A centrally tracked artificial currency is provided within the context of an enterprise. This currency serves as a unit of account, medium of exchange, and store of value in a corporate “attention economy.” Users (typically coworkers) in the enterprise are allotted a base number of currency units, which they can earn, exchange, and spend in a variety of ways to signal importance and “purchase” attention of others, or priority for other organization resources. In one aspect, senders of messages can specify an amount of currency to be associated with the message, so that recipients can see the specified amount before deciding whether to read the message. Once such a system is in use, it facilitates exchange of value based on user-created transactions regarding behavior, communication, resources, incentives, and priorities.

In the modern enterprise, information workers are inundated with electronic information, much of which is unnecessary and undesired. This information overload occurs because sending electronic information, usually through e-mail, has little cost. In general, each individual in the enterprise acts in his or her own interest when presented with a public good or resource, a phenomenon known in economic terms as "the Tragedy of the Commons." The cumulative effect of each person acting in their individual interest is that the common resource becomes overused and loses value to the community, as is the case of an overgrazed common pasture. Thus, workers see the e-mail system as very low cost way of getting other's attention, regardless of the significance of their communication to others. As a result, most workers receive excessive amounts of e-mail from their coworkers (and from others), informing them of perhaps trivial developments. The attention of an organization's employees is a vital resource that has suffered from overuse due to the essentially unlimited availability of electronic mail. In addition to the problem of commercial spam, many information workers are overwhelmed by the volume of corporate spam: messages from within their own organization.
A system that allows a sender to signal the importance of an e-mail to the recipient is desired. Current systems do not address the Commons problem because the signals that are available (e.g., priority flags) do not impose a cost on the sender, and so the weight of their signal loses impact over time. In other words, the state of being flagged as a priority in current systems also carries little information to the recipient because it imposes no cost on the creator. Filters and intelligent agents have been proposed to deal with email overload but require a high level of user maintenance and cannot take into consideration the psychology of interpersonal relationships.
Resources other than an individual's attention within an organization are allocated by various mechanisms, many of which fail to operate efficiently. Important projects requiring use of a limited resource may wait in line behind low-priority ones because there is often no queuing mechanism other than first-come-first-serve, or based on other management policies. There is a need for a system that instantiates a more effective allocation mechanism based on the objective function of the organization. In short, a system that allows an individual to make demands on organization resources appropriate to his or her estimation of the possible gains for the organization would allow for increased efficiency and progress toward organization goals.
What is needed, therefore, is a system and method that allows or forces a sender of a message to reliably indicate the priority level of a message. The intended recipient can use these value-laden signals to then determine how much attention to devote to the message.

Attention economy for attention to messages, tasks and resources


Aspects of the present disclosure provide a number of approaches to deploy out-of-standard (or proprietary) features/enhancements that are not supported in the current communication standards. A mobile terminal and a network can mutually agree to support certain out-of-standard features/enhancements, and communicate support of such out-of-standard or non-standard features/enhancements by adapting or repurposing currently unused (or reserved) signaling data.

Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and so on. Such networks, which are usually multiple access networks, support communications for multiple users by sharing the available network resources. One example of such a network is the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). The UTRAN is the radio access network (RAN) defined as a part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a third generation (3G) mobile phone technology supported by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). UMTS, which is the successor to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technologies, currently supports various air interface standards, such as Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA). UMTS also supports enhanced 3G data communications protocols, such as High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), which provides higher data transfer speeds and capacity to associated UMTS networks.
In the UMTS standards, signaling between a user equipment (UE) (also referred to as a mobile station, wireless terminal, mobile terminal, etc.) and a UTRAN is the information exchange concerning the establishment and control of the telecommunication channels and the management of the network. For signaling purposes, a lot of information is transmitted between the UE and UTRAN. The signaling between the UE and UTRAN is carried out using the radio interface protocols defined in the 3GPP standards. These radio interface protocols include the Media Access Control (MAC) protocol, the Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), the broadcast/multicast control protocol, the multimedia broadcast multicast control protocol, and the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol. In order to ensure interoperability of equipment produced by different vendors, the UE and UTRAN generally are designed to communicate with each other in accordance with the signaling protocols defined and sanctioned in the current 3GPP standards.
As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, research and development continue to advance the UMTS technologies not only to meet the growing demand for mobile broadband access, but to advance and enhance the user experience with mobile communications. However, it is generally very time consuming to amend or update the 3GPP standards to introduce new features because it will involve multiple parties and complicated procedures.

Apparatus and methods for signaling out-of-standard capability in wireless communication networks


The present disclosure relates to a photolithography system having an ambulatory projection and/or detection gratings that provide for high quality height measurements without the use of an air gauge. In some embodiments, the photolithography system has a level sensor having a projection source that generates a measurement beam that is provided to a semiconductor substrate via a projection grating. A detector is positioned to receive a measurement beam reflected from the semiconductor substrate via a detection grating. An ambulatory element selectively varies an orientation of the projection grating and/or the detection grating to improve the measurement of the level sensor. By selectively varying an orientation of the projection and/or detection gratings, erroneous measurements of the level sensor can be eliminated.

The fabrication of integrated circuits on a semiconductor substrate is performed by depositing a plurality of different layers, respectively having different patterns, onto a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The different patterns of the different layers are achieved through the use of photolithography, a process that uses electromagnetic radiation to transfer a geometric pattern from a photomask to a substrate.
In general, a photolithography process is initiated by depositing a layer of photoresist material onto a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The photoresist material is then selectively exposed to electromagnetic radiation (e.g., ultraviolet light), with the exposed areas defined by a photomask. After exposure, the photoresist material is subjected to a developer, which removes unwanted areas of the photoresist material to expose corresponding areas of the underlying semiconductor substrate.

Flexible wafer leveling design for various orientation of line/trench

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


Pulse width modulation (PWM) of a drive current to an organic light emitting diode (OLED) is performed by a circuit subjected to corresponding signaling.

It is often necessary or desirable to selectively control the output or operating rate of numerous kinds of electronic loads. Typically, the voltage and/or current applied to the load is/are varied in order to achieve the control effect. One type of load that can be controlled is an organic light emitting diode (OLED). By selectively varying the average applied electrical current, the luminance (i.e., brightness) of an OLED can be suitably modulated.


A cooled-hydrogen supply station includes: a first coolant passage through which a first coolant circulates; a water-cooled refrigerator unit disposed on a part of the first coolant passage to cool the first coolant; a second coolant passage through which a second coolant flows; a first heat exchanger for cooling the second coolant by the first coolant, between another part of the first coolant passage and a part of the second coolant passage; a hydrogen storage unit; a hydrogen passage for transporting hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage unit; and a second heat exchanger for cooling the hydrogen by the second coolant, between another part of the second coolant passage and a part of the hydrogen passage. The hydrogen is cooled down to a temperature of −43° C. to −20° C. by the second heat exchanger, and a hydrogen cooling power for cooling hydrogen to −40° C. is between 13.5 kW and 16.5 kW.

Since fuel-cell vehicles driven by hydrogen as a fuel do not emit an exhaust gas, those vehicles are environmentally friendly. Thus, in order that such fuel-cell vehicles are widely used, various developments are advanced in recent years. In order for prevalence of fuel-cell vehicles, a development of a vehicle itself is important, and a development of a hydrogen supply station for supplying hydrogen to a fuel-cell vehicle is also important.
Various techniques have been conventionally proposed for a hydrogen supply station (see, for example, JP4492064B).

Cooled-hydrogen supply station and hydrogen cooling apparatus


A mixing member designed for assembly in an axially rotating manner inside the cylindrical bowl of a blender; the mixing member having a number of longitudinal blades extending parallel to a longitudinal reference axis of the mixing member and spaced angularly about the longitudinal axis to form a “squirrel cage” structure bounded laterally by a cylindrical reference surface coaxial with the longitudinal axis; each of the longitudinal blades has an outer lateral edge lying on the cylindrical reference surface and having at least one scraping device, which includes a scraper hinged to the body of the longitudinal blade to project from and rotate about an axis of rotation locally substantially parallel to the outer lateral edge of the longitudinal blade and/or to the longitudinal axis of the mixing member, and an elastic member which pushes a wedge-shaped transverse edge of the scraper radially onto the cylindrical inner surface of the bowl.

