A magnetic resonance imaging system capable of conducting spectroscopic imaging with an improved SNR without degrading the spatial resolution includes edge-preserving filter processing means for spectroscopic imaging. The edge-preserving filter processing means executes processing including the steps of calculating spectral similarity in spatial neighborhoods (spatially neighboring voxels) at each voxel in spectroscopic imaging data, calculating a spectral weight according to the spectral similarity, and conducting weighted smoothing for compounding spectra of spatial neighborhoods (spatially neighboring voxels) according to the spectral weight.

The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging system (MRI system). In particular, the present invention relates to data processing of spectroscopic imaging for measuring molecular distribution.
The magnetic resonance imaging system is a system which transmits a radio frequency electromagnetic field (RF) having a specific frequency to a measurement subject placed in a static magnetic field, thereby induces a magnetic resonance phenomenon, and acquires physical and chemical information of the measurement subject. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that is widely spread at the present time is a method of mainly using the magnetic resonance phenomenon of the proton (1H) in the water molecule and imaging the difference in proton density and relaxation time which differ depending upon tissues. In addition, a method of measuring the map of each molecule containing not only the proton density but also the proton or phosphorus (31P), called spectroscopic imaging is also proposed. This is a method of separating magnetic resonance signals of each molecule on the basis of a difference of the magnetic resonance frequency (chemical shift) caused by a difference of molecular chemical bond, and imaging the density and relaxation time of each molecule. It is considered that this method makes possible a more precise diagnosis of diseases as compared with the case where the MRI is used. For example, it is considered that the diagnosis precision of cancers can be enhanced. In vigorously proliferating cancer tissues, a sufficient blood flow is not obtained. Accordingly, the anaerobic metabolism (glycolysis) is accelerated. As a result, the concentration of lactate is elevated. If the concentration of lactate is detected by using the spectroscopic imaging, then the difference of tissue metabolism can be observed and it becomes possible to distinguish vigorously proliferating cancer tissues from normal tissues and resting cancers. In cerebral ischemia, an increase of lactate is noticed even if the blood flow decreases slightly. Therefore, it is considered that the spectroscopic imaging makes it possible to accurately diagnose a region damaged by ischemia.
In general, however, the molecule which becomes the measurement object of the spectroscopic imaging is far lower in concentration than the water molecule. This results in a problem that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is low. As compared with the ordinary MRI, the spatial resolution is made low and signal averaging is conducted with an ample measurement time. However, it cannot be said yet that a sufficient SNR is obtained. For example, in 1H spectroscopic imaging in the case of a typical 1.5 T MRI system, the number of voxels becomes approximately 32×32 with a spatial distribution of 1 cm cube and the SNR becomes approximately 0.1 with a measurement time of approximately 10 minutes. If smoothing processing of calculating the spatially moving averaging is conducted in order to increase the SNR, the spatial resolution falls extremely. If the spatial resolution is at least 1 cm, it becomes difficult to distinguish a small cancer tissue with high precision because of the partial volume effect. The "partial volume effect" means an effect that small changes of tissue contained in each voxel are decreased by influences of other most signals. In a diagnosis of conducting tissue classification with high precision, it is needed to improve the SNR without degrading the spatial resolution.
As for ordinary images, several edge-preserving filters have been proposed as the method for improving the SNR without degrading the spatial resolution. For example, as a well-known method, a median filter which selects a median from among spatial neighborhood (spatially neighboring voxels) in the object spatial dimensions can be mentioned. Besides, in JP-B-3472596 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,724, a method of detecting a dimension having a less concentration change from object spatial dimensions and conducting smoothing processing in the dimension alone is described.
In Kamiyama etc., "Method of small structure extraction from the ultrasound RF signal by using statistic analogy between echo signals," The Japan Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine, Basic Technology study group paper, pp. 14-18, 2001, a method of reducing speckles in ultrasound imaging and conducting weighted smoothing is described. In this method, a higher weight is provided as the data value of an object voxel (also referred to as pixel) is similar to data values of neighboring voxels.
In JP-A-2004-129773 (corresponding to US 2004/0073112), a method of weighting and combining two images obtained by weighted smoothing which provides voxels having similar data values with higher weights and structure enhancing processing is described.
In JP-A-10-124664 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,618), a filter which does hot lose a structure even if the dynamic range is conversely compressed is described.
In Bonny J M etc., "Multi-exponential analysis of magnitude MR images using a quantitative multispectral edge-preserving filter," Journal of Magnetic Resonance, vol. 161, pp. 25-34 (2003), a method of utilizing an edge-preserving filter in order to measure the relaxation time using the MRI with high precision is proposed. For measuring the relaxation time, different measurements of the echo time are repeated and data having a plurality of signal values for each pixel are acquired. The relaxation time which is an attenuation factor is calculated from the decay of the signal value with the echo time. At this time, multiple values of each pixel are handled as multi-dimensional values, the multi-dimensional values for the object spatial dimensions are weighted according to similarity of the multi-dimensional value in the neighborhood and smoothed.
In JP-A-2001-8919, a method for improving the spatial resolution while preserving the SNR with respect to spectroscopic imaging data is described. Data are filled into a higher k-space by conducting linear prediction of data in a k-space dimension corresponding to the spatial dimension. As a result, it becomes possible to suppress Gibbs ringing as compared with the case where the higher k-space is filled with values 0 by zero-filling.


There is provided a fiber optic temperature probe having a base, a first tube connected to the base, a second tube provided coaxially within the first tube, a probe tip extending through an opening in a distal end of the first tube; and an optical fiber extending from within the base through an opening in the proximal end of the first tube and being substantially coaxial with respect to the first tube. There is also provided a fiber optic temperature probe having a base, a first tube connected to the base, a probe tip extending through an opening in a distal end of the first tube, an optical fiber extending from within the base through an opening in the proximal end of the first tube and being substantially coaxial with respect to the first tube, and a first lens positioned between the probe tip and the optical fiber.

Fiber optic temperature sensors, such as temperature probes, normally include an optical fiber which can deliver light to a sensing material (e.g., phosphor). The light illuminates the phosphor which, in turn, luminesces visibly. The temperature of the phosphor can be determined by observing the changes in certain characteristics of the emitted light. Differences in temperature between the phosphor and the surface to be measured (i.e., the target surface) can create difficulties in calibrating the sensor to obtain accurate measurements.
Generally, a fiber optic temperature probe includes a base and a single tube extending therefrom within which an optical fiber is positioned. A sensing tip including the sensing material is attached to an end of the tube so as to contact the target surface. The tube is intended to provide the probe with mechanical strength and resistance to environmental conditions, while ideally reducing heat loss from the tip to maintain the sensing material as close to the temperature of the target surface as possible. In a process such as semiconductor processing, which can involve etching materials with corrosive chemicals under high temperature, the tube should be resistant to high temperatures and corrosion in addition to having the above qualities, making material selection challenging.
The optical fiber is typically connected by means such as glue to the inside of the probe shaft at multiple points along the length thereof. The optical fiber can weaken or break when subjected to large temperature changes, particularly when connected at multiple points to a material with a different coefficient of thermal expansion.
Additionally, temperature probes typically include tips that are rigidly aligned with their target surface and thus there is often a small angle preventing flush contact between the surfaces, particularly when a smooth, solid surface is being measured. Poor contact between the target surface and the tip of the sensor can reduce the rate of heat transfer between the target surface and the sensing material inside the tip, thereby slowing or offsetting temperature measurements.
In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a fiber optic temperature probe that addresses one or more of the above-noted issues or drawbacks.


A resistor string digital-analog conversion circuit includes three resistor strings connected in series, a controller, and a switch group. The controller controls switchover of the switch group according to a signal of m high-order bits of an input digital signal. Thus an analog output corresponding to the m high-order bits is obtained. Another controller varies potentials of two variable voltage sources according to a signal of n low-order bits of the input digital signal, while always keeping a potential difference across the three resistor strings constant. Thus an analog output corresponding to the n low-order bits is obtained. This analog output is output to an output terminal.

