Disclosed is a coating composition comprising. (A) a film forming resin;. (B) a rheology control agent; and. (C) a pigment.

When applying coatings that contain a high amount of solids such as industrial coatings, maintenance coatings or paints, there is a tendency for the coating to sag or run. This tendency is especially prevalent when a workpiece, which is to accept the coating, is in a vertical position. Regarding workpieces that are vertically oriented, the coating may droop or sag due to gravity so that the thickness of the film formed when the coating is ultimately dried is uneven. Some sagging may occur by influence of gravity when the coating is applied. However, such sagging is more particularly a problem when baking the applied coating. An approach to overcome the sag problem is to include a rheology control agent in the coating so that the resultant effect of gravity is lessened. Such rheology control agents basically cause the coating to be shear thinning and to have high viscosity (decreased fluidity) at low shear while providing sufficiently low viscosity at high shear to permit flow and leveling on the workpiece.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,597 (Victorius, May 29, 1984) relates to coating composition useful as the exterior finish on automobiles and trucks and contains about 25-50% by weight of a binder of film-forming constituents and 50-75% by weight of a volatile organic solvent carrier and additionally contains 2-150% by weight, based on the weight of the binder, of pigment; the binder is about 20-70% by weight of an acrylic polymer containing reactive hydroxyl, carboxyl, amide groups or any mixture of such groups, about 0-40% by weight of a hydroxy-terminated polyester urethane resin and about 25-40% by weight of an alkylated melamine formaldehyde crosslinking resin; in addition the composition contains about 4-20% by weight, based on the weight of the binder, of a rheology control agent of an alcohol soluble cellulose acetate butyrate having a buryryl (sic) content of about 40-50% by weight, a hydroxyl content of about 4-5% by weight and a viscosity of about 0.2-0.4 second.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,444 (Yun et al., Jul. 23, 1991) discloses a rheology additive for non-aqueous coating compositions. The additive may be the reaction product of an alkoxylated aliphatic nitrogen-containing compound, an aliphatic diamine or mixtures thereof, and an organic polycarboxylic anhydride or acid, an alkanediol polyepoxide ether, or mixtures thereof. The additive provides excellent anti-sag and storage stability properties, particularly for high solids coating compositions, without causing a significant increase in viscosity. Also disclosed are coating compositions containing the additive.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,104 (Wada et al., Feb. 4, 1992) discloses polyester resin compositions which include a crystalline thermoplastic polyester resin (such as polybutylene terephthalate), a polyester elastomer (such as a copolymer including recurring hard and soft segments) and between 0.005 to 10 parts by weight, based on 100 parts of the crystalline and elastomeric resins, of an amide compound having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is an organic group such as an aromatic ring, X is an alkylene of C.sub.2 to C.sub.10 such as ethylene and propylene, Y is --COOH, --OH, --SH or --NH.sub.2 and n is 2 to 4, inclusive.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,098 (Lal, Jun. 14, 1994) relates to a composition mixture comprising (i) at least one ester-acid, ester-salt or mixtures thereof and (ii) at least one amidic-acid, amidic-salt or mixtures thereof and polymer fabrics treated with the same. The treated polymer fabrics have improved wicking-wetting characteristics. The treated polymer fabrics maintain these characteristics upon repeated exposure to aqueous fluids.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,184 (Burgoyne, Jr. et al., Nov. 29, 1994) relates to resins which comprise polymers which contain multiple acetal groups that have been developed which are useful for crosslinking and adhesion promotion in coating and adhesive applications. The polymers which make up these resins are prepared by the addition of aminoacetals to polymers containing anhydride functionality. The polymers are modified by titration with ammonia or a primary or secondary amine which solubilizes the polymer in aqueous systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,682 (Gouda et al., Dec. 20, 1994) is directed to a thermosetting coating composition that contains (a) an acrylic resin having hydroxyl groups and epoxy groups in a molecule thereof; (b) a resin prepared from a monomer having an unsaturated group and an acid anhydride group the acid anhydride group being half-esterified, half-thioesterified and/or half-amidized; (c) at least one of hydroxyl group-containing resin selected from the group consisting of an acrylic resin containing hydroxyl groups and carboxyl groups, a fluorine-containing copolymer resin and a polyester resin; and (d) a melamine resin.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,023 (Hille et al., May 2, 1995) relates to aqueous dispersions of crosslinked polymer microparticles, prepared in an aqueous medium from a polymer, optionally dissolved in an organic solvent, said polymer bearing at least two hydroxyl groups and comprising a number of ionic groups sufficient for the formation of a stable aqueous dispersion, as the component (A) and one further component (B) at an elevated temperature, characterized in that component (A) is a polyesterpolyol, a polyurethane or a polyacrylate having an acid value of from 5 to 168, and that component (B) is an aminoplast resin consisting of molecules containing at least two reactive groups consisting of hydroxyl and/or amino and/or ether groups, that the ratio by weight of component (A) to component (B) is between 30:70 and 95:5, and that the dispersion is stable and usable in water and/or an organic solvent or mixtures thereof. The reference further relates to a process for producing these dispersions, the use thereof and coating compositions containing aid dispersions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,871 (Santhanam, Jul. 16, 1996) is directed to a liquid, pourable rheology additive especially usefull for thickening liquid organic compositions which comprises the reaction product of a defined polyalkoxylated nitrogen-containing compound, polycarboxylic acid and a liquid diamine. The additive, which exists in a pourable, pumpable form at up to a 100% rheologically active composition, exhibits excellent thickening efficiency for systems including inks, epoxies, polyesters, paints, greases and other systems, including ease of dispersibility, without adversely affecting gloss. The additive operates by both an associative and a reaction mechanism to provide rheology viscosity properties to such systems, and is also similarly useful for aqueous systems.

Rheology control agents for high solids thermoset coatings


A two- and three-dimensional autoradiographical imaging system is provided which includes a charge coupled device for detecting the emission of radioactively labeled substances from materials such as tissue samples, brains of humans or animals, or substances used in electrophoresis applications. In a first aspect, a radioactively labeled substance is included in a tissue sample. The tissue sample is sequentially imaged by a charge coupled device and a sectioning tool such as a microtome to produce a plurality of two-dimensional images. A three-dimensional image of the tissue sample is generated by further processing of the plurality of two-dimensional images derived from the charge coupled device. In a further aspect of the invention, a charge coupled device is utilized to provide realtime imaging of metabolic or physiological parameters involved in brain activity. A charge coupled device is positioned adjacent a portion of brain tissue desired to be examined, the brain tissue having a radioactively labeled substance therein for detection by the charge coupled device. A two-dimensional realtime image is produced using the charge coupled device for use in clinical or behavioral studies.

