A separable electrical connector for separably, electrically interconnecting the conductors of one multi-conductor cable to the conductors of a second electrical device that may be an electrical device such as a chip, or a second multi-conductor cable, or a flexible or rigid printed circuit board. The connector includes a layer of anisotropic conductive elastomer (ACE) in electrical contact with the conductors of the cable and the conductors of the second electrical device. A clamp or another type of mechanical device compresses the ACE, to provide electrical signal paths between the conductors of the cable and the second electrical device, through the ACE.

Electrical cables are typically connected to devices such as printed circuit boards using pin-type connectors that terminate the cable and fit into a connector having a complementary shape permanently mounted to the electrical device. Cable-to-cable connectors are accomplished in a similar fashion. However, these connectors are relatively bulky and expensive, and require the additional steps of connecting the connectors to the end of the cable and to the printed circuit board.
Another problem with such connectors is that the combination mechanical and electrical connection between each of the connectors of the cable and the terminating connector, the connection between the connectors themselves, and the connection of the connector to the printed circuit board, each add incrementally to the resistance/impedance of the signal path, resulting in slower maximum signal transfer speeds and increased power dissipation. Further, these connectors are relatively difficult to couple and decouple; most times these operations require human intervention.

Cable connector incorporating anisotropically conductive elastomer


A display. The display includes a base, a body, and an elastomer. The base includes a frame thereon. The body is rotatably connected to the frame in such a manner that the body can move between a first position and a second position. The body includes a gear element. The gear element includes a plurality of first protrusions and a plurality of first notchess. The elastomer is disposed on the frame and abuts the elastomer. When the body is in the first position, the elastomer is pressed and abuts at least one of first protrusions. When the body is in the second position, the elastomer is engaged with at least one of first notchess.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a display, and in particular, to a display with a rotatable adjusting mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a conventional liquid crystal display 1 comprising a body 2, a frame 3 and a hinge 4. The body 2 abuts the frame 3 via the hinge 4, so that the body 2 is rotatable relative to the frame 4 for adjusting the viewing angle of the liquid crystal display 1. The body 2 is securely connected to the frame 3 and supported by the frame 3. Thus, relative rotation between the body 2 and the frame 3 is difficult. Furthermore, the angle of the rotation cannot be fixed at a particular angle.


An information retrieving system in which information arranged by a series of more than one character is inputted and data corresponding to said input information is read out from a disk-shaped recording medium, such that every time the characters of the input information are successively inputted, a head is seeked for a direction of a recording position of the data on the disk-shaped recording medium, corresponding to the input information, and also the head is located at the recording position of the data upon completion of the entry operation of the input information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a retrieving system for information filed in a disk-shaped recording medium.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Recently, attention has been given to disk-shaped mediums such as a floppy disk and a hard disk functioning as a magnetic disk and an optical disk. These disk-shaped mediums have such advantages that access time of desirable data to recording positions during the data retrieving operation can be considerably shortened, as compared with that of a tape-shaped recording medium. More specifically, as to the optical disks, since memory capacities thereof are rather great, such optical disks are the best data recording medium in the file systems. For instance, as to a CD (compact disk) employed as the recording medium of music information, the storage capacity of one side thereof amounts to 500 megabytes. When this CD is employed as a recording medium of a file system (will be referred to as a "CD-ROM"), it is possible to file a huge amount of data in a single CD-ROM.
In the file system with employment of this disk-shaped medium, the index information has been provided with each of the data recorded on the disk-shaped medium, and the tables have been set by which the index information corresponds to address information indicative of the recording position for the data corresponding to this index information on the disk-shaped recording medium. For instance, assuming that data recorded on a disk-shaped recording medium is related to personal histories, the index information will correspond to each of individual means.
When desirable data is read out from the disk-shaped recording medium, information (guidance information) for instructing index information corresponding to this data is externally inputted. In the file system, a search is made of the address information corresponding to the inputted guidance information from the above-described tables, and the disk drive apparatus is driven so as to read out the data recorded on the position of this disk-shaped recording medium which is defined by this address information.
In the disk drive apparatus, upon receipt of the address information, such a seeking or search operation is performed whereby the head is transported in a radial direction of the disk-shaped recording medium until it reaches the track containing the recording region on the disk-shaped recording medium designated by this address information, and the desirable data is reproduced from this recording region.
On the other hand, in the conventional file system, since the index information has a relationship with the disk-shaped recording medium with one to one correspondence, after the guidance information corresponding to this data has been inputted, the retrieving operation is commenced. In other words, after the input operation of the guidance information has been accomplished, the verification between this guidance information and the index information at the above-described tables is carried out to determine the address information, and then the disk drive apparatus starts its seeking or searching operation in response to this address information.
As a consequence, even when the input operation of the guidance information has been accomplished, the desirable data cannot be instantaneously obtained, but may be obtained after a predetermined time period has passed. If consideration is made, for instance, of a CD-ROM, the seeking time required from an innermost part thereof to an outermost part thereof becomes 0.6 to 1 second. Accordingly, the seeking or searching time for data which has been recorded on the recording position close to the innermost part of CD-ROM becomes short. However, even if the time required for verifying the guidance information with the index information on the above-described tables may be neglected or disregarded (for instance, 7 to 8 microseconds required for one verification), the desirable data cannot be simultaneously obtained when the input operation of the guidance information is completed. Moreover, the time periods required after the input operation of the guidance information has been completed until the desired data is available, are different from each other, depending upon the data recording positions on the disk-shaped recording medium. As a result, in the case that the retrieving operation for the data positioned at the outermost side of the disk-shaped recording medium is carried out subsequent to the retrieving operation for the data positioned at the innermost side thereof, a user probably feels that such a data retrieving operation for the outermost side takes a longer time period.


A low voltage semi-folded metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) amplifier circuit for use in a ring oscillator. Operation at a reduced minimum power supply voltage is achieved via a circuit topology with selectively coordinated transistor biasing and channel dimensions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to low voltage metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) amplifier circuits, and in particular, to low voltage semi-folded MOSFET amplifier circuits for use in ring oscillators.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, ring oscillators are well known in the art and are used in many applications. In this particular example 10, three stages A1, A2, A3 of fully differential amplifiers 12 are serially coupled in a loop in a negative feedback configuration. During normal operation, this ring will bias the differential nodes, i.e., the positive Vip and negative Vin input signal nodes and positive Vop and negative Von output signal nodes, to the metastable point at which all node voltages are mutually equal.
Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional embodiment 12 of the fully differential amplifier circuits 12 used in such a ring oscillator 10 includes P-type MOSFETs P1a, P1b and N-type MOSFETs N1a, N1b interconnected substantially as shown between a tail current source 22 and the lower power supply rail VSS/GND. The tail current source 22, in turn, is coupled between the higher power supply rail VDD and the source electrodes of transistors P1a and P1b. This tail current source 22 provides a tail current I1 which is a product of two, a reference current Iref and the sum of unity and a common mode factor Δ, i.e., I1=2*Iref*(1+Δ). Lower current sources 24a, 24b each sink a current I2 equal to the reference current Iref, while the N-type MOSFETs N1a, N1b, connected as diodes with their drain and gate electrodes mutually connected, each sink a common mode current I3, which is used to maintain proper biasing of the circuit and is equal to the reference current Iref multiplied by the factor Δ, i.e., I3=Δ*Iref.
As is well known in the art, a typical MOSFET threshold voltage VT is 0.4 volt, while a typical output operating voltage, often referred to as the drain-to-source saturation voltage VDSAT, is 0.2 volt. Accordingly, such a conventional amplifier circuit 12 requires a power supply voltage VDD−VSS equal to 2*VT+3*VDSAT, which is equal to 1.4 volt. While such a minimum power supply voltage requirement is relatively low, as transistor dimensions continue to decrease in an effort to reduce overall integrated circuit sizes and increase circuit densities, power supply voltage decrease as well, thereby making a 1.4 volt minimum power supply voltage begin to look relatively high. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have an amplifier circuit for use in a ring oscillator which is capable of operating at a lower minimum power supply voltage.