As is known, blenders are used for making home-made ice-cream, and normally comprise a cylindrical, horizontal-axis bowl into which the ingredients for producing a given quantity of ice-cream are poured; a cooling unit for cooling and maintaining the bowl and contents at a temperature ranging between −10° C. and −35° C.; and a rotary mixing member mounted for rotation inside the bowl to blend the ingredients at the various ice-cream-making stages.
In addition, the mixing member is shaped to uninterruptedly scrape the whole cylindrical inner surface of the bowl, to prevent the ingredient mixture inside the bowl from adhering to the lateral wall on account of the low temperature of the lateral wall.
More specifically, most currently marketed mixing members extend coaxially with a longitudinal axis, which, in use, coincides with the axis of symmetry of the bowl, and substantially comprise a number of elongated rectangular radial blades spaced angularly about the longitudinal axis of the mixing member; and two end connecting hubs, which are coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the mixing member, are located on opposite sides of the blades, and are shaped to connect the axial ends of the blades to form a rigid structure that can rotate easily about the longitudinal axis of the mixing member.
Normally, the radial blades extend helically about the longitudinal axis of the mixing member, and are angularly spaced about the axis so that the outer lateral edges of the blades lie on a cylindrical surface of a diameter approximately equal to but no larger than the diameter of the bowl; and one of the end hubs has a supporting shaft or pin projecting from the hub body, coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the mixing member, and terminating with a splined head for connection to an electric motor inside the blender.
To scrape off the ice-cream sticking to the lateral wall of the bowl, mixing members of the type described above also comprise a number of plastic scrapers fixed to the outer lateral edges of the flat blades and movable freely in the blade planes, i.e. radially; and a number of helical push springs fitted to the blades to push the individual scrapers radially outwards, so that each rests against the cylindrical inner surface of the lateral wall of the bowl.
Though highly efficient, known mixing members have the major drawback of being relatively difficult to clean, on account of the ice-cream accumulating in the cavities housing the helical springs and scrapers, with all the obvious problems this involves.
Known mixing members also have the major drawback of performing poorly when the scrapers are called upon to remove thicker and harder than normal ice-cream off the wall surface, on account, for example, of more intense cooling of the lateral wall of the bowl. In which case, the elastic force of the helical springs may not be sufficient for the scrapers to adhere to the surface of the lateral wall of the bowl.


A method can include forming a bore in a bone of a patient and positioning a first anchor in the bore. The first anchor can have a self-locking adjustable suture construct extending therefrom that can include first and second adjustable loops. The first adjustable loop can be positioned about a first portion of the soft tissue and the second adjustable loop can be positioned about a second portion of the soft tissue different than the first portion. A coupling element carried by the second adjustable loop can be coupled to the first adjustable loop. An end of the adjustable suture construct can be tensioned to reduce a size of the first and second adjustable loops to couple the soft tissue to the bone.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
It is commonplace in arthroscopic procedures to employ sutures and anchors to secure soft tissues to bone. Despite their widespread use, several improvements in the use of sutures and suture anchors may be made. For example, the procedure of tying knots may be very time consuming, thereby increasing the cost of the procedure and limiting the capacity of the surgeon. Furthermore, the strength of the repair may be limited by the strength of the knot. This latter drawback may be of particular significance if the knot is tied improperly as the strength of the knot in such situations may be significantly lower than the tensile strength of the suture material.
To improve on these uses, sutures having a single preformed loop have been provided. FIG. 1 represents a prior art suture construction. As shown, one end of the suture is passed through a passage defined in the suture itself. The application of tension to the ends of the suture pulls a portion of the suture through the passage, causing a loop formed in the suture to close. Relaxation of the system, however, may allow a portion of the suture to translate back through the passage, thus relieving the desired tension.

Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone


A generic automation framework is provided to divide a process into a sequence of stages. The stages in the process may depend on each other and this dependency dictates the flow of the process. A stage may be an instance of a stage type, which provides a generic definition of a stage. A stage may be customized according to the specific requirement of the process. A stage may have one or more properties. Such a property may reflect the status of the stage during the progression of the process, identify the owner responsible for proper execution of the stage, and describe an escalation policy that indicates what to do upon the occurrence of a particular event in the stage. A user interface may be provided that separately displays information for each stage. The user interface may also graphically indicate the status of each stage in the process at a given moment.

A process in general contains a sequence of steps, tasks, or activities that convert an input to a desired output. The sequence of activities in a process begins with an input, which can be in a variety of forms such as investment capital, knowledge, physical materials, or software source code. The process can add value to the input by changing it or using it to produce a desired output, such as a product or service of desired value. A process produces a desired product or service by applying resources such as computing power, time, and manpower. The input process may be anything from billing customers, to prosecuting a patent application, to developing and testing a software product. An efficient process enables things to be done faster, cheaper, and/or outputs a better product or service. An efficient process may also use resources more efficiently and effectively.
Among various processes, some processes include a plurality of actions that are to be performed sequentially. For example, a software testing process may include sequential actions such as submitting source code to be tested, reviewing the submitted source code, performing various tests on the submitted source code, and checking the tested source code into a source code control system that controls and tracks changes to files.
For a process including sequential actions, it is desirable to divide the process into a sequence of stages, each of which includes one or more sequential actions in the process. The stages are then executed sequentially. It is also desirable that each stage is assigned to an owner, who is then held accountable for the proper performance of the stage. Further, it is desirable to keep track of the progression of the process by identifying the execution status of each stage in the process. Furthermore, it is desirable that each stage in a process is capable of being customized according to specific requirements, such as a user's specific need in performing the process.
Therefore, there exists a need for a mechanism that divides a process into a plurality of stages to be performed sequentially, wherein each stage involves one or more actions of the process. There also exists a need to be able to customize individual stages of the process according to specific requirements of the process. There further exists a need to keep track of the progression of the process by identifying the status of each stage in the process at a given moment.

Framework for managing process including sequential actions


A duvet sleeve for covering and securing a duvet. The duvet sleeve is generally rectangular and includes two openings on opposite sides of the duvet sleeve. The presence of two openings instead of the typical one opening allows one person to change the duvet inside the duvet sleeve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the general field of duvets, and more specifically is in the field of duvet covers for housing and securing duvets.
2. Background Information
A duvet sleeve is a type of bed linen in which a duvet, such as a quilt, a comforter, a blanket or the like is placed. Once placed inside the duvet cover, the duvet is placed on top of a bed typically to add warmth and comfort to the user of the bed.
The duvet enclosed within the duvet cover needs to be periodically removed from the duvet cover, so that the duvet and/or the duvet cover can be cleaned. Part of the purpose of the duvet cover is to protect a duvet such as a down comforter so that it needs to be washed less frequently. The typical duvet cover has one opening on one edge of its four corners into which the duvet is stuffed in order to insert the duvet into the duvet cover. To spread the duvet out evenly inside the rectangular duvet cover, one corner of the duvet is inserted into each of the four corners of the duvet cover, and then the four corners are pulled tight. Inserting the duvet into a duvet cover is a very cumbersome project for one person, and is much more easily performed with two people. With two people, the four corners of the duvet are inserted into the four corners of the duvet cover, and then the two people each hold one corner in each of their two hands, and pull and shake the duvet and duvet cover until the duvet is evenly distributed inside the duvet cover, with one corner of the duvet in each of the four corners of the duvet sleeve. The problem with a prior art duvet cover is that it is very difficult for one person to reinsert the duvet into the duvet cover, and cause it to be evenly distributed inside the duvet cover.
For this reason, it is a goal of the present invention to provide a dual side opening duvet sleeve design that facilitates placement of the duvet into the duvet sleeve by one person.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


