A top with a mantle wall defining a sample space, for receiving a liquid sample, the tip having first open end to be inserted into a liquid and a second open end for attaching the top to a suction device intended for dispensing, which tip is provided with a membrane device closing the gas and liquid passage in a gas and liquid tight manner from the first end of the tip to the suction device, when the tip is attached to the suction device, the membrane of the membrane device being made of a gas and liquid impermeable, flexible, reversibly deformable material. Also, a method for dispensing a liquid with a suction device has an end part, which encloses a cylindrical space having a reciprocating device, such as a plunger, for receiving a sample and for removing it therefrom, in which suction device the plunger is brought in contact with the membrane device comprising a membrane, made of a gas and liquid impermeable, flexible, reversibly deformable material, for changing the volume delimited by the membrane from the sample space of the disposable tip for taking a sample and/or removing it, and that the tip is removed from the end part of the suction device by translating the movement of the plunger relative to the tip.

The object of this invention is a tip with a mantle wall defining a sample space, for receiving a liquid sample, the tip having a first open end to be inserted into a liquid and a second open end for attaching the tip to a suction device, such as a mechanical or electronic pipette, intended for dispensing, transferring, diluting, titrating, mixing, or a combination of all, or some of these operations.
The object of the invention is also a method for dispensing, transferring, diluting, titrating, mixing, or a combination of all, or some of these operations with a suction device, such as a mechanical or electronic pipette having an end part, which encloses a cylindrical space having a reciprocating means, such as a plunger, and having a removably attached tip.
The said suction devices comprise a body and an associated end part, the open end of which being directed away from the body for removably attaching a disposable tip having a sample space for receiving a liquid sample, the end part encloses the cylindrical space having a reciprocatingly movable means, a plunger, for receiving a sample and for removing it therefrom.
When in the following description the words xe2x80x98suction devicexe2x80x99 or xe2x80x98pipettexe2x80x99 are used, they generally mean all types of suction devices defined above, which suction devices function as pipettes, dispensers, diluter, titraters, or mixers, or in addition as a combination of all or some of these operations. A mechanical or an electronic pipette can be a manually operated separate device or part of some apparatus, of an analysing device, etc.
Over approximately the past three decades pipettes have been in use having attached liquid reservoirs, that is pipette tips, from which liquid has escaped to the inner parts of the pipette, for example due to careless operation of the pipette, or in the form of liquid molecules vaporized from the liquid. The contamination of the inner parts of the pipette has jeopardized labour safety and reduced or even completely terminated the reliable operation of the pipette itself. Naturally this cannot be accepted in laboratory work, which has to be precise as well as safe to users and patients. Also in scientific or in other such work this is not allowed.
Due to these problems pipette manufacturers recommend that the pipettes are disassembled and cleaned at regular intervals by the pipette users. In this procedure almost always also the plunger and the gasket of the pipette are re-lubricated and often also the pipette has to be re-calibrated, i.e. the pipetted, dispensed etc. liquid volumes are set to correspond to the volumes set on the scale of the pipette. This disassembling and reassembling of the pipette, in addition to being an inconvenient and laborious procedure, does not guarantee that the pipette would not contain infection agents or other contamination such as DNA- and RNase-contamination which interferes with PCR-work. Therefore some pipette manufacturers have started to manufacture pipettes, which are claimed to be sterilizable in an autoclave. Sterilization in the autoclave does not, however, remove DNA- and RNase-contamination from the pipette parts. It is a very tedious operation and often the operation itself damages parts of the pipette to such an extent that the pipette will not function sufficiently accurately and reliably any more. When the pipette is used after the sterilization, it is possible that it will be contaminated already with the first pipetting.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,856 discloses a suction device which is meant to be used with such disposable tips, which have a tip portion to be inserted into a liquid, the tip portion having an opening for taking a liquid sample and removing it and in which disposable tips the part to be adapted onto the end of the body of the suction device is closed towards the suction device. The form of this closed part and simultaneously its volume can be changed with a means within the end part of the body of the suction device. In this solution the contamination can be prevented, but the disposable tip used is a special tip.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,062 discloses a multichannel suction device having a flexible membrane mounted between the body of the suction device and an attached tipstand so, that the rods in the plunger movable within the body of the suction device come into contact with the membrane, when the plunger is pushed downwards. In this solution the membrane is secured either on the undersurface of the body or on the upper surface of the tipstand or two membranes are used of which the first one is secured on the undersurface of the body and the second one on the upper surface of the tipstand. The tipstand itself is mounted to the body with a screw connection. In an embodiment of this invention, the tipstand assembly consisting of a tipstand with attached tubes and tips attached to these and a membrane secured onto the upper surface of the tipstand can be one disposable moulded plastic unit which is mounted to the body of the suction device with a suitable quick connection method. In this publication, nothing is disclosed of the removal of the tipstand, tipstand assembly, or its parts from the body with a movement of the plunger or some other means, such as a tip remover or other such means.
The disadvantages cited above can be avoided by using the solution for the disposable tip according to the invention. It is characterizing for the tip according to the invention that the tip is provided with a membrane means closing the gas and liquid passage in a gas and liquid tight manner from the first end of the tip to the suction device, when the tip is attached to the suction device, the membrane means comprising a membrane made of a gas and liquid impermeable, flexible, reversibly deformable material. The solution according to the invention prevents liquids to be dispensed and/or gases vaporizing therefrom from entering the inner parts of the pipette. In addition, the tip according to the Invention can be removed with the movement of the plunger or other similarly functioning means, which increases the ergonomy of the use of the pipette and working safety.
The object of the invention is also a method, which is characterized in that the reciprocatingly movable means within the cylindrical space enclosed by the end part of the suction device, is brought into contact with a membrane means in the sample space of the tip, the membrane means comprising a membrane, which is made of a gas and liquid impermeable, flexible, reversibly deformable material, for changing the volume delimited by the membrane from the sample space of the tip for taking a sample and/or removing it, and that the tip is removed from the end part of the suction device by translating the movement of the means to the tip.
The suction device itself used with the disposable tip, can be as such a known manually operated or e.g. electrical, and it can be independently operated or functioning as a part of some apparatus, e.g. pipette.
The disposable tip according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is attached to the end part of the suction device preferably against the inner wall of the cylindrical space within the end part with a friction joint. In another preferred embodiment according to the invention the disposable tip is attached e.g. with a friction joint against an inner, conical surface widening towards the end of the end part. The said cylindrical space or the said conical surface can also be provided with shoulders or projections, against which the disposable tip comes into contact when attached.
The disposable tip according to another preferred embodiment of the invention can also be attached onto the end of the end part of the suction device by using a suitable mounting means, such as a sleeve, attachable e.g. with a friction joint, and to which the disposable tip is attached e.g. with suitable holding means, such as projections.
Still in another preferred embodiment of the invention, the tip according to the invention can also be attached on the distal end of the end part of the suction device preferably with a friction joint.
According to the invention the tip is provided with a membrane means mounted into the sample space of the tip, the membrane means comprising a membrane made of a material, which is impermeable to air and liquids, is flexible, and reversibly deformable, in order to close the gas and liquid passage in a gas- and liquid-light manner from the first open end of the tip to the suction device, when the tip is attached to the suction device, whereby the means in the cylindrical space, moving reciprocatingly in the cylindrical space within the end part of the body of the suction device, when extending through an opening in the end part of the body into the sample space of the disposable tip, can be brought in contact with the said membrane to bring about a change in the volume delimited by the membrane means from the sample space of the disposable tip, for taking a sample and removing it.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mantle wall defining the sample space is rigid. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the membrane of the membrane means is essentially stretched.
According to the invention the end of the sample space of the disposable tip facing the suction device is closed in a gas- and liquid-tight manner with a membrane, which is made of a flexible, reversibly deformable material, impermeable to air and liquids, whereby the means, such as a plunger, reciprocatingly moving in the cylindrical space within the end part of the body of the suction device, can be brought in contact with the said membrane for bringing about a change in the volume of the sample space of the disposable tip for taking a sample and/or removing it.
The form of the membrane depends naturally on the form of the sample space. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the membrane is secured to that surface of the mantle, which is facing the suction device e.g. by welding or gluing in connection with the manufacture of the disposable tip. The membrane can also be secured with corresponding methods onto the outer surface of the mantle defining the sample space of the tip in the vicinity of the second open end of the tip. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the membrane is secured to the second end of the disposable tip device with a circular sleeve, to seal the membrane against the surface of the mantle defining the sample space of the disposable tip. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the said circular sleeve comes into contact with a shoulder or a projection on the outer surface of the said mantle wall, thereby sealing the membrane against the surface of the said mantle wall.
In another preferred embodiment, the membrane is mounted to a frame, which in turn can be mounted in a gas- and liquid-tight manner into the said second open end of the tip and where it stays in the intended position e.g. under the influence of a friction force, preferably without any special mounting means.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the said frame can be of a detachable kind.
According a preferred embodiment of the invention, the membrane means is sealingly adapted in the sample space in connection with the manufacturing of the disposable tip e.g. by welding or gluing. According to another preferred embodiment the membrane is secured to a frame, which can be adapted in a gas- and liquid-tight manner against the inside surface of the sample space of the disposable tip, and where it stays in its intended position e.g. under the influence of a friction force, preferably without any special mounting means. The membrane means can also be attached onto the inside surface of the sample space of the disposable tip by means of shoulders, projections, pegs, or other similar means on the inside surface of the disposable tip.
According to the invention the disposable tip can be detached from the end part of the suction device by causing the movement of the plunger moving in the cylindrical air space to be translated into a removal movement of the tip.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the end of the disposable tip facing the suction device can thus be brought in contact with the plunger or with shoulders, pegs, or other similar means associated with the plunger for removing the disposable tip from the end part of the suction device with a movement of the plunger. Preferably the mantle defining the sample space of the disposable tip forms a surface in the second end of the disposable tip, against which surface the plunger moving within the cylindrical space or a shoulder at the end of the plunger can be brought in contact for removing the disposable tip with the movement of the plunger. Also a frame, onto which the membrane is secured, or a said circular sleeve used for securing the membrane, can form a surface against which the plunger or means associated therewith can be brought in contact for removing the disposable tip with the movement of the plunger.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the membrane is secured to a frame having means, which can be brought in contact with the plunger, moving within the cylindrical air space of the end part of the suction device, or with shoulders, pegs, or other similar means belonging to the plunger, for removing the disposable tip and the membrane means with its frame mounted therein from the end part of the suction device with the movement of the plunger out of the opening of the end part of the suction device.
The tip according to the invention can be adapted also to laboratory work based on the PCR-technique, because the membrane means according to the invention in the disposable tip prevents the inner parts of the pipette from DNA- and RNase-contamination and thus the cross-contamination of different samples and reaction mixtures.
Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.