Low voltage semi-folded metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) amplifier circuit


An imaging device includes an image input unit for inputting an image of a subject, an image signal processing unit for processing the input image, an image recording unit for recording the input image on a recording medium, a smiling degree detection unit for detecting a smile level of the subject contained in the input image processed by the image signal processing unit, a detection threshold level setting unit for setting a smiling face detection threshold level at which a determination of whether the subject is smiling is performed based on the smile level detected by the smiling degree detection unit, and a photographing control unit for controlling a photographing operation in response to the smiling face detection threshold level being reached by the smile level of the subject detected by the smiling degree detection unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging device, an imaging method and a computer program for capturing an image containing an image of a person as a subject. In particular, the present invention relates to an imaging device, an imaging method and a computer program for performing automatic camera work in response to recognition of a particular pattern from a subject represented in the image.
The present invention further relates to an imaging device, an imaging method and a computer program for automatically determining a photographing timing in response to a recognition of a smiling face image of the subject contained in the image. In particular, the present invention relates to an imaging device, an imaging method and a computer program for determining a photographing timing by detecting a smiling face of an appropriate subject based on a smile level regardless of difference, such as difference in person, sex, race, and culture.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cameras have a long history serving as means for recording visual information. Currently, digital cameras are replacing silver-salt cameras using a photographing plate or film and are in widespread use. The digital camera captures an image with a solid-state imaging element such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device and analog-to-digital converts the image. The digital camera stores a digital encoded image onto a memory and performs an image processing operation and an image management on the image with a computer. Such a digital camera is free from the limitation of service life of films.
The silver salt camera and the digital camera are substantially identical to each other in basic camera work. The digital camera incorporates advanced automatic technique in camera work. Even an inexperienced user is unlikely to fail to photograph.
The digital camera has an auto focus (AF) function, an auto exposure (AE) function, and an image stabilization function. The digital camera has an advantage that the AF function and the AE function are performed not only by an optical system but also in digital processing. Furthermore, the digital camera performs appropriate color reproduction by image quality adjusting a captured image in digital processing. The digital processing includes multiplying the captured image by a white balance gain in an auto white balance function.
The auto focus and the image quality adjustment are performed with the camera focusing on at least one subject present within an image frame. Previously, the user manually sets an important subject. Currently, the digital camera incorporates photographing techniques of face detection. For example, the camera detects a face of a person from a captured image and automatically focuses on the detected face or automatically adjusts image quality with respect to the face.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-271933 discloses a technique of detecting a face from a captured image signal. In accordance with the disclosure, an average face image serves as a template to be checked against an input image signal for matching. Such a technique is widely known. A face slant in the captured image is difficult to detect. In such a case, an angle of the face is detected, the image of the face is rotated in accordance with the detected angle value and then the matching process is performed. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-171560 discloses a technique of detecting an angle of a face. In accordance with disclosure, the centerline of the face is detected and the likeliness of the centerline is calculated based on left-right symmetry of the face. The angle of the centerline having a high likeliness is output as the angle of the face.
Auto shutter for determining a photograph timing based on a recognition of a particular pattern of a subject image such as a smiling face has been recently studied and developed.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2000-347278, 2004-294498 and 2006-237803 have disclosed cameras that output a photographing timing signal when a predetermined photographing condition is satisfied. Such a camera determines whether a main subject satisfies the predetermined photographing condition within an area of interest contained in the main subject to be photographed. The areas of interest may include a shape and color of the eyes and the mouth of a person if the person is photographed and feather of a bird if the bird is photographed.
Factors serving as specific photographing timing may be conditions to make a person look good in photo, such as "remaining unblinking," "looking at the camera," and "smiling." In related art, retouching techniques have been long available to modify a photo of a person to make the person look good. However, it is difficult to modify a photo of a person blinking to a photo of the person remaining unblinking or to modify a photo of a person with a smiling face to a photo of the person with an unsmiling face. This is one reason why a smiling face is one photographing condition.
The photographing condition of "smiling" is determined based on image information related to an area of the white of the eyes in the subject, the horizontal length of the mouth of the subject, and an area of white portions in the mouth. If a plurality of subjects are shown in an image frame input via an imaging element, it is not known which one of the subjects is to be used to determine the photographing timing. The area of the white of the eyes in the subject, the horizontal length of the mouth of the subject, and the area of white portions in the mouth are different from person to person. These factors are also different depending on differences in sex, age, race, culture, etc. Smiling face detection performed with a uniform threshold applied to such varied factors is problematic.
For example, a smiling face may be more easily detected from one person than other persons even if he or she does not actually smile. In such a case, unnecessary photographing operations may be triggered, leading to an accumulation of useless images. Conversely, photographing operations may be triggered less from one particular person than other persons even if he or she broadly smiles. In such a case, the person as a subject may be forced to attempt to smile with the eyes and mouth opened and teeth exposed throughout a caption period.
Cameras notifying one of a user and a subject of a photographing timing are well-known. The subject may stop trying to smile in response to a generation of an alarm sound or a flashing of LED indicating that the caption operation has been performed. However, there is no means to notify the subject of a smile level of the subject (i.e., relating to how the smiling face of the subject is evaluated). If the caption is not conveyed to the subject, the subject is forced to smile ready for a photographing timing without knowing whether the smile level is insufficient or whether illumination or other photographing conditions are insufficient.

Imaging device, imaging method and computer program


There are provided new inhibitors of MDM2. Also provided are methods of synthesizing the agents, pharmaceutical formulations including the agents, and methods of using the agents to treat, ameliorate or cure diseases characterized by MDM2 over-expression or malfunction.

Drug development is a lengthy, complex, and costly process, entrenched with a high degree of uncertainty that a drug will actually succeed. This is further acerbated by the unknown pathophysiology for many disorders which makes target identification and drug development challenging. Further, animal models often cannot recapitulate an entire disorder or disease, and hence critical decisions about a pipeline drug are often made at too late a stage at too high a cost. Challenges are also present from the heterogeneity of the patient population. All in all, the inability to target and modulate certain classes of bio macromolecules limits our ability to develop effective anti-cancer drugs.
The p53 tumor suppressor is a principal mediator of growth arrest, senescence, and apoptosis in response to a broad array of cellular damage. Rapid induction of high p53 protein levels by various stress types prevents inappropriate propagation of cells carrying potentially mutagenic, damaged DNA. p53 can kill cells via a dual transcription-dependent and -independent function in the nucleus and at the mitochondria. It has been demonstrated that cellular p53 protein levels are the single most important determinant of its function. In normal unstressed cells, p53 is a very unstable protein with a half-life ranging from 5 to 30 min, which is present at very low cellular levels owing to continuous degradation largely mediated by MDM2 (Murine Double Minute 2). Conversely, a hallmark of many cellular stress pathways such as DNA damage, hypoxia, telomere shortening, and oncogene activation is the rapid stabilization of p53 via a block of its degradation. MDM2 has emerged as the principal cellular antagonist of p53 by limiting the p53 tumor suppressor function. Moll and Petrenko, Molecular Cancer Research 1:1001-1008 (2003).
MDM2 inhibitors interfere with the binding of MDM2 oncoprotein to the tumor suppressor p53 protein, and serve as a pharmacological p53 activator. Emerging evidence suggests that p53 dysfunction also fuels inflammation and supports tumor immune evasion and, thus, p53 dysfunction serves as an immunological driver of tumorigenesis (Guo G, Cancer Research, 2017; 77(9):2292).
MDM2 and p53 are part of an auto-regulatory feed-back loop (Wu et al., Genes Dev. 7:1126 (1993)). MDM2 is transcriptionally activated by p53, and MDM2, in turn, inhibits p53 activity by at least three mechanisms (Wu et al., Genes Dev. 7:1126 (1993)). First, MDM2 protein directly binds to the p53 transactivation domain, and thereby inhibits p53-mediated transactivation. Second, MDM2 protein contains a nuclear export signal sequence, and upon binding to p53, induces the nuclear export of p53, preventing p53 from binding to the targeted DNAs. Third, MDM2 protein is an E3 ubiquitin ligase and upon binding to p53 is able to promote p53 degradation.
MDM2 is transcriptionally activated by p53 and MDM2, in turn, inhibits p53 activity by at least three mechanisms. Wu et al., Genes Dev.7:1126 (1993). First, MDM2 protein directly binds to the p53 transactivation domain and thereby inhibits p53-mediated transactivation. Second, MDM2 protein contains a nuclear export signal sequence, and upon binding to p53, induces the nuclear export of p53, preventing p53 from binding to the targeted DNAs. Third, MDM2 protein is an E3 ubiquitin ligase and upon binding to p53 promotes p53 degradation.
Small-molecule inhibitors that target the p53-MDM2 interaction have therapeutic potential for treating cancer and other diseases. Chene, Nat.Rev. Cancer 3:102 (2003) and Vassilev et al., Science 303:844 (2004). Antagonists of the p53-MDM2 interaction are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,759,383; 7,737,174; 8,518,984; 8,680,132; 8,629,141; 6,617,346; 6,734,302; 7,132,421; 7,425,638; 7,579,368; 7,060,713; 7,553,833; 6,916,833; 7,495,007; 7,638,548; 7,576,082; 7,625,895; and 7,083,983; and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2005/0288287; 2009/0143364; 2009/0312310; 2006/0211718; 2010/0048593; 2005/0227932; 2008/0261917; 2009/0227542; 2008/0171723; 2006/0211757; 2005/0137137; 2002/0132977; and 2009/0030181.
There is an ongoing need for new agents, e.g., small molecules, for treating cancer and other diseases responsive to the disruption or prevention of the MDM2-p53 interaction.

