According to an embodiment, an emergency core cooling system has: three active safety divisions each including only one motor-driven active safety system; one passive safety division including a passive safety system; an emergency power source disposed in each of the active safety divisions to supply electric power to the motor-driven active safety system; and an advanced passive containment cooling system disposed in the passive safety division. Only two active safety divisions each includes a low pressure flooder system that is commonly used with a residual heat removal system as the only one motor-driven active safety system. The other active safety division includes an air-cooled injection system as the only one motor-driven active safety system.

In nuclear plant safety systems, a safety system which has both an active safety system and a passive safety system is called a hybrid safety system. Now an example of a safety system is explained referring to FIG. 12 (Refer also to Japanese Patent Application Publication 2008-281426 A). In this example, there are three active safety divisions each of which has at least one active safety system.
A safety division in general is a space area that is separated from other safety divisions by physical separation walls to prevent incidents in the other divisions from affecting the concerned safety division in case of an assumed accident such as a fire or a flooding in a nuclear plant. Such an accident is assumed to take place for safety design of the plant. A safety division which has one or more active safety systems only is called an active safety division, while a safety division which has at least one passive safety system is called a passive safety division.
<Explanation Relating to FIG. 12>
In FIG. 12, each of the active safety divisions has: a high pressure core flooder system (HPCF) 1, a low pressure flooder system (LPFL) 2 which is shared with a residual heat removal system (RHR) 3, and an emergency diesel generator (EDG) 4d. Each of the emergency diesel generators (EDGs) 4d is cooled by a reactor coolant water system (RCW) and a reactor sea water system (RSW). There are three residual heat removal systems 3. Each of the three residual heat removal systems 3 is also cooled by a reactor coolant water system (RCW) and a reactor sea water system (RSW). There is only one passive safety division, which has an isolation condenser (IC) 5 and a passive containment cooling system (PCCS) 12.
The high pressure core flooder system 1 is a high pressure water injection system which can inject water into the core at a high pressure (9 MPa, for example) that is sufficiently higher than a normal operational pressure in the reactor pressure vessel. The low pressure flooder system 2 is a low pressure water injection system which can inject water into the core only when the pressure in the reactor pressure vessel is lower than the normal operational pressure, at 2 MPa for example.
The high pressure core flooder system 1 and the low pressure flooder system 2 in each of the active safety divisions has a 100% or more capacity required to cool the core in a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) that is a design basis accident (DBA). Each of the residual heat removal systems 3 in the active safety systems has a 100% or more capacity required to cool the reactor containment vessel in a loss of coolant accident that is a design basis accident.
As a means for depressurization of the nuclear reactor, an automatic depressurization system (ADS) is also equipped, although it is not illustrated. The automatic depressurization system automatically opens a plurality of safety relief valves to depressurize the reactor at a small pipe break accident and so on. Conventional boiling water reactors are commonly equipped with an automatic depressurization system.
There are three active safety divisions and three residual heat removal systems 3. Therefore, even when a loss of coolant accident is assumed to occur by a break of an injection pipe of the high pressure core flooder system 1 in the first active safety division and a single failure in the emergency diesel generator 4d in the second active safety division is assumed, and the emergency diesel generator 4d in the third active safety division is assumed to be in an on-line maintenance, the core can be cooled by the low pressure flooder system 2 in the first active safety division, and at the same time, the reactor containment vessel is cooled by the residual heat removal systems 3 in the first safety division. Such a capability of ensuring safety when two safety functions are lost in the active safety divisions due to a single failure and an on-line maintenance is called an N−2 (N minus 2) capability.
In order to achieve the N−2 capability, in the example shown in FIG. 12, there are six active safety systems and three residual heat removal systems 3. By the way, capability where safety is ensured even when one of the active safety divisions fails to function due to a single failure is called an N−1 (N minus 1) capability.
Each of the residual heat removal systems 3 requires a reactor coolant water system (RCW) and a reactor sea water system (RSW) as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication 2005-201742 A, which results in many devices including motor-driven pumps and pipes. Each of the reactor coolant water systems requires two motor-driven pumps, and each of the reactor sea water systems also requires two motor-driven pumps. Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 12, there are six motor-driven pumps for the emergency core cooling system, while there are twelve motor-driven pumps for the secondary system. However, even when the number of the residual heat removal systems 3 is increased to three, reliability of the total system cannot be enhanced in proportion to the number of the sub-systems due to common mode failures of similar active systems.
In addition, if all of the reactor coolant water systems and the reactor sea water systems are flooded by tsunami and fail to be activated as in the accident in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, all the residual heat removal systems 3 of the primary system would fail to be activated.
In general, cooling of a pump itself by air using an air fin cooler (AFC) is also a well known technique. However, in a case where many pumps are to be cooled and the heat exchangers of the residual heat removal systems 3 are to be simultaneously cooled, it was necessary to cool them by water using the reactor coolant water systems and the reactor sea water systems.
Now a conventional passive containment cooling system is explained referring to FIGS. 13 to 16.
<Explanation Relating to FIG. 13>
FIG. 13 is an elevational cross-sectional view showing an example of a structure of a conventional passive containment cooling system. In FIG. 13, a core 101 is installed in a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) 102. The reactor pressure vessel 102 is contained in a containment vessel 30. The containment vessel 30 has a shape of a hollow cylinder (See also FIG. 14).
The space inside the containment vessel 30 is divided into a dry well 40 that contains the reactor pressure vessel 102, and a wet well 50. The dry well 40 and the wet well 50 constitute part of the containment vessel 30. A suppression pool 60 is formed in the wet well 50, and a wet well gas phase 70 is formed above the suppression pool 60 in the wet well 50. The outer walls of the dry well 40 and the wet well 50 are united into a hollow cylindrical outer wall of the containment vessel 30. The top part of the dry well 40 is shaped in a flat plate and is called a top slab 40a of the dry well 40.
Atmosphere in the containment vessel 30 for a boiling water reactor is replaced with nitrogen, so that oxygen concentration is limited at a low level there.
The containment vessel 30 may be, for example, a steel containment vessel, a reinforced concrete containment vessel (RCCV), a pre-stressed concrete containment vessel (PCCV) or a steel concrete complex containment vessel (SCCV). In an RCCV and a PCCV, the inner surface of the vessel is lined with a steel liner, although it is not illustrated. FIG. 13 shows an example of an RCCV. As shown in FIG. 14, the outer wall of the RCCV is in shape of a circular hollow cylinder. The design pressure of the RCCV used in an advanced boiling water reactor (ABWR) is 310 kPa in gauge pressure.
The reactor pressure vessel 102 is supported by a circular hollow cylindrical pedestal 91 via an RPV skirt 92 and an RPV support 93. The pedestal 91 may be made of steel, concrete or combination of them, for example. The space in the dry well 40, below the reactor pressure vessel 102 and surrounded by the cylindrical wall of the pedestal 91 is called a pedestal cavity 91a. In case of an RCCV of an advanced boiling water reactor, the cylindrical wall of the pedestal 91 forms a boundary dividing the wet well 50 and the dry well 40, and the space is specifically called a lower dry well 40b.
A containment vessel lid 110 is provided above the reactor pressure vessel 102.
The dry well 40 and the suppression pool 60 are connected by LOCA vent pipes 80. The number of the LOCA vent pipes 80 may be ten as shown in FIG. 14, for example, although only two of them are shown in FIG. 13. In case of an RCCV, the LOCA vent pipes 80 are placed within the cylindrical wall of the pedestal 91. Therefore, the cylindrical wall of the pedestal 91 is also called a vent wall. The vent wall is made of reinforced concrete with a thickness of about 1.7 m and has steel plates on the inner and outer surfaces. The LOCA vent pipes 80 and the pedestal 91 constitute part of the containment vessel 30.
A plurality of vacuum breaker valves 90 are provided in order to return the gas in the wet well gas phase 70 back to the dry well 40. The number of the vacuum breaker valves 90 may be eight for example, although only one vacuum breaker valve 90 is shown in FIG. 13. The vacuum breaker valves 90 may be installed on the roof of the wet well 50 as shown in FIG. 13. Alternatively, the vacuum breaker valves 90 may be disposed on the side wall of the wet well 50 or on the LOCA vent pipes 80. The vacuum breaker valves 90 open when the pressure in the wet well 50 rises higher than the pressure in the dry well 40 and the differential pressure becomes larger than a preset differential pressure. The preset differential pressure may be, for example, about 2 psi (about 13.79 kPa). The vacuum breaker valves 90 constitute part of the containment vessel 30.
A cooling water pool 13 of the passive containment cooling system 12 is provided outside of the containment vessel 30. Cooling water 14 is stored in the cooling water pool 13. The cooling water pool 13 may be of a tank type, as shown in FIG. 13, for example. Alternatively, the cooling water pool 13 may be of a pool type. In case of a pool-type cooling water pool, the top is covered with a lid.
An exhaust pipe 15 is provided to exhaust steam out of the gas phase region above the water surface of the cooling water pool 13 to the environment. Optionally, a screen (not illustrated) as an insect protection may be disposed at the exit of the exhaust pipe 15. The cooling water pool 13 is typically disposed above the containment vessel 30, but may be alternatively disposed beside the containment vessel 30.