A relay apparatus detects a request, sent from a communication apparatus, to grant an access authority for a desired resource, sends, in the case where the request to grant the access authority has been detected, an authorization request requesting the granting of the access authority to a server, receives an authorization response, which is a response to the authorization request, from the server, saves the authorization response, generates an authorization relay response based on the authorization response, and sends the authorization relay response to the communication apparatus, wherein in the case where a request to grant the access authority sent from another communication apparatus different from the communication apparatus has been detected, the relay apparatus sends the authorization relay response in response to the request to the other communication apparatus based on the saved authorization response.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to authorization systems configured of a communication apparatus, a relay apparatus, and an authorization server, and particularly relates to relay apparatuses, relay methods, relay systems, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for granting access authority to a communication apparatus with an authorization server.
Description of the Related Art
Recently, there are cellular phones, digital cameras, and the like that have functions for accessing resource servers for content sharing services, communication services, and the like on the Internet. A user can upload image content to a photo-sharing service, send messages to friends, or the like by using such communication apparatuses. Normally, a resource server for a photo-sharing service or the like manages access authority for resources such as content, files, and the like on the resource server in tandem with an authorization server (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-39793).
Authorization servers are increasingly using the OAuth protocol to manage (grant) access authority. The authorization code type and the implicit type are examples of authorization types for obtaining an access token according to OAuth. In the case of the authorization code type, first, a communication apparatus obtains, from an authorization server, an access token indicating access authority for a desired resource and a refresh token for refreshing the access token. In the case of the implicit type, first, the communication apparatus obtains the access token from the authorization server. When making a request to obtain the desired resource from a resource server, the communication apparatus issues the request along with the access token obtained from the authorization server. The resource server sends the requested resource to the communication apparatus only in the case where the access token is valid. With the authorization code type, in the case where the access token has expired, the communication apparatus can refresh the access token by providing the refresh token to the authorization server.
The authorization server requires the user's authorization when delegating the user's access authority to the communication apparatus using the OAuth protocol. Normally, the authorization server presents an HTML screen for the user to carry out an operation for granting the access authority, and the user carries out the operation for granting the access authority in a web browser.
However, when the authorization server distributes the same access token to multiple communication apparatuses according the conventional technique, it is assumed that the user will need to carry out the operation for granting access authority using the web browser each time an access token is distributed. In other words, it is necessary for the user to carry out user authentication and operations for granting the access authority the same number of times as there are communication apparatuses. Such operations are complicated for the user.

Relay apparatus, relay method, relay system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium


A housing includes a structural frame. The frame has several corner posts. At least two of the corner posts have a recess therein. A resilient sheet is dimensioned to fit between the two corner posts. The resilient sheet includes a first edge and a second edge. Each edge includes a feature shaped so that it engages the recess in the corner post. The engagement of the feature provides a fastenerless attachment of the resilient sheet to the frame. In addition, the resilient sheet includes a curved surface between the first edge and the second edge. When the resilient sheet is positioned between the two posts the curved surface is compressed and acts like a spring which provides another force to hold the resilient sheet in place between the two corner posts.. During manufacture, the resilient sheet can be inserted between the corner posts easily and quickly. The resilient sheet is bent slightly and pushed into place so that the features on the resilient sheet fit the recesses in the frame. The compression force from the curve in the resilient sheet provides a holding force so that the features are not providing the only holding force for the resilient sheet.

In the past, the outside housings for large machines used fasteners to attach a panel to the frame. The panels that form the housing have predominantly been made of metal. Advantageously, the metal panels provide the needed protection against EMI for some machines such as a computer. In addition, welded and painted metal sheets have also been used since the tooling costs associated with manufacturing machines with metal panels is low. However, use of metal sheets requires many manufacturing steps including forming the sheet metal, making fastener openings in the sheet metal and painting the sheet metal. The metal sheets are fastened with fasteners which uses up manufacturing time and field time for upgrades or repair. Metal sheets are also subject to dents, scratches and scrapes.
More recently, housings have been made of plastic. In a computer system having shielded components, some have been provided with plastic panels for an outside housing. These plastic panels are still attached with separate fasteners and have the advantage of being more resistant to scratches or dents.
Any panel or cover that is attached using fasteners requires extra parts during the manufacturing of the computer. A separate bin of fasteners must be kept on hand and be kept in stock so that the computer housing can be finally assembled. In addition to keeping a bin of fasteners for the final assembly, when using plastic panels other parts must also be kept on hand. The plastic panels attached with fasteners require the installation of a metal boss around the openings in the plastic panel through which the fasteners will pass. Thus, for a plastic panel, even more parts are required to manufacture the computer housing.
In addition to having extra parts, fastening a panel with fasteners, such a small sheet metal screws, requires a fair amount of time. At a minimum, each panel requires at least four such fasteners and more than likely a minimum of eight. Screwing in the fasteners takes time. It also may require specialized machinery such as mechanical screwdrivers but these are generally on a production line already. The mechanical screwdrivers are also faster.
With a formed-sheet plastic panel, additional manufacturing steps for adding bosses to the openings are required. This also adds to the manufacturing process and requires additional parts.
After manufacture, field engineers will generally be called on to either service the machine or upgrade the machine. When fasteners are used to attach machine covers to a housing, the field engineer must remove a number of screws or fasteners to gain access to the parts necessary to fix or upgrade the machine. The screws must also be replaced. This takes valuable field time.
The manufacturing world always has a need for parts and processes that replace multiple parts since this produces a net reduction in the number of parts needed during manufacture. If fasteners can be eliminated, this not only simplifies the manufacturing process but also makes upgrades and servicing a unit in the field much easier. Manufacturers are also looking for ways to make manufacturing lines safer for their workers.


A method operates an automatic train control system which has an electronic signal box, a balize and a frequency track circuit. To configure the train control system so as to be constructed from components of the European train control system and of the frequency track circuit without substantial additional development effort, the balize is acted upon by indicator messages of a first type of the electronic signal box via an actuation module for modular elements having an addressable memory for the number of currently free block route segments. Indicator messages of a third type are created from indicator messages of a second type. A functional relationship between the addresses of the memory and code information of the frequency track circuit is taken into account during the creation of the third indicator messages. A transmitter of the frequency track circuit is acted upon as a result of the third indicator messages.

