In an image reading device, a reading unit scans first rectangle regions located within a maximum reading area equivalent to a maximum size of a document that can be scanned and acquires image data from the first rectangle regions. A transporting unit moves the reading unit to the first rectangle regions in a direction of movement opposite to a direction of movement in normal document reading. A document size judging unit detects whether a document exists in each first rectangle region based on the image data acquired by the reading unit and a predetermined threshold, so that a size of the document is judged. The reading unit is arranged to scan second rectangle regions located outside the maximum reading area, the second rectangles being different from the first rectangle regions, and acquire image data from the second rectangle regions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image reading device and an image forming device which detect a document size using a line sensor for reading a document, instead of reflected type sensors arranged in the positions corresponding to various sizes of standard-sized documents.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image reading device, such as an image scanner, has a function which detects automatically the size of a document laid on a transparent document base, such as a contact glass. The commonly used method of detecting document size is that reflected type sensors are arranged in the positions corresponding to various sizes of standard-sized documents, and the size of a document is determined based on a combination of output signals from the sensors.
In recent years, however, for the purpose of cost reduction, a new method is adopted, and the new method is that the size of a document is detected using a line sensor for reading the document, rather than using the reflected type sensors mentioned above.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2007-158965 discloses an image reading device in which only predetermined positions of a document placed on the contact glass are read, a black/white judgment for image data of a plurality of patches (rectangle regions) corresponding to the predetermined positions of the document is performed using the read image data of the document, and the size of the document is judged based on the results of the black/white judgment of the respective patches.
In the image reading device of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2007-158965, the document size judgment process is performed in this way. Because it is no longer necessary to scan the whole surface of the document in order for judging the document size, the time needed for judging the document size can be shortened.
However, the document size judgment as in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2007-158965 has a problem in that, if the pressure plate is already closed when reading the rectangle regions for document size detection, erroneous detection occurs. This is because the back surface of the pressure plate holding is optically read by the line sensor.
An approximate minimum time for the user to close the pressure plate can be predicted. However, there may be a case in which the user closes the pressure plate earlier than the predicted time. A conceivable method for preventing the problem is to shorten the time of reading of the rectangle regions for document size judgment. However, if the amount of data being read is decreased, the result of document size judgment is easily influenced by the surrounding lighting or others, which may be the factor of erroneous judgment. Thus, it is necessary to make the time of reading of the rectangle regions as long as possible and average the read image data, in order to reduce the influences of the surrounding lighting etc.
Usually, the reading of document detection is started in response to a signal output from the photo sensor which has detected an inclined state of the pressure plate in which a certain angle is made by the contact glass and the pressure plate. For this reason, it is necessary to complete the reading of the rectangle regions for document size judgment during a short period from the start timing until the pressure plate is completely closed.
However, the smaller the angle between the contact glass and the pressure plate, the larger the influence of the white sheet on the back of the pressure plate. Then, the possibility of erroneous detection becomes higher.
Moreover, the influence of the light source lamp of the image reading unit may be another problem of erroneous detection. For example, when the temperature of the environment where the image forming device is placed is low, the lighting up of the lamp may delay. Or there may be a case in which the lamp stops lighting up due to the deterioration or other factors. In such cases, erroneous detection of the document size may occur.
Accordingly, the document size judgment as in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2007-158965 has the problem in that the user cannot recognize erroneous detection of the document size which may occur when the pressure plate is closed too early or when the lamp is not switched on normally.

Original document size detection using a line sensor for reading the original document


A hand held cutter which is self guiding and includes a roller with a resilient workpiece contacting surface and is rotatably mounted adjacent each pair of cutting rolls on a cutting roll supporting body. When the cutting roll supporting body is pulled or pushed across a sheet to be cut, the rollers frictionally engages the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet and tend to guide the cutter in a straight line.

In one common type of tool used for cutting sheet material, a hand held cutter is used wherein a body supports a pair of opposed cutting rolls and is pulled through a sheet. One of the problems with such a cutter is that the user must be careful to move the cutter in a straight line.
Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide a hand held cutter which is self guiding; which can be manufactured at low cost; and which minimizes the problem with prior cutters.
In accordance with the invention, a roller with a resilient workpiece contacting surface is rotatably mounted adjacent each of the cutting rolls. When the cutting roll supporting body is pulled or pushed across a sheet to be cut, the rollers frictionally engages the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet and tend to guide the cutter in a straight line.


Large area chip functionality is tested at an intermediate level in the manufacturing process. A process sequence is implemented in which a layer of insulator material is deposited over the chip. This layer is then processed to selectively open areas over existing vias which are to be used for chip level testing. The other vias remain covered with insulator. A sacrificial metal level is then deposited on the insulator layer and patterned to create adequately large test pad areas connected to exposed vias. This metal layer and the insulator layer covering the other buried vias are removed after testing to re-establish the full via set. As an extension to this basic test process, test circuits can be formed around or beside the chip to be tested in the kerf areas separating the chip from other chips on the semiconductor wafer. Connections to the test circuits is with a sacrificial metal layer over an insulator layer. The sacrificial metal layer and insulator layer are removed after testing. The test circuits are scribed off in the process of separating the chips after back end of line processing is completed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method for testing large area integrated circuit chips and, more particularly, to utilizing a sacrificial metal level to create adequate size test pads and subsequently, after testing, removing the sacrificial metal level in a planarization step prior to the next metal level deposition.
2. Background Description
Manufacturing processes of large area integrated circuit (IC) chips tend to produce poor yields. This, in turn, increases the costs of the chips. It is therefore desirable to increase the yields of large area IC chips. Yields of large area IC chips could be improved by testing chip functionality prior to deposition of final metal levels. To achieve adequate test capability at such an intermediate level in the manufacturing process, sufficiently large pads must be available; however, such pads would normally interfere with subsequently deposited metal levels and vias.

International Business Machines Corporation


At least one embodiment of the invention relates to an energy storage device comprising a housing, at least one flywheel disposed in the housing, and at least one stabilizing element disposed in the housing configured to stabilize the flywheel. There can be at least one cooling element for cooling a region interior of the housing to a preset temperature. In at least one embodiment, the stabilizing element comprises a magnet. In at least one embodiment the stabilizing element can be orientated at a position offset from a horizontal axis. In at least one embodiment the stabilizing element is orientated at a position offset from a vertical axis In at least one embodiment the stabilizing element is orientated at a position between a horizontal axis and a vertical axis. In at least one embodiment, the stabilizing element comprises at least one magnet coupled to the flywheel orientated at a first angle and at least one magnet coupled to the housing orientated at an angle substantially parallel to said first angle of orientation of the magnet coupled to the flywheel.

At least one embodiment of the invention relates to an energy storage device comprising a plurality of magnets configured to stabilize an energy storage element such as a flywheel. The flywheel is suspended in a gaseous medium or vacuum via a non-physical contact or support such as via superconducting magnets.
High temperature superconducting magnetic bearings are used for the rapid rotation of flywheels. High temperature superconductors such as those with YBCO or Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide bearings have to be cooled but are stable without electronics control. Superconducting magnetic bearings can be self-regulated (by an electromagnetic field) without monitoring and electromagnetic regulation/attraction of the rotor. Control and specification of the properties of HTS magnets such as levitation pressure (load), restoring forces (stiffness) and damping are determined by the magnetic interaction design. See HTS Magnetic Bearings in Prototype Application F. N. Werfel, U. Floegel-Delor, T. Riedel, R. Rothfeld, D. Wippich, and B. Goebel are with the Adelwitz Technologiezentrum GmbH (ATZ), Adelwitz, Germany. Manuscript received 20 Oct. 2009. The general teachings of flywheels is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,060 to Takahashi et al, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.


A hard cover for spas, hot tubs and the like has an outer layer defining one or more cover portions that may be hinged together along a common top edge. Each cover portion internally includes a plurality of rigid panels, which may be made of expanded polystyrene or another rigid foam or the like. A support structure that mechanically couples and/or supports the panels is provided to improve the load-bearing capacity of the spa cover, optionally providing sufficient strength to conform to applicable safety standards. The support structure can include beams having various cross-sections, or combinations thereof, and may be provided in multiple segments that are shorter than the overall length of the cover. A vapor barrier film can be provided that encloses the panels and optionally some or all portions of the support structure to protect these components from degradation in the spa environment.