A heat exchanger 16 is so arranged that at least part of the heat exchanger 16 is submerged in the cooling water 14 in the cooling water pool 13. Typically, a plurality of heat exchangers 16 are disposed, although only one heat exchanger 16 is shown in FIG. 13. The heat exchanger 16 includes an inlet plenum 17, an outlet plenum 18 and heat transfer tubes 19 (See FIG. 15). In the example shown in FIG. 13, only the heat transfer tubes are in the cooling water pool 13, and the inlet plenum 17 and the outlet plenum 18 (See FIG. 15) protrude out of the cooling water pool 13. Alternatively, the whole heat exchanger 16 including the inlet plenum 17 and the outlet plenum 18 may be submerged in the cooling water pool 13.
A dry well gas supply pipe 20 is connected to the inlet plenum 17 for supplying gas in the dry well 40 to the inlet plenum 17. An end of the dry well gas supply pipe 20 is connected to the dry well 40.
A condensate return pipe 21 and a gas vent pipe 22 are connected to the outlet plenum 18. An end of the condensate return pipe 21 is connected to inside of the containment vessel 30. The end of the condensate return pipe 21 is introduced into the LOCA vent pipe 80 in the example shown in FIG. 13. Alternatively, the end of the condensate return pipe 21 may be introduced into the dry well 40 or into the suppression pool 60. An end of the gas vent pipe 22 is introduced into the wet well 50, and the end is submerged in the suppression pool 60. The depth of the submerged end of the gas vent pipe 22 in the suppression pool 60 is set smaller than the depth of the top of the openings of the LOCA vent pipes 80 in the suppression pool 60.
<Explanation Relating to FIG. 15>
FIG. 15 is an elevational cross-sectional view of a heat exchanger of a passive containment cooling system of the prior art. Now, a structure of heat exchanger 16 of a passive containment cooling system 12 of the prior art is described referring to FIG. 15.
As shown in FIG. 15, the outlet plenum 18 is disposed below the inlet plenum 17. Many U-shaped heat transfer tubes 19 are connected to a tube plate 23. Straight parts of the heat transfer tubes 19 extend horizontally. In FIG. 15, only two heat transfer tubes are illustrated out of much more heat transfer tubes 19 for simplicity of illustration. The cooling water 14 (See FIG. 13) is filled outside of the heat transfer tubes 19. The inlets of the heat transfer tubes 19 are open to the inlet plenum 17. The outlets of the heat transfer tubes 19 are open to the outlet plenum 18.
The dry well gas supply pipe 20 is connected to the inlet plenum 17, through which mixture gas of nitrogen, hydrogen, steam and so on in the dry well 40 is supplied to the inlet plenum 17. The mixture gas is introduced into the heat transfer tubes 19. Then, the steam is condensed into condensate, which flows out to the outlet plenum 18 via the outlets of the heat transfer tubes 19, and then, accumulate in lower part of the outlet plenum 18.
The condensate return pipe 21 is connected to the lower part of the outlet plenum 18. The condensate in the outlet plenum 18 returns to inside of the containment vessel 30 by gravity via the condensate return pipe 21. The gas vent pipe 22 is connected to upper part of the outlet plenum 18. Non-condensable gases such as nitrogen and hydrogen that have not condensed in the heat transfer tubes 19 are exhausted from the heat transfer tubes 19 and accumulate in the upper part of the outlet plenum 18.
The end of the gas vent pipe 22 reaches the suppression pool 60. The non-condensable gases in the outlet plenum 18 flow through the gas vent pipe 22, push the pool water in the suppression pool 60 downward, and are vented in the pool water. Then, the non-condensable gases flow into the wet well gas phase 70. The venting of the non-condensable gases through the gas vent pipe 22 is conducted by the differential pressure passively when the pressure in the dry well 40 is higher than the pressure in the wet well gas phase 70. When the pool water in the suppression pool 60 is not boiling, the pressure in the dry well 40 is kept higher than the pressure in the wet well gas phase 70 due to the pressure of the steam generating in an accident in the dry well 40.
In the conventional passive containment cooling system 12, if the differential pressure between the dry well 40 and the wet well gas phase 70 is not kept, the non-condensable gases cannot be vented, and the function of the passive containment cooling system 12 will be lost. That is because the non-condensable gases stay in the heat transfer tubes 19 and the steam in the dry well 40 cannot be introduced through the dry well gas supply pipe 20. Therefore, in order for the conventional passive containment cooling system 12 to function, it is required that the pressure in the dry well 40 is maintained to be higher than the pressure in the wet well gas phase 70 and the non-condensable gases in the heat transfer tubes 19 are vented through the gas vent pipe 22.
The heat transfer tubes 19 are not limited to horizontal U-shaped type. In an alternative example, the heat transfer tubes 19 may be disposed with their straight tube parts extending vertically. The inlet plenum 17 is always positioned above the outlet plenum 18. Thus, the condensate condensed in the heat transfer tubes 19 is guided to the outlet plenum 18 by gravity. The horizontal-type heat exchanger 16 has an advantage in resistance to earthquake and in efficiency in utilizing the cooling water 14. The vertical-type heat exchanger has an advantage in drainage of the condensate.
<Explanation Relating to FIG. 16>
Now, operation of the conventional passive containment cooling system 12 in a loss of coolant accident is explained referring to FIG. 16. FIG. 16 is a graph showing an analytical result of the pressure in the containment vessel when a loss of coolant accident has occurred and water injection into the reactor by active safety system is continued while the conventional passive containment cooling system 12 is used for cooling the containment vessel. The depressurization valves (DPVs; not illustrated) are activated to supply more steam to the passive containment cooling system. Fundamental purpose of the depressurization valves is to forcefully make openings, through which the steam in the reactor pressure vessel is discharged to the dry well 40, in order to depressurize the reactor pressure vessel 102. The depressurization valves are installed in an ESBWR (Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor). The analyzed plant is an ABWR of 1,350 kWe class, and it is assumed that water is injected by only one low pressure flooder system in a loss of coolant accident.
The design pressure (1 Pd) of the containment vessel of the ABWR is 410 kPa (in absolute pressure). The pressure in the containment vessel must be below the design pressure (1 Pd) in a loss of coolant accident of a design basis accident. However, the pressure in the reactor pressure vessel reaches the design pressure (1 Pd) about 12 hours after the start of the accident, and continues to rise to reach a pressure (2 Pd) of two times of the design pressure about 30 hours after the start of the accident, as shown in FIG. 16. In FIG. 16, the containment vessel vent is activated at that time, and the containment vessel is depressurized. If the containment vessel vent is not activated, the containment vessel may break.
In this case, water injection into the reactor is conducted by the low pressure flooder system 2 of the active safety system, and cooling water 103 is supplied to the reactor pressure vessel 102, so that integrity of the core 101 is secured. The decay heat generated in the core 101 transfers to the cooling water 103, and enhances the temperature of the cooling water 103 (See FIG. 13). When cooling by the cooling water 103 is sufficiently conducted, the amount of the steam generated through the break opening 104 is suppressed and mainly high temperature water flows out from the break opening 104 as a break flow.
Steam is discharged from the depressurization valves, and is condensed by the passive containment cooling system 12. However, only small part of the decay heat is cooled by the passive containment cooling system 12. Most of the decay heat is transferred to the high temperature cooling water 103, and the cooling water 103 flows out through the break opening 104 to the dry well 40. The flown out water then flows into the suppression pool 60 through the LOCA vent pipes 80. Most of the decay heat is transferred to the pool water in the suppression pool 60 because the high temperature cooling water flows into the suppression pool 60. As described above, the pool water in the suppression pool 60 is used for cooling the core 101 in a recirculating mode by the low pressure flooder system 2 that is an active safety system. As a result, the pool water in the suppression pool 60 is heated up by the decay heat that has been transferred by the high temperature water, and starts boiling several hours after the start of the accident.
The pressure in the wet well 50 rises with time due to the saturated vapor pressure of the vapor generated in the wet well gas phase 70. In accordance with the pressure rise in the wet well 50, the pressure in the dry well 40 also rises. Because the depressurization valves are activated and high pressure steam is discharged to the dry well 40, the pressure in the dry well 40 is always kept higher than the pressure in the wet well 50. Therefore, the pressure in the dry well 40 rises in accordance with the pressure increase in the wet well 50. FIG. 16 shows the pressure in the dry well 40. Although the passive containment cooling system 12 functions, sufficient amount of steam corresponding to the decay heat is not supplied to the passive containment cooling system 12. Therefore, the pressure in the dry well 40 rises.
On the contrary, if the depressurization valves are not activated, the pressure in the wet well gas phase 70 becomes higher than the pressure in the dry well 40 which is depressurized by the passive containment cooling system 12. Then, the nitrogen in the wet well gas phase 70 returns to the dry well 40 via the vacuum breaker valves 90. This nitrogen is one that had originally existed in the dry well 40 during normal operation. Then, as a loss of coolant accident happens, it has been discharged to the wet well 50 via the LOCA vent pipes 80 with the steam in the blowdown phase and being confined in the wet well gas phase 70. As a result, the atmosphere in the dry well 40 has been mainly occupied by steam, and the steam has been efficiently drawn and condensed by the conventional passive containment cooling system 12.
However, when the nitrogen confined in the wet well gas phase 70 flows back into the dry well 40 via the vacuum breaker valves 90, the nitrogen is drawn to the heat exchanger 16 via the dry well gas supply pipe 20 with the steam in the dry well 40. The steam is cooled by the heat exchanger 16 and is condensed, while the nitrogen drawn into the heat exchanger 16 is not condensed and remains in the heat exchanger 16.