In the prior art, numerous methods and apparatus have been proposed to produce a three-dimensional map or image of a distribution of radioactively tagged chemical substances. U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,327 to Hart discloses a high-resolution radioisotopic imaging system. The system accurately reconstructs using a high spatial resolution three-dimensional distributor of radioactivity of the kind encountered in lesion detection in nuclear medicine. A key feature of the invention is a plurality of electronic collimator detector elements arranged about a radioisotopic source field of radioisotopic atoms, each operating for simultaneously emitting a plurality of gamma-rays.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,195 to Lanza et al. discloses a method of determining bone mineral content, which is an indication of osteoporosis, using radiography. FIG. 3 thereof shows a detector module 14 capable of determining the optical intensity of radiation emitted by a radiation source and transmitted through a patient's limb. The patient's limbs are positioned between blocks, one block simulating bone and another block simulating tissue. A readout system for the detector is provided which includes a gating mechanism that receives signals simultaneously generated at a plurality of locations within the detector in response to a radiation event and an estimating mechanism for identifying the focus of the radiation event from the signals.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,247 to Ishida et al. discloses a radiation image reproducing apparatus that permits optical processed imagery to be reproduced. The image of an object is stored as a latent image from a recording medium such as a phosphorous sheet stimulated by radiation transmitted through the object. A reader exposes the recording medium to stimulating rays and photoelectrically reads the resulting light and enters the object's image onto an apparatus in the form of video signals. A processing unit is employed for processing various factors associated with images, such as gradation and spatial frequency.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,231 to Deindoerfer et al. discloses a method of analyzing a distribution of a reagent between particles and liquids in a suspension. The reagent may be labeled with a radioactive isotope which emits gamma-radiation. The apparatus includes a body containing a flow chamber having an examination area. A microscope is focused on the examination area, which is illuminated by a strobe light. The output of the microscope is focused on a CCD camera. The output from the CCD camera is converted to a series of still frame images. Electronic processors are used for evaluating these images and include a television monitor and frame grabber. The frame grabber stores the images of the subject used by the CCD.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,224,303 to Shaw, 3,876,882 to Todd, and 3,678,148 to Caiola disclose utilizing a radioactive material to track and/or analyze an analyte for medical or clinical investigation. In these patents, the radioactive particles are detected and displayed. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,303 to Shaw, the cumulative data from detection of the radioactive particles is produced into a three-dimensional representation of a lumen of a coronary arterial system.
The prior art also recognizes producing a three-dimensional image utilizing the combination of a microtome and scanning electron microscopy.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,958 to Leighton discloses a miniature microtome assembly in which the circuits of a sample section are optically observed by an operator's eye or by means of a camera. The disclosure of this patent is herein incorporated by reference for purposes of disclosing that which is well known in the art with respect to microtome apparatus.
The publication entitled "SEM Images of Block Faces, Cut by a Miniature Microtome Within the SEM--a Technical Note", Scanning Electron Microscopy II (1981), pages 73-76, by Leighton, discloses the use of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to image successive surfaces of a sample section with a miniature microtome. This reference discusses the implications for a three-dimensional reconstruction of a sample as imaged by the scanning electron-microscope.
However, a need has developed in biological and other research to provide three-dimensional maps of the distribution of radioactively tagged chemical substances in order to determine the distribution of chemicals and other substances in a tissue or other matrix being studied. In response to this need, an apparatus and method have been developed for automatically and efficiently producing three-dimensional maps derived from the detection of radioactively tagged substances. The improved autoradiographic imaging method and apparatus include utilizing a charge coupled device in combination with a microtome to obtain a two-dimensional image of a body tissue sample. The microtome subsequently provides a series of tissue surfaces to be read by the charge coupled device to produce a series of two-dimensional views of the tissue sample. Image processing means produces a three-dimensional view from the series of two-dimensional images produced from the tissue samples.
As described above in U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,231 to Deindoerfer et al. and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,396 to Inaba et al., the prior art has proposed utilizing a CCD for detection of radioactivity. In the Inaba et al. patent, an imaging solid state imaging device, as, for example, a CCD, is used simultaneously as a radioactive ray detecting means. That is to say, when radioactive rays as gamma-rays enter the CCD, these radioactive rays will contact a PN-junction in the light-receiving part of the CCD and will issue a signal, the signal being translated to appear on a picture surface of a monitor as a bright point. Inaba et al. does not image but rather merely detects radiation. The radiation detection gives no information on the location of the radiation source other than the general direction in which the CCD as a whole is known to be pointing.
Although the prior art has proposed utilizing charge coupled devices or CCDs in conjunction with the detection of radioactive rays such as gamma-rays or the like, a need has developed for improved detection of biochemical or physiological parameters in the brains of humans and animals using real-time imagery. In response to this need, an improved in-vivo autoradiography method and apparatus has been developed which permits monitoring of these types of parameters over time while producing a two-dimensional image. A radioactively labeled substance is administered to a brain and changing patterns are continuously recorded using a charge coupled device.
In the field of electrophoresis, the prior art has also proposed imaging screens for detecting and storing information corresponding to a pattern of emission from an electrophoresis gel containing radioactively labeled substances. U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,793 to Lindmayer et al. discloses an imaging screen for electrophoresis applications and, more particularly, to an imaging screen for detecting and recording the impingement of beta-particles or visible light emitted from electrophoresis gels. In the patent to Lindmayer et al., an imaging screen is placed on an electrophoresis gel containing radioactively labeled protein fragments. The beta particles of the radioactive substances or visible light impinge upon the surface of the imaging screen. The light emitted from the imaging screen by release of trapped electrons is detected by a visual light detector such as a photomultiplier tube with mechanical scanning in two directions. A CID camera alternative uses a CID camera to sense light, not radiation, requires lenses and an infrared light source. The method and apparatus of Lindmayer et al. requires an imaging screen which . includes a coating of an electron trapping material for releasably storing information corresponding to the flux in pattern of the emission from the radioactively labeled substance in the electrophoresis gel.
A need has developed to provide more accurate and automatic means to monitor the radioactive emissions of substances used in electrophoresis applications. In response to this need, an electrophoresis apparatus and method have been developed which utilizes a two-dimensional charge coupled device for use with an electrophoresis gel including radioactively tagged substances such as low-energy beta emitters. By this combination, very small sample volumes are attainable, and automatic end-point detection may be achieved, thereby optimizing runs.
None of the prior art cited above teaches or fairly suggests the concept of producing a three-dimensional image of a tissue sample utilizing the combination of a charge coupled device and a tissue sectionizing apparatus. In addition, the prior art does not teach or fairly suggest the utilization of a charge coupled device for use in real-time imaging of metabolic or physiological parameters in the brains of humans and animals or radioactive emissions in electrophoresis applications.

Two- and three-dimensional autoradiographic imaging utilizing charge coupled devices

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


A printer, which can perform printing in a mode desired by an outside user utilizing an electronic mail, has a mode of printing set based on a command included within a received electronic mail, and the received electronic mail is printed in the set mode of printing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer, a printing method and a printing program having an electronic-mail function, and a storage medium storing the printing program.
2. Description of the Related Art
Printers operating in a network environment have been proposed. Such printers can be subjected to remote control via the network, so that printing, various printer settings, and acquisition of printer information can be performed from a location separated from the location where the printer is installed, such as a host computer or the like.
Such conventional printers have the function of transmitting/receiving an electronic mail (hereinafter also abbreviated as a "mail"). In such printers, a sentence to be transmitted is stored in advance in a ROM (read-only memory).
The electronic mail stored in the ROM is transmitted in accordance with conditions set for each printer.
In a conventional printer operating in a local area network (hereinafter abbreviated as a "LAN"), a fire wall is generally provided between the LAN and an external network in order to improve security. The external network is a network connected to a port different from the port of a router to which the printer is connected.
Although the printer connected to the LAN can transmit/receive an electronic mail to/from the external network, access using telnet, FTP (file transfer protocol), or the like is in most cases prohibited by the fire wall. Accordingly, the range of remote control for the conventional printer with such improved security is limited to control from a host computer within the LAN.
It is also possible to directly control a printer from an external network by changing the setting of a fire wall. In such a case, however, access to the printer may be a security hole, resulting in degradation in security for the overall network. Hence, such an approach is unrealistic.
Thus, in the conventional printer operating in a network, it is difficult to improve security while allowing access from an external network. As described above, the conventional printer has the function of transmitting/receiving an electronic mail to/from an internal network or an external network. However, only a document stored in a ROM is transmitted, and it is impossible to change the contents of the document in accordance with a destination of the electronic mail. Hence, it is inconvenient to use such a printer.

Method and apparatus for email-based printer


An upper body garment which is provided with strips of muscle relaxing pads arranged to face areas of the body in which muscle tension is likely to be a problem. The muscle relaxing pads are in the form of arrays of resilient nodules which extend inwardly to face the muscles of a wearer. The pads are placed sequentially along a strip which is inserted into a pocket in the garment. The strip is formed to present a convex curved profile to the wearer of the garment, thereby enhancing the therapeutic benefits of the garment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an upper body garment, and in particular, to one which can relax the muscles of the garment wearer.
2. Description of Related Art
Back problems result in millions of working days lost every year and cause untold misery to around sixty percent (60%) of all people at some time in their lives. For many people, back pain is caused by poor posture while walking or standing, working at desks, or sitting in front of the television. Other causes of back pain are old or inadequate beds or mattresses, and strenuous jobs which cause tension in the back.
Living with crippling back pain is often a vicious circle. That is, when a person is having back pain, that person automatically tenses his or her muscles, which reinforces bad posture and muscle spasms, and in turn causes even more pain. Doctors, physiotherapists, osteopaths, and chiropractors have been attempting for decades to solve the problem of back pain.
One proven invention uses two known methods to relieve back pain. The first method is massage, the second is stretching. U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,102, owned by the inventor of the present application, which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a back rest device having a supporting surface presenting two elongate continuous or discontinuous protuberances which extend along side one another and are arranged to engage the back of a person. In use, a person rests against the supporting surface which has a channel between the protuberances to accommodate the bony part of the spine with substantially no pressure on the bony part of the spine. The surfaces 12 of the knobbles 9 disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,102 are positioned to give the user the equivalent of a deep "shiatsu" massage. That is, they are designed to loosen the soft tissue of the muscles in the back and restore normal muscle tone. In addition to providing massage, the back stretcher disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,102 is shaped such that a person can effortlessly lie across it and allow their spine to open out gradually. In this manner the disks that have probably been pressed against each other all day are freed, thereby removing pressure from any damaged joints and promoting stimulus in order for the body to stay strong and healthy. Thus, stretching the back is accomplished by the two rows of knobbles slowly decompressing the intervertebral joints with the aid of gravity for general traction.
It is also known to install massaging devices inside garments. U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,558 discloses a device for massaging a body part, e.g., the back, which comprises a plurality of protuberances of various shapes that are attached securely to the inside of a garment. Theoretically, when a person wearing the massage garment disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,558 sits on a chair, a bed or a couch, the body of the person presses against the protuberances and the protuberances thereby stimulate the circulatory system making muscles or joints supple so as to relieve pain and tension. However, such a device as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,558 involves each massage pad comprising only a single protuberance. Such an arrangement could be quite uncomfortable for a wearer because the weight of the wearer would be borne at relatively few localized spots. Such a device does not utilize the proven methods of massage and stretching as does U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,102 to Summers, as discussed above.