The present invention relates to a digital-analog conversion circuit which converts a digital signal to an analog signal.
In portable devices such as portable telephones, the digital-analog conversion circuit is integrated in a semiconductor integrated circuit such as a radio IC. In recent years, as the process of integrated circuits have become finer. As a consequence, power supply voltage which is used in the integrated circuits has also lowered. Therefore, digital-analog circuits which can work at a low power supply voltage are in demand.
Digital-analog conversion circuits obtained by combining a resistor string digital-analog converter and weighted resistors are known (See for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 62-227224). FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional digital-analog conversion circuit (for 8 bits) disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 62-227224.
This digital-analog conversion circuit includes a resistor string digital-analog conversion section 11 and a binary weighting circuit 12 having resistor groups which consist of weighted value resistors and switch groups which is connected to the weighted value resistors. The digital-analog conversion section 11 receives n high-order bits (for example, D4, . . . , D7) of an input digital value, and outputs an analog voltage corresponding thereto.
A resistor group and a switch group of the binary weighting circuit 12 are inserted between a positive power supply side of a resistor string included in the digital-analog conversion section 11 and a positive power supply (Vr(+)). A resistor group and a switch group of the binary weighting circuit 12 are inserted also between a negative power supply side of the resistor string and a negative power supply (Vr(xe2x88x92)). Each of the weighted value resistors of the resistor group is inserted or removed by a switch group. Switches S11 to S14 and S21 to S24 of the switch groups are, for example, MOS transistors.
The binary weighting circuit 12 receives m low-order bits (for example, D0, . . . , D3) of the input digital value. According to insertion and removal of the weighted value resistors conducted by the switch groups, the binary weighting circuit 12 outputs a potential obtained by dividing a voltage corresponding to one step of the digital-analog conversion section 11 by xc2xdm. In the digital-analog conversion circuit shown in FIG. 1, therefore, 2m+n steps are obtained.
In the above described conventional digital-analog conversion circuit, the switch groups of the binary weighting circuit 12 are connected in series with the resistor string included in the digital-analog conversion section 11. A voltage variation corresponding to low-order bits of the input digital value is adjusted by switching over the switches S11 to S14 and S21 to S24 of the switch groups. Therefore, the conversion precision of this digital-analog conversion circuit is influenced by on-resistance values of the switches S11 to S14 and S21 to S24.
Therefore, there is a problem that the circuit area needs to be increased for activating the above described conventional digital-analog conversion circuit at a low power supply voltage. The reason is as follows. If the power supply voltage becomes low, the voltage of a control signal for turning gates of MOS transistors forming the switches on is lowered. For suppressing the maximum on-resistance to such a level as not to exert a serious influence on the digital-analog conversion precision, therefore, the gate area must be increased.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital-analog conversion circuit capable of suppressing an increase of the circuit area even in the case where it is activated with a low power supply voltage.
The-digital-analog conversion circuit according to the present invention has such a configuration that a potential at an arbitrary node in the resistor string is changed by changing potentials of both ends while keeping a potential difference across the resistor string constant.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram which describes the principle of a digital-analog conversion circuit according to the present invention. This digital-analog conversion circuit includes resistor strings RS1, RS2 and RS3, a first controller (controller 1) 21, a second controller (controller 2) 22, a switch group SW, a first variable voltage source VH, a second variable voltage source VL, a buffer 23, input terminals 24 and 25, and an output terminal 26. Legends N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5 denote nodes, respectively.
The first resistor string RS1 is connected in series between the node N1 and the node N2. The second resistor string RS2 is connected in series between the node N3 and the node N4. The third resistor string RS3 is connected in series between the node N2 and the node N3. Therefore, the three resistor strings RS1, RS2 and RS3 are connected in series.
The first input terminal 24 is supplied with m high-order bits (for example, Dn+mxe2x88x921, . . . , Dn+1, Dn) of an input digital signal. The second input terminal 25 is supplied with n low-order bits (for example, Dnxe2x88x921, . . . , D1, D0) of the input digital signal.
The first controller 21 controls switchover of the switch group SW according to the m high-order bits of the input signal. The resistor strings RS1, RS2, and RS3, the first controller 21, and the switch group SW form a digital-analog conversion circuit of resistor string type. By using the digital-analog conversion circuit of resistor string type, an analog output corresponding to m high-order bits of the input digital signal is obtained.
The second controller 22 controls potentials of two variable voltage sources VH and VL so as to make the potential difference between the node N1 and the node N4 always constant. Here, the first variable voltage source VH applies a potential of a relatively high level to the node N1. The second variable voltage source VL applies a potential of a relatively low level to the node N4.
As a result of variation of the potentials of the two variable voltage sources VH and VL controlled by the second controller 22, an analog output corresponding to the n low-order bits of the input digital signal is obtained. The analog signal corresponding to the input digital signal is outputted to the output terminal 26 through the node N5 and the buffer 23.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the principle of the digital-analog conversion circuit according to the present invention in more detail. FIG. 3 shows in more detail the variable voltage sources VH and VL of the digital-analog conversion circuit shown in FIG. 2. In this figure, components that are common to those in FIG. 2 are provided like legends and description thereof is omitted.
In the example shown in FIG. 3, the variable voltage source VH (see FIG. 2) includes a first constant-voltage source VRH, a second constant voltage source VRHH, a first differential amplifier 27, a first transistor Tr1, and a first switch group S1. The first transistor Tr1 is connected between the node N1 and the first constant voltage source VRH. The first transistor Tr1 operates on the basis of an output signal of the first differential amplifier 27.
One input terminal of the first differential amplifier 27 is connected to the second constant voltage source VRHH. The other input terminal of the first differential amplifier 27 is connected to a suitable place of the first resistor string RS1 through the first switch group S1. Switchover operation of the first switch group S1 is controlled by the second controller 22.
N7 is a node connected to the first resistor string RS1 via the first switch group S1. A potential at the node N7 is subjected to feedback control by the first differential amplifier 27 so as to be equal to a potential at the second constant voltage source VRHH by a norator action of the first transistor Tr1.
In the example shown in FIG. 3, the variable voltage source VL (see FIG. 2) includes a third constant voltage source VRL, a fourth constant voltage source VRLL, a second differential amplifier 28, a second transistor Tr2, and a second switch group S2. The second transistor Tr2 is connected between the node N4 and the third constant voltage source VRL. The second transistor Tr2 operates on the basis of an output signal of the second differential amplifier 28.
One input terminal of the second differential amplifier 28 is connected to the fourth constant voltage source VRLL. The other input terminal of the second differential amplifier 28 is connected to a suitable place of the second resistor string RS2 through the second switch group S2. Switchover operation of the second switch group S2 is controlled by the second controller 22.
N8 is a node connected to the second resistor string RS2 via the second switch group S2. A potential at the node N8 is subjected to feedback control by the second differential amplifier 28 so as to become equal to a potential at the fourth constant voltage source VRLL by a norator action of the second transistor Tr2.
Owing to such a configuration, a potential difference between the suitable node of the first resistor string RS1 connected to the node N7 by the first switch group S1 and the suitable node of the second resistor string RS2 connected to the node N8 by the second switch group S2 always becomes a constant value V7-8.
Here, the second controller 22 has such a configuration as to control the switchover operation of the first and second switch groups S1 and S2 in order that the resistance between the suitable node of the first resistor string RS1 connected to the node N7 and the suitable node of the second resistor string RS2 connected to the node N8 always becomes a constant value R7-8.
Therefore, a current I flowing through the three resistor strings RS1, RS2 and RS3 connected in series always becomes a constant value, and it is represented by the following equation 1.
I=V7-8/R7-8xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
Furthermore, assuming that the resistance between the node N1 and the node N4 located at both ends of the three resistor strings RS1, RS2 and RS3 is R1-4, the potential difference V1-4 between the node N1 and the node N4 always becomes a constant value, and it is represented by the following equation 2.
V1-4=V7-8xc3x97R1-4/R7-8xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
In the digital-analog conversion circuit shown in FIG. 3, the potential of the node N1 and the potential of the node N4 can be changed by the above described action while keeping the potential difference between ends (node N1 and node N4) of the resistor strings RS1, RS2 and RS3 constant.
By using the resistor string digital-analog conversion circuit including the resistor strings RS1, RS2 and RS3, the first controller 21, and the switch group SW, an analog output corresponding to the m high-order bits of the input digital signal is obtained. Furthermore, an analog output corresponding to the n low-order bits of the input digital signal is determined by changes of the potential of the node N1 and the potential of the node N4.
According to the present invention, therefore, it is not necessary to provide a switch group for obtaining the analog output corresponding to the n low-order bits of the input digital signal in series to the resistor string, unlike the conventional technique. Therefore, an increase of the circuit area which poses a problem in the case where the conventional digital-analog conversion circuit is activated with a low power supply voltage can be suppressed.
Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Digital-analog conversion circuit capable of functioning at a low power supply voltage


