An external support system that connects an electric guitar module (90), such as a travel guitar, to a standard electric guitar (80) or bass by detachably anchoring a linear holding device (20) to the standard instrument's body. The holding device (20) causes no alterations of the standard instrument, attaching to a posterior strap-fastening anchor (84) and an anterior horn-shaped curvature (86) to provide a slideable locking means (54) which fastens the external module (90).

Accessorized guitar technology has yielded more new developments than any other field in the domain of stringed musical instruments. Its popularity derives from a conservative nature among quitarists who choose to enhance their preferred instruments rather than adapt to newer models. This factor has often limited the scope of new research, placing more emphasis on accessorizing prior designs than on creating new ones. It may also be one of the most important considerations in further developing double-neck or combined instrument technologies.
Musicans seeking greater versatility in electric guitars have often found double-neck guitars to be problematic because of their weight and lack of balance. Many also dislike putting aside a favored single-neck instrument to use a double-neck when it is needed. Since most double-neck guitars have not offered enough variety to forego changing instruments altogether, some musicians choose to ignore them completely, opting instead to alternate more single-neck instruments. Unfortunately, having to carry several instruments to each venue is difficult, and it is nearly impossible to switch guitars without interrupting a musical part.
In lieu of double-neck technology, many have tried alternative approaches to achieving greater versatility. One concept involved keeping several instruments in readily playable positions on specially adapted stands as proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,547,924 to Citro (1951), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,751 to Cherry (1988) . The main problem was that a performer's movements were restricted to the location of the second instrument. Also it was difficult to reach around a guitar placed on one's shoulder to play another guitar on a stand. Furthermore, the additional setup time required for such applications made this option seem impractical.
As secondary electric instruments, travel guitars sparked an interest in small-bodied, portable designs that could be used for practicing almost anywhere. They were small enough to require less storage space and light enough to be combined with other instruments. Although many could sound like full-bodied guitars, their awkward balance and feeling were not usually acceptable for use on stage. This probably made the combined use of two travel guitars in a double-neck format seem undesireable. A logical development might have accessorized a full-bodied guitar with a high-quality travel guitar in the creation of a double-neck.
The first known method of accessorizing an acoustic guitar for the purpose of creating a double-neck capability was documented in U.S. Pat. No. 832,157 to Platts (1906). An invention in the form of a modular, stringed mandolin neck was clamped on to an acoustic guitar's upper curvature where it could vibrate the guitar's surface to create sounds. Unfortunately, attaching a larger, heavier guitar module with clamps could damage an acoustic guitar. A double-neck of U.S. Pat No. 4,987,815 to Shockley (1991) seemed to remedy this situation by making both instruments integral, but this also meant they were no longer detachable.
Some guitar modules looked like travel guitars, but they were interchangeable with separate, external bodies. Single-neck systems offered only as much versatility as could be gained by changing standard instruments. Modular double-necks, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,625 to Savona (1964) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,705 to Patterson (1988), offered more options. Generally, however, the use of modules rarely emulated fully integrated guitars. Also, these configurations could not accessorize standard instruments. Savona used rails for attachment, and Patterson used flexible straps that could risk collision between a module and a standard guitar.
Usually only pianos and floor harps were associated with the independent use of two hands to create separate melodic lines; however, similar two-hand methods were developed for guitar by players like Mark Laughlin and Jimmie Webster in the 1950's. Webster also published a book called, Touch System for Electric and Amplified Spanish Guitar (1952, W. J. Smith, New York), which demonstrated basic two-hand approaches. To further enhance this art, double-neck instruments have been proposed, but few have pleased guitarists who use standard picking methods. Double-neck technology is expected to meet the needs of both styles, however.
To promote better balance and facilitate simultaneous two-hand play, I offered a Biaxe double-neck guitar of U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,319 (1980). This instrument combined a full-sized guitar with a longer, stick-form guitar module which was offset to provide more accessibility for two-hand methods and to distribute the guitar's weight more evenly. One problem I found, however, was that an elongated lower neck was not well-suited for many common playing styles. Although the stick-form guitar enhanced two-hand playing, standard picking and strumming required a shorter replacement neck which was rendered inaccessible by the offset position.
By late 1980 a new Biaxe included a means of accommodating different neck lengths, which Guitar Player magazine published an article about in May of 1982. It employed a modular body with rails to support two guitar modules which could slide and lock into different longitudinal positions. (Prior configurations only facilitated one position.) Also the rail system provided electronic connections between both modules and the body, making them integral so they could feel more like a complete instrument. Many ergonomic features and the overall versatility of this Biaxe design made it appear more accessible than other double-necks.
Unfortunately, even though the Biaxe modules were detachably integrated with the external body, their feeling and playability still seemed less familiar than many standard guitars. Also the rails of this design needed special electronics to avoid picking up radio frequencies and noise which might be amplified. As with Savonals rail system, any warpage of the wooden body caused by weather changes would impede the sliding feature. There was also a risk of gradually pulling the rails out of a wooden body by constantly replacing the modules. The only remedy would be to have the rails in a separate housing to avoid such damage.
A major commercial drawback to this track system was that it could not attach to standard guitars or basses without altering them. Ergonomic comfort and visual access required that the bulk of an external guitar module be attached to the lower portion of a standard guitar, spaced apart from its surface. This negated using clamps since their lower placement would weaken from the direct force of gravity. The alternative was to drill holes into an instrument's body through which two or more connecting bolts could support a rail housing. Most musicians would avoid this to retain the aesthetic and commercial value of their instruments.
All of the related inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages:
(a) Stands and support devices hinder freedom of motion and require extra set-up time, as well as extra carriage space.
(b) Most prior art instruments were integrated with special features that standard guitars and basses could not utilize. For this reason, many new concepts were limited to these inventions.
(c) With the exception of Platts' mandolin, prior art instruments could not accessorize popular guitars without altering them. (Platts used clamps with questionable safety.)
(d) Clamps are ill-adapted for attaching electric guitar modules to standard instruments. Unlike Platts, mandolin, the bulk of an external guitar module is better suited for placement over the lower surface of a standard instrument. Gravity would have a stronger affect on clamps in this position, which could mean slippage and damage to a guitar.
(e) Most prior art instruments could not facilitate simultaneous two-hand play: Shockley's guitar was integrated for standard playing styles only; Savonal s rail system did not provide offset positions; and Patterson's flexible system did not offer enough stability for both necks to be used simultaneously.
(f) Flexible means of connection, as suggested by Patterson, could not facilitate playing two necks from a seated position.
(g) Flexible means of connecting an external module to a full-size, standard guitar or bass could not remain stable enough to prevent collisions between both necks during a performance.
(h) Integral rail systems could pull apart from their bodies after extended use.
(i) Rails can become jammed as the wooden bodies that support them change with weather conditions. Without exception the dimensions required for guitar modules to slide in any track system will change from even a slight warpage.
(j) None of the prior art instruments could retain the feeling of a full-bodied, single-neck electric guitar, which is desired by many guitarists.
My current invention employs a light-weight, detachable retrofit with a sliding lock to secure an external guitar module to a standard guitar. This system allows the feeling and playability of a commercial instrument to be retained without altering its features in any way. A four, six, or twelve string travel guitar can be adapted for attachment to the sliding lock, which changes position to accommodate different neck lengths for various playing styles and to maintain proper balance. Rather than develop a new instrument, this concept combines instruments that have already been proven and accepted by musicians.

Detachable retrofit for a guitar-type musical instrument


In various embodiments, center body assemblies are described herein. The center body assembly may include an attachment ring, a center body, and a cavity structure. The center body may be configured to be coupled to the attachment ring. The cavity structure may be configured to be coupled to the attachment ring. The cavity structure may be configured to be separated from the center body by a gap. The center body and the cavity structure may be configured to expand independently of each other in response to an increase in temperature. In various embodiments, the cavity structure may comprise a baffle. In various embodiments, the center body may comprise a baffle.

Turbine engine exhaust assemblies, e.g. for commercial airliners, form a nozzle for the high temperature exhaust air of the engine to generate thrust. Exhaust assemblies typically include a center body surrounded by an annular nozzle. The engine exhaust stream exits the engine's turbine stage through an annular passageway. The center body and the annular nozzle form an annular passageway between which conforms to the annular exhaust stream from the engine.
Exhaust center bodies are subject to the extreme heat of the exhaust stream. As the maximum temperatures of exhaust streams are trending higher, ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials and other high temperature capability materials have been proposed as materials for forming exhaust assemblies. However, new designs for center bodies may be necessary or helpful in order to facilitate the use of materials such as CMCs, especially if the CMC is only used for a portion of the center body and differences in coefficients of thermal expansion exist between the dissimilar materials.


