One embodiment of the disclosure includes an A-D conversion circuit connected to a photodiode for providing a silicon photomultiplier that with enhanced detection accuracy and a time resolution. A current generated upon photon detection by the photodiode partially flows into another photodiode adjacent to the photodiode arranged in parallel via a resistor. At this time, the current is charged into a parasitic capacitance adjacent to the photodiode, and thereafter is discharged. However, the discharged current cannot flow toward an output terminal by the A-D conversion circuit, and also cannot switch the A-D conversion circuit. Consequently, the construction of the disclosure can detect light with no influence of the current discharged from the parasitic capacitance. As a result, the disclosure achieves a silicon photomultiplier with high detection accuracy and a satisfactory time resolution.

A silicon photomultiplier (SiPM: Silicon Photomultiplier) is a photoelectric conversion element electrically operatable in the same manner as a photomultiplier tube (PMT) or a micro-channel plate (MCP).
As illustrated in FIG. 16, an SiPM is formed by a two-dimensional assembly of microcells composed of photodiodes (PD).
The microcell is composed of PDs with bias voltage of breakdown voltage or more applied thereto and quenching resistors for recovery of the PDs with Geiger electric discharge phenomenon.
FIG. 17 illustrates a currently-used SiPM. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the PDs with same polarity are arranged in parallel. When light is incident on the SiPM, photons enter into some of the PDs in the macrocell where current is passed in the direction opposite to the polarity. Accordingly, all the current passing through the PDs travels toward an output terminal Iout. The output terminal Iout outputs current with intensity depending on a number of PDs into which the photons enter. See, for example, Japanese Patent Publication (Translation of PCT Application) 2010-536186A.

Silicon photomultiplier with improved detection accuracy


A duplicate feeding detection device for use with sheet-like members may include a control part for controlling an ultrasonic transmission part, a duplicate feeding judging part for judging duplicate feeding of the sheet-like members on a basis of an output from an ultrasonic receiving part, a temperature measuring part for measuring temperature of a vicinity of the ultrasonic transmission part, and a memory part in which a relationship between an oscillation frequency of the ultrasonic transmission part and a temperature is stored. The control part sets an oscillation frequency corresponding to a temperature which is measured by the temperature measuring part on a basis of the relationship between the oscillation frequency and the temperature stored in the memory part.

When a sheet-like member such as a check, a paper money, a printing paper or a manuscript is fed to recognize characters or the like provided on the sheet-shaped member, duplicate feeding in which a plurality of papers is simultaneously feed in an overlapped manner is required to be prevented.
In order to prevent the duplicate feeding, a technique utilizing ultrasonic wave has been known in which a ultrasonic transmitter and a ultrasonic receiver are disposed on opposite faces of a transfer passage for feeding a sheet-like member and, when ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic transmitter is received with the ultrasonic receiver, duplicate feeding is judged on the basis of an attenuation amount of the ultrasonic wave transmitting through the sheet-like member.
In the technique with the use of ultrasonic wave, in order to stably detect duplicate feeding, an amplification factor of the ultrasonic receiver is increased so as to detect a minute difference of an attenuation amount of the ultrasonic wave regardless of a condition of the sheet-like member such as difference of its thickness, a wrinkled state or a folded state.
However, when the amplification factor of the ultrasonic receiver is increased, an external noise is also amplified simultaneously and an S/N ratio is lowered. Therefore, a technique has been known in which, in order to efficiently enhance a reception level while restraining dispersion of element characteristics such as sensitivity, resonance frequency and directivity of the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver, a frequency of the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic transmitter is made variable and duplicate feeding is detected with the use of the optimum oscillation frequency.
Duplicate feeding detection which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-298598 is performed in which an ultrasonic wave with an output voltage and an oscillation frequency having adjusted beforehand is emitted from an ultrasonic transmitter. The output voltage is adjusted so that a voltage is increased in a fixed frequency and the lowest voltage is set to be the output voltage when the reception level of the ultrasonic receiver becomes larger than a predetermined value. Further, the oscillation frequency is adjusted so that, in a case that the reception level of the ultrasonic receiver does not become more than the predetermined value even when the voltage of the ultrasonic transmitter is increased, the frequency is varied in a specified range and the step in which the voltage is increased is repeated again. The frequency when the reception level of the ultrasonic receiver becomes larger than the predetermined value is determined as the oscillation frequency. A combination of the lowest output voltage and the oscillation frequency whose reception level is high provides a good transmission efficiency for the ultrasonic wave and a high detection accuracy of duplicate feeding.
Duplicate feeding detection which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-1691 utilizes that, when the frequency is continuously varied within a predetermined range, the sensitivity of the ultrasonic receiver becomes maximum at a certain frequency regardless of its element characteristics and, in this manner, the accuracy of duplicate feeding detection at the resonance point is enhanced.
However, in the duplicate feeding detection which is disclosed in the former Patent Reference, it is not considered that the resonance frequency varies due to temperature characteristic of the piezo-electric element. Therefore, even when the ultrasonic wave is emitted from the ultrasonic transmitter at a predetermined oscillation frequency regardless of a temperature condition, the output of the ultrasonic transmitter is decreased and thus the reception level of the ultrasonic receiver is also decreased to lower the S/N ratio. Further, the resonance frequency is shifted due to a temperature characteristic of the piezo-electric element and thus a portion with a high S/N ratio is not used in an actual using state.
Further, in the duplicate feeding detection which is disclosed in the latter Patent Reference, accuracy of duplicate feeding detection at a resonance point can be enhanced by sweeping of the frequency. However, duplicate feeding cannot be detected with a high degree of accuracy over a whole area of a sheet-like member to which duplicate feeding detection is to be performed and thus there is a possibility of erroneous detection according to a degree of overlapping of sheet-like members.

Duplicate feeding detection device for sheet-like member


A source separation system (10) processes input signals formed by mixtures of primary signals originating from sources and estimates the primary signals so that the estimates do not differ even in the presence of non-stationary input signals. The system includes a first separation sub-assembly (12) which produces first estimates of the primary signals, a second sub-assembly (14) which adaptively determines the separation coefficients, and a third sub-assembly (15) which standardizes the first estimates and produces first standardized estimates used for the calculation of the separation coefficients. An output module (17) produces estimates which have between them the same proportionality ratio as that existing between the primary signals. A selection module (19) avoids an estimate being duplicated on various outputs in the case where certain primary signals are absent or very weak.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a source separation system for processing input signals formed by mixtures of primary signals originating from various sources and for estimating the primary signals, the system comprising a first source separation sub-assembly which, with the aid of separation coefficients, produces estimates of the primary signals, while a second sub-assembly adaptively determining the separation coefficients.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are systems which receive on their inputs signals which present themselves in the form of mixed signals formed by a superpositioning of contributions originating from various signal sources. This is shown, for example, with an antenna that receives signals originating from various transmitters, or when a microphone produces a desired speech signal mixed with undesired disturbing signals. Generally, one wishes to perfectly extract all the source signals which occur in the mixture, either completely or by an optimization of a signal-to-noise ratio.
When using various sensors which produce various mixed signals, one has sought to obtain reliable estimates of the source signals. Known techniques work with unknown mixed signals and unknown source signals, so that the separation techniques are called blind source separation techniques.
Among the known source separation structures, one may cite, for example, the prior art document "Multi-layer neural networks with a local adaptive learning rule for blind separation of source signals", A. CICHOCKI, W. KASPRZAK, S. AMARI, International Symposium on nonlinear theory and its applications (NOLTA'95) LAS VEGAS, Dec. 10-14, 1995, 1Ce-5, pages 61 to 65.
This document relates to mixtures which are hard to process, for example, because the mixed signals are very much alike or when the mixed signals have highly different levels.
Nonetheless, the structures described in this document are not suitable when the source signals are non-stationary signals. This forms a considerable drawback, because these types of signals are very often found in the concrete applications such as speech signal processing or, more generally, audio signal processing.

Separation system for non-stationary sources


An aqueous polymer dispersion, comprising an at least 20% neutralized, free-radical polymerized product of A and B in a ratio of one part A to from 0.5 to 9.0 parts B by weight; wherein. A consists essentially of from 2.5 to 13% by weight of at least one acid group-containing, ethyleneically unsaturated monomer and from 87 to 97.5% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer that is free from acid groups, and further wherein PA1 B is a reaction product of at least one compound containing at least 1.5 epoxide groups per molecule on average and at least one member of the group consisting of:. (1) mixtures of ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acids, saturated fatty acids, and monoesters of ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and saturated fatty alcohols; and (2) mixtures of saturated fatty acids and monoesters of ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and saturated fatty alcohol.