A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting element that has at least a light-emitting layer, a switching element that drives the light-emitting element, layered wiring lines that connect at least the light-emitting element and the switching element to each other, a substrate on which the light-emitting element, the switching element, and the layered wiring lines are provided, and a sealing substrate that is provided on the substrate with a plurality of sealing members interposed therebetween, and covers the light-emitting element. The plurality of sealing members include first and second sealing members. The first sealing member surrounds the periphery of the light-emitting element and is provided so as to at least partially overlap surface regions of the substrate where the light-emitting element, the switching element, and the layered wiring lines are provided. The second sealing member surrounds the periphery of the first sealing member.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a light-emitting device and an electronic apparatus.
2. Related Art
In recent years, light-emitting devices have been widely used in display devices and electrophotographic image forming apparatuses as exposure devices. A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting element, such as an organic EL element (organic electroluminescence elements).
In a light-emitting device, durability against long-term light-emission is demanded, and dark spots lead to deterioration of the light-emission characteristics of the organic EL element. Dark spots are generated when water adhering to the surface of each of the constituent parts of an organic EL element, water (moisture) having permeated the organic EL element, or atmosphere gas, such as oxygen, permeates a laminate having a transparent electrode, a light-emitting layer (organic layer), and a rear electrode sequentially laminated through defect in the surface of the rear electrode, and disconnection occurs between the organic layer and the rear electrode.
For such a light-emitting device, in order to achieve an improvement in reliability and long lifespan for the organic EL element and, it is important to make the light-emitting layer or the electrodes constituting the organic EL element be reliably isolated from the atmosphere gas. For this purpose, a known technology is used to bond a substrate (transparent substrate) having an organic EL element formed thereon and a sealing member as a single body using an adhesive, to thereby protect the sealed organic EL element from the atmosphere gas. In order to suppress permeation of water as much as possible and prevent the light-emitting element from being deteriorated (sealing performance), the adhesive is preferably applied over a large width (seal area). In general, the seal performance increases in proportion to the width of the region in which the adhesive is applied.
For example, a light-emitting device disclosed in JP-A-2002-8855 is known in which a transparent electrode made of ITO serving as an anode, an organic layer made of an organic compound having at least a light-emitting layer, and a non-transmissive rear electrode made of aluminum (Al) serving as a cathode are sequentially laminated on a substrate made of a glass material, thereby forming a laminate. In addition, a concave sealing member made of a glass material is provided on the substrate in an airtight manner by applying an adhesive to cover the laminate, and an absorbent is provided on a surface of the sealing member facing the laminate. The absorbent is made of a compound, which chemically absorbs water and maintains a solid state even when water is absorbed.
In recent years, as shown in FIG. 21, as typified by a display panel of a mobile phone, a frame region 300 (a region excluding a display region 302 corresponding to a surface on which a light-emitting element 303 is to be provided) needs to be provided so as to be as narrow as possible. However, in order to provide a narrow frame, it is necessary to reduce the width of a seal region 306 where a sealing member 304 is provided. If the seal region 306 becomes too narrow, the sealing performance is deteriorated. That is, it is difficult to provide a narrow frame while ensuring adequate sealing performance. The sealing member 304 contains a gap material (silica, plastic, or the like) 314 so as to maintain a gap 312 between a sealing substrate 308 and a substrate 310 constant. Furthermore, in order to increase a moisture-proof property or to control the elastic modulus of the sealing member 304 to thereby increase workability, the sealing member 304 contains a filler (silica or the like) 316. Accordingly, when the sealing substrate 308 and the substrate 310 are bonded to each other, pressure is applied. In this case, when the sealing member 304 is coated on a multilayer wiring region 322 where a plurality of wiring lines 320 are laminated, leakages or short-circuits may occur between the wiring lines 320 due to the gap material 314 or the filler 316. Meanwhile, when the sealing member 304 is coated on a switching element region 326 where a switching element 324 is provided, the switching element 324 may not normally function, and the characteristics may be deteriorated. For this reason, it is necessary to separately arrange the seal region 306 so as not to overlap the display region 302, the multilayer wiring region 322, and the switching element region 326.

Light-emitting device and electronic apparatus


The breast's radiation image taking apparatus and method set an imaging condition in association with a first region on a distal end side which is an imaging region spaced from a chest wall of a subject, take a first radiation image of the breast in the first region and take a second radiation image of the breast in a second region on a proximal end side closer to the chest wall than the first region under the same imaging condition as in the first region. The apparatus includes a radiation source, a breast support plane on which the breast is to be placed, a radiation-receiving plane for acquiring a radiation image of the breast, an imaging position switching device by which relative positions of the both planes are changed, an imaging condition setting device for setting an imaging condition and an imaging control device controls so that the first and second radiation images are taken in two positions on both sides.

The present invention relates to the technical field of taking a breast's radiation image, that is, mammography, more particularly, to a breast's radiation image taking apparatus, that is, a mammography apparatus, that enables the radiation image of a large breast to be taken on a small radiation-receiving plane, as well as a method of taking a breast's radiation image, that is, a mammography.
In breast cancer screening, the success rate of early detection that is achieved through physical examination by inspection and palpation only is improved if it is combined with mammography by a radiation image taking apparatus solely intended for breasts (which is hereinafter referred to as a breast imaging apparatus); hence, breast cancer screening that is currently practiced involves the use of a breast imaging apparatus in addition to (or in place of) inspection and palpation.
The breast imaging apparatus comprises an imaging table enclosing a radiation image recording medium (which is hereinafter referred to as an imaging medium); to operate it, the breast is placed on the imaging table, compressed with a press plate, irradiated with a radiation from the press plate side; the radiation transmitted through the breast is received by the imaging medium and its radiation image is taken on the imaging medium.
The conventional breast imaging apparatus has been such that a radiation image converting panel (commonly called IP) that employs a stimulable phosphor or an X-ray film is used as the imaging medium and accommodated in a light-shielding case called a cassette, which in turn is loaded at a specified position in the imaging table for taking a radiation image of the breast.
A new model of breast imaging apparatus is recently increasing in number; an IP, a means of reading the radiation image taken/recorded on the IP, and a detector called a flat panel detector that performs conversion (photoelectric conversion) of a radiation to an image are fixedly installed within the imaging table and a radiation image that is taken of the breast is displayed on a screen or transferred to an external computer.

Breast's radiation image taking apparatus and a method of taking a breast's radiation image


The light source apparatus includes: a light source substrate having a light emission unit; an optical sheet facing the light emission unit; a plurality of detection units configured to detect light; and an adjustment unit configured to adjust light emission brightness of the light emission unit on the basis of detection values of two or more of the detection units, the two or more detection units including the detection unit arranged at a position at which a change in the detection value due to a deflection of the optical sheet is positive when the light emission unit emits the light and the detection unit arranged at a position at which the change in the detection value due to the deflection of the optical sheet is negative when the light emission unit emits the light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light source apparatus and a method for controlling the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Color image display apparatuses have a color liquid crystal panel with a color filter and a light source apparatus (backlight apparatus) that projects white light onto the back surface of the color liquid crystal panel.
Conventionally, fluorescent lamps such as cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) have been mainly used as the light sources of light source apparatuses. In recent years, however, light emitting diodes (LEDs) excellent in power consumption, service life, color reproducibility, and environmental load have become widespread as the light sources of the light source apparatuses.
In general, the light source apparatuses with the LEDs as their light sources (LED backlight apparatuses) have many LEDs. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-142409 discloses the LED backlight apparatus with a plurality of light emission units each having one or more LEDs. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-142409 discloses the control of brightness for each of the light emission units. With a reduction in the light emission brightness of the light emission units that project light to a region where a dark image is to be displayed in the screen of a color image display apparatus, power consumption is reduced and image contrast is enhanced. Such brightness control for each of the light emission units according to the characteristics of an image is called local dimming control.
The light source apparatuses suffer from a problem in which the light emission brightness of the light emission units is changed. The change in the light emission brightness is caused by, for example, a change in the light emission characteristics of the light sources due to a change in temperature, aging degradation in the light sources, or the like. In the light source apparatuses with the plurality of light emission units, the light emission brightness of the plurality of light emission units is fluctuated (caused to have brightness unevenness) with a fluctuation in the temperature or the aging degradation degree of the plurality of light emission units.
As a method for reducing the change in the light emission brightness and the brightness unevenness, there has been known a method for adjusting the light emission brightness of the light emission units using light sensors. Specifically, the method includes arranging the light sensors that detect light, which is reflected by the optical sheet (optical member) of the light source apparatuses and returned to the side of the light emission units, among light emitted from the light source apparatuses and adjusting the light emission brightness of the light emission units based on the detection values of the light sensors. In the light source apparatuses with the plurality of light emission units, the light emission units are turned on in a sequential order, and the reflected light is detected by the light sensors for each of the light emission units to adjust the light emission brightness. Such technology is disclosed in, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2011-27941.

Light source apparatus and method for controlling same


Provided herein is a serial flash memory device and precharging method thereof in which a single local bit-line data is sensed in synchronization with a clock. The method includes precharging two or more local bit-lines in synchronization with a first clock; and disprecharging one of the two local bit-lines in synchronization with a second clock and sensing and amplifying data of the other local bit-line. Accordingly, two precharged local bit-lines are not adjacent to each other, thereby eliminating a coupling noise effect. In addition, the time for performing the precharging operation and the sensing operation is easily secured, compared to the prior precharging method in which corresponding local bit-lines are precharged at every clock.