A dual-mode lock with a combination identification function has a combination mechanism and a cylinder mechanism. The combination mechanism has multiple wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly has an identification notch formed at a specific position corresponding to a combination number of the wheel assembly. The cylinder mechanism has an actuating shaft that is unlocked and rotated by an operating key. Additionally, the actuating shaft moves an access panel that has multiple aligning holes to align the aligning holes respectively with the identification notches. Consequently, a user can easily identify the combination of the dual-mode lock by insertion of a simple detecting tool.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lock, and more particularly to a dual-mode lock with a combination identification function that enables a combination to be identified with a simple detecting tool and a simple procedure.
2. Description of Related Art
Locks are used to prevent articles from being stolen, and different locks have been developed for specific purposes. For example, one type of lock securely attaches notebook computers to a stationary object.
Such locks have protruding latches that attach to corresponding latching holes in notebook computers and are generally actuated by inserting and turning a key. However, the keys are susceptible to being lost, which makes the locks inconvenient to use. Consequently, dual-mode locks have been developed to allow the lock to be unlocked with a key or by dialing a combination.
However, the dual-mode locks tend to be structurally complicated and very large. Furthermore, techniques to determine forgotten combinations are extremely difficult, at best, and are virtually impossible for ordinary users of combination locks.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a dual-mode lock with a combination identification function to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problems.

Dual-mode lock with a combination identification function


The present invention provides a brush seal having upstream and downstream plates that sandwich therebetween a plurality of bristles that sealingly contact a rotating member. The downstream plate includes primary and secondary backing rings with a flexible connection extending between the two rings so as to permit relative radial movement therebetween.

Gas turbine engines have known a long and successful use in the aircraft industry. More commonly known as jet engines, the gas turbine has made high speed air travel relatively safe and convenient. Air travel is still costly, however, so manufacturers are continuously striving to reduce both manufacturing and operating costs OF the aircraft gas turbine engine.
One of the origins of increased operating cost is leakage of air and other gases through various parts of the engine without extraction of the energy contained in that air and gas. Rotating labyrinth seals have been frequently used in the past to close such leakage gaps. Another candidate for doing so is a brush seal.
A basic brush seal includes a front or upstream plate, a backing or downstream plate, and a bristle pack sandwiched between the two annular plates. The bristle pack extends across a leakage gap that exists between two relatively movable members so that the free ends of the pack sealingly engage the surface of one of the members. The bristle pack creates a torturous flow path for any air or gas leaking from one side of the seal to the other. Usually, one of the movable members is a rotating structure such as a shaft and the other member is a stationary structure of the engine.
The gap between the backing plate and the rotating engine member is usually sized so as to be large enough to accommodate expected operating transient conditions. Since the size of the leakage gap is related to the ability of the seal to perform its intended sealing function, increasing the gap to accommodate engine operating transients affects the ability of the seal to operate. That is, it can be shown that the maximum pressure difference from the upstream side to the downstream side of the seal is an inverse function of the backing plate gap. Thus, as the gap becomes larger, its ability to function effectively declines accordingly. To prevent damage to the seal or to the opposing rotor member during transient conditions, however, the leakage gap must be of a certain minimum size. This minimum size requirement may result in making the brush seal ineffective for a particular desired application even though its use would otherwise be preferred.
Thus, it would be desirable to have a brush seal that was more tolerant of gas turbine engine operating transients so as to be able to experience such transient operating condiditons without damage while maintaining at all other times the desired clearance gap and desired pressure differential between the upstream and downstream sides of the seal.


A wiring substrate includes an insulating layer and a pad exposed from the insulating layer. An outermost surface of the insulating layer is modified to have a hydrophobic property by being stamped with silicone.

Conventionally, there is known a wiring substrate having an insulating layer that is to be its an outermost layer and a pad exposed from the insulating layer. A connection terminal for connecting to a semiconductor chip or the like is formed on the pad. For example, a solder bump is used as the connection terminal.
The solder bump is formed on a pad by, for example, applying a paste-like solder (e.g., solder cream) on the pad exposed from an insulating layer and heating and performing a reflow process on the solder to heat and melt the solder. Thereby, a substrate having a solder bump formed thereon is obtained. According to necessity, the substrate is cleaned. Thereby, the manufacturing of a wiring substrate is completed.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-199179
However, during the process of applying the paste-like solder (e.g., solder cream) on the pad exposed from the insulating layer, a portion of the solder may adhere to an outermost surface of the insulating layer. It is to be noted that the term "outermost surface" refers to either one or both main surfaces of the wiring substrate positioned on the outermost side of the wiring substrate.
Although it is desirable for the portion of the solder adhered to the outermost surface of the insulating layer to flow on top of the pad during the reflow process, the portion of the solder may not flow on top of the pad in a case where the outermost surface of the insulating layer has good wettability (i.e., a case where the outermost surface of the insulating layer has a hydrophilic property). In this case, the portion of the solder may solidify and become residue on the outermost surface of the insulating layer.
The residual solder formed on the outermost surface of the insulating layer may detach from the outermost surface of the insulating layer during another process and cause short-circuiting with another electronic device, between pins such as connectors, or between wirings. This degrades the reliability of the wiring substrate.
Further, residue of flux contained in solder cream or the like may adhere to the outermost surface of the insulating layer. The residue of flux may create current leakage and cause insulation failure. Further, the residue of flux may be introduced to a contact of a connector or the like and cause connection failure. This degrades the reliability of the wiring substrate.

Wiring substrate, method for manufacturing wiring substrate, and method for modifying surface of insulating layer


A wall mounted printer comprising a main chassis, a pivoting media tray disposed on a front upper portion of the main chassis, a removable collection tray disposed at the base of the main chassis for receiving printed and bound media exiting from the main chassis, a printhead unit disposed within the main chassis, and a binding assembly disposed within the main chassis downstream of a printing zone of the printhead unit, the binding assembly comprising a support chassis downstream of a printing zone of the printer, the support chassis defining a glue application and binding zone in which printed sheets of media are received in a feed direction; and an elongate glue applicator mounted on the chassis and positioned substantially at right angles to said feed direction, the applicator being displaceable towards and away from the sheets of media to apply a strip of glue to a transverse edge of each of said consecutive sheets of media.

With the advent of the Internet has come the opportunity for the print media industry to publish "on-line" rather than producing and distributing traditional paper based publications. On-line publishing has a number of advantages. From the consumer's point of view, information is available on demand, information can be navigated via hypertext links, information can be searched, and information can be automatically personalized. From the publisher's point of view, the costs of printing and physical distribution are eliminated and the publication becomes more attractive to advertisers as it can be targeted to specific demographics and linked to product sites.
On-line publication also has disadvantages. Computer screens are inferior to paper. At the same quality as a magazine page, a SVGA computer screen displays only about a fifth as much information. Both CRT's (Cathode Ray Tubes) and LCD's (Liquid Crystal Displays) have brightness and contrast problems, particularly when ambient light is strong. Ink on paper, being reflective rather than emissive is both bright and sharp in ambient light. Accordingly, people have a natural preference to read newspapers, magazines, catalogues, brochures and other publications in a bound paper based format.
Known digital printers, and in particular digital inkjet printers, do not make any provision for binding together the pages of printed media. Such an arrangement would conveniently provide for bound document production in the small office/home office (SOHO) environment. This would also permit some of the existing drawbacks of on-line publication to be addressed. However, in the SOHO environment space is often at a premium. Therefore, any provision for automatically binding separate pages into a bound document must not add a significant amount of extra space over that occupied by the printer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Wall mounted printer with binding assembly