Therapeutic compounds and methods of use thereof


A linear motor elevator system includes a car mechanically coupled to a counterweight assembly such that the car roping ratio is less than the counterweight assembly roping ratio. A primary element of the linear motor is disposed on or within a hoistway wall associated with the secondary element of the linear motor. Alternatively, the primary element is affixed to a support frame of the elevator system. The counterweight assembly includes the motor secondary. The elevator system of the present invention reduces the volume within the hoistway interior occupied by the primary and secondary members of the linear motor.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to elevator systems and, more particularly, to linear motor driven elevator systems.
II. Description of Related Art
Linear motor driven elevator systems are known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,402,386; 5,005,672; 5,033,588; 5,062,501 and 5,074,384. Such systems include a plurality of walls forming a hoistway associated with a number of substantially vertical guide rails on which are slidably mounted an elevator car and a counterweight assembly. The counterweight assembly includes a primary element of a linear motor and counterweights, all suitably mounted within a movable frame. A secondary element of the linear motor is located within the interior of the hoistway. The secondary extends a vertical distance (i.e., has a height dimension) substantially equal to a maximum height of the hoistway. A roping arrangement mechanically connects the car to the counterweight assembly so that a total travel distance of the car in one direction equals a total travel distance of the counterweight assembly in an opposite direction. The primary receives electrical energy from an AC source through a traveling power cable and interacts electromagnetically with the secondary to move the counter-weight assembly in vertical (up and down) directions along the guide rails.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,753 teaches a linear motor elevator having a stationary primary affixed to a hoistway wall and also having a flexible secondary affixed to a counterweight assembly. A total travel distance of the car equals a total travel distance of the secondary.
In order to use building space efficiently and economically, elevator system designers strive to reduce the volume within the interior of the hoistway required by the elevator system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,954 teaches a traction elevator system having hybrid roping in which a car roping ratio is less than a counterweight assembly roping ratio. Thus, the distance traveled by the counterweight assembly is shorter than the distance traveled by the elevator car during normal operation of the elevator system. The volume within the interior of the hoistway required by the counterweight assembly during normal operation of the traction elevator system is reduced.
The known systems have proven to be not entirely satisfactory because they continue to occupy a large volume of building space. The present inventors have achieved reductions in the volume occupied by a linear motor elevator system.

Linear motor elevator having hybrid roping and stationary primary


A radio communication system includes a line controller, a plurality of base stations connected to the line controller and a plurality of mobile stations connected to each of the plurality of base stations by radio communication line having control channel and communication channel, and each of the plurality of base stations includes a control unit for monitoring idle slot in the communication channel within a communication area of the base station. The control unit transmits the monitored information of the idle slot to the mobile station within the communication area of the base station at predetermined intervals by using the control channel and each mobile station can use an idle slot in the base station or, if there is no idle slot in the base station, in another base station based on the monitored information of the idle slot to make communication.

The present invention relates to a radio communication system and-more particularly to a radio communication method and apparatus for carrying out a channel notification in a digital mobile communication system.
As one of the digital radio communication systems being put to practical use currently, a mobile communication system is defined in "REGIONAL DIGITAL MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM", ARIB STD-T79, Ver. 1, Association of Radio Industries and Businesses, Jun. 6, 2001, pp. 1-24. FIG. 11 illustrates a general mobile communication system having a plurality of base station zones. In FIG. 11, numeral 1101 denotes a line controller, 1102-1 and 1102-2 base stations and 103-1 and 1103-2 base station zones, that is, communication areas of the respective base stations. The mobile communication system is so configured that the base station 1102-1 makes communication connection service with a plurality of mobile stations 1104-1, 1104-2, . . . , 1104-N residing in the communication area 1103-1 between the base stations or between the mobile stations via base station or directly between the mobile stations or makes communication connection service between a mobile station outside the communication area 1103-1 and another mobile station within the communication area 1103-1.
The mobile communication system is also so configured that the base station 1102-2 makes communication connection service with a plurality of mobile stations 1105-1, 1105-2, . . . , 1105-M residing in the communication area 1103-2 between the base stations or between the mobile stations via base station or directly between the mobile stations or makes communication connection service between a mobile station outside the communication area 1103-2 and another mobile station within the communication area 1103-2. The mobile stations are named generically as the mobile station 1104 or 1105.
The line controller 1101 makes communication connection between the base stations and the plurality of mobile stations, maintenance and management of the service area in the digital radio communication system and controls an originating call from a mobile station or setting of communication routes. The line controller 1101 may be installed integrally with the base station 1102-1 or 1102-2 or separately from the base stations as shown in FIG. 11. In the latter case, the line controller 1101 is generally connected to the base stations 1102-1 and 1102-2 via transmission paths 1106-1 and 1106-2 such as cable or microwave communication lines. Further, the mobile stations described here contain radios or radio transmitter-receivers mounted in vehicles, portable radios and information terminal stations. In this example, only two base stations are shown, although in general the system includes a plurality of base stations and a large number of mobile stations but description is made with reference to FIG. 11 showing the most simple configuration for convenience of description.
FIG. 5 shows an example of assignment of frequencies for radio carriers permitted to be used in the digital mobile communication system using the digital radio technique defined in the standard ARIB STD-T79. In FIG. 5, in the uplink direction, that is, in the direction of transmission from the mobile station to the base station, 112 waves (f1, f2, . . . ) having a bandwidth of 25 KHz have been authorized for radio carriers f of about 262 to 266 MHz. Further, in the downlink direction, that is, in the direction of transmission from the base station to the mobile station, 112 waves (F1, F2, . . . ) having a bandwidth of 25 KHz have been authorized for radio carriers F of about 271 to 275 MHz separated by 9 MHz from 262 MHz in the uplink direction. Accordingly, the frequencies f1, f2, . . . and F1, F2, . . . can be used in the uplink and downlink directions, respectively, in communication of the digital radio communication system. The systems can use one or a plurality of radio carriers in accordance with the respective system scale. Further, in the standard ARIB STD-T79, a radio carrier W has been authorized so that a mobile station 1104 positioned within the communication area 1103 can make direct communication with a mobile station 1104 positioned outside of the communication area 1103. The radio carrier W also has a bandwidth of 25 KHz and over ten waves (W1, W2, . . . ) have been authorized. In the radio communication system shown in FIG. 11, for example, the base station 1102-1 makes communication using pair waves of f1 in the uplink direction and F1 in the downlink direction and the base station 1102-2 also makes communication using pair waves of f3 in the uplink direction and F3 in the downlink direction.
Further, each radio carrier is divided into frames as shown in FIG. 6 and each frame is further divided into four slots, to which a control channel C and communication channels S1, S2 and S3 are assigned. The communication channels S1, S2 and S3 are named collectively as communication channel S. One frame is 40 ms, for example. The control channel C is used to make connection control of radio communication line and the communication channel S is used to make talking and data communication.
JP-A-5-191856 discloses a method in which a number-of-calls counter for counting the number of originating calls and the number of calls that cannot attain connection due to the fact that communication channel is busy is provided in the radio base station and the numbers are broadcast to portable terminals (radio terminals) at all times or when connection cannot be attained in origination of call by each portable terminal.
JP-A-2005-136779 discloses a mobile communication system including a plurality of base stations. The system includes retrieval means for retrieving idle channel for each base station periodically to obtain idle channel information, information sharing means for notifying the idle channel information to other base stations to share the idle channel information with each other, and idle channel information notification means for notifying the idle channel information of other base stations to mobile terminals on the basis of the shared idle channel information.
Reference may be further made to JP-A-2003-250176 and JP-A-6-303662.


A non-transitory computer-readable medium includes instructions stored thereon for causing a display device to display a field of view of a media item and a user interface over the media item. The field of view defines a reference point and the user interface defines a perimeter. The medium also includes instructions for processing input data for controlling relative movement of one or more of the field of view, the media item, and the user interface. In addition, the medium includes instructions for causing the display device, responsive to the input data, to move the user interface relative to the field of view and the media item, provided that the reference point is within the perimeter. The medium also includes instructions for causing the display device, responsive to the input data, to move the field of view relative to the media item, provided that the reference point is outside the perimeter.

Computing devices such as personal computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, cellular phones, body-mounted or wearable computers that provide near-eye displays, and other types of devices are available to provide information to users and to facilitate user interaction with information.
In one example, a computing device provides information to a user on a display element thereof. The information may include a media item, such as an image or a video. Illustratively, the media item may include a webpage that can be adjusted to a particular zoom or magnification to provide sufficient detail to the user. However, at the particular zoom or magnification, the webpage may be too large to fit entirely on the display element. Thus, the display element may provide a view of only a portion of the media item. Typically, the view can be navigated or moved throughout the media item to view different portions thereof.
The computing device may also provide a user interface to interact with the information. Such user interface may include a graphical user interface that is displayed on the display element. For example, when viewing a webpage using an Internet browser, various menu items can always be displayed at a top portion of a window. Further, a user may be able to utilize an input device to command the display element to provide menu items, such as by directing a cursor over the information using a mouse and "right-clicking" the mouse.
The above general examples for providing information to users and facilitating user interaction with information are well-known and useful. However, developments and changes in providing information and user interaction with information have also been contemplated.
The present disclosure is directed generally to systems, methods, program instructions, etc., for providing information to a user and facilitating user interaction with information in a manner that is generally intelligent, efficient, intuitive, unobtrusive, and/or to provide different options to a user.

Systems and methods for providing a user interface in a field of view of a media item


A furniture item comprises various components for assembly thereof. The furniture items include a substantially flat seat portion, a substantially flat back portion, connectors for securing the flat seat portion to the flat back portion, and a plurality of legs for attachment to the seat portion. Cushions are provided and may be configured to form barriers for use adjacent the seat portion and the back portion when packed in a container. Additionally, compressed and sealed cushions may also be provided to form barriers for use adjacent the seat portion and back portion when packed in a container.

