to Pluenneke on 4 Sep. 1979 employs a nonbiodegradable material and eliminates completely the rigidity and bonding of Schwartz and Herveling. Pluenneke employs the synthetic fiber fraction of discarded tires as an unbonded loose fill placed in the bottom of planting containers over the drain hole and beneath the soil. In his "Detailed Description of the Invention," he offers that this material is retrievable directly from a large tire reclaiming facility, suggesting that this material might be an attractive option to large wholesale growers, but likely not the preferred choice of the average home gardener. But whether used by large wholesale growers or home gardeners, the loose fill nature of this fraction makes its retrieval, collection, and reuse difficult upon disassembling of filled container plantings. Therefore, an increasing quantity of this foreign nonbiodegradable substance might find its way into the larger environment.
The following three patents, while employing the preferred synthetic fiber and improving upon the uncontained loose fill of Pluenneke, nevertheless share the limiting factors of an abrupt change in particle size, non-universal application, and resulting cost and inconvenience to the consumer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,951 issued to Cosse, Jr. on 26 Jan. 1993 employs nonwoven synthetic fabric, unspecified as to loft, to encase a packet of gravel and fertilizer for disposition in bottom of a planting container. Its side skirt extends vertically upward and communicates with the inner side wall and therefore must be produced—and purchased—in a plurality of sizes to correspond to different sizes of planting containers. Its complex construction will impact cost, as will its need to be replaced periodically as the fertilizer component is exhausted. Cost issue aside, the encased gravel layer effects an abrupt change in particle size from the soil mass, and will actually impede drainage, as described previously in this section.
The drain hole cover of U.S. Pat. No. 6,606,821 issued to Connelly on 19 Aug. 2003 is constructed as Cosse's, but includes no fertilizer. It specifies the encased layer to be a plurality of rocks, gravel, or nonabsorbent beads or pellets. With the exception of the exhaustibility of the fertilizer component, this device presents objections identical to those of Cosse's.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,877,930 B2 issued on 1 Feb. 2011 to Burge repeats the pouch construction and large-particle fill of Cosse and Connelly, improved by the possible addition of hydrophilic particles and a pot hole locator. Cosse, Connelly and Burge all compromise drainage by an abrupt change in particle size, and do not present a universal and inexpensive solution. They fail to address drain holes located partially or entirely in the container's vertical side walls, and must be purchased in a particular size relative to the planting container at hand.

Universal drain hole cover for planting containers


An image print system for printing a picture from an image file having additional information, which enables high-quality image printing to be achieved using various types of image data and their additional information. Image data obtained by taking subjects are sent, together with their additional information, to an image reproduction system in a photographic laboratory. The image reproduction system carries out processing of the image data in accordance with the additional information, and produces its resultant images in the form of image prints. The additional information includes post-processing information for temporally or spatially correlating a series of images to combine them or to select some of them.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image print system for printing still pictures from an image file having additional information, which file contains image data representing the still images and additional information representing characteristics of the image data.
2. Description of the Background Art
An electronic digital still camera (DS camera), for example, records on a recording medium like an IC (integrated circuit) memory card not only images in the form of digital data, but also additional information representing characteristics of photographed images such as exposure, color filter information about the image pickup device. For example, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 75922/1993 assigned to the same assignee as that of the present application discloses a photosensitive film with an additional information recording area, which has magnetic strips formed on a silver-halide photosensitive film for recording the additional information as in an advanced photograph system (APS). Besides, an enhanced APS is proposed which comprises a film cartridge including an IC memory in which the additional information is to be recorded.
In addition, a system is also proposed which implements various image operations like image composition using such additional information recorded on the image file. For example, Japanese patent application No. 35781/1996 filed in the name of the same assignee as that of the present application discloses an image composite apparatus for combining desired images into a template image using the additional information. Since the DS (digital still)camera stores the image in the digital form, the user can achieve the image operation or processing by himself or herself with the DS camera itself or a personal computer. To obtain higher resolution, beautiful finish color pictures such as those printed on postal cards, it is preferable to request to a specialist like a photo laboratory. For example, Japanese patent application No. 35780/1996 filed in the name of the same assignee as that of the present application discloses an image filing system which converts, in a laboratory of specialists, images into digital image data, and stores them on an image data recording medium like an magneto-optical disk.
In the state of the art, solid-state image pickup devices like a CCD (charge-coupled device) employed in the DS cameras, for example, have a rather narrow dynamic range. The DS cameras employing a memory card as a recording medium of the image data, however, have an advantage of being able to rewrite image data on the memory card many times. Besides, diversification of the image recording system and recording media makes it possible to use various types of recording media from silver-halide photosensitive film to magnetic recording media and optical recording media. In addition, the environment for processing the image data and additional information is also growing diversified such that users can process the image data or add the additional information using personal computers.

Image print system for printing a picture from an additional information affixed image file


A dual band full duplex mobile radio is provided that includes a transmit portion including a dual band filter and a receive portion including a dual band filter. The dual band full duplex mobile radio further includes a circulator connecting the transmit portion and the receive portion and configured to provide transmit and receive switching.