Aqueous polymer dispersions and aqueous coating materials based on aqueous polymer dispersions are known. EP-A-469,646, for example, describes aqueous polymer dispersions of hybrid polymers, which are used for the production of aqueous coating materials. The hybrid polymers are prepared by polymerizing ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of an epoxide-containing reaction product of n mol of a bisepoxide compound and n-1 mol of a dicarboxylic acid, which product has itself been reacted with unsaturated fatty acids. Following neutralization of the acid groups contained in the polymer, the hybrid polymer is dispersible in water. From the aqueous polymer dispersions prepared in this way it is possible to product aqueous coating materials which, disadvantageously, give coating films which have a tendency to yellow, especially when relatively long baking times and/or relatively high baking temperatures are employed.
The object of the present invention is to provide aqueous polymer dispersions from which it is possible to produce aqueous coating materials which can be used to produce coating films in which the above-described disadvantages are reduced or absent and which additionally have good surface properties, in particular a high acid resistance and scratch resistance.
This object is surprisingly achieved by the provision of aqueous polymer dispersions which can be prepared in that
(A) 1.0 part by weight of a mixture of PA1 (B1) from 0.5 to 9.0 parts by weight of a reaction product of PA1 (B2) from 0.5 to 9.0 parts by weight of a reaction product of component (b1) and PA1 (B3) from 0.5 to 9.0 parts by weight of a reaction product of component (b1) and
(a1) from 2.5 to 13% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer which contains acid groups, or of a mixture of such monomers, and PA2 (a2) from 87 to 97.5% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer which is free from acid groups, or of a mixture of such monomers, PA2 (b1) a compound which contains on average per molecule at least 1.5 epoxide groups, or a mixture of such compounds, and PA2 (b2) a mixture of PA2 (b3) a monoester of an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid and a saturated fatty alcohol, or a mixture of such monoesters, PA2 (b4) a mixture of components (b21), (b22) and (b3) or a mixture of components (b21) and (b3) or a mixture of components (b22) and (b3).
the sum of the percentages by weight of components (a1) and (a2) always being 100% by weight, are subjected to free-radical polymerization in the presence of
(b21) an ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having 3-8 carbon atoms, or a mixture of such monocarboxylic acids, and PA3 (b22) a saturated fatty acid, or a mixture of saturated fatty acids,
or in the presence of
or in the presence of
and the resulting polymerization product is converted, during or after the neutralization of at least 20 percent of the acid groups contained in the polymerization product, into an aqueous polymer dispersion, components (b1), (b2), (b3) and (b4) being reacted with one another in proportions such that components (B1), (B2) and (B3) contain on average per molecule not more than 0.25 epoxide groups and at least 0.4 ethylenically unsaturated groups which derive from component (b21) and/or component (b3) .

Aqueous polymer dispersions, aqueous coating materials based on these polymer dispersions, and processes for the finishing of motor-vehicle bodies


A router includes a memory configured to store a plurality of label spaces for each label space type used in a communication system. The plurality of label spaces store labels that identify virtual links between nodes of the communication system. The router also includes a processor configured to allocate a plurality of label space identifiers to the plurality of label spaces and to route packets based on labels and label space identifiers included in the packets. The router further includes a transceiver configured to transmit or receive the packets including the labels and the label space identifiers.

Multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) is used to route data between nodes of a network based on labels instead of network addresses, thereby avoiding complex address lookups in a routing table. The labels identify virtual links (or paths) between nodes rather than endpoints. A path begins at a label edge router (LER) that is an ingress router for the path and traverses one or more label switched routers (LSRs) before ending at an LER that is an egress router for the path. The ingress router prefixes a packet with a label stack including one or more labels that indicate next hops along the path, e.g., the ingress router pushes the label stack onto the packet. Packets in the same forwarding equivalence class (FEC) are bound to the same label and are forwarded along the same path. In response to receiving a packet, an LSR uses the label value in the topmost entry of the label stack to determine the next hop for the packet, e.g., using a lookup table. The LSR then performs operations on the label stack based on the information in the topmost entry. For example, the LSR can swap the topmost label with a new label. For another example, the LSR can push a new label on top of the existing label to encapsulate the packet in another layer of MPLS. For yet another example, the LSR can pop the topmost label from the packet, which may reveal another label entry in the label stack. If the popped label is the last label on the label stack, the packet exits the MPLS tunnel, e.g., at an egress router. Otherwise, the LSR forwards the packet to the next hop router.

Multiple label spaces in a label switched router


The present invention provides for indicating devices that are impacted by the failures of another device. Then when allocating workloads to devices, non-impacted devices are given priority over impacted devices as allocation targets for workloads.

As an alternative to purchasing computer systems, a user can lease portions of a massive computer system, much as a traveler might lease a hotel room or an event planner might lease a hotel-dining hall. This business model, introduced by Hewlett-Packard Company as a "Utility Data Center" ("UDC"), allows flexible access to computer resources without the burden of maintaining a computer system.
Of course, the owner of the computer system must maintain it. Not only must the owner of the computer system provide maintenance, but do so in a way that ensures that contractual obligations are met. Since failures are inevitable in a large system, provisions must be made to move a user's workload to working hardware that meets user specification.
Computer system maintenance can be automated to a large extent. An automated workload manager can test for or otherwise detect failures. For example, the workload manager can send out requests and check for responses. If a device does not respond, it may have failed or it may be inaccessible due to failure of another device (e.g., a server may be inaccessible because a switch port to which it is connected has failed.) In either case, a failure can be noted, e.g., in a device database.
If possible, workload on a failed device can be migrated to an available device. In any event, a failed device will not be targeted for installation of a new workload or the target of a software migration. In due course, hardware or replacement of devices marked "failed" can obviate the failure.
Herein, related art is described to facilitate understanding of the invention. Related art labeled "prior art" is admitted prior art; related art not labeled "prior art" is not admitted prior art.

Computer system failure management with topology-based failure impact determinations

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A display device includes a first substrate provided with a pixel circuit in a display region, a second substrate provided facing the first substrate, a dam agent bonding the first substrate and the second substrate and sealing the display region, and a moisture detection part provided between a first region provided with the dam agent and the display region.

Thin display devices using liquid crystals or an organic EL phenomenon are being used. In particular, display devices using an organic EL phenomenon are different to those using liquid crystals since it is possible to display vivid images because they are light emitting. In addition, in recent years flexible display devices are being developed by using materials such as flexible substrates.
For example, it is possible to exemplify Japanese Laid Open Patent 2003-157970 as a technology related to a display device using an organic EL phenomenon. The display device disclosed in this document is provided with an organic EL device provided above a glass substrate, a sealing component adhered to the top of the glass substrate via an adhesive and covering the organic EL device, and an indicator which changes color by adsorbing moisture in regions apart from a display region above a glass substrate
In a display device which uses an organic EL phenomenon, it can not be said that an organic EL device includes sufficient resistance to moisture or oxygen. As a result, sealing structure is provided on a substrate when assembling a display device so that moisture or oxygen does not enter the interior from the exterior.
However, even when sealing is performed, it is difficult to completely prevent moisture from entering after manufacture of a display device which sometimes leads to a deterioration or damage to a display.
Therefore, the present invention proposes a display device which can detect the infiltration of moisture before deterioration or damage to a display occurs.


A confocal optical scanning system using a flexible optical emissive fiber or fiber laser and having a lasing cavity defined within the fiber. The system in-couples a signal beam produced when a probe beam generated by the fiber laser is reflected from a scanned object back into the lasing cavity. The perturbation created in the cavity by the in-coupling of the signal beam is detected by a transducer. Specifically, the perturbation may be the signal beam itself, an oscillation mode of the cavity induced by the in-coupled signal beam or a combination of the signal beam and the probe beam. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the system also has a polarizing assembly for altering a signal polarization of the signal beam and rotate it to either a resonant polarization supported by the cavity or a non-resonant polarization not supported by the cavity.