This invention relates to furniture construction and a method for packing furniture, as well as other items. The invention relates to packing methodologies for products which may be bulky, as well as for streamlining the packaging, and enables the products to potentially occupy a smaller volume when packed.
The invention also relates to the packaging of products, such as furniture, wherein the product is modular or composed of components or segments which may be packed as such and assembled by a user or purchaser. In many instances, bulky and large furniture products are packed in multiple containers, and the present invention facilitates packaging of the various components into a fewer number, or even a single, container.

Furniture construction and packing method


This invention provides a method for computing hybrid range measurements wherein range measurements of a target are obtained along with at least two images of the target and the location and the orientation of the images. Hybrid range measurements are computed based on the range measurements and the images.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to the fields of remote measurement and three dimensional modeling and, specifically, to improving the spatial resolution of digital elevation models and range measurement datasets.
2. Description of Related Art
Light Detection and Ranging ("LIDAR") systems are capable of accurately measuring a grid of distances from a sensor to a target object or surface. After processing the raw measurements, accurate three-dimensional models of the target can be produced. LIDAR sensors and LIDAR-derived datasets are widely used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for a variety of tasks such as flood plain analysis, city skyline analysis, aerial image ortho-rectification and urban modeling. The level of detail present in such datasets is limited by sensor capabilities, with a typical tradeoff between the number of individual measurements and the physical size and extent of the target. In particular, the spatial resolution of airborne LIDAR sensors is limited by the rate at which individual range measurements can be made.
A single measurement from a LIDAR sensor does not typically correspond to a single infinitesimal point on the target. Due to laser beam divergence, a single measurement corresponds to a region on the target whose size depends in part upon the distance between the sensor and the target. Full waveform LIDAR sensors are capable of recording a signal that represents the distribution of distances measured from the sensor to the region. FIGS. 1 and 2 depict two sample measurements. Typically, the most prevalent distance, the statistical mode 11, measured for a region is determined to be the single representative distance for a given measurement. More advanced statistical analysis of the measurement distribution can also yield information about surface variability. For example, in FIG. 2, the second sample measurement, the dual peaks of the waveform 21, 22 are indicative of two significantly different distances within the single measurement. Such a measurement could be encountered when the measurement region overlaps two distinct surfaces, such as a building roof and the ground below. Decomposing such waveforms correctly is a difficult task which cannot be accomplished by means of the measurement hardware alone (Bretar et al, Managing Full Waveform Lidar Data: A Challenging Task for the Forthcoming Years, International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information, Vol. 37, Part B1, 2003).
The prior art shows several examples of attempts to improve the ability of LIDAR sensors to obtain detailed three-dimensional information about the surface of a target. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,417,717 to Pack et al. discloses a combination LIDAR and electro-optic detector system. In Pack, the electo-optic image is used to match multiple LIDAR shots of a particular target relative to one another so that the overall three-dimensional accuracy of any single LIDAR data set may be improved. Although such a system may result in improvement of the three-dimensional accuracy of a single LIDAR data set, it is still limited by LIDAR sensor capabilities. Moreover, such a system requires multiple measurements of the range (multiple LIDAR passes) from different locations to the target. Such requirements may prove limiting. For example, when mapping large terrestrial areas from the air, safety and regulatory restrictions may prevent secondary passes at a nearer distance to the ground.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2009/0323121 to Valkenburg et al., discloses a hand-held scanner that combines a range sensor, which may be a LIDAR device, a position and orientation sensor and a texture sensor. Although Valkenburg indicates that the data from these devices may be used to create a realistic three-dimensional representation of a scene, Valkenburg does not address how non-LIDAR "texture" data may be used to improve the resolution of the ranging device. Moreover, Valkenburg is directed toward short range applications and not at gathering information about remote targets.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2009/0119010 to Moravec, discloses a navigation and mapping system that combines the use of stereo cameras with long range sensors such as LIDAR. This system is primarily directed toward navigation, however, and it does not address the problem of improving the resolution of the long range sensor system.
It is well known that three-dimensional range information about a target may be derived from the stereographic processing of two or more images of a scene. Due to the passive nature of the measurement, several difficulties exist with this approach. These difficulties include: (1) the correspondence problem, as it is difficult to unambiguously identify the same feature in multiple images due to the presence of noise and differences in perspective and illumination (D. Scharstein and R. Szeliski, A Taxonomy and Evaluation of Dense Two-Frame Stereo Correspondence Algorithms, International Journal of Computer Vision, 47(1/2/3): 7-42, April-June 2002); (2) the aperture problem, which results in textureless or repetitive regions of an image pair being difficult to match (Kanade and Okutomi, A Stereo Matching Algorithm with an Adaptive Window: Theory and Experiment, Proceedings of the 1991 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Sacramento, Calif., April 1991); and (3) geometric consistency problems such as surface discontinuities and occlusions (Scharstein and Szeliski, 2002).
A variety of approaches exist in the fields of photogrammetry and computer vision to mitigate these problems (Scharstein and Szeliski, 2002). Correspondence problems can be minimized by using advanced feature matching techniques such as SIFT (D. Lowe, Distinctive Image Features from Scale-Invariant Keypoints, International Journal of Computer Vision, International Journal of Computer Vision, 60, 2 (2004) at 91-110) or SURF (H. Bay et al, SURF: Speeded Up Robust Features, Computer Vision and Image Understanding, Vol. 110, No. 3 (2008) at 346-59). Windowing and geometric consistency problems can be mitigated by the use of global optimization methods, such as those set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,763 to Roy and J. Sun et al, Stereo Matching using Belief Propagation, IEEE Trans. Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Vol. 25, No. 7 (2003) at 787-800.
Although technically possible, it is typically impractical to obtain a level of distance accuracy equivalent to LIDAR from a stereo imaging system. For a given distance to the target, geometric constraints on the stereo baseline as well as limitations on image resolution render unfeasible long distance, high-accuracy distance measurements using stereo imaging. Additionally, the aforementioned challenges can result in blunders in range data derived purely from stereo images. Such problems limit the measurement capabilities of stereo imaging systems.
There is no consideration in the prior art of an approach that simultaneously combines Full Waveform LIDAR measurements with stereo extraction to produce hybrid measurements. Such an approach has several advantages due to the complementary nature of accuracy and measurement density of LIDAR and stereographic range measurements. Full waveform LIDAR sensors can measure ranges to centimeter-level accuracy from distances of up to thousands of meters. Conversely, imaging systems with very high spatial resolutions are commercially available. By carefully processing the two datasets together, the combination of direct range measurements with stereo extraction would enable an increase in measurement density without a loss in ranging accuracy. An additional advantage of such a hybrid dataset would be that the imagery and the range data are inherently consistent. This is important when rendering the imagery upon the three-dimensional surface, for example, since abrupt changes in the depth dimension will tend to correspond with object borders in the imagery, even though the original range measurements would not have permitted such fine resolution. Thus, three-dimensional visualization and renderings of the highest quality can be produced. Lastly, the hybrid nature of the dataset means that with careful selection of the type of imagery (visible, infrared, etc) used by the method, it is possible to fill voids or gaps in the LIDAR measurements, such as those caused by dense clouds or non-reflective surfaces.
Finally, the prior art that has taught the use stereo imagery to improve range data has focused on feature-based improvement rather than global optimization. One example is S. Becker and N. Haala, Refinement of Building Fassades By Integrated Processing of LIDAR and Image Data, International Archives of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol. 36, Part 3/W49A (2007) at 7-12. This reference concerns the geometric modeling of building facades. Although the modeling method utilizes image data to improve a LIDAR data set, it focuses on recognizable structures, such as edges of windows and doors to accomplish this improvement. Because range data may be taken of any target, not just targets having recognizable structures, a method achieving global optimization of the range data, rather than a feature-based improvement is preferred.
As shown by the prior art, none of the prior approaches have improved the long range measurement capability of range sensors such as LIDAR and IFSAR by combining their measurements with those produced by stereo imaging in a manner that fundamentally improves the resolution and density of the range measurements. The potential advantages of such an approach would address a long felt but unmet need in the field of remote measurement.

Enhancement of range measurement resolution using imagery


A method and system for processing geophysical survey data is provided. Gravity gradiometry data is processed by approximating density values of terrain signals to remove contributions of the terrain from the gravity gradiometry data. Initially, a predicted gravity gradient data set for a geographical area is calculated using terrain data with unit density. Next, a mathematical transformation is applied to recorded gravity gradiometer data of the geographical area and the predicted gravity gradiometry data. The transformation divides the data into component sub-functions so that each component function can be processed separately. The component sub-functions are processed to estimate densities of the geographical area. Then, using all the estimated densities, gravity gradients due to all of the terrain can be calculated, and subtracted from the recorded gravity gradient signals to reveal gravity gradients due to subsurface masses, for example.