A rimless eyeglasses lens-installing apparatus, a connector connects a lens to a lug and a fastening tool fixed the lens and the connector to each other. The fastening tool has a first fastening member and a second fastening member. A metal insertion member having a threaded hole formed thereon is disposed in an internal portion of the first fastening member by insert molding. An outer threaded portion of the first fastening member engages a threaded portion of a lens through-hole. The threaded portion of the second fastening member is screwed into the threaded hole of the insertion member. A portion of the first fastening member projecting from a rear surface of the lens is cut off appropriately.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lens-installing apparatus for rimless eyeglasses.
2. Background of the Invention
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional rimless eyeglasses lens-installing apparatus 1, which includes a lens 2 having a circular through-hole 2a formed therein. A male screw 4 mounted on one end of a bridge 3 is inserted through the lens 2 from the front side of the lens 2. A nut 5 is engaged on a male threaded portion 4a of the male screw 4 from the rear side of the lens 2. One end of a pad arm 7 supporting a pad 6 is locked to a cut-out portion 8 provided at a portion of the peripheral surface of the lens 2.
Although not shown in FIG. 8, the other lens is installed at the other end of the bridge 3 by using an eyeglasses lens-installing apparatus that is similar to the rimless eyeglasses lens-installing apparatus 1. Although not shown in FIG. 8, the lens and the lug of the frame are installed on each other by an eyeglasses lens-installing apparatus that is similar to the rimless eyeglasses lens-installing apparatus 1.
However, in the conventional eyeglasses lens-installing apparatus 1, angular projected portions including the nut 5 and the cornered male screw 4 are present on the rear surface of the lens 2. Thus, a user""s safety may be jeopardized when the user wears the rimless eyeglasses having the rimless eyeglasses lens-installing apparatus 1 installed thereon. Further, when the lens 2 is wiped with a cleaning cloth or tissue or other cleaning element, there is a possibility that the cloth, tissue or cleaning element is torn by the angular projected portions such as the front end of the male screw 4 and the cornered portions of the nut 5.
In addition, in the rimless eyeglasses lens-installing apparatus 1, the through-hole 2a of the lens 2 is circular and the male screw member 4 is columnar. Thus, there is a fear that the root portion (neck) of the male screw 4 rotates together with the nut member 5 in the through-hole 2a of the lens 2. That is, the lens 2 may be loosened at the portion where the lens 2 is connected to the lug of the frame as well as the bridge 3. That is, the conventional rimless eyeglasses-installing apparatus 1 is incapable of reliably fixing the lens 2 thereto.
In order to overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a rimless eyeglasses-installing apparatus that is capable of reliably fixing a lens thereto and is safe and allows the surface of the lens to be polished easily without any problems.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a rimless eyeglasses lens-installing apparatus includes a lens, a lens through-hole disposed in the vicinity of an edge of the lens and penetrating the lens in a direction from a side of one main surface thereof to a side of the other main surface thereof, a connector disposed on the side of the one main surface of the lens to connect the lens to a lug and/or a bridge, a connector through-hole communicating with the lens through-hole and penetrating the connector, and a fastening tool inserted into the lens through-hole in a direction from the side of the one main surface of the lens and/or the side of the other main surface thereof to install the lens and the connector on each other. In this apparatus, the fastening tool is installed in the lens through-hole in such a way that an end of the fastening tool does not project partly from the other main surface of the lens.
The fastening tool preferably includes a first fastening member that is inserted into the lens through-hole in a direction from the side of the other main surface of the lens and fastened to the lens through-hole, and a second fastening member having a threaded portion on a peripheral surface thereof and inserted into the first fastening member in a direction from the side of the one main surface of the lens to fasten the second fastening member to the first fastening member through the connector through-hole. In this apparatus, the first fastening member may have an inner threaded portion engaging the threaded portion of the second fastening member.
The lens through-hole has a threaded portion on an inner peripheral surface thereof. The fastening tool includes a first fastening member inserted into the lens through-hole in a direction from a side of one main surface of the lens or from a side of the other main surface thereof and fastened to the lens through-hole, and a second fastening member having a threaded portion on a peripheral surface thereof and inserted into the first fastening member in a direction from the side of the one main surface of the lens and fastened to the first fastening member through the connector through-hole. In this apparatus, the first fastening member may have an outer threaded portion engaging the threaded portion of the lens through-hole and an inner threaded portion engaging the threaded portion of the second fastening member.
The lens through-hole has a threaded portion disposed on an inner peripheral surface thereof. The fastening tool includes a first fastening member inserted into the lens through-hole in a direction from a side of one main surface of the lens or from a side of the other main surface thereof and fastened to the lens through-hole, and a second fastening member having a threaded portion on a peripheral surface thereof and inserted into the first fastening member in a direction from the side of the one main surface of the lens to fasten the second fastening member to the first fastening member through the connector through-hole. The first fastening member may have an outer threaded portion engaging the threaded portion of the lens through-hole and an insertion member having a threaded hole into which the threaded portion of the second fastening member is screwed. The second fastening member and the insertion member may each be made of a metal material.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a rimless eyeglasses lens-installing apparatus includes a lens, a lens through-hole disposed in the vicinity of an edge of the lens and penetrating the lens in a direction from a side of one main surface of the lens to a side of the other main surface thereof and having a threaded portion on an inner peripheral surface thereof, a connector disposed on the side of the one main surface of the lens to connect the lens to a lug or a bridge, and a fastening tool that is inserted into the lens through-hole in a direction from the side of the one main surface of the lens and/or the other main surface thereof to install the lens and the connector on each other. The fastening tool includes a first fastening member fastened to the lens through-hole, and a second fastening member that is integral with the connector and having a threaded portion on a peripheral surface thereof and inserted into the first fastening member in a direction from the side of the one main surface of the lens to fasten the second fastening member to the first fastening member. In this apparatus, the first fastening member has an outer threaded portion engaging the threaded portion of the lens through-hole, and an insertion member having a threaded hole into which the threaded portion of the second fastening member is screwed. The second fastening member and the insertion member are each preferably made of a metal material. The first fastening member is installed in the lens through-hole in such a way that an end of the first fastening member projects partially neither from the one main surface of the lens nor from the other main surface thereof.
The insertion member preferably has a rotation/slip-off prevention portion including a slit, a concave portion, a narrow concave portion or other such portion disposed on a peripheral surface thereof to allow the insertion member to be inserted firmly into the first fastening member.
Preferably, the first fastening member is installed in the lens through-hole in such a way that an end of the first fastening member does not project partly from the other main surface of the lens.
In the rimless eyeglasses lens-installing apparatus of preferred embodiments of the present invention, the fastening tool fixing the lens and the connector to each other is installed in the lens through-hole in such a way that the end of the fastening tool does not project partially from the other main surface of the lens. Therefore, it is possible to make the other main surface of the lens and the other main surface side of the fastening tool substantially flush with each other.
According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a rimless eyeglasses-installing apparatus that is capable of reliably fixing a lens thereto and is safe and allows the surface of the lens to be polished easily without any problems.

Lens-installing apparatus for rimless eyeglasses


A multilayer circuit substrate obtained by alternately stacking conductor layers and insulator layers. The conductor layers include a core layer having a greater thickness than any of the other conductor layers and located in an inner layer of the multilayer circuit substrate. A first conductor layer facing the core layer through an insulator layer has first signal wires that transmit high frequency signals, and through-holes are formed in the core layer along the first signal wires in a location facing the first signal wires.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multilayer circuit substrate obtained by alternately stacking conductor layers and insulator layers, and more particularly, relates to a structure suitable for transmission of high frequency signals.
2. Description of Related Art
Mobile phones and other electronic devices are examples of usages of this type of multilayer circuit substrate. However, recently there has been demand for thinner and denser multilayer circuit substrates following the demand for smaller electronic devices with more functions. In order to respond to this demand there has been an emergence of component embedded circuit substrates in which various types of electronic components such as capacitors are embedded into a multilayer circuit substrate (see Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a multilayer circuit substrate having a conductor layer formed of metal thicker than the other conductor layers and arranged in the inner layer thereof as the core layer to improve noise resistance and strength of electronic components. The electronic components are arranged in through-holes formed in the core layer. Furthermore, conductor layers and insulator layers are formed on the top surface and bottom surface of the core layer.

Multilayer circuit substrate having core layer with through-hole


A throttle valve system comprising at least: a throttle valve housing component (98); a throttle valve spindle component (99), on which a throttle valve component (100) is arranged and which is fitted so as to move at least in a gas mixture cavity (103) in the throttle valve housing component; a throttle valve drive unit (91) and an angle sensor unit (93), which are connected at least partially with the throttle valve spindle component (99), and an electronic control unit (7,8), which are enclosed, by the throttle valve housing component (98); a temperature sensor unit (94); and a valve unit (95). The valve unit (95), the throttle valve drive unit (91), the angle sensor unit (93) and the electronic control unit (7,8) are enclosed by the throttle valve housing component (98). The valve unit (95) is connected to the gas mixture cavity (103) via a fuel vapor recess (102) passing through the throttle valve housing component (98). A central connector unit (96) is arranged on the throttle valve housing component (98). The temperature sensor unit (95) is located in the central connector unit (96).

The present invention concerns a throttle valve system. It comprises a throttle valve housing, a valve stem, a valve disk, a disk adjustment mechanism, a gas mixture chamber, an angle detector, electronic controls, a temperature sensor, and a valve unit. The valve disk is mounted on the stem, which can be adjusted (rotated) within the gas mixture chamber inside the valve housing. The disk adjustment mechanism and the angle detector are at least partly attached to the stem. The controls are accommodated in the valve housing.
A throttle valve system of this type is known from the published international Application No. PCT/EP94/03825. It comprises a valve housing, a stem, a disk, a disk adjustment mechanism, motor controls, and an angle detector. The disk is mounted on the stem inside the valve housing. The disk adjustment mechanism and the rotating component of the angle detector are attached to the stem. The stationary component of the angle detector is accommodated in the valve housing.
A disk adjusting mechanism is known from the published German Patent Application 4,403,604 A1. An uncoupled throttle valve adjustment mechanism as mounted on a stem. The position of the stem is varied by controls in accordance with specific curves.
A throttle valve system may also include a temperature sensor mounted on the outside of the valve housing.
Although these systems are in themselves successful, they entail the drawback that all the electrical connections have to be separate. The systems are more expensive to install, likelier to fail, and more difficult to maintain.
The throttle valve system also includes a valve that forwards vapors from the fuel tank to a gas mixture chamber. This valve is of course remote from the valve housing and must communicate through a hose. The valve must be separately mounted and, like the outside temperature sensor, is separately connected to the controls.