Field of the Invention
As a method for operating an automatic train control system comprising an electronic interlocking, it is known to employ track vacancy detection systems. Said track vacancy detection systems can be of different design, in particular they can be implemented as audio-frequency track circuits, as cited, for example, in the reference    http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleisfreimeldeanlage.
Also known is the European Train Control System (ETCS) which is a component part of a standard European Rail Transport Management System ERTMS. This ETCS system can have different levels, including ETCS Level 1 which allows traffic also on lines employing conventional national train protection systems.
In an ETCS Level 1 system, so-called Eurobalises installed in the track are used as the transmission medium and communicate information concerning line gradients, maximum line speeds and points at which the vehicle is to come to a stand again. Details can be found, for example, in    http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Train_Control_System, pages 1 to 7.
Also known is the Chinese Train Control System (CTCS) which employs a track circuit and balises in a CTCS Level 2 configuration, as described in    http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Train_Control_System.
Brief Summary of the Invention
The object of the invention is to propose method for operating an automatic train control system comprising an electronic interlocking having connected balise and connected frequency track circuit, wherein said method can be implemented simply using known train protection system components.
This object is achieved by a method for operating an automatic train control system comprising an electronic interlocking with connected balise and connected frequency track circuit, wherein, by means of pointer telegrams of a first kind (first pointer telegrams) generated by the electronic interlocking, the balise is actuated via an operating module for modular elements which has an addressable memory for the number of currently vacant block sections, and pointer telegrams of a second kind (second pointer telegrams) generated by the electronic interlocking are used to create pointer telegrams of a third kind (third pointer telegrams), wherein a functional relationship between the memory addresses and code information of the frequency track circuit is taken into account for creating the third pointer telegrams, and, in response to these third pointer telegrams, at least one transmitter of a frequency track circuit is actuated via a relay arrangement.
A significant advantage of the method according to the invention is that it can basically be implemented using components that are known from train control systems having balises and from train control systems having frequency track circuits and introduced there, so that in an electronic interlocking for the just mentioned train control systems it is merely necessary, by additionally creating second pointer telegrams and third pointer telegrams, to create a train control system which can be used for operation using balises and frequency track circuits. The functional relationship taken into account for creating the third pointer telegrams can be of differing complexity.
The method according to the invention is particularly advantageous if, when Chinese Train Control System (CTCS) Level 2 pointer telegrams are used as the first pointer telegrams and ETCS Level 1 pointer telegrams are used as the second pointer telegrams, a CTCS balise is installed as the balise, and a bijective function is used for creating the third pointer telegrams. This makes it possible, using an electronic interlocking according to ETCS Level 1 and a known frequency track circuit, to operate a train control system having the features of the CTCS system and therefore able to be used in China. Trains running in the Chinese train control system CTCS area can therefore also be controlled using an electronic interlocking of the ETCS train control system without significant additional engineering being required for this purpose.
The invention is based on the insight that the addresses in the addressable memory of the operating module are very similar to the code information for the frequency track circuit of the CTCS system, as will be explained in detail below, so that a relatively simple functional relationship exists between the memory addresses and the code information of the frequency track circuit.
With the method according to the invention it is also advantageous if the first pointer telegrams are converted into communications telegrams in a telegram converter. This makes it possible to transmit pointer telegrams reliably even over longer distances.
For reliable control of the frequency track circuit it is advantageous to feed the third pointer telegrams to a digital input/output device in which operating signals for the relay arrangement are generated.
The invention also relates to an automatic train control system comprising an electronic interlocking having a connected balise and a connected frequency track circuit and has the object of organizing said train control system such that it can be built up from components of the European Train Control System and of the frequency track circuit without significant additional developmental complexity.
This object is achieved by an automatic train control system comprising an electronic interlocking having a connected balise and a connected frequency track circuit and generating pointer telegrams of a first kind (first pointer telegrams) and pointer telegrams of a second kind (second pointer telegrams), additionally comprising an operating module for modular elements, said operating module being connected to the electronic interlocking and having an addressable memory for the number of vacant block sections and the thereto connected balise as a modular element, and comprising a pointer telegram creator connected to the electronic interlocking, said pointer telegram creator creating pointer telegrams of a third kind (third pointer telegrams) taking a functional relationship between the memory addresses and code information of the frequency track circuit into account, also comprising a digital input/output device connected to the pointer telegram creator, said input/output device generating operating signals for a downstream relay arrangement, and, connected to said relay arrangement, at least one transmitter of the frequency track circuit.
A significant advantage of the train control system according to the invention is considered to be the fact that it can be built up using known components of the ETCS train control system and from known components of the frequency track circuit; only minor development work has to be carried to produce the pointer telegram creator and the digital input/output device.
Further advantages of the automatic train control system according to the invention will emerge from claims 6 to 8, said advantages corresponding analogously to the above mentioned embodiments of the method according to the invention.
For further explanation of the invention, the drawing shows an exemplary embodiment of the train control system according to the invention in the form of a block diagram.

Method for operating an automatic train control system and automatic train control system


Improvements in the method and apparatus of vacuum deposition of a highly reflective surface onto aluminum lighting sheet wherein a coil of aluminum is disposed within the vacuum chamber, both as it unwinds and as it rewinds, and the water vapor created by heating the aluminum web from the coil is made available to other vacuum deposition processing compartments within the vacuum chamber including a glow discharge chamber normally fueled by argon gas.

The present invention relates to improvements in methods and apparatus for the vacuum deposition of a coating of material onto aluminum webbing, and in particular to the deposition of such a coating onto a moving web as the web moves from an unwinding coil to a winding coil. The invention is particularly suited, and will be described with reference to, the deposition of a high reflective surface onto an aluminum web.
The basic method for the vacuum deposition of a high reflective surface onto an aluminum web has been practiced for many years and is thus well known in the art. This well known method has been practiced, however, only on webbing in the form of individual sheets of glass or aluminum, typically 40 inches wide, 0.020 inches thick and 50 inches long, weighing approximately four pounds. In the present invention, a coil of aluminum typically 40 inches wide, 0.020 inches thick and from 1000 to 1500 feet long, weighing 900 to 1400 pounds or more is unwound from an unwinding coil onto a winding coil and the high reflective coating is vacuum deposited onto the traveling web in stages as the web travels between the unwinding coil to the winding coil.
The method of the present invention, like that of the prior art, is effective to transform a web of polished anodized aluminum (called lighting sheet) having a reflectivity of about 85% into lighting sheet having a reflectivity of about 95%. This increase in reflectivity can be significant when, for example, the sheet is used for reflectors for increasing the light output from lighting fixtures.
The basic, known method includes the following steps. A sheet of aluminum is inserted into a vacuum chamber which is subdivided into series of internal vacuum compartments which are separated by seals that permit each compartments to be at the particular pressure suitable for the process being performed within that compartment. The aluminum sheet is transported from one compartment to another to permit whatever process is being performed in that compartment to be applied to the sheet.
In the first compartment the aluminum sheet is exposed to heat to drive out water. In the next compartment the sheet is exposed to a glow discharge, typically maintained by argon gas, to drive out any remaining water and for further heating to facilitate adhesion. Next the sheet is placed into a compartment where a thin oxide layer is applied to increase adhesion and seal the anodized (aluminum dioxide) layer which covers the polished aluminum sheet stock.
In the next compartment, an opaque layer of aluminum is deposited onto the web. In the following compartments the classical reflectance-enhancing layers of a quarter wave length of low index of refraction material then a quarter wave length of a high index of refraction material are deposited. The high index of refraction material is of the kind deposited in an atmosphere of a partial pressure of oxygen and a partial pressure of water vapor. Each coating is applied in a vacuum compartment to which the sheet is transported after the preceding coating has been applied.
The present invention improves the method and apparatus for applying a high reflectance coating to an aluminum web by using a continuously moving web from a coil of aluminum, by using the water vapor created by heating the web to fuel the glow discharge, and by using the water vapor created by heating the web to stabilize the pressure and background atmosphere in the compartment where the high index layer is applied.

Method and apparatus of vacuum deposition


A device for aligning supplied sheets into a stack in a collecting tray includes a pivotable arm that has a free end. First and second drivable wheels are mounted at the free end of the pivotable arm for contacting each supplied sheet to be aligned. A lifting device including an electromagnet is connected to the pivotable arm for lifting the pivotable arm, and a control device is connected to the electromagnet for selectively controlling lifting and lowering of the pivotable arm and first and second drivable wheels.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a device for aligning sheets which are individually supplied to a collecting tray in which they are stacked one above the other. In particular, copy sheets produced by a copier whose collecting tray comprises a depositing surface and a lateral limiting wall arranged in parallel with the direction of entrance of the sheets as well as an abutment associated with the front end sides of the sheets. The device includes two drivable wheels which are mounted about a common shaft at the free end of a pivotable arm and rest on the incoming sheet so as to align the sheet with respect to both the lateral limiting wall and the front abutment. The first wheel is mounted for rotation on a collar arranged on a rotary sleeve eccentrically with respect to the shaft, and the second wheel is mounted for rotation on a collar arranged on the sleeve concentrically with the shaft. The second wheel in addition is held in positive engagement with the sleeve which is shiftable on the shaft and is permanently held in positive engagement with a rotatably mounted and drivable coupling portion.
2. Background Art
In prior art aligning devices driven wheels which influence the incoming sheets permanently rest on the depositing surface of the collecting tray and the sheets accumulated in the tray respectively. As such, wear is relatively high, particularly on any such wheel that has a high-friction coating. Moreover, due to a pulse-type mode of operation of such devices the contact pressure of the wheels varies so that transport disturbances can occur.