Variations in the Earth's density result in small variations in the Earth's gravitational field. These variations can be measured at the Earth's surface using sensitive gravity meters. Through such measurements, masses of greater or lesser density than surrounding formations may be detected.
Gravity surveying is one technique in modern exploration for geophysically significant subsurface anomalies (or irregularities) potentially associated with ore bodies or hydrocarbon deposits, such as mineral and petroleum commodities. For example, the gravitational anomaly of a body of ore with a density contrast of 300 kg m−3 and a dimension of 200 m buried at a depth of 100 m is typically 2×10−6 ms−2, which is 0.00002% of the normal Earth gravity field. This relatively small effect is normally measured in units of milli gals (mGal), which is the unit for the free air and Bouguer gravity field measurements and is equivalent to 10−5 m/ss. Thus, for the above example, the body of ore would be represented by 20 mGal.
Currently, many gravity measurements have been made using instruments of the LaCoste/Romberg type that are essentially ultrasensitive spring balances detecting a small difference in weight caused by the gravity anomaly. The measurements are subject to a wide variety of environmental influences, and the measurements should be performed relative to a standard point that is used regularly during the survey as a fixed reference for removal of drifts in the instrument. This procedure can be slow, and may require extensive information on local topography and geology since a normal variation of gravity with height is approximately 0.3 mGal per meter, for example. Within moving platforms, such as aircraft, using this type of relative gravity instrument can be difficult for several reasons including the fact that the use of precision radar altimeters and pressure sensors to achieve vertical position to as little as one meter can impose limitations on the order of a few hundred mGals on the gravity data, for example.
For this reason, some geophysical prospecting has progressed towards gradiometry. In principle, measurement of a gradient of a gravity field over a known baseline allows accelerations due to motion of the platform itself to be cancelled out. Thus, higher precision gravity measurements can be recorded via gravity gradients. Gravity gradients are the spatial derivative of the gravity field, and have units of mGal over distance, such as mGal/m. The standard unit of gravity gradiometry is the Eötvös (E), which is equal to 0.1 mGal/kilometer or 10−9/s2 (e.g., gradient signatures of shallow Texas salt domes are typically 50 to 100 E).
Precision and accuracy of gravity gradiometer data depends upon the precision of the measurement device and the physical conditions at the point of observation. For example, nearby hills rising above the elevation of adjacent land cause a change in gravity readings. Likewise, nearby valleys cause a change in gravity readings due to a deficiency of attractive mass. However, the extent to which gravity gradiometer data does not match the terrain indicates detection of geophysical subsurface anomalies potentially associated with ore bodies or geology associated with hydrocarbon deposits. Therefore, gravity gradiometry data requires a "terrain" correction to account for these topographic effects that cause changes in gravity readings to expose possible geophysical subsurface anomalies.
In many gravity surveys, a largest component of the recorded gravity gradient signal originates from the terrain. Calculations to remove the terrain effect may require a knowledge of the local topography and density of surface rocks in the vicinity of each gravity reading. The portion of a recorded gravity gradient signal due to the terrain is usually removed by a manual application of a-priory geophysical knowledge. Density of the terrain near the surface is estimated based on a combination of available geological information and general geological concepts.
However, subsurface anomalies and terrain can have varying densities. Without accurate density values for the surface terrain, modeling of deep subsurface structures can be incorrect. Thus, when performing a gravity survey, a signal due to gravity gradients from subsurface anomalies and a signal due to the terrain will need to be analyzed and processed using different values of density. Thus, a means of processing gravity gradiometry signals using varying density values is desired.

Method and system for processing geophysical survey data


Provided herein is a carrier system for securely holding an electronic device while enabling easy access to the electronic device when the electronic device is held by the system. In some embodiments, the carrier system includes a harness having at least two shoulder straps and one belt. In some embodiments, the length of the shoulder straps and belt is adjustable. Each of the shoulder straps is configured to be worn over a respective shoulder of a user, and each of which are coupled to the belt. In some embodiment, a carrier system having a backplate, coupled to the shoulder straps, and a front plate is connected to the harness to provide handsfree access to the electronic device. In some embodiments an adjustor is placed within the device carrier to allow the device carrier to securely hold a device smaller than the device carrier's holding compartment.

Strap-on carriers for carrying mobile phones have been known. See for example, US Application No. 2015/0076183. However, conventional strap-on carriers do not allow users to operate the device handsfree. They lack the supporting structure necessary to hold the phone in a steady position to allow the user to use the phone with both hands without needing the user to also hold the device. Other strap-on carriers with mechanical clamps and hinges have also been explored. These types of carriers generally lack edge to edge protection for the attached device. For example, when the device is attached, it is still exposed to external elements such as rain. In addition, it is not easy to attach and detach the device with these types of carrier. Multiple mechanical parts need to be aligned and secured or removed.
According to certain embodiments, the device carrier system disclosed herein is designed to allow handsfree operation of a hand-held device and protect the enclosed device from external elements.

Apparatus for carrying electronic device


A new cultivar of Ceanothus, ‘Lemon Ice’, characterized by its variegated foliage with dark green centers and wide yellow margins and its panicles of sweetly fragrant light blue flowers.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ceanothus of hybrid origin, and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'Lemon Ice'. 'Lemon Ice' is a new cultivar of deciduous shrub for use as a landscape plant.
The new cultivar of Ceanothus was discovered as a naturally occurring branch mutation of Ceanothus 'Blue Mound' (not patented) in a container in the Inventor's nursery in June of 2004 in Ederveen, The Netherlands. Ceanothus 'Blue Mound' is believed to be a hybrid of C. thyrsiflorus var. griseus and C. impressus.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished using terminal stem cuttings by the Inventor in Ederveen, The Netherlands in August 2004. The characteristics of this cultivar have been determined to be stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A method of forming a downhole seal between inner and outer tubulars. The method including bonding a sealing element to an insert with a bond that bonds at temperatures less than a first temperature and increasingly breaks down at temperatures higher than the first temperature. Defeating the bond between the sealing element and the insert at a second temperature higher than the first temperature; and, subsequently forming a seal between the inner and outer tubulars with the sealing element. Also included is a downhole sealing apparatus.

In the drilling and completion industry, the formation of boreholes for the purpose of production or injection of fluid is common. The boreholes are used for exploration or extraction of natural resources such as hydrocarbons, oil, gas, water, and alternatively for CO2 sequestration. Resilient sealing rings are widely used on the outer surfaces of downhole tools such as packers, space-out assemblies, and anchors. The sealing ring typically engages an outer tubular member, such as a casing, in a borehole. A tubular seal apparatus includes an inner tubular member positioned coaxially within the outer tubular member having an annular space there between, and the sealing ring is used to provide a seal between the inner and outer tubular members. The sealing material of the ring may also be used to provide a more flexible or expandable connection between two components of a downhole tool.
The sealing material of the sealing ring is conventionally secured to the downhole tool such that the sealing ring stays secured to the downhole tool. In some downhole tools, the sealing ring is secured to an outer diameter surface of a metal reinforcing ring of the downhole tool. Ramp set packers move the sealing ring, including the metal reinforcing ring, radially outwardly with a ramp, such as a swaging cone. When set, the reinforcing ring is expanded plastically beyond the yield strength of the metal of the reinforcing ring. Chemical bonding and mechanical configurations are used to secure and retain the sealing material relative to the reinforcing ring to increase the life of the downhole tool by increasing the length of time the sealing ring remains bonded to the reinforcing ring.
The art would be receptive to improved apparatus and methods for a downhole tubular to tubular seal.

Downhole seal apparatus and method thereof


Removal of NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x from flue gas utilizing a transport line adsorber through which sorbent is transported by pressurized flue gas to cause the sorbent to adsorb NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x from the flue gas while the flue gas is transporting the sorbent through the transport line adsorber A plurality of interconnected cyclones is utilized to contact sorbent saturated with NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x removed from the flue gas with a heated gas to heat the sorbent and remove the NO.sub.x from the sorbent and separate the sorbent and the heated gas to produce an off stream of heated gas carrying the removed NO.sub.x away; the heated gas and gravity combine to pass the sorbent through the plurality of cyclones and which cyclones are positioned vertically and successively downwardly with respect to each other. A plurality of interconnected cyclones is also utilized to contact heated sorbent having the NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x removed therefrom with a cooling gas to cool the sorbent and separate the sorbent from the cooling gas to produce cooled regenerated sorbent for recycling and repeating of the NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x flue gas removal.