Methods and apparatus are disclosed for compressing and decompressing data to reduce bandwidth requirements in transmissions of predistorted signals between a processing node and a remote transmitting node of a power amplifier with digital predistortion (PA-DPD) system. In the processing node, predistorted signals are decomposed into a high-dynamic range signal of a first sample rate and a low-dynamic range signal of a second sample rate greater than the first sample rate. Samples of both signals are combined to generate a compressed signal for transmission to the remote transmitting node, which decompresses the compressed signal to restore the predistorted signal.

An electronic device often introduces distortion to the signals it processes. A predistorter circuit can be implemented to pre-process the signals before the signals are fed into the electronic device to compensate for the distortion introduced when the signals pass through the device. One example of such an electronic device is a radio-frequency power amplifier. An ideal power amplifier would be efficient and would have a linear response at all frequency ranges. However, a typical power amplifier is most efficient when operated at or near the saturation point, at which point the power amplifier exhibits non-linearities and memory effects. The design of a power amplifier involves a trade-off between linearity and efficiency. One way to improve a power amplifier's efficiency and its overall linearity is to digitally predistort the input to the power amplifier to compensate for the distortion introduced by the power amplifier.
In predistortion, the input signal is adjusted in anticipation of the distortion to be introduced by the device, so that the output signal from the device is largely free of distortions. Predistortion can be quite beneficial in improving the overall performance of a device. Predistorters are usually digitally implemented, in which case the power amplifier system is referred to as a power amplifier with digital predistortion (PA-DPD) system.
In a PA-DPD system, the predistorter can be located remotely from the power amplifier in a centralized processing node. For example, a central processing node may perform predistortion for radio transmitters at multiple remote locations. Such a design reduces power consumption at the remote locations, takes up less space, and offers deployment flexibility. However, when the centralized predistorter is separate from the power amplifiers, transmitting predistorted signals between these two sub-systems requires a relatively large bandwidth due to bandwidth expansion of the predistorted signal.
Accordingly, there remains a need to reduce bandwidth required for transmitting predistorted data from a centralized processing node where the pre-distorted signal is generated to a transmitting node where the pre-distorted signal is amplified and transmitted.

Method of transmitting data samples with reduced bandwidth


A user-friendly, inexpensive radiation image radiographing apparatus capable of easily switching between absorption contrast image radiography and phase contrast image radiography. The radiation image radiographing apparatus has: a radiation source; a subject platform for supporting a subject so as to face the subject to the radiation source; and a plurality of supporting platforms for supporting a radiation image information detecting member at a side opposite to the radiation source with respect to the subject platform, the radiation image information detecting member for detecting radiation image information based on radiation transmitted through the subject, wherein distances between the plurality of supporting platforms and the radiation source are different from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radiation image radiographing apparatus, in particular, a radiation image radiographing apparatus capable of radiographing a phase contrast image.
2. Related Art
Generally, a radiation image radiographing apparatus using a mechanism of transmitting radiation through a substance is widely used for a medical image diagnosis, a non-destructive inspection and the like. In particular, in a radiation image radiographing apparatus for mammography, which is used for radiographing a specific region of body, radiography of a subject fixed on a subject platform which is combined with a radiation image information detecting member has been performed. However, since the subject is radiographed at substantially full scale with this method, contrast of the radiographed image is insufficient. Thereby, the radiation image radiographing apparatus is not capable of radiographing an image clear enough to provide fine structure of the specific region of a body for interpretation.
Accordingly, a method of obtaining a phase contrast image by use of a radiation tube (a small focus radiation source having a focus size within the range from 30 μm to 300 μm), which is used in general medical institutions, is known (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Publication (Unexamined) No. Tokukai 2001-238871). With this method, it is possible to render a border with higher contrast, and thereby obtain a clearer and finer image than the normal absorption contrast image. However, in order to obtain such a phase contrast image, it is necessary to have predetermined distance between the subject and the radiation image information detecting member. Further, in view of reducing a subject's burden and considering cost to spend on equipment in a medical scene, ideally, the radiographing apparatus should be capable of performing radiography in both "phase contrast image radiography mode" for radiographing a phase contrast image and "absorption contrast image radiography mode" for radiographing only an absorption contrast image.
Accordingly, in an earlier art, a structure where a supporting member for supporting the radiation image information detecting member is placed and capable of moving vertically along a rail, and thereby it is possible to change the distance between the subject and the radiation image information detecting member, is used. Therefore, in the earlier art, the radiographing apparatus is capable of radiographing both a normal absorption contrast image and a phase contrast image.
However, with the method in the earlier art, since the supporting platform is capable of moving its location arbitrarily, a magnifying rate of the image also changes countlessly. Therefore, it is necessary for an operator to adjust the magnifying rate for radiographing. Consequently, when it is necessary to obtain images with the same magnifying rate, even though calibration of the magnifying rate is provided, it is not easy to make a fine adjustment.
Further, since it is also necessary to have a location recognition device as a means to recognize a location for obtaining information of distance between a radiation source and the subject platform (with which the subject is in contact) and the distance between the subject platform and the radiation image information detecting member, control radiation dose based on the information and the like, the control becomes more complicated.
Furthermore, since it is necessary to have such a complicated control means as mentioned above, it causes an increase on cost of the apparatus.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An electromagnetic wave detector comprises: p-type and n-type graphenes arranged side by side on an insulating layer; a first electrode and a second electrode opposing each other via the graphenes; a gate electrode for applying an operation voltage to the p-type and n-type graphenes; a balance circuit connected between two second electrodes; and a detection circuit. The p-type graphene has a Dirac point voltage higher than the operation voltage. The n-type graphene has a Dirac point voltage lower than the operation voltage. In a state in which no electromagnetic wave is incident on the graphenes, the balance circuit places the first electrode and the second electrode at the same potential. In a state in which an electromagnetic wave is incident on the p-type and n-type graphenes, the detection circuit detects an electric signal between the second electrodes, and outputs an electric signal in the state in which the electromagnetic wave is incident.

In a conventional electromagnetic wave detector, a semiconductor material is generally used as an electromagnetic wave detection layer, but since the semiconductor material has a predetermined band gap, only an electromagnetic wave having energy larger than the band gap can be detected. On the other hand, graphene with a zero or extremely small band gap is noted as a material for an electromagnetic wave detection layer of a next generation electromagnetic wave detector. For example, an electromagnetic wave detector in which a gate oxide film is provided on a substrate, a graphene channel layer is deposited thereon, and a source and a drain are formed at both ends of the channel layer is proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Electromagnetic wave detector, electromagnetic wave detector array, and electromagnetic wave detection method


An avalanche photo-diode (APD) circuit includes a first APD and a bias circuit. The first APD is configured to detect light. The bias circuit is configured to control a gain of the first APD. The bias circuit includes a second APD, a reference voltage source, a bias voltage generation circuit, and a metal layer configured to shield the second APD from the light. The reference voltage source is configured to bias the second APD. The bias voltage generation circuit is configured to generate a bias voltage for biasing the first APD based on dark current output by the second APD.

Photodiodes are semiconductor devices that generate an electrical current when Photodiodes are used as light-detection elements in a variety of applications. A photodiode includes a p-n junction formed in a semiconductor material. A reverse bias is applied to the p-n junction to widen the depletion layer, and an electric field is applied. Electron-hole pairs are generated in the depletion layer by the absorbed light. Under the attraction of the electric field, electrons move to the n-type semiconductor region, while holes move to the p-type semiconductor region, thereby causing a current to flow. Types of photodiodes include PIN photodiodes and avalanche photodiodes.

Avalanche photodiode gain control comprising a bias circuit having a second avalanche photodiode


A safety stanchion is adapted for mounting to a structural I-beam to tie off workers. The safety stanchion includes a post which extends at an oblique angle to the base. The base is secured to the I-beam by means of a ratchet lock mechanism which hooks around the I-beam and a pair of bolts which lock against the underside of the I-beam. The stanchion provides a fixed mounting point for a fall protection system for workers with integral strength to accept stresses caused by falling objects and/or persons.