Spas, hot tubs and similar water tubs or pools (collectively referred to herein as "spas") have become popular over the past several decades for both recreational and health reasons. Spas are often provided with a removable cover or lid, which can be rigid/hard or soft (e.g., a tarp), and can prevent debris from entering the spa when not in use. Rigid spa covers can further provide safety features, for example, inhibiting access to the water and preventing young children from falling in while unattended. Spa covers can also provide insulation to retain heat between uses.
Thus, a hard spa cover typically has sufficient strength and rigidity to provide protection against hazards when the cover is in place. For example, a hard cover may have sufficient strength to handle the weight of moderate loads such as snow or small animals. Such hard spa covers can be relatively lightweight and preferably provides a high degree of thermal insulation as well as hazard protection.
For example, it is often desirable for spa covers to meet the ASTM F1346 performance specifications for safety covers. This standard specifies, inter alia, the minimum static load that a spa cover can support and the maximum edge deflection under such static load. The current version of this standard is ASTM F1346-91, and it is also used by UL (formerly Underwriters Laboratories) as its certification criteria for Manual Safety Covers under UL Product Category Code WBAH. The ASTM F1346-91 standard specifies, in part:                7.1 Static Load—In the case of a pool with a width or diameter greater than 8 ft (2.4 m) from the periphery, the cover shall be able to hold a weight of 485 lb (220.0 kg) (2 adults and 1 child) to permit a rescue operation.        7.1.1 In the case of a pool with a width or diameter not greater than 8 ft (2.4 m) the cover shall withstand the weight of 275 lb (125 kg) (weight of a child and an adult). Compliance shall be determined by the test method described in 9.1.        7.2 Perimeter Deflection—The cover shall be designed in such a way that, when it is tested by the test method described in 9.2, deflection of the cover does not allow the test object to pass between the cover and the side of the pool, or to gain access to the water.Such performance standards can provide a safer spa cover. Test methods to measure conformance of a particular spa cover to these and other standards are detailed in Section 9 of the ASTM F1346-91 standard. Thus, conformance of a spa cover with these ASTM standards can be determined directly per the specified procedure, with little or no experimentation.
A conventional two-panel insulating hard spa cover 100 is illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C. The top view shown in FIG. 1A includes two large sections 110 joined by a central flexible hinge 120. Each section 110 includes a "pocket" formed by a sturdy outer layer 130, which may be a heavy vinyl or similar material, as also shown in the cross-sectional side view of FIG. 1B. Each pocket contains a single continuous, rigid foam panel 140. The outer layer 130 on the underside of the spa cover 110 may be made of a different material than the upper side because it is not directly exposed to the outside environment when in use. The hinge 120 can be made of the same material as the outer layer 130, optionally with extra reinforcement, or it can be made of a different material. In some covers, the hinge 120 shown connecting two sides of a cover 100 in FIG. 1A, may be omitted entirely such that the two or more sections 110 simply butt up to and against each other. A flap of material, or "skirt" 150, can be provided around the perimeter of the spa cover 100. Often one or more keyed safety locks are provided to fasten the cover 100 to the sides of the spa for increased safety, and to prevent unwanted removal of the spa cover 100.
The panels 140 are typically made of a rigid foam, such as (EPS) or the like. Such materials can provide both structural rigidity and insulation for the spa. The thickness of the panels 140 is typically between about 2 inches and 6 inches thick, and may be tapered as shown in FIG. 1B. Such taper can promote drainage or runoff of water or debris when the spa cover 100 is placed on a spa, e.g., to better conform to Section 7.3 of the ASTM F1346-91 standard, which specifies surface drainage properties of a cover.
When placed on a spa, the edges of the spa cover 100 and internal panels 140 are supported only by the top rim at the outer perimeter of the spa. For example, in the spa cover 100 shown in FIG. 1A, each panel 140 is supported only on three sides when the cover 100 is placed on a spa. The fourth side of each panel 140, e.g., the side proximal to the hinge 120, is only supported at each end. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1C, a rigid support beam 160 is often provided along the edge of the panels 140 that are proximal to the hinge 120. This support beam 160 can have the cross-sectional shape of the letter C (referred to herein as a "C-beam"), and can be inserted into pre-cut slits 165 along the central edge of the panel 140. The support beam 160 can be made of a rigid material such as galvanized steel, and can provide additional structural support for the central region of the spa cover 100. Slight variations in the features of the spa cover 100 are also known, such as the use of an overlying flap made from the same material as the outer layer 130 to cover a gap between the pockets and panels 140, instead of an attaching hinge 120.
The water in a spa is typically treated with chemicals such as chlorine for sanitation and is usually heated for comfort. Such warm, chlorinated, wet environment can be corrosive or damaging to the foam panels 140 (which may become waterlogged) and the metal C-shaped support beam 160 (which may rust, corrode, or otherwise degrade). Accordingly, a vapor barrier (not shown) is often provided around the panels 140 and the support beams 160, inside the outer layer 130. Such vapor barrier can be made of a heavy plastic sheeting or the like, and can prevent or reduce exposure of the panels 140 and support beams 160 to the warm, wet, chlorinated environment.
Spas come in many shapes and sizes. A typical spa can be roughly square in shape, and about 7-8 feet across in each direction. The typical spa cover design with a flexible central hinge 120 will have a smaller overall size when folded as compared to a single rigid panel that covers the entire spa, and thus can facilitate shipping, removal and storage of the spa cover 100. However, a typical folded spa cover is still about 8 feet long by 4 feet wide, which is still quite large. The shipping costs for such large packages can be expensive and impact the economics of providing spa covers to customers.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,722 to Pesterfield, an inflatable spa cover is described that includes two sealed air-tight enclosures connected by a hinge, with flexible internal braces that form multiple chambers within each enclosure, and 2 rigid support beams inserted into a pocket provided along either side of the hinge. However, such air-filled covers, although compact when uninflated, must be inflated for use and must maintain air pressure over time (where pressure could be lost through a minor leak along any seam or in the cover material itself). Such inflatable covers are also at risk for catastrophic failure due to, e.g., puncture, slicing, or failure of a seam.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,031 to Watkins et al. ("Watkins") describes a rigid spa cover that is made up of two or three interlocking pieces, where each piece is formed of a molded plastic outer shell filled with foam material for insulation. Although each of the pieces in the 3-piece version may be smaller than each of the two sections 110 of the spa cover 100 (illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C) for the same size of spa, this 3-piece cover has several disadvantages over the more common type of spa cover 100. For example, when placed on a spa, one side of the spa cover 100 can be folded over the other side along the hinge 120, to provide access to the spa (which is often done for just one or two users) without requiring removal of the entire cover 100. Further, many spa owners use a cover "lifter" that includes a bar that passes under the hinge 120 and facilitates lifting and removal of the cover 100. Such assisted removal is not possible with the spa cover of Watkins, where each rigid section of the cover must be removed manually, and such sections may be too heavy to lift for some users. The vinyl cover material 130 in the spa cover 100 can remain flexible over a broad range of temperatures, whereas the molded plastic shell of the cover in Watkins is more likely to become brittle and possible crack when used in colder climates. Also, any exterior fading, scrapes, cuts, etc. on the spa cover 100 can be easily repaired with a patch or by replacement of just the outer vinyl material 130. In contrast, superficial damage to the molded cover of Watkins would require replacement of the entire damaged piece. Additionally, thermal insulation is an important feature of spa covers in addition to safety. The spa cover of Watkins requires the internal foam to be specifically shaped to match the contours of the outer shell, which is a labor-intensive process. Or, if foam pellets are used inside the shell as described, such pellets would provide inferior thermal insulation as compared to the solid foam panels 140 in FIGS. 1A-1C. Most importantly, spa covers must be made to precisely fit particular spa models to ensure a good fit, proper safety, adequate insulation properties, etc. There are thousands of spa and hot tub models on the market, with different shapes and sizes. However, the molded cover of Watkins must be designed to fit only a single model of spa or hot tub, and making a mold for the outer plastic shell is both costly and time-consuming. In contrast, spa covers 100 having the general structure illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C can be adapted to fit almost any size and shape of spa using the same basic materials (e.g., foam panels 140 and an outer layer 130), merely by altering the size and shape of both of these components. Such alteration is easy to do based on the measured spa dimensions, as it requires merely cutting the shapes of the foam panels 140 and vinyl outer layer 130 appropriately. Thus, the spa cover of Watkins would be prohibitively expensive for any first- or third-party manufacturer of spa covers who wants to provide spa covers for a variety of different spas and hot tubs.
Conventional rigid spa covers requires large boxes or cartons for packaging and shipping, and shipping costs for such large boxes can be expensive and impact the profitability of making and selling such covers. Also, such large boxes may not fit in a typical vehicle if transported by an individual. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a spa cover that can be easily manufactured for a range of different spa models, can be packaged and/or shipped in relatively small boxes as compared to conventional spa covers, but still be sufficiently rigid to perform effectively and optionally meet certain safety standards.


A carrier comprising core particles with a coating thereover comprised of at least one polymer, a conductive colorant, and a stabilizer compound.