The field of optics has gained a great deal from the invention of the confocal microscope by Marvin Minsky. This device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,013,467. The confocal microscope attains very high resolution because it focuses a point-source signal on a specimen and images the reflected light as a point using a pin-hole aperture. All out-of-focus signals are eliminated by the aperture. Of course, this arrangement limits the microscope's field of view. Thus, the examination of a typical object requires that either the object or the focal point be scanned. The data gathered during a scan can be used to generate a three-dimensional image.
Confocal microscopes can have one of two basic geometries. The first is called the "double focusing" arrangement and it uses two lenses and two apertures. The first aperture produces the point-source signal, which is focused by the first lens on the object. The light passed through the object is focused by the second lens through the second aperture. The second, called the "reciprocal" arrangement, takes advantage of the same lens for focusing the light on the object and focusing the reflected light. A beam splitter is interposed between the light source and the lens such that the reflected signal is deflected to a separate aperture and detection system. Both types are discussed by Minsky and in general literature.
At the present time confocal microscopes are employed in biological, medical, semiconductor and industrial applications. These microscopes rely on a laser light source rather than an apertured extended source to produce the necessary light signal. Additionally, computers and video systems are used to process, store and display detected images. As an example, confocal microscopes are used in systems for optical inspection of silicon wafers and lithographic masks and for the inspection of disks used in data storage. A variety of further applications and correspondingly modified confocal systems are described in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,091,652; 5,162,942; 5,283,433; 5,283,684; 5,296,703; 5,351,152 and 5,581,345.
Due to the large dimensions and cumbersome geometries which limit the applicability of conventional confocal devices and systems there is a need to miniaturize and simplify them. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,953 M. R. Harris teaches how to construct a confocal microscope with a single-mode transmissive optical fiber. The end-face of the fiber core provides the aperture from which the laser light issues and into which the light reflected from the object is focused or imaged. Such arrangement relaxes the geometrical constraints of the traditional confocal microscope since the end of the transmissive fiber can be placed at an arbitrary location thus defining the point source location and the image point location.
More extensive teaching on the use of transmissive fibers for carrying the light to a remotely placed photodetector and simultaneously delivering the source light is presented by S. Kimura, et al. in "Confocal Scanning Optical Microscope Using Single-Mode Fiber for Signal Detection", Applied Optics 30 (16), pp. 2143 and Juskaitis, et al. "Imaging in Reciprocal Fibre-Optic Based Confocal Scanning Microscopes", Optics Communications, Vol. 92, (4, 5, 6) pp. 315. Further details and advantages relating to confocal microscopes using various types of transmissive optical fibers are presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,053 to T. P. Dabbs and U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,452 to D. W. Harris. The latter describes the advantage of using a transmissive optical fiber which is scanned in the x-y plane by use of a piezoelectric bimorph cell, which then produces a scanning image of the fiber end over the object without the use of scanning mirrors.
Auxiliary optical elements can be added to a fiber-optic based confocal microscope to make it polarization sensitive so as to perform polarization microscopy. Specifically, a transmissive birefringent optical fiber is used to transmit both, the polarized source light and the polarized return signal. The corresponding teaching is supplied by L. Giniunas, et al. in "Scanning Fiber-Optic Polarization Microscope", Optics Communications, Vol. 100, pp. 31 and P. M. F. Neilson, et al. in "Polarization-Sensitive Scanned Fiber Confocal Microscope", Optical Engineering, 35 (11), pp. 3084.
A miniature confocal microscope head for use in optical disk data storage applications is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,679 issued to T. Kuwayama et al. This head uses a single-mode transmissive fiber in a reciprocal imaging arrangement. In one embodiment, a polarization maintaining optical fiber is used to transmit a linearly polarized beam from the light source to the optical head. The linearly polarized light emerging from the output facet of the fiber then passes through a quarter-wave plate located in the optical head and becomes circularly polarized. After reflection from the surface, the light passes back through the same quarter-wave plate a second time in the opposite direction as it returns to the output facet of the fiber. The returning light is linearly polarized with its plane of polarization orthogonal to the original polarization of the emerging light. Both orthogonal polarization modes are supported by the fiber without mutual interference. A polarizing beam splitter at the other end of the fiber separates the returning light from the injected light and directs the returning light to an optical-to-electrical transducer.
In another embodiment utilizing transmissive optical fibers, a miniature optical head suitable for reading a magneto-optic memory includes a polarizing beam splitter in the optical head to allow one to detect the rotation of the linearly polarized light after it is reflected back with a slight magneto-optically Kerr-induced polarization rotation. The two orthogonal components of polarized light are split off by means of the polarizing beam splitter in the head. The return light is delivered to the detection unit using two additional "return" fibers for subsequent differential detection, as is well-known in the art.
An additional refinement to a confocal system using a transmissive optical fiber is discussed by Juskaitis, et al. in "Fibre-Optic Based Confocal Microscopy Using Laser Detection", Optics Communications, Vol. 99, pp. 105. In this arrangement the light exiting through one end of the lasing cavity is coupled into a single-mode transmissive fiber for reciprocal imaging. The light returned from the object through the fiber is coupled back into the lasing cavity and alters the light intensity as well as the modes supported by the cavity. These changes are detected by a detector placed on the other end of the lasing cavity. Alternatively, when a semiconductor laser is used then the changes can be detected through the diode junction voltage. In that case, the source and the detector are integrated into one device. A discussion of this alternative can be found in R. Juskaitis, et al. "Semiconductor Laser Confocal Microscopy", Applied Optics, 33 (4), pp. 578 (1994).
An additional improvement to this confocal system, also realized by R. Juskaitis, et al. and described in "Spatial Filter by Laser Detection in Confocal Microscopy", Optics Letters, 18 (4), pp. 1135, consists of using the laser's mode confinement properties. For example, a He-Ne laser or a laser diode can be used for reciprocal imaging thus eliminating the need for a fiber optic delivery system altogether. Of course, these non-fiber based systems lack the flexibility inherent in fiber-based systems.
Several other solutions using a laser as an integrated light source and detector are also known. For example, Webb, et al. present a system with a confocally self-detecting micro laser array in U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,710. This system incorporates beam splitters and a photodetector in the optical head for detection of the laser feedback signal.
In a non-confocal arrangement, a different method of laser self-detection can be used. For example, a near-field scanning optical system which employs laser self-coupling to achieve reflective feedback detection is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,276 to H. Ukita, et al. In this design, the optical data storage head uses a semiconductor laser which does not have an output cavity mirror and which must be closely coupled to the recording surface which acts as the missing laser cavity mirror. This system attains a high signal-to-noise ratio in near-field image detection, as long as the distance between the laser and the surface does not vary more than a small fraction of the laser wavelength during a scan.
Another near-field optical microscope using self-coupling is presented by Betzig, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,779. In contrast to transmissive fibers this microscope uses an emissive fiber or a fiber laser. The output end of the fiber laser has to be non-reflective and must be situated a distance d less than one wavelength (d<.lambda.) away from the surface which is being imaged to ensure proper coupling between the laser and the surface. In addition, the cross-section of the output end has to taper down to the same dimension d. These Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopes do not have the optical sectioning capabilities offered by confocal microscopes, where the image point may be on or within the object, as needed for imaging three-dimensional objects and surfaces. Also, systems of this type require a means for keeping the end of the fiber or laser a fixed distance within one wavelength from the surface, making fast x-y scanning impractical or impossible. In any case, the data rate is limited by such a device because only low power levels can be out-coupled from the tapered tip.
Confocal systems using transmissive fibers exploit the flexibility and miniaturizability afforded by the fibers to adapt the system to various applications. Generally speaking, however, these systems still suffer from many limitations.
First, the small core diameters of the single-mode fibers used in those systems are inefficient at in-coupling of the probe beam from a compact high power (.gtoreq.100 mW) source. For example, it is difficult to efficiently couple the beam from a high power multi-mode edge-emitting semiconductor laser into the single mode transmissive fiber. The optical power levels which can be in-coupled into a single mode fiber are low because the beams from high power semiconductor lasers typically have poor spatial distribution and relatively high M.sup.2 values. Second, the power instability of the source, e.g., mode-hopping from feedback or longitudinal mode hopping induced by temperature changes, etc., is a major factor affecting the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Third, the wavelength instability, also due to temperature fluctuations, causes chromatic imaging errors. Fourth, the passive nature of the transmissive fiber does not enable implementation of highly sensitive heterodyne detection methods known in the art for detecting Doppler-shifted signals for high SNR signal detection. In addition, these systems do not accommodate integration of the optical elements (for polarization, isolation, beam in-coupling, beam out-coupling, detection, etc.) of a fiber-based microscope which can provide simple and economical construction. Also, the prior art systems do not provide a source that can be conveniently adjusted to operate at multiple discrete wavelengths over the visible spectrum to take advantage of chromatic focusing using diffractive type focusing elements.
Finally, most of the prior art systems require the costly fabrication of multiple optical elements and experience optical losses because the signal beam and the return beam have to pass through several in-coupling and out-coupling surfaces or elements. Integration of the entire system including the light source would therefore be highly desirable.