This invention relates generally to fall protection systems for construction or maintenance workers. More particularly, the present invention relates to fall protection systems which employ stanchions or posts mounted to various members of a superstructure.
The protection of workers from falls during the erection of a steel superstructure has proved to be a difficult problem. For many construction projects, fall protection for workers during the initial stages is minimal or non-existent. The expense and difficulty of installing or using fall protection systems has proved to be an impediment to implementing fall protection even though life, safety and liability have become a matter of paramount concern. Accordingly, the protection of workers during the erection process has become the subject of increasing governmental regulation.
Most conventional protection systems to which the invention relates involve systems for tying off the worker to a cable which may be anchored and supported in a wide variety of ways. There are often few or no suitable anchoring points except at the feet of the worker which increases to the danger of tripping, increases fall distance, and decreases suitability. If there are vertical tie off points, a cable can be strung and the worker typically wears a harness or belt which connects with a cable. However, the cable is ordinarily located in the plane of the worker's walkway and thus a hinderance. No tie off point is easily tested on-site and few pre-engineered universally applicable systems are available. Conventional fall protections systems frequently do not provide a high level of protection, are not easily installed and commonly interfere with the construction process.
One conventional method to which the present invention relates is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,824 wherein a safety post for construction workers employs an angle structure having integral horizontal and vertical legs. The horizontal leg has a clamp which includes fixed and moveable tapered members for detachably gripping structural beams. The moveable member has a portion loosely encircling the horizontal leg with a fulcrum below and a screw structure operable from above to pivot and tighten a moveable member. The vertical member has a column which may optionally be height adjustable by telescoping separate lengths which terminate at the top in a pair of fixed arcuate horns. The ends of the horns are inwardly turned and overlapping for retaining a safety cable therebetween. The workmen are connected to the safety cable by auxiliary safety lines which travel along the cable. The latter described vertical posts extend at 90.degree. to the beam and are disposed adjacent to the vertical plane of the beam. The disclosed post may not provide sufficient integral strength to arrest a fall, unless substantial additional anchoring support for the cable is provided.
A number of other references which disclose fall protection structures systems to which the invention relates are identified below.
______________________________________ Patentee Patent No. ______________________________________ Jackson 3,237,717 Leduc 4,116,305 Woolslayer et al 4,171,032 Landry 4,243,118 Tupper et al 4,313,236 ______________________________________
West German Publication DE 3023489 published on Jul. 1, 1982 discloses a fall protection system wherein a bracing wire is suspended between double supports fixed to a beam.

Safety stanchion for fall protection system


The invention relates to a group of quinolyl, isoquinolyl and pyridyl ureas, their the use in treating raf mediated diseases, and pharmaceutical compositions which contain these ureas for use in such therapy.

The p21ras oncogene is a major contributor to the development and progression of human solid cancers and is mutated in 30% of all human cancers (Bolton et al. Ann. Rep. Med. Chem. 1994, 29, 165-74; Bos. Cancer Res. 1989, 49, 4682-9). In its normal, unmutated form, the ras protein is a key element of the signal transduction cascade directed by growth factor receptors in almost all tissues (Avruch et al. Trends Biochem. Sci. 1994, 19, 279-83). Biochemically, ras is a guanine nucleotide binding protein, and cycling between a GTP-bound activated and a GDP-bound resting form is strictly controlled by ras' endogenous GTPase activity and other regulatory proteins. In the ras mutants in cancer cells, the endogenous GTPase activity is alleviated and, therefore, the protein delivers constitutive growth signals to downstream effectors such as the enzyme raf kinase. This leads to the cancerous growth of the cells which carry these mutants (Magnuson et al. Semin. Cancer Biol. 1994, 5, 247-53). It has been shown that inhibiting the effect of active ras by inhibiting the raf kinase signaling pathway by administration of deactivating antibodies to raf kinase or by co-expression of dominant negative raf kinase or dominant negative MEK, the substrate of raf kinase, leads to the reversion of transformed cells to the normal growth phenotype (see: Daum et al. Trends Biochem. Sci. 1994, 19, 474-80; Fridman et al. J. Biol. Chem. 1994, 269, 30105-8. Kolch et al. (Nature 1991, 349, 426-28) have further indicated that inhibition of raf expression by antisense RNA blocks cell proliferation in membrane-associated oncogenes. Similarly, inhibition of raf kinase (by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides) has been correlated in vitro and in vivo with inhibition of the growth of a variety of human tumor types (Monia et al., Nat. Med. 1996, 2, 668-75).

Inhibition of raf kinase using quinolyl, isoquinolyl or pyridyl ureas


Provided is a green phosphor for a plasma display panel (PDP) represented by Formula 1.(Cax,Mgy,Zn2-x-y)SiO4:Mn  Formula 1

1. Field of the Invention
The present embodiments relate to a green phosphor for a plasma display panel (PDP) and a PDP including a phosphor layer formed of the green phosphor, and to a green phosphor for a PDP having improved luminance deterioration properties, a method of manufacturing a PDP employing the green phosphor, and a PDP including a phosphor layer formed of the green phosphor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Phosphors emit light when they are exposed to energy. In general, phosphors are used in light sources such as mercury fluorescent lamps and mercury free fluorescent lamps, electron emission devices, plasma display panels (PDP), etc. In the futures, phosphors will likely be used for a wider range of applications as new multimedia devices are developed.
PDPs are flat panel displays that display images using light emitted by ultraviolet rays that are created by discharge of a mixture of gases including neon and xenon injected into an area between a pair of substrates. Visible light is created by each phosphor using resonance radiation light of xenon ion (147 nm vacuum ultraviolet rays).
Phosphors used in PDPs are required to have excellent discharge properties, high emission luminance, excellent color coordinates, and short decay time. In PDPs, the composition of a material formed of a phosphor layer varies according to the phosphor layer, that is red, green and blue phosphor layer. Luminance deterioration in phosphors needs to be prevented since it may shorten the lifetime of PDPs with phosphor layers formed of the phosphor.
The most serious luminance deterioration occurs in BaMgAl10O17:Eu blue phosphor among the phosphors generally used in PDPs. Thus, the degree of luminance deterioration of the blue phosphor often determines the lifetime of PDPs. As a result of an effort to overcome such luminance deterioration, a novel blue phosphor of CaMgSiO:Eu has been developed. CaMgSiO:Eu phosphor has a base structure of SiO2 in which Ca and Mg are substituted.
Meanwhile, Mn is considered to be used as an activator instead of Eu in the CaMgSiO:Eu phosphor. However, the CaMgSiO:Eu phosphor using Mn instead of Eu emits not red light but green light. Thus, a green phosphor having improved luminance deterioration property and long lifetime is urgently required.

Green phosphor for plasma display panel and plasma display panel including a phosphor layer formed of the same

Abstract: Here, 0<x, y<1.

Abstract: The green phosphor is used alone or in combination with BaMgAlqOz:Mn (7<q<15 and 12<z<28) to prepare a phosphor layer, and a PDP including a phosphor layer formed of the green phosphor may have improved luminance deterioration property.