Beechwood House, King Georges Hill, Abinger Bottom


Method and system for predicting temporal-spatial distribution of load demand on an electric grid due to a plurality of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is described. The method includes creating an EV load demand (EVLD) model for a Region of Interest (ROI) serviced by the electric grid, wherein the EVLD model integrates an EV model and a transport simulator simulating EV traffic conditions for the ROI. Further, the method includes computing the load demand in time and space in terms of State of Charge (SOC) of a battery for each EV among the plurality of EVs in the ROI, based on the EVLD model. Furthermore, the method includes aggregating the computed the load demand, in terms of the SOC, of each EV in time domain and space domain to create a temporal-spatial impact of the load demand by the plurality of EVs on the electric grid for the ROI.

As the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) increases, it is important to reliably characterize their recharging load on an electrical grid.
Understanding the load demand of EV at an aggregate level, while necessary to uncover any supply-side problems, is not sufficient. The reason, last-mile of the electrical grid is hardly envisioned by load analysis for EV usage. Further, it is critical to identify any demand-side (EV load demand) hotspots using the spatial distribution of the aggregate EV demand. The spatial distribution depends on both the consumption patterns and recharging policies of EV users. The consumption pattern of EVs depends on the traffic patterns in the city; and the recharging policies, on the preferences of users and the charging locations of their vehicles. Thus to understand the spatial distribution of the EV load on the electric grid, it is important need to understand the traffic load on the transport grid or the electric grid servicing the EVs
Most exiting methods deal with supply side (electric grid side) analysis providing management for the charging of EVs. An existing method provides insight on load side demand and predicts characteristics of the EVs such as arrivals, charge levels, locations for the EVs that get plugged into the electric grid. However, the prediction is based on statistical methods, thus such a prediction has limited accuracy as it does not leverage inputs from data associated with traffic demand, EV models, road network, demographic distribution. Yet another existing method refers to spatial—temporal model to evaluate the impact of large scale deployment of plug-in EVs on urban distribution networks. However, the EV model considered is not a fine grained EV model, hence is unable to consider the regenerative breaking, which is major factor in recharging of the batteries of the EVs in urban traffic in practical scenarios. Thus battery status of the EVs tracked based on the existing method provides lower accuracy.

Method and system providing temporal-spatial prediction of load demand


A control system for a CVT comprises a controller arranged to compute an engine revolution condition on the basis of an engine revolution speed indicative signal, to compute actual and estimated engine outputs on the basis of the engine revolution condition, to compute a rotational change condition of the drive system, to compute an actual input load change amount caused by the inertia by multiplying the actual rotational change condition detection value by a predetermined inertial constant, to compute an estimated input load change amount by multiplying the estimated rotational change condition detection value by a predetermined inertia coefficient, to select larger one of the actual input load change amount and the estimated input load change amount as the input load change amount for outputting a command signal, and to output the command signal to a line pressure duty valve on the basis of the engine output and the selected input load change amount so as to further accurately control a line pressure.

The present invention relates to improvements in a control system for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for a vehicle, and more particularly to a control system for a belt type CVT.
A Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 8-200461 discloses a typical belt type CVT which comprises driver and follower pulleys and a belt for intercoupling the pulleys. Each of the driver and follower pulleys has a variable groove at which the belt is held. A belt holding force for holding the belt by each pulley is varied basically to correspond with a line pressure which is produced from a fluid pressurized by a pump through an electrically controlled pressure control valve. The line pressure is increased according to the increase of an input load applied from an engine to the CVT. The input load is basically calculated from a throttle opening and an engine revolution speed of an engine.

Line pressure control system for continuously variable transmission accounting for input load changes caused by inertia during shifting


An aircraft radio system comprising a plurality of radios interconnected by a digital communications network, each radio having a transceiver and a dedicated processor platform, the aircraft radio system being configured to cause the dedicated processor platforms to constitute a virtual processing environment for the aircraft radio system. There is also an aircraft radio system comprising a plurality of discrete radios interconnected by a digital communications network, each radio having a transceiver, a dedicated processor platform and a server configured to support communications over the network using PPPoE, Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet, to provide a common digital interface between an aircraft domain and the radios for plural types of communication.

Existing avionics radio systems use separate radios for each function. These are often replicated to provide continuity of service on each frequency band required. This causes the size, weight and cost of such systems to be high. Furthermore each radio performs only the functions that it is specified to perform and there is little flexibility.
This situation was also true for other avionics systems. However the advantages of integrating the various avionics systems to run on a single computer were recognised and the Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) approach was invented. This enables a reduction in the amount of computer hardware and also allows more flexibility in the way that the various functions can interact with each other. It does, however, introduce issues with certification because there is more potential for functions to interact in undesirable ways with possible catastrophic consequences. This has been overcome by using high integrity real time operating systems that isolate the various functions.
A system similar to the IMA would be advantageous for the avionics radio systems. However there are differences between the requirements that make the IMA approach less practical for such systems. This invention describes an alternative distributed approach to the IMA architecture that offers many of the desirable features without the disadvantages.
In addition, different interface schemes are currently employed to access the various radio services, which may be digital or analogue services. As the internal aircraft communications infrastructure becomes more and more IP based, it is desirable to have a single method for accessing all radio services, covering both modern IP based services and legacy analogue services.
Accordingly, each type of radio is currently implemented in a disparate manner, with little integration or commonality between them. Each type of radio currently tends to use its own interface methods. For example, the interface for a VHF radio carrying analogue voice is very different to the interface for a Satcom radio carrying IP packets. This makes it difficult to achieve a seamless networking solution where information can be easily routed across the system to the different radios. Additionally, it is currently not possible to create a virtual processing facility using the different radios.
The above considerations mean that current radio systems are not well integrated and so do not benefit from common designs, common interfaces and opportunities for collaboration through a virtual processing facility.


A door jamb assembly (10) for a door (13) having a lock (17), the jamb assembly (10) including a movable side jamb member (14) which is mounted for movement laterally of the door (13) and between a first position adjacent the door (13) to enable the lock bolt (16) of the door lock (17) to engage a striker plate (15) carried by the jamb member (14) and a position where the jamb member (14) moves the striker plate (15) free of the lock bolt (16) to enable the door (13) to be opened without release of the lock (17).

Door jamb assemblies of many different types and styles are currently available. In the case of hinged doors, the door jamb assembly is formed about or mounted into a door opening during construction of a building and remains fixed in position to support a door and also provide a hinge mount for a door. In addition, one of the door jambs normally supports a striker plate or equivalent device for one or more door locks. Door stops are provided around the jambs against which the door abuts or lies adjacent when the door is closed. With the awareness of increasing security in the home, sophisticated and more secure locking systems have been introduced to lock doors, particularly outside or entry doors, in a secure manner. Often such locks incorporate a number of locking bolts. Similar secure locking systems are provided where security screens are used adjacent a door jamb. Another common security lock which is available comprises a chain which is fixed to a door jamb on the inner side of the door opening and which is releasably attachable to the door to limit opening of the door from the outside when the normal door lock is released.
Whilst such locking systems provide the required level of security to prevent or deter entry into a building from the outside, they usually do not allow rapid opening of the door from the inside. This can cause difficulties and problems where, for example rapid escape from a building is required. Such a situation may arise where a fire occurs within a building. It is not unknown for persons to be trapped in a building because they are unable to rapidly escape through the external door or doors due to the complexity and security of the locking system.
The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate the above disadvantages by providing a door jamb assembly for use with an entry door, screen door or any other door which enables a person to rapidly unlock or render ineffective the normal door locking devices from the side of the door opening opposite the normally locked side. The present invention also aims to provide a system which is relatively simple and which may be incorporated into an existing door jamb assembly or which may be supplied in a new door jamb assembly. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.


