A graphics system includes triangle-engine for real-time rendering into a displayable frame-buffer of image data derived from vertex-based deferred instructions. The system uses homogeneity values (1/w values) for z-buffer-like occlusion mapping as well as for texture mapping. Depth resolution is enhanced for both occlusion mapping and texture mapping by representing (1/w), (u/w) and (v/w) values in a block-fixed format.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to digital image processing and the display of digitally generated images.
The invention relates more specifically to the problem of creating raster-based, high-resolution animated images in real time with the aid of a 3D rendering engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the presentation and prepresentation processing of visual imagery has shifted from what was primarily an analog electronic format to an essentially digital format.
Unique problems come to play in the digital processing of image data and the display of such image data.
The more prominent problems include providing adequate storage capacity for digital image data and maintaining acceptable data throughput rates while using hardware of relatively low cost. In addition, there is the problem of creating a sense of realism in digitally generated imagery, particularly in animated forms of such imagery.
The visual realism of imagery that is generated by digital video game systems, by simulators and the like can be enhanced by providing special effects such as, but not limited to, making real-time changes in the orientation and/or shadowing and/or highlighting of various objects, smoothing or sharpening the contours of various objects at different times, and so forth.
Visual realism can be further enhanced by projecting 3-dimensional (3D) surface definitions from a model space onto a 2-dimensional (2D) image plane and rotating, scaling or otherwise manipulating the 3-dimensional surface definitions in real time prior to their projection onto the 2-dimensional image plane.
Visual realism can be additionally enhanced by increasing the apparent resolution of a displayed image so that it has a smooth photography-like quality rather than a grainy disjoined-blocks appearance of the type found in low-resolution computer-produced graphics of earlier years.
Visual realism can be even further enhanced by increasing the total number of different colors and/or shades in each displayed frame of an image so that, in regions where colors and/or shades are to change in a smooth continuum by subtle degrees of hue/intensity, the observer perceives such a smooth photography-like variation of hue/intensity rather than a stark and grainy jump from one discrete color/shade to another.
Although bit-mapped computer images originate as a matrix of discrete lit or unlit pixels, the human eye can be fooled into perceiving an image having the desired photography-like continuity if the displayed matrix of independently-shaded (and/or independently colored) pixels has dimensions of approximately 500-by-500 pixels or better at the point of display and a large variety of colors and/or shades on the order of roughly 24 bits-per-pixel or better.
The human brain can be tricked into perceiving a displayed 2-dimensional moving image as being somewhat 3-dimensional in nature if a sufficient number of cues are generated in real-time to support such perception. These cues include but are not limited to:
(a) drawing images along angled lines of perspective to create a sense of depth; PA1 (b) shading images to simulate 3-dimensional lighting effects including shadows and reflections; PA1 (c) allowing displayed objects to rotate so as to show their side and back surfaces; PA1 (d) allowing displayed objects to appear to move forward and back relative to the viewer by appropriately scaling their size; and PA1 (e) allowing displayed objects to move in front of one another as if they were 3-dimensional and had all the associated properties of the real objects they portray. PA1 (a) native-surface color component values such as R, G, and B that are respectively attached to each point; PA1 (b) a blending factor referred to herein as `A` that is respectively attached to each point and is used for blending the native-surface color component values with respective prior frame-buffer values and/or respective texturizing values; PA1 (c) depth-adjusted texture mapping coordinates that are respectively attached to each point and are referred to herein as `u/w` and `v/w`, where u and v are coordinates of a bitmapped 2-dimensional texture image defined using depth-independent coordinates, the texture image having its own R, G, B, and/or A values for each of its points; and PA1 (d) a homogeneity factor referred to herein as `1/w`.
The above set of visual cues imply that each rotating object having reflective surfaces needs to have its correspondingly surrounding 3D visual environment wrapped about its surface, and distorted in accordance with the contours of its surface in order to create the illusion of 3-dimensional reflection. The above set of visual cues further presuppose that translucent moving objects passing in front of other objects should appear to translucently pass through the imagery of the object behind.
Carrying out all these 3D cuing operations in real-time can be quite complicated and difficult, particularly if an additional constraint is added that the implementing hardware has to be of relatively small size and low cost.
Compound systems are being proposed that have real-time 3-dimensional object defining and manipulating means as well as other means that contend for access to a shared system memory and for access to the shared resources of system CPU's.
The compound nature of such systems places a strain on system memory to deliver (or to store) time-critical data to (or from) devices or modules that need to operate on a real-time basis.
An example of time-critical data is video data that may be needed on a real-time basis, within the time window of a horizontal raster line for example, in order to provide real-time display for an interactive game or an interactive simulator.
The compound nature of such systems also increases the likelihood that a minor software error (bug) in one software module will induce an unintended write to a system critical register or memory location and bring the whole system down.
The proposed compound systems have so many hardware and software functionalities that they strain the throughput capabilities (data bandwidth) of the memory-access management subsystem and complicate the tasks of the memory-access management subsystem. The memory-access management subsystem now needs to arbitrate among a larger number of contenders for memory access.
The added functionalities of the proposed compound systems additionally strain the throughput capabilities and complicate the tasks of any system CPUs that have to supervise the activities of the image manipulating and rendering means on a real-time basis. (The term "CPUs" refers here to a general-purpose data processing subsystem which may be implemented either in a centralized unit format, as for example a single truly-central processing unit; or which may be implemented in a plural units format, such as in a parallel processing system.)
A system architecture is needed for reducing contention among plural potential requesters for system memory access.
A system architecture is needed for reducing contention by plural software modules for access to the limited resources of system CPUs.
A methodology is needed for simultaneously satisfying the needs of multiple, time-critical processes such as those of a real-time video display subsystem and those of a real-time animation subsystem.
A methodology is needed for reducing the likelihood that a wayward software or hardware module will bring down the entire system by unintentionally writing to a system critical register or memory location.
In general, a goal of 3D computer graphics is to create a 2D projection on a cathode-ray tube ("CRT") screen of a three-dimensional model as viewed from a predetermined viewpoint in three-dimensional model space. One aspect of such a projection is the need to keep track of which objects are in front of other objects, and which are behind, when viewed from the viewpoint. This knowledge is necessary to ensure that, for example, a building in the foreground will properly occlude a building in the distance. This aspect of the rendering process is known as "occlusion mapping".
One popular technique to perform occlusion mapping uses a construct known as a "z buffer". A standard z buffer linearly associates a number called the "z value", representing the distance from the observer (depth in the scene relative to a projection plane), with each pixel drawn on the screen. When a first object is projected, attributes of its pixels (such as color) are stored in a "frame buffer", and the z value associated with each pixel is separately stored in the z buffer. If a second object from the model subsequently projects onto the same pixel, the new object's z value is compared against the z value already stored for that pixel, and only if the new value is less (representing an object closer to the viewer) will the new pixel be drawn.
FIG. 8 illustrates the rendering of Object 1 and Object 2 at different distances or z values from a projection plane or image plane, considered for purposes of illustration to be located at z=0 in the model space. In FIG. 8, object 1 is projected and rendered first. Object 2 is rendered second. The z buffer prevents pixels of object 2 from being written to the frame buffer in the locations where object 1 has already written pixels with a lesser z value. Thus, object 2 appears in the ultimately displayed image to be behind object 1, as desired.
Z buffers can be implemented in either hardware or software. The numbers stored can be either floating point or integer values. Any number of bits can be devoted to the z values. In general, the more bits that are devoted to storing the z value, the finer the resolution in distance that can be achieved. Because z values represent the depth of an object in a scene, z values can be more generally referred to as "depth values", and z-buffers can be more generally referred to as "depth buffers". Also, in particular implementations, depth values can be increasing with increasing depth, or can be decreasing with increasing depth. Since the invention is not restricted to one such implementation or the other, depth values sometimes are referred to herein as being "farther" or "nearer" to the viewpoint than other depth values.
Another feature of 3D graphics systems is the ability to map a texture onto an object with a perspective-correct mapping, as seen in FIG. 9. In the simplest form, a texture can be thought of as a decal that is applied to the surface of an object, such as a design on the surface of a cube. In FIG. 9, 902 designates the cube in a model space 903 and 904 designates "texture space" containing a "texture map" 905 which is to be applied to all three visible surfaces 906, 908 and 910 of the cube as part of the rendering process. Since the surface 906 of the cube 902 is parallel to the projection plane (considered for purposes of this illustration to be at z=0 in the model space 903), the texture map 905 can be applied directly onto that surface. Surface 908 is at an angle to the projection plane, so a perspective transformation of the texture map 905 is needed before applying it to the surface 908. Such a map, as transformed, is illustrated at 912. Similarly, a different perspective transformation of the texture map 905 is required before applying it to the surface 910; such a map, as transformed, is illustrated at 914. The final image, as projected onto the projection plane and with perspective-correct texturing applied, is illustrated as 916 in FIG. 9. It can be seen that the shape of the decal on the side of the box is warped as the box is rotated to preserve the illusion of three-dimensionality in the 2D projection.
In order to achieve perspective-correct texture mapping, graphics rendering systems traditionally perform projection calculations using a 4.times.4 matrix representing the transformation to be performed. 4.times.4 matrices are used also for many other kinds of transformations in the 3D model space, all as discussed in Foley et al., "Computer Graphics, Principles and Practice," 2d. ed. (Addison-Wesley: 1991), especially at pp. 213-226 and 253-281. The entire Foley text is incorporated herein by reference.
4.times.4 matrix transformations depend on the representation of points in the 3D model space using "homogenous coordinates", in which a fourth coordinate, w, is added to the traditional three spatial coordinates x, y and z. Two sets of homogenous coordinates are considered to refer to the same point in 3-space if one is a multiple of the other. Thus (x,y,z,w) refers to the same point as (x/y, y/w, z/w, 1) in which representation the fourth coordinate ("1") can be dropped. The process of dividing through by w (and optionally dropping the last coordinate) is referred to herein as the process of "homogenizing" the point, after which the representation is referred to as an "homogenized" representation of the point. Similarly, the process of multiplying through by any non-zero and non-unity w value is referred to herein as the process of "de-homogenizing" the point, after which the representation is referred to herein as "de-homogenized". The value (1/w) is referred to herein as an "homogeneity factor", because the point is "homogenized" by multiplying each of the coordinates by (1/w). The value w is referred to herein as an "homogeneity divisor", because the point is homogenized by dividing each of the coordinates by w. The term "homogeneity value" as used herein includes both homogeneity factors and homogeneity divisors, since it does not imply the function (e.g. multiplication or division) by which it is to be applied to the other coordinates to achieve homogeneity. As will be seen, the homogeneity value for a point is related to its depth in the scene.
Thus the projection calculations traditionally performed naturally yield a homogeneity value ((1/w) or w) for each point projected onto an image plane. Traditional texture mapping, which maps a texture onto a planar polygon of the model, utilizes the homogeneity values as follows.
Initially, each vertex of the model space polygon is assigned, in addition to attribute values and its model space coordinates (x,y,z), a pair of depth-independent coordinates (u,v) into a depth-independent texture space. The texture space is considered herein to be "depth-independent" because it is defined with only two Cartesian coordinates (u and v). For each vertex, homogenized image space coordinates (x/w, y/w) are calculated using homogenous transformations. This calculation yields the homogeneity value 1/w for the vertex, which is applied to the depth-independent texture space coordinates (u,v) for the vertex to generate "depth-adjusted" texture coordinates (u/w, v/w). These can be thought of as coordinates into a "depth-adjusted texture space".
Next, for each i'th pixel of the polygon as projected onto the image plane, in addition to calculating its new image space coordinates (x.sub.i /w.sub.i, y.sub.i /w.sub.i) by interpolation, the depth-adjusted coordinates (u.sub.i /w.sub.i, v.sub.i /w.sub.i) into the depth-adjusted texture space are also calculated by interpolation. The homogeneity value 1/w.sub.i is also interpolated for the i'th pixel from the homogeneity values of the polygon vertices. Because the predefined texture map is indexed in depth-independent texture space and not depth-adjusted texture space, the texture coordinates (u.sub.i /w.sub.i, v.sub.i /w.sub.i) for the i'th pixel are then converted back to dept-independent texture space by multiplying through by w.sub.i. This yields depth-independent coordinates (u.sub.i,v.sub.i) into depth-independent texture space. The corresponding texture value T.sub.i can then be retrieved and/or calculated from the predefined texture map and applied to the polygon as projected onto the image plane.
In general, at least for one-point perspective projections onto an image plane perpendicular to the z axis, the homogeneity value produced by the 4.times.4 matrix calculation is related to the depth coordinate z of the point in model space by a linear relationship of the form EQU w=.alpha.z+.beta.,
where .alpha.and .beta. are constants which depend on such variables as the position of the image plane on the z-axis in model space and the chosen center of projection (COP). For projections onto the plane z=d with COP=(0,0,0), it can be shown that w=z/d.
But while this simple relationship between z and w is well known, conventional systems do not use homogeneity values for occlusion mapping, only for texture mapping. In order to maximize texture-mapping resolution in a given graphics rendering system, most conventional systems texture map each polygon separately. This enables the homogeneity values for the polygon (including its vertices and each of its interior pixels) to be scaled so as to occupy the full range of numeric values that can be carried by the hardware. The above texture mapping procedure is performed using these full-scale (1/w) values. Accordingly, while the homogeneity values of different surface regions of the polygon might have been initially related to the depth of the surface region in the overall rendered scene, after scaling, they are related only to their depths in the scene relative to the other surface regions of the same polygon.
Thus, a traditional 3D graphics system computes two parameters for each pixel, a z value which is used in the z buffer, and a 1/w value which is used for perspective-correct texture mapping. The two are treated entirely independently. Additional complexity and cost is required in computing both the z value and 1/w value. Further, computing both values, rather than one of the values, limits the speed with which an image may be rendered and displayed. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an apparatus and method in which only one of the two values need be calculated, but without significant loss of precision in either the texture-mapping or occlusion mapping operations.