This invention relates generally to mobile radios, and more particularly, to dual band full duplex mobile radios.
Land mobile radios may be used to provide communication between different mobile units. Land mobile radio band communication, and in particular, public safety radio communication (e.g., police, fire department, etc.), is available within the 800 MHz frequency band. Part of this frequency band is allocated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for public safety communication services and is also referred to as the Public Safety Frequency Band. Communication with these land mobile radios for public safety communication services has been extended by the FCC and is now available on part of the 700 MHz frequency band.
Known land mobile radio units do not provide combined dual band operation with full duplex transmissions. In order to provide full duplex transmission operation, these land mobile radios use bandpass filters external to the radio (e.g., a separate unit connected to the radio). For example, known land mobile radios provide single band operation that uses an external duplexer filter assembly connected to the radio to provide full duplex transmissions. The duplexer isolates the receiver from the transmitter in the radio, allowing simultaneous transmission and reception by the radio using the same antenna. Thus, separate units or chassis are used to provide simplex, half duplex and full duplex modes of operation. However, although different modes of operation, including full duplex transmissions may be provided by these known land mobile radios using an external duplexer, these radios are only capable of operating in the in a single frequency band, and in particular, the 800 MHz trunked radio frequency band.
Thus, these known land mobile radios are not only limited in their operating frequency range, but require external components, such as a duplexer, in order to provide full duplex communication. This results in a more costly and complex radio. Further, these radios do not provide operation in the different Public Safety Frequency Bands, and in particular, the 700 MHz Public Safety Frequency Band.


In a method and medical device for determining the coordinates of images of marks in a volume dataset, the marks are disposed on the surface of a subject, and the volume dataset represents the images of the marks and an image of at least the part of the subject on whose surface the marks are disposed. A data processing system stores the volume dataset. The volume dataset is picked up by a first imaging medical device and represents an image of at least a part of the subject on whose surface several marks disposed and images of the marks. With a navigation system, a relation of the coordinates of the volume dataset to the coordinates of the subject is provided in the form of a coordinate transformation during a registration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for computing the coordinates of images of marks in a volume dataset, the coordinates referencing the actual position and orientation coordinates of a physical object or living being. The invention further relates to a medical device with a data processing device for storing a volume dataset and a navigation system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A method and medical device of the above type are needed in the navigation of a medical instrument or in image fusion. An example of navigation of a medical instrument is described in German OS 199 51 502. A volume dataset of the body region of interest of a patient is generated by means of a computed tomography device. During a minimally invasive intervention, in particular, a surgeon guides the medical instrument into the body of the patient. A position sensor of the navigation system is disposed at the medical instrument, so that the navigation system determines the position, i.e. the location and orientation, of the medical instrument relative to the patient's body. Based on the position determination, the determination of the location coordinates of the medical instrument, an image of the medical instrument can then be merged into the image that is allocated to the volume dataset, which is displayed on a monitor.
The volume dataset can be produced preoperatively, e.g. with a computed tomography apparatus. Fading in the image of the medical instrument requires a spatial transformation of the coordinates of the position sensor of the navigation system, which is disposed at the medical instrument in a defined manner, the coordinates referencing a first coordinate system, into the spatial coordinates of the image of the patient that is acquired with the computed tomography apparatus and utilized for the navigation. This transformation is referred to as registration.
Marks are made on the patient, usually on the body surface, for registration. Locations in the environment of the operation area that move as little as possible are selected. The marks remain fixed on the patient during the entire image supported procedure. i.e. both during the recording of the volume dataset and during the intervention. The contrast of the marks can be relatively weak, because they are frequently relatively small for reasons of space. Furthermore, relatively weakly contrasting marks are used so that the remaining image volume is impaired as little as possible by artifacts. Given the quality of modern computed tomography or magnetic resonance devices, it is usually no problem to tap these marks manually, for instance in two orthogonal views, in order to determine their spatial positions. This technique is relatively time-consuming, because it is usually necessary to sift through almost the entire volume dataset in order to find the images of the marks in the volume dataset. Moreover, at least three images of marks must be captured.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,769,789, 5,799,099 and 6,052,477, a method is described in which the search, for instance for MR and CT head shots, is performed automatically. The entire volume dataset is examined during the search. Substantially morphological operators are applied, which correspond to the mark dimensions, and a threshold separation is performed. This procedure is relatively calculation-intensive. Furthermore, the application of the filter operations to the entire volume dataset raises the probability of falsely recognized images of marks. The method is also limited in the specificity of the operators, because markers are oriented randomly in space.
Each image of a mark that is identified in the volume dataset must be tapped on the patient with the position sensor of the navigation system for the actual registration. This produces the relation of the coordinates of the volume dataset to the coordinate system of the navigation system.
A corresponding transformation matrix is calculated from the coordinates of the marks and the coordinates of the images of the marks in the volume dataset, and the registration is terminated.
Another application in which the coordinates of images in a volume dataset are needed is when a corresponding CT view is needed, particularly for a current endoscopic, laparoscopic, or ultrasound image, in order to superimpose the two views.