The present invention relates to a method for fabricating calcium carbonate nanoparticles dispersed in water from ground calcium carbonate of micrometer (μm) order using beads milling. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for fabricating calcium carbonate nanoparticles dispersed in water by which a complex aqueous slurry comprising coarse ground calcium carbonate having an average particle size of several micrometers (μm) and a surfactant is subjected to beads milling, such that grinding and dispersion in water of the ground calcium carbonate occur simultaneously, and the resultant calcium carbonate nanoparticles have an average particle size of 10-100 nm and a unimodal clustering distribution.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating calcium carbonate nanoparticles dispersed in water from ground calcium carbonate particles having a size of several micrometers through a milling.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, nanoparticles refer to particles with a particle size of 100 nanometers (nm) or smaller. Because of a high surface area to volume ratio and new functionality, they are widely utilized as a new material.
Calcium carbonates are available in forms: ground calcium carbonate (GCC) or precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). Ground or precipitated calcium carbonate particles are widely used as a filler in the manufacture of paper, plastics, rubber, paints, and the like.
Ground calcium carbonate is prepared by mechanically grinding ultrafine crystalline calcite and classifying the same. In general, it has a mesh size of 325 or smaller.
Various methods are applied to attain smaller-sized calcium carbonate particles, including multi-step dry grinding followed by classification, or a combination of wet grinding, spray drying and dry grinding followed by classification, as disclosed in Korean Patent No. 2003-95142 or 128061. However, in spite of the improvement of grinding and classification techniques, an average particle size of about 1 μm is the best result for ground calcium carbonate obtained in dry powder form.
In contrast, precipitated calcium carbonate refers to calcium carbonate prepared from chemical processing of calcite having a particle size ranging from 10 nm to 10 μm. Precipitated calcium carbonate is in general more expensive than ground calcium carbonate because it is prepared following the processing into quicklime and slaked lime, and carbonation, and it has a smaller particle size.
Not only the grinding of calcium carbonate, but also the dispersion of the ground particles is important. If the ground particles aggregate, they may not exhibit wanted characteristics as a filler.
Techniques of dispersing calcium carbonate in water are disclosed in Korean Patent Nos. 2004-105291 and 2008-36117, Japanese Patent No. 2007-254524, and so forth. However, these are no more than dispersing once-prepared calcium carbonate using a surfactant.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Fabrication method of CaCO3 nanoparticles using beads milling

Korea Institute of Geoscience and Material Resources


A controller for a power converter and method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the controller includes an inductor-inductor-capacitor (“LLC”) controller configured to receive an error signal from an error amplifier to control a switching frequency of an LLC stage of the power converter to regulate an output voltage thereof. The controller also includes a power factor correction (“PFC”) controller configured to control a bus voltage produced by a PFC stage of the power converter and provided to the LLC stage so that an average switching frequency thereof is substantially maintained at a desired switching frequency.

A switched-mode power converter (also referred to as a "power converter" or "regulator") is a power supply or power processing circuit that converts an input voltage waveform into a specified output voltage waveform. A power factor correction ("PFC")/resonant inductor-inductor-capacitor ("LLC") power converter includes a power train with a PFC stage followed by a LLC stage. The power converter is coupled to a source of electrical power (an alternating current ("ac") power source) and provides a direct current ("dc") output voltage. The PFC stage receives a rectified version of the ac input voltage (from the ac power source) and provides a dc bus voltage. The LLC stage employs the bus voltage to provide the dc output voltage to a load. The power converter including the PFC stage and the LLC stage can be employed to construct an "ac adapter" to provide the dc output voltage to a notebook computer or the like from the ac power source.
Controllers associated with the power converter manage an operation thereof by controlling conduction periods of power switches employed therein. Generally, the controllers are coupled between an input and output of the power converter in a feedback loop configuration (also referred to as a "control loop" or "closed control loop"). Two control processes are often employed to control the output voltage of a power converter formed with the PFC stage followed by the LLC stage. One process controls the bus voltage of the PFC stage to control the output voltage, and the other process controls the switching frequency of the LLC stage to control the output voltage. As will become more apparent, employing two independent processes to control the output voltage of the power converter with the PFC stage and the LLC stage can lead to several design issues that detract from the operation and efficiency of the power converter.
Another area of interest with respect to power converters in general is the detection and operation thereof under light load conditions. Under such conditions, it may be advantageous for the power converter to enter a burst mode of operation. Regarding the burst mode of operation, power loss of a power converter is dependent on gate drive signals for the power switches and other continuing power losses that generally do not vary substantially with the load. These power losses are commonly addressed at very low power levels by using the burst mode of operation wherein the controller is disabled for a period of time (e.g., one second) followed by a short period of high power operation (e.g., 10 milliseconds ("ms")) to provide a low average output power with low dissipation. The controller as described herein can employ the time interval of the burst mode of operation to estimate an output (or load) power of the power converter.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a controller that incorporates a hybrid approach to the control processes for a power converter employing different power stages in a power train thereof to avoid the deficiencies in the prior art. Additionally, what is needed in the art is a controller that can detect and manage a power converter at light loads including an operation of the power converter entering a burst mode of operation to avoid the deficiencies in the prior art.

Controller for a power converter and method of operating the same


A networked system includes an application that produces application frames at a first application frame rate, a graphics processing system that processes the application frames to produce graphics frames at a first graphics frame rate, a VDI system that processes the graphics frames to produce VDI frames at a first VDI frame rate, and an endpoint device that processes the VDI frames to produce endpoint frames at an endpoint frame rate. A frame rate optimization system monitors the application processing, the graphics processing, the VDI processing, and the endpoint processing and, based on the endpoint frame rate, reconfigures at least one of: the application to produce the application frames at a second application frame rate, the graphics processing system to produce the graphics frames at a second graphics frame rate, or the VDI system to produce the VDI frames at a second VDI frame rate.

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to optimizing frame rates for frames that are rendered and encoded for display on an information handling system.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems such as, for example, desktop computing devices, laptop/notebook computing devices, table computing devices, mobile phones, and/or other computing devices known in the art, are often utilized to display video, graphics, and/or other images or frames that are produced for consecutive display. For example, as many businesses move to a remote-work paradigm, the use of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is increasing proportionally due to the benefits it provides in relation to security, operational simplicity, and/or other benefits known in the art. The increased adoption of VDI has included many end users with relatively high-end video and/or graphics requirements, which tend to be accompanied by relatively high frame rates for applications related to media, entertainment, gaming development, engineering Computer Aided Design (CAD), and/or other relatively high frame rate applications known in the art. However, the frame rate "pipeline" that produces the frame rate for video, graphics, and/or other images or frames that are produced for consecutive display on an endpoint device is relatively complex, and can result in less than optimal experiences by the end users of those endpoint devices.
For example, the frame rate "pipeline" discussed above may include an application that may be configured to or capable of rendering frames at a particular frame rate, a graphics processing system (e.g., a virtual Graphics Processing Unit (vGPU)) that is configured to or capable of rendering frames at a particular frame rate (and in some cases configured to or capable of encoding frames at a particular frame rate), a VDI system that is configured to or capable of encoding frames at a particular frame rate, and the endpoint device that is configured to or capable of decoding frames at a particular frame rate. The inventors of the present disclosure have recognized how the misalignment of these frame rate rendering and encoding configurations/capabilities can result in poor end user experiences or wasted resources. For example, the application and/or the graphics processing system may render frames at a frame rate that is below what the VDI is configured (or has the capability) to encode, and/or that is below what the endpoint device is configured (or has the capability) to decode, resulting in a sub-optimal end user experience. In another example, the application and/or the graphics processing system may render frames at a frame rate that exceeds what the VDI is configured (or has the capability) to encode, and/or that exceeds what the endpoint device is configured (or has the capability) to decode, resulting in wasted processing resources.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a frame rate optimization system that addresses the issues discussed above.


A paper discharge device and an image forming apparatus having the same are provided. In the paper discharge device, the paper discharge roller has a non-uniform diameter extending in a longitudinal direction and the idle roller contacts with the paper discharge roller in the longitudinal direction of the paper discharge roller so that the print paper unfolds and discharges utilizing a velocity differential at a nip between the paper discharge roller and the idle roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a paper discharge device capable of stably discharging paper, on which an image is formed, in an unfolded state.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, an image forming apparatus such as a printer produces electrostatic latent images on a photosensitive drum in response to print data. The image forming apparatus utilizes an exposure unit that supplies toner as a developing agent to form the electrostatic latent images as toner images, transfers the toner images to print paper, and fuses them on the print paper. Thus, a desired image is obtained.
The print paper is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus using a paper discharge device. A portion of the print paper has toner images fused thereon. Additionally, portions of the print paper are blank. Consequently, a humidity differential arises between the toner image fused portion and the blank portion. Therefore, due to the humidity differential and a variety of other factors, the print paper S often wrinkles. This humidity differential also contributes to print paper curling.
Curling of the print paper causes difficulties when transferring the print paper. As a result, paper jams occur and the print paper blocks the transfer path and prevents transfer.
Thus, the print paper requires unfolding prior to being discharged to the outside of paper discharge device.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional paper discharge device, and FIG. 2 is a rear view of the paper discharge device of FIG. 1.
The paper discharge device of FIGS. 1-2 comprises a paper discharge unit 70 and a plurality of idle rollers 73. A plurality of paper discharge rollers 72 are disposed in the paper discharge unit 70 and extend in a longitudinal direction of a paper discharge shaft 71. The plurality of idle rollers 73 are installed to face the plurality of paper discharge rollers 72. Transferred print paper S is placed between the paper discharge roller 72 and the idle roller 73, and presses the print paper S toward the paper discharge roller 72 using a spring 74.
The idle rollers 73 have the same diameter and extend in the longitudinal direction of the paper discharge shaft 71. Each roller 72, 73 is preferably inclined by an angle of about 0 with respect to the paper discharge shaft 71. That is, a shaft of the idle rollers 73 are inclined relative to the paper discharge rollers 72. Furthermore, each of the idle rollers 73 contacts a respective paper discharge rollers 72 and inclines from an inside of the paper discharge roller 72 to an outside thereof.
Thus, when each idle roller 73 contacts each of the paper discharge rollers 72, a force F1 is created at a predetermined angle which extends from the inside of the paper discharge roller 72 to the outside thereof. The force is generated in each nip between the idle roller 73 and the paper discharge roller 72.
Thus, the print paper S is unfolded from an inside to an outside by the force F1. Consequently, the print paper S is discharged to the outside in an unfolded state.
Since the idle roller 73 is preferably inclined by an angle of about 0 with respect to the paper discharge roller 72, a velocity vector of the paper discharge roller 72 and a velocity vector of the idle roller 73 do not extend in the same direction, but incline by a predetermined angle. As such, friction increases in the nip, and non-uniform pressure is applied in the longitudinal direction to the print paper S. Thus, wear occurs in the nip. During prolonged use, wear rapidly occurs in the nip portion, and results in diminished reliability.
Accordingly, there is a need for an image forming apparatus having a improved paper discharge device that prevents roller wear and prolongs the life of the paper discharge device and enhances the reliability thereof.