Inverse Z-buffer and video display system having list-based control mechanism for time-deferred instructing of 3D rendering engine that also responds to supervisory immediate commands


An optical system for a digital light projection system is provided. The optical system comprises a plurality of LED arrays, wherein each LED array comprises a plurality of LEDs. The optical system also comprises an optical concentrator element positioned substantially adjacent to each of the LED arrays, wherein each concentrator element reflects light emitted from the plurality of LEDs within the corresponding LED array. The optical system preferably further comprises a reflective aperture element positioned substantially adjacent to the output surface of each concentrator element. The aperture element includes a reflective surface and an aperture defined by the reflective surface. The reflective surface faces the output surface of each corresponding concentrator element to thereby ultimately provide substantially uniform light which is projected through the aperture.

For digital light projection (DLP) systems, a need exists for an optical system capable of producing a substantially uniform and substantially white light in the illumination path. Traditional optical systems for DLP systems typically include light sources such as, for example, high intensity mercury lamps or xenon lamps. However, these traditional optical systems and corresponding light sources suffer from drawbacks such as, for example, non-uniformity of light, non-white light, and insufficient brightness. Moreover, the excess heat generation and high design complexity of these traditional optical systems require complicated and expensive procedures and techniques to manufacture the optical systems.
Thus, it is desirable to provide an optical system which is able to overcome the above disadvantages and which can be manufactured in an inexpensive and efficient fashion.
It is therefore desirable to provide an optical system including LED arrays and corresponding optical concentrator elements that can be utilized in DLP systems, and that does not suffer from the above drawbacks experienced by traditional optical systems. Additionally, while addressing these problems, the optical system including LED arrays and corresponding optical concentrator elements of the present invention will simultaneously provide superior uniformity of light, white light, and brightness desired in DLP systems.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the detailed description of the invention hereinbelow.

Optical system for a digital light projection system including optical concentrator elements having reflective aperture elements


A DMOS transistor is fabricated with its source/body/deep body regions formed on the walls of a first set of trenches, and its drain regions formed on the walls of a different set of trenches. A gate region that is formed in a yet another set of trenches can be biased to allow carriers to flow from the source to the drain. Lateral current low from source/body regions on trench walls increases the active channel perimeter to a value well above the amount that would be present if the device was fabricated on just the surface of the wafer. Masking is avoided while open trenches are present. A transistor with a very low on-resistance per unit area is obtained.