Method and medical device for the automatic determination of coordinates of images of marks in a volume dataset


A target structure for an electron linear accelerator converts energy in an electron beam to x-rays and provides for the monitoring and control of the effective energy of the electron beam by collecting and processing a residual current in the target structure.

Radiosurgery and radiotherapy systems are radiation treatment systems that use external radiation beams to treat pathological anatomies (e.g., tumors, lesions, vascular malformations, nerve disorders, etc.) by delivering a prescribed dose of radiation (e.g., x-rays or gamma rays) to the pathological anatomy while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding tissue and critical anatomical structures (e.g., the spinal chord). Both radiosurgery and radiotherapy are designed to necrotize the pathological anatomy while sparing healthy tissue and the critical structures.
Radiotherapy and radiosurgery systems include fixed-source gamma-ray treatment systems, and gantry-based and robotic-based x-ray treatment systems. In a fixed-source gamma-ray treatment system, multiple gamma ray beams from a distributed radioactive source (e.g., cobalt-60) are directed through bores in a hemispherical shield to a fixed point of convergence (isocenter). The patient is then moved relative to the isocenter to treat the pathology. In gantry-based x-ray systems, an x-ray beam source is attached to a gantry that moves around a center of rotation (isocenter) in a single plane. Each time an x-ray beam is delivered during treatment, the axis of the beam passes through the isocenter. As above, the patient is moved relative to the isocenter in order to treat the pathology. In robotic-based x-ray systems, the x-ray source has multiple degrees of freedom and the radiation treatment is not constrained to an isocenter.
In the x-ray treatment systems described above, the x-ray source is typically an electron linear accelerator (LINAC). A LINAC produces x-rays by bombarding a target with a high-energy electron beam. The x-rays are high-energy photons produced when the electron beam is intercepted by a target material having a high atomic number, such as tungsten for example. Two types of x-rays are produced. The first type is bremsstrahling (braking) radiation, given up by the electrons when they are slowed in the target. The second type is k-shell radiation, produced when atomic electrons transition between energy states after being excited by the bombarding electrons in the electron beam. Bremsstrahling radiation produces a continuous energy spectrum, while k-shell radiation has an energy signature that is a function of the target material. X-rays are produced continuously through the cross-section of a target as a nonlinear function of electron beam current and energy.
In a LINAC, electrons from an electron gun at a negative potential are accelerated to the target, which is held at a positive potential relative to the electron gun (e.g., at a system ground potential). The electrons are accelerated through a waveguide accelerator structure by applying a sinusoidal radio frequency (RF) voltage to a series of evacuated, tuned cavities that form the structure. If the dimensions of the cavities and the frequency of the RF voltage have the proper relationship, the electrons experience an accelerating field, gaining velocity until they approach the speed of light, and then increasing their relativistic mass as they travel through the structure.
Radio frequency LINACs used for radiotherapy or radiosurgery applications typically employ either a traveling wave accelerator or a standing wave accelerator. In a traveling wave accelerator, the RF electric field launches from one end of the structure and travels to the other end, where the unused portion of the power is absorbed externally or internally to the structure. Electrons are accelerated by riding the crests of the RF electric field as it travels through the waveguide structure. In a standing wave accelerator, the RF electric field is allowed to reflect from the ends of the accelerator structure, setting up a standing wave pattern similar to that of a vibrating string. The pattern has stationary minima (nodes) centered in every other cavity and sinusoidally time-varying fields in the intervening cavities that oscillate between positive and negative maxima. Electrons are accelerated in a standing wave structure by receiving a "push" from the electric field in a cavity with a time-varying field, coasting through a cavity with a near-zero field node, and then arriving at the next cavity at the optimum time to receive the next "push." One variation of the standing wave accelerator includes the side-coupled standing wave accelerator. In a side-coupled standing wave accelerator, the nodal cavities (cavities with a near-zero RF field) are moved off axis and side-coupled with the accelerating cavities. This configuration allows the electrons to be continuously accelerated while shortening the overall length of the accelerator.