The present invention is generally directed to electrostatographic carrier compositions and processes for stabilizing the triboelectric charge properties and the conductivity properties of the carrier compositions over extended periods of time and under highly variable humidity conditions. More specifically, the present invention is directed to carrier compositions comprising a core with a coating thereover comprised of at least one polymer, a conductive component such as a colorant or conductive pigment; and a stabilizer compound, wherein the triboelectric charge properties and the conductivity properties of the coated carrier particles remain constant over time and under variable humidity conditions, whether the carrier composition is in use as a developer or is in storage or transport.
The composition and processes of the present invention enable, for example, carrier and developer compositions exhibiting high resistance to environmental degradation and variation, for example, oxidation or humidity, and high stability of the carrier or developer compositions when eventually used after extended periods in storage or in transport.
The prior art discloses methods of preparing coated carriers and processes for controlling the tribocharging and conductivity properties of the partially coated conductive carrier cores with electropositive or electronegative polymers, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,550 to Creatura et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,629, to Mahabadi et al., discloses submicron polymer/carbon black composites particles prepared by suspension polymerization techniques and their use in preparing conductive magnetic brush carriers by powder coating processes. Also of interest are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,385,796, and 5,120,628, which disclose admixtures of a conductive component, such as copper iodide, and polymers for use in electrophotoreceptor devices.
Dry polymer coating processes for carrier particles are known in the art, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,590,000 (Mammino, et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,387 (Mammino, et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,326 (Creatura, et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,166 (Creatura, et al.), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,846 (Creatura, et al.).

Carrier composition and processes thereof


A technique of decoding erroneous biphase signals is disclosed comprising the following steps. First, phase and magnitude sample values (ps, bs) are formed, from which a first digital signal (d1) is derived. From this, associated bit combinations (St1, St2; Stp) are determined, and a decision is made as to whether the respective bit combination (St1, St2; Stp) is a valid combination (Sg1, Sg2; Sgp) or an erroneous one (Sf1, Sf2; Sfp). Probability values (Sw1, Sw2; Swp) are determined that decide which parts of the erroneous bit combination (Sf1, Sf2; Sfp) are probably true and/or which are probably false. Next, a corrected bit combination (Sk1, Sk2; Skp) is formed from the existing information. Finally, a second digital signal (d2) is generated as an output signal, whose data states are formed either from the valid bit combination (Sg1, Sg2; Sgp) or from the corrected bit combination (Sk1, Sk2; Skp).

This present invention relates to the field of signal decoding, and in particular to decoding of biphase signals by which digital information is transmitted.
The bits of the original digital information are encoded prior to transmission, and then transmitted as "symbols". A transmission technique using biphase signals is Binary Phase-Shift Keying (BPSK). To reduce the bandwidth requirement for the transmission of these digital signals, Nyquist filters are used at the transmitter and receiver ends for pulse regeneration and signal recovery. The steep pulse edges are replaced by slowly rising transition curves provided with overshoot, whereby undesired harmonics are largely suppressed. In the limiting case, rather than a pulse signal, a bell-shaped signal with overshoot whose zero crossings are defined by constant symbol intervals T is transmitted. The frequency requirement in such a transmission is about twice as high as the data rate to be transmitted. Nevertheless, a reliable distinction between "1" and "0" states is ensured at the sampling instants, because the individual symbols are shifted in time with respect to each other by integral multiples of T and because the zero crossings all coincide.
European Patent Application EP-A 0 912 010 discloses a typical receiver for digitally transmitted signals that incorporates such Nyquist filters. To distinguish between the logic states of the individual symbols, a sampling control loop is provided that optimizes the sampling instant for the individual symbols (timing recovery).
A property of digital signals may be that the digital states of the signal to be transmitted are not uniformly distributed. At the transmitter and receiver ends, this may have an effect like a superimposed dc level, which is undesirable in many cases. This can be remedied using suitable coding techniques. Each bit to be transmitted is transmitted by a balanced bit combination, with the original state value being encoded via the sequence of associated bits. Such coding techniques can also be used in an interleaved scheme, or be combined with other coding methods.
Biphase coding is used, for example, to transmit additional digital information in a radio broadcast signal. This additional information is known as a Radio Data System (RDS) signal. In many countries RDS transmits specific information to motorists within predetermined FM stereo broadcast channels. With the digital RDS signal, a 57-kHz subcarrier locked to a 19-kHz pilot signal is modulated by a double modulation. The biphase coding replaces a logic "0" by the combination "0, 1", and a logic "1" by the combination "1, 0". Each logic state of the original data sequence thus generates two successive bits, which are referred to as a bit combination or symbol pair. This type of biphase coding ensures that a symbol change occurs in each symbol pair, so that the data clock can be relatively easily recovered from the received data sequence.
At the receiver, the 57-kHz biphase signal is synchronously downconverted to baseband and band-limited by digital signal processing. As the biphase signal is basically a phase modulation of the 57-kHz carrier, it is also possible to use a complex vector analysis. Theoretically, this provides a rotating vector that comes to rest after the mixing at 57 kHz. A carrier/phase recovery circuit rotates the complex vector to the real axis, so that imaginary components are no longer present. A Cordic algorithm may then be used, for example, to determine phase and magnitude.
At the sampling instants on the symbol rate, the phase is ideally determined by two states, whereas the magnitude should be constant. In reality, these theoretical states are only approximated, and they are additionally falsified by interference signals. From the phase values obtained, the two logic states "0" or "1" are decided and a corresponding bit sequence is formed. From this bit sequence, two-bit groups are formed that must have a bit change in accordance with the coding at the transmitter end. The formation of the two-bit loops may be based on recognition that during the formation of the groups, the number of unallowable symbol pairs in the form of "0, 0" and "1, 1" groups becomes a minimum. In a last step, each two-bit group is assigned either a logic "0" or a logic "1", whereby the original data sequence is restored at the receiver. However, due to transmission errors, there are erroneous groups with "0, 0" and "1, 1" states.
Therefore, there is a need for a system and method of detecting and correcting transmission errors in biphase signals, so that satisfactory data transmission is ensured even in the presence of heavy interference.


The present invention relates to a fix point strip (20) to provide a provisional fix point position to a grip member (11) of a clamp rack load carrier foot (10), upon attachment to a vehicle (1). The fix point strip (20) comprises an attachment surface (25) for attaching to a surface of said vehicle (1) and a coupling surface (20) for interaction with said grip member (11) of said clamp rack load carrier foot (10). The coupling surface (30) comprises at least one pre determined position for said grip member (11). The present invention provides for a simple and cheap way of introducing a friction enhancing and means for preventing the grip member from being displaced in the event of e.g. a collision with another vehicle.

There are generally two different types of load carrier feet used in vehicle roof rack systems. One such type is a load carrier foot which uses a clamping force imparted between a support surface and a gripping member as primary attachment principle. This type of load carrier foot is also referred to as a clamp rack load carrier foot. Load carrier feet used for rails are also considered to be of the clamp rack load carrier foot type.
Another type of load carrier foot is attached on pre prepared positions on the vehicle, which generally do not need to be attached using a clamping force as primary attachment principle. This type of load carrier foot is also referred to as a fix point foot. Fix point foot use a predetermined position, a fixed point, on the vehicle prepared by the vehicle manufacturer during production of the vehicle. Such a fix point, or pre prepared position, can be a nut like member arranged on the chassis of the vehicle as illustrated in the publication of SE 508 709 C2 for example.
During attachment of a load carrier foot of the clamp rack foot type, which uses a clamping force as primary attachment principle to the roof of the vehicle, the load carrier foot rests on the roof and a grip member engages a ledge on the vehicle. The grip member is thereafter forced in a direction so as to impart a clamping force between the grip member and the support surface by means of attachment arrangements, such as a screw, which retains the load carrier foot on the roof of the vehicle. This type of load carrier foot is advantageous as it can be applied to many different types of vehicles and it requires little or no manipulation of the vehicle itself, in contrast to a fix point foot.
One such clamp rack load carrier foot is previously known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,985, which discloses a load carrier bar extending transversely over a roof of a vehicle and which is secured to the vehicle at each opposing side edge region thereof by means of a load carrier foot. The load carrier foot, has a support surface for abutment against the roof of the vehicle and a clamping portion for clamping against an edge portion of the roof. A rotary shaft arranged at the end region of the load carrier bar is rotated to impart a clamping force between the support portion and the clamping portion after assembly.
A clamp rack load carrier foot, as compared to the fix point load carrier foot, has the drawback of running the risk of being displaced after assembly to the vehicle, e.g. during a collision. It further has the drawback that it can deform or damage the vehicle and the surface to which it is coupled, if the clamping force is too high. There is thus a need for improvements within this area.


