A method of dividing a wafer includes: a denatured layer forming step of forming a denatured layer in the inside of the wafer along streets; a first feeding step in which the whole area of the wafer's back-side surface is suction held, and the wafer is mounted on a support base of a tape adhering unit, with the wafer's back-side surface on the upper side; a dicing tape adhering step of adhering a dicing tape to the wafer's back-side surface and an annular frame; a wafer reversing step of reversing the wafer and the annular frame face side back; a second feeding step of feeding said wafer and said annular frame to a tape expanding unit whole holding them by suction; a protective tape peeling step of peeling off a protective tape adhered to the wafer's face-side surface; and a wafer dividing step of expanding the dicing tape so as to divide the wafer along the streets along which the denatured layer has been formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of dividing a wafer, provided in its face-side surface with a plurality of streets in a grid pattern and provided with devices in a plurality of regions demarcated by the plurality of streets, along the streets into the individual devices (chips).
2. Description of the Related Art
In the semiconductor device manufacturing process, usually, a plurality of regions are demarcated by planned dividing lines called streets arranged in a grid pattern in a surface of a substantially circular disk-shaped semiconductor wafer, and devices such as ICs and LSIs are formed in the thus demarcated regions. Then, the wafer is cut along the streets, to manufacture the individual devices. Similarly, an optical device wafer in which a gallium nitride compound semiconductor and the like are laminated on a surface of a sapphire substrate is also cut along streets, to be divided into individual optical devices such as light emitting diodes and laser diodes, which are widely utilized for electric apparatuses.
As a method for dividing a plate-shaped work such as a semiconductor wafer, a laser beam machining method has been attempted in which a pulsed laser beam capable of being transmitted through the work is used, and irradiation with the pulsed laser beam is conducted by adjusting the focal point in the inside of the regions to be divided. In a dividing method based on the use of this laser beam machining method, a work is irradiated from one side thereof with a pulsed laser beam having such a wavelength as to be transmitted through the work while adjusting the focal point to the inside of the work, so as to continuously form a denatured layer in the inside of the work along the streets, and an external force is exerted along the streets where strength is lowered due to the formation of the denatured layer, thereby dividing the work (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3408805).
Besides, there has been proposed a method in which a wafer provided with a denatured layer along streets by the above-mentioned laser beam machining method is adhered to a dicing tape attached to an annular frame, then the dicing tape is expanded, whereby the wafer is divided along the streets where strength is lowered due to the formation of the denatured layer, into the individual devices (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2004-273895).
Meanwhile, the wafer provided therein with the denatured layer along the streets is very susceptible to cracking. Therefore, the wafer may be broken or damaged in a feeding step in which the wafer provided therein with the denatured layer is fed from the laser beam machining apparatus for the purpose of adhering the wafer to the dicing tape, during when the wafer provided with the denatured layer is adhered to the dicing tape and/or in a feeding step in which the wafer adhered to the dicing tape is conveyed to a tape expanding unit.


A method for forming a polyimide-carbon nanotube composite film on a substrate is provided. The method comprises: suspending carbon nanotubes in a solution comprising a poly(amic acid) and a suitable solvent;                casting the solution onto a substrate to form a layer on the substrate; and heating the layer to convert the poly(amic acid) into a polyimide to form the polyimide-carbon nanotube composite film. A polyimide-carbon nanotube composite film and an electronic device comprising the polyimide-carbon nanotube composite film are also provided.

Polymer composites used in devices such as engines, ducts, machinery, and aircraft parts are often required to be electrically conductive, lightweight, structurally strong and stiff, so as to confer anti-static and electromagnetic shielding properties. In particular, polyimides (PIs) are an important class of structural polymers used in the microelectronics and aerospace industries, because of their outstanding thermal stability and mechanical properties. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been considered to be a good additive for making high-performance conductive polymer composites because of their excellent electrical conductivity values in the range of about 103 to 106 S cm−1, ultra-high strength, large aspect ratio, and low density. However, the electrical conductivities achieved in polyimide/CNT composites have typically been low, in the range of about 10−1 S cm−1 for a nanotube/polyimide composite with 5 wt % nanotubes. Attempts to improve electrical conductivities of polyimide/CNT composites have been hampered by low CNT content (about 10 wt %) and poor dispersion of the CNTs.
Various research groups have carried out work to increase the electrical conductivity of CNT/polymer composites. Even though electrical conductivities in the range of 17 S cm−1 to 200 S cm−1 have been obtained in composites with a CNT content of more than 75 wt %, these materials employ special nanotubes and/or unconventional composite processing techniques, such as vacuum filtration or coagulation spinning, to result in high nanotube content and alignment, which leads to high processing costs and complicated processes which are not suitable for mass production.
Other composite processing techniques, such as casting and resin transfer molding, are not able to achieve the high carbon nanotubes loading. This in turn leads to low electrical conductivity of CNT/polymer composites formed using such methods, with most composites having conductivity values in the range of less than 1 S cm−1.
In view of the above, there remains a need for an improved method for forming a polyimide-carbon nanotube composite that addresses at least one or some of the above-mentioned problems.

Methods for forming polyimide-carbon nanotube composite film, and polyimide-carbon nanotube composite films formed thereof


The invention relates to a mold closing device without cross-beam for an injection molding machine having a C-shaped machine frame, a fixed tool mounting plate supported therein and an end plate, as well as a movable tool mounting plate longitudinally movable on antifriction guideways and guide bars. It is the object of the invention to provide an inexpensive and simple adjustment which assures the concentricity between the fixed tool mounting plate and the end plate during deformation of the machine frame as a result of the closing force and which eliminates the machining tolerances among the hinge points on the guide bars. The solution provides that the guide bars are horizontally frictionally attached to the machine frame, are vertically biasable via springs against the fixed tool mounting plate and against the end plate, and are supportable via springs between the end plate and the fixed tool mounting plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a mold closing device without cross-beam for an injection molding machine, consisting of a C-shaped machine frame, wherein a fixed tool mounting plate is disposed on one of the legs of the frame and an end plate is disposed on the other leg of the frame. Between these plates, a movable tool mounting plate is longitudinally movable on guides against the fixed tool mounting plate parallel to an injection molding axis by means of a hydraulic closing cylinder. The hydraulic closing cylinder is supported by the end plate and connected to the movable tool mounting plate via the piston rod. The fixed and the movable tool mounting plates are provided with clamping surfaces which are oriented perpendicularly to the injection molding axis, for accepting the die halves of a form tool. The closing and opening force created by the hydraulic closing cylinder during the injection and opening process is absorbed by the machine frame, wherein the antifriction guideways consist of guide bars which are attached to the machine frame, and of roller bearings attached to the movable tool mounting plate.
2. Description of the Related Art
A solution is described in DE 4420639 C1 where the movable tool mounting plate is horizontally supported by rollers along two axes in a spaced relationship, wherein the rollers are movable on and supported by guide bars. Another older solution of a similar type is known for the patent application 19501469.3 where the fixed tool mounting plate is biaxially supported a leg of the machine frame. In this solution, the end plate is rigidly connected to the leg of the machine frame. In DE 4420639 C1, on the other hand, both the end plate and the fixed tool mounting plate are each biaxially supported by the legs of the machine frame. It is also known from the two older solutions that the ends of the guide bars are fastened to the machine frame.

Mold closing device without crossbeam for injection molding machine

Hemscheidt Maschinentechnik Schwerin GmbH & Co.


The network relay device includes a central processing unit that includes a routing unit that executes routing of packets received from a network; a storage unit that concurrently with the routing stores packets in a predetermined storage means; and an analysis commencement means that sets the analysis commencement timing for commencement of analysis of whether packets stored in a storage means are unauthorized infiltration data and based on this timing, causes the commencement of analysis of packets stored in the storage means, the analysis to be made by an unauthorized infiltration analysis means for determining whether packets are unauthorized infiltration data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network relay device; more specifically, it relates to a network relay device capable of detecting unauthorized infiltration data, such device being a router that performs routing between external networks and internal networks.
2. Related Technology
When external networks such as the Internet and internal networks are connected, in order to transmit data to the appropriate destination, network relay devices are used to select a route and execute routing.
In such cases where external networks and internal networks are connected by such a relay device, a system is needed to prevent unauthorized infiltration from the external networks to the internal networks.
One system for preventing unauthorized infiltration from external networks is a firewall device, which is positioned between an external barrier segment that can be accessed from external networks and an internal segment to which a server and terminals that comprise internal networks are connected; when the firewall identifies an unauthorized packet that has arrived from an external source, it prevents unauthorized infiltration into the internal segment. The firewall function can be constituted so that, for example, the address of the sender of a TCP/IP packet, the destination address, and the port number are checked; packets with port numbers other than pre-registered port numbers are not allowed to pass.
In addition, in order to prevent unauthorized infiltration from external networks, a firewall may be constituted as a monitoring tool to monitor packet traffic flowing through a network and compare this against a previously prepared traffic pattern characteristic of unauthorized access; in the event that traffic corresponding to such traffic is detected, an alert is displayed, or the connection is cut off, or other such processing is conducted.
Of the above-described systems for preventing unauthorized infiltration from external networks, most are for corporate use; the object of such systems is to monitor packets transmitted from external networks in real time, and to detect and prevent unauthorized infiltration as quickly as possible. For this reason, in network relay devices such as routers that perform routing between external networks and internal networks, when they are given the function to prevent this kind of unauthorized infiltration, priority is given to detecting unauthorized infiltration, even at the expense of routing capability.
In households, too, always-on Internet connections have become commonplace, and thus systems not just for corporations but for households, too, have become necessary for preventing unauthorized infiltration from external networks. When the above-described systems for preventing unauthorized infiltration into corporate networks are used in routers designed for household use, there are problems in terms of cost performance, as the system will have unnecessarily high processing capabilities. Furthermore, because a household does not need the advanced anti-infiltration function needed by corporations, even if unauthorized infiltration analysis is carried out in real time for all packets, resulting in a degraded routing function, it is difficult to imagine that a superior infiltration prevention effect can be achieved.