A Hash memory device is a nonvolatile memory device, which can store data for a long period without the supply of power. In the flash memory device, the data is stored in cells having floating gate transistors, and the data can be written and erased by an electrical programming and erasing operation.
FIG. 1 is a sectional diagram showing a stack-gale type flash memory cell known in the art. In a stack-gate type flash memory cell 100 shown in FIG. 1, a source region 3 and a drain region 4 are formed on a semiconductor substrate 1 with a channel region 2 interposed therebetween, and a tunnel oxide layer 5, a floating gate 6, a dielectric thin film 7, and a control gale 8 are stacked on the channel region 2 in this order. The dielectric thin film 7 is formed of an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) film. The source and drain regions 3 and 4 form a junction stricture of an N+ region and an N− region by using a spacer 9. The drain region 4 is connected to a bit-line 11 through a bit-line contact region 10.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a memory array constituting an NOR type flash memory cell. When the electrical programming operation is performed on an NOR type flash memory cell, a high voltage of 9V or more is supplied to word lines WL0 to W13 and a voltage of 4V or more is supplied to bit-lines BL0 to BL3. Accordingly, electrical current flows to the channel region 2 and hot-electrons generated in this process are injected to the floating gate 6, thereby increasing a threshold voltage of the flash memory cell. When the electrical erasing operation is performed on the NOR type flash memory cell, a negative voltage is supplied to the word lines WL0 to WL3 and a positive high voltage is supplied to the substrate 1 (or 'bulk' in FIG. 1). Accordingly, excess electrons accumulated in the floating gate 6 are discharged toward the channel region 2 through the tunnel oxide layer 5, thereby decreasing the threshold voltage of the cell.
Examples of external interfacing methods of addresses and commands to write and read data to and from the flash memory cell include a parallel interfacing method and a serial interfacing method.
A parallel interlace refers to an interface in which addresses, commands, and data are concurrently input and the data stored in the same address are also concurrently output. More specifically, in the case of an '×16' operation for outputting sixteen data, addresses are concurrently input and sixteen data from DQ0 to DQ15 are concurrently output at a time within a predetermined period of time, i.e., tACC (Address to Output Delay).
On the other hand, a serial interlace refers to an interface in which addresses, commands, and data are sequentially input through a single pin and the data is sequentially output through the single pin.
FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of a serial peripheral interface (SPI) as an example of the serial interlace.
Referring to FIG. 3, an SPI interface uses only four pins that are CS#, SCK, SI and SO. The CS# pin receives a chip select signal for enabling or disabling a chip. The SCK pin receives a data clock signal for synchronizing input or output of data. The SI pin is a serial input pin for inputting addresses, commands or data. The SO pin is a serial output pin for outputting the data stored in the chip. The SPI interface includes one SI pin and one SO pin and therefore all the data are input and output through the SI and SO pins.
The basic principle of operation of the SPI interface is that after the CS# signal is changed to a logic low state, the SCK clock signal is activated and a command signal is input to the SI pin. The command signal is generally one byte signal. The input data to the SI pin is synchronized with a rising edge of the clock signal input to the SCK pin and the output data to the SO pin is synchronized with a falling edge of the clock signal input to the SCK pin.
FIG. 4 is a timing diagram showing a read operation of an SPI interface flash memory cell.
Referring to FIG. 4, a chip is selected when the CS# signal transits from a logic high state to a logic low state. A read instruction is input within the first eight (8) SCK clocks with the command value synchronized with the SCK clock. Thereafter, twenty-four address values are sequentially input in synchronization with the SCK clock. The first eight of the first twenty-four address values are usually used as a sector address for selecting a sector. The next eight addresses are used as an X address for selecting a word line WL and the last eight address are used as a Y address for selecting a bit-line B/L. After the twenty-fourth address is input, read data is output through the SO pin in synchronization with the falling edge of die SCK clock and the output data is sequentially output from MSB to LSB.
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an exemplary bit-line architecture and a sensing scheme for a flash memory cell.
FIG. 5 illustrates a hierarchical bit-line structure including a global bit-line G_B/L and a local bit-line L_B/L. One bit-line is selected by switching transistors 501, 502, and 503 which are turned on by column select signals YC, YB, and YA generated from a Y decoder (not shown). The YC signal and YB signal are signals for selecting the global bit-line G_B/L and the YA signal is a signal for selecting one of a plurality of local bit-lines L_P/L connected to one global bit-line G_B/L.
In the flash memory cell, the threshold voltage of the cell is varied by the number of electrons stored in the floating gate 6 in FIG. 6 and data is sensed depending on the amount of current flowing in the cell. In order to sense the data, an operation of precharging the bit-line WL to a predetermined voltage level needs to be performed in advance. When a precharge signal PCHARGE is enabled, a transistor 504 connected to a main cell Main Cell and a transistor 514 connected to a reference cell Ref Cell are turned on. Thereafter, the global bit-lines G_B/L and the local bit-lines L_B/L connected to the main cell and the reference cell are precharged to the predetermined voltage level by the switching transistors 501, 502, and 503 selected by the column select, signals YC, YB, and YA and switching transistors 511, 51.2, and 513 selected by a reference column select signal YR.
After completing the precharging operation, the precharge mode is disabled and a sensing operation is initiated. In an erased cell, since the threshold voltage of the cell is lower than the word line WL voltage, the cell is tinned on and a current flows in the cell, thereby decreasing the voltage level of a VM node to a level lower than the precharge level. On the other hand, in a programmed cell, since the threshold voltage of the cell is higher than the word line WL voltage, the cell is turned off and no current flows in the cell, thereby increasing the voltage level of the VM node to a level higher than the precharge level. A sense amplifier S/A senses and amplifies the VM node and the VR node when the voltage level of the VM node is increased (developed) to a suitable level.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a data output path of a serial interface flash memory cell.
In an exemplary architecture shown in FIG. 6, one sector is formed of 2048 columns and 256 rows. The 2048 columns are divided into sixteen (16) I/O groups. When address signals are input, data is sensed by sixteen sense amplifiers S/A0 to S/A15. The high half bytes DO15 to DO8 or the low half bytes DO7 to DO0 of sixteen output signals from the sense amplifiers S/A0 to S/A15 is selected by an address signal Yadd<0>. The selected eight data is input to a shift register and then sequentially output from MSB to LSB in synchronization with the falling edge of the SCK clock.
FIG. 7 is schematic diagram showing a bit-line precharging scheme known in the art.
Referring to FIG. 7, after the entire Y addresses YA<3:0>, YB<7:0>, and YC<3:0> for selecting the bit-line WL are input, one local bit-line L_B/L and one global bit-line G_B/L connected to the switching transistors are precharged.
FIG. 8 is a timing diagram showing a word line enabling operation of an SP1 interface flash memory cell.
Referring to FIG. 8, a read operation instruction is followed by a sector address <23:16> constituting a first byte, an X address <15:8> constituting a second byte, and a Y address <7:0> constituting a third byte. The word line can be enabled after the entire X addresses are input.
FIG. 9 is a timing diagram showing respective timings for precharging, sensing, and latching in a serial interface flash memory cell.
Referring to FIG. 9, the Y addresses are selectively assigned for predecoding of the column select signals YA, YB, and YC. More specifically, the Yadd<7:6> addresses are assigned for YC predecoding, the Yadd<5:3> addresses are assigned for YB predecoding, and the Yadd<2:1> addresses are assigned for YA predecoding. The Yadd<0> address is assigned for selecting one byte of 16 output signals from the sense amplifiers S/A0 to S/A15.
In the prior scheme where only one bit-line B/L selected by the Y addresses is precharged and sensed, the entire address signals, i.e., Yadd<7:1>, need to be input before the one bit-line WL selected from the 128 bit-lines is precharged. In other words, the precharging operation is not performed until the seventh bit of the Y address is input. After completing the precharging operation, precharged transistors are turned off and thereafter a sensing operation and a latching operation are performed on the data.
After the eighth bit of the Y address is input, it is possible to select the high half bytes or the low half bytes of the sixteen sensed data. Using the eighth Y address signal, the data output are multiplexed and only the last eight data are output to the shift register, thereby outputting the data in synchronization with the falling edge of the SCK clock.
Therefore, in the prior precharging method in which one bit-line is precharged, the operations of precharging, sensing and data output multiplexing need to be completed in 1.5 clocks after the seventh Y address is input. In general, since the precharging time ranges from about 15 ns to about 30 ns and the sensing lime ranges from about 10 ns to about 20 ns, the precharging operation and the sensing operation require a total operation time ranging from about 25 ns to about 50 ns.
However, when a frequency of the SCK clock is increased for a high-speed operation, for example, when the frequency of the SCK clock is increased to 40 MHz or more, one clock period of the SCK clock is decreased to 25 ns or less. Accordingly, the time for performing the precharging operation and the sensing operation is insufficient, and it is impossible to complete the operations.

Serial flash memory device and precharging method thereof


An endless conveyor belt comprises a number of links which are each coupled to an adjacent link by means of a hinge. Added to each link is a carrier which has a discrete, flat first carrying surface which consists of the outer surfaces of a number of mutually coupled plates extending with second mutual intermediate spaces in longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt, wherein corresponding plates of adjacent links lie in the same plane. In the second intermediate space there fits a row, extending in transverse direction, of fixedly disposed fingers which extend in longitudinal direction and form a discrete, flat second carrying surface which, at the position of co-action with the first carrying surface, lies in the same plane as this first carrying surface, which fingers are disposed at the end of the active part of the conveyor belt and can take over for further transport objects fed by this conveyor belt in sliding manner while being pushed by objects fed by this conveyor belt.