Disclosed is an antibacterial gypsum composition for dental surgery, which eliminates pathogens transferred from the mouth of a patient, so that a dentist or others participating in dental surgery can be prevented from being infected by such pathogens during the work for dental surgery. The antibacterial gypsum composition for dental surgery comprises α-plaster for a dental model and an organic nitrogen-based compound, polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate, as an antibacterial agent.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antibacterial gypsum composition for dental surgery. More particularly, the present invention relates to an antibacterial gypsum composition for dental surgery, which eliminates pathogens transferred from the mouth of a patient, so that a dentist or others participating in dental surgery can be prevented from being infected by such pathogens during work for dental surgery.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, calcined gypsum is hydraulic gypsum (which is curable upon the reaction with water), and thus is used as a material for making a model in various applications.
Particularly, calcined gypsum is essential to make a denture model for producing various dentures, including a total denture, a partial denture, a crown, a bridge, an inlay and an occlusion frame, mounted in the oral cavity.
In general, a denture model is obtained by the method comprising the steps of: forming a negative mold, also referred to as an impression, by using an impressing material; and pouring calcined gypsum slurry dissolved in water into the negative mold; and setting the model.
Conventional impressing materials include rubber (e.g. silicone rubber, polyether rubber and polysulfide rubber) and hydrocolloid (e.g. agar and alginate).
Materials used for a denture model are required to have a sufficient dimension precision, mechanical strength, soft surface-forming capability upon the contact with various impressing materials, easy handling property, stability with a lapse of time and processability. Also, such materials should not cause a significant foaming phenomenon.
To improve a dimension precision, JP-A 50-161492 (herein, JP-A refers to "Japanese unexamined laid-open patent application) discloses a method of inhibiting gypsum from expanding upon the setting by adding an anti-expanding agent such as a sulfate, tartrate or oxalate.
To obtain a gypsum model having a high strength, a high hardness and a soft surface, it is known that a metal sulfate and melamine-formaldehyde resin is added to a type calcined gypsum (see JP-A 62-270451).
Hydrocolloid impressing materials such as agar and alginate have a disadvantage in that a gypsum model molded from such hydrocolloid materials cannot represent a soft surface. However, a composite material formed of agar and alginate, which has been developed recently, provides the advantages of agar as well as the easy handling property and cost efficiency of alginate, and thus are widely used for clinical applications.
However, the aforementioned gypsum compositions have no antibacterial or sterilizing function. Thus, when a tooth model is formed in the oral cavity of a dental patient by using gypsum, various pathogens present in the oral cavity may be attached to the gypsum and transferred to the exterior. As a result, dental technicians fabricating gypsum models or dentists handling gypsum models may be infected with such pathogens.

Antibacterial gypsum composition for dental surgery


A method for monitoring according to a hint when allocating a storage volume. When a threshold value violation has occurred, judgement is performed from which use purpose the threshold value derives. The management computer for managing a computer system includes a unit for creating a storage volume according to a hint, a unit for deciding a threshold value for managing the storage volume according to the use purpose of the storage volume, a unit for acquiring a performance value from the storage apparatus, and a unit for comparing the acquired performance value to the threshold value and notifying a warning including a message based on the hint when a threshold value violation is detected.

The present invention relates to a computer system management program for managing a computer system including a computer and a storage apparatus, a recording medium, a computer system, a management apparatus and a storage apparatus thereof, and in particular to a technique for setting a monitoring unit of a computer system by utilizing a hint used in operation of allocating a storage area in a storage apparatus and upon notifying a warning in the monitoring unit, creating an additional message of warning according to the hint and notifying it together with the warning.
Among monitoring systems monitoring a computer system, there is one utilizing a threshold value. The monitoring system acquires from respective apparatuses constituting a computer system, a numerical value (mainly, a performance value) indicating the state of the apparatuses and compares the value with a predetermined threshold value. If the former exceeds (is greater than or smaller than) the threshold value, a warning is generated.
When using this kind of monitoring system, there is a problem that it is difficult to select an appropriate threshold value. To cope with this, JP-A-2002-215230 discloses a method for easily setting an optimal threshold value. This method is as follows. Firstly, a user (administrator of the computer system) specifies the target number of threshold value violations of the numerical value indicating the state of the apparatuses to be managed for the monitoring system. Next, the monitoring system automatically adjusts the threshold value so that the number of threshold value violations of the numerical value indicating the state of the apparatuses to be managed is identical to the specified target threshold value violation number.
Nowadays, together with monitoring of the computer system, a large-scale storage apparatus such as a disk array apparatus, especially a storage region provided by a large-scale storage apparatus has become an important item to be managed. As a main component of the computer system, a storage area network is now widely used. This storage area network uses a fibre channel (FC) for connecting the computer to the storage apparatus in a network type format, thereby flexibly connecting a computer to a storage apparatus. Thus, for example, it is possible to perform data backup without using LAN (local area network), thereby enabling a new application.
Moreover, as a network connecting a computer to a storage apparatus, some techniques using IP (Internet Protocol) network attract attention and are widely spread. Under such a condition, an enterprise organization SNIA (Storage Networking Industry Association) has been organized by enterprises concerning storage network.
SNIA is promoting spread of the storage network through the activity of formulation of the standard specification of the storage network and peripheral technique. For example, SNIA suggests a standard specification for operation of allocating a storage area in a computer in the computer system including the storage apparatus. This specification is applied to management software managing a computer system. Moreover, this specification is based on CIM (Common Information Model) defined by DMTF (Distributed Management Task Force).
In the operation of this standard storage area allocation, a parameter indicating the storage area feature is defined. When allocating a storage area, an administrator creates this parameter for the user purpose of the storage area and inputs it to the management software, thereby creating a desired storage area. This parameter is called "hint".
A portion associated with the hints is extracted below from the document defining the specification (Device 27_StorageServices. mof (lines 662 to 721) [online], Nov. 12, 2002, Distributed Management Task Force, [searched on Jan. 18, 2003], Internet
<URL:http://www.dmtf.org/standards/cim_schema_v27.php>.==================================================// StorageSettingWithHints//==================================================[Experimental, Version ("2.7.1"), Description ("This subclass of Storage Setting allows aclient to specify""'hint's for optimization of the volumeperformance. The effect""of these hints is implementationdependent.")]class CIM_StorageSettingWithHints: CIM_StorageSetting{[MinValue (0), MaxValue (10), Description ("This hint is an indication from a client ofthe importance""placed on data availability. Values are 0 =Don't Care to""10 = Very Important.")]uint 16 DataAvailabilityHint;[MinValue (0), MaxValue (10), Description ("This hint is an indication from a client ofthe randomness""of accesses. Values are 0 = EntirelySequential to""10 = Entirely Random.")]uint 16 AccessRandomnessHint;[MinValue (0), MaxValue (10), Description ("This hint is an indication from a client ofthe direction""of accesses. Values are 0 = Entirely Readto""10 = Entirely Write.")]uint 16 AccessDirectionHint;[Description ("This hint is an indication from a client ofthe optimal""access sizes. Several sizes can bespecified."),Units ("MegaBytes")]uint 16 AccessSizeHint #;[MinValue (0), MaxValue (10), Description ("This hint is an indication from a client howimportant""access latency is. Values are 0 = Don'tCare to""10 = Very important.")]uint 16 AccessLatencyHint;[MinValue (0), MaxValue (10), Description ("This hint is an indication from a client ofbandwidth""prioritization. Values are 0 = Don't Careto""10 = Very important.")]uint 16 AccessBandwidthWeight;[MinValue (0), MaxValue (10), Description ("This hint is an indication of the importancethe client""places on the cost of storage. Values are 0= Don't Care to""10 = Very important. A Storage Volumeprovider might choose""to place data on low cost or high costdrives based on""this parameter.")]uint 16 StorageCostHint;[MinValue (0), MaxValue (10), Description ("This hint is an indication of the importanceplaced on""storage efficiency by the client. Valuesare 0 = Don't Care""to 10 = Very important. A Storage Volumeprovider might choose""different RAID levels based on this hint.")]uint 16 StorageEfficiencyHint;};
The management software mounting CIM should handle the hints in mounting operation of the storage volume allocation.