Device for aligning individually supplied sheets


An earthmoving system includes a blade, a controller, and a blade control system configured to control the positioning of the blade. While grading, the earthmoving system is configured to simultaneously position the blade according to each of a fixed slope grading mode, a design driven control grading mode, and an fixed load grading mode.

The present application relates to an earthmoving system, for example a bulldozer, for contouring a tract of land to a desired finish shape and, and more particularly, to a system in which the position of the cutting tool is automatically controlled by multiple grade mode systems and methods.
Various control arrangements have been developed to control earthmoving devices, such as bulldozers, so that a tract of land can be graded to a desired level or contour, for example, known as a terrain contour design. A number of systems have been developed in which the position of the earthmoving apparatus is determined, for example, with GPS receivers. In such systems, a site plan is developed with the desired terrain contour design. The terrain contour design may be a representation of the topology of the tract of land as designed. From the tract survey and the site plan, a cut-fill map is produced, showing amounts of cut or fill needed in specific areas of the tract to produce the desired terrain contour design. The information is then stored in the computer control system on the bulldozer.
The earthmoving apparatus determines the position of the cutting tool of the bulldozer using the GPS receivers and/or other sensors mounted on the bulldozer body or on masts attached to the blade of the bulldozer. The earthmoving apparatus determines the position of the cutting tool based also on the position sensors located on various mechanical control devices of the earthmoving apparatus. A computer control system calculates the blade position for the blade based on the cut-fill map and on the detected position of the blade. The blade position or a blade position error may be displayed for the operator of the bulldozer who can then make the appropriate adjustments manually. Alternatively, the computer may automatically control the position of the blade to reduce blade position error.

Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC


According to one embodiment a system is disclosed. The system includes a first integrated circuit (IC) a first interface coupled to the first IC and a second IC coupled to the interface. The first IC transmits the state of each of a plurality of signals not associated with the interface to the second IC in-band via the interface each time that a change in the state of one of the plurality of signals is detected.

Integrated circuits (ICs) are commonly connected together into a system by interfaces for data transfer and control. Such interfaces may include buses and point-to-point links. Typically, there are additional signals, not directly related to the links, which are implemented to coordinate the actions of the ICs. Such signals include error and debug signals, among other types of signals.
When these signals are run as physical wires, each separate wire must have its own pins, timing specs, voltage specs, etc., which complicates the IC transmitting and the IC receiving the signal. Current systems implement unassigned protocol points on the existing buses or links connecting the ICs to communicate the same information between ICs which would have been carried on discrete wires, thus simplifying the physical interfaces between ICs by eliminating the additional wires.
Such a mechanism is referred to as in-band signaling because the additional information, although not protocol related, is carried as part of the protocol signaling, and thus is in-band to the protocol. For example, one protocol point might indicate that "debug signal A asserted." Another protocol point would indicate that "debug signal A deasserted". When a first IC needs to communicate that debug signal A has been asserted to a second IC, the message "debug signal A asserted" is transmitted in the ongoing protocol stream from the first IC to the second IC. When debug signal A deasserts, the first IC sends "debug signal A deasserted" to the second IC.
Although this mechanism of conveying signals between ICs without adding additional wires provides many benefits, there are also significant disadvantages, such as when a number of signals are being transmitted between ICs in this manner.

Mechanism to repeat signals across an unrelated link


An image forming apparatus is provided having a printing unit including a detachable developer cartridge. The apparatus prints an image on a sheet using an electrophotographic process. A tray is provided to receive a sheet discharged after the completion of printing. An auxiliary tray is pivotably installed on the tray and has a first position folded over the tray and a second position to increase the length of the tray. The auxiliary tray pivots to the second position when the developer cartridge is mounted in the printing unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a tray to receive a sheet discharged after the completion of printing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tray to receive a discharged sheet that increases the length of the tray without enlarging the footprint of the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image forming apparatuses print an image on a surface or both surfaces of a sheet through a predetermined printing process. The apparatuses then discharge the sheet. An image forming apparatus typically has a tray to receive the discharged sheet. In order to reduce the footprint of the image forming apparatus, a top portion of the image forming apparatus is often used as the tray. As image forming apparatuses are minimized in size, the length of the tray is becoming shorter than the length of the sheet. Consequently, in many instances, the sheet is slipping off the tray. Accordingly, it is necessary to increase the length of the tray.
Japanese Patent Publication No. JP07-315665, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a sheet stacker comprising a main stacker. The main stacker is installed on a printer body to rotate on a hinge. A rod-shaped auxiliary stacker is rotatably installed on the main stacker. When a short sheet is received, the auxiliary stacker is received in the main stacker. When a long sheet is received, the auxiliary stacker rotates away from the main stacker.
Japanese Publication No. JP04-60443, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses an auxiliary guide. The auxiliary guide is pivotably installed on a top portion of a housing. The auxiliary guide supports a leading end of a discharged sheet so that an operation panel is not covered.
In the above references, a user should, in advance, take the auxiliary stacker out of the main stacker or pivot the auxiliary guide to a position for guiding the leading end of the sheet.
Japanese Patent Publication No. JP09-286556, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses an apparatus for receiving a sheet. The apparatus comprises a sheet tray that is installed on an image forming apparatus body and a stopper. The apparatus is pivotably installed on a front end of the sheet tray to align discharged sheets. If the sheet tray is pulled out of the body to receive sheets thereon, the stopper pivots to a position to guide leading ends of the sheets. The stopper guides the leading ends of the sheets and aligns them evenly. Accordingly, the length of the sheet tray is not increased.
Accordingly, there is a need for an image forming apparatus which increases the length of a tray to prevent a sheet from falling off the tray without enlarging the footprint of the image forming apparatus.

Image forming apparatus having auxiliary tray


In an approach, a processor groups documents into a plurality of groups based on similarity, where: documents of each group have a same document structure; and the document structure is defined by coordinates of text blocks. A processor, for each group of the plurality of groups and for each document of the respective group: retrieves a value of each text block of the respective document in accordance with a document structure of the group; and assigns to each text block of the respective document an attribute that represents the retrieved value of the text block. A processor assigns a first document of the documents to an entity of a database that matches the first document based on the group of text block values and the assigned attributes of the document.

The present invention relates generally to the field of digital computer systems, and more particularly to assigning documents to entities of a database.
Scanning a paper document may provide an image version of the document and further processing may be required to perform text extraction. For the text extraction, an Optical Character Recognition ("OCR") process may be performed on the scanned document and the recognized textual content may be stored. However, with the tremendous increase of used paper documents, the processing of such documents may need to be improved.
Cohen (US 2012/0072464 A1) (hereinafter Cohen) describes that "a plurality of input records may be received from a plurality of sources, and each input record may include a plurality of fields. It may then be detected that a set of input records from different sources are related to each other (e.g., are duplicates). One of the set of input records may be automatically selected as a master record in accordance with a record level rule. At least one field in the master record may, according to some embodiments, be automatically modified based on a corresponding field in another input record in accordance with a field level rule. The modified master record could then be stored for subsequent use by other applications." (Cohen, Abstract).
A disadvantage of current processes is that such processes do not include an automated approach to attach documents to a data management system.

Assigning documents to entities of a database

International Business Machines Corporation


A brake (10) having application for a linear or rotational motion device includes a housing (120) in which a first piston (140), a wedge (142) and a second piston (144) cooperate to engage a friction facing (136) through a plurality of rollers (152, 154, 156, 158). The three part piston assembly (148) allows a braking action and prevents torsional forces that are non-axial to the axis of the first piston (140) and second piston (144). The pistons (140, 144) are biased by compression springs (176) and may be actuated by a fluid.

The present invention generally relates to motion control apparatus and in particular brakes. Specifically, the present invention relates to brakes suitable for use with a track to brake motion such as linear motion, and more specifically relates to linear motion brakes that have improved piston life and that are adjustable.
The popularity of linear motion devices in the machine tool, semiconductor, and medical industries has been increasing as the result of their ability to move a load in a linear movement direction to a position with extreme accuracy and at very high speeds. However, problems have been encountered in stopping linearly moving loads especially in the event of a power outage. Specifically, as movement and positioning of the load is dependent upon current being supplied to the linear motor, loads carried by linear motion devices will move under gravitational and/or inertia forces in the event that current is interrupted to the linear motor such as the result of a power outage. This problem is also enhanced in linear motion devices because of the use of high performance linear bearings, which minimize sliding friction. Prior workers have devised a brake that cures the above deficiencies and that works with remarkable reliability and precision, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,678 to Henk et al.
Prior art devices have utilized a one piece piston assembly to accomplish braking motion. A one piece piston assembly may apply undesirable forces to piston components.
Also, it is desirable to be able to adjust the relative position of actuator elements of friction facings to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and/or friction facing wear.
Thus, a need exists for a brake for stopping linearly moving loads and especially for use with linear motion devices and particularly for use in stopping linearly moving loads that reduces stress on piston parts and that is adjustable.