A vacuum cleaner with cyclonic dirt separation and a bottom discharge dirt cup beneath the cyclone separator and a filter beneath the dirt cup and between the dirt cup and a suction motor inlet. A separator plate separates the cyclone separator from the dirt cup. Fins project from a sidewall of the dirt cup, and fingers projecting from a bottom wall of the dirt cup. A hollow standpipe in the dirt cup transports working air from the cyclone separator outlet to the filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to suction cleaners, and in particular to a separator for a suction cleaner. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a separator with a cyclonic airflow path to separate dirt and debris from air drawn into the cleaner. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a separator that deposits the dirt and debris in a collection receptacle. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a bottom discharge dirt-collecting bin with an integrated filter chamber. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a separator including structure for inhibiting the re-entrainment of debris that vacillates with upward airflows in the collection receptacle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cyclone separators are well known. Some follow the textbook examples using frusto-conical shape separators and others use high-speed rotational motion of the air/dirt to separate the dirt by centrifugal force. Typically, working air enters and exits at an upper portion of the cyclone separator as the bottom portion of the cyclone separator is used to collect debris. Furthermore, in an effort to reduce weight, the motor/fan assembly that creates the working air flow is typically placed at the bottom of the handle, below the cyclone separator. This arrangement therefore, requires a tortuous air path from the top of the cyclone assembly, down the handle to the inlet of the motor/fan assembly. This creates a long air path with multiple parts which may allow for air leaks and generally negatively impacting airflow and, necessarily, cleaning performance.
Conrad et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,775 discloses a cyclone separator with at terminal insert which can take a number of forms. In FIG. 14(d), the terminal insert may comprise a plurality of longitudinally extending members (such as rods), which extend upwardly into the cyclone separator cavity from the bottom surface of the cyclone separator. The rods are said to interact with circulating fluid 48 to disrupt its rotational motion. The rods may be positioned symmetrically non-symmetrically around longitudinal axis of the separator. The rods may be a variety of shapes such as, in transverse section, squares, ellipses or other closed convex or abode shapes. Further, the transverse section of rods may vary longitudinally.
BISSELL Homecare, Inc. presently manufactures and sells in the United States an upright vacuum cleaner that has a cyclone separator and a dirt-collecting bin or dirt cup. A horizontal plate separates the cyclone separator from the dirt cup. The air flowing through the cyclone separator passes through an annular cylindrical cage with baffles and through a cylindrical filter before exiting the cyclone separator at the upper end thereof. The dirt cup has three finger-like projections extending upwardly from the bottom thereof to agglomerate the dirt in the dirt cup. The dirt cup further has a pair of radial fins extending inwardly from the side walls of the dirt cup. The dirt cup and the cyclone separator is further disclosed in the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/058,514, filed Jan. 28, 2002, and published as US20040154126 which is incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,291 to Bair et al. and its progeny attempts to solve the efficiency problem by shortening the air path from the cyclone exhaust to the motor inlet. These patents disclose a pleated main filter element in a cyclonic chamber whereby exhaust air is drawn through the main filter through the bottom of the cyclonic chamber, through a secondary filter and directly into the motor/fan inlet. The motor/fan assembly is in a vertical position below the cyclone which is undesirable due to the amount of space needed at the bottom of the handle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,404 to Salo et al. discloses a bottom discharge cyclone chamber with the motor/fan assembly mounted horizontally below the cyclone chamber. However, motor exhaust air is redirected back up towards the bottom of the cyclone chamber where it exits the unit through a cylindrical filter in a radial fashion. This path introduces a number of turns which tends to create backpressure and therefore reduce efficiency.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,429 to Dyson discloses a two stage cyclonic separator in a vacuum cleaner with a standpipe that extends from the outlet of a secondary cyclone separator through a bottom wall of a removable dirt cup. Air in a secondary cyclone separator exits the secondary cyclone through the standpipe to a vacuum source

Vacuum cleaner with cyclonic dirt separation and bottom discharge dirt cup with filter


A first inlet portion, a second inlet portion, a first outlet portion, and a second outlet portion are fixed to a fixing member, and a connecting tube portion is provided between the first outlet portion and the second inlet portion. Further, the first inlet portion and the second inlet portion 6 are arranged in a non-parallel state such that the distance between the two increases as they depart from the fixing member. The first outlet portion and the second outlet portion are similarly arranged in a non-parallel state, the first inlet portion and the second inlet portion and the first outlet portion and the second outlet portion being arranged symmetrically. Further, the first outlet portion, the second inlet portion, and the connecting tube portion are arranged such that their three tube axes are in a straight line.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a Coriolis flowmeter that is used to obtain a mass flow rate and/or density of a measurement fluid by detecting a phase difference and/or vibration frequency proportional to Coriolis forces acting on a flow tube.
2. Background Art
In a Coriolis flowmeter, a tube through which a fluid to be measured flows is supported at one end or both ends thereof, and vibration is applied to a portion of the tube around the supporting point in a direction vertical to the flowing direction of the tube (hereinafter, a tube to which vibration is applied is referred to as a flow tube). The Coriolis flowmeter is amass flowmeter, which utilizes the fact that the Coriolis forces applied to the flow tube when vibration is thus applied thereto, are proportional to a mass flow rate. The Coriolis flowmeters are well known, and the flow tube structures thereof are roughly classified into two types: a straight tube type and a bent tube type.
In a Coriolis flowmeter of the straight tube type, when vibration is applied to a straight tube, whose both ends are supported, in a direction vertical to the straight-tube center portion axis, a difference in displacement of the straight tube due to the Coriolis forces is generated between the support portions and the central portion of the straight tube. That is, a phase difference signal is obtained, and, based on this phase difference signal, the mass flow rate is detected. The straight tube type Coriolis flowmeter thus constructed has a simple, compact, and solid structure. However, there still has a problem in that it is impossible to achieve high detection sensitivity.
In contrast, the bent tube type Coriolis flowmeter is superior to the straight tube type Coriolis flowmeter in that it allows selection of a shape for effectively obtaining the Coriolis forces. In fact, it is capable of performing mass flow rate detection with high sensitivity. Known examples of the bent tube type Coriolis flowmeter include one equipped with a single flow tube (see, for example, JP 04-055250 B), one equipped with two flow tubes arranged in parallel (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2939242), and one equipped with a single flow tube in a looped state (see, for example, JP 05-069453 B).
Incidentally, as a driving means for driving the flow tube, a combination of a coil and a magnet is generally employed. Regarding the mounting of the coil and the magnet, it is desirable to mount them at positions not offset with respect to the vibrating direction of the flow tube. In view of this, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2939242 two flow tubes arranged in parallel are mounted so as to hold a coil and a magnet between them. Thus, a design is adopted in which the distance between the two flow tubes opposed to each other is at least large enough to enable the coil and the magnet to be held therebetween.
In the case of a Coriolis flowmeter in which two flow tubes respectively exist in planes parallel to each other and which exhibits a large caliber or high flow tube rigidity, it is necessary to enhance the power of the driving means, so that it is necessary to hold a large driving means between the two flow tubes. Thus, a design is adopted in which the distance between the flow tubes is of necessity large even at the fixing end portions constituting the roots of the flow tubes.
However, an increase in the above-mentioned distance at the fixing end portions involves the following problem: it leads to a deficiency in rigidity at the fixing end portions, with the result that vibration leakage is likely to occur (the flow tubes vibrate owing to bending vibration, and then the vibration leaks out).
On the other hand, in the construction as disclosed in JP 05-69453 B, in which a single flow tube is looped, another problem is involved: as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, it is necessary for a bent tube portion 101 to exist between a first curved tube portion 102 and a second curved tube portion 103. Because of that necessity, the quick manufacture of the bends shown in the figure is rather difficult and, further, there is a problem in terms of the resistance to pressure of the tubes.

Coriolis flowmeter having a fixing member with non-parallel inlet and outlet portions


Methods for manufacturing carbon nanostructures include: 1) forming a plurality of catalytic templating particles using a plurality of dispersing agent molecules; 2) forming an intermediate carbon nanostructure by polymerizing a carbon precursor in the presence of the plurality of templating nanoparticles; 3) carbonizing the intermediate carbon nanostructure to form a composite nanostructure; and 4) removing the templating nanoparticles from the composite nanostructure to yield the carbon nanostructures. The carbon nanostructures are well-suited for use as a catalyst support. The carbon nanostructures exhibit high surface area, high porosity, and high graphitization. Carbon nanostructures according to the invention can be used as a substitute for more expensive and likely more fragile carbon nanotubes.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to carbon nanomaterials. More particularly, the present invention relates to carbon nanostructures that are manufactured using a carbon precursor and a catalytic templating particle.
2. The Related Technology
Carbon materials have been used in a variety of fields as high-performance and functional materials. Pyrolysis of organic compounds is well-known to be one of the most useful methods to prepare carbon materials. For example, carbon materials can be produced by pyrolyzing resorcinol-formaldehyde gel at temperatures above 600° C.
Most carbon materials obtained by pyrolysis of organic compounds at temperatures between 600-1400° C. tend to be amorphous or have a disordered structure. Obtaining highly crystalline or graphitic carbon materials can be very advantageous because of the unique properties exhibited by graphite. For example, graphitic materials can be conductive and form unique nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes. However, using existing methods it is difficult to make these well-crystallized graphite structures using pyrolysis, especially at temperatures less than 2000° C.
To acquire the graphite structure at lower temperature many studies have been carried out on carbonization in the presence of a metal catalyst. The catalyst is typically a salt of iron, nickel, or cobalt that is mixed with carbon precursor. Using catalytic graphitization, graphitic materials can be manufactured at temperatures between 600° C. and 1400° C. Most catalytic graphitization methods have focused on making graphite nanotubes. However, the yield of crystalline materials is still very low (e.g., for carbon nanotubes the yield is less than 2%). These low yields make it difficult to use the nanomaterials in making useful articles.