Performance monitoring and notification in a threshold sensitive storage management system


In a method and an arrangement for establishing an encrypted connection between a mobile station and a base transceiver station in a mobile telephone system, the base transceiver station makes sure, before forwarding a cipher mode command message to the mobile station that the mobile station is in multiple-frame-mode.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7xc2xa7119 and/or 365 to 9800275-1 filed in Sweden on Jan. 30, 1998; the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The invention relates generally to encrypted connections and more specifically to a method and an arrangement for establishing an encrypted connection between a mobile station and a base station in a mobile telephone system.
During the establishment phase of a GSM call, the network operator may optionally choose to start encryption of the call by transmitting a cipher mode command (CMC) message [cp. GSM 04.08 Mobile Radio Interface Layer 3 Specification] to the mobile station (MS) to order it to encrypt the call.
If the CMC message is transmitted on the radio interface to the MS under bad radio conditions, the consequence may be that the call establishment attempt fails. Even worse, the radio channel may also be blocked for further use during some time.
Transmission of information frames (I-frames) on radio interface is handled within the Link Access Procedures on the Dm channel (LAPDm) protocol [cp. GSM 04.06 MS-BSS Interface Data Link Layer Specification]. When an I-frame is lost due to bad radio environment, the situation is solved by retransmitting the I-frame. This is a general method that is used for all I-frames with no respect to what message the I-frame contains.
Unlike all other messages sent to the MS, the CMC message is special in that it also controls a function in a base transceiver station (BTS), namely encryption.
The changing of cipher mode in the BTS is done in two steps. First, the cipher mode is changed in the uplink direction, i.e. the direction from the MS to the network.
When the uplink operates using the new cipher mode, the cipher mode is also changed in the downlink direction, i.e. the direction from the network to the MS.
The CMC message orders the MS to use the new cipher setting in both directions. At the same time as the CMC message is sent on the radio interface, the BTS starts deciphering the uplink according to the new cipher mode setting. When the BTS notices that the uplink is enciphered according to the new cipher mode setting, the BTS also starts enciphering the downlink.
A main-signalling-link, i.e. a signalling link within the LAPDm protocol that is used for controlling the MS, is established between the BTS and the MS by the MS by sending a set asynchronous balanced mode (SABM) frame to the BTS. The BTS acknowledges the reception of the SABM frame by sending an unnumbered acknowledge (UA) frame to the MS. When the MS receives the UA frame, it enters the multiple-frame-mode, i.e. the acknowledged operation mode of a LAPDm link where information exchange must be acknowledged by the receiver of the information. If the UA frame was not correctly received by the MS, the MS remains in idle-mode, i.e. the unacknowledged operation mode of a LAPDm link where information exchange need not to be acknowledged by the receiver of the information.
It is absolutely necessary that the MS is in multiple-frame-mode when the CMC message is received. Otherwise, it will be ignored by the MS.
When the BTS has sent the CMC message to the MS, the BTS sets the new cipher mode in uplink and assumes that the MS will use the new cipher mode setting in both directions. However, if the MS is in idle-mode, it will not accept the message and consequently not encrypt the uplink with the requested cipher mode.
Thus, a situation may arise where the BTS decrypts the uplink according to the new cipher mode setting, while the MS continues to use the old cipher mode setting or continues to be in unciphered mode. In this situation, the BTS will not be able to understand the messages that the MS sends uplink.
The BTS interprets the situation that the MS does not acknowledge the I-frame as it should, according to the LAPDm protocol. In this situation, the BTS will repeat the I-frame, which will be ignored by the MS, as it is in idle-mode. When the BTS has repeated the I-frame a predetermined number of times, an error report indicating LAPDm problem will be sent to a base station controller (BSC). The BSC action on this is to release the radio channel.
The MS will repeat the SABM frame. The SABM frame is not encrypted by the MS, but the BTS decrypts it according to the new cipher mode. The BTS will not understand the SABM frame, and consequently not respond to it. When the MS has repeated the SABM frame a predetermined number of times without receiving any response, it will stop trying to establish the link.
Today, there is no way of avoiding the problem of losing the call and blocking the radio channel due to mismatch between the cipher settings in the BTS and MS, respectively.
The object of the invention is to eliminate the problems described above.
This is attained in that the BTS makes sure, before sending a CMC message to an MS, that the MS considers the main-signalling-link to be in multiple-frame-mode.
Hereby, no calls will be lost and the radio channel will not be blocked for the reason mentioned above.

Method and arrangement for establishing an encrypted mobile connection


A system and method allows a light colored image of an object such as a check to be detected and captured on a light colored background for uploading to a server for processing. Detection involves detecting edges of objects on the image, drawing a rectangle around the detected edges, testing for an aspect ratio of the rectangle within an approved range, testing for the rectangle being outside of a margin of the image and being a certain percentage of the image, and testing for blur within a tolerable range.

Capturing an image of a light-colored object that is placed on a light colored background may not be possible using conventional techniques that include identifying the edges of the object. What is needed is a system and method that can capture an image of an object by a mobile device for uploading to a remote server over a network when the object and background are light colored.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for capturing by a device an image of a light colored object on a light colored background for uploading to a remote server


This invention relates to a sensing method and a sensing device for quantifying the concentration of an analyte by using the property that interaction between an analyte and a labeled compound changes fluorescence intensity. A fluorescence sensor is used to acquire fluorescence intensity at predetermined quantification time points. Then, the concentration of an analyte is quantified in accordance with a non-steady concentration quantification law including the relationship between the acquired fluorescence intensity and the time derivative quantity thereof.

Recently, there has been developed a sensing device for quantifying the concentration of analytes based on the intensity of fluorescence, which changes due to an interaction between the analytes and a labeled compound. One proposed application is a device for continuously quantifying the concentration of glucose with a sensor embedded in the body of an examinee (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,464). By using the device to acquire and analyze time-series data of the blood sugar levels of a diabetic patient, it is possible to appropriately establish a drug administration protocol for stabilizing the blood sugar level, and to offer guidance to the patient on how to improve his or her lifestyle habits.
A fluorescence signal that corresponds to a glucose concentration is obtained from a fluorochrome compound, which combines with glucose, for example, to emit fluorescence (see Japanese Patent No. 2883824). As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3296556, it has also been proposed to use, as a fluorescence signal, a change in the extent of a fluorescence resonance energy transfer, which occurs when a compound of fluorescein-labeled dextran and rhodamine-labeled concanavalin A, which does not cause a fluorescence signal change simply by combining with glucose, is dissociated by glucose, and to correlate the fluorescence signal with glucose concentration.
In the absence of an analyte concentration change, i.e., in a state of equilibrium, an analyte concentration [A(t)] and a fluorescence intensity F(t) are related to each other according to the following equation (1):−(α1[A(t)]+α2)F(t)+α3[A(t)]=0  (1)where α1 through α3 represent quantification coefficients attributed to a reaction rate constant, etc. In particular, α2 corresponds to a reaction rate constant in relation to dissociation between the labeled compound and a third compound. Equation (1) may be simplified in order to calculate [A(t)] according to the following equation (2):
                              [                      A                                      (              t              )                                ]                =                                            α              2                                                  F                                            (                t                )                                                                        α              3                        -                                          α                1                                                          F                                                  (                  t                  )                                                                                (        2        )
According to such a system, the analyte concentration [A(t)] may be quantified continuously by acquiring the fluorescence intensity F(t) at a predetermined quantification time t, and quantifying the acquired fluorescence intensity F(t) according to equation (2).


It is an object of the present invention that a resin composition which has high chemical resistance while retaining high fluidity, is excellent in impact resistance, heat resistance, stiffness and heat stability and comprises an aromatic polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate, a molded product thereof and a process of manufacturing a car exterior material.

Parts used in automobiles and OA equipment are becoming thinner and lighter rapidly. For example, attempts are being made in the automobile industry to manufacture large-sized parts typified by body panels such as a fender from resin compositions in order to reduce the weight of an automobile.
One of the resin compositions used in automobiles and OA equipment is a resin composition which comprises PC and PET (may be referred to as "PC/PET alloy" hereinafter). Since the PC/PET alloy has both the characteristic properties such as high impact resistance and stiffness of PC and the characteristic properties such as high chemical resistance of PET, it is a useful resin composition and various improvements on the composition are proposed.
For example, patent document 1 discloses a car side protector which is manufactured by injection molding a resin composition comprising PC, PET, an impact improving material and mica. The resin composition is obtained by making use of impact resistance and heat resistance which are the advantages of PC and improving the chemical resistance which is the weak point of PC with PET. However, the fluidity of the resin composition has room for improvement and a trouble may occur when a large-sized part is molded.
Patent document 2 proposes a resin composition which comprises PC and recycled PET. Although the resin composition has advantages such as impact resistance, stiffness and heat resistance derived from PC, the fluidity of the resin composition must be improved in order to mold a large-sized, thin and lightweight part. Since the resin composition comprises the recycled PET, it is unsatisfactory in terms of heat stability.
Like the above documents, various proposals have been made to improve the physical properties of a resin composition which essentially comprises PC and an aromatic polyester such as PET. For instance, patent document 3 discloses a resin composition which comprises PC, an aromatic polyester, a rubber-like elastic material and fine fibers surface treated with a silane-based compound to improve weld strength, stiffness and impact resistance. Patent document 4 discloses a resin composition which comprises PC, an aromatic polyester, wollastonite, an ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer and a copolymer wax of an α-olefin and maleic anhydride. The proposal of this document aims to improve the surface appearance, chemical resistance, impact resistance and stiffness of a molded product. Further, patent document 5 discloses a resin composition which comprises PC, an aromatic polyester and wollastonite having a specific shape. The proposal of this document aims to improve the impact resistance, recyclability and surface appearance of the resin composition. In addition, patent document 6 discloses a large-sized molded product obtained by injection compression molding a resin composition which comprises PC and an aromatic polyester. The proposal of this document aims to improve the dimensional stability and impact strength of the resin composition.
However, all of the above proposals aim to improve mechanical properties such as impact resistance and stiffness and thermal properties such as heat resistance, and the fluidity of a resin composition required to mold a large-sized thin part is not studied to the full.
As technology for improving the fluidity of a resin composition, patent document 7 discloses a resin composition which comprises a low-molecular weight polybutylene terephthalate, a high-molecular weight polyester and a specific phosphorus-containing compound. However, this technology cannot be applied to the PC/PET alloy which differs from the above resin composition in resin component. The resin composition has room for improvement in stiffness, impact resistance and heat resistance.
As a resin composition for car parts, patent document 8 discloses a resin composition which comprises PC, ABS and talc and has a specific linear thermal expansion coefficient, specific dart impact strength and a specific deflection temperature under load.
Although a large number of proposals have been made to improve the impact resistance, stiffness, heat resistance and heat stability of the PC/PET alloy as described above, a resin composition which has fluidity required for molding a large-sized part which must be thin and lightweight and chemical resistance required for molding a part which must have a stable coating appearance has not been proposed yet.
Meanwhile, sequential valve gating (to be referred to as "SVG method" hereinafter) for opening or closing a plurality of hot runner valves sequentially according to a program is suitable for the manufacture of large-sized molded products such as car parts (refer to non-patent document 1). Although SVG method may be used to mold a plurality of molded products having different shapes from a plurality of gates, when one molded product is molded from a plurality of gates, a high-quality large-sized resin molded product is obtained. In the latter case, after a molten resin from the previous gate passes, the gate is opened to fill a resin by carrying it on a flow of the molten resin. SVG method molding is generally called "cascade molding" in which the above operation is carried out stepwise by each gate to supply the molten resin. Since this cascade molding can suppress a weld line and increases the degree of freedom of the number of gates, it has an advantage that a large-sized molded product can be injection molded with relatively low clamping force. Therefore, a resin composition having excellent fluidity suitable for this molding method is desired.    (patent document 1) JP-A 4-224920    (patent document 2) JP-A 2003-128905    (patent document 3) JP-A 8-259789    (patent document 4) JP-A 9-012847    (patent document 5) JP-A 2002-265769    (patent document 6) JP-A 2003-171564    (patent document 7) JP-A 6-279664    (patent document 8) JP-A 2-294358    (non-patent document 1) Plastics Technology, December 2003, p. 38