This invention is an improvement in the apparatus and process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,711 entitled PROCESSES FOR REMOVING NITROGEN OXIDES, SULFUR OXIDES AND HYDROGEN SULFIDE FROM GAS STREAMS, issued Jan. 17, 1989, Lewis G. Neal, et al. inventors, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. This prior art process is referred to in the art as the NOXSO Process. The NOXSO Process is illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein there is shown a flue gas stream, 12 containing both nitrogen oxides or NO.sub.x (NO and NO.sub.2 OR N.sub.2 O.sub.4) and sulfur oxides or SO.sub.x (SO.sub.2 and SO.sub.3) from, for example, a coal-fired or oil-fired power plant (not shown) which flue gas stream is passed through a fluid bed adsorber 14 containing suitable sorbent particles or beads, such as, for example, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,499 entitled SORBENT FOR REMOVING NITROGEN OXIDES, SULFUR OXIDES AND HYDROGEN SULFIDE FROM GAS STREAMS, issued Jul. 5, 1988, Lewis G. Neal, et al., inventors, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. Adsorber 14 has a fluidizing grid 15. The sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides are adsorbed on the surfaces of the sorbent particles and removed from the flue gas stream. The two above-identified patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if fully reproduced herein.
The saturated sorbent particles 16, i.e. sorbent particles having adsorbed the NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x from the flue gas, is subsequently transported to a staged, fluid bed heater 18 wherein the sorbent particles temperature is raised above 532.degree. C. (1000.degree. F.) using high temperature air 20 supplied by air heater 22 into which air heater a stream of ambient air 24 and a suitable fuel stream 26, e.g., natural gas, enter. The sorbed NO.sub.x is removed or stripped from the sorbent particles and carried away in the hot gas stream which passes through cyclone 28 and via stream 30 is mixed with the power plant combustion air stream (not shown).
The hot sorbent particles with the NO.sub.x removed therefrom is transferred from the sorbent heater 18 into a moving bed regenerator 32 via line 34. In the moving bed regenerator 32, the sorbent particles are contacted with a suitable regenerant gas stream 36. The regenerant gas 36 reacts with the SO.sub.x adsorbed by the sorbent particles to produce elemental sulfur. Off-gas stream 38 containing elemental sulfur is transported into a sulfur condenser and mist eliminator 45 wherein a steam stream 42, water stream 44 and elemental sulfur stream 46 are produced. A stream 40 from the sulfur condenser and mist eliminator 45 is returned to regenerator 32.
The regenerated sorbent particles, i.e. sorbent particles with the SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x removed, is transported via stream 48 past valve 50 to a staged, fluid bed sorbent cooler 52, where it is contacted with atmospheric air supplied via line 54 to reduce its temperature to about 120.degree. C. (250.degree. F.). The heated atmospheric air 56 subsequently is transported to gas heater 22 where its temperature is increased well above 532.degree. C. (1000.degree. F.) for use as the heated medium in fluid bed heater 18.
Cooled regenerated sorbent particles via line 58 is transported via line 58 by air in line 54 to a pneumatic lift line 60 and into a cyclone separator 62 via stream 64. Cyclone separator 62 separates stream 64 into a stream of air 66 and a stream of regenerated sorbent particles 68. Regenerated sorbent stream 68 enters the fluid bed adsorber 14. The discharge gas from adsorber 14 exits via line 70.
In brief summary, it will be understood that the SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x are removed from the flue gas stream 12 by the fluid bed adsorber 14 to produce a stream of NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x free flue gas 70 and thereafter the fluid bed heater 18, moving bed regenerator 32 and fluid bed sorbent cooler 52 regenerate the sorbent particles which adsorbed the SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x in the fluid bed adsorber 14 whereafter the regenerated sorbent particles are transported via line 58 to the pneumatic lift line 60 for return through the cyclone separator 62 to the fluid bed absorber 14 where the NOXSO Process is repeated.
The above-described NOXSO Process has been found to be highly efficient in the removal of SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x from flue gas and since the sorbent particles or beads utilized are relatively large, approximately 10 mesh (2,000 microns) to 20 mesh (840 microns) (note incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,499, Col. 8, line 8), the process has the advantage that the sorbent particle or bead size is large relative to fly ash particles typically found in flue gas and therefore such sorbent beads or particles are easily distinguished from the fly ash and easily separated therefrom. A further advantage is that due to the relatively large size (approximately 10 to 20 mesh) the sorbent particles or beads have a relatively large mass which means they have a relatively high terminal velocity which substantially precludes the sorbent particles or beads from leaving the fluid or fluidized state and escaping from the fluid bed heater 18 and fluid bed cooler 52 with the exiting gases and being lost; the terminal velocity is the velocity at which the sorbent particles or beads in a fluid bed cease being in the fluid or fluidized state and escape from the fluid bed and become subject to entrainment into gas exiting the fluid bed and loss. However, the above-described NOXSO Process has some disadvantage in that the relatively large size sorbent particles or beads (approximately 10 to 20 mesh) are relatively expensive to make, the adsorption rate is diffusion controlled and therefore relatively slow, the sorbent particles or beads are porous (note for example the micropores and macropores of the sorbent particles shown in FIG. 7 of the patents incorporated above by reference) and the center portions of such beads or particles tend not to be completely used in SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x adsorption, the relatively large beads with the relatively large mass tend to break and attrite when they impact a solid surface at a relatively high velocity, and since the apparatus used to practice the process illustrated in FIG. 1 is essentially a gravity feed process, the sorbent particles or beads upon adsorbing the SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x are at the top of the apparatus and the regenerated beads, due to the gravity flow utilized, are present at the bottom of the apparatus requiring that they be lifted back up to the top of the apparatus, such as by the pneumatic lift line 60 in FIG. 1, for recycling.
It has been found that sorbent particles or beads of a comparatively or relatively small size, approximately 70 mesh (210 microns) to 140 mesh (105 microns), have the following comparative advantages vis-a-vis the above-noted relatively large sorbent beads or particles. The smaller size sorbent beads or particles adsorb the SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x more rapidly because the process is chemically not diffusion controlled (see FIG. 2 where the NO.sub.x adsorption rate is compared for sorbent particles or beads of particle sizes 1,300, 630 and 300 microns, respectively; the removal rate for particles of 300 microns particle size is about 5 times greater than for the particles of 1,300 microns particle size), the relatively small size sorbent beads or particles are easier to make and therefore less expensive which in turn makes the SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x removal process less expensive, and it has been found or discovered that due to the relatively smaller mass of the relatively smaller sorbent beads or particles, the apparatus for lifting the regenerated beads to the top of the apparatus used to practice the NOXSO Process, such as the above-noted pneumatic lift line 60 in FIG. 1, can be utilized as both a vehicle for lifting the regenerated sorbent particles back up to the top of the apparatus and a vehicle for containing the sorbent particles or beads while they are adsorbing NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x from the flue gas.
Further, as known to those skilled in the fluid bed art and as noted above, solid particles such as the present sorbent particles or beads, have a fluidization velocity and a terminal velocity. The fluidization velocity is the velocity at which the sorbent particles or beads become fluidized, i.e. moves in a fluid state under the influence of a pressurized gas and the terminal velocity is the velocity at which the beads become entrained in the gas and then escape from the fluid state and from the fluid bed. While the above-noted relatively large sorbent beads or particles (approximately 10 to 20 mesh) due to their relatively large size and therefore relatively large mass have a relatively high terminal velocity and hence remain in the fluidized state when subjected, for example, to conditions in the fluid bed heater 18 and fluid bed cooler of FIG. 1 in the NOXSO Process, it has been found that the relatively small sorbent beads or particles (approximately 70 to 140 mesh) have a relatively low terminal velocity with the tendency to escape from the fluidized state and be lost when utilized in apparatus such as the fluid bed heater 18 and fluid bed cooler 52 of FIG. 1.
In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that there exists a need in the flue gas SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x removal art of new and improved process and apparatus which utilizes the above-noted relatively small sorbent beads or particles (approximately 70 to 140 mesh) and which permits the function of the pneumatic lift line 60 and fluid bed adsorber 70 of FIG. 1 to be combined in a single apparatus or process step, and further that there exists a need for new and improved apparatus and process for contacting the saturated sorbent particles with a heating gas to heat the saturated sorbent particles and remove the NO.sub.x therefrom and for contacting the heated sorbent particles with a cooling gas after NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x removal therefrom to cool the sorbent particles and produce cooled regenerated sorbent particles for continuous repeating of the NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x removal process.

Nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides removal utilizing transport line adsorber


A method of forming a surface mount transformer. The method comprises winding insulated wire around a magnetic core to form at least one secondary transformer coil, winding insulated wire around the magnetic core to form at least one primary transformer coil, attaching wire ends of the at least one primary coil to at least first and second vias of a printed circuit board (PCB), attaching wire ends of the at least one secondary coil to at least third and fourth vias of the PCB, affixing the coils and the magnetic core to the first side of the PCB, and attaching the coil wire ends flush to a surface of the vias on the second side of the PCB.

Flyback transformers are used with flyback power converters to provide electrical isolation between the power source and load. The transformers are comprised of primary windings and secondary windings around a common core of magnetic material. The voltage produced in the secondary winding is related to the voltage in the primary winding by the ratio of turns between the primary and secondary windings. In a toroidal transformer, the windings are formed around a toroid-shaped core.
It is important to minimize the size of components, including transformers, used in implantable medical devices to reduce the overall size of the implantable device for patient comfort. Also, because implantable devices are generally battery powered it is important to use battery power efficiently by reducing losses due to resistance and thereby extend the battery life.
Miniaturized transformers are often formed by forming the windings around a bobbin to hold the wires and a core is then slipped into the bobbin. Often, the windings are formed around the toroid-shaped core. The bobbin and/or core are placed in a package with the winding wires wrapped around package leads. The packaged transformer is then mounted onto a main circuit board. The package leads add height to the final transformer assembly. Also, the leads add resistance to the transformer assembly and the efficiency of the transformer is reduced by the energy loss resulting from the lead resistance. What is needed is a transformer assembly that reduces or eliminates the disadvantages of using a transformer assembly that includes leads.