A method for controlling a grid-connected power supply system having multiple power supply modules, a relay commonly connected to output terminals of the power supply modules and connected between the power supply modules and a mains power grid, and a controller controlling each power supply module and the relay. The method is performed by the controller after the grid-connected power supply system is started and has steps of determining if each power supply module outputs power, activating each power supply module and charging an energy storage capacitor of the power supply module, and activating the relay when the stored voltages of the energy storage capacitors of all the power supply modules are greater than a preset peak voltage of the mains power. Accordingly, required number of relays is reduced and the size of the system can thus be more compact.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a grid-connected power supply system and more particularly to a method for controlling a grid-connected power supply system.
2. Description of the Related Art
The increasing use of energy since industrial revolution has brought with it the concern of global energy depletion that human beings have to encounter sooner or later. Looking for alternative energy has become a worldwide urgent matter for mankind to keep developing for now and in the future. Generating electricity from solar energy to supply power to electric appliances is a rather commonplace technique currently.
Suppliers of conventional grid-connected power supply system have begun to incorporate converted alternative energy, such as wind energy, solar energy and the like, with the utility grid to reduce the mains power consumption. With reference to FIG. 4, a conventional grid-connected power supply system has a first power supply module 80 and a second power supply module 90. The first power supply module and the second power supply module absorb solar energy and convert it into electricity through two respective solar panels 81, 91. Electricity is further converted into DC power by two DC to DC converters 82, 92 and two rectifiers 83, 93 to store the DC power in two energy storage capacitors C11, C22. After a stored voltage Vbus1 or Vbus2 of the energy storage capacitor C11, C22 is greater than the voltage of the post-end mains power, a relay 70 closes and DC power outputted from the rectifiers 83, 93 is converted into AC power through two DC to AC converters 84, 94 and then outputted to the output capacitors C1 and C2 and further to the mains power grid. Hence, the regenerative energy, such as solar energy, wind energy and the like, is converted into electricity, which is further converted into AC power and outputted to the mains power grid, so as to reduce mains power consumption.
However, when one of the solar panels 81, 91 fails to supply solar energy to the first and second power supply modules 80, 90 and the stored voltage Vbus1, Vbus2 of the energy storage capacitors C11, C12 is less than a peak voltage value of the mains power, the voltage of the mains power charges the energy storage capacitors C11, C12 through a body diode of each metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) inside the DC to AC converters 84, 94. A surge current is generated during the charge-back process to pass through the body diode of each MOSFET and discharge huge power heating up or even burning out the body diode of each MOSFET. To prevent the mains power from charging the energy storage capacitors C11, C12, with reference to FIG. 5, a relay 85, 95 is usually connected to an output terminal of each of the first and second power supply modules 80, 90 to ensure that each of the first and second power supply modules 80, 90 is isolated from the mains power to avoid further damaging the DC to AC converters 84, 94.
Although the approach connecting the relay to each of the first and second power supply modules 80, 90 indeed isolates each of the first and second power supply modules 80, 90 and further prevents the DC to AC converter 84, 94 inside each of the first and second power supply modules 80, 90 from being burned out, the relay is costly and occupies more space due to its bulky size. In the case of a power supply system having multiple sets of power supply modules, the cost and size issues even aggravate.

Method for controlling a grid-connected power supply system


Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention use a data processing system to aggregate information reflecting demand for an item based on input requests associated with the item, each request having been received from a remote user and including remote user identification information, provide the aggregated information to a plurality of suppliers, each capable of supplying the item, receives at least one proposed response from at least one of the suppliers, including a proposal for providing the item to the remote users, and provides the proposed response to the remote users based on the remote user identification information. Aggregated information is provided without the remote user identification information associated the requests.

A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electronic commerce and, more particularly, to an apparatus and methods for determining consumer demand for goods and services such as travel-related products. This invention also relates to an apparatus and methods for distributing information reflecting consumer demand for goods and services to multiple suppliers capable of supplying the goods and services in demand for the purpose of packaging goods and services and offering those packages to the consumers.
B. Description of the Related Art
The Internet has been hailed the marketplace of the future, a result of its accessibility and usability. A computer equipped with a communication mechanism such as a modem and telephone connection is nearly all that is necessary to gain access to the Internet. A program called a browser, such as the Netscape Navigator from Netscape Corporation, makes it a simple task to traverse the vast network of information available on the Internet and, specifically, its subpart known as the "World Wide Web."
The architecture of the Web follows a conventional client-server model. The terms "client" and "server" are used to refer to a computer's general role as a requester of data (the client) or provider of data (the server). Under the Web environment, Web browsers reside in clients and specially formatted "Web documents" reside on Internet (Web) servers. Web clients and Web servers communicate using a conventional protocol called "HyperText Transfer Protocol" (HTTP).
In operation, a browser opens a connection to a server and initiates a request for a document. The server delivers the requested document, typically in the form coded in a standard such as the "HyperText Markup Language" (HTML) format. After the document is delivered, the connection is closed. The browser displays the document or performs a function designated by the document.
Every day, more people gain access to the Web, and every day, more of them are shopping online. Online shopping provides a level of convenience they want, need and will soon demand. Electronic commerce or "e-commerce" is the term often used to refer, at least in part, to online shopping on the Web. E-commerce is a unique opportunity for businesses of any size. E-commerce can expand a company's marketplace-and consequently, its customer database. By simply providing a Web server having information on the company's product offerings and the customer database, and linking the Web server to the Web, the company can track visits, sales, buying trends and product preferences-all at the customer level. The company can then present its customers with products they are most likely to buy-on an individual basis. For this reason alone most marketing professionals consider the Web to be one of the best direct marketing tools.
But the number of retailers with online stores is growing exponentially every year, making it increasingly difficult for online shoppers to navigate the Web to locate particular products at the best prices. This challenge for consumers also introduces a problem for merchants in designing campaigns to attract consumers to the merchants' Web sites and away from their competitors' sites.
Certain known business methods, and conventional implementations of those methods on the Internet, give consumers greater control over a business deal by permitting consumers to request products and services and set the price they are willing to pay for those products and services, such as travel products like airfare, car rentals, and similar travel commodities. See, for example, systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,794,207 and 5,845,265. One example of this type of business method is currently available on the Internet at the Uniform Resource Locator ("URL") www.priceline.com. Priceline.com claims to communicate consumer demand for products and services derived from the requests directly to suppliers or to their private databases. Consumers agree to hold their offers open for a specified period of time to enable priceline.com to fulfill their offers from inventory provided by the suppliers. By requiring consumers to be flexible with respect to suppliers, priceline.com claims to enable suppliers to generate incremental revenue without disrupting their existing distribution channels or retail pricing structures. But this approach fails to recognize the importance of the information on consumer demand that is not satisfied by the inventory provided by the suppliers.
Other business methods, and conventional implementations of those methods on the Internet, also collect demand but for a different purpose. One conventional approach (currently located at the URL www.accompany.com) collects demand for a particular product or service for the purpose of securing increased savings on that product or service based on the demand. For example, using this approach one to five consumers would obtain a particular discount on a product but if an additional consumer also seeks to obtain the same product then all six consumers would obtain a further discount. Like the priceline.com example, this too fails to recognize the importance of the information on consumer demand that is not satisfied by the inventory provided by the suppliers.
There is therefore a need for a system that can attract more consumers to a Web server by delivering products and services based on demand collected from consumers but not otherwise satisfied by suppliers. Such a system not only permits the server to expose more consumers to its products and services but also it permits the server to expose an increasing number of consumers to information such a advertisements for products and services.