The present application relates to double-diffused MOS or "DMOS" power devices, and particularly to DMOS transistors which provide lateral carrier flow between their source/body regions and their drain regions, all of which have been formed along the walls of trenches that have been etched into the surface of a semiconductor wafer.
Note that the points discussed below may reflect the hindsight gained from the disclosed inventions, and are not necessarily admitted to be prior art.
DMOS transistors have become the dominant transistor type for solid-state power switching at voltages below about 500 volts. One innovation that has led to this dominance was the development of the trench MOSFET described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,767,722 and 5,034,785, both hereby incorporated by reference. Trench DMOS transistors or "TrenchFETs" operate in much the same fashion as conventional lateral or conventional vertical DMOS transistors. In a basic n-channel DMOS transistor, a heavily doped source region is separated from the drain region by a relatively narrow p-type body region. The source region is usually formed by introducing n-type dopant atoms along the same edge that was earlier used to introduce the p-type body dopant atoms. A gate region, which is most often doped polycrystalline silicon ("polysilicon)," is capacitively coupled to the body region. A sufficiently positive voltage on the gate with respect to the source inverts the normally p-type surface of the body region, thereby forming an n-type "channel" which allows n-type carriers (carrier electrons) to flow from the source region to the drain region of the device. The drain electrode may be formed on the same surface as the source/body electrode, or it may be formed on the opposite surface of the wafer.
Manufacturers of MOS-gated devices such as DMOS transistors have used a variety of methods to reduce the specific on-resistance of their products. The specific on-resistance, which is the product of the on-resistance of a device multiplied by its surface area, is one figure of merit often used as a basis for comparing device performance. The device with the lowest specific on-resistance for a given voltage has the most efficient use of surface area. The main device structures that have been used to manufacture commercially available DMOS transistors include lateral DMOS, vertical DMOS, and trench DMOS, all of which are shown in FIGS. 2A-2C respectively.
A fourth type of DMOS transistor, known as a "Super 3D MOSFET," has been proposed for further reducing device size, particularly for devices operating at relatively low voltages. See J. Sakakibara, N. Suzuki, and H. Yamaguchi, "Break-through of the Si limit under 300V breakdown voltage with new concept power device: Super 3D MOSFET," ISPSD, 2002, pp. 233-236; and H. Yamaguchi, Y. Urakami and J. Sakakibara, "Break-through of on-resistance Si limit by Super 3D MOSFET under 100V breakdown voltage," Proceedings of the 18th International Symposium on Power Semiconductor Devices and ICs (ISPSD) Jun. 4-8, 2006. Both of these articles are hereby incorporated by reference.
A drawing of the Super 3D MOSFET is shown in FIG. 2D. Note that the predominant direction of current flow is lateral: carriers travel in an approximately horizontal plane. Thus a single horizontal slice through the device would include an operative DMOS transistor. The downwardly extended device can be thought of as a number of such operative transistors, downwardly stacked to give a very large total channel cross-section. While the concept of the Super 3D MOSFET is an extension of a trench MOSFET to three dimensions, the sequence of semiconductor processing steps that can be used for their manufacture is difficult to optimize.

Devices, methods, and systems with MOS-gated trench-to-trench lateral current flow


A method is disclosed for operating a mobile station (10) that includes the steps of (a) storing in the mobile station a SPC derived at least in part from a multi-bit secret pattern that is stored in the mobile station for use in a mobile station authentication process; (b) entering a SPC into the mobile station; (c) comparing in the mobile station the entered SPC to the stored SPC; and (d) only if the entered SPC and the stored SPC are found to be equal, enabling a desired function to be performed. The multi-bit secret pattern is preferably an A-key, and the SPC is preferably a checksum derived from an algorithmic combination of the A-key and an electronic serial number of the mobile station. The SPC may also be derived from at least one further mobile station parameter, such as the mobile station identification number (MIN) or the international mobile station identity (IMSI). This invention also teaches a method for internally generating the SPC within the mobile station in response to a message received from a base station (30).

Modern cellular telephones or mobile stations employ or are proposed to employ a lock code or service programming code (SPC) to enable or activate certain features or to enable service to the mobile station from a certain carrier or service provider. By example, if a certain service provider were to provide a mobile station to a user as an incentive to subscribe to the service provider's network, then the service provider would wish to prevent the user from obtaining service with a competing service provider.
The SPC should fulfil at least the following requirements. First, it should be determinable in accordance with some type of algorithm. Second, the SPC of each mobile station should be unique. Third, the carrier must know the unique SPC of each mobile station. Fourth, the security of SPC should be maintained so as to prevent unauthorized persons from learning the SPC. Fifth, the data management requirements of the service provider should be minimal with regards to the SPC.

Mobile station having lock code based on secure value


A method for bending a vinyl floor plank to form a stair nose plank. A first bending gap is established between two blending blocks and a second bend gap is established between two second bending blocks. Heat is applied to a vinyl floor plank along a first bend location. The vinyl floor plank is then placed into the first bend gap. A user presses downward on the vinyl floor plank to form a first right angle bend. Heat is applied to a vinyl floor plank along a second bend location. The vinyl floor plank is then placed into the second bend gap. The user presses downward on the vinyl floor plank to form a second right angle bend. The first right angle bend and the second right angle bend combine to form a U-shaped bend to form a stair nose plank. In a preferred embodiment the stair nose plank includes a locking mechanism along its edges. In a preferred embodiment heat is applied by utilization of an acrylic bending machine.

Vinyl plank flooring is known in the prior art. FIG. 1 shows a top view of vinyl flooring plank 1. Popular vinyl planks include luxury vinyl tile flooring (LVT), luxury vinyl plank flooring (LVP), stone plastic composite vinyl flooring (SPC), and other acrylic or vinyl type floorings. Vinyl planks varies in size, with most widths ranging from 6 inches up to 7¾ inches but varying between 5 inches and 8 inches and typical lengths ranging from 36 to 48 inches. Vinyl planks range in thickness from 2 mm for lower quality products to 8 mm or more for higher quality products. This measurement varies since luxury vinyl tile is comprised of four-to-five different distinct layers that include a urethane coating, the wear layer, a print film layer, the vinyl core, and the backing. Vinyl planks typically include locking mechanism 2 that surrounds the planks and is for click locking adjacent planks together. FIG. 2 shows tongue 3 and groove 4 of locking mechanism 2.
Acrylic bending machines are known in the prior art. FIG. 3 shows acrylic bending machine 5. Acrylic bending machine 5 (model no. ABM700/1300) is available from Aecfun Commercial Equipment Co., Ltd of Jiaxing, China. Acrylic bending machine 5 is a useful tool for softening and bending acrylic, organic glass, plexiglass, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into shapes. Acrylic bending machine 5 may be used for sign making, display cases, artware making, and other applications. Acrylic bending machine 5 uses an infrared tube (not shown) for heating. The temperature is adjustable according to the different thickness of the plastic sheet being bent with a maximum temperature of 600° C. Acrylic bending machine 5 includes an adjustable heating gap 6 where the gap width is adjustable between 0-20 mm, according to the needs of the user. The horizontal position of the plastic sheet being bent over heating gap 6 is adjustable by manipulating adjustable arm 50.
Vinyl plank flooring is very popular. Unfortunately, however, prior art stair nose pieces must be specially ordered, are expensive, difficult to work with and do not include locking mechanisms for click locking the stair nose plank to other vinyl planks.
What is needed is an improved method for fabricating vinyl plank stair nose pieces.