Paper discharge device and image forming apparatus having the same


A read signal and write signal for a FIFO each has a flag generating edge and a preceding edge. The read or write counter in an empty of full flag generator responds to the preceding edge of the read or write signal so that the empty or full comparator of the generator may generate an updated empty or full flag value before the onset of the flag generating edge. The empty or full flag generator also includes a gate and a pulse generating circuit. The pulse generating circuit responds to the flag generating edge by generating an enabling signal enabling the gate to pass the comparator output to a latch. When the empty or full comparator indicates that a FIFO is empty or full, the comparator output passed by the gate will force the output high, thereby asserting an empty flag or a full flag. The empty flag generator also includes a second pulse generating circuit which updates the empty flag signal to indicate a non-empty FIFO in response to each write signal. The full flag generator also includes a second pulse generating circuit which updates the full flag signal to indicate a non-full FIFO in response to each read signal.

This invention relates in general to first-in first-out memory (FIFO) and in particular to high speed full and empty flag generators for FIFOs. The invention is particularly useful for integrated circuit memory devices.
A conventional FIFO includes generators for generating full and empty flag signals. An empty flag generator in a conventional FIFO includes a write counter and a read counter for counting the number of times data has been written into or read from the FIFO. The generator also includes a comparator for comparing the output of the two counters in order to determine whether the FIFO is empty or not. Many FIFOs employ counters with 10 bits or more. Thus the comparator would have to compare twenty or more inputs at the same time and is therefore slow. The conventional full flag generator has a similar structure. Thus the full and empty flag generators in conventional FIFOs are generally slow.
The full and empty flag signals are critical information for FIFO users. It is therefore preferable to provide for FIFOs full and empty flag generators that are faster than those in conventional FIFOs.

High speed full and empty flag generators for first-in first-out memory


Disclosed are glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP)-derived peptide analogues GIPS-30 and GIP3-30 which are antagonists of the GIP receptor and comprises at least one fatty acid molecule to increase half-life while maintaining antagonistic properties.

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) is a hormone secreted from the K cells of the gut following a meal1. Like its sister hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), GIP is a potent insulin secretagogue2. In contrast to the glucagonostatic effect of GLP-13, 4, GIP has been shown to display glucagon-releasing properties under certain conditions (3, 5-13). The interest in understanding the biology of GIP was intensified by the association between rodent GIPR (GIP receptor) and adiposity14-21. In humans, although less clear, there is likewise evidence for a role of GIP in fat metabolism with the demonstration of the GIPR expression in adipose tissue22, an association between high BMI and increased GIP levels22, 23, increased adipose tissue blood flow and TAG (triacylglycerol) deposition following GIP administration in a state of high insulin and high glucose24, decreased basal and postprandial GIP levels observed in obese children put on a diet25, and increased fasting GIP levels observed in healthy young men put on a high fat diet26.
Thus, in addition to the general demand from researchers who witnessed the advances in the understanding of GLP-1 following the discovery of the GLP-1 receptor antagonist, exendin(9-39)27, 28, the potential as an anti-obesity agent has attracted additional attention for the development of potent GIPR antagonists. Many different strategies have been undertaken in order to antagonize GIP's function, e.g. a small molecule receptor antagonist29, immunization against GIP30-32 various truncations and mutations of the GIP molecule with antagonistic properties33-39, and recently a potent antagonist antibody against the GIPR40.
Under physiological conditions the 42 amino acid hormone, GIP, is degraded by the enzyme dipeptidylpeptidase 4 (DPP-4), which cleaves at the third position of the GIP molecule to yield GIP3-42. Synthetic porcine GIP3-42 displayed no antagonist properties in pigs or perfused rat pancreata in physiological concentrations while in vitro it antagonized the human GIPR41. Many peptide hormones are post-translationally modified resulting in various biological forms with different lengths and amino acid modifications42, 43 Thus, it has been shown that GIP1-30 is produced as a result of post-translational processing44 and that it is an agonist on the GIPR33, 45. If GIP1-30 is secreted into the circulation in humans, the cleavage catalyzed by DPP-4 would result in GIP3-30.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,875,587 discloses GIP receptor antagonists derived from GIP(1-42) having enhanced resistance to degradation by DPP-4, and their use for treatment of insulin resistance and obesity. In WO2004/067548 DPP-4 metabolites are modified by covalent coupling of a pharmacophore to achieve the longer half-life associated with the peptide metabolites and to retain the biological activity of the cleaved peptides similar to the native peptides, including GIP. WO2012/055770 discloses GIP(3-42) as an endogenous metabolite that is readily cleared and with GIPR antagonist effects, and GIP(2-30) as an example of a truncated GIP analogue with GIPR agonist activity. WO1998/24464 discloses the antagonist GIP(7-30). WO 2016/034186 and Hansen et al. 2016 discloses the antagonists GIP(3-30) and GIP(5-30). Pathak et al. 2015 discloses GIP(3-30) which is C-terminally modified with the 9-amino acid Cex from exendin(1-39) and a lysine-residue modified with palmitoyl.
A range of different approaches have been used for modifying the structure of GLP-1 compounds in order to provide a longer duration of action in vivo. These include introduction of a lipophilic substituent to an amino acid residue (WO 96/29342 and WO 98/08871) and acylated GLP-1 analogs (WO 00/34331). WO 02/46227 discloses GLP-1 and exendin-4 analogs fused to human serum albumin in order to extend in vivo half-life.


A method for using bar code data parsed from a legacy printstream to facilitate electronic processing and electronic document presentment, whereby match code data, page number data, page count data are extracted from bar code data of legacy printstreams to determine what corresponding mail piece data set extracted data belongs to, and alternatively consulting a separate mail run data file as identified in the bar code data in order to find mail piece information to be used in identifying what page data belongs to what mail piece. Integrity and classification of collected data are thereby enhanced by consulting mail piece assembly data and page information included in legacy printstream bar code information.