Demand aggregation and distribution system


A droplet ejecting component of the present invention includes an ejecting component having a charge and discharge characteristic, an applying component being provided with a transistor, and an increasing component. The ejecting component ejects a droplet. When a control signal is inputted, the applying component applies an application voltage to the ejecting component, and the increasing component increases the impedance of the transistor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a droplet ejecting apparatus and a current control method, and particularly to a droplet ejecting apparatus and current control method for ejecting a droplet from an ejecting component.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have conventionally been known inkjet recording devices (so-called inkjet printers) having an ink jet recording head which, by using an actuator structured by a piezoelectric element or the like, changes the volume of (expands or contracts) a pressure generating chamber in which ink is filled, and, due to the change in pressure at the interior of the chamber caused by this change in volume, causes an ink drop to be ejected from the distal end of a nozzle which is formed to communicate with the pressure generating chamber.
The trend toward increasing the printing speeds of inkjet recording devices has strengthened in recent years. To this end, inkjet recording heads have come to be used in which the inkjet recording head is made to be longer, the number of nozzles per inkjet recording head is increased, and the nozzles are disposed so as to be arrayed in the form of a matrix, thereby enabling image formation over a wide region in a shorter period of time.
Thus, when the inkjet recording head is lengthened further than the width of a recording sheet, the inkjet recording head is provided with many ejectors formed from the above-described pressure generating chambers, nozzles, and the like.
In the case where the piezoelectric element is pulse-driven, an extremely large instant current is required when starting the drive of the piezoelectric element. Since the piezoelectric elements are simultaneously driven in the inkjet recording head, the total current is increased excessively when the current for starting the drive of the piezoelectric element is large.
For example it is assumed that a piezoelectric element having an electrostatic capacity of 600 pF is pulse-driven by power supply voltage of 20V while the pulse has a rise time of 1 μs. In this case, assuming that instant maximum current is about 30 mA and the inkjet recording head has the 1024 ejectors, the total current becomes about 30 A, so that maximum power supply capacity of about 600 VA is instantaneously required.
Thus, in the conventional inkjet recording head, the challenge has been to decrease the instant passage of the current through the piezoelectric element when starting the drive of the piezoelectric element.
Conventionally the rise time during which the voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element in starting the drive is lengthened in order to solve the problem (see Japanese Patent No. 3104304). However, in consideration of the generation of the small-diameter droplets (discharge: generation start to charge: cutting tail portion), the rise time cannot be lengthened too long. Particularly, for an ejector in which the pressure chamber is compressed by the charge, the desired droplet cannot be generated when the rise time is excessively long.
It is also thought that the charge and discharge are performed while output impedance of a drive circuit is decreased stepwise (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-094364). However, spike current is generated in the switching, and there is a possibility that the instant passage of the maximum current through the piezoelectric element is, conversely, increased.

Droplet ejecting apparatus and current control method


The present invention relates to an optical fiber containing a glass fiber and a coating layer in contact with the outer circumference of the glass fiber, and a method for manufacturing the optical fiber, in which the coating layer contains silane coupling agents represented by the following formulae (1) and (2):

An optical fiber having a structure that an optical bare fiber composed of a silica-based glass such as pure glass is coated with a resin layer is usually formed by melt-drawing a silica-based glass preform by means of a drawing apparatus to form an optical bare fiber and subsequently applying a curable resin composition on the outer circumference of the optical bare fiber by means of a coating die or the like, followed by curing. Moreover, the adhesion between the optical bare fiber and the coating layer has been improved by incorporating a silane coupling agent into the above curable resin composition.
In the case where the coating layer is formed of a material containing a silane coupling agent, strength deterioration is accelerated. In order to solve this problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of forming the coating layer on an optical bare fiber with the material containing the silane coupling agent, subsequently heating the layer under a high-humidity atmosphere, and then subjecting it to a drying treatment.
Furthermore, after the coating layer is formed of the curable resin composition containing the silane coupling agent on the outer circumference of the optical bare fiber, for example, the optical fiber is taken up on a bobbin.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-63-11550

Optical fiber and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract: in the formulae, R1 represents a group capable of reacting with an acryl group or an acryl group, and R2 to R8 are each the same or different and represent an alkyl group.


The present invention relates to edible products with masked bitter, sour and/or astringent taste. The new products comprise a sweetening agent and from 0.2 to 25% by weight plant sterol ester, wherein the amount of sweetening agent is reduced as compared to a regular product.

Many food products and beverages have unpleasant, undesired taste, which is often mainly related to excess bitterness or sourness. Because the taste of the product plays an essential role when determining the final acceptance by the consumer, efforts have been made to mask or diminish the unpleasant taste. Some examples of products that have unpleasant, bitter or sour taste are e.g. beverages, such as fruit and vegetable juices, coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate products, soy products and cereal products, especially soy and cereal based drinks, fermented products, such as yoghurts and fermented soy products. The unpleasant taste is often more pronounced in low viscosity products than in products having higher viscosity. The products mentioned above are currently consumed in increasing amounts.
Various methods have been used to mask the unpleasant taste. A commonly used method is to mask the unpleasant taste by enhancing the sweetness of the product. This is usually achieved by adding extra sugar or other sweetening agents. In most cases, this imparts additional calories into the products and truly low calorie products cannot be formulated by using this approach. Food industry has currently put a lot of emphasis on developing products with low carbohydrate content, especially with low sugar and other absorbable carbohydrate content. These so called "low carb" or lowered GI (Glycemic Index) products are marketed for e.g. weight control purposes. However, the need of masking the bitter, astringent or sour taste also in these low carb products still remains, and it has been done e.g. by using artificial sweetening agents. Although these low-calorie or non-calorie artificial sweetening agents bring only few or not at all extra calories to the product, some of them, e.g. saccharin and Acesulfame-K have bitter off-taste themselves. In addition, there are many regulatory restrictions in usage of the above mentioned sweetening agents, e.g. their use is allowed only in a limited range of products and in limited amounts. Also the safety of some of these products is still under debate, and for example consumption of aspartame should be avoided by phenylketonuric individuals. The increasing number "low carb" products on the market may lead to increased consumption of artificial sweetening agents and thus the accepted daily intake limits of these sweetening agents are exceeded more easily. Truly low carbohydrate or low sugar products with good taste characteristics and with no increased amounts of artificial sweetening agents are thus not easily formulated.
The sugar most often used to mask undesired tastes is sucrose, and reducing the amount of it is therefore the most preferred embodiment of the invention. Also fructose and fructose syrups are very common and often preferred because of their stronger relative sweetness compared to sucrose. In the past, fructose was considered to be a better choice than sucrose or glucose, especially for people having diabetes mellitus, because fructose digestion results in smaller postprandial glycemic and insulin excursions than glucose. However, more recently fructose has been found to be a contributor to many diseases, such as manifestations of the insulin resistance syndrome. Fructose consumption induces insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, i.e. risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Consumption of fructose is also likely to lead to increased energy intake, weight gain and obesity. Thus added fructose is not recommended. Especially people with insulin resistance or hyperlipidemia should not choose products sweetened with fructose. (Elliot S. S. et al., Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 76 (2002) 911). Sugar alcohols have also been used as sweetening agent, but their sweetness, and ability to mask undesired tastes, is poor compared to fructose or sucrose based ingredients. In addition to sugar and other sweetening agents, also other components have been used to mask or reduce the unpleasant taste, e.g. different kind of aromas and also certain lipid compounds or compositions containing lipids. Especially triglycerides, with high content of saturated fatty acids, are known to be effective in masking undesired taste in food products. This has been applied also in the so called "low carb" products, where the reduction of sugar and other carbohydrate sweetening agents has been compensated if not with artificial sweetening agents then e.g. with higher content of triglyceride lipids compared to regular products. However, triglycerides can have a negative effect on the nutritional characteristics of the product. Lipids also impart extra calories to the product.
The effect of plant sterols on the taste characteristics of food products has most commonly been described either as adverse or having no effect. Examples of regular products (as defined later) into which plant sterols have been added are disclosed in the following patents and patent applications: U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,353, WO 02/082929, DE 101 09 708, CN 1299619, DE 100 63 288, WO 00/41491, U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,206, U.S. 2002/0064548 and WO 01/54686.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,353 discloses a composition that comprises one or more esterified and subsequently hydrogenated phytosterols and is suitable for incorporation into foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Also foods and beverages comprising the composition are disclosed.
WO 02/082929 discloses food products comprising dietary fibre and plant sterol. Food products, such as fermented yoghurt-like cereal products, fermented dairy product, fruit drink, vanilla ice cream-type food and fruit musli containing elevated levels of plant sterols and dietary fibre are disclosed.
DE 101 09 708 discloses a water-soluble active agent concentrate containing phytosterol and an emulsifier such as polysorbate and a method of producing the concentrate. Beverages containing the concentrate are also claimed.
CN 1299619 discloses a protein beverage comprising phytosterol aliphatic ester.
DE 100 63 288 discloses mixed fruit, vegetable, milk and/or wine beverage containing up to 20 gal added phytosterols. The beverages are produced by adding a solution containing phytosterols and an emulsifier to a base beverage prepared from fruit, vegetables, milk or wine.
WO 00/41491 teaches that adding plant sterols into various milk or soy milk based products resulted in products that had similar texture, appearance and flavour or were substantially indistinguishable from the corresponding product compositions without added plant sterols. Thus no changes or improvements in the taste characteristics were noted.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,206 discloses compositions that contain the hydroxyl acid or dicarboxylic acid or amino acid esters of a phytosterol and/or phytostanol, or the mixed esters formed with alcohols, polyols or polyol (C2-C22)-fatty acid esters of dicarboxylic acids or hydroxyl acids or the (C2-C22)-fatty acid esters of hydroxyl acids and dietary fats comprising these compositions. Adding the compounds of the invention into chocolate flavoured truffles, mayonnaise, alcoholic beverage or spread did not have adverse effect on the product's taste.
U.S. 2002/0064548 describes a method for dispersing plant sterol. The method comprises steps of melting an admixture of plant sterol and an emulsifier, mixing the molten mixture with an aqueous beverage or emulsifier-containing aqueous beverage and stirring the mixture at a high speed to give a dispersion of plant sterol in a beverage. In the beverages thus obtained plant sterols are in a form of nano-sized micelles that have no influence on the characteristic taste and flavour of the beverages.
WO 01/54686 describes how the bitter taste of L-arginine is reduced by coating arginine with phytosterols. The bitter tasting component, L-arginine, is mixed with the coating material (phytosterols) in a solvent system, such as hexane and ethanol. Then the mixture is dried, e.g. spray dried, to obtain phytosterol-coated L-arginine. The bitter, fishy unpleasant taste of L-arginine is diminished by this technique.
Although the coating technique is effective in reducing the bitter or otherwise unpleasant taste, one disadvantage is the need for extra processing, e.g. drying. This makes the process both unsuitable for certain type of products and expensive.
SU 635951 introduces a method to improve the taste of canned dietetic food products containing beta-sitosterol. Taste is improved by reducing the amount of beta-sitosterol in the product.
WO 02/065845 discloses a deodorization process and a phytosterol-containing edible fat composition produced by the deodorization process. The phytosterol-containing edible fat composition produced by this process has an improved taste although it contains a sufficient amount of a phytosterol.
It is known that increasing the viscosity of the product decreases the intensity of bitter and/or sour taste. However, many products are preferred to be consumed in a liquid or low-viscosity form. There are not good methods for producing low-viscosity, low-sugar and low-fat products where bitter and/or sour tastes are well masked.
There is a growing need for healthy products with good taste and high nutritional value.
Low-fat products with reduced unpleasant or too strong tastes, such as bitterness or sourness, without increased sugar and/or calorie and/or artificial sweetening agent content are needed. Especially products with low viscosity, such as beverages, with these characteristics would be desirable. The present invention provides products meeting these requirements.