Once the heat exchanger 16 is filled with the nitrogen, the steam cannot be drawn into the heat exchanger 16. At this moment, the conventional passive containment cooling system 12 loses the steam condensation function. In this case, the passive containment cooling system 12 does not function at all. As a result, the pressure in the containment vessel 30 may rise more rapidly. The cooling function of the conventional passive containment cooling system 12 cannot be recovered as the venting of the nitrogen filling the heat exchanger 16 is limited. That is because the nitrogen filling the heat exchanger 16 cannot be vented to the wet well 50 via the gas vent pipe 22, since the pressure in the wet well gas phase 70 is higher than the pressure in the dry well 40 when the pool water in the suppression pool 60 is boiling.
Therefore, even if a conventional passive containment cooling system 12 is installed, when the emergency core cooling system is used which cools the core with an active safety system, the containment vessel 30 cannot be cooled, and the deterioration of reliability of the residual heat removal systems 3 due to common cause failures could not be compensated. As described above, the conventional passive containment cooling system 12, in which the gas vent pipes 22 are led to the wet well 50, cannot cool the containment vessel while water injection into the reactor by the active safety systems is conducted in a loss of coolant accident. In other words, the conventional passive containment cooling system 12 cannot be used as a system for removing heat in a loss of coolant accident in a nuclear reactor where active safety systems are used.
By the way, if the gravity-driven core cooling system (GDCS) of a passive safety system is used in a loss of coolant accident (in an ESBWR, for example), the flow rate of cooling water injected into the reactor in the circulation mode is the minimum flow rate required to remove the decay heat of the core. Therefore, the steam equivalent to all of the supplied cooling water (or the steam corresponding to the decay heat) flows out through the break opening and the depressurization valves. Thus, the steam equivalent to the decay heat is supplied to the passive containment cooling system, and containment vessel cooling can be conducted by the conventional passive containment cooling system.
<Explanation Relating to FIG. 17>
Now, the structure of the emergency core cooling system of an ABWR, which is a representative example of a conventional BWR with active safety systems is explained.
As shown in FIG. 17, the emergency core cooling system of a conventional ABWR has three active safety divisions. Each of the active safety divisions has: a low pressure flooder system (LPFL) 2 which is commonly used in a residual heat removal system (RHR) 3, and an emergency diesel generator (EDG) 4d which supplies power source for the active safety systems. The residual heat removal systems 3 are cooled by the reactor coolant water systems (RCWs) and the reactor sea water systems (RSWs). The emergency diesel generators (EDGs) 4d are also cooled by the reactor coolant water systems (RCWs) and the reactor sea water systems (RSWs). In addition, a reactor core isolation cooling system (RCIC) 11 is installed in the first safety division. The reactor core isolation cooling system 11 does not require an emergency diesel generator (EDG) 4d for operation because the reactor core isolation cooling system 11 is driven by its turbine using the steam in the reactor as a source of power. The reactor core isolation cooling system 11 does not require cooling by the reactor coolant water system, either. Therefore, the reactor core isolation cooling system 11 can cool the core even in a station blackout.
A reactor core isolation cooling system is installed also in previous BWRs than the ABWR. In the previous BWRs than the ABWR, the reactor core isolation cooling system is a non-safety system, and is installed in a non-safety division. The reactor core isolation cooling system can inject water into the reactor pressure vessel when the reactor is in high pressure (about 9 MPa, for example) to low pressure (about 1 MPa, for example). In the ABWR, the reactor core isolation cooling system has also a function of an emergency core cooling system. Therefore, the reactor core isolation cooling system is installed in the first safety division of the emergency core cooling system. In addition, a high pressure core flooder system (HPCF) 1 is installed in each of the second and third safety divisions.
Thus, the high pressure systems of the emergency core cooling system of the ABWR consists of three high pressure systems that includes one reactor core isolation cooling system 11 and two high pressure core flooder systems 1. The low pressure system also consists of three low pressure systems that are three low pressure flooder systems 2. The core can be kept flooded with those in a loss of coolant accident.
The loss of coolant accident as a design basis accident is a break of a pipe in the high pressure core flooder system 1 in the second safety division, for example. Even if a single failure of an emergency diesel generator (EDG) 4d in the third safety division is assumed in the case, water injection is started from a high pressure condition of the reactor pressure vessel 102 by the reactor core isolation cooling system 11 in the first safety division. After the reactor pressure vessel 102 is depressurized, water can be injected by the low pressure flooder system 2 in the first safety division and the low pressure flooder system 2 in the second safety division.
As explained above, the core 101 is kept flooded by initiating water injection into the reactor pressure vessel 102 by the reactor core isolation cooling system 11 from the high pressure condition of the reactor pressure vessel 102. If water injection by the reactor core isolation cooling system 11 was not conducted, start of water injection by the low pressure flooder system 2, which is activated after depressurization in the reactor pressure vessel 102, would be delayed, and upper portion of the core 101 would be uncovered partially. However, even in that case, it is so designed that maximum temperature of the fuel claddings would be well below 1,200 degrees Celsius (specifically, about 900 degrees Celsius, for example).
In addition, an automatic depressurization system (ADS) as a means for depressurizing the reactor is installed, although it is not illustrated. The automatic depressurization system automatically opens a plurality of safety relief valves in order to depressurize the reactor, when a small diameter pipe break accident etc. has occurred. The automatic depressurization system is installed commonly in conventional boiling water reactors.
<Explanation Relating to FIG. 18>
Now, a conventional air-cooled injection system (AIS) 6 is explained referring to FIG. 18. As shown in FIG. 18, a conventional air-cooled injection system 6 has a motor-driven pump 6a, a suction pipe 6c, an injection pipe 6b, an air fin cooler (AFC) 61, a circulation pump 65, and a circulation pipe 66. The structures of the motor-driven pump 6a, the suction pipe 6c, and the injection pipe 6b are the same as those of a conventional motor-driven active emergency core cooling system.
The air fin cooler 61 is an air-cooled heat exchanger, and has a tube bundle 62 of cooling tubes 62a and a fan 63. Cooling water flows in the cooling tubes 62a, and external air 68 driven by the fan 63 is blown to the tube bundle 62. Fins are attached to the cooling tubes 62a in order to enhance heat removal efficiency. The fan 63 is rotated by an electric motor 64. The tube bundle 62 is fixed and supported by a support structure 67. The cooling water cooled by the air fin cooler 61 flows in the circulation pipe 66 driven by the circulation pump 65. The cooling water flows in the motor-driven pump 6a and cools the motor-driven pump 6a, and then, is led to the tube bundle 62 of the air fin cooler 61 via the circulation pipe 66. The cooling water is cooled again there.
In a loss of coolant accident, the decay heat generated in the core 101 heats up the break flow, and the break flow heats up the pool water in the suppression pool 60 because the break flow goes to the suppression pool 60 via the LOCA vent pipes 80. Since the conventional air-cooled injection system 6 uses the high temperature pool water drawn from the suction pipe 6c as a water source, temperature inside of the motor-driven pump 6a is also raised. Therefore, mechanical seal part, which is a sliding part, needs to be cooled by cooling water from the air fin cooler 61. The motor-driven pumps of the ordinary emergency core cooling system are cooled by cooling water supplied from the reactor coolant water systems.
In case of the air-cooled injection system 6, the air fin cooler 61 is used instead of the reactor coolant water systems. The air fin cooler 61 has an advantage that a reactor sea water system is not required that is required in case of a reactor coolant water system, because the air fin cooler 61 discharges heat directly to the external air. Therefore, power source for the air-cooled injection system 6 is generally a gas turbine power generator that does not require cooling by the reactor coolant water system. In some cases, the power source for the air-cooled injection system 6 is an air-cooled diesel generator (air-cooled DG) that also does not require cooling by the reactor coolant water system. In such a case, the air-cooled DG is cooled by the air fin cooler 61. The air fin cooler 61 is usually installed on the roof of a building because the external air is taken in and exhausted. Alternatively, the air fin cooler 61 may be installed inside a building, with external air flow passages secured for taking in and for exhausting external air.
In a conventional hybrid safety system, a residual heat removal system is provided in each of the active safety divisions. However, there was a problem that each of the residual heat removal systems requires a reactor coolant water system and a reactor sea water system as secondary systems, so that it requires a lot of constituting devices such as motor-driven pumps and pipes, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication 2005-201742 A. That results in a lot of constituting devices depending on the number of the active safety divisions, in a case of conventional hybrid safety system with three or more active safety divisions.
Basically, it is preferable that the number of the active safety divisions is increased for improving safety. If a single failure is considered, at least two active safety divisions are required. However, if the number of the active safety divisions was increased to three or more, the number of the reactor coolant water systems and the number of the reactor sea water systems would increase, and the amount of the devices would increase, which would be a problem.
In addition, even if the number of residual heat removal systems is increased, total reliability is not improved much due to common mode failures of the same kind of active devices, which is another problem. Furthermore, the reactor sea water system is fragile against giant earthquakes and large tsunami. If the reactor sea water systems lose their function due to the giant earthquakes or large tsunami, the residual heat removal systems would also lose their function, which is yet another problem.
In the conventional passive containment cooling system, in a loss of coolant accident, the containment vessel cannot be cooled if the active emergency core cooling system is activated, and the limit of reliability of the residual heat removal systems due to the common cause failures cannot be compensated.