Flyback transformer wire attach method to printed circuit board


A structure of a footrest body in a vehicle seat, in which an air blower is provided under the seat to supply a hot or cold air toward a back side of the seat, and the footrest is equipped on the back wall of seat, with the free end of footrest body being contacted with a floor. In such type of footrest body structure, an opening is defined in the footrest body, though which opening the hot or cold air is permitted to be flowed from the blower toward the back side of seat, without hindrance of the footrest body body per se. It is further arranged that the footrest body can be lowered when it is set in the upright non-use position, to thereby improve the aesthetic appearance of the back wall of seat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a footrest used in a vehicle seat such as an automotive seat, and in particular to a footrest structure provided in a front seat, wherein a ventilation opening is arranged such as to permit a hot or cold air to be flowed therethrough towards an occupant on a rear seat behind the front seat.
2. Description of Prior Art
As typically seen in a train or the like, a foot rest is equipped on the rear side of seat in order to receive thereon the foot of an occupant on a rear seat. Most of ordinary footrests are of such a structure that the body thereof bridges over the seat and floor in an inclined way, with its free end resting on the floor.
However, this sort of footrest structure has been defective, as applied to a front seat structure with a heat or cool air blower provided under the seat, in that the air sent from the lower is blocked by the footrest body and can not be supplied to the rear-seat occupant.
On the other hand, there is known a footrest structure wherein the footrest may be positioned such as to extend horizontally from the seat cushion without contact with the floor, thus providing a clearance between the seat and footrest, as disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Pub. No. 56-70337. This permits a hot or cool air to be flowed through the footrest, to some extent, in a direction to a rear seat, but it does not supply a full stream of the air towards an occupant sitting on the rear seat because of the mass of footrest. Moreover, according to that prior art, the footrest is connected pivotally via a movable link to a stationary link, such that the footrest is rotatable with the movable link vertically about the free end of the stationary link. Consequently, the footrest, when not in use, is placed in an upright position, extending upwardly along the rear-side wall of seat back, whereas when in use, the footrest is placed in a horizontal position, extending backwardly toward the rear seat. But, it has been found as another defective aspect that when the footrest is in the non-use upright position, the back surface of seat back is impaired its aesthetic appearance by the elevated, standing state of the footrest.


The passive components of the analog channel of the trip device are achieved by serigraphy on a thick layered hybrid circuit. Adjustment, by laser, of the value of an offset voltage compensating resistance and of a measuring resistance enables the offset voltage and gain of the channel to be adjusted with precision.

The invention relates to an adjustment process of an electronic trip device comprising an analog channel whose input is connected to means for measuring current, the channel comprising at least a measuring resistance connected to the means for measuring current and at least a first operational amplifier connected to the terminals of the measuring resistance.
Conventional electronic trip devices comprise a certain number of adjusting resistances designed, at the end of manufacture, to adjust the characteristics of the trip device with a preset precision. Generally an adjusting potentiometer is connected in series with a resistance to form the adjusting resistance. This manual adjustment process is long and costly. It has also been proposed to use networks of resistances connected in parallel, each resistance of the network being connected in series with a fuse component. Selective blowing of one or more of these fuse components enables the value of the resistance equivalent to the network to be adjusted accurately. In some microprocessor-based trip devices an electrically alterable read-only memory (EAROM) is used to store a correction factor to be applied to the measured values.
Conventional adjustment processes are long and costly. The object of the invention is to provide an automatic adjustment process designed to maintain the characteristics of the trip device within preset limits.

Adjustment process of an electronic trip device


A terminal fitting (A) has a receiving portion (17) with a contact surface (18) for contacting a male tab (T). The contact surface (18) is widest at the front end and substantially narrowed toward the back. A rate at which a contact area of the male tab (T) and the contact surface (18) increases in the insertion process of the male tab (T) is smaller as compared to a substantially rectangular contact surface having a constant width. The terminal fitting (A) provides good operation feeling upon manually connecting the male tab (T) with the terminal fitting (A).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a terminal fitting.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. S63-35274 discloses a female terminal fitting with opposite front and rear ends. A rectangular tube is formed at the front end and is configured to receive a male tab inserted from the front. A resilient contact is arranged inside the rectangular tube, and a receiving portion is embossed on a wall of the rectangular tube to project toward the resilient contact. The receiving portion is parallel with an inserting direction of the male tab. The male tab inserted into the rectangular tube is squeezed resiliently between the receiving portion and the resilient contact, and is held in surface contact with the receiving portion.
The above-described prior art terminal fitting is illustrated in FIG. 6(A) and is identified by the letter B. The terminal fitting B has a substantially rectangular receiving portion Ba for receiving a male tab T, and the width of the receiving portion Ba is constant along the inserting direction of the male tab T. Insertion resistance is created between the terminal fitting B and the male tab T due to friction resulting from a resilient force of the resilient contact piece (not shown) as the male tab T is inserted into the terminal fitting B. However, the terminal fitting B has the substantially rectangular receiving portion Ba. Thus, the value of the insertion resistance varies widely, and a maximum value of the insertion resistance is larger as an insertion stroke of the male tab T increases. Accordingly, there has been a problem of poor operation feeling upon manually connecting the male tab T with the terminal fitting B.
The invention was developed in view of the above problem and an object thereof is to improve operation feeling upon connecting a male tab.


A receiving apparatus (100) includes demodulation parts (101, 102) for receiving the respective one of received signals of broadast systems to output demodulated data and timing clocks synchronized with the respective demodulated data, a clock generating part (103) for outputting, to an A/V decoder (107), the two timing clocks from the demodulation parts (101, 102) as high-rate and low-rate timing clocks and for outputting a control signal for multiplexing the two demodulated data from the demodulation parts (101, 102), and a multiplexing part (104) for multiplexing, based on the control signal, the two demodulated data to output the multiplexed data to the A/V decoder (107). The A/V decoder (107) receives the multiplexed data and timing clocks from the receiving apparatus (100) to process the video/audio signals of each broadcast.

Recently, the digitalization of broadcasts and communications have progressed with the advancement of digital transmission technology and a semiconductor integrated technology.
A receiving apparatus and a receiving system which simultaneously receive a plurality of broadcasts have a plurality of demodulation parts for demodulating a received signal in response to each broadcast system, a multiplexing part for multiplexing demodulated data outputted by respective demodulation parts, a multiplexed separating part for separating the demodulated data decoded from the demodulated data to be multiplexed thereby, and a decoding part for decoding the demodulated data separated by the multiplexed separating part.
An example of such a digital broadcasting apparatus is shown in JP-A-11-122556.
This well-known digital broadcasting receiver includes a demodulation part tuned to each broadcast system, a multiplexing part for receiving the demodulated data by the transport packet and multiplexing the demodulated data by the transport packet at a rate over a total of transport packet transmission rates of the respective broadcast systems, and a multiplexed separating part for separating decoded and demodulated data from the multiplexed demodulated data, so as to simultaneously receive a plurality of broadcast systems.

Receiving apparatus, receiving system using same, and receiving method thereof


An airbag module comprising an improved canister, retainer assembly and method of attaching the airbag module to the vehicle is disclosed. The canister includes snap-on end caps, which assemble onto the center section of the canister. A retention mechanism provides the snap-on capability, while a lap joint provides extra security to ensure the end caps remain on the center section during assembly and initiation of the inflator secured within the canister.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an inflatable passive restraint airbag module for restraining the movement of a seated occupant in a vehicle during impact and, more particularly, to an improvement in the canister and retainer, the method of assembly, and to the method for attaching the airbag module to the vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Safety restraint systems which self-activate without the need for intervention by an operator, i.e., "passive restraint systems," typically are installed into a vehicle as an airbag module. The airbag module generally includes an inflatable cushion or airbag, an inflator, a canister, and a retainer to hold the airbag cushion and inflator within the canister. The canister provides structural support during inflation of the airbag and also provides a mounting base for installation of the airbag module in a vehicle. The canister is typically formed as an open mouth container with a center section and end plates fastened at each end by welds. During assembly of the canister, multiple specialized jigs as well as skilled operators are required to align the end caps properly on the center section for welding. If the end caps and center section are not aligned properly, the canister may not perform as desired during inflation because of deformation, thereby releasing the airbag or allowing gas leaks during inflation and preventing the airbag from being properly inflated. Complicating the circumstance is the fact that there are many brackets or fastening members welded to the center section to allow the airbag module to be secured within a vehicle. To provide the proper fit and finish when the airbag module is assembled into the vehicle, these fastening attachment members generally require special jigs and skilled operators to properly place them on the canister. Each jig used to assemble the canister is expensive and is typically unique to a particular canister and a particular vehicle, thus resulting in a significant amount of lost set-up time if a switch between vehicles or canisters is made.
Also typically used in airbag modules is a gas diffuser which diffuses the gas from the inflator, secured in a lower part of the canister, into the airbag, which is secured in the upper part of the canister. The diffuser helps proper gas flow into the airbag to ensure the desired inflation characteristics. The gas diffuser is typically secured to the canister by a retainer which also secures the airbag to the canister. During inflation the airbag applies a significant amount of stress and force to the canister and retainer and therefore each must be made out of a relatively thick sheet of metal which may limit tool life during formation of the canister, retainer, and diffuser. The gas diffuser and retainer being separate items also require additional assembly time to be properly assembled into the vehicle. The multiple attachment points that must also be attached to the vehicle require significant assembly time especially in aligning the canister for the proper fit and finish. The multiple fasteners and limited space available when the canister is assembled into the vehicle adds additional production steps and slows the assembly process, thereby increasing assembly cost.
Some manufacturers proposed snap tabs to assemble the end caps onto the center section of the canister. Typically these manufacturers use fastener assemblies such as bolts and nuts to ensure that the end caps are secured directly to the center section due to the stress experienced during deployment of the airbag. Other manufacturers proposed using the inflator which is bolted in place to further secure the end caps onto the canister. However, this latter approach raises additional problems. For example, and given the wide range of tolerances for the inflator, it is difficult to ensure that the end caps are properly secured and that they are not too loose or too tight. Improperly secured end caps may cause additional stress which may affect the performance of the canister during deployment of the airbag. Further, these snap tab attachments may be difficult to assemble properly with the proper alignment and generally do not perform during deployment of the airbag as well as welded assemblies.