Conventional LINACS, such as those used in gantry-type radiosurgery systems, are S-Band designs (S-Band designates frequencies between 2 gigahertz and 4 gigahertz), typically operating at an RF frequency of approximately 3 gigahertz (3 GHz) and accelerating electrons to energies ranging from 4 to 20 million electron volts (MeV), with a typical value being approximately 6 Mev. At 3 Ghz, the RF cavities of the accelerator are relatively large, and the manufacturing tolerances of the RF cavities are relatively easy to meet. However, the accelerator, which is normally fabricated from copper for good electrical and thermal conductivity, is large and heavy. As a result, the LINAC requires rigid support within the gantry. FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional schematic of a conventional gantry system 100. The LINAC 101 is mounted parallel to the axis of rotation of the gantry. A high power klystron oscillator 102, mounted in a stationary part of the system (stand 103), provides the 3 Ghz RF energy to the LINAC 101 through pressurized waveguides 104, a circulator 105 (to absorb energy reflected from the LINAC) and a rotating waveguide joint 106. The waveguide is pressurized by pressure system 107 with an insulating gas (e.g., sulfur hexafluoride) to prevent electrical breakdown in the waveguide from high RF electric fields. A water cooling system 108 provides temperature controlled water to the klystron and LINAC to maintain frequency stability. Temperature induced dimensional changes in the LINAC can detune the RF cavities and impair the acceleration process. Some systems also include an automatic frequency control (AFC) circuit 109 to fine tune the frequency of the klystron to match the optimum frequency of the LINAC. System 100 also includes a pulsed power supply 110 to synchronously pulse the klystron and the electron gun 111 in the LINAC. A remote control console 112 coordinates the overall functioning of the system.
Controlling the x-ray dose-rate and total radiation dose is important in medical LINAC applications, particularly in radiotherapy and radiosurgery where excessive radiation exposure can damage healthy tissue.
One conventional approach to controlling electron beam energy, used in the gantry system of FIG. 1, is the use of a magnetic field to bend and focus the electrons in a treatment head 115. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the treatment head 115. The treatment head includes a bending magnet assembly 116 that is coupled to the LINAC 101 and maintained at a vacuum with the LINAC by a vacuum system 113. Magnets in the bending magnet assembly (not shown) generate a magnetic field transverse to the path of the electron beam 117 as it exits the LINAC. The force exerted on an electron in a magnetic field is proportional to the charge of the electron, the vector velocity of the electron, and the vector magnetic field, and is directed at a 90 degree angle to both the magnetic field and the instantaneous trajectory of the electron. As a result, the electrons in the beam are bent in a 270 degree orbit and are directed downward when they strike the x-ray target 118. The strength and shape of the magnetic field is designed such that only those electrons in a specified energy range (i.e., velocity range) will strike the target and generate x-rays. Electrons with energies above or below the specified range take different trajectories and are intercepted by absorbing materials located outside of the target trajectory. Electrons exit the vacuum of the accelerator and bending assembly through a window 120 and strike the x-ray target 118. The x-ray beam then passes through an ionization chamber 121, where the ionization current produced by the x-rays provides an indirect measure of the radiation dose applied to the patient.
One problem in conventional systems is that the large number of electrons which exit the vacuum of the accelerator structure can interact with the ambient atmosphere of the operating room to generate ozone in collisions with oxygen molecules. Ozone is a powerful oxidizer, is corrosive to many common operating room materials and can cause lung irritation and damage in humans.