Edible product with masked bitter, sour and/or astringent taste


A pixel arrangement structure may include a plurality of repeating units (100). Each of the plurality of the repeating units (100) may include a first sub-pixel (01) being at a center point of a virtual hexagon and second sub-pixels (02) and third sub-pixels (03) being alternately arranged at vertices of the virtual hexagon. Virtual hexagons of adjacent repeating units may share one common side as well as two sub-pixels on the common side.

Compared with liquid crystal display apparatuses, Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display apparatuses have low energy consumption, low production cost, self-luminescence, wide viewing angle, quick response speed, and other advantages. At present, in the field of flat panel displays such as mobile phones, PDAs, and digital cameras, OLED display apparatuses have begun to replace the traditional liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatuses.
The structure of the OLED display apparatus mainly includes a base substrate and sub-pixels arranged in an array on the base substrate. Each of the sub-pixels is generally made of organic material and formed by an evaporation film-forming technique using a high-precision metal mask. Organic electroluminescent structures are formed at corresponding sub-pixel positions on the array substrate.
Since the sizes of the sub-pixels are directly determined by the sizes of the openings of the high-precision metal mask, there is a limitation in the manufacturing process for the high-precision metal mask. It is very difficult to manufacture a high-resolution display apparatus using the conventional RGB pixel arrangement structure.

Pixel arrangement structure, high-precision metal mask, and display apparatus with hexagon pixel arrangement

BEIJING BOE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.


The present invention provides a process for producing thermoplastic foam, including:. (a) melting a thermoplastic polymer to produce a polymer melt;. (b) introducing a carbon dioxide blowing agent into the polymer melt;. (c) adding to the polymer melt one or more additives selected from the group consisting of. (1) polysiloxane, and PA1 (2) mineral oil; and. (d) extruding and foaming the melted polymer melt, blowing agent, and one or more additives to produce thermoplastic foam.. The resultant thermoplastic foam can be thermoformed into various foamed articles, such as foam packaging trays. The quality of foams made from a carbon dioxide blowing agent, and particularly 100% carbon dioxide, has been found to be substantially improved by adding one or more of the foregoing additives, i.e., polysiloxane, mineral oil and, optionally, polyolefin to the polymer melt during the extrusion and foaming process. Such foams have far less ruptured cells, surface cracks and corrugation than comparable foams made with a carbon dioxide blowing agent but which lack the additives of the present invention.

The present invention relates to thermoplastic foams and a process for producing thermoplastic foams using a carbon dioxide blowing agent. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for producing foam using a carbon dioxide blowing agent whereby certain additives are used to produce foams of improved quality.
Thermoplastic foams are generally produced in a tandem extrusion process (two extruders in series). The first extruder melts thermoplastic polymer to produce a polymer melt. A high-pressure metering pump delivers a blowing agent to the polymer melt near the end of the first extruder where mixing is initiated prior to entering the second extruder where further mixing and cooling of the blowing agent and polymer melt occurs. After exiting the second extruder, the polymer melt passes through and becomes a foam structure at a die, generally an annular die. The foam structure, generally in the shape of an annular tube, is then stretched over a forming mandrel. The annular tube coming off the mandrel is slit and opened to form a sheet which is then gathered on one or more rolls. The rolled foam sheet is typically aged for a predetermined period of time and then thermoformed into a foamed article, e.g., a packaging tray.
Blowing agents which are most commonly used at present include aliphatic hydrocarbons, e.g., C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkanes, and fully or partially halogenated hydrocarbons, e.g., chlorinated and/or fluorinated hydrocarbons. Such conventional blowing agents possess or cause one or more of the following undesirable characteristics: pollution, potential damage to the ozone layer, flammability, poor thermoforming characteristics, brittleness, high cost, and the need for a prolonged aging period to allow some or all of the blowing agent to diffuse from the foam sheet prior to thermoforming. For these reasons, alternatives to the foregoing blowing agents have been sought.
One such alternative is carbon dioxide, which avoids most or all of the foregoing undesirable characteristics of conventional blowing agents. However, due to the extreme volatility and high vapor pressure of carbon dioxide, it is a difficult blowing agent to use, often resulting in a foam sheet with ruptured cells, surface defects (e.g., cracks), and corrugation, i.e., thickness variations within the foam sheet which produce a rippled or wavy surface appearance. Each of the foregoing occurrences detrimentally affect the physical properties of the foam (e.g., strength) as well as the aesthetic qualities thereof.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved process for producing thermoplastic foam from a carbon dioxide blowing agent which produces a high-quality foam, i.e., one with fewer ruptured cells, surface defects, and corrugation.

Foam and process for producing a carbon dioxide blowing agent


A servo writer of the invention writes a servo signal in a magnetic tape, reads and inspects the signal, and has a servo writer main body and a plurality of unit panels changeably loaded to a panel change unit provided at the main body according to a product class of the tape, wherein any of the unit panels has a servo write head for writing the signal in the tape and a write-sub-control mechanism for controlling a writing of the signal by the write head, wherein the write head and the sub-control mechanism write a predetermined signal in the tape, and wherein the main body has a signal main control mechanism for mainly controlling a writing of the signal in the tape by the write head, a servo read head for reading the signal written in the tape, and a signal inspection mechanism for processing and inspecting the signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a servo writer for writing a servo signal in a magnetic tape, and a write and inspection method of the servo signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a magnetic tape is widely used as a recording medium for recording/reproducing data. In the magnetic tape are formed many data tracks for recording data in lateral directions of the magnetic tape in order to heighten a recording density per unit area. In the magnetic tape, because minute movements in the lateral directions are repeated in running due to various reasons, it becomes difficult for a recording/reproducing head to completely trace the data tracks in recording/reproducing data. Consequently, in recording/reproducing data an apparatus for recording/reproducing this kind of magnetic tape makes it a reference a servo signal written in the magnetic tape in advance, and dynamically controls a tracking of the recording/reproducing head for the magnetic tape. In other words, the apparatus reads a servo signal by a servo read head integrally formed with the recording/reproducing head, detects a displacement of a position of the recording/reproducing head in the lateral directions of the magnetic tape, and moves the recording/reproducing head or controls a running state of the magnetic tape so as to modify the displacement. The servo signal is written along a running direction in advance by a dedicated servo writer (see paragraphs 0002 to 0005 of JP 2003-141836A).
Because the servo signal is written in a magnetic tape with a different pattern according to a product class of the magnetic tape, a servo writer for writing the servo signal is specialized, matching each of the product class. Therefore, in order to divert a servo writer used for writing the servo signal in one product class of a magnetic tape to a writing of a servo signal in another product class of a magnetic tape, it becomes necessary to revamp the servo writer and to change a control circuit in order to change a standard for inspecting and evaluating a servo signal to be written and a servo signal written. In other words, in order to write a servo signal corresponding to a magnetic tape different in a product class are needed a work for refixing a servo write head or its circuit and a reproducing head or its circuit, and a change of conditions thereof. Therefore, it is necessary to stop the servo writer for a long time, and there is a problem in productivity and cost of the magnetic tape. On the other hand, in order to avoid the problem due to such the work of refixing the servo write head, although servo writers corresponding to each product classes are respectively prepared as many as a number of the product classes, there is a problem in equipment cost and magnetic tape cost.
But these years it is requested to produce a wide variety of products timely by a proper amount because of a format diversification of a magnetic tape market. In order to efficiently produce such different product classes of magnetic tapes, it is also requested that a servo writer for writing a servo signal in the magnetic tapes can flexibly handle a change of a product class, switch such a servo write head, write a proper servo signal in every magnetic tape, and inspect the servo signal written.
Consequently, it is strongly requested a servo writer that can write a proper servo signal for each magnetic tape different in a product class thereof, and inspect the servo signal written; and a write and inspection method of the servo signal using the servo writer.