Recently, many organizations are becoming more involved in conducting business electronically (so called e-business), over the Internet, or on other computer networks. E-business calls for specialized applications software such as Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP) and Electronic Statement Presentment (ESP) applications. To implement such applications, traditional paper documents have to be converted to electronic form to be processed electronically and exchanged over the Internet, or otherwise, with customers, suppliers, or others. The paper documents will typically be reformatted to be presented electronically using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) Web pages, e-mail messages, XML messages, or other electronic formats suitable for electronic exchange, processing, display and/or printing.
For example, a credit card or utility company may decide to implement an EBPP service to allow its customers to view and pay bills on-line over the Internet. Any such EBPP implementation must be integrated into the organization's existing billing system. A straightforward seeming approach to integrating the billing systems would be to get the data from the existing billing system's database and use that data in the new e-business system. This approach, however, is not as simple as it may seem. Many legacy systems do not have a standard interface for data extraction and, moreover, the information required to present a document to a customer in electronic format does not exist in any one easily accessible database format. A telephone company, for example, might maintain three different databases feeding into its legacy billing application. The different database could be (1) a customer information database containing account numbers, calling plans, addresses and other customer profile information—this database including data that would be updated infrequently; (2) a rate and tariff database containing the rate structure used to calculate the cost of calls, which is typically based on geographic zones, time of day and the like—this database including data that would be updated periodically; and (3) a transaction database containing the transaction history of calls made by customers including number called, duration, and the like—this database including data that would be updated very frequently.
The various databases may be located on three separate and distinct computer systems (e.g. IBM mainframe, Tandem fault tolerant system, UNIX minicomputer, and so on) and in three different database formats (e.g. Oracle RDBMS, flat files, IMS database, and so on). Moreover, there is typically a great deal of application logic embedded in the billing system's legacy software code, which could be in the form of a COBOL program written in the 1960s, for calculating taxes, discounts, special calling charges, and so on. Because of these complexities, it is generally very difficult to recreate a bill for use in e-business from original data sources. Reference to the original data sources would generally require recreation of all of the functionality that exists in the individual organizations' existing billing systems. The cost and time needed to accomplish such recreation would generally be prohibitive.
Thus for use in legacy system integration and transition to e-commerce it can be more efficient to extract the desired information from print data generated by the legacy system as part of its conventional customer billing process. For this purpose, specialized software tools known as parsers have been developed to extract information out of the printstream data that is generated by the legacy document printing files. A run of printstream data may typically represent thousands of documents that are used to form thousands of bills to be sent to customers. As used in the legacy computer system, the printstream data is provided to a printer that prints out the thousands of documents (bills, statements, etc.) that are assembled and mailed to customers. The parser tools are programmed to recognize and extract data fields and information from the printstream so that such information may be used in an EBPP system.
A fair amount of printstream data will not be useful to the EBPP system, and will be accordingly ignored by the parser tools. For example, a bill printed by the legacy system may include graphics that are will not be used in the EBPP system. The corresponding graphics information in the printstream will thus be ignored.
Another example of printstream data that has typically been ignored is bar code data that is used for bar codes on documents produced by the legacy systems. The bar code data in the printstream will usually be in the form of an ASCII string that is converted to the familiar bar code form by a font on the printer. The bar codes are conventionally used for providing instructions to the machinery that assembles the printed documents into mail pieces, stuffs mail pieces into envelopes, and prepares the envelopes for mailing. The machines for preparing mass quantities of finished mail pieces from the printed documents are generally known as "inserters."
The bar codes printed on documents may include information about how a mail piece should be assembled, as well as information about the intended recipient of the mail piece. Such information can include addressing, geographic, demographic and insert criteria, which information is used by a document inserting system to build a mail piece around the recipient's personalized document. The bar code may also include a "matchcode" that identifies the document as belonging to a particular mail piece. Consecutive documents having a same matchcode will be collated into the same mail piece. The bar codes may also include information on how many pages are in the mail piece, and a page number for a particular document in the sequence of documents in the mail piece.
The bar code may also include a reference pointer identifying a computer data file that further includes information about individual mail pieces to be assembled by the inserter. Such a computer data file is called a Mail Run Data File (MRDF) and typically an MRDF will include information about a large run of documents that are to be printed and processed by the inserter machine. The MRDF typically includes information and instructions more extensive that which is included in the bar code itself. An inserter machine will often receive instructions for assembling an individual mail piece based on information stored in the MRDF.
When processing documents to form mail pieces, an inserter system will scan the barcodes printed on the documents using known techniques. Using the information from the bar codes, the inserter will act upon the documents to accurately make the appropriate individualized mail piece. For example, the bar code may indicate whether a particular advertising insert should be included along with the bill being sent to the particular recipient. The bar code may also indicate that the document is part of a group of documents that needs to be collated together before being stuffed into an envelope.
Conventionally, since an EBPP system is not concerned with the manipulation of physical documents, bar code information embedded in the printstreams has generally been ignored.

Method for using printstream bar code information for electronic document presentment


An image display device includes a display element having a unit of display comprising sub pixels displaying images for first and second view points, respectively, and an optical unit that distributes lights emitted from respective sub pixels into different directions. When a region surrounded by a data line, a gate line and a storage capacitor electrode in the sub pixel is defined as an aperture, the sub pixels form a base unit that is an adjoining pixel pair including two sub pixels arranged via a data line therebetween. The two sub pixels have switching elements connected to the data line between the two sub pixels and controlled by different gate lines. When virtual lines each evenly dividing a width of the sub pixel in the first direction into K+1 pieces are presumed, K number of storage capacitor lines are each arranged across at least one virtual line in the aperture.