Emergency core cooling system and boiling water reactor plant using the same

Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation


A control unit calculates the color temperature using at least a first visible light signal and a near-infrared signal when the amount of the near-infrared signal is larger than a predetermined amount. The first visible light signal is a signal generated by photoelectrically converting visible light. The near-infrared signal is a signal generated by photoelectrically converting near-infrared light.

Cameras (imaging apparatuses) including a color solid-state imaging device that can receive visible light and near-infrared light simultaneously are expected as cameras that can photograph at any time of day or night. In the camera using such a color solid-state imaging device conventionally, a visible light signal (R, G, and B signals) is obtained by separating a near-infrared component (signal) contained in the visible light signal using a difference operation or the like.
Subsequently, in the camera, a color temperature is calculated according to a technique of calculating (detecting) a color temperature using a visible light signal (R, G, and B signals) (hereinafter, referred to as Related Art A) as described in PLT 1 or PLT 2. The cameras described in PLT 1 and PLT 2 include an imaging device that can process only the R, G, and B signals.

Imaging apparatus and method of calculating color temperature

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A multi-modality imaging system including first and second imaging modality units having respective field of views (FOVs) that are spaced apart from each other. The imaging system also having a positioning system that includes an imaging pallet. The pallet has an elongated support body that includes first and second portions that extend lengthwise along the support body. The first portion is shaped for imaging within the FOV of the first modality unit, and the second portion is shaped for imaging within the FOV of the second modality unit. The first and second portions are shaped differently than each other. The positioning system is configured to position the first portion of the pallet within the FOV of the first modality unit and configured to position the second portion of the pallet within the FOV of the second modality unit.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to multi-modality imaging systems and more particularly, to imaging pallets for multi-modality imaging systems.
Multi-modality imaging systems can scan one or more regions of interest (ROI) of a patient using different imaging modalities. Multi-modality imaging systems may include Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), radiography imaging, x-ray imaging, and/or Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) imaging systems, among others. By way of example, in some multi-modality imaging systems, the different modality units may have respective field of views (FOVs) at different axial locations along an examination axis. During operation, a patient is moved to a first FOV where an image of the ROI is obtained with a first imaging modality unit and then moved to a second FOV where another image of the ROI is obtained using a second imaging modality unit. A doctor or medical technician (or the system) may then review or combine the images from the different modalities.
Depending upon the imaging modality being used, certain geometries of the pallet may cause artifacts within the images. To address this challenge, imaging systems may use a separate pallet for positioning within each type of imaging modality. However, this can be costly and require extra time for a technician to change the pallets.
In other multi-modality imaging systems, a common pallet is used for the different imaging modalities. One advantage in using one common pallet is that the patient does not move with respect to the common pallet. Motion controllers and position encoders may be used to register the position of the pallet during each image acquisition to enable accurate and automatic registration of the images taken with the different modalities. However, the common pallet may not be optimally designed for all of the imaging modalities thereby affecting imaging quality.

Imaging pallets for multi-modality imaging systems


Provided are an apparatus and a method for processing a radiograph which is capable of precisely detecting a region of interest. The apparatus includes: an inputter that outputs an input image obtained by irradiating radioactive rays; and a line detector that performs a Hough transform on the input image, senses at least one edge line based on the Hough-transformed input image, performs a Radon transform in a region in which the at least one edge line is sensed, and obtains an edge line of the at least one edge line as a first collimation line one based on a result of the Radon transform.

1. Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to processing a radiograph, and more particularly, to processing a radiograph by precisely detecting a collimation line.
2. Description of the Related Art
A related art apparatus for processing a radiograph for detecting abnormalities in a human body by using radioactive rays is one of the most widely used medical imaging devices. Examples of medical imaging devices include a device for processing an x-ray radiograph that is obtained by irradiating x-rays to a human body part.
In order to obtain an x-ray radiograph, x-rays are irradiated to a human body. However, x-rays may be harmful to the human body. Thus, an exposure area of the human body is limited by using a collimator during radiography to prevent radioactive rays from being irradiated to undesired regions of the human body.
The related art apparatus for processing a radiograph obtains a region of interest (ROI) by removing collimated regions from the original x-ray image obtained by using the collimator. Radiography is performed and an ROI is obtained in order to diagnose a disease with a radiograph.
In order to obtain the ROI, the collimated regions should be removed. Particularly, collimation lines that discriminate the region exposed to the radioactive rays from the collimated lines are detected and the ROI is obtained by using the detected collimation lines.
The ROI can be precisely obtained by accurately obtaining the collimation lines. Thus, there is a need to develop a method of processing a radiograph which is capable of precisely obtaining collimation lines, and an apparatus for processing a radiograph therefor.

Method of processing radiograph and apparatus for processing radiograph using the method in which hough transform and radon transform performed on image


An electrochemical oxidation reactor includes rotatable electrodes inside a reactor vessel. The electrodes are mounted to support plates, which in turn are mounted on shafts. The plates are attached to each other in a spaced relationship so that a gap is formed therebetween. The plates are each electrically insulated from each other. The electrodes are mounted to the inside surfaces of these plates, inside the gap. The gap is sized to receive liquid to be treated so that liquid located within the gap will react with the electrodes. An electrical charge is applied to each shaft so that a dielectric is formed across the gap within the fluid located in the gap. According to a first embodiment, an electrochemical reactor includes containing two spaced electrode support plates. According to another embodiment, an electrochemical reactor includes several spaced electrode support plates.

An electrochemical reactor is a reactor used to purify liquids and includes a reactor vessel and electrodes. The reactor uses electric energy, which is applied to the electrodes, to generate an electrolytic process when a liquid is present. The materials used to make the electrodes may vary, depending on the type of liquid being purified. Regardless, the electric current must be isolated from the environment and only applied to the electrodes themselves. This means that most components used in the reactor, apart from the electrodes, are made from an insulating material, such as plastic or a material having an insulating layer thereon. The electrodes themselves can be made from a variety of materials including precious metals, such as silver, platinum, or gold. Other materials that have been used for the electrodes include copper, lead, magnesium, titanium, carbon/graphite, and boron doped diamond.
The electrodes may be housed in the reactor vessel, which is filled with a liquid to be treated. An electric current is then applied to the electrodes which starts the electrochemical reaction in the liquid.
There are many different applications for such electrochemical reactors. One application is the treatment of liquid including water, ethanol, many organic solvents, inorganic non-aqueous solvents, and acids.
Current commercial reactors in which this electrochemical technology is applied, are generally static, in that the electrodes remain stationary within the reactor vessel and the liquid to be treated flows across them.
In static electrochemical reactors, the limiting factor of the technology is the hydraulic condition in the reactor, and more specifically, a layer on top of the electrodes called the boundary layer. Whether the liquid in the reactor is in turbulent or laminar flow, the velocity in what is called the "laminar (viscous) sub layer," (the portion of the boundary layer which resides closest to the electrode interface) is extremely low. The liquid within this layer, which is immediately adjacent to the electrode is essentially stopped. Most of the liquid flowing within the static reactor may not effectively contact the surfaces of the electrodes. This, in turn, can limit the effectiveness and efficiency of the reactor itself. For a reactor to be efficient, the entire liquid being treated must move within the laminar sub layer.
The electrolytic reaction, which occurs in static electrochemical reactors as a result of the application of electric power to the electrodes, produces oxidants, such as H2O2 and O3, and Hydroxyl Radicals. These oxidants and Hydroxyl Radicals are created at the surface of the electrodes and can be useful if they can react with the surrounding liquid to oxidize organic contaminants within the liquid. But, the Hydroxyl Radicals only exist for approximately 10−9 seconds (i.e., 1 nano-second). Owing to the extremely short life of the Hydroxyl Radicals, it is important to ensure that they react with as much of the surrounding liquid as possible to effectively and efficiently treat the subject liquid. However, since the velocity of the liquid at the electrode interface is essentially zero, as described above, very few, if any, of the generated radicals can be used for oxidation. The generated radicals may not interact with the organic matter located in any liquid that isn't already located within the laminar sub layer of the boundary layer. The organic matter located outside this laminar sub layer cannot reach the electrode surface, owing to the stagnant flow within the laminar sub layer region. This stagnant condition limits the use of the hydroxyl radicals for the production of oxidants in the laminar sub layer in the proximity of the electrode surface. The hydroxyl radicals formed in the laminar sub layer will essentially be unable to directly "oxidize" organic matter within the liquid except for an extremely low quantity of organic matter present within the laminar sub layer at the beginning of the reaction. For at least this reason, static electro-chemical reactors are not efficient in treating a subject contaminated liquid.
As liquid to be treated passes through the reactor vessel of a static electrochemical reactor, it will follow a path of least resistance (e.g., the liquid moves to the outlet of the vessel). In a static electrochemical reactor, there is no physical manner for the liquid to move into the laminar sub layer that is adjacent the electrode surfaces. One reason for this is that the liquid located at the laminar sub layer does not move and, since liquids are not compressible, the stagnant liquid at the surface of the electrodes effectively prevents any new liquid from entering into the laminar sub layer. The lack of flow within this layer adjacent the electrode surface reduces the chance that the liquid will be treated before reaching the outlet of the vessel.
In a static electrochemical reactor, an electrolyte, such as NaCl, may be required to increase the conductivity of the liquid within the reactor. The increase in conductivity increases the applied power to the reactor by allowing the flow of current (amperage) passing through the liquid to increase. The addition of this electrolyte (NaCl) and the increased power applied to the static reactor results in a production of Chlorine-based oxidants, such as NaOCl, Active Chlorine (Cl−), and HOCl, in addition to the O3 and H2O2 already created by the electrolytic process in the water phase of the treated liquid.
The production of all these Oxidants within the liquid changes the composition, as well as the osmotic pressure, of the laminar sub layer. The change in composition and the osmotic pressure in this layer creates a diffusion process between the laminar sub layer and the adjacent boundary layer above. This diffusion process will help mix the layers closest to the electrodes with the liquid within the bulk solution. The mass-transfer (effectiveness) of the oxidation in these static reactors is directly related to the efficiency of this boundary-layer diffusion process.
In an effort to increase the efficiency of static reactors, the velocity of the liquid passing through the reactor may be increased. Although this increase in liquid velocity will change the thickness of the boundary layer, it will not influence the composition, osmotic pressure, and the diffusion process in the laminar sub layer. As mentioned above, movement of liquid within the laminar sub layer is encouraged as a result of the electrolytic reaction therein.
The same diffusion from the static laminar sub layer towards the layers on top of the static laminar sub layer will still be a result of the diffusion process. An increase in velocity of the liquid will increase or decrease the diffusion process depending on the increased or decreased thickness of the boundary layer and the thickness of the static laminar sub layer. Therefore, in this situation, the increased velocity of the liquid can increase the mass-transfer of a static reactor. Such an increase in the velocity of the liquid decreases the residence time of the liquid in the reactor. The resulting mass transfer of the static reactor will likely remain low and inefficient likely requiring the recirculation of the liquid back through the reactor to obtain the desired oxidation efficiency.
In the end, static type electrochemical reactors remain inefficient at treating high volumes of contaminated liquid.
Embodiments according to this disclosure can overcome the deficiencies of static electrochemical reactors. Embodiments according to this disclosure provide an electrochemical reactor that increases mass-transfer over static electrochemical reactors.