In an n-th primary scanning (forward trip) the rasters by white circle dots are formed. After this primary scanning, printing paper is conveyed toward a secondary-scanning-direction downstream side by the secondary scanning distance which is the same as the interval d between dots, and in the (n+1)-th primary scanning (backward trip) after the conveyance, the rasters by black circle dots are formed. Subsequently, the printing paper is conveyed toward the secondary-scanning-direction downstream side by a secondary scanning distance of (2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7d, and in the (n+2)-th primary scanning (forward trip) after the conveyance and the (n+3)-th primary scanning (forward trip) after the conveyance by a secondary scanning distance d, white circle and black circle dots are formed, respectively. Thus, an image is printed in units of two adjacent rasters formed by the same nozzles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording method, and more particularly to the recording method by which while the recording head, having the dot forming element array in which N (N is a positive integer) dot forming elements are aligned at intervals of an even multiple of the distance d between dots in the recording resolution R in the secondary scanning direction which is the direction of conveyance of a recording material, is reciprocally moved in the primary scanning direction perpendicular to the secondary scanning direction, dots are formed on the recording material by the dot forming element array in accordance with recording data, and also the recording material is conveyed in the secondary direction and relatively to the recording head, thus performing recording. Also, the invention relates to a recording apparatus.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Applications No. 2000-221965 and 2001-210857, which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a recording apparatus, e.g., the ink jet printer for performing color printing, the recording head including a plurality of nozzles (dot forming elements) from which ink droplets are ejected, while being reciprocally moved in a primary scanning direction, ejects ink droplets, and also printing paper (a recording material) is conveyed relatively to the recording head and in the secondary scanning direction perpendicular to the primary scanning direction, whereby printing (recording) is performed.
On the recording head, the nozzle (dot forming element) arrays which eject the respective inks of black, dark cyan, light cyan, dark magenta, light magenta, and yellow are disposed in this order in the primary scanning direction.
As the recording method aimed at improving the recording quality of such a color ink jet printer, there is a recording method called the interlacing method described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,642 and Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho. 53-2040.
In the printing by this xe2x80x9cinterlacing methodxe2x80x9d, while rasters are formed (i.e. printed) intermittently in the secondary scanning direction, an image is recorded. Then, adjacent rasters are bound to be formed by different nozzles.
However, when the conventional interlacing method is used for the bidirectional printing in which printing is performed on both the forward and backward trips in the primary scanning direction, after a certain raster is formed, the printing paper (recording material) is conveyed in the secondary scanning direction and relatively to the recording head, and thereafter the next raster is formed, whereupon the directions of movement of the recording head in both rasters are reversed to each other. Namely, a certain raster is formed on the forward trip in the primary scanning direction, whereas the next raster is formed on the backward trip in the primary scanning direction.
Therefore, in both rasters, the order of the nozzles from which ink droplets are ejected is reversed. Namely, for example, on the forward trip, ink droplets are ejected in the order of black, dark cyan, light cyan, dark magenta, light magenta, and yellow, whereas on the backward trip, ink droplets are ejected in the reverse order thereto of yellow, light magenta, dark magenta, light cyan, dark cyan, and black. Consequently, in every conveyance unit in the secondary scanning direction, striping (a kind of so-called banding) tends to be visibly generated.
In order to prevent such generation of striping, there is proposed the full-overlap recording method by which a plurality of dots constituting one raster are formed intermittently on each of the forward and backward trips. However, in this recording method, there is a problem that the respective rasters are formed on the forward and backward trips, so that printing speed (throughput) is reduced.
On the other hand, in the ink jet printer in which pigment is used as ink, the dot diameter formed by ink droplets tends to be smaller than that in case of using dye as ink. Consequently, the width (so-called line width) of the raster formed by aligning a plurality of dots in the primary scanning direction also tends to be narrower. Also, each nozzle normally has the deflection (so-called flying curve) peculiar to the nozzle, and ink droplets are not always ejected perpendicularly with respect to the recording head surface on which nozzles are disposed. In this flying curve, there are a flying curve in the secondary scanning direction and a flying curve in the primary scanning direction.
As in the interlacing method, when the adjacent rasters are printed by different nozzles, depending upon the degree of the flying curve in the secondary scanning direction of the nozzles, the gap (i.e. the so-called white stripe in which the ground of printing paper remains unprinted) which is not filled with ink droplets is sometimes produced between both rasters. For example, when a certain raster and the raster adjacent thereto are formed by the nozzles having the flying curves in the directions backing away from each other, the space between both rasters becomes wider than an ideal space, so that a white stripe is generated between both rasters.
Theoretically, if the dot diameter is set to the value (hereinafter referred to as a xe2x80x9ctheoretical value of dot diameterxe2x80x9d) obtained by multiplying the interval d between dots by a square root of two, printing can be performed without a white stripe generated. On the other hand, in the actual ink jet printer, since the flying curve in the secondary scanning direction is present, in consideration thereof, the dot diameter is set to the order of twice as large as the interval d between dots, thereby preventing the generation of a white stripe.
In the conventional ink using dye, since the dot diameter becomes in the order of twice as large as the interval d between dots, even if any flying curve in the secondary scanning direction is present, there is no possibility that a white stripe is generated. On the other hand, in the pigment ink, although the dot diameter is larger than the theoretical value of dot diameter, it is smaller than twice the interval d between dots, so that depending upon the degree of the flying curve in the secondary scanning direction, there is a possibility that a white stripe is generated.
The invention is made in light of these circumstances, and its first object is to provide the recording method and the recording apparatus in which by improving the interlacing method, in the bidirectional recording, no striping is generated, and further, recording is possible at a higher speed than in the conventional full-overlap recording method.
Also, the invention has for its second object the arrangement that even in case the dot diameter becomes smaller as in the pigment ink, a so-called white stripe is not generated.
In order to attain the first object and a portion of the second object, the recording method according to a first aspect of the invention, in the recording method by which, while the recording head, having the dot forming element array in which N (N is a positive integer) dot forming elements are aligned at constant intervals D in the secondary scanning direction which is the direction of conveyance of a recording material, is reciprocally moved in the primary scanning direction perpendicular to the secondary scanning direction, dots are formed on the recording material by the dot forming element array in accordance with recording data, and the recording material is conveyed in the secondary direction and relatively to the recording head, is characterized in that the interval D is the value obtained by multiplying the interval d between dots in the recording resolution in the secondary scanning direction by an even number k, and also the even number k and the dot forming element number N are in prime relation to each other, that there are included a first step of forming dots on the recording material by the dot forming element array while moving the recording head along the forward-trip path in the primary scanning direction, a second step of conveying the recording material in the secondary direction and relatively to the recording head by a secondary scanning distance of the interval d between dots, a third step of forming dots on the recording material by the dot forming element array while moving the recording head along the backward-trip path in the primary scanning direction, and a fourth step of conveying the recording material in the secondary scanning direction and relatively to the recording head by a secondary scanning distance of (2Nxe2x88x921) d, and that the first to fourth steps are repeated, thereby performing recording.
According to the recording method of the first aspect of the invention, by the first step, N rasters are formed on the forward trip in the primary scanning direction, whereafter by the second and third steps, the next N rasters adjacent these N respective rasters are formed on the backward trip in the primary scanning direction. These N rasters formed on the forward trip and the next N rasters formed on the backward trip are formed by the same dot forming elements. Namely, the recording on the recording material is performed in units of two adjacent rasters formed respectively on the forward and backward trips Therefore, the entire image thus recorded is formed in units of these two adjacent rasters, so that in the conventional interlacing method, in case the bidirectional recording is performed, the striping to be generated in every conveyance unit in the secondary scanning direction can be prevented in the entire image.
Also, each raster is formed through the recording on either the forward or backward trip by the same dot forming elements, thus enabling higher-speed printing than in the conventional full-overlap recording method.
Further, between two rasters formed by the same dot forming elements, since the dot forming elements for forming these two rasters are the same, the flying curves in the secondary scanning direction are also made the same. Namely, these two rasters, even if any flying curves in the secondary scanning direction are present, are curved in the same direction. Therefore, if the dot diameter is in the order of the theoretical value of dot diameter, a white stripe is never generated between both rasters. Consequently, even in case the invention is used for the ink jet printer using pigment ink, the generation of a white stripe between dots can be prevented between these two rasters.
The recording method according to a second aspect of the invention, in the recording method by which, while the recording head, having the dot forming element array in which N (N is a positive integer) dot forming elements are aligned at constant intervals D in the secondary scanning direction which is the direction of conveyance of the recording material, is reciprocally moved in the primary scanning direction perpendicular to the secondary scanning direction, dots are formed on the recording material by the dot forming element array in accordance with recording data, and the recording material is conveyed in the secondary direction and relatively to the recording head, is characterized in that the interval D is the value obtained by multiplying the interval d between dots in the recording resolution in the secondary scanning direction by an even number k, and also the even number k and the dot forming element number N are in prime relation to each other, that there are included a first step of forming dots on the recording material by the dot forming element array while moving the recording head along the forward-trip or backward-trip path in the primary scanning direction, a second step of conveying the recording material in the secondary direction and relatively to the recording head by the secondary scanning distance of the interval d between dots, a third step of forming dots on the recording material by the dot forming element array while moving the recording head along the forward-trip or backward-trip path in the primary scanning direction, and a fourth step of conveying the recording material in the secondary scanning direction and relatively to the recording head by a secondary scanning distance of (2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7d, and that the first to fourth steps are repeated, thereby performing recording.
According to the invention, also in a unidirectional recording instead of the bidirectional recording, an image is formed in units of two adjacent rasters. Therefore, between two rasters formed by the same dot forming elements, since the dot forming elements for forming these two rasters are the same, the flying curves in the secondary scanning direction are also made the same. Namely, these two rasters, even if any flying curves in the secondary scanning direction are present, are curved in the same direction. Therefore, if the dot diameter is in the order of the theoretical value of dot diameter, a white stripe is never generated between both rasters. Consequently, even in case the invention is used for the ink jet printer using pigment ink, the generation of a white stripe between dots can be prevented between these two rasters.
The recording method according to a third aspect of the invention, in the recording method according to the first or second aspect, is characterized in that two adjacent rasters formed by the same dot forming elements before and after the secondary scanning distance d relative conveyance are made one unit, and another raster adjacent the rasters constituting one unit is formed by the different dot forming elements from the dot forming elements used for forming the unit raster.
The recording method according to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the recording method according to the first or second aspect, is characterized in that the recording head further has M (M is a positive integer not more than N) auxiliary dot forming element arrays aligned at the intervals D in the secondary scanning direction at the upstream-side end portion or downstream-side end portion in the secondary scanning direction of the N dot forming element arrays, and that the auxiliary dot forming element arrays and the M dot forming element arrays at the downstream-side end portion out of the N dot forming element arrays in case the auxiliary dot forming element arrays are disposed at the upstream-side end portion, and the auxiliary dot forming element arrays and the M dot forming element arrays at the upstream-side end portion out of said N dot forming element arrays in case the auxiliary dot forming element arrays are disposed at the downstream-side end portion, form dots intermittently in proper quantities on the same primary scanning line in both the first step and the third step so that dots are not formed so as to be superposed on each other at the same position, or there is not produced the place in which no dots are formed at the position where dots are to be formed.