Abstract: This invention provides the resin composition which comprises 50 to 100 wt % of a resin component and 0 to 50 wt % of an inorganic filler (component D), wherein                the resin component is composed of (i) an aromatic polycarbonate (component A) having a specific viscosity average molecular weight and (ii) polyethylene terephthalate (component B) having a specific intrinsic viscosity (IV), a specific terminal carboxyl group content and a specific ratio (Mw/Mn) of weight average molecular weight (Mw) to number average molecular weight (Mn), and (iii) the weight ratio {(A+D)/B} of the total of the components A and D to the component B is 60/40 to 85/15, and a molded product thereof and a process of manufacturing a car exterior material.


A water closet includes a toilet bowl, a toilet seat liftably and lowerably mounted on the toilet bowl, and an apparatus supported adjacent the toilet seat for the personal hygiene of the occupant of the water closet. The apparatus comprises a tank for storing water therein; and an air pump connected with the tank for introducing compressed air into the tank to place a volume thereof under pneumatic pressure. The air pump includes an actuating member for operating the air pump. The apparatus further has a spraying device connected to the tank and supported in a zone of the toilet seat for discharging, from the tank, water driven by the pneumatic pressure to clean the posterior of the occupant. A valve is connected between the tank and the spraying device. The valve has a closed position in which water is prevented from being discharged by the spraying device and an open position in which water is discharged from the spraying device.

The present invention relates to a closet seat for a water closet for the personal hygiene and to a device for cleaning the posterior on a water closet having a seat.
Water closets by which after flushing the toilet, the posterior, or respectively, the anal region of a person sitting on the closet are cleaned by means of a water jet and subsequently dried by means of warm air are known. First and foremost are known water closets with fixed installations where necessary systems for pump, water supply lines and warm air are integral component parts of toilet flush tank, closet seat and the closet bowl for the purpose of a compact type of construction.
Such closets are found above all in hospitals, sanatoria and homes for the aged, but less so, however, in private households. On the one hand these closets are expensive to purchase and on the other hand upon an eventual later change over, the whole closet installation has to be replaced directly because of the manner of construction, which requires extensive constructional measures.
For this reason, the demand for a simpler closet system such as this arose wherewith existing closets could be reequipped. Also concerning this, several systems are known. Thus DE-OS-31,34,693 specifies a douche arrangement as accessory apparatus having a water closet which is insertable in the toilet flush tank.
From DE-OS-28,09,622 is known among other things, a warming of the flushing water, nozzles capable of being swivelled under pressure as well as a warm air blower being provided.
On the other hand, EP-A-0,275,492 shows how, for example, the seat ring can be used as a water tank having several subdivisions for supplying spray water to a nozzle system.
DE-OS-21,62,154 also shows how a hygienic douche unit of the type here in question having a pump system separated from the existing installation can be installed.
DE-PS-35,46,176 specifies a transportable bidet having a flushing arrangement of the type here in question, the whole being thereby, moreover, battery-driven, so that independence of the electric mains is also attained.
All the afore-described closet systems can perfectly well be installed onto existing closets without new water supply lines or electric connections having to be installed. Nevertheless, however, in part very extensive modifications and/or installations on the water closet itself continue to be necessary which, for example, can hardly be carried out by a private person. Furthermore, the specified systems are to a great extent not usable if, for example, the toilet flush tank is concealed or, as is customary in old buildings, is arranged on the ceiling above the closet bowl.
Furthermore, from EP-A-0,051,982 is known how a hygienic douche is to be built up module-system-like. Although this system does not necessarily require the help of a sanitary plumber, However, on the one hand the construction is complicated and on the other hand not stable, that is, the nozzle arrangement can easily slip out of place on the edge of the closet bowl and thereby take an incorrect position.

Closet seat for a water closet as well as an apparatus for cleaning the posterior on a water closet having a seat


A working fluid circuit for an active suspension control system for an automotive vehicle comprises a pressure source unit which provides pressurized working fluid to actuators, associated with wheels respectively, which are operable to suppress attitude change of a vehicle body, pressure control valves associated with the actuators respectively, and check valves located in a by-pass from an output port to a supply port of the pressure control valve, the supply port communicating with the pressure source through a supply line to which the working fluid is supplied from the pressure source, the output port communicating with the actuator through an output line for outputting the working fluid adjusted at a preselected controlled level to the actuator. Each of the check valves is responsive to pressure of the working fluid in the output line which is greater than that in the supply line for feeding back the working fluid in the output line to the supply line for providing a part of pressure supplied to said pressure control valve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an active suspension control system for an automotive vehicle. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved working fluid circuit for an active suspension control system which is operable to provide control pressure effectively with reduced consumption of energy.
2. Description of the Background Art
Japanese Patent First Publication No. 62-295714 discloses an active suspension control system for an automotive vehicle. This system includes working cylinders each disposed between a vehicle body and a wheel, pressure control valves responsive to command signals to control working fluid pressure to be supplied to the working cylinders respectively, means for detecting or projecting a lateral acceleration acting on the vehicle body, and a controller responsive to a signal indicative of a lateral acceleration value to calculate command signals to the pressure control valves. The controller is operable to multiply the lateral acceleration value by control gains to provide the command signals which serve to suppress rolling motion of the vehicle.
In such a conventional system, working fluid at high pressure must be always supplied to a supply port of a pressure control valve such as an electromagnetic proportional pressure reducing valve for creating pressure in a working fluid cylinder against inertial force of rolling motion of a vehicle. Therefore, a great supply flow rate is necessary which is provided by a pressure source including a hydraulic pump and a reservoir tank for supplying high energy to the working fluid cylinders, resulting in great consumption energy. It will be noted that a vehicle incorporating a conventional active suspension control system consumes more fuel than a vehicle without an active suspension control system due to the additional energy consumed for anti-rolling motion control. Accordingly, an improved active suspension control system which conducts the same level of control as that of the conventional system, but with reduced energy consumption, has been sought.

Working fluid circuit for active suspension control system of vehicle


A probe for a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer having improved sensitivity and efficiency is described, comprising an impedance matched and tuned coaxial transmission network, multiple radio frequency input-output connections, and a single sample coil. Each individual radio frequency input-output connector and its associated capacitive impedance matching and tuning circuitry is remotely disposed from the magnetic field of the spectrometer. Additional radio frequency input-output connectors of lower frequencies may be modularly added and removed from the probe without altering the impedance settings of high frequency connectors already present.