An actuator assembly is provided for positioning a transducer with a primary frame and a secondary frame mounted thereto for transverse translation. A coarse actuator is connected to the frames for translating the secondary frame incrementally. A carriage with a transducer is mounted to the secondary frame for transverse translation. A fine actuator is connected to the secondary frame and the carriage. The coarse actuator provides coarse adjustment and the fine actuator provides fine adjustment of the transducer for following tape. A method for positioning a transducer is provides a transducer connected to a coarse actuator and a fine actuator. Tape is conveyed across the transducer and lateral motion of the tape is monitored. The transducer is positioned by the fine actuator relative to a lateral tape position, and if the position exceeds a predetermined range, then the transducer is positioned by the actuation of the coarse actuator.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to assemblies for positioning a transducer.
2. Background Art
The prior art has offered transducer positioning assemblies that utilize a single actuator for positioning a transducer relative to a media that is conveyed across the transducer. The single actuator is employed for aligning the transducer with the media and for positioning the transducer in response to lateral movement of the media. Thus, the single actuator is utilized for conveying the transducer across a total range of lateral media movement.
Examples of prior art transducer positioning assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,437,946 B2, which issued to Todd on Aug. 20, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 6,985,430 B1, which issued to Villiard et al. on Jan. 10, 2006; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,123,450 B1, which issued to Villiard et al. on Oct. 17, 2006; the disclosures of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.


An exemplary method of detecting a Trojan circuit in an integrated circuit is related to applying a test pattern comprising an initial test pattern followed by a corresponding succeeding test pattern to a golden design of the integrated circuit, wherein a change in the test pattern increases side-channel sensitivity; measuring a side-channel parameter in the golden design of the integrated circuit after application of the test pattern; applying the test pattern to a design of the integrated circuit under test; measuring the side-channel parameter in the design of the integrated circuit under test after application of the test pattern; and determining a Trojan circuit to be present in the integrated circuit under test when the measured side-channel parameters vary by a threshold.

Detection of hardware Trojans is vital to ensure the security and trustworthiness of System-on-Chip (SoC) designs. Side-channel analysis is effective for Trojan detection by analyzing various side-channel signatures such as power, current, and delay. As integrated circuit (IC) design and fabrication process become more and more globalized, the threat of hardware Trojan attack is increasing due to potential malicious modifications at different stages of the design and fabrication process.

Maximization of side-channel sensitivity for trojan detection

University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


In a general aspect, secure messaging between electronic modules is described. In an example, a method includes: generating, by a first electronic module, a private key and a public key associated with the private key; communicating, by the first electronic module, an unencrypted message, including the public key, to a first network-connected device using a first module-to-device communication link; receiving, from the first network-connected device, an encrypted message including a symmetric encryption key generated by a second electronic module; decrypting, by the first electronic module, the encrypted message using the private key, wherein decrypting using the private key makes the symmetric encryption key available to the first electronic module; and establishing, by the first electronic module, a secure messaging channel with the second electronic module based on at least the symmetric encryption key.

The following description relates to secure messaging between cryptographic hardware modules.
Blockchains allow a network of users to make a digital ledger of data and share the data among the other users in the network. Unlike previous database structures, the blockchain database is maintained by a multitude of independent nodes spread across a large distributed network. When a transaction is recorded into the blockchain database, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to change or remove that transaction from the database since the transaction is stored in more than one node in the distributed network. Therefore, transactions are added into the blockchain database by multiple users and changing the recorded transactions would require each of these users (or a majority of the users) to agree to the change. This distribution of control to add, edit, and remove data from the blockchain database creates trust amongst users in the network, especially when users are not familiar with one another.

Secure messaging between cryptographic hardware modules


A method of providing access to securely held data is provided. A user interacts with the service provider to obtain access to a service by using a device to provide a digital identifier to the service provider, without the digital identifier being made known to the user. At a later date the user wishes to retrieve securely stored data relating to their use of the service. However, because the user does not know the digital identifier, they are unable to identify themselves to the service provider using the digital identifier. The present disclosure provides a secure method for exchanging private identifiers, which allows the user to identify themselves to the service provider in order to gain access to securely stored data relating to the user's previous use of the service. The user can do this using the device on which the digital identifier is stored, or another device.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
In computer implemented communication and data exchange processes, it is common for users and devices to identify themselves to other users and devices using digital identifiers. A digital identifier can be used to identify a user or device that has permission to access secure systems or data that are not open to the public. Similarly, digital identifiers can be used to identify users or devices that have permission to edit data held in secure systems. A device attempting to edit a database may, for example, be required to present a digital identifier before its proposed changes to the database are permitted.
Due to the potentially sensitive permissions granted by digital identifiers, it is important that the digital identifiers can be stored and transmitted securely without being obtained by malicious third parties. In certain systems, a digital identifier can be stored within a device and presented to outside systems without the identifier being known by the user of the device. For example, such an identifier may be transmitted in a near field communication (NFC) message. Though the user of the device may use the digital identifier to access outside systems and data, the process does not involve providing the digital identifier to the user. Security risks associated with the provision of the digital identifier to the user, such as a malicious third party nearby reading the identifier from a device screen over the user's shoulder, are thereby avoided.
While the direct transmission of a digital identifier stored on a device to an outside system without involving provision of the digital identifier to the device's user provides increased security, this does mean that the user is unable to identify themselves to the outside system when the electronic device is not in communication with it.
There is a need, therefore, for a method of providing a user with access to securely stored data, in a system where access to the data is granted in response to receipt of a digital identifier securely stored on a device, without the digital identifier being made known to the device's user.


Substituted naphthyl p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and the use of the substituted naphthyl p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for treating diseases are disclosed.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are serine/threonine protein kinases that process and regulate cellular properties in response to a wide range of extracellular stimuli. These enzymes phosphorylate the OH group of serine or threonine in proteins and play important roles in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, survival and apoptosis. In mammalian cells, several distinct MAPKs have been identified, including p38 MAPK.
p38 MAPKs are a class of MAPKs responsive to stress stimuli such as inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and is involved in a wide range of signaling pathways that stimulate different biological functions. For example, p38 MAPK has been found to play an essential role in the regulation of pro-inflammatory signaling networks and in the biosynthesis of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in immune cells
Studies have shown that p38 MAPKs contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation, leading to preclinical or clinical trials for the application of p38 MAPK inhibitors in inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.
p38 MAPKs comprise four isoforms (α, β, γ and δ). p38α MAPK was the first isoform of p38 MAPK to be identified and was first recognized as a stress-induced kinase that can be activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and inflammatory cytokines. Inhibition of p38 MAPK has been shown to effectively alleviate the symptoms of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and inflammatory pain.
Many p38 MAPK catalytic inhibitors are poorly effective and cause toxicity possibly due to activity against non-inflammatory p38 and loss of p38α-dependent counterregulatory responses. p38α MAPK inhibitors that can selectively block certain p38α MAPK functions and preserve critical counterregulatory and homeostatic functions with application for the treatment of inflammatory and oncologic diseases are desired.