Servo writer, and write and inspection method of servo signal


A multiple plate clutch/brake employs a single electromagnet coil to attract an elongate cylindrical armature to compress a series of non-ferromagnetic friction plates alternately joined to one of two independently rotatable shafts. The armature joins one set of friction plates to its shaft for torsional but not axial forces. The compression of the friction plates by the armature transmits torque between the shafts rather than frictional contact by the armature itself. The magnetic path to the armature may pass through two axial gaps to provide a net axial force on the armature. A portion of the magnetic path is provided by one of the shafts.

Clutches are used to control the transmission of torque between rotatable shafts. Positive clutches, when engaged, lock the shafts together to rotate as one. Frictional clutches permit slipping between the shafts that allows different rotational velocities of the shafts, or when one shaft is locked, for the clutch to be used in a braking capacity.
It is known to produce electrical friction clutches in which a rotor, attached to one shaft, is sandwiched between a stationary electromagnet and an independently rotatable armature attached to a second shaft. Activation of the electromagnet produces a magnetic flux channeled through the material of the rotor and the armature drawing them together in frictional contact.
When high torque capacity is required, a multiple plate clutch may be used in which the two shafts are connected alternately to ones of interleaving disks arranged perpendicularly to the shafts. A compression of the disks together causes a transmission of torque in proportion to the compressing force and the number of disks. Larger numbers of disks permit higher torque transmission with less compressive force.
Typically the disks of a multiple plate clutch are compressed by mechanical or hydraulic means. Electrical activation of a multiple plate friction clutch is hampered by the inability to create a magnetic attraction between multiple plates analogous to the attraction of the armature and rotor in conventional electric friction clutch design.

Electro-mechanical variable speed clutch


An image forming system including: an instruction input unit that allows a user to input a calibration execution instruction for performing a calibration; a restriction setting unit that sets a restriction setting that restricts performing the calibration; a determination unit that determines whether or not to restrict performing the calibration based on the restriction setting; and a control unit that performs the calibration in response to the execution instruction while the determination unit determines that the calibration is allowed to be performed, and ignores the execution instruction while the determination unit determines that the calibration is restricted from being performed.

Conventionally, in the field of image forming apparatus, calibration is performed commonly to maintain high image quality. For example, there is disclosed in JP-A-2004-252573 a configuration in which calibration can be performed with timing desired by a user. There is disclosed in JP-A-2000-190573 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,105 B1) a technique for prohibiting calibration even when the apparatus side determines that the calibration is necessary, if a user restricts execution of the calibration.
In recent years, printers have increasingly come to be used in such a form as to be network-connected via a LAN or the like and thereby be used by plural users. Therefore, in the configuration as described in JP-A-2004-252573 in which calibration can be started by a user, there is a probability that calibration is performed frequently or thoughtlessly by a large number of users. Performing calibration too frequently is not desirable because it generally causes deterioration of expendables and generates noise sound. There is another problem in that a hue, which has been used by a certain user as his or her favorite, is changed suddenly by calibration ordered by another user.
On the other hand, JP-A-2000-190573 discloses a technique for prohibiting, according to a user's request, calibration that the apparatus is going to perform automatically. However, this technique cannot solve the above problem that calibration may be performed frequently or thoughtlessly by a large number of users, because priority is given to a user's request.

Image forming system and image forming apparatus


The present invention provides a system and method for conducting a coal combustion process, including methods of improving the opacity of the off-gases or inhibiting ash fouling. The method includes a step of combusting pulverized coal to form flyash, including a fume component formed from organically associated inorganics in the pulverized coal, and combustion off-gases, and a step of injecting a substantially noncombustible, preformed, coarse particulate material into the combustion process.

The combustion of coal in a boiler, as in a pulverized coal-fired electric power generating plant, produces flyash. The composition of the flyash varies depending, for example, on the composition of the coal and the combustion conditions. Generally, flyash is a fine, solid, noncombustible mineral residue, which is distinct from bottom ash, cinders, or slag. Flyash can have widely varying particle size, density, shape, porosity, internal structure, and surface chemistry. It is typically composed of oxidized silicon, aluminum, calcium, iron, titanium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfur, etc.
The sources of flyash from coal can generally be classified into two categories: mineral inclusions, i.e., extraneous minerals; and, organically associated inorganic elements ("OAI's" or inherent minerals). Inherent minerals are the components of the coal, such as sulfur, sodium, calcium, and potassium, which are not present as mineral inclusions in the coal matrix, but are actually associated with the chemical structure of the complex hydrocarbons which make up the coal's combustible component. The mineral inclusions are the solid, generally crystalline, compounds that are found in salt, rock, clay, and iron pyrites, for example.
The formation of flyash during coal combustion generally depends upon the transformation of minerals during the pyrolytic process of combustion, and the release of inorganic elements on an atomic or near atomic scale from the hydrocarbon matrix that comprises the structure of the coal itself. The inorganic elements released from the organically associated inorganics form a "fume," i.e., a suspension of particles in a gas, with an average particle size of about 1 micron or less. In some instances, the minerals which form the fume will be such as to exist in the vapor state, at least when the fume is the hottest. This may be the case, for example, for sodium and potassium oxides. Typically, the fume is composed of oxides of such elements as sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
Mineral associated flyash, i.e., ash formed from the mineral inclusions, commonly exists in a fairly wide range of particle sizes. Generally, however, it is most often between about 1 micron and about 100 microns in size (diameter). That is, the particle size distribution of the flyash formed from the mineral inclusions is typically such that the bulk of it, by weight, is of particles about 2 to 70 microns in diameter. In flyash, such materials are often generated from coal as glassy cenospheres.
Disposition of flyash from coal-burning installations such as power generating plants is an increasingly difficult problem. Strict environmental restrictions pertaining to air quality standards and the handling and final placement of flyash have combined to make flyash a source of escalating processing costs and environmental concerns common to nearly all coal-burning plants. To meet the environmental standards, flyash is generally removed from the exiting coal combustion off-gases by such arrangements as scrubbers or baghouses. In a typical example, the gas is fed through a shower of water, such as droplets in a venturi scrubber (or aqueous scrubber). The flyash is collected by the water as the gas passes therethrough. The gas is thereby cleansed and the particulate matter in the water is collected or settled in a pond.
The efficiency of collection of particulate collection equipment is often dependent upon particle size. More specifically, typical particle collection equipment experiences a substantial drop in collection efficiency when the particle size drops below about 1 micron in effective diameter. The drop or "roll off" in efficiency can be substantial. Collection efficiencies exceeding 99% are normal for most devices when collecting particle in a size range from several microns in diameter on up. However, collection efficiencies of about 50% or lower are often experienced for the same equipment when the particle size is smaller than 1 micron. Collection efficiency generally worsens as particle size decreases.
Stack "opacity" is a government regulated flyash emission parameter. It generally concerns definition of the "clarity" of stack emission; i.e., percent transmission through a volume of stack emissions. In general, the greater the opacity, the more contaminated the emissions. (Although smaller particles, i.e., particles of about 1 micron or less in size, may have a disproportionate effect in causing stack opacity.) Extreme stack opacity values can limit the types of coal and/or amount of power that can be produced at a generating unit. That is, certain types of coal cannot be burned without extremely efficient scrubber systems or reduced power output because they generate a large amount of particulate matter, which contributes to opacity. Therefore, some coal-burning facilities are limited in the types of coal that can be burned in order to meet particulate emission standards.
What has been needed is still further systems and methods for reduction in the amount of flyash emissions from combustion processes. In particular, what has been needed is a method to eliminate a substantial portion of ultrafine particulate (about 1 micron or less in diameter) from a combustion gas stream, prior to the gas stream's entrance into a conventional particulate collection device. Thus, the gas stream being emitted to the environment would be largely devoid of both normal fly ash and ultrafine particulate. Such systems and methods would allow a wider range of coals to be burned without penalty, resulting in a more aggressive coal fuel purchasing strategy, and reduced cost of electricity production. The particulate emissions can be reduced; and, the power plant can regain a greater total power output (within opacity limits), if it was "opacity limited." Other advantages may result, such as reduced sulfur, toxic materials and/or flyash output from the plant as a result of the properties of the new coal used.
In addition to flyash emission problems, coal-burning facilities are faced with ash fouling problems. This is because coal-burning facilities have become more efficient by increasing the temperature of the steam produced in the boiler. Boilers, and the tubing (heat exchange surfaces) in the boilers, have also been improved so as not to be the limiting factor in obtaining these high temperatures. However, if the boiler tubes (or heat exchange surfaces) are so hot that they exceed the fluxing temperatures of the flyash which is being transported through the tubes along with the combustion off-gases, the flyash can adhere to the tubes. The flyash deposits can then build up in the tubes and interfere with the movement of off-gases and the rate of steam production. This detrimentally effects the efficiency and capacity of the boiler.
Certain types of coal that produce a relatively low amount of flyash upon combustion can be burned, with concomitant reduction in this ash buildup, i.e., ash fouling, problem. However, this is not always economically efficient. It has also been suggested that vermiculite can be added to the gases and flyash produced during a combustion process. This method, however, does not prevent the formation of flyash deposits. The vermiculite actually combines with the flyash to form ash deposits. Although these deposits are easier to remove than pure ash deposits due to the ability of the vermiculite to expand when exposed to elevated temperatures, they must still be removed by the application of jets of steam or soot blowers. It is, therefore, generally desirable to develop a system and method that reduces the amount of flyash buildup in the boiler system.