Notification is given of the fact that a television camera lens has developed a malfunction. An extender lens includes an imaging lens having a 1× magnification and an imaging lens having a 2× magnification. For each of these imaging lenses, a master lens is adjusted in such a manner that the light-receiving surface of an image sensor will be brought to an in-focus position. The master lens adjustment processing is executed periodically and data indicating a history of amounts of adjustment of the master lens is stored in memory per imaging lens. Data indicating the history of amounts of adjustment of the master lens is read from the memory. Whether the television camera lens is malfunctioning is detected from the read data indicating the history. If a malfunction is detected, an error LED emits light to notify of the malfunction.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a lens apparatus and to a method of controlling the operation thereof.
Description of the Related Art
A high-performance lens apparatus such as a television lens incorporates a magnifying lens, which is referred to as an extender lens, and a master lens for adjusting in-focus position (focal point). The extender lens is capable of changing imaging magnification to a plurality of magnifications such as magnification by a factor of 1 or 2. The master lens is for adjusting flange back.
There is a system that adjusts the position of a focusing lens in accordance with zoom position based upon the corresponding relationship between zoom-end positions and focal point (Patent Document 1), a system that applies a focusing-position correction in accordance with zoom position (Patent Document 2), and a system that detects position information from a potentiometer, performs a correction computation using a control circuit and decides the master-lens position (Patent Document 3).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-233892
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-57528
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-186209
Since an extender lens has its in-focus position adjusted at the time of shipment from the factory, there will be no shift in the in-focus position even if the imaging magnification is changed. Although there are instances where the lens cannot be maintained in an ideal state and the in-focus position may shift owing to the effects of the environment and the passage of time and the like, the user (cameraman) cannot tell that the in-focus position has shifted. As set forth above, Patent Document 1 adjusts the position of a focusing lens in accordance with zoom position, Patent Document 2 corrects focusing position in accordance with zoom position, and Patent Document 3 detects position information from a potentiometer and decides the position of the master lens, but none of these take into consideration the above-mentioned case where a shift in in-focus position occurs. Although the shift in in-focus position is caused by some failure, the user cannot determine whether the lens apparatus has malfunctioned.

Lens apparatus and method of controlling operation of same


A heat generating element is constructed of at least a substrate, an insulating film disposed on the substrate, a heat generating portion provided with a thin film resistor disposed on at least a part of the insulating film, and a protective film disposed on the above-described insulating film and the above-described heat generating portion, wherein the above-described substrate and the above-described heat generating portion are composed of the same member. Additionally, a medical therapeutic instrument includes a treatment portion provided with the above-described heat generating element to heat a living body tissue by using the heat generated from the heat generating element and treat the living-body tissue. The heat generating element is mounted on the above-described treatment portion in such a manner that an outer surface of the above-described substrate of the heat generating element serves as a treatment surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat generating element which generates heat in the treatment of a living body tissue by heating, a medical therapeutic instrument implementing the heat generating element, and a treatment apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various medical accessories have been previously proposed. The medical accessories are inserted into body cavities to heat living-body tissues and, for example, coagulate the living-body tissues.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 3523839 discloses a surgical instrument serving as a medical therapeutic instrument having a pair of jaws which are opened and closed through a pivotal portion disposed at the proximal end portions.
In the surgical instrument disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3523839, a heat generating plate is disposed on the distal-end side in the inside of one jaw of a pair of jaws in the surgical instrument, and the heat generating plate is in the shape of a taper having a width decreasing with increasing proximity to a lower end edge.
A portion of the heat generating plate exposed at the one of the jaws constitutes a treatment surface in the treatment of a living-body tissue by heating, coagulating, cutting, and the like. Furthermore, thin film resistance heating elements are disposed on the perimeter surface of the exposed portion of the heat generating plate, that is, on the treatment surface. The thin film resistance heating elements are electrically connected to a lead wire on the proximal-end side of the one of the jaws. The thin film resistance heating elements are formed by superimposing an insulating layer, a resistor serving as a heat generating portion, a protective layer, and a Teflon coating layer on the heat generating plate in that order to constitute a four-layer structure.
The thus configured surgical instrument disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3523839 is used for heating a living-body tissue by taking advantage of heat generation of the resistor of the thin film resistance heating elements disposed on the heat generating plate based on the electric power supplied from a power device, so as to, for example, coagulate the living-body tissue.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-70801 discloses a surgical instrument including a pair of jaws which are optionally opened and closed and which serve as a medical therapeutic instrument used for heating a living-body tissue to, for example, coagulate the living-body tissue.
In the surgical instrument disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-70801, a heat generating element is mounted on the side-surface side in the inside of one of the jaws in the surgical instrument, and heat generating patterns, e.g., thin film resistance heating elements divided into two parts, for example, a front portion and a rear portion, are disposed on the side surface in the vicinity of an edge portion of the heat generating element.
The thus configured surgical instrument disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-70801 is used for heating a living-body tissue by taking advantage of heat generation of the heat generating patterns disposed on the heat generating element based on the electric power supplied from a power device, so as to coagulate the living-body tissue.
In addition, a heating member disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-232102 is formed by disposing a resistance layer on a metal substrate, and can be used not only for a medical therapeutic instrument, but also for various purposes.
The heating member is composed of a substrate made of anodized aluminum, aluminum, stainless steel, enamel-coated steel, copper, or the like, an electrically insulating layer disposed on the substrate and made of a silicone resin containing a thermally conductive filler, an electrical resistance layer disposed on the electrically insulating layer and made of a silicone resin containing an electrically conductive filler, an electrically conductive region disposed on a part of the electrical resistance layer, and an insulating protective coating layer disposed on the electrical resistance layer.
The thus configured heating member disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-232102 can improve the resistance against high temperatures and high power densities.

Heat generating element, medical therapeutic instrument implementing the same, and treatment apparatus


Systems, devices, and methods are presented for detecting a misaligned or otherwise skewed variable area fan nozzle (VAFN) that is mounted on a thrust reverser sleeve of an aircraft engine. Rods project from different parts around the arcuate VAFN, the rods having patterns at their ends. In normal operation when the thrust reverser is stowed, the rods project over the thrust reverser into a fixed area of the engine. Sensors in the fixed area determine the position of the VAFN from the patterns on the rods. When the thrust reverser deploys, the rods are pulled aft with the VAFN, which is mounted on the thrust reverser sleeve, and separate from the sensors. When the thrust reverser stows, the rods move forward with the VAFN and re-engage with the sensors. Repeating patterns on the rods allow for simple, relatively low-cost sensors to read their relative positions.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates generally to nacelles for aircraft turbofan engines and, more particularly, to a nacelle having a variable-area fan nozzle (VAFN) that moves during thrust reverser deployment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typical aircraft turbofan jet engines include an engine core, a nacelle that surrounds the engine core, and a fan that draws in a flow of air that is split into a bypass airflow and an engine core airflow. The nacelle provides a bypass duct that surrounds the engine core. The bypass airflow is transported through the bypass duct. The nacelle is configured to promote laminar flow of air through the bypass duct. The engine core includes a multi-stage compressor to compress the engine core airflow, a combustor to add thermal energy to the compressed engine core airflow, and a turbine section downstream of the combustor to produce mechanical power from the engine core airflow. The typical turbine section has two and sometimes three turbine stages. The turbine stages are used to drive the compressor and the fan. After exiting from the turbine section, the engine core airflow exits the nacelle through an exhaust nozzle at the aft end of the engine.
Modern aircraft employ turbofan variants of gas turbine engines that have a low fan pressure ratio (FPR) and high bypass ratio (BPR) for a bypass duct of the engine. As turbofan engine technology has matured, designers have stretched the associated technologies to minimize weight, cost, and maintenance while maximizing efficiency. Because of the extreme limits to which these engines are designed, and the valuable commercial interest in having the most efficient product available, even incremental improvements are sought after in the design of commercial turbofan engines.
One approach for optimizing the performance of an engine over various flight conditions involves varying the fan nozzle exit area. By selectively varying the fan nozzle's exit area during flight, an engine's bypass flow characteristics can be adjusted to better match a particular flight condition, for example, by optimizing the FPR relative to the particular thrust level being employed. For example, a variable area fan nozzle (VAFN) assembly that forms a rear outer portion of the bypass duct can include an airfoil that is moved aft into a VAFN flow position so as to open an additional bypass flow that exits the nacelle forward of the VAFN assembly. That is, an opening is created between the translatable sleeve and the VAFN airfoil, such that an airflow in the bypass duct is split into a first flow portion that remains in the bypass duct and moves past the airfoil, and a second flow portion that exits the bypass duct through the VAFN opening and over an outer surface of the airfoil. Optimum performance is achieved when the VAFN is properly aligned with the remainder of the nacelle throughout all flight regimes. In other words, the VAFN should not be skewed vis-á-vis the nacelle during flight.
In a turbofan engine, the fan typically produces a majority of the thrust produced by the engine. The bypass airflow can be used to produce reverse thrust, typically employed during landing. A thrust reversing apparatus that forms a portion of the nacelle selectively reverses the direction of the bypass airflow to generate reverse thrust. During normal engine operation, the bypass airflow may or may not be mixed with the engine core airflow exhaust prior to exiting the engine nacelle assembly. During thrust reverse operation, a translatable sleeve is moved from a stowed position to a deployed position to expose a cascade assembly, and blocker doors are deployed into the bypass duct. In this deployed position, the blocker doors redirect the airflow in the bypass duct to exit the nacelle out the cascade assembly.
Some VAFN systems function by adjusting the VAFN using actuators that are independent of the thrust reverser sleeve actuators. The trailing edge of a translating sleeve on a cascade-type thrust reverser is a space-limited environment within the nacelle, especially when used with a VAFN. Because of space limitations and the difficulty of running wires and associated mechanisms, actuators for adjusting the VAFN are typically mounted on nacelle non-moving structure forward of the thrust reverser.
There is a need in the art for lighter, more efficient, and more reliable engine components including VAFN assemblies.