Carbon nanostructures manufactured from catalytic templating nanoparticles


In a drying method of an aspect of the present invention, drying steps are conducted immediately after coating in a drying zone, and during the execution of drying by blowing the one-way flow drying wind flowing from one edge side to another edge side in the width direction of the continuous support, the windless drying step is conducted in a windless drying zone provided in the drying zone where the drying wind is not blown.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for drying a coated film. More particularly, it relates to a method and an apparatus for drying a surface of a wide and long continuous coated film formed by applying a coating liquid containing an organic solvent over a continuous support in a preparation process of an optical compensation film, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to improve viewing angle characteristics in a liquid crystal display device, an arrangement of an optical compensation film as a phase difference plate between a pair of polarizing plates and a liquid crystal cell has been adopted. For preparing the continuous optical compensation film, steps of applying a coating liquid containing a resin for forming an orientation film over a surface of continuous transparent film and forming the orientation film by subjecting to a rubbing treatment are carried out. Subsequently, applying a coating liquid containing a discotic liquid crystalline compound on the orientation film to form a coated layer and drying the coated layer are disclosed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-73081).
The drying method for the coating liquid containing the discotic liquid crystalline compound disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-73081 employs an initial drying under a room air conditioning condition after applying the coating liquid containing the discotic liquid crystalline compound on the orientation film and before drying by means of a regular drying apparatus. In the initial drying, organic solvents in the coating liquid are mainly vaporized before drying.
However, in the optical compensation film prepared by the preparation method described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-73081, there is a problem that two kinds of unevenness (mottles) A and B which are illustrated in FIG. 10 such as a broad unevenness A (shown as thin lines) and a sharp unevenness B (shown as bold lines) occur on the surface of the coated film 101 in the initial drying step thereby decreasing the yield of the product depending on the cases.
As a result of analyzing those two kinds of unevenness A and B, it was clarified that the broad unevenness A reveals when the thickness of a film 102 layer of the coated liquid containing a discotic liquid crystalline compound becomes thin as shown in FIG. 11. In FIG. 11, a numerical code 103 illustrates a continuous support and a numerical code 104 illustrates an orientation film layer. On the other hand, it was clarified that an orientation direction 106 in an orientation part 105 (dense color part) where the sharp unevenness B is occurring deviates from an orientation part 108 of other normal orientation direction 107 as shown in FIG. 12.
A countermeasure generally executed as effective measures against those unevenness A and B which occur in the initial drying is to increase a viscosity of the coating liquid by elevating a concentration of the coating liquid or by adding a thickener. The countermeasure is a method of preventing the occurrences of unevenness by suppressing a fluid flow of the surface of the coated film induced by the drying wind immediately after coating. Another method is a method of preventing the occurrences of unevenness by causing a leveling effect with the usage of an organic solvent having high boiling point despite a generation of the fluid flow of the surface of the coated film induced by the drying wind immediately after coating.
However, to increase the viscosity of the coating liquid by elevating the concentration of the coating liquid or by adding the thickener has shortcomings failing to achieve super thin layer precise coating for forming a coated film of super thin layer by high-speed coating. Further, because the thicker increases the viscosity of the coating liquid, the lower a threshold coating velocity (threshold of the coating velocity capable of stable coating) falls, a high-speed coating becomes impossible with the increase of viscosity and accordingly, there is also a shortcoming that a production efficiency turns worse furiously.
On the other hand, the usage of an organic solvent having high boiling point induces augmentation of drying time and augmentation of amount of residual solvent remaining in the coated film thereby requiring much drying time and accordingly, there is also a shortcoming that the production efficiency turns worse.
From such a background, inventors of the present invention already proposed a method and apparatus for drying coated film described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-170547. The method and apparatus provides a technology in which disposing a drying zone immediately after the coating, together with surrounding a surface of the coated film to be dried of the traveling continuous support, and generating a one-way flow drying wind flowing from one edge side to another edge side in a width direction of the continuous support resultantly achieving uniformly drying the coated film without changing the property such as viscosity and so on or the kinds of the solvent. The method and apparatus for drying the coated film is estimated as capable of suppressing the above occurrences of unevenness.

Method and apparatus for drying coated film


Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for configuring multiple computing devices over a network using a single software application. Each of the multiple computing devices may be accessible over a network. The invention links each of the multiple computing devices to the single software application. The invention determines commands which are executable by each of the multiple computing devices to configure each of the multiple computing devices. The invention further communicates the commands based on receiving user input in the single software application. The invention then determines whether each of the multiple computing devices were correctly configured. The invention may further track the configuration process of the devices using tests and procedures. The invention tracks information related to the configuration of the devices and displays such information in report form as a result of receiving a report request in the single software application.

Businesses utilize computers and servers for handling the load of many business processes. Setting up a computer or server to handle the business processes may consume a large amount of work time. Automating the process of setting up the computers and servers is one way to reduce the amount of time actually spent but at the cost of generating errors that may affect the ability of the computer or server to perform the process. It is necessary to monitor the installation process of the computers and server to ensure costly errors are minimized.

Enterprise quality assurance and lab management tool


A scalable laser scanning angle apparatus and method of scaling a scanning angle using MEMS devices and elliptical mirrors includes disposing a first scanner at one focal point of an elliptical mirror and scanning the emitted light beam in a first direction at a first scanning angle toward a concave surface of the elliptical mirror such that the scanned light beam is directed toward the second focal point of the elliptical mirror, and scanning the light beam from the concave surface of the elliptical mirror in a second direction at a second scanning angle using a second scanner, wherein the second scanner outputs the light beam across a system scanning angle which corresponds to a combination of the first scanning angle and the second scanning angle. The scanning angle is scalable by repeatedly scanning the light beam at corresponding focal points of a predetermined number of elliptical mirrors, wherein the total scanning angle is scaled by a multiple of a number of times the light beam is scanned.

Rapid advances in signal processing and video production have made it possible to provide high-resolution video images. Generally, the display systems available that can reproduce the high-resolution video images are very expensive, do not provide a high quality image with sufficient brightness, or are limited in size.
One common type of video display is the CRT. To display a video image, sequences of frames are displayed very rapidly on the CRT screen. Each frame must be fully scanned by a single electron beam within a very short time period. For example, for a 60 Hz frame refresh rate, each frame must be scanned in less than 1/60 of a second. Because a frame is defined by a number of adjacent lines, each line must be scanned within a small fraction of the frame period, depending upon the size of the display. For example, in a standard VGA 640×480 format, each of the 480 lines must be scanned in less than 3.5 microseconds. Of course, higher-resolution formats (e.g., SVGA 800×600 or HDTV 1920×1080) have a greater number of pixels and lines, therefore requiring correspondingly faster line scans.
Additionally, as resolution and brightness requirements increase with better image quality, CRT-based projectors reach some physical limits and therefore, other ways to project video and computer information have been proposed and developed.
Laser TV projectors have been proposed in which red, green, and blues lasers are individually modulated and combined to generate a full color image on a projection screen. In light-modulation projectors, laser radiation is modulated in a modulator array that switches individual display elements (pixels) on or off. Liquid crystal display (LCD) panels are common light modulators. Other modulators, such as acousto-optic modulators (AOMs), deformable micro-mirrors (DMDs), and microelectromechanical system (MEMS) techniques are also available.
Projection TVs are generally not able to reproduce images with the same clarity, brightness and contrast as large LCDs and plasma screen displays, but they are less expensive. All such displays have scanning systems, comprising a horizontal scanning unit and a vertical scanning unit, to cause an image to be displayed on a screen. Generally, the horizontal scanning unit must execute the horizontal image signal scans at a much faster rate than the vertical scanning unit.
A conventional raster scanning system uses a rotating polygon mirror scanner as the horizontal scanning unit and a galvanometer mirror as the vertical scanning unit, both of which have limited bandwidth (i.e. scanning rate). The rotating polygon mirror has been used reliably for many years, but has inherent limitations in the module size of the polygon mirror and the scanning rate. For example, for an HDTV application the rotating speed of the polygon mirror would be approximately 100,000 rpm. This requires a bulky and expensive polygon scanner module.
Another approach uses multiple beams with multiple scanners to scan multiple image areas to form a whole image. Specifically, an image is divided into quadrants and each scanner is responsible for a quadrant portion of the image. However, such an approach makes for very complicated control electronics to maintain each of the different scan areas in relation to the others and the device tolerance margins must be extremely tight. Additionally, the image quality deteriorates at the border of neighboring image areas. Other approaches achieve multiple image area scans using multiple beams and a single scanner. However, the same neighboring border image artifact quality problems arise. Additionally, each of the multiple beams requires a separate modulator, which leads to complicated control systems. Furthermore, vertical scanning is difficult and a wide-angle scanner is still required to increase the size of the display.
Generally, the resolution of raster scanning projection displays directly translates into a a product of θD, where θ is the maximum scanning angle of the scanner in degrees and D is the beam width or mirror size in millimeters. Therefore, the higher the image resolution, the greater the θD value required.
For example, the horizontal scanner for drawing an HDTV image requires a θD of approximately 22.5 degree-mm. Thus, if the scanning angle θ were 8 degrees, the D would need to be approximately 2.8 mm, and if the scanning angle θ were 4 degrees, the D would need to be approximately 5.6 mm.
MEMS scanners can improve the scanning rate but have limited scanning angles, thus limiting the size of the display screen to achieve high clarity and contrast. Also, MEMS devices used as a laser scanner provide the potential of competitive cost and high frequency scanning capability. However, the scanning angle and the scanner size are in a trade-off relationship in the MEMS device under fixed characteristic frequency conditions. To preserve the characteristic frequency of the MEMS scanner for a given image resolution, the scanning angle should be decreased if the scanner size is increased according to the physical principle of rigid body's harmonic oscillator model.
The trade-off relationship may be explained by study of the following equations:
            ax      +      bx      +      cx        =    N        N    =                  N        o                          ⅇ                  ⅈ                                                              ω                                                              t                          x    =                  x        o                          ⅇ                  ⅈ                                                              ω                                                              t                                x      o        =                            N          o                                                    (                              c                -                                                      ω                    2                                                      a                                            )                        +                          i                                                                                ω                                                                                b                                          =                                    N            o                                                                                a                    2                                                                          (                                                                  ω                        o                        2                                            -                                              ω                        2                                                              )                                                  2                            +                                                (                                      ω                                                                                b                                    )                                2                                                                      ⅇ                      ⅈ                                                                          Δ                                          ω      o      2        =          c      /      a      Where x is the scanning angle, ωo is the characteristic frequency and c is the spring constant of the hinge of the MEMS scanning mirror, a is the inertia moment, b is a damping factor, c is a spring constant and N is the driving force. Scanner size is closely related to the inertia moment a. Assuming that ωo is maintained regardless of increases in the mirror size, then the inertia moment a will be increased and the spring constant c should be increased by the same fractional ratio as the inertia moment a. This results in the decrease of the scanning angle when the driving force N and the damping factor b are fixed.
What is needed is to develop a method and apparatus, which can increase the scanning angle without the trade-off with the mirror size. This would be especially useful for large, high-resolution, rear or front projection TVs to enable a clearer picture and better manufacturability.