An input signal represented by values of many levels obtained by reading out an original image is applied to a pixel characteristic extracting unit for extraction of a characteristic of a pixel. Based on the extracted pixel characteristic, a gain calculating process is effected based on the pixel characteristic in a first gain calculating unit. An attribute flag showing an image characteristic extracted by the pixel characteristic extracting unit is added to the gain calculated error data which is stored. An area characteristic is determined in an area characteristic extracting unit based on the flag. Based on the determination result, error correction with high precision is carried out in a second gain calculating unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method of processing an image, and more particularly, to a method of processing an image using an error diffusion method.
2. Description of the Related Art
An error diffusion method is one of gradation representations when image data represented by values of multiple levels is provided to a printer for a binary value. This is an excellent method in which gradation and resolution are compatible with each other. However, a method of processing an image by extracting a characteristic of an original image and controlling an error diffusion parameter based on the characteristic to carry out processing of an image of high quality and with high accuracy is disclosed in Japanese Patent Layed-Open No. 63-214073.
In the above-described method of processing an image, a characteristic of a pixel of interest (edge, concentration and the like) is extracted, and based thereon an amount of error feedback (in the case of a character, the amount of error feedback is set to 0 for simple conversion to a binary value) is controlled. However, such control has a problem from the standpoint of precision. For example, take into consideration the case where, although a characteristic of a pixel of interest is determined to be a character region, a characteristic of a plurality of pixels in the vicinity of the pixel of interest is determined to be a photography region. In this case, in a conventional method of processing an image, the pixel of interest is converted to a binary value by using an error diffusion parameter as the character region. However, it is appropriate to consider that this is caused by generation of any noise on the pixel of interest. Such noise is not subjected to any appropriate process.
In the above-described conventional method of processing an image, an original image is read out to be A/D converted. After that, shading correction or the like for correcting sensitivity variation of a CCD sensor and lighting variation of a light source is carried out in a correcting circuit. A characteristic of a pixel of interest (edge, concentration and the like) is extracted in a characteristic extracting unit based on data after correction, and based thereon the amount of error feedback is controlled.
However, when data is provided to a printer or a CRT having low resolution of dot density by such a method of processing an image, the dot density is increased in high concentration data. Gradation in a shadow region is worse than a theoretical value because of dot overlapping and the like.
On the other hand, in order to prevent deterioration of the gradation, image data is corrected to extract a characteristic of a pixel based on the corrected data, which, in turn, results in characteristic determination with low precision.
In addition, in the above-described conventional method of processing an image, a characteristic of a pixel of interest (edge, concentration and the like) is extracted, and based thereon an amount of error feedback (in the case of a character, the amount of feedback is set to 0 for simple conversion to a binary value) is controlled. However, only such control is not sufficient from the standpoint of precision. Error data obtained by an error diffusion method includes a positive component and a negative component. Since calculation was carried out for the absolute amount of the error data in the above-described conventional method of processing an image, it was difficult to process a special original image in high quality in which a character is written on a photography intermediate region.

Method of processing image having value of error data controlled based on image characteristic in region to which pixel belongs


The object of this invention is to have shorter sealing chambers (preheating chamber and gradual cooling chamber) located before and after the brazing atmospheric chamber, to make higher sealing of the atmosphere, and to prevent the scratch caused by the conventional curtains made of metal or others. In order for that, the structures made of steel or graphite are installed standing perpendicular to the moving direction on the conveyor belt which is circulating through the atmospheric furnace. And the bendable or flexible sealing materials are installed on the ceiling and on the right and left side walls of the sealing chambers (preheating chamber and gradual cooling chamber), which are located before and after the atmospheric furnace, into the above two chambers, and making these bendable or flexible sealing materials have rubbing contact with the above mentioned structures.

This type of atmospheric furnace is used for brazing of aluminum material to be heated. In this case how to keep good atmosphere in the furnace is important. Conventionally furnace atmosphere brought in to the heating chamber of the furnace through the water cooling chamber etc. is maintained with the sealing chambers like the preheating chamber or the gradual cooling chamber.
These sealing chambers have to be placed before and after the furnace. One of the sealing chambers is located at the entrance of the material to be heated and the other sealing chamber is located at the exit. The sealing chambers have to permit the material to be heated go through and at the same time have to maintain the furnace atmosphere. Consequently the sealing chambers have to have long length. Actually more than one metallic curtains etc. to cover every opening of the sealing chambers were the only solution.


A fixing apparatus, includes a fixing roller which has a middle portion and both end portions in an axis direction thereof, a pressing roller which is brought into press contact with the fixing roller for rotating so that a press contact portion is formed, an exfoliating member which exfoliates a sheet-like record medium from a surface of the fixing roller after the record medium is passed through the press contact portion, and restricting members which is provided at both end portions of the exfoliating member, and is brought into contact with the surface of the fixing roller so that an interval between the surface of the fixing roller and the exfoliating member is restricted. The middle portion of the fixing roller is smaller than the both end portions of the fixing roller in a diameter. The restricting members are brought into contact with first portions of the fixing roller other than second portions of the fixing roller in which end edge portions of the pressing roller are brought into contact with the fixing roller.