Energy monitoring target for x-ray dose-rate control


A photomagnetic recording apparatus, which has an optical head which has a light beam generating device for generating a fixed intensity light beam, and an optical system for condensing and irradiating the light beam onto a photomagnetic recording medium. The optical head is arranged on a first side of the medium. A recording magnetic biasing field generating device is arranged on the second side opposite to the first side of the medium. The device includes a first magnetic field generating device having a series resonant circuit having a head coil and a capacitor connected in series to each other. A driving signal feeding device feeds the series resonant circuit with an exciting signal synchronized with the resonant frequency of the series resonant circuit, to generate a first magnetic field to the medium. A suppressing controlling device is connected to the series resonant circuit for suppressing or non-suppressing the resonant characteristic of the series resonant circuit in accordance to a recording signal corresponding to recorded information, by suppressing or non-suppressing the current flowing through the coil. A second magnetic field generating device generates a second D.C. magnetic field, directed reversely to the direction of the first generated magnetic field.

Field of the Invention and Related Art Statement
This invention relates to a photomagnetic recording apparatus of a magnetic field modulating system which can make over writing on a photomagnetic recording medium.
Recently, there has been practiced an optical recording/reproducing apparatus which can record and reproduce information at a high recording density.
In the above mentioned optical recording/reproducing apparatus, a recording/reproducing apparatus of a photomagnetic system utilizing a photomagnetic phenomenon has a merit that the written information can be erased and again written in and therefore can be used instead of a recording/reproducing apparatus of a magnetic system using such magnetic head as a hard disc.
In the recording system utilizing a photomagnetism, a magnetic field modulating system of such principle as is shown in FIG. 1 is known as an over writing system simultaneously making erasing and recording.
In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 represents a photomagnetic disc. In this prior art example, the photomagnetic disc 1 is formed by coating a resin substrate 2 with a vertically magnetized film 3 and is rotated with the axis L as a center. The reference numeral 6 represents an optical head section radiating a laser light to the vertically magnetized film 3 of the photomagnetic disc. This optical head section 6 is Provided with a semiconductor laser device 4 and focusing lens 5 and can be moved in the radial direction of the photomagnetic disc 1 while keeping a predetermined distance from the surface of the photomagnetic disc 1. An electromagnet 7 is placed in a position opposed to this optical head section 6 through the photomagnetic disc 1 so as to be able to apply a magnetic field to the vertically magnetized film 3 of the photomagnetic disc 1 and can be moved in the radial direction of the photomagnetic disc 1 as operatively connected with the optical head section 6. There is also provided a magnetic field modulating circuit 8 for modulating with recorded data the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet 7 so that, for example, in response to "1" or "0" of the recording signal, the direction of the electric current flowing through the electromagnet may be changed to be in the direction of the arrow A or B and the direction for the photomagnetic disc 1 of the generated magnetic field may be varied.
In the photomagnetic recording apparatus of the thus formed prior art example, as shown, for example, in FIG. 2A, when a recording signal is input into the magnetic field modulating circuit 8, such magnetic field as is shown in FIG. 2B will be generated in the electromagnet 7 and will be applied to the vertically magnetized film 3 of the photomagnetic disc 1. As a result of radiating a laser light of a fixed intensity P which can make the temperature of the vertically magnetized film 3 of the photomagnetic disc 1 above the Curie point as shown in FIG. 2C, such recording pattern as is shown in FIG. 2D will be typically formed in the recording track of the vertically magnetized film 3 of the photomagnetic disc 1. In this FIG. 2D, the marks (+) and (-) represent respectively the states magnetized upwardly and downwardly with respect to the vertically magnetized film surface. Thus, in the photomagnetic recording apparatus of the prior art example, while the minute part of the vertically magnetized film 3 of the photomagnetic disc 1 is being continuously heated to be above the Curie point, the rotary axis L is moved to the center, the magnetic field modulated in response to the recording signal is applied to magnetize the part having become near the Curie point and, when the temperature falls, the magnetization will be held to make photomagnetic recording. According to this system, recording can be made by over writing new informatiion on already recorded magnetized information.
In the photomagnetic recording apparatus adopting the magnetic field modulating system of the above mentioned prior art example, in case the magnetic field applied to the vertically magnetized film 3 of the photomagnetic disc 1 turns its direction in response to the variation of the signal level of the recording signal, such turning time td as is shown in FIG. 2B will be required. When the value of td is large, during this turning time td, the magnetic field of an intensity .vertline..+-.Hc.vertline. required to orient the magnification in the magnetic field direction will not be applied to the vertically magnetized film 3 but a laser light of a fixed intensity P will be continuously radiated to it and therefore, on the recording track pattern corresponding to the magnetic field turning time td, as shown by the reference symbol a in FIG. 2D, a region in which the direction of the magnetic field is not defined will be made and a noise region likely to cause an error at the time of reproduction will be generated. Here, the turning time td is such that, when the inductance of the magnetic head coil is represented by L, the electric current flowing through the coil is represented by I and the voltage applied to the coil at both ends is represented by V, if the coil is assumed to be made of only a pure inductance component, the relation of td=LI/V will be established.
On the other hand, if the number of coils of the head is represented by N, the generated magnetic field Ho of the head will be proportional to NI (Ho.infin.NI) and the inductance L of the head will be proportional to N.sub.2 (L.infin.N.sup.2). Therefore, in order to apply a fixed magnetic field to the photomagnetic disc 1 apart by a fixed distance Sp from the magnetic head, as the number N of coils and current I relating to Ho can not be made smaller, the product LI will be constant. In order to reduce the turning time td while securing the fixed magnetic field Ho, the applied voltage V will be made larger and there will be a problem that the power consumption of the magnetic field driving circuit and magnetic head coil will increase. Also, in the case of connecting a resistance in series with the coil, if the resistance value of the resistance is represented by R, td will be given by td=L/R. Therefore, in this case, too, in order to make td smaller, R will have to be made larger and there will be a problem that the power consumption in the resistance will increase.