Apparatus for and method of scaling a scanning angle and image projection apparatus incorporating the same


A modular luminaire which uses LED light sources. The basic frame comprises two end pieces compressed together by through bolts. At least one elongated heat sink is compressed between the end pieces. Each heat sink may bear a plurality of LEDs mounted on a printed circuit board which may have an integral metallic backplate, and is installed on one of the heat sinks with a layer of heat conductive grease therebetween. The heat sinks have fins projecting in three directions, the fourth direction being accounted for by the LEDs, and are rotatable about their longitudinal axes to adjust direction of light propagation. The heat sinks are arrayed in an arc, so that the outside heat sinks shield observers from direct glare from opposed heat sinks. Heat sinks may be extruded to form cooling fins and slots which may receive fasteners such as screws.

Lights for illuminating large areas such as roads, parking lots, fields, and the like have long been provided. Lighting technology for such lights has progressed from incandescent to specialized high powered types such as sodium vapor and mercury vapor. However, it has become desirable to utilize more efficient light sources, as efficiency relates to units of light output per unit of electrical input.
Light emitting diodes (hereinafter LEDs) are among the most efficient types of light sources commercially available today. LEDs enjoy not only relatively high efficiency, but offer long life and relatively uncomplicated construction. LEDs have progressed to the point where white light producing LEDs could be employed in many applications.
Luminaires are typically produced in models each of which is designed to provide a predetermined amount of light, to have a specific predetermined construction or design, to project light in a predetermined pattern and in a predetermined quantity. Therefore, many different models must be made available so that the most suitable design may be selected for any given application. This leads to the situation that many different models must be designed, produced, and stocked, and replacement parts be made available for each model. While this situation offers great versatility in providing varieties of luminaires, such convenience comes at economic cost.
It would be desirable to offer different models having diverse outputs while minimizing the cost of luminaires of each model or capacity.
A need exists for mass producing high intensity flood lamps using white LEDs in many light output capacities, so that individual luminaires employing LEDs may compete with established high intensity luminaires.


A balance correction sheet corrects a whole pressure balance of a punching machine, in which a punching die and a cutting plate for receiving blade tips of the punching die are attached to be opposed to each other. A method of forming the balance correction sheets includes attaching a balance correction die having a plurality of punching blades disposed at a predetermined interval to the punching machine, intermediately inserting the blade tips of the punching blades into a middle of laminated sheets formed by laminating peelable sheets so that incisions are formed in a depth direction of the laminated sheets, and partially removing the laminated sheets depending on depths of the incisions so as to prepare the balance correction sheet.

Paper vessels, cardboards, etc. also referred to as packaging containers or paper boxes are formed by punching, bending, and mutually pasting the paper which is comprised of, for example, a plurality of paper types or complex materials of paper types and resins or metals other than paper, cardboards, and coating paper. The paper vessels are lightweight, are useful for transportation, and are widely used in many industrial fields such as food industries, electronic parts industries, and automobile related industries.
FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the relations between a punching die, paper, and a cutting plate in a known punching machine. A punching die 220 is used for punching of paper 100. The punching die 220 is manufactured by: subjecting a veneer board to laser processing along the outer shape, which is to form a paper vessel, and ruled lines for bending; forming penetrating grooves for punching blades 260 corresponding to the outer shape, which is to form the paper vessel, and penetrating grooves for ruled-line depressing members 250; and embedding the punching blades 260 and the ruled-line depressing members 250 in the respective penetrating grooves. The height dimensions of the ruled-line depressing members 250 are set to be smaller than those of the punching blades 260, and the downward projecting distances of the ruled-line depressing members 250 are the projecting distances smaller than those of the punching blades 260. When the paper 100 is to be punched by an outer-shape line as symbol 101 for forming the paper vessel and scores 102 are to be formed thereon, the scores 102 are formed, and the paper is cut at the same time while holding the paper 100 by rubber members 265 disposed on the punching die 220 so that the paper is not moved. A facing plate 270 is also referred to as a counter plate, is made of plastic such as ABS, PBT, PPS, or a Phenol resin, is comprised of a plate-like, a sheet-like, or a film-like substrate, and is manufactured by processing grooves 271 by cutting at the positions corresponding to the ruled-line depressing members 250 of the punching die 220 by an NC processing machine according to CAD data for manufacturing the punching die 220 and removing the substrate so that the parts which are to abut the punching blades 260 serve as outer peripheries.
In FIG. 30, the punching die 220 is attached to an upper surface plate 191 side of the punching machine. The facing plate 270 is pasted onto a cutting plate 240 and receives the paper 100. Then, the cutting plate 240 is attached to a lower surface plate 192 side of the punching machine, for example, by being mounted on an unshown chase like as frame and receives blade tips of the punching blades 260 disposed on the punching die 220. Then, the paper 100 is inserted between the blade tips of the punching die 220 attached to the upper surface plate 191 of the punching machine and the facing plate 270 on the cutting plate 240 attached to the lower surface plate 192 of the punching machine, and punching is carried out by moving up the lower surface plate 192 and then moving down the lower surface plate 192 (see FIG. 30). More specifically, the paper 100 is cut into a predetermined shape as the locations of the symbols 101 by the punching blades 260, the plurality of scores 102 are engraved on required parts by the ruled-line depressing members 250 and the groove parts 271 of the facing plate 270, thereby forming a blank of punched paper 100. Then, a paper vessel is assembled by valley-folding the blank of punched paper 100 along the scores 102 and mutually pasting bonding margins thereof. Other than that, in addition to the above description, there is a configuration of punching the paper 100, in which perforations which are to serve as a zipper are formed, and forming scores and perforations by incising blades provided on the punching die 220 although not shown in the drawing. FIG. 30 employs a disposition configuration in which the punching die 220 is in the upper side and the cutting plate 240 is in the lower side; however, there is also a case employing a disposition configuration in which the cutting plate 240 is in the upper side and the punching die 220 is in the lower side.
In the above described punching, one blank of punched paper 100 is sometimes formed by one operation. However, in order to enhance productivity, it is preferred to form a plurality of blanks of punched paper 100 at the same time. For example, FIG. 32 exemplifies a known punching die 220 in a state in which the blade tips of punching blades 260 are in the front side, and FIG. 33 exemplifies a known cutting plate 240 in a state in which facing plates 270 are in the front side. In the configuration examples shown in FIG. 32 and FIG. 33, four blanks of punched paper 100 are formed at the same time by one operation.
In order to evenly punch the above described blank, particularly, each of the above described plurality of blanks, the pressing force of the punching die has to be set so that the pressing force is evenly applied to the paper. However, problems in terms of maintenance, time-course changes, etc. are causes that generate unevenness in the pressing force of the punching die. Therefore, in order to evenly punch each of the above described blanks, various efforts for decreasing the pressing-force unevenness of the punching die have been made.
Conventionally, it is known that unevenness is generated in the pressing force due to variations in the lengths of a plurality of punching blades or ruled-line members disposed on a punching die, and a below method is known as a method of removing the unevenness in this case. FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the relations of unevenness removing paper, the punching die, the paper, and the cutting plate. FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing known unevenness removing paper from an oblique lower side. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 30, the cutting plate 240 is disposed on an upper surface 192a of the lower surface plate 192 of the punching machine, a backing metal plate 221 is disposed between the back side (the upper side in FIG. 30) of the punching die 220 and the upper surface plate 191 of the punching machine, and the unevenness removing paper 230 is disposed between the back side (the upper side in FIG. 30) of the backing metal plate 221 and a lower surface 191a of the upper surface plate 191 of the punching machine. The above described unevenness removing paper 230 increases the pressing force of the punching blades 260 and the ruled-line members 250 by locally pasting and laminating commercially-available adhesive tapes 239 on one sheet of thin paper 238 comprised of, for example, paper or resin on which the drawing shape of the punching die 220 is drawn and increasing the volume thereof, thereby removing the unevenness (see FIG. 31). Then, dummy paper is set and subjected to trial punching, or the actual paper 100 is subjected to trial punching; and an unevenness removing operation of the punching die is carried out by pasting the commercially-available adhesive tapes 239 onto corresponding parts while observing the appearance of the punched paper or dents formed on the unevenness removing paper 230 caused by collision with the punching blades 260 and the bottom surfaces of the ruled-line members 250.