Method for bending a vinyl floor plank to form a stair nose plank


A cargo securing device for restraining cargo within a vehicle, including a chain assembly extended about the perimeter of a cargo area, and attached to spaced locations in the cargo area. Restrainers are attached at any point on the chain assembly and used to restrain cargo stored within the cargo area. Anchoring devices, such as brackets, are joined onto the chain assembly at various points, and then attached the cargo area sidewalls or cargo floor, securing the chain assembly to the surface. Additionally, the cargo securing device may include telescoping units attached to the chain assembly and secured to the sidewalls or floor. The telescoping units allow the chain assembly to be situated at different heights so that restrainers may strap about cargo at different heights.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cargo securing device, and particularly to a cargo securing device allowing for multiple horizontal and vertical securing points.
2. Description of the Related Art
Individual movers, truck drivers and others frequently use cargo-fastening devices to stabilize the load so that assorted cargo may be safely hauled aboard various vehicles. The cargo often includes items that are of different sizes and heights. The items to be hauled, for example, may be simple crates or cumbersome and unwieldy furniture. It is necessary to confine the hauled items such that they do not slide about the vehicle or truck bed and thus become damaged. In order to secure the cargo, a variety of restraining devices are used, including ropes, elastic cords, wires, etc. The restraining devices are attached to truck bed walls or floors by anchors, hooks, and the like.
While effective to an extent, these restraining devices are limited to a certain number of anchoring points about the truck bed. The anchoring points are often restricted to four securing points, generally two in the front and two in the back. Some improvements provide an additional two anchoring points in the middle of the truck bed. However, six anchoring points may not be enough to effectively restrain certain types of cargo. In some instances, a greater number of securing points would be beneficial to the cargo hauler.
Additionally, a variety of securing mechanisms provide anchoring points along the same plane, such as along the truck bed or along a track attached about the sides of the truck bed. However, these mechanisms do not allow for multiple anchoring points along different planes, such that different types of hauled goods may be more easily accommodated.
Accordingly, there is a need for a simply constructed cargo securing mechanism that provides multiple fastening points. The greatest benefit to a cargo mover would be from a securing device that permits the securing of cargo at any point around the cargo area. Further, there is a need for a cargo securing mechanism that may be adjusted to varying heights to permit a greater range of anchoring points.
U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. US 2002/0048495 A1, published Apr. 25, 2002 and invented by M. Anderson et al., describes a cargo bed tie-down system. Tie-down tracks are extended within the body of a truck and on the truck bed. The tracks do not extend beyond the adjoining truck body and are therefore more easily able to blend into the body of the truck.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,769, issued Jul. 25, 1989 to J. Matthews, describes a tie-down device for a pickup truck. The device has a movable car with a fastener that is slidably mounted on a track. The track is situated about the perimeter of the truck body and additional tracks may be situated on the truck bed. The car with the fastener attached may be moved along the track and used as an anchoring mechanism for any number of positions on the track.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,848, issued Jul. 9, 1996 to O. Davis, describes a payload tie-down system. The system consists of tracks placed about the perimeter of the truck body and along the truck bed. S-shaped hooks are attached to carriages that are slidable onto the tracks. The S-shaped hooks connect to ropes or other securing means to hold down cargo.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,396,324, issued Aug. 2, 1983 to R. Ellis describes a tie-down apparatus that is positioned along the side walls of a pick-up truck. Rails are extended between stake walls and engage holders positioned against the stake walls. The holders each have a coupling socket into which the rails are extended.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,724, issued Jun. 26, 1990 to V. Dutton describes a truck box top molding. Slotted rails are attached along the perimeter of the top of the truck box. The rails are fastened by screws extending within the truck box. The slots in the rails allow a rope, wire or the like to attach onto the truck box.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,934, issued Aug. 20, 1991 to K. Ross describes a cargo retaining device comprising a net made of crisscrossing material and a cord. The cord is secured to the net by knots and attached to the cargo-hauling vehicle. The device allows the net to cover and secure the cargo within the vehicle bed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,007, issued Jun. 20, 2000 to E. Porter et al. relates to a pick-up truck bed organizer and method. The organizer fits within the bed of a truck and is comprised of multiple legs, which are connected to each other with connectors. The connectors each have tubular plugs to which the legs telescopingly connect. The legs and connectors may be rearranged to allow for varying sizes and types of cargo to fit within the truck bed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,361, issued Nov. 21, 2000 to D. Schrader describes a securement device for securing cargo within a truck. The device consists of a hollow member attached about the top perimeter of a truck box and an additional hollow member attached at a higher level about the perimeter of the truck box. Cords for securing cargo are fastened within the hollow member and are slidable along the hollow member.
Other patents showing cargo fastening equipment include U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2002/0164225 A1, published Nov. 7, 2002 and invented by M. Snyder et al. (tie-down system with deformation region); U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2003/0095846 A1, published May 22, 2003 and invented by D. Breckel (cargo tie-downs and rail systems including such tie-downs); U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,660, issued Oct. 15, 1974 to B. Clark (pick-up truck rail assembly and tie-down device); U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,537, issued Dec. 11, 1984 to H. Morse (drum tie-down apparatus); U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,383, issued Mar. 17, 1987 to P. Hoff (cargo stabilizer for utility vehicles); U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,298, issued Jan. 5, 1988 to J. Bott (cargo restraining system); U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,204, issued Feb. 13, 1990 to R. Summers (elastic spider web cargo restraint devices); U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,771, issued Sep. 11, 1990 to J. Bott (cargo restraint system).
Additional patents showing cargo fastening devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,711, issued Nov. 9, 1993 to G. Beck (tie-down apparatus); U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,472, issued Jul. 11, 1995 to R. Coffland (convertible pickup side rail apparatus); U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,376, issued Jul. 23, 1996 to W. Borda (apparatus and method for securing large objects); U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,055, issued Feb. 4, 1997 to J. Brown (insert for a pickup truck bed); U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,176, issued Feb. 10, 1998 to R. Anderson (cargo net with enhanced elasticity); U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,369, issued Jun. 30, 1998 to S. Lerman et al. (air cargo restraint system and fittings therefore); U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,916, issued May 23, 2000 to F. Swensen (portable base for anchoring and transporting unstable articles).
Further patents showing cargo fastening devices include U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,440 B1,. issued Sep. 18, 2001 to J. DiVaccaro (tie down strap container); U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,346 B1, issued Nov. 13, 2001 to H. Martin (load and lock tailgate); U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,815 B1, issued Aug. 27, 2002 to C. Liu (fastening device adapted for tightening a rope to fasten goods on a platform of vehicle); U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,620, issued Sep. 30, 2003 to J. Veal (load retaining apparatus on a vehicle); U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,807 B2, issued Oct. 7, 2003 to R. Bernardo (adjustable truck bed divider for stabilizing cargo); U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,901 B2, issued Nov. 11, 2003 to D. Breckel (cargo tie-downs and rail systems including such tie-downs); U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,887 B2, issued Dec. 2, 2003 to S. McDonald (tie down anchor devices and products thereof); Jap. Pat. No. 61-044040, published Mar. 3, 1986 (rope hook device for carrier vehicle); Jap. Pat. No. 61-160647, published Jul. 21, 1986 (C-shaped rope hanger).
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a device to secure cargo solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


A push-pull output stage circuit includes two series-connected transistors, receives an input signal and outputs a signal corresponding to the input signal. A control circuit detects a current flowing in the transistors and controls the push-pull circuit to keep an ineffective current flowing in the push-pull circuit at substantially a constant value.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a push-pull output circuit used for a semiconductor integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
A push-pull output circuit is used in an output circuit of a semiconductor integrated circuit which is required to have characteristics that the amplitude of the output signal is large, the distortion of the output signal is small and the output current is large.
The construction of such a push-pull output circuit is explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 below. As shown in FIG. 1, a P-channel MOS transistor P1 and an N-channel MOS transistor N1 are serially connected between a power source potential Vcc and a ground potential GND to constitute a push-pull output stage circuit. An output terminal OUT is connected to a connection node between the P-channel MOS transistor P1 and N-channel MOS transistor N1. Further, a current source circuit 71, a level shift circuit 72 and an N-channel MOS transistor N2 are serially connected between the Vcc potential and GND potential. The gate of the N-channel MOS transistor N2 for output control is connected to an input terminal IN to which an input signal is supplied. A connection node Ne between the current source circuit 71 and the level shift circuit 72 is connected to the gate of the P-channel MOS transistor P1. A connection node Nf between the level shift circuit 72 and the N-channel MOS transistor N2 is connected to the gate of the N-channel MOS transistor N1.
The push-pull output circuit shown in FIG. 2 is different from that of FIG. 1 in that the level shift circuit 72 is omitted, and a P-channel MOS transistor P2 and a second current source circuit 81 are connected between the Vcc potential and the GND potential. The gate of the N-channel MOS transistor N2 is connected to the input terminal IN. A connection node Ng between the gate and drain of the P-channel MOS transistor P2 is connected to the gate of the P-channel MOS transistor P1. A connection node Nh between the first current source circuit 71 and the N-channel MOS transistor N2 is connected to the gate of the N-channel MOS transistor N1.
In the push-pull output circuit of FIG. 1, the level shift amount (a difference between the potential of the node Ne and the potential of the node Nf) of the level shift circuit 72 is fixed and cannot be adjusted. Therefore, the bias voltage (voltage between the source and gate) of the two MOS transistors P1 and N1 varies substantially in proportion to variation in the Vcc potential. As a result, an ineffective current (which is a current flowing in the MOS transistors P1 and N1 when the output terminal OUT is set in the electrically floating state; static current; DC current) flowing in the two MOS transistors P1 and N1 constituting the push-pull output stage circuit will vary. Thus, the power consumption in the push-pull output circuit varies and the characteristic of the circuit also varies. Therefore, in the push-pull circuit of FIG. 1, it is necessary to use a constant voltage source whose output voltage is stable. Further, the ineffective current flowing in the push-pull output stage circuit may be largely influenced by variation in the threshold voltage of the MOS transistors P1 and N1. When attempts are made to suppress variation in the ineffective current, the process control may become severe or the yield of the semiconductor device will be lowered.
In the push-pull output circuit of FIG. 2, the P-channel MOS transistors P1 and P2 are connected in a current mirror configuration. The gate of the P-channel MOS transistor P1 is always applied with a constant bias voltage from the gate of the P-channel MO transistor P2, thereby causing a constant current to always flow in the P-channel MOS transistor P1. As a result, the maximum value of the output current in the push-pull output circuit becomes equal to that of a constant current flowing in the P-channel MOS transistor P1. Therefore, when a large output current is required, it becomes necessary to set the ineffective current at the time of no load to a large value, causing a larger power consumption

Push-pull circuit resistant to power supply and temperature induced distortion


A computer system includes a control circuit having a request input, and a pair of connectors which are electrically coupled to the control circuit and are each connected to the request input of the control circuit, each connector being capable of removably receiving a circuit card. The control circuit includes a checking arrangement for detecting a condition in which the connectors each have therein a card having a request output controlling the request input of the control circuit.