Confocal optical scanning system employing a fiber laser


In an optimum design method comprising a first solution determining step of solving an optimization problem of a first evaluation function for a state variable vector with a design variable vector being as a parameter, and a second solution determining step of solving an optimization problem of a second evaluation function for the design variable vector and the state variable vector thus obtained, the second solution determining step includes the steps of computing a gradient vector of the second evaluation function for the design variable vector, computing a first coefficient based on a value of a norm of the gradient vector, computing a search vector based on the first coefficient, computing a second coefficient, and updating the design variable vector based on the second coefficient. The second coefficient computing step includes the first solution determining step, the first solution determining step is executed as an iterative method based on the gradient vector, and the state variable vector is not initialized during iteration. The optimum design method is precisely adaptable for structural changes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solution of an optimization problem of design parameters, and more particularly to an automatic design technique for optimization of shapes including topology of structural members.
2. Description of the Related Art
The term "structural topology optimum design" means a problem for deciding the topology and shape dimensions of a structural member, which are optimum under given conditions. Hereinafter, the topology and shape dimensions of a structural member will be referred to as "design argument functions", and the above decision problem will be referred to as a "design-variable-function optimization problem". The reason why the term "argument functions" is used resides in that the topology and shape dimensions are given as functions of a three-dimensional space.
In the design-variable-function optimization problem, an optimization problem of a state argument function must be solved for a value of each design argument function. From this point of view, the structural topology optimum design can be regarded as a double structure optimization problem that contains an optimization problem of a state argument function on the inner side and an optimization problem of a design argument function on the outer side. As to the optimization problem of a state argument function on the inner side, the concept of dividing a space into a finite number of elements is employed based on accumulation of known techniques.
For a problem taking strain energy of a structural member as an evaluation generic function, in particular, a finite element method is generally employed as a solution technique for that problem. A direct method with respect to a linear equation is employed for solution of the finite element method.
On the other hand, regarding the optimization problem of a design argument function, the following three kinds of methods have been primarily provided (see Reference 1, S. Bulman, J. Sienz, E. Hinton: "Comparisons between algorithms for structural topology optimization using a series of benchmark studies", Computers and Structures, 79, pp. 1203-1218 (2001), or Reference 2, Y-L. Hsu, M-S. Hsu, C-T. Chen: "Interpreting results from topology optimization using density contours", Computers and Structures, 79, pp. 1049-1058 (2001)):
1. Evolutionary method (referred to as "E method" below)
2. Homogenization method (referred to as "H method" below)
3. Material distribution method (referred to as "MD method" below)
According to the E method, each of partial spaces resulting from dividing a space is called a cell, and creation and disappearance of cells are repeated in accordance with proper rules. A structural member is given as a set of cells that exist finally. A definite structural member is obtained by allowing only two states represented by whether the cell exists or not. Also, because the E method does not employ differential information of the evaluation generic function and can avoid trapping to a local optimum solution, the E method is effective in the case of the evaluation generic function having multiple peaks.
Reference 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-134628) proposes an optimization design device for a skeleton structural member, which employs one kind of the E method, i.e., a genetic search method. The proposed optimization design device comprises an approximate optimization computing device using approximation formulae for discrete design variable data such as section dimensions of a skeleton structural member, and a close optimization computing device using the design variable data. Those two computing devices are combined with each other to be adapted for an actual design problem containing a large number of design variables.
The H method enables sensitivity analysis to be employed by assuming a finer structure for a structural element positioned in each of divided partial spaces and introducing a new design argument function having a continuous value. Here, the term "sensitivity analysis" means an analytical technique utilizing differential information of the evaluation generic function with respect to the design argument function. If the sensitivity analysis is enabled, it becomes possible to employ an iterative method, such as a gradient method. As a result, a computation time required for search of at least a local optimum solution can be greatly cut in comparison with a round-robin technique, such as the E method. (See Reference 4, Hiroshi Yamakawa, "Saitekika Dezain (Optimization Design)", Computation Dynamics and CAE Series 9, Baifukan Co., Ltd. (1996).)
The MD method is a method for expressing changes in topology and shape dimensions of a structural member by assigning, to each element, a real number in the range of 0 to 1 representing the presence probability of the structural member. The MD method is similar to the H method in that the sensitivity analysis is enabled by replacing discrete information, which indicates whether the structural member is present or not, with a continuous value representing the presence probability of the structural member. However, because the number of parameters is smaller in the MD method than in the H method, the MD method is advantageous in that modeling is easier and the application range is wider.
Reference 5, Fujii, Suzuki and Otsubo, "Structure Phase Optimization Using Voxel Finite Element Method", Transactions of JSCES, Paper No. 200000010(2000), describes a phase optimization technique for a structure based on the MD method. This technique has features given below.
(1) Because of using a voxel finite element method (in which a space is divided at equal intervals), element rigidity matrices for all elements are the same. Accordingly, by computing the element rigidity matrix once in advance, it is available in subsequent computations. Furthermore, since elements are regularly arranged, there is no need of storing node number information for each element.
(2) A pre-processed conjugate gradient method and an element-by-element method are combined with each other to solve large-scaled simultaneous linear equations. As a result, a solution can be obtained without setting up an entire rigidity matrix, and therefore the memory capacity required for processing can be reduced.
(3) A homogenization method requires 6 design variables (in the three-dimensional case) for one element. Further, each time the design variable is changed, the element rigidity matrix must be computed again. On the other hand, by employing a density method expressing the presence probability of the structural member as a density ratio, only one design variable is required for one element. In addition, changes of the design variable do not affect the element rigidity matrix.
The above-mentioned known techniques, however, have problems given below.
Generally, a structure optimization problem is formulated as a double optimization problem containing an optimization problem of a state variable vector per iterative step for an optimization problem of a design variable vector. Assuming the optimization problem of a state variable vector to be optimization on the outer side and the optimization problem of a design variable vector to be optimization on the inner side, the optimization on the inner side is a problem of determining the state variable vector with the design variable vector being a parameter, i.e., the design variable vector being fixed. This problem is usually called structural analysis and can be solved based on the finite element method by using the solution technique for a linear equation.
However, if a structure changes and a structural member does not exist in a certain area any more, for example, if a structural member is holed, the design variable of the corresponding element becomes 0 and the Young's modulus of that element also eventually becomes 0. This leads to a result that the problem cannot be solved by the direct method because a coefficient matrix of the linear equation is not fully filled with elements and an inverse matrix does not exist.
For that reason, most of the known techniques employ a method of using a value of not exactly 0, i.e., replacing 0 with a small value close to 0, when the design variable vector becomes 0. This method is similarly applied to the voxel finite element method employed in Reference 5.
Setting the design variable of the element to a small value, however, corresponds to the case in which there exists a thin film or a weak member from a physical point of view. Stated another way, an area where no materials are present is not exactly expressed in the known techniques.
Further, as seen from the figure showing the result in Reference 5, a structural element area not contributing to total strain energy, i.e., a floating island area or a projection area, is left in the result. Such a structural element area should be finally removed, but a method for removing that area is not explained in Reference 5.
In FIG. 16, by way of example, when elements 512, 513 and 514 are neither subjected to any weight nor supported, those elements have no contributions from the standpoint of strength. In other words, those elements are ones not contributing to total strain energy and hence should be removed in accordance with a design demand for minimum total weight of the structural members. However, it is difficult to find those elements so long as the solution technique is based only on simple geometrical information, i.e., on connection of characteristic functions.

Optimum design method and apparatus, and program for the same


A tailstock includes a main body, a lathe center unit arranged in a hollow hole of the main body, a sliding base coupled with the main body and having a slider configured at a side thereof for pairing a slide rail, and a clamping unit configured in the sliding base. The clamping unit for increasing clamping force of the tailstock further includes a connection plate having at least one positioning hole to connect the main body, at least one hydraulic rod bridging the slider and the main body, a plurality of loading devices ring-set about the hydraulic rod, and a plurality of sleeves ring-set with the corresponding loading devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a tailstock for machine tools, and more particularly to the tailstock for lathes that provide a clamping unit to increase the clamping force of a tail hydraulic tank of the lathe.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The conventional lathe is a machine tool that is specified in machining longitudinal work pieces with a round cross section. While in applying lathe to machine a work piece, one end of the work piece is fixed to a rotational spindle, while another end thereof is connected with a tailstock. Generally, the tailstock has a main body mounted fixedly to a station frame of the lathe. The main body may be equipped with a protruding lathe center for point-contacting the work piece so as to align the central line of the work piece and the rotational axis of the lathe. In performing the engagement between the work piece and the tailstock, the tailstock is moved manually or by a hydraulic force to protrude the lathe center toward the free end of the work piece till a tight contact is confirmed between the lathe center and the work piece.
However, as the dimension of the work piece to be machined by the lathe increases, the weight of the work piece as well as the load in the lathe becomes heavier. Thus, it is necessary to introduce a heavy-duty tailstock so as to meet the loading need. In the art, the one-piece piston design for each lateral side of the tailstock is believed no longer to meet the requirement of an upgraded clamping force. However, in the circumstance of the limited space available around the lathe tailstock, it is almost impossible to upgrade the tailstock for meeting the need of increasing clamping force for holding the work piece. Namely, it is an urgent need in an improved lathe tailstock for resolving the loading problem while in meeting a heavy-duty situation.


A storage device containing a quantity of a liquid chemical substance which is used as a reactant in a chemical process, the device being composed of: a closed container holding the quantity of substance and having a wall provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening; an inlet valve coupled to said inlet opening, the inlet valve being closeable to block said inlet opening; an outlet valve coupled to the outlet opening, the outlet valve being closeable to block the outlet opening; and a filter interposed between the quantity of liquid and said outlet valve.