Method for producing balance correction sheet for punching machine


An optical connection detecting device has in a front face thereof a light emission display portion for detecting an optical connection, and in both front and rear ends of a lower face thereof a switch lever for detecting the optical connection. In an optical adapter, ferrule leading end portions of optical connector plugs inserted from fitting portions in both ends are butt jointed, leading ends of the switch levers in both front and rear ends of the optical connection detecting device are faced to notch concave portions which are formed in upper wall sides of opening ends of both the fitting portions of the optical adapter. When the optical connector plug is fully inserted into the fitting portion of the optical adapter instead of being in a half-inserted state, the switch lever is pushed up and the light emission display portion is displayed with an on-state lighting color.

Conventionally, there have been a lot of connection detecting mechanisms of optical connector plugs which can securely prevent the optical connector plug from being erroneously disconnected from an optical adapter at the normal fitting time as well as previously avoiding a half-inserted state of the optical connector plug when being fitted to the optical adapter.
In particular, as shown in patent literature 1, there is publicly known an optical adapter for coupling an optical connector plug structured such that an adapter sleeve and an adapter latch are provided within an adapter main body, an optical connector plug having a ferrule is inserted into the adapter main body, and a head portion of the adapter latch gets over a head portion of the connector latch or the head portion and a plate-like portion of the connector latch and is engaged with the connector latch, thereby connecting the optical connector plug, being rotated around a connection element rotation supporting point and a rotary display portion rotation supporting point by a lifting motion of the head portion of the adapter latch, and rotationally amplifying an amount of lifting motion of the adapter latch. As a result, the rotary display portion is rotated by a connection element and the optical adapter displays on the rotary display surface a half-inserted state when the adapter latch runs on the connector latch or the plate-like portion with an operating amount of the rotational amplification.
Further, as shown in patent literature 2, there is publicly known an optical adapter for coupling an optical connector plug structured such that a head portion of an optical adapter latch of the optical adapter is lifted up by a head portion of an optical connector latch when the optical connector plug is inserted into the optical adapter, and comes into contact with each other in their head portion leading ends without the head portion of the optical adapter latch engaging with the head portion of the optical connector latch, and both the latches are at a half insertion state position which is different from a position where both the latch are engaged, thereby mechanically rotating and amplifying an amount of lifting motion of the adapter latch and displaying a position of the amplified amount of motion.
Further, as shown in patent literature 3, there is publicly known an adapter for detecting communication light for a duplex LC including a first light extraction hole in which a first optical transmission line is arranged among two optical transmission lines of which a part of communication light is taken out as leakage light when the duplex LC connector is fitted ad inserted, and which takes the leakage light out of a first space which is comparted by a first wall surface and is isolated from the other space, a second light extraction hole in which a second optical transmission line is arranged among the two optical transmission lines and which takes the leakage light out of a second space which is comparted by a second wall surface and is isolated from the other space, the first light extraction hole and the second light extraction hole being provided on an upper wall surface of an adapter main body which is opaque against the light, and a communication light detector having a first light receiving element which is fitted and attached to the first light extraction hole, and a second light receiving element which is fitted and attached to the second light extraction hole, wherein the first light extraction hole and the second light extraction hole are formed by the same through hole, a partition wall comparting between the first space and the second space is constructed by a light receiving substrate in which the first light receiving element is mounted on one surface thereof, and the second light receiving element is mounted on the other surface thereof.
Further, as shown in patent literature 4, there is publicly known a communication light detector attached via an attachment to a light extraction hole which is formed in an upper wall surface of a communication light visualization adapter, receiving through the light extraction hole the leakage light which a part of the communication light transmitted via the communication light visualization adapter is taken out of, and provided in an upper surface of a display portion with a pilot lamp for detecting whether or not the communication light is transmitted via the communication light visualization adapter.

Connection detecting mechanism of optical connector plug


A correction sampling signal generation circuit is disposed subsequent to a plural-stage sampling signal generation circuit for sequentially generating sampling signals in response to an input timing signal, an extended sampling circuit is disposed subsequent to a plural-stage sampling circuit for sampling a video signal at timing of the sampling signal, and a data signal is sampled at timing of the sampling signal generated by the extended sampling circuit. In a timing adjustment period, the data signal for adjustment is generated, the phases of the data signal and the timing signal are relatively shifted, the outputs of the sampling circuits are supplied to a common output line through respective switches, and the phase of the optimum timing signal or the video signal is determined based on the output from the common output line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device, a driving method thereof, a display panel, and a camera. In particular, the present invention relates to a sampling device which samples a video signal (image signal), a display device which includes the sampling device, and a camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generating sampling pulses in a time series and extracting a signal at each time from data signals are executed in many kinds of signal processing devices. Here, to sample the signal corresponding to a predetermined pixel from video signals in a display device of displaying images is included in such a process.
In a case where the video signals are processed inside the display device, the time difference between a sampling signal (that is, the signal which is used for sampling) and a sampling-object signal (that is, the signal for which sampling is performed) occurs due to a propagation delay of a circuit. Here, a variation (or dispersion) occurs in such a delay time due to a change in characteristics of circuits provided inside the display device, a change in an environment, and the like.
Incidentally, when sampling is executed, if the timing of a sampling pulse (signal) and the timing of the sampling-object signal do not satisfy a predetermined relation, it is impossible to execute accurate sampling.
For this reason, it is necessary to adjust the timing of the sampling signal so as to be able to execute accurate sampling. More specifically, it is necessary to adjust and generate a phase for a reference clock signal of the sampling pulse so that the sampling pulse has optimum timing for the sampling-object signal when it is transmitted to a sampling circuit.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-004191 discloses a method of sweeping a certain range of phases of sampling pulses as detecting sampling outputs, and setting the phase of the maximum output as an optimum phase. In this method, to make the phase optimum, it is necessary to provide a circuit that measures the outputs and acquiring the maximum value.
Incidentally, when the sampling result is converted into the output, if a variation of input/output conversion characteristics occurs among the respective sampling circuits, the output acquired from the sampling result does not correctly reproduce the original data signal even if the sampling is accurately executed.
In the display device, a display data generation circuit for sampling the video signals and outputting the acquired signals as display data is one kind of, so-called, sampling devices. However, if the signal to be transmitted to the display device includes a variation which is not included in the input video signal, the display quality at the display device remarkably deteriorates.
United States Patent Application Published No. 2004/0183752 discloses, as a method of detecting and correcting characteristic variations of respective sampling circuits, a method of commonly connecting current outputs of the respective sampling circuits to make them as one current output, measuring the acquired current output by an external current measuring circuit, and then correcting a data signal based on the measured current output.
Thus, in the display device, the method of commonly connecting the sampling circuit outputs to the current measuring device is frequently used to correct the variation of the sampling circuit. In that case, it is necessary to provide the circuit for correcting the variation in addition to the above-described timing correction circuit, whereby the whole circuit constitution of the sampling device becomes complicated.

Sampling device, display device using sampling device, and camera


An electrical switch contains three contactor carriers, each capable of containing a different pattern of contactors. The carriers slide on conductive strips to complete circuits to electrical devices. Two carriers are controlled by a linkage that moves one as the linkage is pushed or pulled and moves the other as the linkage is rotated. The third carrier is moved by thumbwheel and engages a resistance element that is connected to the strips, to vary the resistance through a pair of strips. A removable cover has walls that force the carriers towards the strips and limit the movement of some carriers. A bayonet lamp engages the strips to light the faceplate under the control of the third carrier.