Particularly, in the case of a high density recording, it will be necessary to make the turning time td further smaller. If the applied voltage V is made larger for that purpose, the power consumption will further increase and the heat generation by the loss in the magnetic head coil and the driving circuit driving the head will become so large as to make the high density recording difficult.
For example, when the heat generation in the above mentioned magnetic head coil becomes larger, the insulating film of the magnetic head coil will be thermally broken to short-circuit, the magnetic characteristic of the core of the magnetic head will deteriorate, the heat will raise the temperature of the photomagnetic disc 1 and a stable recording will be no longer be made. That is to say, in the magnetic field modulating system, as the direction of the magnetic field varies in response to the recording signal, after the beam spot is irradiated, the magnetization of the magnetized film will have to be quickly defined. For this purpose, after the beam spot is irradiated, the irradiated part of the spot will have to be quickly cooled and therefore, if there is a factor of raising the temperature of the photomagnetic disc 1, no stable recording will be able to be made.
Therefore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 37842/1988, there is conceived a method of modulating a laser light by applying a magnetic field at a fixed frequency under a resonant condition. In this method, as a magnetic field of a fixed frequency is applied under a resonant condition, the current flowing through the magnetic head winding will be determined by inductance L of the magnetic head and the turning time td will become smaller but, due to the resonant circuit, the modulating signal over a wide frequency range will not be able to be recorded and, after all, the light will be modulated as synchronized with the magnetic field variation. Therefore, in this system, a light regulating circuit is necessary, an applying timing of the light and magnetic field and a controlling mechanism for combining the light spot position on the disc and the magnetic field applying region are necessary and there has been a problem that the formation is more complicated than of a magnetic field modulating system of a simple formation.
On the other hand, the prior art example shown in FIG. 3 is of a system using a floating type magnetic head 11. In this system, a magnetic head 11 is made small and is integral with a slider 12 so that the magnetic head 11 together with the slider 12 may be floated up several .mu.m above the disc 1 by utilizing the pressure by the air stream flowing below the slider 12 when the photomagnetic disc 1 is rotated and the magnetic field may be thereby applied to the photomagnetic disc 1 to record the magnetic field modulation. According to this system, as the distance between the magnetic head 11 and disc is so short as to be several .mu.m, the intensity of the magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generating coil can be made small, the magnetic field region applied to the disc can be also made narrow, therefore the exciting current and inductance can be made smaller than that of a magnetic head of a non-floating type (mentioned as a fixed type) and therefore there is an advantage that the high density recording turning the magnetic field at a high speed becomes easy.
However, in this system, as the distance between the magnetic head 11 and photomagnetic disc 1 is so short as to be several .mu.m, there is a problem that, when the magnetic head 11 and disc 1 contact with each other, the disc 1 surface and head 11 will be damaged or the head 11 and disc 1 will be attracted to each other by moisture or the like and the advantage of the non-contact recording which is a feature of the light recording will be impaired. Also, there are problems that, in order that the magnetic head 11 may be floated above the disc 1 and may be maintained at a height of several .mu.m, the shape of the slider 12 of the head 11 must be worked so precisely as to be adapted to floating up, a supporting mechanism for stably supporting the slider 12 against the air pressure is necessary and the floating type head 11 is more complicated in the structure and higher in the cost than the fixed type head.
Also, the Prior art example shown in FIG. 4 and disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 37842/1988 is of a system of making recording with a fundamental light modulating system wherein a resonant circuit is formed of an inductor of a magnetic head winding and a externally fitted condenser, a fixed frequency magnetic field is generated from the magnetic head under a resonant condition and a light pulse modulated in response to recorded data by the direction of a magnetic field applied onto a disc is radiated to the disc as synchronized with the magnetic field variation.
In this system, a condenser 15 is connected in series with a coil 14A of an electromagnet 14 to form a resonant circuit 16 and an oscillating circuit 17 having the coil 14A of the electromagnet 14 as an oscillating coil is provided.
In this case, the value C of the condenser 15 is set so that the resonant frequency f0 of this resonant circuit 16 may be a frequency 2 fm twice as high as the highest frequency fm of the recording signal and a magnetic field in which the direction is turned at the frequency 2 fm is generated by the electromagnet 14.
The oscillating signal obtained by an oscillating circuit 17 is fed to one input end of a coinciding circuit 19 through a waveform shaping circuit 18 and the recording signal input into the other record input end is fed to a light modulator 20.
In this system, as the exciting current of the magnetic head is flowed under a resonant condition, even if the inductance of the head is large, a large current of a high frequency will be able to be given to the head winding and, as a result, even in a fixed type head in which the magnetic head is separated by more than 100 .mu.m from the disc, a magnetic field large enough to magnetize a medium turning at a high speed as shown in FIG. 5A will be able to be generated and, when such modulated laser pulse as is shown in FIG. 5B is radiated by the direction, such magnetizing pattern as is shown in FIG. 5C will be able to be formed and recorded on the vertically magnetized film 3 of the disc 1.
According to this system, as the light modulation is recorded while the magnetic field is being varied at a high speed by using a magnetic head fixed as separated from a disc, over writing which has been impossible with an ordinary light modulating system giving a fixed magnetic field is possible and the problems of the floating type magnetic head can be solved. In this system, in addition to the mechanism of varying the magnetic field, a light modulating circuit combining the variation of the magnetic field and timing is required and therefore there is a problem that the structure is more complicated than of the general magnetic field modulating system.