Variable area fan nozzle position and skew sensing


A surround sound encoder, intended for implementation in software, runs in real time on a personal computer using low mips and a small fraction of available CPU cycles. In the principal application for the encoder, the Lt and Rt signals of the encoder are mixed with the Lt and Rt signals of a pre-recorded source (e.g., computer game soundtrack, CD ROM, Internet audio, etc.). Alternatively, the encoder may be used by itself or with one or more other virtual encoders to provide a totally user-generated soundfield. The encoder is implemented in either of two ways: the signal being encoded may be panned to one or more of the four inputs of a surround-sound fixed matrix encoder or the signal may be encoded by applying the signal to a surround-sound variable-matrix encoder. Phase shifting, required in the encoder, is achieved by applying a signal to two phase-shifting processes, producing two signals whose relative phase difference is sufficiently close to the desired phase shift over at least a substantial part of the frequency band of interest. Satisfactory audible results may be achieved, using very low computer processing power, when one of the phase shifting processes is implemented by a first-order all-pass filter and the other phase shifting process is implemented by only a short time delay, which also has an all-pass characteristic.

Dolby Surround multichannel audio for personal computer-based multimedia video games and CD ROMs has emerged as a new use for the Dolby MP (Motion Picture) matrix, a 4:2:4 amplitude-phase audio matrix. The Dolby MP matrix is well known in connection with Dolby Stereo movies and Dolby Surround video recordings (video tapes and laser discs), broadcast transmissions (radio and television), and audio media (cassettes and compact discs).
An encoder embodying the Dolby MP 4:2 encode matrix combines four channels of audio into an encoded two channel format, suitable for recording or transmitting the same as regular stereo programs, while a Dolby Surround decoder embodying a Dolby MP 2:4 decode matrix recovers four channels of audio from the two encoded channels.
Dolby Surround is a true surround sound system, not just a playback effect. It involves encoding sounds during production to create a pair of Dolby Surround encoded signals (a "soundtrack"), and then decoding the soundtrack on playback using a Dolby Surround decoder. Thus, producers can control the placement and movement of sounds in a way that creates a remarkably realistic experience, drawing the listener into the action.
FIG. 1 is an idealized functional block diagram of a conventional prior art Dolby MP Matrix encoder. The encoder accepts four separate input signals; left, center, right, and surround (L, C, R, S), and creates two final outputs, left-total and right-total (Lt and Rt). The C input is divided equally and summed with the L and R inputs with a 3 dB level reduction in order to maintain constant acoustic power. The L and R inputs, each summed with the level-reduced C input, are phase shifted in respective identical all pass networks located between first and second summers in each path. The S input is also divided equally between Lt and Rt with a 3 dB level reduction, but it first undergoes three additional processing steps (which may occur in any order):
a. frequency bandlimiting from 100 Hz to 7 kHz; and PA1 b. encoding with a modified form of Dolby B-type noise reduction.
The processed S input is then applied a third all pass network, the output of which is summed with the phase-shifted L/C path to produce the Lt output and subtracted from the phase-shifted R/C path to produce the Rt output. Thus, the surround input S is fed into the Lt and Rt outputs with opposite polarities. In addition, the phase of the surround signal S is about 90 degrees with respect to the LCR inputs. It is of no significance whether the surround leads or lags the other inputs. In principle there need be only one phase-shift block, say -90 degrees, in the surround path, its output being summed with the other signal paths, one in-phase (say Lt) and the other out-of-phase (inverted) (say Rt). In practice, as shown in FIG. 1, a 90 degree phase shifter is unrealizable, so three all-pass networks are used, two identical ones in the paths between the center channel summers and the surround channel summers and a third in the surround path. The networks are designed so that the very large phase-shifts of the third one are 90 degrees more or less than those (also very large) of the first two.
The left-total (Lt) and right-total (Rt) encoded signals may be expressed a s EQU Lt=L+0.707C+0.707jS'; and EQU Rt=R+0.707C-0.707jS',
where L is the left input signal, R is the right input signal, C is the center input signal and S' is the band-limited and noise reduction encoded surround input signal S. In the above equations and in other equations in this document, a term (such as 0.707 jS') containing "j" represents a signal phase-shifted 90 degrees with respect to other terms.
Audio signals encoded by a Dolby MP matrix encoder may be decoded by a Dolby Surround decoder--a passive surround decoder, or a Dolby Pro Logic decoder--an active surround decoder. Passive decoders are limited in their ability to place sounds with precision for all listener positions due to inherent crosstalk limitations in the audio matrix. Dolby Pro Logic active decoders employ directional enhancement techniques which reduce such crosstalk components.
FIG. 2 is an idealized functional block diagram of a passive surround decoder suitable for decoding Dolby MP matrix encoded signals. The heart of the passive matrix decoding process is a simple L-R difference amplifier. Except for level and channel balance corrections, the Lt input signal passes unmodified and becomes the left output. The Rt input signal likewise becomes the right output. Lt and Rt also carry the center signal, so it will be heard as a "phantom" image between the left and right speakers, and sounds mixed anywhere across the stereo soundstage will be presented in their proper perspective. The center speaker is thus shown as optional since it is not needed to reproduce the center signal. The L-R stage in the decoder will detect the surround signal by taking the difference of Lt and Rt, then passing it through a 7 kHz low-pass filter, a delay line, and complementary modified Dolby B-type noise reduction. The surround signal will also be reproduced by the left and right speakers, but it will be heard out-of-phase which will diffuse the image. In order properly to reproduce the decoded surround sound signal, the surround signal is ordinarily reproduced by one or more surround speakers located to the sides of and/or to the rear of the listener.
Dolby Surround multichannel sound is also employed to encode the audio of many personal-computer-based multimedia video games and CD ROMs. When played on personal computers having Dolby Surround decoders and suitable loudspeakers, the computer user experiences the same sort of multichannel surround sound as he or she has known in Dolby Surround home theatre.
One important difference between the computer-based and home theatre experiences is that the former usually are interactive, requiring the real-time involvement of the user. Typically, a manual input (joystick, mouse, keyboard, etc.) initiated by the computer user causes a change in the displayed video and/or audio. In order to enhance the realism of the interactivity, it would be desirable for user actions to result not merely in the creation of additional sound effects in real time, but for such sound effects to have variable spatial positions determined in real time.
Accordingly, there is a need to spatially encode one or more sounds in real time for mixing with a pre-recorded surround-sound soundtrack (the soundtrack of a computer game, a CD ROM or Internet audio, for example). Further, there is a need to accomplish such encoding as simply as possible, using as few computing resources as possible.

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation


A signal control unit for an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device, includes a substrate structure including a plurality of active elements each corresponding to a pixel, a lower metal pattern disposed on the substrate structure, and electrically connected to a portion of the plurality of active elements, an insulating interlayer disposed on the substrate structure and at least partially covering the lower metal pattern, a via contact penetrating through the insulating interlayer and connected to the lower metal pattern, a metal electrode disposed on the insulating interlayer, and connected to the via contact, and an electrode passivation layer pattern substantially covering the metal electrode to expose a center portion of an upper surface of the metal electrode while covering a remainder of the upper surface and a side surface of the metal electrode. Therefore, leakage current which flows through the side surface of the metal electrode is suppressed.