The invention relates to an endless conveyor belt, comprising a number of links which are each coupled to an adjacent link by means of a hinge, which comprises a hinge pin extending through a number of registered first eyes present on a first link as well as through a number of second eyes present on an adjacent second link such that the conveyor belt can be bent out of its general main plane;
each of which links comprises a number of elongate elements extending with first mutual intermediate spaces in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt.
Such a conveyor belt is generally known.


A cam buckle frame includes a first roller aligned transversally across the frame proximate the free end of an operating lever of a web toothed locking cam. The roller directs the web in contact with the operating lever of the locking cam to provide a self-locking feature without requirement for a torsion spring. Other transverse posts and rollers may be included in the web clamp frame and the corresponding hook end of the tie-down to form a secured pulley arrangement to provide a multiplication of applied tension force. One end of the frame side-wall adjacent said first roller may form an integral hook assembly with a structural latch. An option is to have the frame closed out by connecting opposing walls with a section that provides a center port to allow attachment of various style hooks. A pivoting hook-end used to connect to soft hook loops is described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in web cam buckles such as are used in motorcycle transport tie-down restraints. The improvements herein described provide cam buckle tie-down with higher pre-load capacities. Also included are improvements in the design of associated web hooks for the tie-downs.
2. Background Art
The huge outdoor recreation industry in the United States has resulted in a requirement for transporting motorcycles and other RV vehicles.
Within this backdrop, the inventor hereof has devised several mechanisms that in one way or another assist in lifting and transporting a recreational device like a motorcycle or a personal watercraft as exemplified in the teachings of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,790,713 and 4,932,829 that were issued to the inventor hereof, and in published U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0111945 also to the present inventor.
More recently there are described even further improvements in lifting mechanisms such as those disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/321,267 filed Sep. 2, 2008 for a truck bed carrier and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/384,630 filed Apr. 8, 2009 dealing with the confined lifting geometries associated with an enclosed carrying vehicle, both of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set out at length herein.
It is well appreciated that any extended transport of RV vehicles will require proper restraint of that cargo during transport.
The principal components in the restraint methods, are the wheel chocks to restrain horizontal movement, and the adjustable tie-down straps or cables used to limit vertical movement of the cargo. These tie-down restraints have two load requirements: Maximum Working Load—this is the strength of mechanical components of the tie-down assembly reduced by a safety factor. Preload—Is the static down force imposed on the transported vehicle by tie-downs. The preload tension desired will depend primarily on the weight of the restrained vehicle and the stiffness of the suspension system of said vehicle. The purpose of "preload" is to obtain sufficient down-force on the suspension to limit vertical movement of a vehicle during transport, but to not apply excess preload force which can damage the vehicle suspension system.
In the past years, simple cam buckle tie-downs have worked well for restraining lighter weight motorcycles. The simple cam buckle tie-downs are limited in the amount of preload force to what one normal person can pull. For that reason the preferred tie-down for heavy motorcycles has been the ratchet type where the higher restraining forces are obtained by winding up a flexible strap onto a ratcheted spool, as exemplified in the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 7,416,167 issued to Knox, U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,218 issued to Landy, and many others. These ratchet type mechanisms are unwieldy in the cramped spaces of the cargo area of trucks and trailers. The light duty ratchets can only wind up a short amount of web material on the small spools: which results in lengthy adjustment time. Also when the high compression force in the transported vehicle's suspension system is released by the ratchet pawl, there can be a dangerous jump movement in the transported vehicle.
For these reasons, the convenience of a flexible strap with a cam buckle is often preferred over ratcheted types. However, the simple cam buckles are limited in the amount of preload force that can be imposed by one's arm in a cramped space. For that reason a cam buckle that developed additional force due to multiplication by internal pulleys would be a welcome solution to many recreational vehicle tie-down requirements.
The clamping buckles that are particularly adapted for these tie-down applications are cam buckles including a one Piece frame exemplified by buckles sold under model designations 40880-22; 42195-11; or 40880-15 by Ancra International, LLC, Hawthorne, Calif. Cam buckles of this type typically include a generally C-sectioned unitary frame supporting a pivot extending between the lateral walls thereof on which a spring biased lever is pivoted to press a toothed cam against a strap or belt extending through the frame interior. Once grasped against the strap tension, the engagement of the cam is then released only by pressing the lever against its spring bias, thereby lifting the cam from its captured position against the strap.
It has been found that in the foregoing cam buckle structure the lateral walls of the single piece frame can be rendered even more useful to serve as supports for additional pivots about which the strap can be looped in order to obtain the load multiples of additional pulleys. Also by proper location of the primary pulley and the locking cam, the load strap is directed just under the actuating lever of the cam, so that tension in the web will provide a lifting force to the lever to initiate rotational closing of the web clamp. The shape of the clamp cam with directed teeth, then locks the load strap and prevents its release unless direct pressure is applied to actuating lever. This eliminates the need for an actuating spring.
Typical motorcycle tie-downs have heavy steel "S" open hooks at the ends to allow attachment between motorcycle and vehicle carrier. For modern motorcycles, the steel hooks (even with vinyl coatings), are not acceptable to the vehicle owner. For this reason, "soft hooks" are used for direct attachment to the cycle. These soft hooks are stitched nylon web loops that can be cinched to suitable motorcycle structure with a length adequate to keep the heavy hook and the adjacent steel web clamp a safe distance from the motorcycle during transport. The open hooks are trapped onto the restrained vehicle by the web tension. However, certain rough road conditions (dips, heaves, ruts, etc.) and sudden carrier vehicle direction changes can create so much movement on the motorcycle suspension as to allow the standard open hooks to escape from the soft hook web loop. A new web clamp design that incorporated a hook in the design of the web clamp frame was described in the parent application hereof. This integral hook is described as having a closing latch to support the open side of hook, and of course the latch prevents the possibility of the hook escaping the loop of a soft hook.
Since "soft hooks" are a standard means to attach to street motorcycles, there is a need for optimum means to attach to these types of web loops. An alternate design specific for a web hook that will lend itself for use as web clamp end-attachment is also described herein.
The web clamp designs herein resulted in another consideration for motorcycle tiedown equipment. When motorcycles are transported inside trailers or trucks, the web clamps are frequently in a location that is access restricted. In this case, the direction orientation of the web clamp is critical in order to allow the operator to have a straight line pull on the web tensioning end of a tie-down. Also with the inventive force multiplying web clamp design, it is important to avoid misaligned or twisted webs on the tie-down, as the increased friction will limit the ability for the web clamp to develop the desired web tension. It is the accommodation of the new web clamp design that will insure optimum orientation of the web clamp for the operator, and proper alignment of the web with the web clamp. As used herein, the terms "web and "strap" are interchangeable.


An organic electroluminescent display device (10) includes a first display region (12) and a second display region (14), each region adapted to provide a different type of information. For example, first display region (12) may be adapted to display icon information, while second display region (14) may be adapted to provide dynamic or changing information such as video or alpha numeric information. The display device (10) may include an organic electroluminescent display module (62) having a plurality of picture elements, said picture elements optionally having corresponding light influencing elements (58 and 102-110) for providing full color icon or dynamic information.

Until fairly recently, the preferred, indeed the only means by which to display information in the electronic medium was to use a video monitor comprising a cathode ray tube ("CRT"). CRT technology has been well known for over 50 years, and has gained widespread commercial acceptance in applications ranging from desktop computer modules to home televisions and industrial applications. CRTs are essentially large vacuum tubes having one substantially planar surface upon which information is displayed. Coated on the inside of the CRT planar surface is a layer of phosphors which respond by emitting light when struck by electrons emitted from the electron gun of the CRT. The electron gun is disposed in an elongated portion which extends away from the inside of the CRT display surface.
While CRTs are widely used in numerous applications, there are several inherent limitations to the application of CRT technology. For example, CRTs are relatively large and consume a great deal of energy. Moreover, as they are fabricated of glass, the larger the display surface, the heavier the CRT. Given the need for the electron gun to be spacedly disposed from the phosphors surface of the display surface, CRTs have a substantial depth dimension. Accordingly, CRTs have little use in small and portable applications, such as handheld televisions, laptop computers, and other portable electronic applications which require the use of displays.
To answer the needs of the marketplace for smaller, lighter, more portable display devices, manufacturers have created numerous types of flat panel display devices. Examples of flat panel display devices include active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCD's), plasma displays, and electroluminescent displays. Each of these types of displays has use for a particular market application, though each is accompanied by various limitations which make them less than ideal for certain applications. Principal limitations inherent in devices such as AMLCD's relate to the fact that they are fabricated predominantly of inorganic semiconductor materials by semiconductor fabrication processes. These materials and processes are extremely expensive, and due to the complexity of the manufacturing process, cannot be reliably manufactured in high yields. Accordingly, the costs of these devices are very high with no promise of immediate cost reduction.
One preferred type of device which is currently receiving substantial research effort is the organic electroluminescent device. Organic electroluminescent devices ("OED") are generally composed of three layers of organic molecules sandwiched between transparent, conductive and/or metallic conductive electrodes. The three layers include an electron transporting layer, an emissive layer, and a hole transporting layer. Charge carriers specifically, electrons and holes, are generated in the electron and hole transporting region. Electrons are negatively charged atomic particles and holes are the positively charged counterparts. The charge carriers are injected into the emissive layer, where they combine, emitting light. OED's are attractive owing to their thin profile, light weight, and low driving voltage, i.e., less than about 20 volts. Hence, they have a potential application as full color flat emissive displays.
Small to medium size displays with diagonal viewing dimensions of less than about four inches are in great demand for portable applications such as video cameras, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, personal handy phones, cellular phones, and a host of other devices which require low power, lightweight, and multi-colored direction. In many such applications, icons, especially color icons, have been used along with a main display to indicate the miscellaneous information relative to the device, examples of which include operation mode, the signal carrier, power indicators, alarm codes, and others. For those applications where color icons are required in addition to dynamic or varying information, the practice has been to combine a standard AMLCD as the main display with light emitting diodes (LED's) as the color icons. Due to the limitations of viewing angle and night visibility with AMLCD's and the high cost and high power drain associated with LED's, this solution has been less than optimal. Moreover, the manufacturing difficulty of combining two or more types of display device results in significantly lower manufacturing yields and hence higher prices.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an emissive display which provides both color iconic information as well as dynamic, varying information in a traditional display format. Such a display device should have low power drain, wide viewing angle, good night visibility, and be both low cost and highly manufacturable.