In recent years, automobile lighting systems have become more and more complex as a variety of lighting options have been made available by manufacturers. For example, there are headlights that automatically dim and turn off, and more and more cars have fog lights. For light on/off switches, usually mounted somewhere in the automobile dashboard, are operated independently of the headlight switch in most vehicles. The headlight switch, on the other hand, may be mounted on the dashboard or, as is often the case in many cars, on an arm on the steering wheel column. Switches that control instrument dimming are commonly part of the headlight switch.
To deal with multiplicity of switch operations that may be required to control headlights, foglights and dimming, manufacturers often install a "universal" headlight switch. This is a switch that contains all the possible separate switches that may be needed. The separate switches may be "ganged" or arranged in banks. Some or all of the switches are used in a particular application depending on how many lighting options are used. A universal lighting switch can be an expensive way to accommodate different options. Some manufacturers, on the other hand, provide separate headlight switches and a "customized switch" for each particular combination of options. Different option combinations therefore calls for the installation of different headlight switches. Customized switches avoid the expense of the all option or universal switch, but there may be little or no net savings considering the inventory of customized switches that a manufacturer may have to carry.


A data storage device includes a data storage medium; a micro control unit (MCU) connected to a host through a first interface method and configured to control the data storage medium in response to a request of the host; and a buffer memory connected to the host through a second interface method, connected to the MCU, and controlled by the MCU and the host, respectively.

1. Technical Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a data storage device, and more particularly, to a data storage device sharing a buffer memory with a host.
2. Related Art
Recently, the computing environment has become ubiquitous in which computer systems are used anytime and anywhere. Accordingly, the use of portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, and notebook computers has rapidly increased. In general, such a portable electronic device includes a data storage device using memory devices. The data storage device is used as a main memory device or auxiliary memory device of the portable electronic device.
The data storage device using memory devices has no mechanical driver. Thus, the data storage device has excellent stability and durability, exhibits high information access speed, and has small power consumption. The data storage device having such advantages may include a universal serial bus (USB) memory device, a memory card having various interfaces, a solid state drive (SSD) and the like.
As more and more large files such as music files and video files are reproduced in portable electronic devices, the data storage device is required to have a large storage capacity. The data storage device often includes a plurality of memory devices to increase the storage capacity. In the data storage device with a plurality of memory devices, a high operating speed as well as a large storage capacity are important characteristics of the data storage device.
The data storage device may use a buffer program method to improve the operating speed. In order to use the buffer program method, the data storage device may include a buffer memory. The buffer memory is configured to buffer data transmitted between a host and data storage media (that is, memory devices). Furthermore, the buffer memory may temporarily store metadata required for driving the data storage device.

Data storage device including buffer memory


Repulping and/or decolorizing formulations and mixtures which include a catalytic amount of a salt of a metal such as copper, iron, silver, or nickel; a persulfate; and from 0-10% saccharide. Formulations containing a carbonate, sesquicarbonate or bicarbonate for adjusting pH are preferred. A method of repulping and/or decolorizing broke, whether containing wet strength resin or not, using the formulations or mixtures of the ingredients in the formulations.

Broke is waste or off-specification paper which is to be recycled. It is generally more desirable to recycle the broke by a process called repulping than it is to merely dispose of the broke as waste paper.
In the repulping process, the cellulose fibers which make up the broke are separated from the broke to make them usable for manufacturing paper. In the process, wet strength resin (such as a polyamide-epichlorhydrin resin) used to enhance the strength of the paper must be broken down since it binds the cellulose fibers together, forming a water impervious coating which impedes the repulping process goal of separating the cellulose fibers. Representative paper products containing wet strength resins are paper towels, tissues, and food wrappings. Typically, paper having wet strength resins will retain at least 15% of the paper's dry strength when wet. Paper without wet strength resin generally retains only 2-7% of its dry strength when wet.
Oxidation facilitates the break down of the wet strength resin to permit separation of the cellulose fibers. Traditionally, hypochlorite, particularly sodium hypochlorite, has been used by paper mills as the oxidizing agent, and has generally been used within a narrow, carefully maintained pH range and within a temperature range of from about 122.degree. F. (50.degree. C.) to 151.degree. F. (66.degree. C.). After broke has been successfully repulped, an agent is added to neutralize the remaining chlorine.
Environmental issues have been raised concerning the use of hypochlorite for repulping. These concerns range from the formation of suspected carcinogenic organic halides which are adsorbed by the pulp, to the problem of chloroform emission, and to the problem of adding toxic chlorinated hydrocarbons to the effluent stream. For these reasons, non-halogen containing compounds such as persulfates have been used to oxidize wet strength resin during the repulping process.
When recycling broke, sometimes the broke must be decolorized. This is achieved by decomposing the colorants used to color the broke. Colorants are chemicals that interact with light, causing the absorption of selective wavelengths in the visible spectrum (400 to 700 nm). Wave-lengths that are reflected (not absorbed) yield colors that are perceptible to the human eye. Colorants include both pigments and dyes and can be added during the paper making process to produce colored paper. Pigments are water insoluble compounds that are generally unbleachable. Dyes are water soluble, and are more commonly used than pigments to produce colored papers.
Dye molecules have two functional parts: the chromophore and the auxochrome. The chromophore is the portion that lends color to the dye. The auxochrome is the portion that anchors the dye to the cellulose fiber.
Chromophores are conjugated, that is, they contain a network of alternating single and double bonds. Light interacts with the conjugated network and is absorbed by electrons within the network. Wavelengths that are not absorbed by the network are reflected to produce the color in the fiber.
Conjugated networks vary in length, the length generally corresponding to a dye color. As the number of conjugated bonds in the network increases, the colors change from yellow to orange to red to violet to blue to brown to black and the networks become more susceptible to oxidation or free radical attack. Correspondingly, it can be difficult to decolorize yellow, orange, and red dyes due to their low degree of conjugation.
There are many different dye structures, but there are two main dye classes used by the paper industry: azo dyes and stilbene dyes. Stilbene dyes are less popular than azo dyes but are more stable to many oxidants, including chlorine.
An azo dye is a chemical compound containing at least one nitrogen-nitrogen double bond (azo functional group), which is subject to oxidative attack. A stilbene dye is an aromatic system containing a series of carbon--carbon double bonds which are more resistant to oxidative attack than are the nitrogen to nitrogen double bonds found in azo dyes.
To repulp and/or decolorize and effectively meet environmental requirements, it would be a breakthrough to find a suitable composition which would permit separation of the fiber without destruction of the cellulose, yet permit altering the chromphore to decolorize. Chlorine can repulp and/or decolorize but presents undesirable environmental problems. Persulfates can be used for repulping but are generally ineffective as decolorizing agents.

Method for repulping and/or decolorizing broke using persulfate/metal mixtures


Methods and articles of manufacture for treating patients with degenerative bone are provided. The methods are useful to improve bone quality in a localized area of a degenerative bone (e.g., osteopenic or osteoporotic bone), such as by improving BMD to be substantially similar to BMD in an average, healthy individual at the age of peak BMD. The methods can comprise forming a void in a localized area of the degenerative bone and filling the void with a bone regenerative material that causes generation of new, healthy, natural bone material. The articles of manufacture can comprise kits formed of various materials useful in the inventive methods for improving bone quality.