Generally, an OLED display device may include a signal control unit for controlling a signal for each pixel, a light emitting unit for generating light using an organic material in response to the signal, and a protection unit formed on the light emitting unit to protect the unit as a whole.
The signal control unit may include a substrate structure, lower metal patterns electrically connected to a portion of active elements included in the substrate structure, an insulating interlayer covering the substrate structure and the lower metal patterns, via contacts penetrating from the insulating interlayer to be electrically connected to the lower metal patterns, metal electrodes disposed on the insulating interlayer to be electrically connected to the via contacts, and an electrode passivation layer pattern disposed between the metal electrodes to protect side portions of the metal electrodes.
In detail, after forming an electrode passivaiton layer on the metal electrodes and the insulating interlayer, a planarization process is performing against the electrode passivation layer to expose upper surfaces of the metal electrodes. Therefore, the electrode passivation layer pattern is formed.
However, the upper surfaces of the metal electrodes may be damaged while carrying out the planarization process. Therefore, optical characteristics of the OLED display device may be degraded. In addition, dishing phenomena may occur in the electrode passivation layer pattern due to the planarization process. Further, the side portions of the metal electrodes may be exposed due to the dishing phenomena. Therefore, current leak may occur through the side portions of the metal electrodes.
On the other hand, dishing phenomena may occur to the via contacts while performing the planarization process after the via contacts are formed. A step portion may be undesirably formed to the metal electrodes due to dishing phenomena which occurs to the via contacts. In particular, since the via contacts are located at each central portion of the metal electrodes, the step portion may occur to the central portion of each of the metal electrodes. Therefore, the reflectivity of the metal electrodes reflecting the light generated in the light emitting unit may be reduced, so that the optical characteristics of the OLED display device may be further reduced.

Signal control unit for an organic light emitting diode display device, method of manufacturing the same, and organic light emitting diode display device including the same


A connector has a first housing (10), a second housing (40) including a base (41) arranged behind the first housing (10), and a retainer (60) between the base (41) and the first housing (10) and movable between partial and full locking positions along facing surfaces of the base and the first housing. The retainer (60) includes operating portions (62) projecting forward so that tips thereof are exposed at a front of the first housing (10). The first housing (10) has locking receiving portions (18, 19) arranged side by side in a moving direction of the retainer (60), and the operating portion (62) is formed with a lock (66) for resiliently locking the locking receiving portions (18, 19) when the retainer (60). An engaging direction of the lock (66) and the locking receiving portions (18, 19) intersects assembling directions of the retainer (60) and the first housing (10).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-143807 discloses a connector with a block-shaped housing main body that has a cavity into which a terminal fitting is insertable from behind. A retainer is mounted into the housing main body and is movable between a partial locking position and a full locking position. A fitting tube portion surrounds the housing main body. A receptacle of a mating housing fits into a clearance between the housing main body and the fitting tube. The retainer includes a retaining portion at a position corresponding to the cavity. The retaining portion is retracted from the cavity at the partial locking position to permit insertion of the terminal fitting into the cavity. The retaining portion is inserted in the cavity at the full locking position and is arranged to lock the properly inserted terminal fitting in the cavity from behind. Thus, the retaining portion holds and retains the terminal fitting in the housing main body when the retainer is at the full locking position.
The fitting tube surrounds the housing main body. Thus, a through hole for the retainer has to be formed on the fitting tube to mount and move the retainer laterally in the housing main body. Water may enter the inside through the insertion hole and may impair watertightness.
In view of this, a housing main body may be divided into front and rear housing parts 1 and 2 and a main part 4 of a retainer 3 is located between the housing parts 1, 2 as shown in FIG. 12. Thus, the retainer 3 can be mounted into a fitting tube from front without forming a through hole.
Operating portions 5 may project forward from the main part 4 of the retainer 3 and tip parts of the operating portions 5 may be exposed at a front of the front housing part 2. Thus, the retainer 3 can be moved by bringing a jig or the like into contact with the operating portions 5 from the front. A protrusion 6 could be provided on the rear surface of the main part 4 of the retainer 3, and two recesses 7 could be provided on the front surface of the rear housing part 1. The retainer 3 then could be held at a partial locking position and a full locking position by the engagement of the recess 7 and the protrusion 6, as shown in FIG. 13. However, a depth direction of the recesses 7 and a projecting direction of the protrusion 6 coincide with an assembling direction of the main part 4 with the housing parts 1, 2. Thus, an engagement margin between the recess 7 and the protrusion 6 may be reduced due to a clearance caused by an assembling error between the housing parts 1, 2 and the main part 4. As a result, a specified engagement margin cannot be obtained and the retainer 3 may lack holding reliability.
The invention was completed in view of the above situation and aims to improve the holding reliability of a retainer.


A motor control device including: a power supply voltage detection unit configured to detect a power supply voltage; a rotational angular velocity detection unit configured to detect a rotational angular velocity of the motor; a command value calculation unit configured to calculate a q-axis and d-axis current command values; a gain computation unit configured to compute, based on an upper limit value of power supply current supplied from a power supply to the motor, the power supply voltage, the rotational angular velocity, the q-axis current command value, and the d-axis current command value, a limit gain reducing the power supply current to the upper limit value or lower by limiting the q-axis current command value and the d-axis current command value; and a driving circuit configured to drive the motor, based on the q-axis current command value and the d-axis current command value limited by the limit gain.

An occurrence of excessive current supply (that is, overcurrent) to a motor causes a fault in wiring and switching elements constituting a power supply path between a power supply and the motor. For this reason, technologies for limiting power supply current supplied from a power supply to a motor to a predetermined limit value or lower have been proposed.
A motor control device described in PTL 1 described below computes, based on a relational expression among input power, output power, and loss power of a motor driving circuit, a q-axis current command value in such a way that power supply current becomes equal to or lower than an upper limit value.

Motor control device, electrically driven actuator product, and electrically driven power steering device


An article of wearing apparel for covering the breasts. A neck strap extends behind the neck of the wearer and extends downwardly at opposite ends so that a void is present between the ends on the front of the wearer. A cover is suspended from the neck strap and provides covering for the breasts of the wearer, while exposing the portion of the body between the breasts. A back strap connects the ends of the neck strap and is positioned around the back of the wearer.

The present invention, Flexible Top, is summer wear for girls and women. This top is made of stainless steel, fabric and elastic. The flexible top makes no connection across the front, thus revealing the sexy area between the breast. This top connects behind the neck and back only.
Top connecting across the front are common. Women want to be and look differently from other women. Because a woman's body is shaped differently, nothing speaks uniqueness clearly then exposing the area between the breast. Flexible top not only emphasizes uniqueness, but is comfortable, simple to put on, and sexy.


This disclosure provides for transgenic soybean plants expressing a soybean homolog of glycine-rich protein 7 (GRP7) and exhibiting improved innate immunity and methods of making such plants.

The phytopathogenic bacterium, Pseudomonas syringae, can suppress both pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) by the injection of type III effector (T3E) proteins into host cells. T3Es achieve immune suppression using a variety of strategies including interference with immune receptor signaling, blocking RNA pathways and vesicle trafficking, and altering organelle function.
Based, at least in part on the experimental results described herein, this disclosure provides compositions and methods that can be used to genetically engineer plants (e.g., soybean plants) that are able to exploit this interaction, thereby increasing the innate immunity of the plants.

Transgenic soybean plants expressing a soybean homolog of glycine-rich protein 7 (GRP7) and exhibiting improved innate immunity


Robbery of a vehicle-mount electric apparatus can be prevented by only driving an operation panel to turn it upside down. The operation panel is disposed in front of the main body of the vehicle-mount audio apparatus, and is moved while being rotated about its rotary shaft. The operation panel moves between first and second states. In the first state, the normally used surface of the operation panel is used as the front surface of the apparatus, and in the second state, the surface other than the normally used surface is used as the front surface. When the operation panel takes generally a horizontal state during the motion of the operation panel 5, the rotary shaft thereof is positioned at one end of the motion range of the operation panel. A drive mechanism chassis for supporting a mechanism for driving the operation panel is supported by horizontal guide grooves of a fixed chassis movably in the horizontal direction, and the horizontal motion of the rotary shaft of the operation panel is regulated by a horizontal guide groove of the fixed chassis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle-mount electric apparatus in which an operation panel is mechanically driven, and more particularly to a vehicle-mount electric apparatus suitable for preventing robbery by hiding the vehicle-mount electric apparatus when a driver moves away from the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Apparatuses are known which can prevent robbery by hiding a vehicle-mount electric apparatus when a driver moves away from the vehicle. FIGS. 10A to 10C and FIGS. 11A to 11C show an example of a robbery preventing apparatus for use with a vehicle-mount electric apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication HEI 6-339875 filed by the present applicant. In these Figures, reference numeral 104 represents a chassis for housing a vehicle-mount audio apparatus, the chassis being inserted in and fixed to a mount recess of the vehicle. An escutcheon 106 is fixed to the chassis 104 and rotatively supports a frame 107.
FIG. 10A shows a use state of the vehicle-mount audio apparatus in which an operation panel 108 is situated in the front area. Reference numeral 108a represents a cassette port formed in the operation panel 108. As an unrepresented activation switch of the robbery preventing apparatus is depressed in the state shown in FIG. 10A, the frame 107 rotates upward toward the horizontal position as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C. In this state, a cover 105 first positioned in the upper inside of the chassis 104 moves toward the frame 107 along the groove formed in the frame 107. At the same time, the operation panel 108 is moved backward. FIG. 11A shows the state of the cover 105 and operation panel 108 after they are moved.
Next, as shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C, the frame 107 rotates downward to the original vertical position. In this state, the cover 105 shields the operation panel 108 so that the vehicle-mount audio apparatus cannot be seen from the outside and robbery can be prevented. In order to recover the use state of the vehicle-mount audio apparatus, the above operations are reversed.
In the above-described conventional robbery preventing apparatus for a vehicle-mount electric apparatus, many components such as the cover 105, operation panel 108 and frame 107 are required to move so that the drive mechanism for these components becomes complicated and the cost is raised. Furthermore, since the operation panel 108 having the cassette port 108a for mounting and dismounting a disk, a cassette tape or the like moves forward and backward relative to the electric apparatus. Therefore, the mechanism for mounting and dismounting a disk or the like is required to be devised. This makes the mechanism complicate and the cost high.
Some robbery preventing apparatuses have the operation panel which moves in unison with the apparatus main body. In this case, the above problems are solved. However, the drive mechanism is required to move the heavy main body together with the operation panel so that it becomes complicated and mechanical driving noises and consumption power become large.
In order to solve the above problems, a robbery preventing electric apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication HEI 8-103935 and filed by the present applicant uses a novel drive mechanism for driving an operation panel. This drive mechanism moves a rotary shaft of the operation panel while the operation panel is rotated, so as to move the operation panel between first and second states, and sets the rotary shaft of the operation panel during the intermediate position in generally a horizontal state, to one end of the motion range. The first state sets the operation panel in such a manner that its normally used operation surface is directed to the front side, and the second state sets the operation panel in such a manner that its surface other than the normally used operation surface is directed to the front side.
With this robbery preventing apparatus for a vehicle-mount electric apparatus, only the operation panel is driven to prevent robbery and the mechanism can be simplified. However, as the operation panel is set generally in the horizontal state which allows a disk insertion, the rotary shaft of the operation panel protrudes forward by not a small degree. Therefore, the main body of the apparatus is required to be mounted at the deeper position of the apparatus. Since the disk port is formed in the main body, this port is located at the deeper position so that insertion and discharge of a disk become difficult.