In conventional computer systems of the type commonly referred to as "personal" computers, there are typically a plurality of connectors or "slots" which are each coupled to a system bus of the computer system and which can each removably receive a printed circuit card. The circuit cards are optional and not necessary for normal system operation, and either augment functions which are inherent in the system or provide functions which are not inherent in the system. Usually these circuit cards are slaves to a controller circuit which controls the system bus and is an integral part of the computer system, and do not themselves attempt to control the system bus. On the other hand, a few conventional circuit cards do have the capability to operate in a mode in which they actually take control of the bus, because it permits them to operate more efficiently. A card of this type is sometimes called a "bus master" card.
Obviously, the controller circuit and a bus master card cannot both control the system bus simultaneously, and there must therefore be some type of handshaking arrangement which allows them to coordinate who will be controlling the bus at any given point in time. One conventional approach is to provide a special request line and a special acknowledge line for each bus master card. The bus master card produces a request signal to the controller circuit on the request line when it wishes to take control of the bus, and then the controller circuit produces an acknowledge signal back to that card at the point in time when the controller circuit actually yields control of the bus to the bus master. In the interest of compactness, power efficiency and minimum cost, an integrated circuit has been developed for incorporation into a controller circuit in order to carry out the function of handling the request and acknowledge signals for several bus master cards and to carry out the function of prioritizing the request signals when two or more bus master cards simultaneously request control of the bus. This integrated circuit is an Intel Model 82357, which is commonly called an integrated system peripheral (ISP) and which is commercially available from Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, California. The ISP has six request inputs and six corresponding acknowledge outputs. It is designed for use with six connectors which can each removably receive a bus master card, each connector being connected to a respective one of the request inputs and to the corresponding acknowledge output. The ISP is entirely satisfactory for computer systems which have no more than six connectors. However, it is very common for a computer system of the type in question to have seven or more connectors.
One design approach to a system having seven or more connectors is to use two or more ISP components. However, each ISP component is relatively expensive, and this approach is thus not satisfactory because it increases the overall cost of the computer system. An alternative approach is to select six of the seven or more slots, to connect each of the selected six slots to a respective request input and acknowledge output of the ISP, and to require persons using the system to ensure that each bus master card which is added to the system is inserted in one of the selected six connectors, the remaining connectors being used only for cards which are not bus master cards. A problem with this approach is that many users are not technically sophisticated, and may not be aware that a particular card is or is not a bus master card, or which of several identical connectors can receive a bus master card and which cannot. In short, for user convenience and customer satisfaction, it is desirable that each connector in a system have the capability to accept a bus master card under at least some circumstances.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a system which has a single ISP and has several connectors each coupled to the single ISP in a manner so that each connector is capable under certain conditions of operatively receiving a bus master card, the number of connectors being greater than the number of request inputs of the ISP.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a system in which an automatic check is carried out when the system is turned on, in order to verify that the number and arrangement of bus master cards in the connectors is acceptable, and in order to terminate operation and notify the user in the event of any detected problem.
A still further object of the invention is to provide such a system in which a minimum amount of additional hardware and software is required in order to give each connector the capability to receive a bus master card in at least some circumstances and to automatically check the arrangement of bus master cards for any problem.
The objects and purposes of the invention, including those set forth above, are met by providing a method and apparatus in which a pair of connectors are each connected to a request input of a control circuit and can each removably receive a circuit card, a check being carried out for a condition in which the connectors each have therein a circuit card having a request output to control the request input of the control circuit.


Systems and methods support dental patient scheduling relating to one or more dental appliances by communicating manufacturing progress information with a patient computer over a wide area network; and performing patient scheduling when one or more dental appliances reach a predetermined manufacturing progress.

The Internet has become a significant medium for communication and commerce and has enabled millions of people to share information and conduct business electronically. The unique characteristics of the Internet such as its ability to provide enhanced communication, rich text, and graphic environment provide an ideal support for a wide variety of electronic commerce transactions. For example, a consumer can search, review, and extensively shop a number of competing chains in an instant. As such, consumers benefit by being able to obtain a good price relatively quickly and easily.
On-line retailers also benefit, since these retailers can carry a larger number of products at a lower cost and with greater merchandising flexibility without the physical constraints faced by traditional retailers. Additionally, they can assist the consumer's purchase decision by providing relevant information and enabling consumers to shop at their convenience by remaining open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Online retailers can also provide personalized services and use direct marketing efforts based on information provided by customers.
As such, the Internet has evolved into a unique sales and marketing channel. The ubiquity and convenience of the Internet makes it ideal for dispensing information on certain topics that traditionally require visits to specialists. For example, certain consumers may be interested in products and services associated with orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities ("malocclusion" or "bad bite"). The orthodontic treatment process typically uses corrective appliances such as braces and/or other fixed or removable appliances to bring the teeth, lips and jaws into proper alignment and to achieve a facial balance. The pervasiveness of the Internet makes it an ideal source for information relating to these products and services.

Delivery information systems and methods


A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of the present invention includes a positive electrode including a positive electrode material mixture, a negative electrode including a negative electrode material mixture, and a non-aqueous electrolyte including a non-aqueous solvent and a first lithium salt and a second lithium salt dissolved in the non-aqueous solvent. The negative electrode material mixture includes a material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions, and carbon nanofibers. The material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions has a ratio A/B of a volume A in a charged state to a volume B in a discharged state of 1.2 or more. The first lithium salt is at least one selected from the group consisting of LiBF4 and LiB(C2O4)2. The second lithium salt is a salt other than the first lithium salt. The first lithium salt is included in the non-aqueous electrolyte at a weight ratio of 10−4 or more relative to the carbon nanofibers. The first lithium salt included in the non-aqueous electrolyte has a concentration of 0.05 mol/dm3 or less.

Negative electrode active materials such as silicon are expected to have higher capacities than carbon materials such as graphite. However, such negative electrode active materials undergo significant changes in volume during charge and discharge. In association with these significant changes in volume, the current-collecting abilities of negative electrodes are reduced, and thus the cycle characteristics are deteriorated.
In order to improve the current-collecting ability, a proposal has been made to mechanically coat the surface of silicon oxide particles with a carbon material (see Patent Document 1), and another proposal has been made to form carbon fibers on the surface of an active material core containing a metal or semimetal capable of forming a lithium alloy, for example, by a CVD method (see Patent Document 2).
Further, in order to inhibit the side reaction between the negative electrode active material and the non-aqueous electrolyte, a proposal has been made to add LiBF4 to the non-aqueous electrolyte (see Patent Document 3), and another proposal has been made to add LiB(CxH2(x-2)O4)(CyH2(y-2)O4) and LiBF4 to the non-aqueous electrolyte (see Patent Document 4).    Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-373653    Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-349056    Patent Document 3: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-45488    Patent Document 4: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-79057

Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery


To provide a method for manufacturing a glass blank for magnetic disk and a method for manufacturing a glass substrate for magnetic disk, which are capable of producing a glass blank for magnetic disk having a good surface waviness by press forming, and a method for manufacturing a glass substrate for magnetic disk. A method for manufacturing a glass blank for magnetic disk, which includes a forming process of press-forming a lump of molten glass using a pair of dies, wherein in the forming process, press forming is performed using thermally equalizing means for reducing a difference in temperature in the press forming surface of the die during pressing of the molten glass.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a glass blank for magnetic disk, a method for manufacturing a glass substrate for magnetic disk, a glass blank for magnetic disk, a glass substrate for magnetic disk and a magnetic disk.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a hard disk device (HDD) is incorporated in a personal computer or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) recording apparatus in order to record data. Particularly, in the hard disk device used in an apparatus such as the notebook personal computer based on portability, a magnetic disk in which a magnetic layer is provided on a glass substrate is used, and magnetic recording information is recorded in or read from a magnetic layer using a magnetic head (DFH (Dynamic Flying Height) head) that is slightly floated on a surface of the magnetic disk surface. A glass substrate is suitably used as the substrate for magnetic disk because the glass substrate hardly plastically deformed as compared to a metallic substrate (aluminum substrate) and the like.
The magnetic head includes, for example, a magnetic resistance effect element, but such a magnetic head may cause a thermal asperity trouble as its specific trouble. The thermal asperity trouble is a trouble in which when a magnetic head passes over a micro-irregularly-shaped surface of a magnetic disk while floating and flying, a magnetic resistance effect element is heated by adiabatic compression or contact of air, causing a read error. Thus, for avoiding the thermal asperity trouble, the glass substrate for magnetic disk is prepared such that surface properties, such as the surface roughness and flatness, of the principal face of the glass substrate are at a satisfactory level.
As a conventional method for manufacturing a sheet glass (glass blank), a vertical direct press method is known. This press method is a method in which a lump of molten glass is fed onto a lower die, and the lump of molten glass (molten glass lump) is press-formed using an upper die (Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 1999-255521) Furthermore, there is known a horizontal direct press method for sandwiching a falling molten glass in the horizontal direction to press-form the same (Japanese Patent Publication No. 4380379, FIG. 4 etc).
As a conventional method for manufacturing a glass substrate for magnetic disk, a method is known in which a glass blank formed by press-forming a molten glass lump is subjected to annealing treatment. The annealing treatment is a treatment for releasing a strain (internal strain) generated within a glass blank by holding the press-formed glass blank for a predetermined time period at a temperature which is no lower than a strain point and no higher than a glass transition point (Tg) (Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2008-287779). The strain point is a temperature at which the internal strain of glass disappears in several hours, and at which the viscosity of glass is about 1014.5 dPa·s.