The present invention relates to a confocal laser scanning microscope (100) having an illumination device (1) that comprises a laser light source (41) that is configured to illuminate a sample (25), and a control application circuit (40) for the laser light source (1) which is configured to output a pulsed control application signal (48) in order to supply the laser light source (41), the control application circuit (40) being configured so that it determines both a pulse amplitude (A) and a pulse width (W) of at least one pulse of the pulsed control application signal (48) as a function of at least one input variable (S).

The present invention is in the field of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,477,449 B2. For image generation in this context, a location on the sample to be observed is illuminated with a focused laser beam, and the reflected or fluorescent light proceeding from there is sensed by a sensor likewise focused on that location, with the result that high resolution can be achieved.
The laser that is used has a crucial influence on image quality. In particular, its intensity should be controllable as exactly as possible and should cover a wide range of intensities, so that it can also be used for as many different fluorescent dyes or fluorochromes as possible. A modulation frequency as high as the one-MHz frequency range is desirable. In addition, the minimal achievable intensity should be as close to zero as possible. In the context of switch-on and switch-off operations, overshoots or undershoots of the delivered power level should be as few as possible.
It is therefore desirable to improve intensity regulation of the laser light source of a confocal laser scanning microscope.

Confocal laser scanning microscope having a laser light source to which pulsed control is applied


A color temperature compensation system comprises a light source, a dimming element for dimming the light source, a color temperature compensation sheet for performing color temperature compensation on light output from the dimming element, in which there are different changes of color value on the color temperature compensation sheet, and a driving mechanism for controlling the movement of the color temperature compensation sheet and driving the color temperature compensation sheet to switch in and switch out of a light path.

In order to enrich the stage art effect and heighten atmosphere, it is necessary for stage lights to make many effects to meet the requirements of stage lighting engineers, such as a color effect, a pattern effect, a prism effect, a flame effect, a beam effect, beam amplification and de-magnification effects, and a light dimming effect. The dimming function of the stage light is an important function in the stage scenario, and is mainly used to adjust the luminance of the stage light from 0 to 100%. A dimming sheet used in the existing stage light technologies directly seats in the front of a light source to perform dimming by shielding the light emitting area of the light source, or the stage light with an LED light source directly uses electronic dimming, which can basically meet the requirements of general stage scenarios; however, in the dimming process of this dimming structure, the color temperature of light changes with the luminance of the light, and consequently, the atmosphere of the stage scenario does not meet the requirements of the lighting engineers. With the improvement of the light quality of stage lights in the stage scenario, more and more lighting engineers require that the quality of light cannot be degraded in the dimming process, and particularly require that, this important indicator, namely, the color temperature of the light, should remain basically consistent in the dimming process.

Color temperature compensation system and method for stage light


A device is provided for snap-fastening an airbag unit in a subassembly of a motor vehicle, especially in a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, snap-in elements that are associated with each other being provided on the airbag unit and on the subassembly of the motor vehicle. In order to be able to snap-secure an airbag unit both to a plate-shaped subassembly and to a subassembly having a lateral wall, at least one snap-in hook is provided on the airbag unit or on the subassembly of the motor vehicle, at least one pivotable plastic snap-in clip being associated therewith on the other subassembly. The snap-in hook engages with said clip in at least one section thereof when in the snap-in position.

Devices for fastening an airbag unit in a subassembly of a motor vehicle are known. For example, an airbag module in which the airbag unit has on its outside elastically deformable snap-in hooks which can engage behind latching sections on the inside of the lateral wall of the airbag housing is known from EP 1 314 621 A1. In this case, the airbag unit is introduced into the airbag housing from above. As soon as the snap-in hooks reach the region of the latching sections, the snap-in hooks slide along the latching sections, being deformed elastically in the direction of the lateral wall of the airbag unit. Upon reaching the end position of the airbag unit in the airbag housing, the snap-in hooks spring back and engage below the latching sections of the airbag housing. The airbag module is thereby fixed in the airbag housing. This device has the disadvantage that the subassembly to which the airbag unit is to be snap-fastened must have a lateral wall on which the latching sections can be arranged. It is not possible to connect the airbag unit to a flat plate.
A device for snap-fastening an airbag unit in an airbag housing is further known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,201. In this device the airbag unit has a snap-in mechanism on each opposite side. This snap-in mechanism has a housing in which is mounted a spring-loaded pin which, during installation of the airbag unit, is pressed back against the spring force by the respective lateral wall of the airbag housing and slides along the inner wall of the airbag housing until it is pressed by the spring into an opening of the airbag housing,
whereby the airbag unit is locked to the airbag housing. Locking to a motor vehicle subassembly which does not have lateral walls is also possible. In this case, an angled portion which has a perpendicular section replacing the lateral wall must be mounted on the subassembly for each snap-in mechanism. In the case of this device, too, therefore, a lateral wall or a corresponding substitute must be provided in order to fix the airbag unit.

Device for snap-fastening an airbag unit in a subassembly of a motor vehicle, especially in a steering wheel


In view of realizing higher resolution in the sub-scanning direction and achieving high precision and high quality image formation without generating ununiform distribution of exposure, a scanning surface of a photosensitive material is scanned with an optical beam on sequential parallel linear scanning lines with a predetermined angle for the main scanning direction to form an exposed image thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical beam scanning method and apparatus for scanning the scanning surface with an optical beam and an image forming method and apparatus for forming images by exposing a photosensitive material with scanning with an optical beam, and particularly to an optical beam scanning method and apparatus which have enhanced resolution in the sub-scanning direction and an image forming method and apparatus for enhancing resolution in the sub-scanning direction without generation of ununiform distribution of exposure to realize high precision and high quality image forming.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an image forming apparatus which forms images using an optical beam such as a digital copying machine and laser printer, apparatuses are known in which an optical beam modulated in accordance with image information is reflected for deflection by an optical deflector, for example, a polygon mirror and the scanning surface such as a photosensitive material surface is scanned with such an optical beam to record image information.
However, since the optical beam scanning line on the scanning surface is discrete in the period of the main scanning in such an image forming apparatus, there rises problems such as lower drawing accuracy in the sub-scanning direction, for example, lower resolution in the sub-scanning direction, generation of jagged oblique lines (jaggy), lower reproducibility of fine lines. Therefore, it is difficult to provide high precision character and line images required in the field of the printing and desktop publishing.
Meanwhile, resolution in the sub-scanning direction can be improved through high speed main scanning by rotating a polygon mirror at a high speed, but it has been difficult to simultaneously realize high speed main scanning and high resolution because there is a limitation in mechanical drive to attain the high speed rotation of the polygon mirror.
Therefore, in view of overcoming such problems, the system for realizing zigzag scanning by an optical beam has been proposed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. Sho 64-32691 (1989) and Hei 3-131818 (1991).
In this optical beam scanning system, when the optical beam is used for scanning in the main scanning direction, the optical beam is repeatedly displaced only in a very short distance (for example, distance equal to the sub-scanning pitch or one-half of the distance) in the sub-scanning direction using an optical beam defection element such as a piezoelectric element and electro-optical element, the loci of the zigzag optical beam scannings are respectively formed on the main scanning lines (N, N+1, . . . ) on the scanning surface as shown in FIG. 26.
In this optical beam scanning system, when the optical beam is used for scanning in the sub-scanning direction, the regions between the adjacent main scanning lines can also be scanned and therefore resolution in the sub-scanning direction can be enhanced and the drawing accuracy, as a result, in the sub-scanning direction can be improved.
However, the optical beam scanning system of the related art has a problem that since a difference in the scanning rates at the internal and external sides of the optical beam is generated at each displacement point in the sub-scanning direction, namely at each bending part, ununiform distribution of exposure is generated at such displacement points. FIG. 27 shows an exposed image appearing when the optical beam is used for zigzag scanning in a pitch P/2 which is a one-half of the sub-scanning pitch P. In this figure, the amount of exposure increases at internal regions 32A of pixels 32 corresponding to the bending parts because the scanning rate is rather lower, while the amount of exposure reduces at external regions 32B because the scanning rate is rather fast. Thereby, ununiformity is generated in distribution of exposure and the areal modulation of exposed images faithful to concentration information and edge information of pixels is disabled, resulting in the disadvantage that high precision and high quality image forming is impossible. This disadvantage also occurs, for example, in an optical beam scanning apparatus for image reading.

Optical beam scanning method and apparatus, and image forming method and apparatus