The present invention relates to probes for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers and specifically to a capacitance tuned probe employing a single sample coil suitable for multiple radio frequency resonance experiments, wherein the tuning elements of the probe are remotely disposed from the magnetic field, connected to the sample coil by means of coaxial transmission lines.
In nuclear magnetic resonance machines, a high-intensity uniform magnetic field is generated within an extremely strong magnet. Inserted into the axial bore of the magnet is the sample to be analyzed, and the combination radio frequency transmitting and receiving sample coil. The sample coil is situated to generate an oscillating field with a component at right angles to the main magnetic field. The oscillating radio frequency field causes an oscillation in the alignment of the nuclear spins present in the sample undergoing analysis. The oscillation of the various chemical species within the magnet causes the emission of radio frequency signals, which are received by the sample coil and associated probe circuits.
For some NMR analyses, particularly those involving solid sample materials, it is often desired to irradiate the sample with radio frequency fields of multiple frequencies at relatively high power levels, for example, in the 300 to 1000 watt range. It is important that a good coupling be achieved at all of the frequencies used. The usefulness and efficiency of prior art probes for this application is limited due to the size and magnetic restrictions for probe components, and the limited number of frequencies (usually only two or three) at which the samples may be irradiated without the operator removing and adjusting the probe settings. Each such removal and adjustment operation extends the time required to complete the sample analysis, and increases the chances of calibration and operator error.
The efficiency of prior art probes is additionally limited by their design characteristics. Traditionally, the desired radio frequencies were impedance matched to a particular value using standard, well known inductor techniques. However, while employing inductors is well known to generate impedance minima, inductors are characterized by high radio frequency losses, lowering the overall probe efficiency. Similar radio frequency losses result from each of the numerous interconnecting leads required between prior art probe components.

Multi-tuned single coil transmission line probe for nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer


An applicator device is provided including a connecting unit. The connecting unit includes a first connector coupled to a first colpostat and a second connector coupled to a second colpostat. The first connector includes a first contact portion and a body portion, the first contact portion being immovably fixed to the body portion. The second connector includes a second contact portion and a third contact portion, the second contact portion being configured to contact and pivotally engage the first contact portion. The first connector further includes a fourth contact portion configured to contact the third contact portion. The second contact portion and the third contact portion are disposed between the first contact portion and the fourth contact portion, and the first contact portion are disposed in closer proximity to a point of delivery of a radiation source than the second, third, or fourth contact portions.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to an applicator device for use in delivering radiation therapy, and more particularly to a brachytherapy applicator device for use in supplying a radiation source to an internal tumor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Brachytherapy is a form of cancer treatment in which radiation sources are placed inside a patient's body to irradiate an internal tumor. Thus, in brachytherapy, a radioactive source may be placed in or around a tumor. Brachytherapy thus has the advantage of delivering high doses of ionizing radiation to small volumes of tissue, combined with a rapid fall off of dose such that distant tissue may be spared. It thus has provided excellent results for localized control of various cancers, including, for example, cancer of the vagina, cervix, or uterus.
Afterloading is a commonly used radiation delivery technique wherein a non-radioactive applicator may be first positioned in the treatment site and then the applicator may be loaded with a radiation source. Once the applicator is correctly positioned in the patient the applicator may be connected to an afterloader machine, which contains the radioactive source, and the radioactive source may be provided to the applicator through a series of connecting guide tubes. The radioactive source remains in place for a specified length of time and then may be drawn back through the tubes to the afterloader machine. The applicator may be then removed from the treatment site.
Careful placement of the applicator, and thus, placement of the radioactive source is important to allow for localized and precise irradiation of the tumor. Additionally, ease of placement and positioning of the applicator is significant to improve the comfort of the patient during brachytherapy treatment.

Brachytherapy applicator device and method of use thereof


A roll to roll, film forming system overcoming the shortcomings of current roll to roll processing is presented; The roll to roll enabled cartridge is loaded with a bolt of fresh flexible substrate. A skate couples with a cartridge, forms a seal with the cartridge's bottom aperture and drives the cartridge along a rail to an array of deposition heads. A head mates with the cartridge top forming a pressure seal around the variable area deposition aperture. The mating of the skate, cartridge and head form a pressure vessel wherein a film forming environment may be maintained. As the substrate advances past the deposition aperture a layer is formed, potentially from bolt end to bolt end. Device growth continues from one head to another, as grown device encapsulation seal inclusive, aperture environmental seals applied, labeled cartridge is routed to dock, skate returns to system start.

In seeking a way to manufacture (via roll to roll processing) highly efficient, very low cost organic photovoltaics, organic light emitting diode arrays, organic thin film transistor arrays, thin film transistor arrays, etc, the realization was made that the invention could manufacture virtually all flexible substrate based thin film electronics.

Variable environment, scale-able, roll to roll system and method for manufacturing thin film electronics on flexible substrates


Systems and methods to monitor pump cavitation are disclosed. An example method includes monitoring a pressure parameter and a vibration parameter associated with an asset in an operating process unit. The example method includes calculating a manipulated pressure value based on the pressure parameter. The example method includes calculating a manipulated vibration value based on the vibration parameter. The example method includes determining a state of cavitation associated with the asset based on at least one of the manipulated pressure value or the manipulated vibration value.

Operating process units and/or systems, like those used in the oil and gas production industry, refining, petrochemical and other manufacturing facilities, typically include significant equipment assets, such as pumps, heat exchangers, cooling towers, etc. The condition, health, integrity, and/or performance of such assets are essential to the efficiency and/or safety of processing plants.


A segmented sleeping bag is provided that can be used as a sleeping bag or can be transversely separated into constituent parts for alternative uses. In one alternative, one or more of the constituent parts may be used with a host sleeping bag to provide enhanced performance properties. In another alternative, one or more of the constituent parts of the segmented sleeping bag may be used as an article of clothing, such as a parka or cagoule.

Hunters and other outdoors oriented people often sleep in sleeping bags. Various types of sleeping bags may be used depending on the season. For example, in the summer, a relatively lightweight sleeping bag may be used that keeps an individual comfortable in warm weather, and because of its lightness, is easy to carry. In the fall and winter seasons, an individual may be required to hunt or camp with a heavier, more cumbersome sleeping bag, i.e. due to more insulation filling and bulk, in order to stay comfortable in colder climates. In addition, hunters and campers also travel with other camping gear such as a backpack containing extra clothing, cooking provisions, hunting gear, and a tent. Hunting and camping with a large amount of camping gear can make it difficult for a person to hike long distances, because the more weight the person carries, the more fatigued a person becomes in a shorter period of time. As a result, a person planning on hiking a long distance may decide to forego certain camping provisions in order to reduce the amount of weight they have to carry. This may be problematic for some, because the camping provisions left behind may be required in order to maintain a person's well-being and/or comfort.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide campers with the ability to travel with versatile camping gear that meets a person's seasonal comfort requirements for sleeping while controlling the amount of bulk and weight a person travels with.


A battery pack includes a housing (3) having a plurality of cooling opening (2a, 2b) formed therein, and at least one separation wall (5) formed of a plurality of current cells (4) arranged flow-tight adjacent to each other, with the at least one separation wall (5) being arranged between at least two cooling openings (2a, 2b) and projecting flow-tight into an interior at the housing (3) at the side of the openings, so that the separation wall (5) is cooled by an air stream flowing therearound.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery pack and, in particular, to a battery pack for electrical hand-held power tools.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A battery pack for electrical hand-held power tool contains a plurality of rechargeable current cells, e.g., Li-ionic current cells. During charging, in particular during rapid charging, the generated heat of the current cells should be removed to prevent a damaging overheating of the current cells. Usually, the battery housing has a plurality of aeration openings which provide for flow along the cells of a cooling air current that is generated by an associated charging apparatus.
European Publication EP-1 069 637 discloses a battery pack with cooling openings and a sealed block of arranged parallel to each other, current cells located between two plates. The plates are provided with pressure distributing openings, with flow paths running between separate openings. However, the cooling openings, which are provided on opposite sides of the battery pack, facilitate penetration of dirt and moisture into the battery pack, which reduces its service life.
German Publication DE-100 55 158 discloses a battery pack with cooling openings provided on one side of the pack. The battery pack includes two walls formed of current cells and internal air distribution means for uniform cooling. The cooling air distribution means includes two spaced from each other plates extending along the current cells. With this arrangement, three air streams are formed transverse to the cell axes, with two streams flowing along opposite sides of the wall, which is formed by the cells, in the same direction. The air streams that flow in the same direction transverse to the axial extent of the current cells course, because of heating of the streams, produce a non-uniform and, thereby, inefficient cooling which, in case of local heat accumulation, reduces the services life, despite the cooling.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack with a technologically simple efficient cooling.