The present invention relates to devices for storing a liquid chemical substance which is used as a reactant in a chemical process, as well as to apparatus containing such a device.
In many industrial chemical processes, a processing chemical is stored in a container in a liquid state and the supply of processing chemical in the container is gradually exhausted as the liquid is converted to a vapor and expelled from the container.
According to one technique currently employed for converting such a processing chemical to a vapor, a fill gas is introduced into the container via an inlet opening at the top of the container. This fill gas creates a high pressure region above the processing chemical. The container is also provided with an outlet line having an outlet pipe which is immersed in the processing chemical and which leads, via a filter and appropriate valves, to a flow control device, such as a liquid mass flow controller. The flow control device delivers the processing chemical to a vaporizer, together with a carrier gas. Within the vaporizer, the carrier gas mixes with the processing chemical to produce a vapor which is then delivered to the processing station. The processing station may be composed of a process chamber whose interior is maintained at a low pressure that acts to draw the vapor from the vaporizer.
In apparatus of the type described above, both the vaporizer and the flow control device normally contain orifices of very small size, in the range of 0.001 to 0.030 inch diameter. These orifices can be easily clogged or blocked by particles contained in the processing chemical. These particles may be present in the processing chemical when it is initially supplied to the apparatus, or can be created by reactions occurring between the processing chemical and the fill gas. Such particles can also be constituted by precipitates resulting from normal decomposition or aging of the processing chemical, or can result from corrosion of the components through which the processing chemical flows. Since such particles would rapidly clog or block or restrict orifices in the flow control device and/or the vaporizer, the filter upstream of the flow control device is often an important component of such apparatus.
However, since the purpose of the filter is to trap particles, the filter itself gradually becomes clogged and after a certain period of use, the filter usually must be replaced. In current state-of-the-art apparatus, filter replacement is associated with a number of serious drawbacks and difficulties.
For example, in order to replace the filter, the apparatus is typically shut down, not only to allow removal of the used filter and installation of a fresh filter, but also because filter replacement is usually accompanied by a relatively lengthy purging operation during which associated carrier lines are re-filled with the desired composition of carrier gas and chemical.
Furthermore, the types of processing chemicals employed in such apparatus are generally highly corrosive and/or toxic. Therefore, the process of removing a used filter is complicated by the need to assure operator safety. Handling and disposal of used filters therefore presents special safety issues and adds to the cost of operating the apparatus.
The problems posed by the removal, handling and disposal of these used filters are generally greater than similar problems associated with the replacement of a container whose supply of processing chemical has been exhausted. Such containers are normally equipped with inlet and outlet valves that must be closed before a used container can be removed. Therefore, although removal of a used container and installation of a fresh container must be effected in a careful manner, the safety problems associated therewith are typically less severe than those associated with removal of a filter.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of conventional apparatus in which such a filter is provided. This apparatus includes a container 2, of a type commonly referred to as an ampule, which is a sealed container supplied with a quantity of a chemical substance 4 in the liquid state. The upper portion of the interior of container 6 defines a head space 6 which is coupled, via an inlet opening in the lid, or top wall, of container 2, to an inlet line containing a manual valve 10. The inlet line will be connected to conduct a fill gas which is introduced into head space 6 in order to place liquid 4 under pressure. An outlet pipe 12 extends into container 6 via an outlet port located in the top wall of container 2. Pipe 12 has an inlet end which is immersed in liquid 4, typically at a level close to the bottom of container 2. Liquid chemical substance 4 is delivered to a vaporizer via pipe 12, manual valve 16, pneumatically-controlled valves 18 and 20, and filter 22. Valves 10 and 16 are typically secured to container 2 in a manner to be removed together with container 2 at the time of container replacement. Couplings 62 and 64 may be decoupled to permit removal of container 2 and valves 10 and 16. Prior to removal, valves 10 and 16 are closed and couplers 62 and 64 are purged by means of purge gas and vacuum lines 23a, 23b and 23c.
The flow path which includes valves 18 and 20 and filter 22 is further bridged by a bypass valve 24 which permits the filter 22 to be bypassed if necessary to maintain operation while the filter is replaced. The bypass line of valve 24 may similarly have a filter (not shown) to filter the flow while the other filter is being replaced. Prior to replacement of filter 22, valves 18 and 20 may be closed. The filter 22 may then be purged by passing a purge gas through the filter from a purge gas line 26a coupled to the filter. The purge gas and chemical residue is withdrawn through a vacuum line 26b.


Transferring and extracting sticky blanks. The apparatus including a thin layer disposed under tension stress in contact with the top of the go length and extending in the travel direction of said length downstream beyond the zone in which said length bends and as far as a zone where said layer co-operates with a takeup transporter. The apparatus is applicable to lines for shaping after prior pressing and heating.

In the above preferred applications, the shaped parts that are to be obtained require the use of a shaping mold of the type comprising a punch and a die, serving to shape a blank of material based on thermoplastic composites, which blank is subjected to a preheating stage prior to being engaged in the mold, thereby imparting an appropriate temperature to the material for subsequent shaping of its thickness by means of the mold which is itself cooled for this purpose, which shaping generally includes compacting or compression of the material.
Blanks for constituting individual parts are cut to an appropriate plane shape and are generally selected to be made up of padding materials which may be woven or non-woven, including greater or smaller quantities of fibers or threads of natural or synthetic or thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Any base material can thus be appropriate, and in this respect it is general practice to use layers of woven or non-woven or felted material.
It should naturally be understood that in the meaning of the invention, the particular nature of the blanks is part of the prior art that is known and available to any person skilled in the art.
The blanks, which in some cases can be thought of as stiff sheets, are thus heated, generally right through, either by infrared radiation or by applying hot air, or indeed by a so-called "contact" method, it also being possible to combine these various methods.
When heating blanks or sheets by contact, it is appropriate to use a kind of press in which hot plates are brought with controlled relative pressure into contact with the two large faces of each blank or sheet in order to transfer sufficient heat to the component fibers thereof for softening the thermoplastic material.
To be successful, such a method generally requires successive temperature-raising steps to be performed in order to reduce the cycle type required for transformation and thus increase production throughput. That is why such presses generally include two or even more contact heating press assemblies, each assembly implementing respective pressures and temperatures that may be at different levels.
That technique is likewise known to the person skilled in the art.
Nevertheless, in an application of the kind outlined above, a problem that arises is that of inserting and transferring blanks from one heating assembly to another, and to an even greater extent, of extracting the blank from the last heating assembly in order to bring each blank into the mold proper by means of a pickup transporter.
The difficulty arises because of the sticky character imparted to the two large faces of the blank, and also because of its softened state which does not help in providing suitable conditions for such a blank to be picked up successfully, given its adhesive character.
In an attempt to solve this technical difficulty, it has been recommended to make use of extractor clamps that may be situated transversely to the travel direction of the blanks, or parallel to said direction.
Said clamps must initially take hold of the edge or margin of each blank and exert sufficient pressure on the material thereof to cause it to move relative to a moving transporter or a static conveyor, in spite of the sticky or adhesive character of the blank.
Such extractor clamps must therefore act on material that is strong enough and preferably not sticky, which is why such blanks are initially cut to a shape leaving excess margins which are not heated by contact and which are subsequently cut off.
Operating in that way subjects the shaping operation to a severe cost penalty and it is generally the subcontractor who must bear the cost of the additional raw material which is scrapped.
Another drawback of the technique using pickup clamps stems from the fact that they are not adapted to taking hold of blanks whose edges to be grasped are not parallel to the direction in which the clamps are set up. Unfortunately, this situation arises frequently, given that the blanks need to have plane shapes that correspond to the shapes of the parts which are to be obtained, for legitimate reasons of not wasting material. This applies to plane shapes in the form of non-rectangular quadrilaterals.
Account should also be taken of prior art proposals which consist in implementing conveyor belts made of materials that have the reputation of being unaffected by adhesive or sticky materials. In this respect, mention can be made of belts made of glass fibers that are coated or covered in an appropriate material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene.
In practice, those proposals have not been found to be entirely satisfactory since it often happens that when a hot blank is extracted from a press on its way to the mold, there is uncontrolled adhesion of the blank which remains stuck to the conveyor belt, regardless of whether the belt is constituted by a single endless belt or by two endless belts with facing lengths. Under such circumstances, a blank which sticks to one or other of the belts is then brought back to the inlet of the pressing and heating station, which can therefore no longer operate automatically.
The running of the entire installation is then seriously disturbed, giving rise to reduced throughput, and indeed the need to stop operation, e.g. when the uncontrolled and random movement of a blank clogs up an operating subassembly which needs to be put back into its initial state before the machine as a whole can operate properly. It is clear that such situations make it difficult to achieve automatic operation, even though that is preferred for such machines.
Finally, mention should be made of another prior art proposal consisting in taking each blank at the entrance to the pressing and heating station, sandwiching it between two fine pieces of cloth which may be woven or non-woven, and which are provided to oppose adhesion. That solution achieves its result, but it increases production costs in a non-negligible manner.