Manufacturing method of glass blank for magnetic disk, manufacturing method of glass substrate for magnetic disk, glass blank for magnetic disk, glass substrate for magnetic disk, and magnetic disk


An image forming apparatus includes a belt, plural photosensitive drums that face the belt, plural developing devices that develop plural latent images formed on the plural photosensitive drums using a developing agent, where the developing devices are disposed around the respective photosensitive drums, and plural image forming devices, where each one of the plural image forming devices includes one of the plural photosensitive drums and one of the plural developing devices, and the photosensitive drum of an adjacent one of the plural image forming devices is disposed vertically within a horizontal width of the developing device of one of the plural image forming devices.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, and a copier.
2. Related Art
A tandem system is known as a type of image forming apparatus. The tandem system is such that, for example, four image forming units are disposed parallel to one another around a belt to form a color image. Although the tandem system can achieve high productivity, the apparatus tends to be large in size because four image forming units need to be aligned.

Image forming apparatus with compactly arranged image forming devices


A standby state is where a pair of rotating bodies stops rotating, and temperature control is performed so that a rotating body reaches a standby temperature. A fixing state is where the rotating bodies are rotating and temperature control is performed so that a rotating body reaches a fixing temperature that changes in accordance with a setting. An image formation apparatus includes a judgment part for judging whether to transition from the fixing state to the standby state, and a fixing controller for, upon a judgment by the judgment part to transition to the standby state, prior to performing temperature control to reach the standby temperature, causing the pair of rotating bodies to rotate, and performing temperature control so that the temperature of a rotating body reaches a predetermined transition temperature range including temperatures higher than a lowest fixing temperature setting, and lower than a highest fixing temperature setting.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image formation apparatus including a fixing device, and in particular to technology for appropriately controlling a temperature of rotating bodies such as fixing rollers and pressure application rollers in the fixing device, in a case of, in a standby state, stopping the rotating bodies and regulating the temperature thereof to reach a predetermined standby temperature.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, in image formation apparatuses including fixing devices that use a heat roller fixing method, stopping rotation of rotating bodies in the fixing device when in a standby state enables suppressing deterioration of the rotating bodies and peripheral parts, reducing noise, and realizing an energy-conserving effect to some degree.
Here, for example, a substantial energy conservation effect can be anticipated when a thermal power is turned completely OFF when in a standby state. However, when the time to form the image arrives, it is necessary to wait for the temperature to rise to a sufficient temperature for fixing. Since this prolongs the time waiting for printing to start, this method has remarkably poor usability, and so is not preferable.
In view of this, to enable printing to start quickly, a method is used of a standby state in which, though the rotation of the rotating bodies is stopped, the thermal power is not completely turned off, and the temperature is regulated to a predetermined standby temperature.
Meanwhile, since the heat conductivity sharply decreases when the rotation of the rotating bodies is stopped, there is a tendency for the temperature of the rotating bodies to rise even when the thermal power has been turned OFF, likely due to factors such as a temperature gradient influence becoming noticeable. In a case that the temperature at the time that fixing ends is near an upper end, a problem arises that if rotation of the rotating bodies is stopped soon after the fixing ends, the temperature of the rotating bodes rises too high, leading to deterioration of the rotating bodies and peripheral parts.
In view of this, as conventional technology for solving the problem described above, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H06-202526 (document 1) discloses an image formation apparatus that detects a temperature of a heater, waits for the temperature of the heater to be less than or equal to a predetermined temperature, and causes a roller pair (a pair of rotating bodies) to stop (claim 1, etc.). Also, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H11-249489 (document 2) discloses an image formation apparatus that, immediately after a last recording material (recording sheet) has passed through a fixing nip, turns a heater OFF, stops the rotation of a rotating body pair (a pair of rotating bodies) after a predetermined time period, and after a further predetermined time period has passed, restarts temperature control (claim 4, etc.).
Document 1 recites detecting the temperature of the heater. As can be seen in an example of using a halogen heater as the heater, since this type of heater has an attribute such that the temperature thereof rises quickly when turned ON and falls comparatively quickly when turned OFF, lowering the temperature of the roller pair is nearly impossible even when the temperature of the heater is detected and control is performed. Therefore, achieving the described advantageous effect with use of this type of structure is considered impossible. Also, even considering a case of detecting the temperature of the roller pair instead of detecting the temperature of the heater in document 1, the method described is merely to always wait for the temperature to reach a temperature that is lower than the temperature at the time of the end of fixing, and to stop the rotation of the roller pair. This method may succeed when the fixing temperature is always a high temperature and is a fixed value. However, when the fixing temperature is a low temperature, the temperature falls too low. If a printing instruction is received at such a time, the waiting time until printing starts is prolonged and fixing faults are likely to occur, so this method is not preferable. There is a range in actual fixing temperatures from approximately 140° C. to 200° C., for example, depending on conditions including settings such as type of recording sheet and degree of glossiness, environmental temperature etc., and such actual circumstances have not been given any consideration in document 1.
Also, in document 2, the method described is to always switch the heater off and cause the rotating bodies to rotate, then stop the rotation and further maintain that state for a predetermined period of time. Therefore, similarly to the case of document 1, if the fixing temperature is a low temperature, the temperature falls too low, and if a printing instruction is received at such a time, the waiting time until printing starts is prolonged and fixing faults are likely to occur. In addition, another problem arises, namely that fixing is forcibly stopped when an abnormally low temperature error is erroneously detected.
Furthermore, since the temperature of the above-described rotating bodies is comparatively slow to rise, and quickly falls to some degree by passing the paper through the fixing nip, it is desirable to set a regulated temperature in the standby state near a higher end of fixing temperatures that are anticipated. However, in a case that a transition from a low temperature to the standby temperature is always made when the rotation of the rotating bodies have stopped, such as in document 1 and document 2, if the temperature setting in standby is a high temperature, there tends to be a large overshoot due to applying heat to the rotating bodies for a long period of time. Accordingly, a new problem arises that the temperature of the rotating bodies becomes too high, leading to deterioration of the rotating bodies and the peripheral parts.
The present invention aims to provide an image formation apparatus and an image formation method that can appropriately control the temperature of the rotating bodies such as fixing rollers and pressure application rollers in the fixing device, so that the temperature does not become too high and does not become unnecessarily low, in a case of, in the standby state, stopping the rotating bodies and regulating the temperature thereof to reach a predetermined standby temperature.

Image formation apparatus and image formation method

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


A special effect image generating apparatus provided with an image conversion processing circuit for posterization or other image conversion, a luminance and chroma condition setting circuit for image extraction by luminance and colors, a mask pattern generator for selection of a mask, and mixer for preparing a video signal, a transformation unit for transformation processing such as movement, and a post video modification unit for addition of a locus etc. The extracted image automatically tracks movement of the image so there is no change in visual effects, images having the same luminance and color conditions can be deleted by mask adjustment, movement of the image can be handled by adjustment of the mask, and highly accurate boundaries can be set by the wave-filtering and shaping circuit. Therefore, a special effect image with distinctive luminance and color can be easily prepared.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a special effect image generating apparatus for processing an image to generate a special effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
Processing original data for an image to give it a unique visual effect is a common practice in preparing television broadcast images and various other various. The types of image processing include "posterization" and "solarization" for reducing the number of gradients of the image data, "mosaic" processing for dividing an image to blocks of uniform densities, "mono" processing for making an image monochrome, "contrast" processing for adjusting the luminance difference of an image, and other various types of processing.
The special effect image generating apparatus of the related art performs the above variety of processing on an image as selected in an image conversion processing circuit. When doing this, it generates a mask pattern from a mask pattern generator to mask regions of the image not to be processed and used this mask pattern so as to process only predetermined regions of the image.
In the above special effect image generating apparatus of the related art, since predetermined positions of the image input to the apparatus were masked regardless of the state of the input image, when for example performing mosaic processing, the operator had to control the mask conditions to deal with any movement of the portions of the image to be masked accompanying movement of the input image. This adjusting operation required a lot of work.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Special effect image generating apparatus


An application module is rewritten by overwriting executable code at identified authorization points with control transfers to a managed challenge system such that a rewritten application module results. The managed challenge system is constructed to include the overwritten executable code, and performs an authorization check upon acquiring control from an authorization point. The managed challenge system is linked to the rewritten application module.