Organic electroluminescent display with icons


The present invention, in one form, is an alarm system for detecting the presence of a child locked within a parked automobile during extreme temperatures. The alarm system includes a temperature detecting element and a child detecting element electrically coupled to an AND gate. The temperature detecting element transmits an extreme temperature signal to the AND gate if the temperature within the automobile exceeds a pre-selected maximum temperature. The child detecting element transmits a child detection signal to the AND gate when it detects a child within the automobile. The AND gate, upon receiving both the child detection signal and the extreme temperature signal, transmits and alarm signal.

Automobile operators sometimes park their automobiles and inadvertently leave their pets inside the automobile, particularly in the back seat. Similarly, some automobile owners have been known to inadvertently lock their children in a parked automobile. Likewise, children have been known to inadvertently lock themselves in a parked automobile. If the pet or child is trapped in the automobile for an extended period of time, or during extreme temperatures, the pet or child typically suffers adverse health effects. In at least one instance, a child inadvertently trapped in a parked automobile during extreme temperatures has died.
At least one automobile alarm system protects an automobile from vandalism and burglary. The alarm system sounds an alarm when a locked automobile door is opened without a key. Another known alarm system sounds an alarm upon physical contact with the exterior of a locked automobile. Such alarm systems, while effective for preventing an automobile from vandalism and burglary, do not detect the presence of a person or animal confined within a locked automobile during extreme temperatures.
To increase the safety of a child within a car, safety devices such as car seats have been developed. However, each of the known safety devices is designed to increase a child's safety while the automobile is moving, i.e., during automobile operation. Such devices do not prevent a child from inadvertently being locked in a parked automobile during extreme temperatures.
It would be desirable to provide an apparatus for detecting the presence of a child within a parked automobile during extreme temperatures. It also would be desirable to provide such an apparatus that is simple to fabricate and install in an automobile.


An information providing apparatus sends an image forming instruction to an image forming apparatus to cause the image forming apparatus to form an image to generate image data and transmit the image data to the information providing apparatus, stores the image data received from the image forming apparatus in a memory area of a memory, and stores identification information that uniquely identifies the image data and information indicating the memory area to which the image data is stored in association with each other to generate management information in the memory.

1. Field
The present invention generally relates to an information providing apparatus, a transmission system including the information providing apparatus, an information providing method, and an information providing program stored in a recording medium.
2. Background
The recent communication system allows transmission of data among a plurality of communication terminals that are remotely located from one another through a relay device to facilitate communication among the plurality of communication terminals through a communication network such as the Internet. The communication system transmits image data that is captured at each terminal using a camera and sound data that is collected at each terminal using a microphone, from one communication terminal to the other communication terminal.
In addition to the image data and the sound data, the communication system may transmit a screen of presentation materials that is displayed at one communication terminal, to the other communication terminal such that data of the screen being displayed at one terminal is shared with the other terminal.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-135865, and the corresponding U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0052348 disclose an image processing apparatus, which can easily establish wireless communication with a mobile terminal such that the mobile terminal transmits data to be shared to the image processing apparatus.

Information providing apparatus, transmission system, information providing method, and recording medium storing information providing program


In an image forming apparatus using a cleaner/toner magazine (CTM) which has a waste toner tank and a fresh toner tank formed integrally with each other, a cleaning device has a cleaning blade which scrapes off toner left on a photoconductive element with an edge thereof. The toner removed by the cleaning blade is magnetically deposited on a rotatable magnet member whose outer periphery is magnetized. A scraper member contacts the magnet member in the waste toner tank and scrapes off the toner from the magnet member which is in rotation. As a result, the toner is collected in a collection space defined in the waste toner tank.

The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, copier, printer or similar image forming apparatus of the type using a cleaner/toner magazine (CTM) which has a waste toner tank and a fresh toner tank formed integrally with each other and, more particularly, to a cleaning device for removing toner remaining on a photoconductive element included in the apparatus and collecting it.
An image forming apparatus of the kind described often uses a CTM replaceably mounted to the apparatus and having a waste toner tank and a fresh toner tank constructed integrally with each other. The waste toner tank accommodates a cleaning device for removing toner left on a photoconductive element after image transfer and collecting it. Usually, such a cleaning device has a cleaning blade contacting the surface of the photoconductive element at an edge thereof, and a brush rotatable in contact with the edge of the blade. The toner is removed by the edge of the cleaning blade and then raked off by the brush into a collection space defined in the waste toner tank. The cleaning device with such a blade and brush collects the toner removed by the blade in the collection space more efficiently than a cleaning device having only the blade.
The brush has to be slightly bent at all times in order to rake off the toner into the waste toner tank. Usually, the brush has the brush portion thereof adhered to a support member made of plastic by a two-sided adhesive tape. The adhesive tape, however, sequentially comes off due to thermal stresses attributable to a fixing device which is located in the vicinity of the brush. As a result, the support member fails to firmly support the brush portion, sequentially lowering the collecting ability of the brush.
For a conventional cleaning device implemented as a CTM, a reference may be made to, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 5-210339 and corresponding copending U.S. Ser. No. 08/010,876 filed Jan. 29, 1993.

Device for cleaning a photoconductive element included in an image forming apparatus


The present invention provides a flexible fuel compensation system for controlling operating parameters of an internal combustion engine based on a learned value of the percent alcohol content of the fuel using an oxygen feedback system. The methodology determines a fuel composition multiplier based on the percent alcohol content and implements gasoline operating parameters for the internal combustion engine if the fuel composition multiplier is less than a first threshold value, mixed gasoline/alcohol operating parameters if the fuel composition multiplier is greater than the first threshold value, and high concentration alcohol operating parameters if the fuel composition multiplier is greater than a second threshold value for a number of comparison checks. After a predetermined period, the fuel composition multiplier is updated and re-compared to the first and second thresholds and the appropriate one of the aforementioned operating parameters is implemented. A third update of the fuel composition multiplier is made if the determined fuel composition multiplier is less than the actual percent alcohol content of the fuel by more than a given amount.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to fuel control systems and, more particularly, to a method of determining the percent alcohol content of a fuel used in a motor vehicle capable of operating on more than one type of fuel.
2. Discussion
Environmental and energy independence concerns have stimulated the development of alternative transportation fuels, such as alcohol fuels, for use in automobiles. Alcohol fuels include methanol and ethanol. A flexible fueled vehicle capable of operating on gasoline, or alcohol fuel, or any mixture of the two fuels, is therefore in demand. Modifications to the engine are necessary when operating on different fuels because of the different characteristics of each fuel. For example, an engine operating on ethanol or E85 (a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) requires approximately 1.4 times the amount of fuel relative to gasoline at stoichiometry due to a lower energy content of the ethanol.
Air/fuel ratio in internal combustion engine design is typically considered to be the ratio of mass flow rate of air to mass flow rate of fuel inducted by an internal combustion engine to achieve conversion of the fuel into completely oxidized products. The chemically correct ratio corresponding to complete oxidation of the products is called stoichiometric. If the air/fuel ratio is less than stoichiometric, an engine is said to be operating rich, i.e., too much fuel is being burned in proportion to the amount of air to achieve perfect combustion. Likewise, if the air/fuel ratio is greater than stoichiometric, an engine is said to be operating lean, i.e., too much air is being burned in proportion to the amount of fuel to achieve perfect combustion. Alcohol fuels have a lower air/fuel ratio than gasoline at stoichiometric, so that the engine must be compensated for in the rich direction as the percentage of alcohol in the fuel increases.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,671, entitled "Method for Flexible Fuel Control", hereby expressly incorporated by reference, discloses a fuel composition sensor that measures the percent alcohol content of the fuel and relays that information to an engine controller or the like so that dependant variables such as spark timing and air/fuel ratio can be adjusted accordingly. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,661, entitled "Method for Determining Fuel Composition Using Oxygen Sensor Feedback Control", hereby expressly incorporated by reference, provides a method for determining the percent alcohol content of the fuel in the fuel tank utilizing an oxygen sensor feedback control loop to sense changes in air/fuel ratio and relay that information to the engine controller so that dependant variables can be adjusted accordingly.
Although these methods work well, there is room for improvement in the art. For instance, according to the prior art, there is no clear separation between gasoline operation and alcohol operation. Also, the prior art does not provide a way to insure that all of the alcohol is absent from the fuel before the on board diagnostics monitors (OBDII) are reenabled. Additionally, the prior art does not provide a way to identify users of high alcohol concentration fuel so that engine parameters can be modified accordingly. Moreover, the prior art does not provide a way for the fuel system monitor to detect errors during alcohol operation.