Apparatus for transferring and extracting a blank of sticky material relative to a workstation, and a transforming press constituting an application thereof


A clothes washing machine includes a body, a tub within the body, a cover for the body, and an illumination device for illuminating an interior of the body. The illumination device includes a downwardly depending socket having a lamp mounted therein; and a case encompassing the lamp and forming a water-tight seal with the socket. Light is emitted from a lower end of the case, which is covered by a light-concentrating lens. The lamp is energized by a secondary coil of a transformer and is turned on and off by a switch. The lamp is turned on when the cover is open. Another secondary coil of the transformer supplies power to a microcomputer which operates the switch.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic illuminating apparatus of a washing machine and a control circuit thereof.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Generally, an illuminating apparatus is installed into a washing machine, thereby facilitating inserting and removing of the laundry. That is, even though a cover of the washing machine is opened at a not illuminated location, the inside of the washing machine can be seen by the user because an illuminating lamp is mounted to a lower part of a top cover of the washing machine.
A conventional art has been described in Japanese Utility Model Sho. 64-55888, published on 6 Apr. 1989, entitled `A WASHING MACHINE`. The conventional art relates to a washing machine comprising: a washing tub; an operating panel installed to an upper part of the washing tub; a neon lamp installed in the operating panel; and a transparent plate that permeates light of the neon lamp into the washing tub.
Herein, as for an illuminating apparatus of the conventional art, the lamp is installed in the operating panel, light illuminates the washing tub through the lamp, and the lamp is directly connected to an alternating current (AC) power-supply.
Accordingly, the lamp has a simple structure in the conventional art, and its lighting-up can be controlled. However, a counterplan for preventing water leakage is not suggested in a structure of the lamp, so that there is a possibility of danger of short-circuiting in the conventional art. Since the power-supply of the neon lamp is the AC power-supply commonly used for a load such as a pulsator motor, the conventional art causes a fatal danger to the user when a short circuit occurs.
The current washing machine commonly has a controller comprised of a microprocessor. The controller makes the washing machine perform a washing procedure (i.e., washing.fwdarw.rinsing.fwdarw.drain.fwdarw.spin drying) according to a predetermined program. The controller controls both a displayer showing the operating state of a system and an illuminating apparatus illuminating the inside of the washing machine.
Another conventional art regarding the above washing machine having such a controller, has been described in Japanese Patent application Hei. 6-190186, published on 12 Jul. 1994, entitled `A WASHING MACHINE`.
A washing machine according to another conventional art includes: an illuminating lamp for illuminating the inside of a washing machine; a clear window mounted to a top cover, for seeing the inside of the washing machine; and an opening/closing sensor for determining whether the top cover is opened or closed. When the opening/closing sensor determines that the top cover is open, the washing machine turns on the illuminating lamp. When the opening/closing sensor determines that the top cover is closed, the washing machine turns off the illuminating lamp after the lapse of a predetermined time.
Such washing machine has one direct current (DC) power-supply. The DC power-supply is supplied to a controller, a displayer, and a lamp. Accordingly, when the lamp is turned on, a current for driving the displayer relatively decreases. Worst of all, even the brightness of the lamp decreases, so that the user has difficulty seeing an operating state of the washing machine. In addition, in case of a short circuit of the lamp, it may cause an electric shock to the user.

Automatic illuminating apparatus of washing machine and control circuit thereof


It is an object of this invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of coping suitably with the fluctuation in a used consumption amount at the predetermined period as well as grasping in advance feasibility of a use. To achieve the above, an image forming apparatus according this invention has an entry section for entering image forming data; a using amount storage means for storing a using amount of a consumption used at a predetermined period for purpose of image formation; a setting means for setting a usable consumption amount of the predetermined period; and a usable amount determining means for determining the usable consumption amount of each determined period, the usable amount determining means for determining after the predetermined period the usable amount of a subsequent period corresponding to the using amount.

This invention relates to an image forming apparatus.
Conventionally, from a viewpoint to resource saving, some image forming apparatus such as a printer, e.g., such as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JA-8-367470, has a function for limiting the usable sheet number of recording sheets. The image forming apparatus has a data memory means for memorizing a limited usable number of the recording sheets and a used recording sheet number already printed; a comparison means for making a summation of a printing request sheet number and the used sheet number to compare a summed result with the limited usable sheet number; and a controlling means for controlling to discontinue printing operation of printing data on the recording sheet in a case that as the compared result the limited usable sheet number becomes less than the summed result. The image forming apparatus is set as to return a using rejection message to a host apparatus as a requesting source in a case of receiving a printing request without use right in the printing request from the host apparatus.
The aforementioned conventional image forming apparatus, however, cannot suitably cope with fluctuation in the using sheet number at each predetermined period. The limited usable sheet number is set per the predetermined period, e.g., one month but the using recording sheet number changes at each period. Therefore, the recording sheets remain over or run short from month to month where the restricted using recording sheet number is monthly stabilized. In that case, an administrator monthly needs to adjust the restricted using sheet number. Furthermore, just before an end of the period, i.e., the end of the month, from thought that the prescribed number is to be fully used, unnecessary printing may be performed, so that an primary object to suppress printing performance cannot be achieved.
Until the summed result of the printing request sheet number plus the used sheet number reaches the limited usable sheet number, a host apparatus is informed nothing while informed an unprintable state when the summed result exceeds the printing request sheet number, so the host apparatus cannot grapes in advance when the printing operation becomes unprintable.


Embodiments determine the effect of an environmental maintenance device on other environmental maintenance devices in environmentally controlled space. The determined effects may be modeled and graphically represented using, for example, an effectiveness map. In the case of a data center, an exemplary effectiveness map may illustrate the effect that one or more computer room air conditioners (CRACs) have on themselves and on other CRACs in the data center. In the case of an office building, an exemplary effectiveness map may illustrate the effect that one or more selected variable air volume (VAV) terminal units have on their own thermostat readings and the thermostat readings of other VAV terminal units in the office building.

Often times, values of a physical condition, such as temperature and humidity, of a space (e.g. homes, buildings, offices, computer rooms of data centers that contain large arrays of computers and servers) are controlled. To control the physical conditions, the space is provided with devices, including sensors and environmental maintenance modules, or just modules, capable of modifying one or more of the physical conditions. The modules have one or more adjustable components termed environmental actuators, or just actuators, which control how the modules operate.
Manufacturers typically provide environmental maintenance modules as integral units with built-in controllers and externally accessible and/or adjustable set points for the actuators. These modules are installed in the space to be environmentally controlled, or are at least are functionally connected to that space, for example by ductwork. The set points are selected by an administrator (such as personnel, the data center operations personnel, administrator, owner, decision maker, equipment installer, or similar) to best maintain desired physical conditions in the managed space. The environmentally controlled space may include one or more sensors that read/measure values of one or more physical conditions and compare the readings/measurements to the set points of the actuators.
An environmental maintenance device (including environmental maintenance modules and sensor in a controlled space) may have an effect on other environmental maintenance devices in a same enclosed space (e.g. same room, same floor, same building, etc.). The effect of a given environmental maintenance device on other environmental maintenance devices may impact the other environmental maintenance modules' reach or maintain their respective set points. Current systems do not provide a technique for determining and/or visualizing the effect of a given environmental maintenance device on other environmental maintenance devices.


A method of creating a gradation curve for gradation processing of a medical image represented by a digital signal representation to generate a gradation processed image wherein the shape of the gradation curve and signal range for which the gradation curve is defined are deduced from the digital signal representation and wherein the gradation processed image has a fixed density and fixed contrast value in a diagnostically most relevant area.