Bone mineral density (BMD) is a term that is commonly recognized as relating to the amount of calcified matter present per square centimeter of bone. It is understood that the term does not refer to a true density (as in mass per volume of material) but rather is used to communicate information about the strength of the bone and the susceptibility of the bone to fracture. Typically, BMD is evaluated using methods, such as Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (or DEXA scan), ultrasound, and Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT). Of the foregoing, DEXA scan often is considered to be the most reliable evaluation of BMD. For example, ultrasound is generally limited to evaluation of the calcaneus bone and is not useful for directly measuring sites common to osteoporotic fracture, such as the hip and spine. QCT typically is used with the spine and must be done following strict protocols in laboratories to provide acceptable reproducibility. Further test methods for evaluating BMD include single photon absorptiometry (SPA), dual photon absorptiometry (DPA), digital X-ray radiogammetry (DXR), and single energy X-ray absorptiometry (SEXA).
BMD is a highly important physical characteristic since it can be a direct indicator of susceptibility to fracture. In most adult populations, BMD peaks around the age of 30-35 and tends to slowly decline thereafter. The reduction in BMD arises from a decline in new bone cell production such that the resorption of existing bone cells by the body exceeds the rate of new bone cell production. FIG. 1 (which is available online at http://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/opbmd.html) illustrates the typical decline in BMD (shown in mg/cm2) for adults and shows how the decline can vary based upon both race and gender. Menopause in women is a highly significant event in relation to BMD as the decrease in BMD sharply accelerates for a period of time after menopause. Thus, post-menopausal women typically are encouraged to have BMD testing regularly to assess if treatment is required and what type of treatment should be pursued. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends BMD testing for the following individuals: all women aged 65 and older regardless of risk factors; younger postmenopausal women with one or more risk factors; postmenopausal women who present with fractures (to confirm the diagnosis and determine disease severity); estrogen deficient women at clinical risk for osteoporosis; individuals with vertebral abnormalities; individuals receiving, or planning to receive, long-term glucocorticoid (steroid) therapy; individuals with primary hyperparathyroidism; individuals being monitored to assess the response or efficacy of an approved osteoporosis drug therapy; and individuals with a history of eating disorders.
Reduced BMD commonly is recognized in relation to the conditions of osteopenia and osteoporosis, and the existence of these conditions is defined upon a patient's score from a BMD test, particularly the T-score from a DEXA scan. The T-score from a DEXA scan is a normalized value that indicates how a patient's BMD compares to the average of a young adult at peak BMD. The normalized value is expressed in standard deviations from the average. Thus, a T-score of 0 indicates no difference in BMD compared to the average young adult, a negative T-score indicates BMD below the average, and a positive T-score indicates BMD above the average. T-score is a normalized value because the average value varies depending upon race and gender. T-score also can vary from one bone to another in the same individual. Generally, a bone with a T-score of greater than −1 is considered to be within the normal range (although the negative score still indicates BMD below the normalized average). The condition of osteopenia typically is considered to exist for bone with a T-score of −1 to −2.5. The condition of osteoporosis typically is considered to exist for bone with a T-score of less than −2.5.
BMD can be correlated to bone strength and thus can be a predictor of risk for bone fracture. In general, the risk for bone fracture is expected to increase with every standard deviation below normal. In the elderly, bone fracture (particularly hip or vertebral fractures) can be correlated to increased mortality. Thus, improving BMD can be a goal of medical intervention in osteopenic and/or osteoporotic patients since BMD can be correlated to increased risk for fracture. While several interventions have been tried, there still remains a need in the art for treatments that can effectively increase BMD.
Treatment and prophylaxis of bone degeneration (i.e., loss of BMD) can take on many faces. Prevention typically starts in childhood with exercise and proper nutrition that includes sufficient calcium and vitamin D as both exercise and nutrition have been shown to be necessary for maximum BMD development. This is important because decrease in BMD with age has been shown to be slower when actual BMD at the peak age is greater.
When conditions of osteopenia and osteoporosis are present, many different therapies are available. Estrogen treatment of postmenopausal women may slow onset and/or progression of bone degeneration. Similarly, Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERM's), such as raloxefine, may be used to simulate increased estrogen in the body and thus slow bone loss. Calcitonin may be prescribed and is a material that is naturally produced by cells in the thyroid gland. Calcitonin acts directly on osteoclasts (via receptors on the cell surface for calcitonin) to modify the osteoclasts and thus stop bone resorption. Bisphosphonates, such as etidronate (DIDRONEL®), pamidronate (AREDIA®), alendronate (FOSAMAX®), risedronate (ACTONEL®), zoledronate (ZOMETA® or RECLAST®), and ibandronate (BONIVA®), can increase bone strength through increased mineralization density and decrease bone resorption. The bisphosphonates are all related to pyrophosphate, which is a byproduct of cellular metabolism and is a natural circulating inhibitor of mineralization in the blood and urine. Although pyrophosphates cannot enter bones (i.e., because the cell lining destroys pyrophosphate with alkaline phosphatase), bisphosphonates can enter the bone (and attach very strongly) due to chemical substitution in the compounds. Although such drugs may provide some level of usefulness, recent studies have suggested that long-term use of bisphosphonates can increase the risk of spontaneous subtrochanteric and femoral shaft fractures (i.e., atypical fractures). Denosumab (PROLIA®) is another pharmaceutical that was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for twice-a-year injections in osteoporotic patients with high fracture risk or patients that cannot tolerate other treatments. Denosumab is a fully human, monoclonal antibody that binds the RANK ligand and alters the body's natural bone remodeling process. Although long-term effects of the use of this antibody are not yet known, doctors have been warned to monitor patients for adverse reactions, such as osteonecrosis of the jaw, atypical fractures, and delayed fracture healing. Further, since the antibody alters the body's immune system, there has been evidence that use of the antibody can increase risk of serious infection in the patient. Yet another treatment, teriparatide (FORTEO®), is a recombinant parathyroid hormone (rPTH) that has the paradoxical effect of increasing bone mass by altering the pattern of exposure to the body's natural parathyroid hormone (PTH) and thus altering the skeletal effect of chronic PTH elevation, which can result in increased bone breakdown, a loss of calcium, and osteoporosis. Through activation of various bone metabolic pathways, the rPTH increases the number of active osteoblasts, decreases the naturally programmed death of osteoblast cells, and recruits bone-lining cells as osteoblasts. The drug appears to act largely upon the bone-building osteoblast cells and stimulating them to over activity. Safety studies in rats indicated a possibly increased risk of osteosarcoma associated with use of rPTH. Thus, there remains a need in the art for treatments that do not require long-term medication use with possible effects that, although unintended, may still be harmful.
Non-pharmaceutical treatments typically are used only after a fracture occurs. For example, fractures (particularly vertebral) may be treated by instant fixation wherein poly(methyl methacrylate) cement (typically referred to as "bone cement") or a similar non-resorbable material, is inserted into the fracture to permanently harden and "fix" the bone in place. Although such treatments can attend to the presenting fracture, the unnatural physical properties (i.e., hardness, modulus, etc.) of the bone after the treatment are believed to increase the possibility of fracture of adjacent bone, particularly where the adjacent bone is in an advanced state of osteoporosis. Moreover, such treatments do not result in formation of natural bone in the fracture but rather function as non-resorbable bone replacements.
Despite the presence of pharmaceutical and surgical treatments for bone degeneration and fracture, there remains a need in the art for further treatments that can increase BMD in key areas to reduce risk of fractures and concomitant health risks, including death. Particularly, it would be useful to have means for treatments that target specific areas of the skeleton at high fracture risk by actually forming new, healthy (i.e., normal) bone material. Such treatments would not be subject to the current limitations of the art.

Methods of treating degenerative bone conditions


A tool for removing paint saturated roller sleeves from roller frame assemblies includes a ring-shaped front nose piece secured to a skeletal frame which extends to a mechanism having a plunger assembly. The roller sleeve secured to the roller frame is placed in the skeletal frame, which is dimensioned to engage the outer diameter of the roller sleeve. The plunger is advanced toward the nose piece, pushing the roller frame out of the sleeve and releasing the roller frame from the sleeve, which is retained in the skeletal frame. The tool may include a caulking gun-type mechanism for incrementally advancing the plunger, so that a trigger lever may be used to actuate the plunger and remove the roller sleeve. The tool may also be used in conjunction with a cartridge for applying caulking, sealant, glue, and the like.

One of the most common means of applying paint is with a paint roller assembly. The roller assembly generally consists of two separate units; a software portion having a cardboard core with polyester or lambs wool attached known as the roller sleeve, and a hardware portion composed of various metal and plastic parts known as the framework assembly. The framework assembly features a handle attached to a long metal shaft which makes several bends before becoming the axle around which a skeletal cylindrical structure rotates. The complete paint roller assembly is put together when the roller sleeve, which is hollow inside, is pushed all the way onto the cylindrical rotating structure. The cylindrical structure consists usually of two plastic end caps at opposite ends held together by several metal rods spaced at regular intervals along the inside perimeters of these end caps. The rods are flexed slightly outwardly in order to supply the necessary friction to keep the roller sleeve from falling off.
This nearly universal system of having the sleeves separate from the framework assembly has evolved because it is usually easier to clean and dry the sleeves when they are separate from the framework, and changing colors and textures is expedited when one can simply take off the used sleeve and replace it with a new one. The main problem with this system is that while it is generally a rather simple matter to slide a dry clean roller sleeve onto a roller frame assembly, the reverse process of removing a slippery paint soaked sleeve from the same assembly can be, and often is, an extremely messy affair. If hands are used to get a grip on the wet sleeve, the hands get totally covered with paint. Plastic disposable gloves can be used to try to escape this difficulty, but these sometimes can fail in supplying sufficient gripping power and also have to be discarded immediately after use. So messy is this problem that it is not uncommon to simply leave the wet sleeves on the frameworks until they dry out, making it even more difficult to eventually try to remove the sleeves. It is probable that every year hundreds of thousands of roller frame assemblies are needlessly tossed into the garbage because their owners were either unable or unwilling to remove the dried-on sleeves.


A computer system and process with special application as a computer assisted new drug application in which a bar code reader is used to read command bar codes to manipulate user interface software and document retrieval bar codes to retrieve electronic documents.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system permitting access to and control of a graphic user interface and data stored in a database or multiple databases.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Computer users have increasingly embraced the use of various graphic user interfaces as the preferred method for computer control. A graphic user interface (hereafter referred to as a "GUI") permits the user to operate the many functions of the computer through a series of menus and manipulation of icons representing the desired function. The menus and icons are typically manipulated by movement of a cursor and activation, deactivation and movement of the menu selection or icon, which in turn causes operation of a desired software function. The graphic user interface is considered a substantial advance over prior computer command systems where extensive command terms had to be learned in order to effectively use the computer system. Despite these advances in improving the ease of use of a computer, there remains a substantial class of persons who are unwilling to devote the time needed to learn the effective use of computer systems. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling computer functions that requires fewer learned computer skills than even a conventional GUI.

Process and computer system for control of interface software and data files