According to the recording method of the fourth aspect of the invention, by the secondary scanning distance (2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7d conveyance, the dot forming position of M auxiliary dot forming element arrays and the dot forming position of M out of N dot forming elements arrays come to be overlapped. Both these dot forming element arrays form dots intermittently in proper quantities so that dots are not formed so as to be superposed on each other at the same position, and there is not produced the place in which not dots are formed at the position where dots are to be formed. Therefore, the partial dots in M rasters are formed before the secondary scanning distance (2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7d conveyance, and the remaining dots are formed after the conveyance by the same secondary scanning distance. Thereby, the banding generated every time the recording paper is relatively moved in the secondary scanning direction by the conventional interlacing method can be made inconspicuous, and image quality can be improved.
The recording method according to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the recording method according to the fourth aspect, is characterized in that the M auxiliary dot forming element arrays and M out of the N dot forming element arrays form dots intermittently at a ratio of one to one.
According to the recording method of the fifth aspect of the invention, since the ratio of intermittent dot formation is one to one, the driving control of the recording head can be made simple.
The recording method according to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the recording method according to the first or second aspect, is characterized in that when the offset xcex1 of a secondary scanning distance is defined as a greater value than zero, and also as a value not more than the value obtained such that the value obtained by multiplying the interval d by a square root of two is subtracted from the dot diameter formed by the dot forming elements, and the value resulting from the subtraction is divided by a square root of two, the secondary scanning distance in the second step is the distance obtained by adding the offset xcex1 to the distance d, and the secondary scanning distance in the fourth step is the distance obtained by subtracting the offset xcex1 from the distance (2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7d.
Two adjacent rasters formed by the same dot forming elements, even if any flying curves are present, are curved in the same direction, so that the interval x between both rasters can be set up to the order of the value obtained by dividing the actual dot diameter a by a square root of two. In other words, even if the actual dot diameter a is a theoretical value of dot diameter (=xxc3x97a square root of two) with respect to the interval x between both rasters (i.e. the interval between dots), recording becomes possible without a white stripe generated between both rasters.
Therefore, when the maximum value of offset to be added to the interval between rasters is set to xcex1 MAX, even if the interval x between both rasters is set to
d less than xxe2x89xa6d+xcex1MAX
where
xcex1MAX={(actual dot diameter a)xe2x88x92interval dxc3x97(a square root of two)}÷(a square root of two),
recording can be performed without a white stripe generated between both rasters.
If the offset xcex1 is set to 0 less than xcex1xe2x89xa6xcex1 MAX, according to the recording method of the fourth aspect of the invention, the interval between the rasters formed by the same dot forming elements is set to d+xcex1. Hence, on one hand, a white stripe is not generated between both rasters, and on the other hand, the interval between rasters is widened. Thus, even in case the dot diameter formed by the dot forming elements is relatively small, the width (line width) of the image formed by two adjacent rasters can be made wider.
On the other hand, the distance between rasters after the secondary scanning distance (2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7d movement is made smaller by a. The raster formed before secondary scanning distance {(2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7dxe2x88x92xcex1} movement and the raster adjacent thereto formed after the secondary scanning distance {(2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7dxe2x88x92xcex1} movement are formed by different dot forming elements. Therefore, if the actual dot diameter is less than twice the interval d, a white stripe is possibly generated. However, the secondary scanning distance is made smaller by xcex1, so that even in case the actual dot diameter is less than twice the interval d, the generation of a white stripe between both rasters can be suppressed. Thereby, both between two rasters formed by the same dot forming elements and between two rasters formed by different dot forming elements, the generation of a white stripe is suppressed. Thus, the second object of the invention is achieved.
The recording method according to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the recording method according to the first or second aspect, is characterized in that the secondary scanning distance in the second step is the distance obtained by adding the offset xcex1 to the distanced, the secondary scanning distance in the fourth step is the distance obtained by subtracting the offset xcex1 from the distance (2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7d, and the offset xcex1 of a secondary scanning distance is a greater value than zero, and also is the value at which no white stripe is generated either between the adjacent rasters formed before and after secondary scanning distance (d+xcex1) movement or between the rasters formed before and after the secondary scanning distance {(2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7dxe2x88x92xcex1} movement.
Also according to the invention, the effect similar to that of the sixth aspect of the invention can be obtained.
The recording method according to the invention of an eighth aspect, in the recording method according to the first or second aspect, is characterized in that the recording data for forming dots in the first step and the recording data for forming dots in the third step are the same.
According to the recording method of the eighth aspect of the invention, since the recording data in the first and third steps are the same, the recording data can be reduced to one second. Thereby, the time period required for recording data generation processing is also reduced, and the entire recording can be performed at a high speed.
The recording method according to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the recording method according to the sixth aspect, is characterized in that the recording data for forming dots in the first step and the recording data for forming dots in the third step are the same.
The recording apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the invention, in the recording apparatus which includes the recording head having the dot forming element array in which N (N is a positive integer) dot forming elements are aligned at constant intervals D in the secondary scanning direction which is the direction of conveyance of the recording material, the head driving means for driving the dot forming elements, the primary scanning driving means for reciprocally moving the recording head in the primary scanning direction perpendicular to the secondary scanning direction with respect to said recording material, the secondary scanning driving means for conveying the recording material in the secondary scanning direction and relatively to the recording head, the control means for controlling the head driving means, the primary scanning driving means, and the secondary scanning driving means, and performs recording while the recording head scans the surface of the recording material in the primary scanning direction and the secondary scanning direction, is characterized in that the interval D is the value obtained by multiplying the interval d between dots in the recording resolution in the secondary scanning direction by an even number k, and also the even number k and the dot forming element number N are in prime relation to each other, and that recording is performed by such repetition that the control means controls the primary scanning driving means and the head driving means to form dots on the recording material by the dot forming element array while moving the recording head along the forward-trip path in the primary scanning direction, controls the secondary scanning driving means to convey the recording material in the secondary direction and relatively to the recording head by a secondary scanning distance of the interval d between dots, controls the primary scanning driving means and the head driving means to form dots on the recording material by the dot forming element array while moving the recording head along the backward-trip path in the primary scanning direction, and controls the secondary scanning driving means to convey the recording material in the secondary scanning direction and relatively to the recording head by a secondary scanning distance of (2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7d.
According to the recording apparatus of the tenth aspect of the invention, the effect similar to that of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.
The recording apparatus according to an eleventh aspect of the invention, in the recording apparatus which includes the recording head having the dot forming element array in which N (N is a positive integer) dot forming elements are aligned at constant intervals D in the secondary scanning direction which is the direction of conveyance of the recording material, the head driving means for driving the dot forming elements, the primary scanning driving means for reciprocally moving the recording head in the primary scanning direction perpendicular to the secondary scanning direction with respect to the recording material, the secondary scanning driving means for conveying the recording material in the secondary scanning direction and relatively to the recording head, the control means for controlling the head driving means, the primary scanning driving means, and the secondary scanning driving means, and performs recording while the recording head scans the surface of the recording material in the primary scanning direction and the secondary scanning direction, is characterized in that the interval D is the value obtained by multiplying the interval d between dots in the recording resolution in the secondary scanning direction by an even number k, and also the even number k and the dot forming element number N are in prime relation to each other, and that recording is performed by such repetition that the control means controls the primary scanning driving means and the head driving means to form dots on the recording material by the dot forming element array while moving the recording head along the forward-trip or backward-trip path in the primary scanning direction, controls the secondary scanning driving means to convey the recording material in the secondary direction and relatively to the recording head by a secondary scanning distance of the interval d between dots, controls the primary scanning driving means and the head driving means to form dots on the recording material by the dot forming element array while moving the recording head along the forward-trip or backward-trip path in the primary scanning direction, and controls the secondary scanning driving means to convey the recording material in, the secondary scanning direction and relatively to the recording head by a secondary scanning distance of (2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7d.
The recording apparatus according to a twelfth aspect of the invention, in the recording apparatus according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, is characterized by being arranged that two adjacent rasters formed by the same dot forming elements before and after the secondary scanning distance d relative conveyance are made one unit, and another raster adjacent the rasters constituting one unit is formed by the different dot forming elements from the dot forming elements used for forming the unit raster.
The recording apparatus according to a thirteen aspect of the invention, in the recording apparatus according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, is characterized by being arranged that the recording head further has M (M is a positive integer not more than N) auxiliary dot forming element arrays aligned at the intervals D in the secondary scanning direction at the upstream-side end portion or downstream-side end portion in the secondary scanning direction of the N dot forming element arrays, and that the auxiliary dot forming element arrays and the M dot forming element arrays at the downstream-side end portion out of the N dot forming element arrays in case the auxiliary dot forming element arrays are disposed at the upstream-side end portion, and the auxiliary dot forming element arrays and the M dot forming element arrays at the uptream-side end portion out of the N dot forming element arrays in case the auxiliary dot forming element arrays are disposed at the downstream-side end portion, form dots intermittently in proper quantities on the same primary scanning line by the control means in both the first step and the third step so that dots are not formed so as to be superposed on each other at the same position, or there is not produced the place in which no dots are formed at the position where dots are to be formed.
The recording apparatus according to a fourteenth aspect of the invention, in the recording apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, is characterized by being arranged that the M auxiliary dot forming element arrays and M out of the N dot forming element arrays form dots intermittently at a ratio of one to one.
The recording apparatus according to a fifteenth aspect of the invention, in the recording apparatus according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, is characterized in that when the offset a of a secondary scanning distance is defined as a greater value than zero, and also as a value not more than the value obtained such that the value obtained by multiplying the interval d by a square root of two is subtracted from the dot diameter formed by the dot forming elements, and the value resulting from the subtraction is divided by a square root of two, the control means is arranged such that the secondary scanning distance in the second step is the distance obtained by adding the offset xcex1 to the distance d, and the secondary scanning distance in the fourth step is the distance obtained by subtracting the offset xcex1 from the distance (2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7d.
The recording apparatus according to a sixteenth aspect of the invention, in the recording apparatus according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, is characterized by being arranged that the secondary scanning distance in the second step is the distance obtained by adding the offset xcex1 to the distance d, the secondary scanning distance in the fourth step is the distance obtained by subtracting the offset xcex1 from the distance (2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7d, and the offset a of a secondary scanning distance is a greater value than zero, and also is the value at which no white stripe is generated either between the adjacent rasters formed before and after the secondary scanning distance (d+xcex1) movement or between the rasters formed before and after the secondary scanning distance {(2Nxe2x88x921)xc2x7dxe2x88x92xcex1} movement.
The recording apparatus according to the invention of a seventeenth aspect, in the recording apparatus according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, is characterized in that the control means is set or can be set such that the recording data for forming dots in the first step and the recording data for forming dots in the third step are the same.
The recording apparatus according to an eighteenth aspect of the invention, in the recording apparatus according to the fifteenth aspect, is characterized in that the control means is set or can be set such that the recording data for forming dots in the first step and the recording data for forming dots in the third step are the same.
Features and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments described in conjunction with the attached drawings.