Photomagnetic recording apparatus recording with alternating magnetic field and D.C. magnetic field


A method of identification of at least one asset having a LED using a camera with a display coupled to a computer. The camera records a series of frames over a period of time showing at least one asset and associated LED. The series of frames are analyzed to identify LEDs in each of the frames by detecting bright spots within the image exceeding a set threshold and/or within a set color range. For each of the LEDs identified in the frames, the changes of the LEDs in the frames over time are converted into a code. The code is looked up in a repository in a management system, where each code is associated with metadata of the managed asset. If the lookup was successful, displaying the associated metadata over at least one frame of an image on a display to a user, identifying the managed asset for the user.

The present invention relates to asset tracking, and more specifically to object identification for asset tracking.
Asset tracking takes place in warehouses, data centers, and other facilities, physical or otherwise. Asset tracking refers to tracking the movement of physical or non-physical assets. An asset tracking system can record the location and usage of the assets and generate various reports as required.
Asset management takes place in data centers. Data centers are facilities used to house computer systems and associated components, such as storage and telecommunication systems.
As data centers get larger and increasingly complex, it is increasingly difficult to accurately identify the different assets present and reconcile the assets with entries in an electronic asset database. Accuracy is important when changes are made to complex information technology (IT) infrastructure. A mistake, such as unplugging the wrong server, can have detrimental results, impacting revenue as well reputations of the customer and client.
Servers, appliances and network equipment, such as routers, switches, firewalls, and other equipment, typically do not have monitors attached, making it difficult to tell rows of similar devices apart. Conventionally, a sticky label with printed information including device name, asset number and making readable or scannable bar code is attached to the equipment. Over time, these labels can peel, fade, scratch, or otherwise become dislodged from the equipment. Human operators can also misread service names, especially when they consist of similar, seemingly meaningless sets of numbers and letters. Bar codes also only allow one asset at a time to be scanned and require the user to be in close proximity to the bar code.

International Business Machines Corporation


An integrated circuit (IC) includes: a first cell including an input pin and an output pin extending in a first direction; a second cell adjacent to the first cell in the first direction and including an input pin and an output pin extending in the first direction; a first cell isolation layer extending between the first cell and the second cell in a second direction crossing the first direction; and a first wire extending in the first direction, overlapping the first cell isolation layer, and being connected to the output pin of the first cell and the input pin of the second cell, wherein the output pin of the first cell, the input pin of the second cell, and the first wire are formed in a first conductive layer as a first pattern extending in the first direction.

Apparatuses and methods consistent with example embodiments of the inventive concept relate to an integrated circuit (IC) and, more particularly, to an IC including a simple cell interconnection.
Along with the development of a semiconductor process, the size of devices has been decreased, and the number of devices integrated in an IC has increased. According to such a decrease in the size of and an increase in the number of devices included in an IC, the complexity of wirings for interconnecting the devices may increase, which may limit a level of integration of the IC and increase a delay of a signal to be delivered through the wirings, thereby limiting the performance improvement of the IC.

Integrated circuit including simple cell interconnection and method of designing the same


Circuit, method, and system aspects for achieving redundancy circuitry programming in semiconductor memory are provided. Through these aspects, utilization of a circuit including a logic mechanism for receiving an enable signal and an address signal, a switching mechanism coupled to the logic mechanism for controlling delivery of the address signal, and a fuse mechanism coupled to the logic mechanism for allowing selective address programming responsive to the address signal in order to produce a desired logic level for a redundant address output signal occurs to form an address programming circuit. Further, selective input of an enable signal to the address programming circuit provides control of the address programming circuit to produce a desired logic level output. Additionally, integration of a plurality of the address programming circuits to form a redundancy programming circuit is achieved with each address programming circuit corresponding to one bit of an input address signal.

As central processing units for computer systems have undergone constant improvement, the number of bits supported by and the processing speeds for computer systems have continued to increase. With increased processing power remaining a valuable feature for computer systems, matching the improvement in other computer system components has occasionally been difficult. Included in these components is a semiconductor memory component, such as random access memory (RAM) for the computer system.
Usual attempts to improve the RAM of a computer system involve increases in the amount of RAM in the system. Developers attempt to provide a maximum amount of RAM with minimum area consumption. Although the decrease in transistor size has allowed greater density in RAM circuits, the total area does increase, causing the percentage of good die per wafer to decrease. Thus, the ability to repair defective portions of a die becomes more important.
Memory chips typically employ redundancy to supply spare rows/columns of memory cells on the die. The redundant row/columns suitably aid in maintaining higher yield of working die and compensate for processing defects in the die by replacing defective rows/columns. In order to implement the use of the redundant row/columns, the chip is usually programmed with fuses to select the redundant row/column in place of the defective row/column.
Once the defective row/column has been identified, its address is typically programmed for the redundant circuitry in order to allow proper operation of the RAM and rerouting to the redundant circuitry for subsequent selections of the address of the defective row/column. Preprogramming of the redundant circuitry to act as a replacement for the defective row/column typically involves circuitry as shown in FIG. 1. For each address bit transistor 10, e.g., ADD1 to ADDn, there is an associated inverse address bit transistor 12, e.g., ADD1b to ADDnb. Each transistor 10 or 12 further has an associated fuse 14. To program the defective address for the redundant row/column, either the address bit transistor 10 or inverse address bit transistor 12 is deactivated by blowing an appropriate fuse 14.
For each subsequent selection of the defective address, the circuitry of FIG. 1 suitably produces a high voltage output signal, MATCH.sub.-- ALL, to allow selection of the redundant row/column in place of the defective row/column. However, for each incoming address signal that does not match the defective address, there is at least one current path to ground in the redundant circuitry of FIG. 1. Unfortunately, having a current path draws power, which becomes significant as the number of address bits increases. Further, increases in the number of address bits adds to the size of the circuitry by requiring more signal lines transmitting the address bits and their inverses. Another drawback of this circuitry is that the address signal lines have large capacitive loading even when the redundancy feature has not yet been activated. This drawback leads to greater power consumption and degradation of the speed performance of the chip.
Accordingly, a need exists for improved redundancy programming circuitry that reduces power consumption, size, and speed performance degradation. The present invention addresses such a need.