As enterprises rely more and more heavily on computers and electronic transactions for their daily business, there is an increasing demand for technologies that can secure these systems, their applications, and their associated digital content from unauthorized use and distribution. A "licensed application" may be considered to be an application that is meant to be protected from unauthorized use and distribution; "protected content" is digital data that is desired to be similarly secured. Unlike the mechanical engines and material outputs of physical systems, it is difficult to secure applications and digital content because both are easily copied, altered, distributed, and ultimately misused.
For purposes of discussion, a "license" comprises the authorized rights of an end user with respect to the protected material. A license often comprises a use agreement and one or more digital values that help enforce the terms of that agreement. The term "license file" is used herein to distinguish these digital values from the more general notion of an end-user's rights, though the tangible form of said values and their associated authorizations need not be a traditional computer file. Furthermore, the protected material may be encrypted.
License files are used by industry as part of the runtime authorization mechanisms used to enforce use agreements on an end user's system and ultimately to thwart piracy. The focused goal of piracy is license subversion: the successful execution of a licensed application, a licensed application module, or an application manipulating protected content without a valid license. In some application domains, the license enforcement system is also called an authorization system, and the goal of license subversion is to bypass the runtime authorization mechanisms. Conversely, the goal of those in the domain of software protection is runtime license enforcement.
The practice of runtime license enforcement commonly involves an application module, a license file, and two additional software entities that together comprise the actual, software-based license enforcement system. (Although it is possible to build hardware-based license enforcement systems, such systems are rare because they require specialized memory or processing resources that are not generally or widely available.)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the relationship between the four entities typically involved in license enforcement.
The application module A 2 in FIG. 1 may be a piece of a larger application, or it may comprise the entire application. The license file L 10 authorizes an end user to execute the application module A 2(i.e., as a licensed application), or it may enable the application module A 2 to access or manipulate protected content in a data file (not shown).
The challenge system C 6 provides mechanisms for controlling execution of the application module A 2. It interacts with the response system R 8 to verify that an end user has the right to execute the application module A 2, and it prevents further program execution whenever authorization fails.
The response system R 8 reacts to a verification request from the challenge system C 6 by reading, validating, or in some way interacting with the license file L 10. Effective, software-based license enforcement systems generally contain all of the logical components illustrated in FIG. 1.
The challenge system C 6 and the response system R 8 together make up the license enforcement system 4, also called an authorization system.
It should be emphasized that FIG. 1 is a conceptual representation of the entities involved in runtime license enforcement. In particular, application module A 2 should be viewed as the set of bits that implement all of the required functionality of A, except for that functionality required for protection from software piracy. In other words, application module A 2 does not include any capability for reading, validating, or more generally interacting with the license file L 10, nor does it have the capacity to affect its own execution based on the result of license validation.

Method and system for protecting software applications against static and dynamic software piracy techniques


A zooming optical system has, from the object side, a positive first group, a negative second group, a positive third group, a positive fourth group, and a negative fifth group. During zooming, at least the third to fifth groups move relative to the image plane, and focusing is achieved by moving the fourth group along the optical axis. The conditional formula −1.0<M5/f5<−0.1 is fulfilled, where M5 is the distance along the optical axis from the position of the fifth group at the wide-angle end to the position of the fifth group at the telephoto end and f5 is the focal length of the fifth group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to zooming optical systems, imaging optical devices, and digital devices. For example, the present invention relates to compact zooming optical systems suitable for interchangeable-lens digital cameras that capture an image of a subject by use of an image sensing device, imaging optical devices that output in the form of an electrical signal the image of the subject captured by the zooming optical system and the image sensing device, and digital devices equipped with an image input function, such as digital cameras, that incorporate such imaging optical devices.
2. Description of Related Art
In conventional zooming optical systems used as interchangeable lenses for single-lens-reflex cameras, the mainstream zoom types have been a positive-negative-positive-positive type as disclosed in Patent Document 1 listed below and a positive-negative-positive-negative-positive type as disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3 listed below. On the other hand, in recent years, mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras, which no longer have a swing-up mirror as is provided in single-lens-reflex cameras, have been gaining acceptance among users for their compactness, and their market has been growing. In those mirrorless cameras, it is aimed at to effectively exploit the space that would have been reserved for a mirror, in order to achieve further improved compactness in the state with a lens attached, that is, to provide an optical solution that exploits the shorter lens back in order to make the optical system compact.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-271471    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No 2011-221422    Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-237588
In this respect, the lens systems disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 mentioned above, which provide optical solutions on the assumption that a mirror space has to be reserved, cannot be said to be satisfactorily compact. On the other hand, Example 1 disclosed in Patent Document 3 does not assume reservation of a mirror space, and realizes a compact optical system as a whole with a shorter lens back than ever. However, the movement amounts of individual groups are large, and thus it still cannot be said that satisfactory compactness is achieved.

Zooming optical system, imaging optical device, and digital device


A switch equipment and data processing method for supporting link layer security transmission are provided. The switch equipment for supporting link layer security transmission comprises a switch module and multiple port modules, each port module is electrically connected with the switch module respectively; the port module supports a link layer key management capability, and is used for establishing a share key for encrypting and decrypting data frames between the switch equipment and other network nodes.

A wired local area network is typically a broadcast network in which data transmitted from a node can be received by any other node. The respective nodes on the network share a channel, which poses great potential insecurity to the network. An attacker can capture all data packets on the network simply by accessing the network to listen.
No data security method has been proposed for a Local Area Network (LAN) defined in the existing national standard GB/T 15629.3 (corresponding to the IEEE 802.3 or ISO/IEC 8802-3), and this makes it easy for an attacker to steal key information. In the domain of international researches, a data encryption protocol to secure the Ethernet has been proposed in the IEEE 802.1 AE standard established by the IEEE, and a security measure with encryption per hop has been adopted for secured delivery of data between network nodes.
A switch device supporting the GB/T 15629.3 forwards all data packets directly and is incapable of link layer secured transmission, and information of the transmitted data packets is susceptible to interception; and a switch device supporting the IEEE 802.1 AE supports only encryption per hop and has to operate to decrypt and then encrypt all the forwarded encrypted data packets, thus resulting in a heavy burden on the switch device and a significant delay in transmission of the data on a network.

Switch equipment and data processing method for supporting link layer security transmission


An unmanned air vehicle capable of vertical take-off and landing, hovering and high-speed horizontal cruise flight. A forward centerbody houses an engine and carries a single rotor assembly having a plurality of propellers lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the forward centerbody. A coaxial aft centerbody is secured to the aft end of the forward centerbody and typically houses the vehicle avionics. A plurality of stators extend outwardly of the aft centerbody, in a plane substantially parallel to the propellers. A single toroidal duct surrounds the rotor assembly and the stators and is secured to the stators. A plurality of movable control vanes are secured between the duct and aft centerbody aft of the stators. A flight control system, typically housed in the aft centerbody, controls the engine and the vanes to cause the vehicle to selectively move upwardly, downwardly, hover or translate to forward, horizontal, motion with the rotor in a plane within 80.degree. of vertical. A sensor, cargo, or other payload may be carried at the forward end of the forward centerbody, extending well in front of the duct. The vehicle is highly maneuverable, light weight and safe for operation from a small area due to the ducted rotor.

This invention relates in general to air vehicles and, more specifically to unmanned air vehicles capable of vertical take-off, landing, hovering and high speed horizontal flight.
Conventional heavier-than-air aircraft utilize propellers or gas turbines to drive the aircraft through the air at a sufficient velocity that lift generated by a large wing is sufficient to maintain the aircraft in flight. While providing very high speeds from point to point over the earth, these aircraft require long runways for landing and take-off. A number of small, unmanned aircraft have been designed for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes, carrying various sensors and in some cases light weapons, such as in the case of small, homing, anti-radiation aircraft intended to detect and destroy radar transmitters. Generally, these unmanned aircraft use propellers due to the greater range when compared to jet engines. These aircraft require long runways for take-off and landing, or in some cases large catapult systems for take-off and large nets for retrieval, making them difficult to operate from ships or confined areas.
Helicopters have come into widespread use for carrying passengers or cargo over relatively short distances. The vertical landing and take-off characteristics make them especially useful on shipboard and in confined areas, such as roof tops. Helicopters are little used where long endurance or long distance flights are required because of their relatively high fuel consumption and low cross country speed. Attempts have been made to develop small helicopters for reconnaissance and surveillance purposes. Where large helicopters generally use an extended tail rotor to counteract rotor blade torque on the fuselage, small helicopter tend to use pairs of counter rotating rotor blade sets, increasing system complexity. Launch and recovery of small helicopters tends to be dangerous where the blades are rotating in a confined area. Further, miniature helicopters have very low cross country speed and relatively high fuel consumption so that they cannot cover large areas.
A compact, but pilot-carrying, helicopter is described by Velton in U.S. Pat. No. 3,584,810. The pilot rides between two vertically spaced, counter rotating, rotors positioned in narrow ducts, one above and one below the pilot. This is a complex and heavy arrangement, which if scaled down would not be effective for surveillance purposes, since a sensor between the rotors in place of the pilot would be effectively masked by the rotating blades except over a narrow horizontal band. Further, this helicopter would also have the speed and range limitations common to helicopters.
Aircraft have been designed that can take-off vertically, transition to horizontal flight, then transition back to vertical flight for landing. Some are "tail sitters" with the aircraft fuselage vertical on the ground. Others have pivoting engines or tilting wings to move propellers from a horizontal plane for take-off to a vertical plane for flight. Still others have elaborate duct systems moveable to direct jet exhaust vertically or horizontally. The mechanisms for transition between vertical and horizontal flight in these aircraft tend to be very heavy and complex. These aircraft generally have low payload capacities, often requiring horizontal take-off runs to achieve flight with the necessary fuel aboard to provide reasonable flight endurance.
Thus, there is a continuing need for light weight, simple and safe unmanned air vehicles for reconnaissance, surveillance, weapon delivery and the like that can take-off from and land vertically in confined areas while providing sufficient horizontal speed to furnish the necessary flight endurance for many surveillance purposes. The ability to carry a variety of sensors in a manner permitting sensing over a wide area is also needed.