The present invention relates to a fixing apparatus used in an image forming apparatus of a printer, a facsimile, a copier or the like for forming an image by using an electrophotography technology. Particularly, the invention relates to a restricting member for restricting an interval between a surface of a fixing roller and an exfoliating member of the image forming apparatus.
Also, the invention particularly relates to a technology of improving the exfoliating member.
Generally, an image forming apparatus using an electrophotography technology includes a photo conductive member having a photo conductive layer at an outer peripheral face thereof, a charging member for uniformly charging the outer peripheral face of the photo conductive member, an exposing member for forming an electrostatic latent image by selectively exposing the outer peripheral face uniformly charged by the charging member, a developing member for constituting a visible image (toner image) by providing a toner which is a developing agent to the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposing member, a transferring member for transferring the toner image developed by the developing member on a sheet-like record medium such as a sheet and a fixing apparatus for fixing the toner image onto the record medium transferred with the toner image by the transferring member.
The fixing apparatus includes a fixing roller driven to rotate and a pressing roller rotated by being brought into press contact with the fixing roller. The fixing roller has a heating member. The toner is melted to fix on the record medium by heating the record medium while passing the record medium through a press contact portion formed by the fixing roller and a pressing roller.
Further, since a face of the record medium, on which the toner image is fixed, liable to paste on the fixing roller by adhering operation of the toner, there is provided an exfoliating member for exfoliating and guiding the sheet-like record medium passing the press contact portion from a surface thereof.
JP-A-9-134090 discloses a first related fixing apparatus which includes a fixing roller 1 driven to rotate, a pressing roller 2 rotated by being brought into press contact with the fixing roller 1, an exfoliating member (wire member 11) provided to be proximate to the fixing roller 1 for exfoliating and guiding a sheet-like record medium S passing a press contact portion 3 of the fixing roller 1 and the pressing roller 2 from a surface of the fixing roller 1 and restricting members 12 provided at both end portions of the exfoliating member 11 for restricting an interval between a surface of the fixing roller 1 and the exfoliating member 11 by being brought into contact with both end portions of the fixing roller 1 in which outer side portions of the restricting members 12 are arranged on inner sides of end edge portions of the fixing roller 1. Especially, the first related fixing apparatus is disclosed in paragraphs 0011 through 0013, FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof.
According to JP-A-9-134090, although lengths of the fixing roller 1 and the pressing roller 2 are drawn to be the same, when the fixing apparatus is actually constituted, the lengths of the fixing roller 1 and the pressing roller 2 frequently differ from each other.
Further, although the fixing roller is preferably constituted by a gradual inverse crown shape (shape in which a diameter at a central portion thereof in an axis direction is slightly smaller than a diameter at both end portions thereof) in order to prevent a record medium from being wrinkled in the fixing operation, when the fixing roller is formed in the inverse crown shape, the following problem is found to pose.
For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the fixing roller 1 is constituted by the inverse crown shape and the pressing roller 2 is brought into press contact with the fixing roller 1, an end edge portion 2c of the pressing roller 2 is most strongly brought into press contact with the fixing roller 1. Therefore, an abutment portion of the fixing roller 1 brought into contact with the roller end edge portion 2c of the pressing roller is most significantly worn to bring about a contact mark T1 in a ring-like shape. When a restricting member 12 is brought into contact with a portion of the contact mark T1, the contact state of the fixing roller 1 and the restriction member 12 becomes unstable.
Therefore, it has been found that the interval between the surface of the fixing roller and the exfoliating member is varied, operation of exfoliating the record medium by the exfoliating member is not carried out smoothly and jam (clogging of record medium) is brought about.
By the way, in a case that the fixing roller 11 has a constant diameter in an axis direction thereof and an outer side portion 12a of the restricting member 12 is arranged on an inner side of an end edge portion 1 a of the fixing roller 1 as shown in FIG. 8A, since the restricting member 12 restricts the interval between the exfoliating member 11 and the surface of the fixing roller by being brought into contact with the surface of the fixing roller 1, a contact portion of the surface of the fixing roller is gradually worn by press contact with the restricting member 12 although gradually while the fixing apparatus is operated. The worn portion is produced in a ring-like shape on the surface of the fixing roller as a contact mark. The contact mark is remarkable at portions in correspondence with the both side edge portions of the restricting member 12.
According to the related fixing apparatus shown in FIG. 8A, since an outer side portion 12a of the restricting member 12 is arranged on an inner side of an end edge portion 1a of the fixing roller 1, two streaks of contact marks T1′ and T2′ are produced at portions of the fixing roller 1 in correspondence with both side edge portions 12a and 12b of the restricting member 12.
Also, when the restricting member 12 is brought into contact with the fixing roller 1 having the inverse crown shape as shown in FIG. 8B, it is found that a contact mark T2 is produced at a portion of the fixing roller 1 in correspondence with the outer side portion 12a of the restricting member 12. Because a contact portion of the surface of the fixing roller is gradually worn by press contact with the restricting member 12 although gradually, and the worn portion is produced in a ring-like shape on the surface of the fixing roller as the contact mark T2. When the fixing roller 1 is contracted by a change in temperature of its own as shown in FIG. 8C, the restricting member 12 is slid relative to the fixing roller 1 on an outer side thereof in the axis direction as shown in from an imaginary line to a bold line. The restricting member 12 is brought into contact with a portion of the fixing roller 1 having a diameter larger than that of the case of FIG. 8B and therefore, the interval between the surface of the fixing roller and the exfoliating member is increased by an amount of ΔG which is an amount of a variation of the restricting member 12. As a result, operation of exfoliating the record medium by the exfoliating member is not carried out smoothly and jam (clogging of record medium) is brought about.
Meanwhile, JP-A-11-184300 discloses a second related fixing apparatus which includes a fixing roller driven to rotate, a pressing roller rotated by being brought into press contact with the fixing roller, an exfoliating sheet provided to the fixing roller for exfoliating and guiding a record medium in a sheet-like shape passing a press contact portion of the fixing roller and the pressing roller from a surface of the fixing roller and a support plate for supporting the exfoliating sheet.
Further, the exfoliating sheet has a base member comprised of a heat resistant resin or a metal and a fluororesin layer provided on a surface thereof. The support plate is constituted by a metal. Especially, the second related fixing apparatus is disclosed in paragraphs 0018, 0022 through 0024, FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof.
According to the second related fixing apparatus, the record medium is transported by the press contact portion of the fixing member and the pressing member while being heated and therefore, when the record medium is a medium including moisture of paper or the like, the moisture of the record medium is discharged from an outlet of the press contact portion as steam.
The steam is directed to an upper side, or when the fixing apparatus is provided with blowing device (or sucking device), the steam is directed to a downstream side of an airflow produced by the blowing device.
Therefore, when the exfoliating member is provided on the upper side of the outlet or on the downstream side of the air flow from the outlet of the press contact portion and the exfoliating member is at low temperatures (for example, the exfoliating member is at low temperatures at an initial stage of operating the fixing apparatus and thereafter, the temperature of the exfoliating member is gradually elevated by receiving heat from the fixing member or the like), dropwise condensation is brought about at a surface of the exfoliating member (guide face of the record medium).
The moisture condensed on the surface of the exfoliating member wets the record medium to thereby produce a wet mark on the record medium or bring about a strain of the record medium by the wetting.
Further, in the case of carrying out both faces printing of forming an image on the surface of the record medium and thereafter forming an image also on a rear face thereof, when the rear face side of the record medium is wetted in forming the image on the surface to fix and an image is going to be formed on the wetted rear face side, there is a case in which an electric property of the record medium is changed by wetting the record medium, a toner image cannot be transferred, or melting of the toner is hampered by the wet moisture to thereby bring about a significant defect in the image.

Fixing apparatus having an exfoliating member and a restricting member


A pillar intended to form part of a furniture support, particularly of a seat, and composed of a sliding tube whose frustoconical top end is intended to be engaged with a force fit, by its top part, in a matching frustoconical cavity in the top part of the piece of furniture, and which slides in a support tube fastened to a foot of the piece of furniture. The sliding tube holds captive, with radial clearance, the body of a gas spring whose piston rod is fixed to the bottom of the support tube. A metal reinforcement sleeve is engaged with a force fit inside the frustoconical end part. Its bottom edge serves as a support surface for the top edge of the gas spring body. It is advantageously composed of a split bush carrying a tongue which secures against rotation a pushrod interposed between the locking control finger and an actuating lever.

The present invention relates to a pillar intended to form part of a furniture support or another piece of furniture equipped with a gas spring.
For a long time seats have been known which are equipped with gas springs and which are composed of the following parts:
a foot resting on the floor,
a top part constituting the seating surface in the case of a seat interposed between the foot and the top part, and
a substantially vertical central barrel called a "pillar", which is telescopic and adjustable in height.
In the present text references to position, such as "vertical", "top" and other expressions, relate to the situation occurring when the seat or other piece of furniture is in the position of use.
The seat pillar is in turn composed of three parts:
a bottom tube or "support tube" fastened to the foot, PA1 a top sliding tube fastened to the top part of the piece of furniture, and PA1 a lockable gas spring mounted inside the sliding tube and acting between the two tubes. PA1 at the top by a stop means bearing against the inside surface of the cone and provided with a vertical through passage in which an axial pushrod intended for operating the control finger can move; PA1 at the bottom by a detachable stop means provided with a vertical through passage in which the piston rod of the gas spring is movable.
The gas spring balances the weight of the top part and serves to adjust the length of the pillar, and therefore to maintain the height selected for the top part. Its body is placed, with lateral clearance, in the sliding tube and its rod is fixed by its end remote from the piston on the bottom of the support tube. At its end remote from the rod the body carries an axially movable locking control finger.
The seating surface of the seat is equipped with a pivotable device enabling the control finger to be operated.
The pillar, inside which the gas spring has been placed, is often in the form of a unit delivered ready for use to the furniture manufacturer, who has simply to fasten it to the support and to the seating surface.
For this purpose the foot and the seating surface are each provided with a part in the form of a hollow cone, and the ends of the pillar, that is to say the ends of the support tube and of the sliding tube, have a corresponding matching conical shape for force fitting.
The gas spring body placed inside the sliding tube is held axially:
An arrangement of this kind is described, for example, in German Utility Model No. 84.17962. According to the latter the top stop means is a frustoconical component of a material less rigid than that of the sliding tube.
Pillars of this kind generally give satisfaction and have a long life. Nevertheless, improvements are still possible.
The present invention seeks to provide a pillar for seats, which has a lengthened life without any substantial increase in the weight and the cost price of this pillar.
A systematic study of the causes of failures of existing pillars has shown that such failures occur most often at or near the conical end part of the sliding tube.
Without any wish to analyze here all the possible causes of this preferential location of failures, which may be numerous, it appeared to the inventor to be necessary to reinforce the pillar in that region.
An increase of the thickness of the metal of the sliding tube might have been contemplated. This would entail increased consumption of material and make it more difficult to form the conical part. In addition, as the outside diameter is dictated by the shape of the seating surface, it would have been necessary to reduce the inside diameter, and consequently also to reduce the diameter of the gas spring, which might then have become inadequate.

Pillar intended to form part of a furniture support equipped with a gas spring


An image managing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes image information storage means that stores image information corresponding to captured image data, and cluster managing means that manages the image information by hierarchical clusters that include a plurality of layers of clusters and whose structure is fixed from an uppermost layer to a predetermined layer on the way to a lowermost layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image managing apparatus and an image display apparatus, and relates particularly to an apparatus and processing method for organizing and displaying captured images as well as to a program that makes a computer execute such a processing method.
2. Description of Related Art
Imaging devices for capturing images have become popular, and it has become possible for many users to capture various images with ease. Since users can capture images without difficulty, they may take photographs of streets or landscapes as they please, as a result of which huge quantities of captured image data become accumulated.
When large quantities of image data are accumulated in such a manner, it becomes difficult for users to memorize all the locations at which those images were taken even if they are captured by the users themselves. For this reason, it becomes necessary to have the captured image data and the captured locations thereof be linked in some way. For example, there is proposed a recording system that records image data captured by a camera section and location data obtained from a GPS (Global Positioning System) in such a manner that the two are associated with each other (see, for example, Japanese Published Unexamined Application No. 2003-18506 (FIG. 1)).