Nowadays several medical image acquisition techniques and systems exist that render a digital signal representation of a medical image, e.g. a radiographic image.
One example of such a system is a computed radiography system wherein a radiation image is recorded on a temporary storage medium, more particularly a photostimulable phosphor screen. In such a system a digital signal representation is obtained by scanning the screen with radiation of (a) wavelength(s) within the stimulating wavelength range of the phosphor and by detecting the light emitted by the phosphor upon stimulation.
Other examples of computed radiography systems are direct radiography systems, for example systems wherein a radiographic image is recorded in a solid state sensor comprising a radiation sensitive layer and a layer of electronic read out circuitry.
Still another example of a computed radiography system is a system wherein a radiographic image is recorded on a conventional x-ray film and wherein that film is developed and subsequently subjected to image scanning.
Still other systems such as a tomography system may be envisaged.
The digital image representation of the medical image acquired by one of the above systems can then be used for generating a visible image on which the diagnosis can be performed. For this purpose the digital signal representation is applied to a hard copy recorder or to a display device.
Commonly the digital signal representation of the image is subjected to image processing prior to hard copy recording or display.
In order to convert the digital image information optimally into a visible image on a medium on which the diagnosis is performed, a multi-resolution image processing method (also called multi scale image processing method) has been developed by means of which the contrast of an image is enhanced.
According to this multi-resolution image processing method an image represented by an array of pixel values is processed by applying the following steps. First the original image is decomposed into a sequence of detail images at multiple scales and a residual image at a scale lower than the minimum of said multiple scales. Next, the pixel values of the detail images are modified by applying to these pixel values at least one non-linear monotonically increasing odd conversion function with a slope that gradually decreases with increasing argument values. Finally, a processed image is computed by applying a reconstruction algorithm to the residual image and the modified detail images, the reconstruction algorithm being such that if it were applied to the residual image and the detail images without modification, then the original image or a close approximation thereof would be obtained.
The above image processing technique has been described extensively in European patent EP 527 525, the processing being referred to as MUSICA image processing (MUSICA is a registered trade name of Agfa-Gevaert N.V.)
The described method is advantageous over conventional image processing techniques such as unsharp masking etc. because it increases the visibility of subtle details in the image and because it increases the faithfulness of the image reproduction without introducing artefacts.
Prior to being applied to a hard copy recorder or to a display device the image signal representing the radiation image (whether or not having been subjected to the above-described contrast enhancement processing) is subjected to a signal-to-density conversion according to a conversion curve, referred to as gradation (processing) curve.
The conversion of pixels to output values suitable for reproduction or display comprises the selection of a relevant sub-range and the conversion of data in this sub-range according to a specific gradation processing curve.
Preferably the relevant sub-range and the curve to be applied are adapted to the object and to the examination type so that optimal and constant image quality can be guaranteed.
Commonly one of a set of gradation curves, created and stored in advance, is selected upon entry of data concerning the type of image to be processed, e.g. upon entry of an indication on the examination type.
Due to the large number of degrees of freedom and the large number of parameters that can be set, many gradation curves suitable for different types of applications can be defined. However, storage of a large number of gradation curves demands for a lot of storage capacity.
In European patent specification EP 0 110 185 this problem has been dealt with. A method has been disclosed for obtaining a number of different gradation curves from one of about ten basic gradation curves by rotating and parallel shifting one of the basic gradation curves. The manipulation of the basic gradation curve depends on object parameters, radiation source parameters, examination type etc.
European patent 549 009 discloses a method wherein a gradation curve is defined by means of a set of image specific parameters. The gradation curve is deduced from a canonical form taking into account several parameters such as minimum and maximum signal level, maximum density etc. The canonical form as well as these parameters depend on the examination type of the read out image. The disclosed method thus requires input on the examination type of the read out image.
The state of the art workflow was commonly as follows.
A digital representation of a radiation image acquired by an image acquisition system as described higher is applied to an image-processing module together with a code indicative of the examination type. In the image processing module parameter settings for different examination types and examination sub-types, identifiable by means of a code, are stored in advance for example in the form of a look up table. Upon entry of a code, the parameters corresponding with the examination type identified by the code are retrieved from the look up table and the image processing including the gradation processing is controlled by the retrieved parameter settings.
Determining the optimal parameter values for each examination type is highly time-consuming because before a set of processing parameters can be accepted for a certain examination type, this set of parameters has to be evaluated on a large number of test images of that specific examination type.
The number of individual examination types is rather large since for each anatomic region (e.g. thorax) a number of examination subtypes exist (bed, paediatric, etc.).
Hence the total number of parameters to be determined is large.
In most large hospitals a centralised, radiology specific information system (RIS) is available so that the information on the examination type can be sent via this RIS.
If such a system is not available, the information on the examination type must be entered manually into an identification system. This kind of identification is more error prone than the RIS system.
In the former years the use of computed radiography systems was to a large extent limited to large radiography centres in the western market. Nowadays more smaller hospitals and private practices started to use digital systems. In addition also in non-industrialised regions computed radiography is gaining importance.
The adjustment and control of the image processing parameters demands for extensive knowledge of medical applications, which knowledge is often not available in or too expensive for these smaller and/or less industrialised centres.
The fact that in prior art methods the processing parameters had to be determined in advance and had to be fed to the processing apparatus thus constitutes a drawback of prior art methods.
Another drawback of the prior art methods is related to the detection of collimation borders.
In the prior art the selection of the relevant sub-range for conversion according to a gradation curve was performed on the basis of the image histogram. Pixels belonging to the collimation borders were not considered. Therefore it was required to detect the collimation borders in advance.
Because of the wide diversity of images and the complexity of this problem, a certain percentage of failures is inevitable (around 1%). As a consequence the correct operation of the detection of the relevant signal range is affected.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,993 discloses a method and apparatus for automatically and adaptively generating optimum tonescale transformations for digital radiographic images based on an analysis of the image histogram. An improvement of the method additionally uses information about the examination type being processed to produce a tonescale that is better customized for a given input.
This method still relies on a calculation of the collimated area, more specifically the border between the true direct x-ray background and the anatomy is determined.
This method results images with varying contrast as a function of the range of a region of interest. The obtained density and contrast in an image depends on the examination type.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,473 issued Jun. 30, 1981 also relates to the conversion of digital signal values representing a radiological image into corresponding density values. The level of the electric signal is converted in such a way that the maximum value of the electric signal corresponding to the maximum density of the radiation image is converted into a level resulting in a given optical density value of the reproduced image on the recording material. The minimum level corresponding to the minimum density is converted to a level resulting in the fog density of the recording material. Hence a signal range which is entirely dependent on the read out image is mapped onto a fixed density range. Consequently, when the latitude of the read out signal range varies, for example because the fysionomy of the exposed patients varies, the average contrast in the reproductions will also vary. There is no control of the variation of the contrast obtained in the reproductions of images with different information content.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,313 describes a method of gradation processing for displaying images of partial areas of radiation images. The described method does not provide fixed contrast.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,947 describes an image processing method wherein gradation processing conditions of a limited area are determined and wherein the gradation of the image is processed based upon the determined conditions. The described method results in a floating contrast and is not independent of the examination type.


An illumination lamp includes a mounting frame and at least a rotatable light-emitting module. The at least a rotatable light-emitting module includes at least one bracket with one end securely mounted on the mounting frame, a heat sink being pivotally connected with the other end of the at least one bracket, and a light source mounted on the heat sink.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to an illumination lamp, and more particularly to an illumination lamp having rotatable light-emitting modules so that the direction of light from the illumination lamp can be conveniently adjusted.
2. Description of Related Art
An illumination lamp is widely used in various fields. For example, an illumination lamp has been widely used for illumination purpose. However, the illumination lamp generally cannot be adjusted to change the direction of light from the illumination lamp after assembly. Thus, the illumination lamp sometimes cannot meet the requirement of users.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an illumination lamp to overcome the above-mentioned shortcoming.

Illumination lamp and rotatable light-emitting module thereof

Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd.


The present disclosure is directed to a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of a component. The temperature detector may receive a first signal indicative of the temperature of the component, with the first signal being received from a first type of temperature sensor. The temperature detector may further receive a second signal indicative of the temperature of the component, with the second signal being received from a second type of temperature sensor different from the first type of temperature sensor. The temperature detector may combine the first and second signals to generate an output indicative of the temperature of the component.

Monitoring systems for the railroad industry provide methods and apparatus for automatic determination of the temperatures of components including wheels and wheel bearings on passing trains, infrared (IR) radiation radiating from the wheel or wheel bearing of a train traveling along a train track is indicative of a temperature or temperature range of the wheel or wheel bearing. IR scanners and associated circuits for detecting an overheated wheel or wheel bearing are available commercially. Some systems utilize an IR detector located in close proximity to the railroad tracks. The IR detector determines the presence of radiated IR waves within a predefined range of wavelengths. The IR detector also produces an output signal indicative of the power or intensity of the sensed IR radiation within the predefined range.
One problem associated with these types of systems for detecting a temperature range or a temperature of a railroad train wheel or wheel hearing involves inaccuracies that may result under different conditions. In situations where the range of detected IR waves is attenuated or filtered by external sources such as blowing snow, wind, rain, or other weather conditions, the result is an inaccurate detection of a hot wheel or hot bearing condition. Accurate detection of an overheated component such as a wheel or wheel bearing allows for corrective actions to be taken before the overheated component breaks down or fails.
One attempt to avoid the problem of inaccurate detection of wheel and bearing temperatures in a harsh environment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,945 to M. Bartonek that issued on Mar. 29, 2005 (the '945 patent). The '945 patent discloses an apparatus that includes a sensor for sensing IR radiation radiating from a train wheel or bearing within two or more IR wavelength ranges, where each wavelength range does not substantially overlap with any other wavelength range. The sensor generates signals indicative of the sensed IR radiation in each of the wavelength ranges. A processor determines a temperature range or a temperature of the wheel or wheel bearing from the generated signals.
The temperature detection system of the '945 patent may determine a temperature of a wheel or wheel bearing of a train traversing a railroad track. Furthermore, the temperature detection system of the '945 patent may not be susceptible to variations in the amplitude, intensity, or power of the detected IR radiation. However, this solution may still provide a less than optimal temperature detection system. The temperature detection system of the '945 patent may still be susceptible to certain disadvantages associated with the particular type of temperature detecting technology that is being used. For example, the temperature detection system of the '945 patent may use an array of the same type of detectors, each of which may detect a limited bandwidth range, but each of which may still be susceptible to the same disadvantages associated with the type of technology being used, such as slow response time, or susceptibility to errors caused by microphonics.
The system and method of the present disclosure solves one or more problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art.