Method of determining the composition of fuel in a flexible fueled vehicle


It is intended to clarify a molecule which is available as a target in treating or diagnosing cancer and utilize the molecule in the medical field or the research field. By treating IgSF4, which has been identified as a molecule specifically expressed in lung cancer cells, with an antibody, and ADCC activity is exerted. Based on this finding, an anti-IgSF4 antibody is provided as a means efficacious in treating cancer, etc.

Success in treating breast cancer with Herceptin (non-patent document 1) and malignant B lymphoma with Rituxan (non-patent document 2) has shown that antibodies can be used as therapeutic drugs in treatment of cancers. Some kinds of antibodies form a complex with an antigen molecule existing cell membrane, triggering an ADCC activity (non-patent document 3) and a CDC activity (non-patent document 4) so as to kill the cell expressing antigen. The antigen-antibody complex formation may trigger apoptosis. A lethal action on cells by an antibody is a peculiar function found in cells regardless of whether they are cancer cells or normal cells. Success or failure of development of antibody therapeutic drugs for treating cancers depends upon the discovery of an antigen (a cancer antigen) as a target of an antibody capable of killing all the subjected cancer cells while minimizing the effect (adverse effect) to normal cells.
Because an entire base sequence of human genome has been determined, a primary sequence of amino acid of all proteins coded on the genome can be estimated. Abnormal expression of genes that are not used for normal cells causes canceration. If the gene product thereof is a membrane protein, it becomes a target of an antibody as shown in an example of HER2/Herceptin. Based on this idea, researches for analyzing the qualitative and quantitative difference of transcriptional products between cancer cells and normal cells by using DNA microarray have been carried out in many laboratories all over the world.                [Patent document 1] Translation Publication No. Saihyou 01/062907        [Patent document 2] Translation Publication No. Saihyou 01/096401        [Non-patent document 1] Mass R, et al.: The Concordance Between the Clinical Trials Assay (CTA) and Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH) in the Herceptin Pivotal Trials.: Proc Am Soci Clin Oncol 19, 75a, 2000        [Non-patent document 2] Berinstein N L, Grillo-López A J, White C A, Bence-Bruckler I, Maloney D, Czuczman M, et al. Association of serum Rituximab (IDEC-C2B8) concentration and anti-tumor response in the treatment of recurrent low-grade or follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Annals of Oncology 1998, 9:995-1001.        [Non-patent document 3] Bruggemann M., Williams G. T., Bindon C. I., Clark M. R., Walker M. R., Jefferis R., Waldmann H., Neuberger M. S. (1987). Comparison of the effector functions of human immunoglobulin using a matched set of chimeric antibodies. J. Exp. Med., 166, 1351-1361.        [Non-patent document 4] Loos M. (1982). The classical complement pathway: mechanism of activation of the first component by antigen-antibody complexes. Prog. Allergy, 30, 135-192. Mol. Immunol. 1982 May; 19(5):651-7.

Anti-IgSF4 antibody and utilization of the same


A display opening and closing angle detecting mechanism includes a display 1 mounted on a ceiling of a vehicle, and rotating with a rotating shaft 3 as the fulcrum integrally with the rotating shaft in an opening or closing direction; a supporting means 4 supporting the rotating shaft 3; a means 18 causing the supporting means to displace the rotating shaft vertically according to the rotation of the display; a rotor displaced up and down and rotating, integrally with the rotating shaft; a lever 9 pressed and moved by a projecting and recessed part at a plurality of rotation positions of the rotor; and a switch 14 operating according to the operation of the lever.

Known structures include a structure where a video display serving as a display means is openably and closably attached on a ceiling of a vehicle (for example, see Patent Document 1). Such a conventional technology uses a supporting structure where a rectangular display is connected to a housing through a hinge, and is supported rotatably about a fixed fulcrum. When the display is stored, it is maintained in the closed state where the screen thereof is placed alongside the ceiling, and when the display is used, it is maintained in a so-called opened state where the screen is displaced nearly to a substantially vertical state such that a viewer can easily see the screen. In such a viewable state, since the display occupies a space corresponding to the substantially longitudinal size of the display downwardly from its fixed fulcrum, driver's rearward visibility through a room mirror is blocked in the case where a large-sized display is used, or in a sporty vehicle with a low ceiling and sunroof-specification vehicle.
Further, in an on-vehicle AV device mounted on a ceiling part of a vehicle and having a function capable of tilting its monitor unit, there has been known a supporting mechanism of an on-vehicle AV device, including a drive means having a tilt drive mechanism for tilting its monitor; a position-detecting switch detecting whether or not the monitor is located at the stored position; and a control means controlling the drive means on the basis of a signal from the position-detecting switch (for example, see Patent Document 2).
In the aforementioned technologies, there is no disclosure indicating that the rotating shaft of the monitor is displaced. Furthermore, the technology discloses only a structure for detecting the stored position of the monitor (that is, when the monitor is located in the closed state); however, the technology does not disclose that, for example, with an apparatus having a function causing the monitor to displace the rotating shaft while making an opening movement, any opening angle of the monitor is detected. For this reason, for instance, when the monitor is opened wider than a viewable angle and the display comes into the sight of a driver, no safety measures such as turning off of the display of the monitor can be taken. Even if an arrangement is adopted such that the monitor is locked against a further rotating movement so as to be unable to open wider than a predetermined viewable angle, it still remains that the shock given to a person coming in contact with the monitor cannot be reduced.    Patent Document 1: JP-A2002-193045    Patent Document 2: JP-A2002-204409
In conventional on-vehicle display units, the rearward visibility of a driver through a room mirror is sometimes blocked as the display size increases or due to other reasons. Moreover, if the display is opened wider than a viewable angle by some reasons and therefore, the display comes within the sight of the driver, safety measures cannot be taken such as automatically turning off the display because there is no detecting means for detecting that the display is opened wider than the viewable angle.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a display opening and closing angle detecting mechanism capable of reducing a disincentive acting on a driver to concentrating attention during driving, accompanied by installation of a display.

Display opening and closing angle detecting mechanism


A display panel includes a light-emitting device on a substrate and an encapsulation structure on a light output surface on one side of the light-emitting device. The encapsulation structure includes a first inorganic layer and a fluoro-polymeric layer. Ductility and bending resistance of the fluoro-polymeric layer are greater than those of the first inorganic layer. Defects between the fluoro-polymeric layer and the first inorganic layer are fewer than those between the first inorganic layer and another layer.

An organic light-emitting device or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is used as a novel flat panel display. As compared to a liquid crystal display (LCD), the OLED has advantages such as thinness, light weight, wide viewing angle, self-luminescence, continuously adjustable emitting color, low cost, fast response speed, low energy consumption, low driving voltage, wide range of operating temperature, simple production process, high illuminating efficiency, and flexible display. The OLED has attracted immense industrial and scientific attentions by virtue of its incomparable advantages and promising application prospects over other displays.
However, due to the existence of an organic light-emitting layer in the organic light-emitting device, the organic light-emitting device is sensitive to moisture and oxygen. Once moisture and oxygen enter the organic light-emitting layer, the service life of the organic light-emitting device will be drastically affected. For a display panel in the related art, it is necessary to arrange an encapsulation structure on the organic light-emitting device. In the encapsulation structure, an encapsulation layer is made of micron-sized silicon oxide and silicon oxynitride. As inorganic films are used, the bending resistance of the organic light-emitting device is limited to some extent, and the encapsulation layer is prone to be stripped due to certain defects.
Therefore, how to increase the bending resistance of the light-emitting device while the encapsulation structure is guaranteed for blocking moisture and oxygen is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently for those skilled in the art.