Recording method and recording apparatus


A system element for the transporting and positioning of a tool on a surface of a workpiece, includes at least one suction device that generates a suction stream, and a transport device that is arranged around the suction device, and includes: at least two rollers that are rotatably supported on the suction device, connection elements that interconnect respective end regions of various rollers, and the rollers and the connection elements are elastically deformable, and when there is a suction stream, the system element substantially conforms with the surface of the workpiece.

In order to use robots for machining large workpieces, it may be economical to rigidly position the workpiece and to let the robot move to the position where machining is to occur. If the dimension of the robot is to be kept small, the robot may be moved to a suitable position. If the workpiece is sufficiently stable, there may be no need to use external devices for leading the robot into position, for example, for scaffolds, provided the technical task of moving over the workpiece is solved. This may involve the sub-task of locomotion and, if the surface is inclined, of adhesion.
In order to achieve adhesion to the surface, the solution of providing the transport and positioning device with one or several suction cups suggests itself. This approach may be associated with some problems of implementing locomotion. For example, a window cleaning robot adheres to the window panes by means of suction cups. In the case of a window cleaning robot, a sliding suction function may be achieved. In order to combine good sealing characteristics with good sliding characteristics, in this arrangement, a liquid is injected between the suction cup and the window pane surface.
The known window cleaning robot may be designed for operating on substantially non-curved glass panes since, depending on the radius of curvature of the surface, significant limits apply to the size of the suction cups and thus to the contact pressure. Furthermore, it may be undesirable in use to put up with regular feed-in and the release of liquid.

System element for the transporting and positioning of tools


A valve control apparatus includes first and second engine valves; a first drive cam configured to rotate integrally with the drive shaft; a second drive cam provided on the drive shaft and configured to rotate integrally with the drive shaft; a swing cam configured to swing; a transmission mechanism configured to convert a rotation of the first drive cam into a swinging force and to transmit the swinging force to the swing cam; a first swing arm configured to open the first engine valve by a swing of the swing cam; a second swing arm configured to open the second engine valve by a rotation of the second drive cam; a control mechanism configured to vary a swing amount of the swing cam by varying an attitude of the transmission mechanism; and a connection changeover mechanism configured to connect and disconnect the first swing arm with/from the second swing arm.

The present invention relates to a valve control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which is able to vary a characteristic such as a lift amount of intake valve and/or exhaust valve in accordance with an operating state of the engine.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-103040 discloses a previously-proposed valve control apparatus in the field. This valve control apparatus includes a holder which varies its swing position by a control cam, and a sub-cam which is driven by an intake cam and which swings about a support shaft fixed to the holder. The sub-cam includes a drive cam surface and a rest cam surface. The drive cam surface drives a first intake valve through a first rocker arm. The rest cam surface drives a second intake valve through a second rocker arm. Moreover, the valve control apparatus further includes a connection changeover mechanism which connects the first rocker arm with the second rocker arm or disconnects the first rocker arm from the second rocker arm.
In a high-load region of engine, the connection changeover mechanism connects the first rocker arm with the second rocker arm so that both of the first and second intake valves are driven (opened and closed) by the drive cam surface which produces a large lift. Thereby, an intake-air charging efficiency is enhanced to increase an output torque of the engine.
On the other hand, in a low-load region of the engine, the connection changeover mechanism disconnects the first rocker arm from the second rocker arm. Thereby, the first intake valve is driven by the drive cam surface, and the second intake valve is made substantially in a closed state (minute-lift state) by the rest cam surface which produces a small lift. Because of this lift difference between the first and second intake valves, an intake-air swirl effect is produced in a cylinder, so that a combustion of the engine is improved. Hence, a fuel economy is improved.

Valve control apparatus for internal combustion engine


An optical isolator for coupling light from a first waveguide to a second waveguide is disclosed. The optical isolator utilizes a resonator coupled to the first and second optical waveguides. The resonator has a resonance at λ for light traveling from the first optical waveguide to the second optical waveguide; however, the resonator does not have a resonance at λ for light traveling from the second waveguide to the first waveguide. The resonator can use a layer of ferromagnetic material in an applied magnetic field. The magnetic field within the ferromagnetic material varies in strength and/or direction over the layer of ferromagnetic material. The magnetic field can be generated by an external magnetic field that varies over the layer of ferromagnetic material. Alternatively, the resonator can include a layer of ferromagnetic metal that overlies a portion of the layer of ferromagnetic material and a constant external magnetic field.

The ever-increasing demand for broadband communication systems has led to optical transmission systems based on optical waveguides such as fiber optics and optical processing elements for use in these systems. To decrease the cost of such systems, large-scale integration of the optical devices is needed. Large-scale integration also provides decreased size and increased reliability.
One optical device that is used in such systems is an optical isolator. In optical communication systems, optical signals pass through interfaces that generate reflected signals that propagate back to the signal source. Optical isolators are used to block these reflected signals from reaching the source. Ideally, optical isolators transmit the optical signal in the forward direction and block the reflected light signal that is traveling in the reverse direction.
Optical isolators based on birefringent crystals, polarizers, and Faraday rotators are well known in the optical signal arts. Isolators based on Faraday rotators operate by rotating the polarization of the light in a direction that depends on the direction of travel of the light relative to the direction of an applied magnetic field. The amount of rotation θ experienced by the input plane of polarization is proportional to the length, L, of the Faraday medium, the magneto-optic or "Verdet" coefficient, V, of the medium and the strength of the applied magnetic field, H.θ=VHLThe simplest devices operate on linearly polarized light and consist of two polarization filters and a Faraday rotator that is located between the polarization filters. Light entering the device in the "pass direction" has a polarization that is aligned to pass through the first polarization filter. The Faraday rotator causes the direction of polarization of this light to be rotated by the Faraday rotator such that it will pass through the second polarization filter without being blocked. The polarization of any light traveling in the reverse direction that passes through the second polarization is rotated by the Faraday rotator to a direction that is blocked by the first polarization filter.
The above described isolator assumes that the light is linearly polarized in a direction that matches the pass direction of the first polarization filter. If the incident light is not linearly polarized, the light must be first split into two linearly polarized components and two isolators are used, one per component. If the light leaving the isolator is to have the same polarization as that entering the isolator, quarter waveplates must be included to rotate the light to the original polarization direction.
Such devices are relatively large and expensive, and hence, poorly suited for use in large-scale optical signal processing systems. In particular, the thickness of the Faraday rotator cannot be reduced, since the amount of rotation per unit length of material in the rotator depends on the physical properties of the materials used. Hence, there is a minimum thickness for the Faraday rotator and any quarter waveplates. These devices are typically of the order of 1 mm thick, which is large by integrated circuit standards. In addition, integration of these optical isolators with waveguides and other processing optical elements that are formed on a common substrate is difficult with these designs.

Optical isolator utilizing a micro-resonator

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.