Image managing apparatus and image display apparatus


A method for predicting an impact on post-repair yield resulting from manufacturing process modification is described. The method includes receiving bit data representing locations of defective memory cells for a plurality of memory devices. The bit data is modified by removing a selected failure pattern type according to a modification scheme to generate modified bit data. Repairs are simulated on hypothetical memory devices corresponding to the modified bit data, generating a result indicating whether the hypothetical memory device is good or bad. A post-repair yield is then identified and a report is generated indicating the post-repair yield, the post-repair yield representing a number of the plurality of memory devices that would be functional after repair had the plurality of memory devices been manufactured without the selected failure pattern. A method to identify a process providing the best economic benefit is also described.

Computer memory devices pose unique challenges in yield improvement. Because memory devices often contain redundant rows and columns, they are capable of being repaired to a limited extent. A "repair" involves deactivating malfunctioning memory cells and replacing them with available redundant cells that are functional. Typically, repairing involves deactivating one or more bad rows and/or columns of data storage locations on the chip and transferring the functionality of the bad rows and/or columns to the redundant rows and/or columns. This can be done, for example, by applying predetermined voltage to specific locations on the chip causing fuses formed into the circuit to disconnect, thereby modifying the circuit.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary memory device 10 having a main memory region 12 divided into sectors 14. Memory device 10 has a region of redundant rows 18 and a region of redundant columns 20. Redundant rows 18 and columns 20 can be used in place of faulty rows and columns in main memory region 12. In addition, one or more sectors 16 of sectors 14 can be switched off, thereby causing them to be bypassed or ignored in operation. For example, if errors in sector 16 cannot be repaired by using redundant rows or columns, then it can be switched off, and memory device 10 can be converted into a partially-good memory (PGM) device that has less memory capacity than the full designed capacity.
Previously, there has been no reliable approach to predicting the impact of process modification after the repair, or to what extent defective devices can be sold as PGM after repair. The term, "process," refers to the manufacturing process used in producing the memory device. FIG. 2 shows a bar graph presenting exemplary failure rates for a plurality of memory chips. Prior to repair, there are far more single bit failures 32 than any other failure mode. Based on this data, it would appear that the production process should be modified to correct for single bit failures in order to have the greatest yield improvement. However, after repair, it is clear that column patterns 34 are the greater concern since single bit failures can more often be successfully repaired. Therefore, considering the data after the repair, it would make more sense to modify the production process to correct for column patterns. It should be recognized that the data presented in FIG. 2 is for illustration purposes only, and that it represents a real-world problem in simplistic terms. Different types of memory devices have differing failure modes. A process modification for correcting one failure mode can have a negative impact in other failure modes. Unfortunately, the amount of improvement and the amount of negative impact cannot be quantified using current analysis methods because process engineers cannot see beyond the repair to predict the final effect of the process changes.
Furthermore, memory devices can still be sold as partially-good memory even if they do not operate to specifications. PGM devices may have one or more sectors of memory turned off, so they essentially provide less capacity than the maximum capacity possible provided for by the design or specification. This can further complicate the modification of the manufacturing process since more failures of a particular type may be tolerated if the device can still be sold as a PGM device. Again, without knowing the status of the device after being repaired, a sufficiently informed decision cannot be made as to process modifications.

Prediction of impact on post-repair yield resulting from manufacturing process modification


A method for determining the control voltage for a piezoelectric actuator of an injection valve in which at first the pressure in a hydraulic coupler is measured indirectly, before the next injection process. The pressure is measured since the piezoelectric actuator is mechanically coupled to the hydraulic coupler, so that the pressure induces a corresponding piezo voltage in the actuator. This induced voltage is used before the next injection process for correcting the control voltage for the actuator. Too low an induced voltage is valued as a fault for recognizing an intermittent injection operation. The injection valve may be used for a common rail system for fuel injection in a gasoline or diesel engine.

The present invention relates to a method for determining a control signal or drive voltage for a piezoelectric actuator of an injection valve.
An injection valve for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine having a high pressure system (common rail system) is discussed in German Published Patent Application No. 197 328 02, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,760. This injection valve has two valve seats against which a valve closing element is moved when activated by a piezo actuator. If the valve closing element starts out in a closing position at the first valve seat, it can be brought into an intermediate position between the valve seats and then into a second closing position at the second valve seat, with the aid of the piezo actuator. To accomplish this, the piezoelectric actuator is loaded to a control voltage which is a function of the pressure in the common rail system. On account of the voltage applied, the actuator stretches in the longitudinal direction and thereby moves the closing element in the direction of the second valve seat. To reverse the movement of the valve closing element in the direction of the first valve seat, the actuator is unloaded again.
By way of the sequence of movements of the valve closing element from one valve seat to the other, a short-term unloading of a valve control chamber, which is under high pressure, may be achieved, via whose pressure level the activating of a valve needle into an opening or closing position is performed. If the valve closing element is in an intermediate position between the two valve seats, fuel injection takes place. In this way, one can also produce a dual fuel injection, such as a pre-injection and a main injection.
The control of the valve member does not take place directly, but by a hydraulic transmission to a hydraulic coupler. When the piezoelectric actuator is loaded so strongly with voltage that the valve closing member moves from its valve seat, part of the fuel quantity present in the hydraulic chamber is squeezed out through its leakage passage. It is believed that this effect may be particularly large when the control valve is held at the second valve seat facing the high pressure area, since in this case the counteracting force may be particularly great because of the rail pressure. Recharging the low pressure area in the chamber of the hydraulic coupler takes place by a system pressure which, for example can be 15 bar, in practice. The recharging likewise is done via the leakage passage, but only at such time as the piezoelectric actuator is not activated.
In the case of the injection valve discussed above, however, the problem may arise, that the hydraulic coupler, as a rule, may not be completely recharged. The valve lift set at equal control voltages of the piezoelectric actuator can, therefore, be quite different, depending on the degree of recharging. The closer two injections follow one another, the less is the recharging of the coupler. It is also believed that it may be unfavorable that the amount of leakage becomes greater with a long trigger time of the actuator and with a longer loading period of the hydraulic coupler. In this case too, the recharging may not always be guaranteed, and so, a different valve lift is possible at an unchanged control voltage. Again, the different valve lift may have the subsequent disadvantage that the dosing of the injection quantity is imprecise, and, under certain circumstances, can have the effect that the desired injection of fuel does not take place if, because of the low recharging of the coupler, the valve is not positioned correctly, and, therefore, the nozzle needle is not opened.
An exemplary method according to the present invention, for determining the control voltage for a piezoelectric actuator of an injection valve, is believed to have the advantage that an optimal control voltage for the actuator may always be supplied, independently of the duration of the prior injection or its activation. It is also believed to be especially advantageous that, with the aid of the measured parameter, the injection valve may be positioned so that the requisite injection quantity is actually ejected, independently of the momentary filling level of the hydraulic coupler or the pressure prevailing in it. This may be particularly necessary with small dosings.
It is also believed to be especially advantageous that the pressure in the hydraulic coupler acts on the piezoelectric actuator and induces a voltage in it which is measurable at the output terminals. Because of this, advantageously, the pressure in the coupler, which acts on the actuator and induces a voltage in it, may be indirectly measured without a further sensor.
Furthermore, it is also believed to be advantageous that the pressure between two injections may be measured, for instance, shortly before the beginning of the next injection. That should at least better guarantee that the pressure present at the moment in the coupler is measured.
In another exemplary method, the algorithm may be stored in the form of a table, so that there is simple access to the corresponding correlation values between the pressure and the control voltage.
If, however, the induced voltage lies below a predefined threshold, one may assume that no injection or no correct one will take place, because the coupler was not sufficiently filled. It is believed that this effect can be advantageously used for recognizing intermittent operation or recognizing a fault in the charging of the coupler.
It is also believed to be advantageous to adjust the control voltage proportionally to the pressure of the coupler. This adjustment can be determined with a factor by which, for example, the control voltage is multiplied. In particular, in the measurement of the pressure of the coupler shortly before the subsequent injection, it is believed to be advantageously at least better guaranteed that the actual degree of recharging of the coupler is considered.
The determination and the production of the control voltage for the actuator by a software program represents a simple solution, which also makes simpler the application to different engine types, since no mechanical changes have to be made.
It is also believed that an advantage may be provided by using the exemplary method for fuel injection for an internal combustion engine, especially since the calculation of the control voltage can be set individually for each cylinder of the engine.

Method for determining the control voltage for an injection valve having a piezoelectric actuator


A composition is provided for use in the suppression of a smoking habit, containing a tobacco plant extract which includes between 0.1% and 8.0% of nicotine and at least one additional tobacco derivative in a water based solvent.

Conventionally, the top leaves of the tobacco plant are harvested at an appropriate time and these are cured and processed for use by smokers. The maturing of leaves, and the temperatures during smoking, generate many different and harmful chemicals. Smoking cigarettes has been linked with lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, etc. There are many proposals by which those who smoke may he assisted to avoid their habit, hut none are universally effective.

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