Redundancy programming circuit and system for semiconductor memory


A wireless communication device optically receives an image that is associated with a user device and processes the received image to generate image data. The wireless communication device transfers user information and the image data to a communication network. The communication network processes the user information and the image data to generate configuration data to allow the user device to access the communication network. The communication network transfers the configuration data to a communication transceiver. The communication transceiver receives a communication from the user device, and in response to the configuration data, the communication transceiver transfers the communication to the communication network.

A two-dimensional bar-code may include data that directs a wireless telephone to download media content. In this scenario, the wireless telephone takes a picture of the two-dimensional bar-code. The wireless telephone then de-codes the picture of the bar-code into corresponding data. This de-coded data directs the wireless telephone to retrieve the media content from a content host.
A wireless modem exchanges communications over the air with various devices that are located near the modem. The wireless modem then exchanges these communications with a communication network. To prevent unwanted devices from accessing the communication network through the wireless modem, the wireless modem typically requires a specific user name and access code from a device before network access is provided.

Communication transceiver configuration in response to optically receiving an image in a wireless communication device


A brake assembly to selectively allow or restrict a pivotal movement of a seat frame relative to a base frame in a reclining chair assembly is disclosed. Reclining chair assemblies applicable to the present invention have a back support member and a seat support member of the seat frame which are positionally fixed during usage of the reclining chair assembly. The seat frame moves relative to the base frame at a pivotal axis common to the base frame and the seat frame. The brake assembly attaches to the seat frame and the base frame to provide for control over the pivotal movement therebetween. In a preferred embodiment opposing arm rests of the reclining chair assembly are positionally fixed relative to the base frame. A first embodiment of the brake assembly relies upon an anchoring of positional orientations of an anchor point relative to a pivotal point. The anchor point and the pivotal point are positioned on opposing frame members, being the base frame and the seat frame, wherein a variable spacing exists between the two points during pivotal movement of the seat frame relative to the base frame. A second embodiment of the brake assembly relies upon an anchoring of a locking member fixedly positioned on the base frame relative to an arced guide member positioned on the seat frame.

1. Field of the Invention
Generally, the invention relates to reclining chair assemblies. More specifically, the invention relates to such assemblies having means to control and positionally lock a reclining action of a seat frame relative to a base frame about a single pivotal axis common to the two frames.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Reclining chairs applicable to the present invention have a seat frame comprising a seat support portion and a back support portion which are positionally fixed relative to each other during usage. Such reclining chairs may also having a leg support portion positioned on, or relative to, the seat frame. Applicable reclining chairs have the seat frame mounted on a base frame wherein the seat frame may pivot at a pivotal axis common to both the seat frame and the base frame. The base frame rests on a support surface, such as a floor, during usage.
Such reclining chairs are known in the art including various methods of selectively locking the seat frame relative to the base frame at a desired angular orientation. Various attempts have been made to provide for the selective locking of the seat frame relative to the base frame at a desired positional location. These attempts have been less efficient than desired. Typically, these attempts have relied upon operator controlled mechanisms which move concurrently with the seat frame which makes for inconvenient operation by the seated operator. As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a convenient method of selectively locking the seat frame relative to the base frame. The present invention substantially fulfills these needs.


A hydraulic system for operating a rear gate of a baler implement includes a hydraulic cylinder having a housing that defines an interior, and a piston that is moveably disposed within the interior of the housing. The housing includes a first fluid port and a second fluid port, each disposed in fluid communication with a first fluid volume of the hydraulic cylinder. A flow rate control valve is moveable between a first position for directing fluid to or from the first fluid port at a first flow rate, and a second position for directing fluid to or from the second fluid port at a second flow rate. The second flow rate is different than the first flow rate.

A baler implement, e.g., a round baler, includes a body and a rear gate rotatably attached to the body. The body forms a baling chamber within which crop material is formed into a bale. The rear gate is moveable between a closed position for forming the bale, an open position for discharging the bale from the baling chamber, and at least one intermediate position disposed between the open position and the closed position. A hydraulic system is used to actuate the rear gate. The hydraulic system includes a hydraulic cylinder that interconnects the body and the rear gate. The hydraulic cylinder extends and retracts in response to a fluid signal to move the rear gate between the open position and the closed position. The speed at which the rear gate moves is dependent upon the flow rate of the fluid signal to and/or from the hydraulic cylinder.

Hydraulic dampening system for a rear gate of a round baler