Recently, reduction in size of a display device and accomplishment of high-definition display capability thereof are advanced together with advancement of cellular phones and information terminals. On the other hand, a display device which has a new added value is getting attention, such as a display device that allows a viewer to view different images depending on a position where the viewer watches the display device, i.e., a display device that provides images different from each other toward a plurality of view points, and a display device which produces a parallax image based on those images different from each other and which provides a stereoscopic image to the viewer.
A conventionally known scheme of providing images different from each other toward a plurality of view points synthesizes pieces of image data for respective view points, displays those pieces of image data on a display unit, separates the displayed synthetic images by optical separating unit including a lens, a barrier (a light blocking plate) with slits, and provides images to respective view points. The principle of image separation is based on restriction of pixels viewable depending on a view-point direction using the optical unit, such as a barrier with slits or a lens. Examples of image separating unit are a parallax barrier which is a barrier with multiple stripe-like slits, and a lenticular lens having cylindrical lenses which have a lens effect in a direction.
A stereoscopic display device having optical image separating unit is appropriate for mounting on a portable device since it does not need the use of a special eyeglass so that there is no burden of attaching the eyeglass. In practice, a portable device on which a stereoscopic display device including a liquid crystal panel and a parallax barrier is mounted is already available on the market.
According to the above-explained scheme, i.e., the display device that provides images different from each other toward a plurality of view points using optical separating unit, when the view-point position of a viewer moves and an image to be viewed is changed, a boundary between the image and another image appears darkly in some cases. This phenomenon originates from non-display regions (a light blocking unit, so-called a black matrix in general in the case of a liquid crystal panel) between a pixel and a pixel for view points being viewed. The above-explained phenomenon inherent to the movement of the view point of the viewer does not occur in the case of general display devices having no optical separating unit. Hence, the viewer may feel strangeness or reduction of the display quality from the above-explained phenomenon that occurs on a multi-view-point display device or a stereoscopic display device having the optical separating unit.
This phenomenon is called 3D moire in general. 3D moire is periodical varying of brightness (may be the varying of color in some cases) originating from different visions displayed on different angular directions. 3D moire is luminance angular fluctuation and does not become a problem depending on a view position. However, when fluctuation of brightness in the angular direction is large, undesirable effect for stereoscopic viewing may occur, so that it is desirable to set the brightness fluctuation to be equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.
Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2005-208567 discloses a display device which has respective shapes and layouts of the pixel electrodes and light blocking unit of the display unit devised in order to overcome the problem originating from the optical separating unit and the light blocking unit, and which suppresses a reduction of the display quality.
FIG. 47 is a plan view showing the display unit of the display device disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2005-208567 (hereinafter, referred to as a Patent Literature 1). As shown in FIG. 47, an aperture 1075 is an opening of a sub pixel which is the minimum unit of an image display. As shown in FIG. 47, the layout of the apertures 1075 is defined by a vertical direction 1011 and a horizontal direction 1012. The shape of each aperture 1075 is hexagonal defined by a trapezoid symmetrical in the vertical direction 1011 and a rectangle having the same long side length as that of the bottom of the trapezoid which are arranged so that the bottom of the trapezoid and the long side of the rectangle contact with each other. Moreover, image separating unit comprises a lenticular lens having cylindrical lenses 1003a whose lengthwise direction is the vertical direction 1011 arranged in the horizontal direction 1012. The cylindrical lens 1003a has no lens effect in the lengthwise direction, but has the lens effect only in the short direction. That is, the lens effect acts on the horizontal direction 1012. Hence, lights emitted from the apertures 1075 of a sub pixel 1041 and of a sub pixel 1042 adjoining to each other in the horizontal direction 1012 are directed to directions different from each other.
The inclined side of the aperture 1075 is inclined in a different direction from the vertical direction 1011. A pair of sides having the same angle formed between the direction in which the inclined side runs and the vertical direction 1011 pass through the center of the aperture 1075, and are arranged so as to be axisymmetrical to a line parallel to the vertical direction 1011. Furthermore, the apertures 1075 adjoining to each other in the vertical direction 1011 are arranged so as to be axisymmetrical to a line running in the horizontal direction 1012. As a result, in the horizontal direction 1012, the position of the end of the aperture 1075 of the display panel and the position of the optical axis of the cylindrical lens 1003a differ from each other in the vertical direction 1011.
Hence, the aperture width in the vertical direction 1011 is substantially constant at the inclined portion regardless of the position in the horizontal direction 1012 when the apertures 1075 of the sub pixel 1041 and of the sub pixel 1042 are combined together.
That is, when it is presumed that a display-panel cut plane is present in the vertical direction 1011 that is orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the cylindrical lenses 1003a at an arbitrary point in the horizontal direction 1012, the display device of the Patent Literature 1 has the ratio of the light blocking portion (a wiring 1070 and the light blocking unit 1076) and the aperture substantially constant. Hence, when the viewer moves the view point in the horizontal direction 1012 that is the direction in which the images are separated, and the viewing direction changes, the ratio of the light blocking portion to be viewed is substantially constant. That is, the viewer does not occasionally view only the light blocking portion in a specific direction, and no display appears darkly. Accordingly, the display device of the Patent Literature 1 can suppress a reduction of the display quality originating from a light blocking region.
Moreover, Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2009-98311 discloses a pixel structure suitable for the display device of the Patent Literature 1.
FIG. 46 shows a pixel disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2009-98311 (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Literature 2) and divided into four pieces. A gate line G and a storage capacitor line CS are formed on the same layer as that of a gate electrode of a pixel thin-film transistor 4TFT. Moreover, a storage capacitor 4CS is formed between a silicon layer 4SI and the storage capacitor line CS. As mentioned above, the silicon layer 4SI is connected to a data line D through a contact hole 4CONT, but another contact hole 4CONT provided in a pixel 4 other than the portion of the pixel thin-film transistor 4TFT is for connecting the silicon layer 4SI in the storage capacitor 4CS and a pixel electrode 4PIX.
The storage capacitor line CS is arranged in the extending direction of the gate line G, i.e., is connected to the storage capacitors 4CS of respective pixels adjoining to each other in the X axis direction. In respective pixels adjoining to each other in the X axis direction, positions of the pixel thin-film transistors 4TFT in the Y axis direction differ from each other, so that the storage capacitor line CS is bent and arranged in order to connect those transistors. Like the pixel thin-film transistor 4TFT, the storage capacitor 4CS is arranged at the upper-bottom side of a display region in a substantially trapezoidal shape in each pixel. Accordingly, the storage capacitor 4CS can be effectively arranged between upper-bottoms of respective pixels configuring an adjoining pixel pairs 4PAIR, thereby further improving the aperture ratio.
An intersection between the storage capacitor line CS and the data line D is arranged at a trapezoid inclining portion so that the storage capacitor line CS and the data line D are along with each other. It is preferable to reduce wirings arranged so as to be along the image separating direction as much as possible, and the above-explained display device has the data line D only. This further improves the image quality. This is because when the storage capacitor line CS is arranged along the image separating direction, the image of the storage capacitor line CS is enlarged by the image separating unit, resulting in a remarkable deterioration of the display quality. That is, the display device of the Patent Literature 2 has the gate line G and the storage capacitor line CS running in the image separating direction and formed on the same layer in order to suppress an image deterioration originating from the image separating unit and the storage capacitor line CS while reducing the number of processes.
Patent Literature 2 discloses a technique of forming a scanning line and a capacitor line through the same process in order to reduce the number of production process of the liquid crystal display device. In particular, there is a large demand of cost reduction for general small display devices, and it is desirable to configure a pixel array with the number of layers as small as possible.
Moreover, there is a demand for the display unit of the display device to increase the so-called aperture ratio which is defined by area ratio between the aperture contributing to the display brightness and the light blocking portion in order to make the pixel pitch finer so as to improve the high-definition display capacity and to improve the display brightness.
However, in order to accomplish the high-definition display of an image, a large number of pixels are arranged in a screen region which is originally small, so that it is necessary to make the size of a pixel finer. That is, how to reduce the pixel size is a technical issue. However, pixels with a finer size are almost realized together with the advancement of the microfabrication of semiconductor technologies.
As explained above, there is a tendency that pixels become finer, but it is not always enabled to reduce the size of electrical and electronic circuits, such as a switching device and an auxiliary capacitor for driving the liquid crystal in order to modulate light in proportion to the refinement of the pixel. This is because the switching device and the auxiliary capacitor are formed on a substrate like a semiconductor substrate or a glass substrate through the microfabrication technique, but there is a limit for realizable line width due to the limit of the semiconductor process. Moreover, even if finer process is technically possible, it results in the cost increase for a time from the standpoint of plant investment.
Liquid crystal display devices have a problem that because of the above-explained limit for refinement, a region where light is blocked increases, i.e., the aperture ratio decreases, and the light use efficiency of the whole display device decreases. There is a tradeoff relationship that when it is attempted to improve the image quality by refinement of the pixel, the light use efficiency decreases. Accordingly, there is a technical issue to realize a high-image-quality and highly efficient image display device and to realize a high-definition image simultaneously.
In particular, in the case of a small display device, because of the above-explained limit together with refinement, the ratio of wirings occupying the area of a pixel and that of a contact-hole area are extremely large, and the reduction of the aperture ratio is remarkable. It is necessary for the refined pixel to reduce the number of wirings in the pixel and that of the contact holes as much as possible.
Moreover, as is disclosed in "NIKKEI Electronics, Jan. 6, 2003, volume 838, p. 26 to 27" (hereinafter, referred to as a Non-patent Literature 1), recently, the applying field of the stereoscopic image display device and the application thereof become wide. As an example, a configuration in which image separation is performed in the direction in which the data line runs may be employed depending on the application of the display device. However, the inventor of the present invention found out that the high aperture ratio and the high image quality cannot be accomplished even if the pixel structure disclosed in Patent Literature 2 is designed as the above-explained configuration while maintaining the aperture shape and the light-blocking shape of the pixel disclosed in Patent Literature 1.
What the inventor of the present invention found will be explained below in more detail. As explained above, since the direction in which the gate line runs and the image separating direction are consistent according to the conventional technologies, the running direction of the storage capacitor line formed on the same layer as that of the gate line can be drawn in the same direction as the image separating direction so as not to interfere with the image separating unit. Likewise, when the pixel structure disclosed in Patent Literature 2 is applied to a display device that separates images in a direction in which the data line runs, it is necessary to draw the storage capacitor line formed of the same material as that of the data line in the image separating direction.
However, in order to protect the data line from any damage inherent to process conditions at the time of forming a switching device, in general, the data line is often formed in a process step after the formation of the gate line, i.e., on the substrate, the data line is formed on the upper layer of the gate line. As a result, it is necessary to form the storage capacitor line so that the capacitor is formed via an interlayer film having a small relative electric permittivity per unit area, and to set the area of the storage capacitor large. This results in an insufficient aperture ratio, and thus the transmissivity decreases.
Moreover, like Patent Literature 2, if the storage capacitor 4CS is formed between the silicon layer 4SI and the storage capacitor electrode formed of the same layer as that of the gate line, it becomes possible to form a capacitor via an interlayer film having a large relative electric permittivity per unit area, so that the area of the storage capacitor can be reduced. In this case, however, it is necessary to newly provide a contact hole that connects the storage capacitor electrode to the storage capacitor line, so that a sufficient pixel aperture ratio cannot be obtained, and thus the transmissivity decreases.
Moreover, according to the pixel structure of the display device disclosed in Patent Literature 2, the storage capacitor line on the same layer as that of the gate electrode is drawn so as to traverse the periphery of the switching device (TFT) in the image separating direction, so that the width in the Y axis direction of the light blocking portion located at the upper bottom of the substantially trapezoid becomes one that is obtained by adding the line width of the storage capacitor line and the line drawing space to the area of the TFT. The width of the upper bottom of the substantially trapezoid in the Y axis direction cannot be reduced without the change in a process rule, so that the width of the light blocking portion in the Y axis direction covering the upper bottom of the substantially trapezoid becomes large relative to the width of the aperture region in the Y axis direction in the case of pixels with a narrow pitch. When the image of the light blocking portion covering the upper bottom of the substantially trapezoid is enlarged by the image separating unit, it is visually recognized as a darkened spot or stripe on the display unit by the viewer, and thus the display quality decreases.
In this specification, the periodical varying of brightness (may be the varying of color in some cases), in particular, a luminance angular fluctuation originating from displaying of different images in different angular directions is defined as a "3D moire". Moreover, a mixing of an image for another view point and leaking of an image to an image for a given view point are defined as "3D crosstalk".
In general, a stripe pattern produced by an interference of structural objects having different periods is called a "moire stripe". The moire stripe is an interference stripe produced depending on the periodicity of the structural object and the pitch thereof, and the 3D moire is a brightness varying produced due to the imaging characteristic of the image separating unit. Accordingly, the 3D moire and the moire stripe are distinguished in this specification.
The 3D moire does not become a problem depending on a view position, but when the fluctuation in brightness in the angular direction is large, an undesirable effect for stereoscopic viewing may occur, so that it is desirable to set the brightness fluctuation to be equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

Image display device capable of displaying images in a plurality of view points for suppressing a problem originating from a light blocking portion arranged in a pixel aperture or a structural object and accomplishing a high aperture ratio


Method, apparatus and system embodiments provide a register to track the oldest exception event or sticky event in a processor. The processor may be an out-of-order processor. Dispatched instructions (or micro-ops) may be maintained in a queue, such as a reorder buffer (ROB), for in-order retirement. For at least one embodiment, event information is maintained only in the register and is not maintained in a ROB. For at least one other embodiment, event information is maintained in a ROB entry for some events and in the register for others. For such latter embodiment, a retire engine takes the contents of both the ROB entry and the register into account when determining whether to take an exception or otherwise initiate a handling sequence during in-order instruction retirement. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to information processing systems and, more specifically, to a mechanism to track the oldest exception event for in-flight instructions in a processor.
2. Background Art
In response to market demand for increased processor performance, various techniques have been employed. One such technique is out-of-order instruction execution. Out-of -order execution is a microarchitectural enhancement that allows a processor to pull instructions into the pipeline, out of program order, in order to keep the pipeline as full as possible. The processor thus re-orders instructions and executes them as quickly as their inputs are ready, without regard to original program order. Architectural state for the instructions is committed in program order. Likewise, fault, trap or other exception events or architectural events that occur during out-of-order execution of instructions are taken in program order.