A liquid crystal display includes: first and second transparent substrates located such that inner main surfaces face each other with a gap being provided therebetween and a liquid crystal layer is held between the substrates; a parallax barrier provided on an outer main surface of the first transparent substrate and optically separating pixels displaying an image into pixels visually recognized in a specific direction and pixels visually recognized in another specific direction; and a plurality of switching elements, arrayed on the inner main surface of the second transparent substrate, for applying voltage to drive the liquid crystal; wherein the parallax barrier includes a plurality of transmissive portions arrayed to transmit light and a plurality of light blocking portions provided respectively around the transmissive portions to block light, and each of the light blocking portions includes two or more layered light blocking films.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, and particularly relates to a liquid crystal display of a parallax barrier system.
2. Description of the Background Art
There has been proposed a liquid crystal display (dual-screen LCD) capable of displaying dual images on a display screen so that one of the images is visually recognized in a left direction and another one of the images is visually recognized in a right direction.
Such a dual-screen LCD is applied to a display for providing different images to viewers at right and left positions, such as a driver and a passenger in a vehicle, or a three-dimensional (3D) display for providing different images to right and left eyes of a viewer so as to form a three-dimensional image.
Such a dual-screen LCD is realized by optically separating pixels providing an image into pixels visually recognized in a specific direction and pixels visually recognized in another specific direction. It is also possible to display multiple images by modifying separating means so that pixels are visually recognized in multiple directions without limiting the directions of visually recognizing the pixels (lines of sight) to the two right and left directions.
While there is proposed a technique with use of a lens or the like as the means for optically separating lines of sight, a parallax barrier technique has been getting popular, in which lines of sight of visually recognizing pixels are separated by a light blocking film (parallax barrier) provided with an opening (transmissive portion) in correspondence with each of pixels providing different images.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-072476 discloses a mechanism in which light having transmitted a color filter (CF)-black matrix (BM) surface is blocked by a parallax barrier to travel only in a specific line of sight, so as to provide an image visually recognized in a left direction and another image visually recognized in a right direction on a display screen of a liquid crystal display.
Such a parallax barrier has been conventionally formed by preparing a glass substrate provided with a parallax barrier separately from a liquid crystal cell and attaching the glass substrate onto an outer surface of the liquid crystal cell. On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-072476 proposes a method of forming a parallax barrier directly on a CF glass surface.
According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-072476, the liquid crystal cell is formed after having formed both a light blocking film serving as the black matrices and a light blocking film serving as the parallax barrier respectively on front and rear surfaces of a CF substrate. To the contrary, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-128547 discloses a method of initially forming a liquid crystal cell, secondly thinning a CF substrate, and then forming a parallax barrier.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-166777 (1997) discloses employing double-layered light blocking films serving as a black mask (black matrices) formed on a CF glass surface, in order to suppress generation of pinholes due to adhesion of dust or the like. In this method, the lower light blocking film is formed and cleaned to remove dust and the like before the upper light blocking film is formed.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-072476 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-128547, in the configuration in which the parallax barrier is formed directly on the CF glass surface, the light blocking film serving as the parallax barrier is provided on the rear surface of the CF substrate (that is, a front surface of a display).
However, in the conventional method of forming a light blocking film, the obtained light blocking film is possibly provided with pinholes or defective patterns due to foreign substances having been left on the glass substrate prior to the formation of the light blocking film or foreign substances adhering to the glass substrate during the formation.
Such pinholes and defective patterns may cause bright spots or variation in brightness, which lead to deterioration in display quality. Additionally, the light blocking film exposed on the outermost surface is likely to be provided with cracks and the like after the formation of the light blocking film. The light blocking film having such cracks deteriorates in its functions, which also leads to deterioration in display quality.
Such pinholes and defective patterns due to foreign substances are problematically recognized also in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-166777 (1997). However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-166777 (1997) discloses the invention relating to light blocking films in a CF substrate, serving as the black mask provided inside a cell of a liquid crystal panel, and does not relate to a light blocking film formed on the rear surface of a CF substrate. According to Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-166777 (1997), the black mask is located inside the cell after the cell of the liquid crystal panel is formed. Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-166777 (1997) does not have the problem caused by the light blocking film exposed outside the cell as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-072476 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-128547. Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-166777 (1997) neither discloses nor suggests such a configuration for solving the problem of cracks formed in a light blocking film (parallax barrier) provided outside a cell of a liquid crystal panel.

Liquid crystal display and production method thereof


The commercial demand for higher aggregate data rates has led to DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexed) transmissions. Network elements need the capacity in these systems to reconfigure in case of a bit stream failure. The instant invention can bridge communications between other network elements including optical and electrical signal network elements, when a loss of signal detection circuit to substitute a second bit stream for a time delayed original bit stream and a circuit element connected to the loss of signal detection circuit to permit the network elements to reconfigure without activating automatic protect switch mechanisms of a bridged network. The instant invention also teaches a method for ensuring communication of network elements of a bridged network including optical and electrical signal network elements, by detecting a loss of signal in a transmitted bit stream; substituting a second bit stream for a time delayed original bit stream; and allowing network elements to crossconnect to reconfigure optical channels in a manner that will not interfere with network functions.

1. Field of the Invention
The bridge terminal output unit operates with a Network Element (NE) used to bridge communications between other NE's that incorporate alarm-based reconfiguration mechanisms and more specifically this invention employs loss-of-signal (LOS) detection to substitute a second bit stream for a time-delayed original bit stream onto an output line to a downstream network terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
The commercial demand for higher aggregate data rates has led to rapid deployment of new communications technology. Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexed (DWDM) has emerged as the next step in the evolution of high-speed networking. DWDM networks allow the multiplexing of 80 or more 10 GBit/sec data streams onto a single optical fiber. Manufacturers have adopted common standards for channel frequencies and control channel carrier format, and support interfaces to transport most high-speed physical layer protocols including synchronous optical network/synchronous digital hierarchy (SONET/SDH) networks, plesichronous digital hierarchy (PDH) networks, Gigabit Ethernet, and FDDI-II. An example in the prior art in which DWDM based network is used as a network bridge for the transport of a SONET signal is shown in FIG. 1.
DWDM network deployment has been made practical by several new technologies including optical signal multiplexers, optical signal demultiplexers, optical amplifiers, and optical cross-connects. As implemented on a DWDM network terminal, optical signal multiplexers accept multiple optical signals transmitted on different wavelengths, i.e., channels, of light over separate fibers and combine those signals onto a single fiber. DWDM network optical signal demultiplexers accept multiple optical signals (channels) carried on different wavelengths of light over a single fiber and separates the multiple signals onto separate fibers. Optical amplifiers boost the power levels of the multiplexed channels simultaneously, extending the transmission range of DWDM terminals to a practical and useful distance. Optical cross-connects dynamically re-provision DWDM channels. Currently, most DWDM networks are used to consolidate and bridge communications between SONET/SDH, PDH, and other legacy networks.
SONET and SDH constitute the majority of deployed single-channel, wide-area optical communications networks. SONET and SDH provide open physical layer transmission standards for manufacturers of optical network transmission equipment. SONET/SDH defines standard optical signals; a synchronous frame structure for multiplexed digital traffic; bit timing and network element synchronization; alarm thresholds and error recovery; and standard operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning. DWDM terminals interface with most high-speed communications terminals, such as SONET/SDH and PDH, via optical line input-output units (OLIU). The input to the DWDM terminal is a functional unit that accepts an incoming single-channel optical data stream from the network being bridged, converts it to an electrical binary data stream, retransmits that binary stream as an optical signal at a specific wavelength suitable for optical multiplexing, and presents that signal to the optical multiplexing unit. The output of the DWDM terminal is a functional unit that performs the reverse operation: it accepts an individual wavelength from the multiplexed optical stream, converts the electrical stream to an optical stream suitable for reception by the single channel network being bridged.
Off-the-shelf DWDM terminals are available that interface with some high-speed communications terminals using all-optical inputs and outputs. In this case, the communications terminal of the network being bridged is responsible for generating an optical signal at the proper wavelength and line width suitable for optical multiplexing. The input to the DWDM terminal is a functional unit that accepts an incoming single-channel optical data stream and delivers it directly to the optical multiplexing unit. The output of the DWDM terminal is a functional unit that performs the reverse operation: it accepts an individual wavelength from the multiplexed optical stream, and presents it directly to the connected high-speed communications terminal.
Present DWDM terminals and cross-connects do not operate in a maimer that is transparent to the automatic protection switch (APS) mechanisms of the network being bridged. The APS mechanisms of the networks being bridged, such as SONET/SDH and PDH terminals, must be disabled before DWDM-layer APS or cross-connects occur. If the line between the DWDM-layer terminal and the network being bridged should fail, the bridged network will be unable to automatically restore service. This loss of APS functionality in the bridged network serves to degrade overall network performance.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


Embodiments relate to brokering optimized resource supply costs in a host cloud-based network using predictive workloads. In aspects, a set of usage histories can store patterns for users in a host cloud-based network recording the consumption of processor, memory, storage, operating system, application, or other resources subscribed to by the user. The operator of the cloud management system hosting the workloads of one or more users can track the aggregate user histories reflecting those workloads, and analyze them in terms of different time periods over which demands for resources may intensity or relax. The cloud management system can examine those workload patterns, and generate a set of predictively re-assigned workloads to be supported by different sets of resource servers during offpeak and/or other periods. The workload realignment to different resource servers can permit the operator of the cloud management system and/or other cloud provider to realize cost savings or other benefits by procuring resources on a predictive basis.