A structure for eliminating the noise in a light source device for an electronic endoscope safely eliminates the high-frequency noise produced from the lighting circuit, the xenon lamp and the like in the light source device. A capacitor for eliminating noise having a predetermined withstand voltage is connected between the support of the lighting circuit and the box body of the light source device so as to introduce the noise current produced by the switching operation of the lighting circuit to the ground. EMI springs are disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the conductive case of the lighting circuit and the xenon lamp and the inter peripheral surface of the box body of the light source device. A ferrite core for eliminating noise is provided on a conductive wire connecting the lighting circuit and the xenon lamp, thereby safely eliminating noise.

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 8-93330, 8-93331 and 8-93332 filed on Mar. 22, 1996 which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light source device for an electronic endoscope and, more particularly, to a structure for eliminating the noise produced in a light source device which controls the lighting operation of a xenon lamp.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic endoscopes are intraperitoneal mirrors for picking up an image of a body cavity as an object of observation by a CCD, which is a charged coupled device disposed at the end portion of an electronic endoscope. Light for irradiating the body cavity is supplied through a light guide disposed from a light source device to the end portion.
FIG. 10 shows the structure of an example of a conventional light source device. A box body 1 is provided therein with a lamp house 3 accommodating a xenon lamp 2, and a lighting circuit 5 connected to the xenon lamp 2 through an igniter 4. The lighting circuit 5 is fixed onto a substrate 7 supported by an L-shaped aluminum support 6, which, in turn, is anchored to a bottom plate 1A of the box body 1 through an insulating plate 8 such as a bakelite sheet.
The insulating plate 8 maintains a withstand voltage of not less than 4 kV between the lighting circuit 5 (e.g., primary) and the box body 1 so as to secure the safety of the box body 1. A connector receptacle 9 for receiving a light guide connector of an electronic endoscope is provided on the front panel of the box body 1, as shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 11 shows the waveforms of the signals in the lighting circuit 5. When a switching operation is executed in accordance with the control pulses shown in Fig. 11(A), a switching current having a high frequency such as about 110 kHz is formed, as shown in Fig. 11(B). The switching current is supplied to the igniter 4 shown in FIG. 10, whereby the igniter 4 discharges, and the xenon lamp 2 in the lamp house 3 is lighted. The light of the xenon lamp 2 is supplied to the light guide of the connector of the electronic endoscope which is fitted into the connector receptacle 9, and introduced to the end portion through the light guide, thereby enabling the image pick-up operation of the CCD.
According to the above-described light source device, however, the switching current of the lighting circuit 5 produces a high-frequency noise, which exerts a deleterious influence on an image or the like. FIG. 12 shows the noise produced in the lighting circuit 5. As is clear from FIG. 12, since the switching current has a frequency of about 110 kHz, a noise signal having a frequency of an integral multiple of 110 kHz is produced. In addition, since the switching current is comparatively large, the noise maintains a certain degree of level until a high frequency range such as several ten MHz. Since the lighting circuit 5 of the light source device is not in proximity to the processor circuit for processing video signals, no measure against the noise produced in the lighting circuit 5 has been taken in the present state.
Furthermore, a high-frequency noise is also produced due to the discharging operation of the xenon lamp 2, and exerts a deleterious influence on an image or the like. To prevent this, the xenon lamp 2 is accommodated in the metal lamp house 3, which is electrically connected to the box body 1, and a noise current is introduced to the ground so as to prevent the noise produced from the xenon lamp 2 from radiating outward.
However, the electrical connection between the lamp house 3 and the boxy boy 1 is not so good as to certainly maintain the lamp house 3 and the box body 1 at the same potential and to securely eliminate noise. More specifically, the lamp house 3 is connected to the box body 1 by fixing screws and conductive wires on the underside of the lamp house 3. Such a connecting method leaves only a small contact area, which makes it impossible to smoothly introduce the noise current to the ground of the box body.
In addition, the noise component induced to the upper surface of the lamp house 3 is sometimes radiated therefrom before it is led to the ground beneath the lamp house 3, so that it is impossible to completely eliminate such noise.
Furthermore, since a noise current is transmitted to each member through a conductive wire which connects the lighting circuit 5 to the igniter 4 and a conductive wire which connects the igniter 4 to the xenon lamp 2, a noise signal is sometimes produced from such a member in the device.

Structure for eliminating noise in light source device for electronic endoscope


The present disclosure is generally directed to a system that may be coupled to and is compatible with various sizes and types of furniture including chairs and stools with individual legs, to help stabilize such furniture by outwardly expanding at least a portion of the footprint of the furniture to which the system is coupled, by separating the tipping axes of the furniture and the system coupled to the furniture, and/or by increasing the tip resistance of the chair by coupling it to the system.

The present invention relates in general to furniture with individual legs, such as chairs and stools, and more particularly, to a system that helps stabilize furniture with individual legs, such as a chair or stool with individual legs. Most chairs, and especially dining room, kitchen, patio, and other types of chairs and stools, such as those for sitting at a kitchen countertop, breakfast bar, or other bar area, are prone to tipping and/or tipping over. In some cases, when a chair is slid, one or more of the ends or feet of the chair legs has a tendency to catch (e.g., on an uneven surface) and cause or encourage the chair to tip. In addition, children and others who occupy such chairs will at times lean back or push away from another object (e.g., a fixture such as a cabinet, countertop, or wall) which can also cause or encourage the chairs to tip. The occupants of such chairs can be injured when the chairs tip over. In addition, the chairs and/or the area surrounding the chair can be damaged.
A few devices for improving the stability of chairs or the like are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,900 to Iglesias discloses a set of chair stabilizing devices for rotatable attachment to the base of a lawn or beach chair to prevent sinking in sand or tipping over in sand or uneven surfaces. However, the operation, structure, and mechanism involved with this set of devices is different from the present invention. For example, a gripping member included with each device in the set appears designed to receive a horizontally extending leg member portion of that particular type of chair.
U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0170760 to Peterson discloses a device for preventing tipping over of a chair that includes individual legs. More specifically, the device appears to include a leg member, a support foot attached at an angle to the leg member, and clamps to secure the device on the back legs of the chair with individual legs. The leg member appears to be secured such that when the chair is tilted back the bottom portion of the support foot will prevent the chair from tipping further. However, the operation, structure, and mechanism involved in this device are different than the present invention. While devices, such as those described above, have been developed for increasing the stability of chairs, a solution for preventing tipping over of existing chairs still needs to be provided. There is a need to provide a device or system that stabilizes furniture, including chairs, with individual leg members to make the furniture less likely to tip over when a lateral force is applied. There is also a need to provide a stabilizing device that can be retrofitted to myriad shapes and sizes of furniture with legs. There is also a need to provide a simple, aesthetically pleasing solution for preventing tipping of such furniture and chairs. In addition, there is a need for a stabilizing device that prevents tipping of furniture and chairs without creating a substantial trip hazard. In addition, there is a need for such a device that is removable, easily installed, and easily retrofitted to furniture, including chairs, without the need for tools.