Tracking an oldest processor event using information stored in a register and queue entry


The seat belt retractor is provided that comprises an electric motor; a spool operatively associated with the electric motor for winding and unwinding a seat belt for occupant restraint; and a controller. The controller can be configured to control a drive of the electric motor based on a seat belt storage starting condition defined by information about a state of the seat belt relative to a vehicle occupant and information about a state of a vehicle door corresponding to the seat belt. The controller can be configured to control the drive of the electric motor to rotate the spool to wind up the seat belt when the seat belt storage starting condition is satisfied and to temporarily stop the rotation of the spool for a time period when a seat belt load acting on the seat belt exceeds a predetermined amount. The time period can be set according to a satisfaction pattern of the seat belt storage starting condition.

The present invention relates to a technology for developing a seat belt retractor to be installed in a vehicle.
Conventionally, a seat belt apparatus which is designed for protecting and restraining a vehicle occupant by a seat belt (webbing) is known. For example, Japanese translation of PCT international application No. 2003-507252 (incorporated by reference herein) discloses a seat belt apparatus having a seat belt retractor with a spool or winding shaft, which is driven by an electric motor to rotate so as to wind or unwind a seat belt.
The seat belt retractor disclosed in PCT international application No. 2003-507252 is a structure in which the action of winding the seat belt onto the spool is conducted by the electric motor. However, when this structure is used for winding up a seat belt for the purpose of preventing the seat belt from being kept in an unwound state, i.e., a "seat belt storage winding action," the action of winding up the seat belt onto the spool is required to be smoothly conducted according to a suitable control for the electric motor.
Specifically, during the seat belt storage winding action, the seat belt may be caught on a vehicle occupant or a vehicle seat or the seat belt may be withdrawn by the vehicle occupant. There is a solution to this situation, which is, when the load of the seat belt is increased (by detecting an increase in the motor current) during the seat belt storage winding action, a control to temporarily stop the seat belt storage winding action is engaged until the factor increasing the load is removed and then the seat belt storage winding action is restarted. However, when the seat belt is caught on the vehicle occupant or the vehicle seat, not much time is required to release the caught seat belt. In fact, if the seat belt storage winding action is stopped for a time longer than necessary, there is a possibility that the seat belt or the tongue is jammed in a vehicle door. On the other hand, when the seat belt is withdrawn by the vehicle occupant, a longer time period may be required for the seat belt withdrawing operation by the vehicle occupant. Therefore, if the seat belt storage winding action is stopped only for a short time period, the seat belt storage winding action operates against the seat belt withdrawing operation. Thus, there is a problem that the vehicle occupant may be made to feel uncomfortable. To streamline the seat belt storage winding action, it may be required to temporarily stop the seat belt storage winding action and to set the time interval of stoppage to a suitable time commensurate with the factor causing the increase to the seat belt load.


An ink jet printing system includes a user interface for communicating messages between the ink jet printer and an operator and controller in operative communication with the user interface. The controller disables printing of certain information other than a test pattern in response to a predetermined event, generates a random message, prints a test pattern in response to a predetermined event, incorporates the generated random message within the test pattern, receives an indication of the random message from the operator, compares the received random message with the generated random message, and if the received random message equals the generated random message, enables printing of certain information other than the test pattern.

Ink jet printers are well known in the art. Generally, an ink jet printer includes an array of nozzles or orifices, a supply of ink, a plurality of thin channels connecting the array of nozzles with the ink supply, respectively, a plurality of ejection elements (typically either expanding vapor bubble elements or piezoelectric transducer elements) corresponding to the array of nozzles and suitable driver electronics for controlling the ejection elements. Typically, the array of nozzles and the ejection elements along with their associated components are referred to as a print head. It is the activation of the ejection elements that causes drops of ink to be expelled from the nozzles. The ink ejected in this manner forms drops which travel along a flight path until they reach a print medium such as a sheet of paper, overhead transparency, envelope or the like. Once they reach the print medium, the drops dry and collectively form a print image. Typically, the ejection elements are selectively activated or energized as relative movement is provided between the print head and the print medium so that a predetermined or desired print image is achieved.
Generally, the array of nozzles, supply of ink, plurality of ejection elements and driver electronics are packaged into a disposable cartridge. In turn, the printer includes a carriage assembly for detachably mounting the cartridge thereto. In this manner, a fresh cartridge may be installed when the ink supply of the current cartridge has been consumed. Some ink jet printers provide an indication to the user that the ink supply is running low while others do not. In either case, the printer continues to operate with the result being that the user must recognize when the ink supply is exhausted and install a fresh cartridge. Thus, it is generally intended for the cartridges to be disposable.
To keep an ink jet printer in proper working order, a variety of maintenance actions, such as capping, wiping, normal flushing, power flushing, normal purging and power purging, have been developed. Most of these maintenance actions are directed toward preventing the array of nozzles from becoming clogged with stale ink or other debris. When not in use, the print head is sealed off from ambient air by a cap. In this manner, the evaporation rate of any solvents or other volatiles contained within the ink is reduced and the ink is less prone to clumping. A wiper blade is typically employed to squeegee any excess ink or other debris off from the face plate of the array of nozzles. This cleaning action is typically performed both prior to capping and prior to printing. A normal flush involves firing each nozzle in the array of nozzles a predetermined number or times to expel ink that may be beginning to clump. A power flush is similar to a normal flush except that the number of time each nozzle is fired is substantially greater than that for a normal flush. A normal purge involves applying a vacuum for a predetermined amount of time to the array of nozzles to suck out ink. A power purge is similar to a normal purge except that the amount of time that the vacuum is applied is substantially greater than that for a normal purge.
Recently, the postage meter industry and other envelope printing industries have begun to incorporate ink jet printers. A typical postage meter (one example of a postage printing apparatus) applies evidence of postage, commonly referred to as a postal indicia, to an envelope or other mailpiece and accounts for the value of the postage dispensed. As is well known, postage meters include an ascending register, that stores a running total of all postage dispensed by the meter, and a descending register, that holds the remaining amount of postage credited to the meter and that is reduced by the amount of postage dispensed during a transaction. Because U.S. Postal Service regulations require that postage be paid in advance, it had traditionally been required that the user of a postage meter periodically present the meter to a Postal Service employee for recharging. However, more recently it is possible to recharge a meter remotely using telephone communications. At the time of recharging, the user paid to the Postal Service the amount of postage to be credited to the meter and the meter is recharged by increasing the setting of the descending register by the amount paid. The postage meter generally also includes a control sum register which provides a check upon the descending and ascending registers. The control sum register has a running account of the total funds being added into the meter. The control sum register must always correspond with the summed readings of the ascending and descending registers. The control sum register is the total amount of postage ever put into the machine and it is alterable only when adding funds to the meter. In this manner, the dispensing of postal funds may be accurately tracked and recorded.
Generally, the postage meter may be incorporated into a mailing machine, which is also well known in the art, for automated handling of the mailpieces. Mailing machines are readily available from manufacturers such as Pitney Bowes Inc. of Stamford, Conn., USA and often include a variety of different modules, which automate the processes of producing mailpieces. The typical mailing machine includes a variety of different modules or subsystems where each module performs a different task on a mailpiece, such as: singulating (separating the mailpieces one at a time from a stack of mailpieces), weighing, sealing (wetting and closing the glued flap of an envelope), applying evidence of postage, accounting for postage used (performed by the postage meter), feeding roll tape or cut tape strips for printing and stacking finished mailpieces. However, the exact configuration of each mailing machine is particular to the needs of the user. Customarily, the mailing machine also includes a transport apparatus, which feeds the mailpieces in a path of travel through the successive modules of the mailing machine.
Due to the inherent nature of printing an indicia of value (a postal indicia being the equivalent of money), several issues arise with utilizing ink jet printing in a postage printing device. For example, if a general purpose ink jet printer runs out of ink or malfunctions while printing a document, then the user merely installs a new cartridge and reprints the document. On the other hand, if a postage printing device runs out of ink or malfunctions while printing a postal indicia, then the user loses money because the postal funds associated with that postal indicia cannot be recovered. Therefore, it is desirable to ensure the proper functioning of the cartridge.
In some ink jet printers, it is known to print a test pattern after installing a fresh cartridge. Generally, the test pattern may serve as an indicator of the performance of the ink jet printer or may be used to register multiple print heads. However, the operator of the ink jet printer may disregard the test pattern by not printing it or by ignoring the results. If the operator bypasses or ignores the test print, then there is no assurance that the ink jet printer is functioning properly before normal operations resume.
Therefore, there is a need for a postage printing apparatus that prevents an operator from bypassing or ignoring a test pattern printed in response to a predetermined event, such as the installation of a fresh cartridge.

Mailing machine including ink jet operation checking for prevention of loss of postal funds