The advent of cloud-based computing architectures has opened new possibilities for the rapid and scalable deployment of virtual Web stores, media outlets, social networking sites, and many other on-line sites or services. In general, a cloud-based architecture deploys a set of hosted resources such as processors, operating systems, software and other components that can be combined together to form virtual machines. A user or customer can request the instantiation of a virtual machine or set of machines from those resources from a central server or cloud management system to perform intended tasks, services, or applications. For example, a user may wish to set up and instantiate a virtual server from the cloud to create a storefront to market products or services on a temporary basis, for instance, to sell tickets to or merchandise for an upcoming sports or musical performance. The user can subscribe to the set of resources needed to build and run the set of instantiated virtual machines on a comparatively short-term basis, such as hours or days, for their intended application.
Typically, when a user utilizes a cloud, the user must track the software applications executed in the cloud and/or processes instantiated in the cloud. For example, the user must track the cloud processes to ensure that the correct cloud processes have been instantiated, that the cloud processes are functioning properly and/or efficiently, that the cloud is providing sufficient resources to the cloud processes, and so forth. Due in part to the user's requirements and overall usage of the cloud, the user may have many applications and/or processes instantiated in a cloud at any given instant, and the user's deployment of virtual machines, software, and other resources can change dynamically over time. In cases, the user may also utilize multiple independent clouds to support the user's cloud deployment. That user may further instantiate and use multiple applications or other software or services inside or across multiple of those cloud boundaries, and those resources may be used or consumed by multiple or differing end-user groups in those different cloud networks.
In terms of the procurement of processor, memory, storage, and/or other resources required to support one or more sets of users, the cloud management system of a set of host clouds may locate and install or provide those resources on a subscription, marketplace, and/or other basis. For users whose resource demands demonstrates a timer-dependent pattern, such as a relaxation of resource consumption during overnight, offpeak, and other hours or periods, it could be advantageous to time or predict the need to procure resources based on known consumption behavior. In aspects, a cloud operator could scale down or otherwise adjust the resources procured from a set of cloud resource servers if service level needs are known or could be predicted in advance, permitting potentially lower cost, reduced storage needs, decreased failover or rollover capacity, and/or otherwise altered configurations of the resources needed to support users in the operator's set of host clouds. It may be desirable to provide systems and methods for brokering optimized resource supply costs in a host cloud-based network using predictive workloads, in which workloads of users can be predictively re-assigned or shifted to leverage advantageous cloud support conditions in varying resource servers, based on estimated support requirements or levels in predetermined time periods.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Brokering optimized resource supply costs in host cloud-based network using predictive workloads


There are provided a communication apparatus and method that enables the retransmission of an electronic mail if an error occurs in the transmission of the electronic mail due to its excessive data size, by reducing the data capacity of the electronic mail without taking time and labor, and a program for implementing the method. In a digital copying machine as the communication apparatus, when an electronic mail that notifies an error relating to an electronic mail transmitted with image data attached is received, the error notification electronic mail is analyzed. If an error that is attributable to the data capacity of the electronic mail is detected from the analysis result, the image data attached to the electronic mail for which the error notice has been received is acquired and the capacity of the image data is reduced by lowering its resolution. The electronic mail to which the image data thus reduced in capacity is attached is retransmitted.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a communication apparatus and method for use in transmitting an image that is inputted at a predetermined resolution, as an attachment to an electronic mail and a program for implementing the method.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, there has been developed an internet facsimile apparatus having a facsimile function and an electronic mail communication function that is executed through a public communication network.
The internet facsimile apparatus is capable of reading an image, converting the read image into an electronic mail data format, attaching it as a file to an electronic mail, and transmitting the electronic mail with the image attached to a desired destination through the Internet.
Such an electronic mail with an image attached is transmitted to a designated address via a mail server of an electronic mail exchange system on the Internet. The transmissible data capacity (data size) of an electronic mail is not standardized, but is usually restricted to a capacity that is specified by an administrator of a mail server. For example, the maximum transmissible data size of an electronic mail is set to several megabytes. Mail servers on the Internet have different capacities for handling electronic mails. No communication protocol has been established for exchanging the data of an electronic mail per communication between mail servers.
For example, if the above-stated conventional internet facsimile apparatus reads a plurality of document images at a high resolution and transmits the plurality of read images attached to an electronic mail, or if the conventional internet facsimile apparatus reads ten to twenty document images at a low resolution and transmits the reads images attached to an electronic mail, the data size of the transmitted electronic mail may be too large as to exceed the maximum capacity of a mail server per communication.
An electronic mail, whose data size exceeds the maximum capacity, cannot be transmitted to a destination address, and an error notification mail for this electronic mail is returned from a mail server. The error notification mail is a DSN (Delivery Status Notification) mail described in RFC (Request For Comments) 1894.
However, a user who gives an instruction for transmitting the electronic mail cannot know the data size of the electronic mail or the maximum capacity therefor although he or she can know the occurrence of an error in the transmission of the electronic mail due to the error notification mail. Thus, a user needs to read a document at a low resolution and attach the read document to an electronic mail, and divide an electronic mail into plural pieces to reduce the data size of an electronic mail to be transmitted. The data size of an electronic mail is not reduced based on a certain standard but is reduced arbitrarily by a user, and thus, the same error may occur in the transmission and retransmission of an electronic mail. This necessitates repeating the procedure for reducing the data size of an electronic mail. That is, if an error occurs in the transmission of an electronic mail due to the excessive data size thereof, it takes much time to retransmit the electronic mail.
Further, since the transmissible data size differs according to destination addresses, the data size must be adjusted according to destination addresses. This makes the electronic mail transmission very complicated.

Communication apparatus and method having electronic mail communication function, and program