Display panel including fluoro-polymeric layer


One or more water- and oil-porous containers or sacks are made of a pair of mesh sheets affixed together and stiffened around their perimeter. The sacks can be partially filled with a multitude of tubular bodies made of an oil-entrapping polymer, which have their longest dimension parallel to an axial hole. A preferred material is composed of a combination of SBS and EPDM, formed by an extrusion technique, to create highly fissured generally cylindrical bodies. The sacks may be deployed in areas where oil is floating on water, such as where oil has spilled from tankers on oceans, seas, lakes, or rivers. When the bodies are afloat, oily water can pass through the axial holes of and around the bodies, maximizing the surface area contacted by the oil and minimizing gel blocking. After a time sufficient for the bodies in the sacks to adsorb oil, the sacks can be collected. Various deployment and collection methods are disclosed. After collection, the oil may be recycled; alternatively the sacks may be incinerated, to recover the energy content for use as power while disposing of the oil.

The continuing incidence of oil spillage into both marine and inland waterways due to shipping accidents results in enormous annual costs both financially to the shipping and insurance industries and environmentally. Many spill incidents occur in bad weather or in remote locations. Current systems for ameliorating oil spills require that specialized spill-response ships containing unique heavy equipment reach the site of the spill quickly, which requires relatively calm waters. There is a limited number of units of specialized equipment, and they are not easily transported. Thus, in many cases, response to the spill is delayed for many hours or even days. The impact of a spill is greatly increased by both bad weather and delayed response. Spill damage can be mitigated if response is rapid, even in rough-water conditions.
An additional problem is the high cost of disposal of the recovered material. Current recovery systems create large quantities of waste, which must be disposed of as hazardous waste at high financial cost. This problem can be solved by employing a system that allows for recycling, reclaiming, or low cost disposal.
Known systems for the clean-up of oil spilled on water fall into two categories: (1) absorption or adsorption (sorbing) of the oil, or (2) skimming of the oil, typically in conjunction with containment.
Many materials are known to be oil-absorbent or oil-adsorbent, such as wood chips, activated carbon, wool, cotton balls, corn husks, duck feathers, and various synthetic polymeric materials. A number of polymeric materials (polypropylene, polyester, polyurethane, vinyl polymers, and others) are known to absorb or adsorb crude or refined oil. Systems for applying these materials to oil spills are less developed. Application of materials to oil have been largely limited to two types: (1) spraying particles of the oil-sorbing material on the spill, or (2) placing the material inside booms or other barriers that surround the spill.
Either method creates severe collection problems for sorbent material in particulate form, including sinking of the oil-loaded material, loss of the oil-loaded material due to dispersion by wave or wind action, and dissolution of the oil-sorbent material in the oil spill. These problems are exacerbated when the spill occurs in bad weather or near shorelines. In addition, because 90% of spilled oil is typically located in 10% of the spill area, the dissolution problem can be particularly troublesome inside barriers. Further, the application of oil-sorbing material typically employs spill boats, which rely on availability of the boat and access to the spill. Both of these can be a severe problem in remote locations or bad weather.
Containers for oil-sorbing materials are known. These systems generally employ pillow or bale shaped containers. However, these containers have a tendency to pile up on top of each other, creating an undesirable condition in which a significant amount of the sorbent material is either below the waterline or floating above the oil, in either case out of contact with the oil. In addition, the large cross section of these types of containers tends to result in an "oil lock-out" phenomenon, in which the surface of the material becomes saturated with oil, effectively preventing oil migration to the center of the material. These containers also have a propensity for folding over on themselves in heavy seas, thereby reducing the contact between oil and the sorbent material.
On the other hand, oil-containment systems utilize booms to surround the spill until the oil can be collected. Boom systems have a number of designs, some of which employ oil sorbent materials in their construction. However, oil-sorbent booms are not designed to sorb substantial amounts of oil, but rather are generally used to retrieve a sheen or a small oil spill or to prevent the spill from expanding or reaching a protected area such as a shoreline until it can be collected by mechanical means, typically utilizing skimmers or oil-recovery boats.
Containment systems employing traditional booms have numerous problems. Deployment of some booms requires specialized equipment, which can be slow and difficult. If the spill is large, surrounding the spill may not be possible due to lack of sufficient boom resources. All of these problems can delay response to the spill. Therefore, boom and skimmer systems do not work well in rough water or near obstacles.
Delayed response to a spill results in a number of deleterious changes. A spill spreads uncontrollably and rapidly to a thin layer on water (less than 1 mm in many cases), making containment extremely difficult if not impossible. If close to shore, the oil may wash ashore, causing severe environmental damage. Lighter fractions of the oil (volatile organic compounds) are released into the atmosphere, resulting in hydrocarbon air pollution. The oil will undergo aging and emulsification, which can cause the oil to sink, making cleanup even more difficult. All of these changes cause the cleanup of the spill to become much more difficult, increase the environmental impact, and raise the financial cost of the cleanup.
There has been a need for some time, therefore, for an oil-recovery system that would (1) permit faster response, (2) work better in adverse conditions, such as rough water or near shorelines and obstacles, (3) prevent more of the oil from sinking, (4) contain the extent of the oil spill more quickly, (5) permit easier and more flexible deployment, (6) allow for easier collection, (7) permit economical recycling or disposal of the collected oil, and better protect the environment.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to achieve a more effective system for recovering oil from the surface of bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes, or rivers.
It is another object of the invention to provide methods and apparatus for applying oil-absorbent or oil-adsorbent materials to an oil spill quickly and easily, accurately, and with minimal disturbance of the environment.
It is another object of the invention to provide methods and apparatus for effectively containing water-borne oil spills, even under adverse conditions or near shorelines, rocks, and reefs.
It is another object of the invention to provide methods and apparatus for ameliorating oil spills both by containment, such as within a barrier, and by entrapping the oil in an oil-sorbent material.
It is another object of the invention to provide a means of improving the collection of spilled oil.
It is another object of the invention to provide systems for controlling oil spills in areas of a body of water that are remote from collection vessels or in areas where shipping hazards or the oil itself prevent safe vessel operation, for later removal.
It is another object of the invention to provide collection systems that do not need to rely on the presence of specialized boats or vessels but can work with them.
It is another objective of the invention to provide systems for controlling oil spills that provide for the economical recycling of the collected oil as fuel.
It is another objective of the invention to provide systems for controlling oil spills that provide for the disposal of the oil through in-situ burning of the oil.
The present invention achieves the above and other objectives by use of a plurality of water- and oil-porous containers or sacks that are partially filled with a hydrophobic, compliant, oil-absorbent, copolymer material arranged in a number of bodies that (a) are generally cylindrical, (b) are porous, (c) have at least one passageway parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and (d) are dimensioned to float on water with the axis parallel to the surface of the water. The material is formed with a binder in a novel extrusion process. Optionally, a multitude of small flakes of a rigid, inert, smooth material having a surface that is wettable with respect to hydrocarbons are embedded in the bodies. Each sack is sewn in a novel way, with a perimeter stiffening ring, to retain a flat profile, and has a netting that closes to help inhibit outflow of the oil when the sack is retrieved. When deployed from ship or by air onto a spill, the sacks spread into a pancake shape and the copolymer bodies form a relatively thin layer that retains the oil. The inventive sacks will float indefinitely without releasing the oil or allowing it to emulsify, so the oil can remain in place until collection efforts are feasible. The sacks can be burned in situ, or standard fishing boats or specialized collection boats can be used to retrieve the sacks, and the collected material can be burned to capture the energy content of the oil or processed to separate the oil from the copolymer. The inventive sacks can be used in conjunction with other, known containment or retrieval equipment, such as booms or skimmers, if desired.
Thus, the inventive systems, devices, and methods can be used to permit (1) easy and quick deployment of containment equipment, even if a spill is in an inconvenient or distant location, (2) effective control of the spilled oil during any delays in recovery, and (3) comparatively inexpensive and easy collection of the oil during the clean-up stage. The system is specifically designed for rapid deployment and efficiency in rough water.
Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after a reading of the detailed disclosure of the present invention below.
Common numerals are used in the several figures to indicate similar elements.

Sack-based processes for recovering oil floating on water


Various exemplary embodiments relate to method and media devices for synchronizing media playback between a receiving media device and sending media device, including: receiving, at the receiving media device, a plurality of messages from the sending media device, wherein the plurality of messages include a plurality of sender timestamps; generating a plurality of clock offset values based on the plurality of sender timestamps and a clock of the receiving media device; identifying a minimum clock offset value from the plurality of clock offset values; locating first media data for playback and a first presentation time associated with the first media data; and causing the first media data to be rendered at a first time that matches the first presentation time based on the minimum clock offset.

As electronic devices such as smart phones and tablet become more prevalent, people are more frequently using such devices to play content such as music and videos. Often, these media sources may not tender media to the full satisfaction of the user. For example, the display may be too small or the speaker volume may be of insufficient quality or volume. Moreover, output from the media source may not be easily or comfortably enjoyed by multiple people. Furthermore, absent carrying the media source with them, the user is unable to enjoy the media in various locations throughout their home.