Temperature detector having different types of independent sensors


The present invention relates to a glass substrate of which the outer periphery portion is unprocessed. The present invention also relates to a manufacturing method for a glass substrate of which the outer periphery portion is unprocessed, characterized in that a first lapping process, a second lapping process, a polishing process and a washing process are carried out after a press molding process is carried out so as to compress glass between an upper mold and a lower mold without regulating the edge surface of the outer periphery portion of the glass and, then, a crystallization process or an annealing process is carried out.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a press molding method for glass and to a manufacturing method for a glass substrate using this method.
The present invention also relates to molded glass, for example, to a glass substrate, in particular, to a glass substrate of which the outer periphery portion is unprocessed and to a glass substrate provided with a center hole, as well as to manufacturing methods for the above.
2. Description of the Related Art
A type of hard disk utilized as an information recording medium of a computer wherein a base layer, a recording layer and a protective layer are sequentially layered on the surface (including the outer periphery edge surface) of a disk-shaped substrate made of glass is known and is utilized by rotation, having the center of this disk-shaped substrate as the center of rotation. The outer periphery portion of such a glass substrate is processed with precision and the center hole of a glass substrate of a hard disk provided with a center hole is created so that the center of the center hole becomes center of the hard disk.
A manufacturing method for a glass substrate of a hard disk is briefly described using the flow chart of FIG. 18. First, glass material is melted (glass melting step), the melted glass is made to flow into a lower mold and press molding is carried out by means of an upper mold (press molding step). In the press molding step, methods such as are shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 are generally adopted. In FIG. 16, simple press molding is carried out on glass material 103 so that it attains a predetermined thickness utilizing an upper mold 101 and a lower mold 102 provided with molding surfaces having planar forms (Japanese unexamined patent publication H11 (1999)-255524). In FIG. 17, press molding is carried out on glass material 108 when an outer diameter regulating frame 107, in a ring form, is intervened between an upper mold 105 and a lower mold 106 provided with molding surfaces having planar forms. In the method shown in FIG. 17, according to a detailed description, the outer periphery edge surface of glass material 108 contacts outer diameter regulating frame 107, in a ring form, at the time of press molding so that the outer diameter of the glass substrate is regulated (Japanese unexamined patent publication H7 (1995)-133121).
The glass material (glass substrate) on which press molding has been carried out is crystallized or annealed and, then, is cooled (crystallization step or annealing step). A hole is created, if desired, in the center portion of the cooled glass substrate through cutting and, after that, the outer periphery edge portion of the glass substrate, at least, is cut so that the dimensions of the outer diameter and the circularity of the glass substrate are pre-adjusted (coring step or outer periphery pre-processing step). The glass substrate, of which the dimensions of the outer diameter, or the like, have been pre-adjusted, undergoes the first lapping process wherein the two surfaces are polished so that the entire form of the glass substrate, that is to say, the parallelism, the flatness and the thickness of the glass substrate, is pre-adjusted (first lapping step). The outer periphery edge surface, at least, and the inner periphery edge surface of the hole in the glass substrate, if desired, of the glass substrate, of which the parallelism, and the like, are pre-adjusted, are polished or rounded so that the dimensions of the outer diameter and the circularity of the glass substrate, the dimensions of the inner diameter of the hole, as well as the concentricity of the glass substrate and the hole, are microscopically adjusted (precision edge surface processing step (inner and outer)). The outer periphery edge surface, at least, and the inner periphery edge surface of the hole, if desired, of the glass substrate, of which the dimensions of the outer diameter, or the like, have been microscopically adjusted, are polished so that the edge surfaces are made to have a mirror surface (edge surface polishing process (inner and outer)). The two surfaces of the glass substrate, of which the edge surfaces have been polished, are again polished so that the entire form of the glass substrate, that is to say, the parallelism, the flatness and the thickness of the glass substrate, is microscopically adjusted (second lapping step). The glass substrate, of which the parallelism, and the like, has been microscopically adjusted, undergoes the polishing step so that the two surfaces are polished and the unevenness of the surfaces is eliminated (polishing step). The glass substrate, which has been polished, is finally washed and inspected so that only those that have passed inspection can be utilized as substrates for hard disks.
According to conventional methods there is a limit to the degree of the mirror surface of the outer periphery edge surface although mirror surfaces can be achieved on the top surface and on the bottom surface of the glass substrate. That is to say, even though the outer periphery portion of the glass substrate is processed as described above, in particular, even though the outer periphery edge surface of the glass substrate is polished in the edge surface polishing step according to the conventional methods, the outer periphery edge surface cannot be sufficiently converted to a mirror surface because this process for the edge surface is complex and because polishing of this edge surface cannot be carried out for sufficiently long period of time due to manufacturing cost considerations. Described in detail, microscopic scratches remain in the outer periphery edge surface of the glass substrate gained according to the conventional methods so that the surface has a surface coarseness of at least approximately 5 nm and a maximum surface coarseness of approximately 250 nm. When microscopic scratches remain in the outer periphery edge surface in such a manner, it is difficult to layer a base layer, a recording layer, a protective layer, and the like, on top of these microscopic scratches. In addition, even in the case that a base layer, a recording layer, a protective layer, and the like, can be layered on top of the microscopic scratches, the amount of alkaline components exuding out of these microscopic scratches significantly increases as time elapses and, therefore, a base layer, a recording layer, a protective layer, and the like, which have been layered onto the surfaces (including the outer periphery edge surface) are corroded from the outer periphery portion of the substrate at a comparatively early stage so that a problem arises, as a consequence, wherein the stored data is destroyed comparatively easily.
In addition, as for a cutting method in the coring step in the case that a glass substrate of a hard disk provided with a center hole is manufactured, inner and outer diameter processing by means of polishing, a method wherein scribing is carried out on at least one surface of a glass substrate and, then, an impact is given to the portion to be cut in the condition wherein this scribed surface is facing upward (Japanese unexamined patent publication H11 (1999)-116261), a method of dividing a glass substrate by cutting shallow lines into the glass substrate by means of a laser beam (for example, Japanese unexamined patent publication 2000-281371), and the like, are generally adopted. According to the conventional methods, however, a hole is created in a glass substrate, of which the two surfaces are flat through their entirety, in the coring step by means of the above described cutting methods and, therefore, there is the problem of increased cost of manufacture because processing time becomes too lengthy, the utilized devices are too expensive and the processes are too complex.
Furthermore, according to the conventional methods, the precision of the press molding step is particularly poor so that it becomes necessary to adjust the entire form of a glass substrate by means of the above described lapping step, or the like, and because the number of steps is great an increase in the cost of manufacture has become a problem. That is to say, according to the method shown in FIG. 16, the thickness of a glass substrate is controlled according to the distance between the upper mold and the lower mold and, therefore, it is difficult to gain a glass substrate having a predetermined thickness. Furthermore, when glass substrates are repeatedly manufactured, one axis, of the center axis of the upper mold of the center axis of the lower mold, easily becomes tilted relative to the other axis so that the parallelism is deteriorated. In addition, according to the method shown in FIG. 17, glass makes contact with the entirety of the upper mold, the lower mold and the outer diameter regulating frame at the time of press molding and, therefore, a slight increase in the amount of glass prevents pressure from being uniformly conveyed to the glass so that the parallelism and the flatness easily become deteriorated. In addition, when molding is repeatedly carried out, a great dispersion in thickness results.

Press molding method for manufacturing of glass substrate


Described are passenger seat assemblies having an impact bracket for a support pin. The support pin may be a component of a monitor assembly. The impact bracket includes a body that defines an aperture and a flex member within the aperture. The flex member defines a support region and a travelling region of the aperture. The flex member retains the support pin in the support region responsive to a load that is less than a minimum impact load, and releases the support pin from the support region into the travelling region responsive to a load that is at least the minimum impact load.

Brackets may be used in a variety of applications and devices to support various objects. For example, an electronics monitor may be supported by a bracket on a passenger seat assembly of a passenger vehicle such as an aircraft, bus, car, train, etc. The bracket supporting the electronics monitor may optionally allow for the tilt angle of the monitor to be adjusted relative to a seat back of the passenger seat assembly. In traditional passenger seat assemblies, rigid brackets have been used to support the electronics monitor. Because the rigid bracket may potentially cause a fatality or severe injury to a passenger during a collision or other event where the passenger impacts the monitor, some passenger seat assemblies use nylon screws to connect the bracket to the seat back with the objective to break during a severe impact. However, nylon screws break during regular operation on the passenger seat assembly, which creates a field service issue and may compromise the certification of the seat with the bracket. As such, there still exists a need for brackets that can withstand regular operation while minimizing potential injury during an accident or other impact event.

Impact bracket stress-deformation release mechanism