Unmanned vertical take-off and landing, horizontal cruise, air vehicle


A user interface processing apparatus for controlling an application is provided. In the user interface processing apparatus, a touch on a display screen by means of a contact operation by a user on a touch panel is received. A touched position on the touch panel is detected when the touch on the display screen is received. The touched position is a position touched by the player on the display screen. A virtual controller is displayed at a predetermined position on the display screen corresponding to the detected touched position in a case where the touch on the display screen is received. An operation of the virtual controller displayed on the display screen is received from the player. The application is controlled in accordance with the operation received from the player.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to technique for a user interface applied to a device for controlling various kinds of applications such as video games, for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, various kinds of video games such as a video game called an RPG (role-playing game: a game in which a player plays a role of a character in a world of the game, and accomplishes a predetermined object while enjoying a process that the character grows through various experiences), a simulation game and the like have been provided.
In recent years, as such video games, various kinds of video games, which allow a player to intuitively carry out various kinds of operations using a touch panel or the like, have been proposed.
In order to operate an object such as a character displayed on a display screen in a game using a touch panel, conventionally, a virtual controller or an action icon is displayed on a display screen and an operation input by a user or player is received using this virtual controller or the like.
As such a game, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-183047, for example, describes a game in which a player makes a touch input on an image to move it into a predetermined area on a display screen and makes a touch input on an image region of a determination button to progress the game.
However, in such a conventional video game, the virtual controller or the like for receiving an operation input from a user is fixedly displayed at a predetermined position on a display screen. Therefore, there has been a problem in which disadvantage may occur that a display portion of the virtual controller becomes a blind area and a game item and the like displayed in the portion become invisible.
The problem described above is not limited to a video game, and the similar problem has also been inherent in various kinds of other applications.

User interface processing apparatus, method of processing user interface, and program for processing user interface


A method for producing alkylated cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyls, in particular a method for producing methyl cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl. It involves a process for synthesizing organometallic compounds. Alkylated cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyls are antiknock additives used in engine fuels.

Alkylated cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyls are antiknock additives, with methyl cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) being the most widely used. Registered Chinese Patent No. 97122153 discloses a method for producing cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl. However, the cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl produced by that method is a crystalline salt. The use of a crystalline salt as an antiknock additive in a liquid poses certain problems. Its dissolution in the solvent is a problem which must be solved in the process.
Furthermore, during the course of producing alkylated cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, it is often unavoidable to generate by-products such as cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (CMT). Removing the CMT by-product requires further equipment and expense. However, the method of producing alkylated cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl involved in the current invention is characterized in that it does not require the removal of the CMT by-product. A small quantity of CMT in a mixture with alkylated cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl produces an unexpected octane synergism.

Method for producing alkylated cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyls


Black-and-white elements, such as radiographic films, can be processed in roomlight using a developing/fixing monobath composition that also includes a water-soluble colorant, such as a water-soluble "yellow" dye, that provides safelight conditions in the processing composition. The processing method is carried out quickly, that is within 120 seconds. The colorant has a maximum absorption wavelength of from about 350 to about 500 nm, and is transparent in solution.

Roentgen discovered X-radiation by the inadvertent exposure of a silver halide photographic element. In 1913, Eastman Kodak Company introduced its first product specifically intended to be exposed by X-radiation (X-rays). Silver halide radiographic films account for the overwhelming majority of medical diagnostic images. It was recognized almost immediately that the high energy ionizing X-rays are potentially harmful, and ways were sought to avoid high levels of patient exposure. Radiographic films provide viewable silver images upon imagewise exposure followed by rapid access processing.
One approach, still in wide-spread use is to coat the silver halide emulsions useful in radiographic films on both sides of the film support. Thus, the number of X-rays that can be absorbed and used for imaging are doubled, providing higher sensitivity. Dual-coated radiographic films are sold by Eastman Kodak Company under the trademark DUPLITIZED.TM. films. Films that rely entirely on X-radiation absorption for image capture are referred to in the art as "direct" radiographic elements, while those that rely on intensifying screen light emission are referred to as "indirect" radiographic elements. Because the silver halide emulsions are used to capture the X-rays directly in "direct" films, the silver coating coverages of direct radiographic elements are generally higher than for indirect radiographic elements.
Among the "direct" radiographic films, are films most commonly used for dental intra-oral diagnostic imaging and hereafter referred to as dental films. Intra-oral dental imaging presents obvious barriers to the use of intensifying screens. Thus, dental films utilize the coated silver halide to absorb X-rays.
There are other applications for direct radiographic films, such as in various industrial applications where X-rays are captured in imaging, but intensifying screens cannot be used for some reason.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,977 (Zietlow) describes dental films having improved characteristics and containing certain tabular grain silver halide emulsions. No spectral sensitization is used in such dental films, but in order to avoid fogging the films with inadvertent light exposure, the emulsions contain what is identified as a "desensitizer" that reduces emulsion sensitivity to light. Conventional processing solutions and conditions are described for these dental films.
Other desensitizing compounds for radiographic films are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,630,744 (Thiers et al) for reducing film sensitivity to roomlight and UV radiation. Conventional processing of these films is also described.
Dual-coated indirect radiographic elements described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,150 (Dickerson et al) contain certain microcrystalline particulate dyes that reduce "crossover". These elements are designed for use with intensifying screens. Crossover occurs when some light emitted by the screen passes through the film support and exposes silver halide grains on the opposite side, resulting in reduced image sharpness. The noted particulate dyes absorb unwanted crossover exposure, but can be decolorized during conventional processing. Thus, a pH 10 developing solution is described for its conventional use as well as to decolorize the dyes within 90 seconds. Conventional fixing and washing follow.
It is the prevailing practice to process direct radiographic films for 3 or more minutes because of the higher silver coating coverages. Such processes typically include black-and-white development, fixing, washing and drying. Films processed in this manner are then ready for image viewing.
Photographic developing solutions containing a silver halide developing agent are well known in the photographic art for reducing silver halide grains containing a latent image to yield a developed photographic image. Many useful developing agents are known in the art, with hydroquinone and similar dihydroxybenzene compounds and ascorbic acid (and derivatives) being some of the most common. Such solutions generally contain other components such as sulfites, buffers, antifoggants, halides and hardeners. A workable pH for such solution is usually in the range of from about 10 to about 11, depending upon the developing agent and other solution components.
Fixing solutions for radiographic films are also well known and include one or more fixing agents, of which thiosulfates are most common. Such solutions generally include sulfites as antioxidants, and hardeners, and have a functional pH range of from about 4 to about 5.5.
Direct radiographic films, including dental films, thus have some sensitivity to roomlight and UV as well as X-rays, and therefore care must be taken to avoid inadvertent room-light exposure before and during processing. There has been a desire for radiographic films that are less sensitive to roomlight, and that can be handled and processed without the need for a darkroom or other special conditions. Such films would have a number of useful applications, such as dental and industrial imaging. However, conventional processing solutions and methods cannot be used to provide suitable radiographic images in such films.
"Monobath" solutions are also known in the art of photographic processing. These solutions typically require long processing times and contain components common to both developing and fixing compositions, that is a high pH and sulfite.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,309, filed Oct. 22, 1997, describes the use of separate developing and fixing compositions for roomlight processing roomlight-handleable films, including radiographic dental films in sequential processing steps. While those compositions represent an advance in the art, they must be separately balanced in pH in relation to each other so that the light protecting dyes and desensitizers are not deactivated prematurely. Specifically, the developing composition has a pH and sulfite concentration lower than the fixing composition. Thus, the developing composition activity is limited, and is more complicated than a "monobath" process.
U.S. Ser. No. 09/046,449, noted above, describes "opaque" monobath compositions containing particulate opacifying agents, such as carbon black. Such dilute carbon black compositions adequately block light during processing and remain sufficiently dispersed to process black-and-white films within 60 seconds.
While this processing system is effective for providing black-and-white images within 60 seconds, it has a disadvantage in that the particulate opacifying agent (for example, carbon black) is difficult to completely remove from the surfaces of the processed films. In addition, because of the opaque nature of the processing composition, it is difficult to observe the progress of development by looking at the solution.
A technology is needed wherein black-and-white elements can be handled and processed completely in roomlight, with the attendant advantages of known processing systems, but which avoids the problems noted above from the use of carbon black or other opacifying agents.

Yellow dye-containing developing/fixing monobath and method for processing roomlight handleable black-and-white photographic elements