A process contains in which heating and fixing an image of a toner on a recording medium is performed by heating one or more heat-transfer media by a heating element, and pressing the recording medium bearing the toner image to one of the heat-transfer media. At least one of the heat-transfer media is a belt heat-transfer medium with or without the application of an oil whose amount is 4 mg or less per A4 size, and the toner contain a binder resin and a releasing agent, has a weight-average particle diameter Dv of 3.0 to 7.0 μm, a particle diameter distribution Dv/Dn of 1.00 or more and 1.25 or less, wherein Dn is a number-average particle diameter, and an average shape factor SF-1 of 100 to 150 and contains toner particles having a shape factor SF-1 of 160 or more in an amount of 10% by number or less.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming process and apparatus using a toner for developing a latent electrostatic image formed on a latent electrostatic image bearing member such as a photoconductor. The process and apparatus are used in the fields of, for example, electrophotography, electrostatic recording and electrostatic printing.
2. Description of the Related Art
In electrophotographic image formation, a latent image is electrostatically formed on an image bearing member such as of a photoconductive substance, and charged toner particles are applied to the latent electrostatic image to thereby form a developed visible image. The visible image formed from the toner is transferred to a transfer medium such as a sheet of paper and is fixed thereon by action of, for example, heat, pressure or solvent evaporation to form an image output.
Processes for charging toner particles to form a visible image in the electrophotographic image formation are roughly classified as "two-component developing processes" in which toner particles are charged as a result of friction by stirring and mixing with carrier particles, and as "one-component developing processes" in which toner particles are charged without the use of carrier particles. The one-component developing processes are then classified as magnetic one-component developing processes and non-magnetic one-component developing processes based on whether or not magnetic power is used for maintaining the toner particles on a development roller.
To fix such a developed visible image, hot-press image-fixing is preferably employed, in which a fixing member such as a fixing roller or fixing belt is directly pressed to an unfixed image to heat and fuse the toner to thereby fix the toner image onto an image bearing member such as a sheet of paper. The hot-press image-fixing technique has a high thermal efficiency, can use a simple image-fixing mechanism and can use a fixing member that can be produced at low cost.
Among such image-fixing mechanisms, an image-fixing mechanism (hereinafter referred to as "belt fixing system") using a belt heat-transfer medium (hereinafter briefly referred to as "fixing belt") has been widely used for energy conservation and miniaturization of apparatus.
According to the belt fixing system, the belt can be in contact with the surface of the toner for a longer time in image fixing process, and the image can be fixed at lower temperature. However, it may often invite an "offset" phenomenon in which the fused toner adheres to the surface of the belt, since the fusing of the toner is accelerated. The belt fixing system often invites offset particularly in color toners, since the color toners comprise a binder resin having a sharp molecular weight distribution and exhibiting sharp melt in order to provide sufficient transparency and appropriate gloss for high quality and to fuse the toner more rapidly in image-fixing.
As the belt heat-transfer medium, endless or regular belts comprising a heat-resistant resin are often used, these resinous belts must be improved in mechanical durability.
In addition, an external additive and other components of the toner adhere to the belt heat-transfer medium to thereby wear or damage the belt. Thus hot offset may occur and the belt heat-transfer medium itself may break.
To solve these problems, a variety of proposals have been made on image fixing mechanisms and toners for developing latent electrostatic images.
An example of proposed image-fixing mechanisms can be found in a presentation "Discussion on On-demand Image Fixing Techniques (A-11)" in Japan Hardcopy '94, Technical Conference of The Imaging Society of Japan (Jun. 23-24, 1994).
However, improvement in the image-fixing mechanism alone cannot fundamentally solve the above problems.
To prevent the offset in image fixing, a releasing material such as wax may be added to a toner. However, when the wax has inappropriate properties or is dispersed inappropriately in the toner, the wax leaves or bleeds out from a surface of the toner in long-term usage in a development unit. In a two-component developer, the bled out wax may stain the surface of the carrier to thereby deteriorate charging ability of the toner. In a one-component developer, the wax may fuse and attach to a development roller or a blade for controlling the thickness of the toner to thereby inhibit uniform development of a toner image. From the viewpoint of development, therefore, the amount of a wax should be preferably minimized.
Conventional toners prepared by kneading and pulverization generally have an irregular shape, have a broad particle diameter distribution, exhibit low fluidity and low transfer ability, require high image-fixing energy and have low stability in charge due to uneven charges among toner particles. Such pulverized toners often adhere to a carrier, a latent electrostatic image bearing member such as a photoconductor and/or a blade in image fixing, although the toners exhibit higher releasability. This is because more wax is exposed from a surface of the pulverized toners, since a toner material article tends to break at portions where the wax occurs as a result of pulverization, and such broken portions of the wax constitute surfaces of the toner particles.
As a possible solution to these problems in the pulverized toners, a method for producing a toner by polymerization has been proposed. The method does not require kneading and pulverizing processes and can save energy, shorten the production time, improve yields of products and can significantly reduce cost. As compared with the pulverization method, the polymerization method can easily produce toner particles having a sharp particle diameter distribution, enables the wax to be included in the toner particles easily, can yield toners having significantly improved fluidity and can yield spherical toner particles.
However, toners prepared by the polymerization method still have some problems. The polymerized toners have insufficient mechanical properties, although they have a higher sphericity of toner particles than the pulverized toners, since surface tension acts upon toner particles in polymerization process. The polymerization method cannot easily control the shape of toner particles to a desired shape, although the resulting toner has stable charge ability and excellent transfer ability.
Among such polymerization processes, suspension polymerization is widely employed. However, the suspension polymerization must use, as a monomer for a binder resin, styrene monomers and/or acrylic monomers harmful to the human body and yields a toner containing these harmful components, thus inviting environmental pollution. The polymerized toner includes a wax inside thereof, which wax is hardly exposed from the particle surface, and does not so much contribute to image fixing as compared with the pulverized toner which has a wax component exposed from its surface, although the polymerized toner is resistant to adhere to a photoconductor when used in an actual image-forming apparatus. The polymerized toner is therefore disadvantageous in power consumption. When the polymerized toner contains a larger amount of a wax or contains a wax having a larger dispersed particle diameter and is used as a color toner, it yields a color image with deteriorated transparency and is not suitable for a toner for forming an image through an overhead projector (OHP).
Such a polymerized toner can also be prepared by emulsion polymerization. However, the emulsion polymerization must use styrene monomers as a monomer component. In the emulsion polymerization, unreacted monomer components, an emulsifier, and a dispersing agent may not be significantly completely removed from toner particles, thus inviting environmental pollution due to the toner.
Certain toners are prepared by dissolution suspension. The dissolution suspension can use a polyester resin that can undergo image-fixing at low temperature. However, a high-molecular weight component is used in a process for dissolving or dispersing toner materials such as the resin and a coloring agent in a solvent, and the resulting solution or dispersion has an increased viscosity to thereby decrease the productivity. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 09-15903 discloses a toner prepared by the dissolution suspension and having a spherical shape with a rough surface for more satisfactory cleaning up of the residual toner. However, when wax is added to a composition of this toner as a releasing agent, the wax is not sufficiently uniformly dispersed and is not exposed from the toner surface, and the coloring agent (pigment) is not sufficiently uniformly dispersed as compared with the pulverized toners. In addition, a polymer binder (binder resin) for use herein cannot be freely designed, since a high polymer may become particles in the solvent to thereby increase the viscosity. Thus, the toner may not exhibit satisfactory releasability.
JP-A No. 11-133665 proposes a dry toner containing an elongation product of a urethane-modified polyester and having a practical sphericity of 0.90 to 1.00 as a toner binder in order to improve the fluidity, image-fixing properties at low temperature, and hot-offset resistance of the toner. JP-A No. 11-149180 and JP-A No. 2000-292981 disclose dry toners having a small average particle diameter, which are excellent in fluidity, transfer ability, storage stability at high temperature, image-fixing properties at low temperature, and hot-offset resistance. In the publications, these toners are prepared by a method including a process for increasing molecular weight in which an isocyanate-containing polyester prepolymer is subjected to additional polymerization with an amine in an aqueous medium.
The toners prepared by the method, however, contain heterogeneously dispersed pigment and wax components and yield images with low transparency and decreased chromaticness (colorfulness). The toners cannot exhibit satisfactory releasability when they are used in an oil-less image fixing procedure, since they do not contain a satisfactorily controlled dispersed particles of releasing agent. When the toners are used for forming a color image on an OHP sheet, the image is dark or dim due to a large particles diameter of the dispersed releasing agent.
Objects and Advantages
Under these circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming process and apparatus that can fix images satisfactorily at low temperature for energy saving, exhibit satisfactory hot-offset resistance and storage stability at high temperature, satisfactory gloss for use as color toners and sufficient transparency for use in an OHP and can form images with very stable good quality in actual use over a long period of time.

Image forming process and image forming apparatus


A method for an information processing apparatus to test a connection to an information storage server from which the information processing apparatus obtains information is disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) receiving a request for a connection test using connection information for establishing the connection to the information storage server from a screen on which at least part of the connection information is entered; (b) testing the connection to the information storage server based on the request for the connection test; and (c) outputting the result of the connection test.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to connection test methods and information processing apparatuses performing such connection methods, and more particularly to a connection test method for testing connection to an information storage server shared by one or more information processing apparatuses, an information processing apparatus and an image-forming apparatus performing the connection test method, and a recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the connection test method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Information processing apparatuses such as personal computers perform a variety of information processing by executing one or more software programs corresponding to respective information processing operations. Such information processing apparatuses are connected to, for instance, other computers via a network, and distribute information using a distribution function. Most information processing apparatuses with a distribution function contain preset address data such as e-mail addresses as user information.
Image-forming apparatuses, as example applications of information processing apparatuses, contain the functions of apparatuses such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, and a scanner in a single housing. The image-forming apparatuses have a display part, a printing part, and an image-capturing part provided in the housing. Further, the image-forming apparatuses have four types of software corresponding to a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, and a scanner provided in the housing, and operate as a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine or a scanner by switching the types of software.
For instance, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-84383 discloses such an image-forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a multi-function apparatus). Most of such multi-function apparatuses have address data such as e-mail addresses or facsimile numbers used by a scanner or a facsimile machine preset therein as user information.
The user information may be set in an information processing apparatus or a multi-function apparatus through, for instance, the input device of the information processing apparatus or the operations panel of the multi-function apparatus. Alternatively, the user information may be set in an information processing apparatus or a multi-function apparatus from a client connected via a network to the information processing apparatus or the multi-function apparatus.
It takes time and effort, however, to set the user information in the information processing apparatuses or multi-function apparatuses. Further, if a user possesses a plurality of information processing apparatuses or multi-function apparatuses, the user has to set the user information apparatus by apparatus.
Accordingly, in the case of the conventional information processing apparatuses or multi-function apparatuses, the setting of user information, which takes time and effort, should be performed apparatus by apparatus so that the copier and scanner functions of the multi-function apparatuses or the distribution functions of the information processing apparatuses using the user information can be utilized.
On the other hand, many companies have come to manage the user information in information storage servers, the user information being used by the distribution functions of the information processing apparatuses or the scanner and facsimile functions of the multi-function apparatuses. Accordingly, an increasing number of users desire to use the user information managed in the information storage servers in the information processing apparatuses or multi-function apparatuses.
However, connection information for connecting the information processing apparatuses or multi-function apparatuses to the information storage servers should be set in the information processing apparatuses or multi-function apparatuses so that the information processing apparatuses or multi-function apparatuses can use the user information managed in the information storage servers. The connection information is often composed of many items, some of which permit no mistake in characters to establish connection with the information storage servers.
Accordingly, it is necessary to set the connection information composed of many items with accuracy in the conventional information processing apparatuses or multi-function apparatuses in order to use the user information managed in the information storage servers.
In the case of determining the accuracy of the set connection information, a user makes an attempt to establish connection with an information storage server using the connection information after the connection information is set. However, a screen for setting the connection information is often different from a screen for attempting connection with the information storage server using the set connection information. This causes a problem in that the accuracy of the set connection information cannot be determined easily.

Connection test method and information processing apparatus performing same