An imaging-type near-field optical microscope mainly comprises a light source and a photodetector array. The array functions as imaging array where each cell or photodetector has subwavelength dimensions. A sample under test is disposed in optical near field of the photodetectors, e.g., on surface of the array. As a result of subwavelength dimensions and near-field effect, resolution can break the diffraction limit and even reach nanoscale. The microscope has a fast speed, works with soft sample and sample in solution, and is capable of dynamic observations. In addition, the array surface doubles as a platform for molecule manipulation.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to optical microscopy, and particularly to near-field optical microscopy.
2. Description of Prior Art
Optical microscope is a well-known and widely used instrument. Due to the diffraction limit, its maximum resolution which we are able to get is about 200 nanometers. To observe finer details, other microscopes had been developed, for example, electron microscope, scanning tunneling microscope (STM), and atomic force microscope (AFM), all with sub-nanometer resolution. Electron microscope, STM, and AFM however, can't substitute optical microscope for many applications, especially in biomedical fields because, they lack ability of chemical and molecular identification. Near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) utilizes optical near-field effect to break the diffraction limit. It can reach resolution of 50 to 100 nanometers, or nanoscale, which is usually defined as below 100 nanometers. NSOM, on other hand, has its own drawbacks, which include slow imaging speed, operation complexity, and difficulties with soft sample, sample in solution, and dynamic observation. The weakness of NSOM has hampered its usefulness and application ever since it was first made more than twenty years ago.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an optical microscope in many fields, in particular biomedical fields, which breaks the diffraction limit, has a fast imaging speed, is easy to operate, works well with soft sample and sample in solution, and is capable of dynamic observations.

Near-field optical apparatus and method using photodetector array


Provided is an image forming apparatus that can correct variation in printing agent residual quantity and can extend the period being able to support full color printing based on original image data. A printing agent residual quantity detecting part detects printing agent residual quantity. A color scheme selection tendency management part manages an amount of the printing agent. A remaining number calculation part computes printable number of sheets for each color. Adjustment request screen generating part generates, when variation of the printable number of sheets for each color is greater than or equals to a fixed quantity, a printing agent using amount adjustment requesting screen for accepting the conversion condition to correct the variation. An image processing part performs color balance conversion of the image data. A printing part prints the image data performed the color balance conversion.

The present disclosure is related with the image forming apparatus and image forming method that perform image formation by using printing agents for a plural color.
In recent years, an image forming apparatus that can prints with full color is popular by using toner (a kind of a printing agent) for a plural color. In such an image forming apparatus, it is common that remaining toner amount shows variation according to tendency of the color selection by a user. However, if toner of a specific color is run out, it becomes impossible to carry out the full color printing. Therefore, a typical apparatus is proposed. This apparatus compares the detected remaining toner amount and required toner amount for each color needed for printing the image data having instructed printing. When it is discriminated that printing is impossible, the image data having instructed printing is converted to a substitutive data that uses only an extant toner and is printed.

Image forming apparatus and image forming method that correct variation in residual quantity of printing agent


Disclosed herein is a hair treatment sink assembly and a method of collecting hair treatment materials during treatment operations. Further disclosed is a drip collection tray for collecting hair treatment materials during a hair treatment operation. The sink assembly is comprised of a basin with a drip tray installed beneath it to collect any hair treatment materials falling outside the basin. The method of collecting hair treatment materials during a hair treatment operation comprises the steps of resting a patron's head over a basin, applying hair treatment materials to the patron's head and catching the materials falling from the head in the basin and the materials falling outside the basin in a drip tray installed below the upper rim of the basin. The drip collection tray is comprised of a pan with surrounding side walls and a drain. The pan has portions that extend outside the envelope of the basin, when viewed in plan, on at least two side portions and the front portion of the basin. The method of modifying an already installed basin comprises the steps of locating the drip tray according to the present invention beneath the basin, providing support for said drip tray and joining the drain of the drip tray to the drain line of the basin. Supports for the drip tray are disclosed and comprise brackets that extend from and between the basin walls and the drip tray side walls.

Professional hair treatment centers such as beauty salons and barber shops conventionally use a basin conventionally called a shampoo bowl on which a patron rests their head and neck so that their hair may be treated. The usual basin or shampoo bowl will have a specially formed region in the form of a concave indentation that is supposed to fit the head or neck portion of a patron so that the patron may rest his head and neck thereon while being treated. This specially formed or indented region is supposed to co-operate with the patron's head and neck area so as to prevent hair treatment materials from falling outside the basin area during a hair treatment operation. The problem with such an arrangement is that the patron may move during the operation and thereby allow water or other hair treatment materials to spill over the rim of the basin and fall to the floor. Additionally, the specially formed region or indentation on the basin that is supposed to prevent such spillage, is usually designed to do so by indenting the special region in a concave fashion so as to provide a form fitting seal between the patron's head or neck area and the special indented region of the basin. The special shaping usually takes the form of a concave indentation rigidly contoured in the upper rim of the basin. The rigidly formed indentation cannot cope with the patron's movements and it does not take into account the fact that most people do not rest their head and necks in the same manner on the shaped region of the rim. Further, the rigid indentations do not take into account that everyone's head and neck areas are formed differently, so that one particular contoured shape that fits one person will not necessarily fit another. Because of this the spillage of hair treatment materials still occurs, and the floors of salons and other hair treatment places still continue to be flooded.
A still further problem with the arrangements of the prior art is the fact that the chairs that fit adjacent to the basins, allowing the patron to rest their head on the basin, leave a gap between the basin and the back of the chair, for spilled hair treatment materials to fall directly to the floor.
Others have addressed this problem, examples of these attempts are exhibited in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,501,829 granted to Rugh; 2,172,589 granted to Middleton; 2,163,755 granted to Labruzzo; 3,731,325 granted to Guarrasi; and 2,013,823 granted to Chancer.
Having spent 49 years in this business, I have come to believe that the problem has not been solved by attacking it in the manner represented by the above attempts.
Non-analogous situations are shown by U.S. Pat. Nos. 79,115 granted to Havanagh; 4,369,532 granted to Houchins et al; and a French patent 1.280.943 to Barry.


A multi-function peripheral mainly includes a casing, a scanning module and an inkjet printing module. The scanning module is located on the top side of the casing, including a scan platform and a dynamic scanning unit for capturing image data. The inkjet printing module is located below the scan platform and includes a dynamic printing unit for moving an ink cartridge to perform printing operations. The moving path of the ink cartridge is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the scan platform. When the ink cartridge is moved to a cartridge replacing position located on a distal end of the dynamic printing unit, it escapes from under the scan platform to facilitate cartridge replacement operations.

Miniaturization and function integration have become prevailing trends for information apparatus nowadays. This integration trend has also affected business machines used in the office environment such as printers, copiers, FAX machines, scanners, and the like. They are gradually being combined to become Multi-Function Peripherals (MFP) that provide multiple functions to perform the tasks of copying, printing, facsimile and scanning.
The structure and functional integration of the MFP not only aims at combining and rearranging the physical elements, under the requirement of miniaturization, to combine and simplify similar functions also becomes necessary. For instance, the control chips that once controlled single functional modules of copying, printing, facsimile and scanning are now being expanded to simultaneously cover the CPU module, printing control module, scanning control module, Facsimile compression and decompression module, image compression and decompression module, memory control module, and even the LCD panel control module. The advance of technology has significant impact on this functional integration.
On the rearrangement of physical structure, the present MFPs on the market, especially the models that combine flat-top scanning modules and inkjet printing modules, mostly have the scanning module located above the printing module. The scanning module occupies a rectangular space (larger than a sheet of A4 paper). It is partly overlapped with the paper exit chute located below the printing module (or paper feeding cartridge) to reduce the size of the whole device.
The overlapping arrangement mentioned above usually is accomplished by having the longitudinal axis of the scan platform substantially parallel with the moving path of the ink cartridge of the inkjet printing module to form a cross configuration. Namely, the longitudinal axis of the scan platform is substantially normal to the paper conveying path of the casing. The entire moving path of the inkjet printing module is covered by the scan platform. Practical examples can be found in the All-in-One series products of HP Co., including product models PSC 750, PSC 950, PSC 2110 and PSC 2210; MULTIPASS series products of CANON Co., including F20, F30, F60 and F80; models X73, X75, X83, X85 and X5150 of LEXMARK Co.; or model MF C950 of BROTHER Co. However, such a configuration layout creates problems for ink cartridge replacement in actual use, notably:                1. The interior space is wasted and the size of the complete device increases. Take model X83 of LEXMARK Co. for example. It has an upright paper feeding chute on the back side of the casing. The paper exit chute has an L-shaped paper conveying path. As there is no paper feeding cartridge below the paper exit chute, theoretically, the overall height of the device can be reduced. However, in fact this is not the case. This is caused by the design of the ink cartridge replacement function. The case lid at the front side has to be opened to allow a user's hand to access the interior of the device to remove the ink cartridge. As one's hand has to operate in a closed casing, a sufficient space should be allocated for such a purpose. Naturally, waste of space occurs.        2. Replacement of the ink cartridge is difficult. Take the same model X83 of LEXMARK Co. as an example. The user's vision is blocked by his or her hand during ink cartridge replacement operations. Thus operation accuracy suffers. This problem also occurs in other types of ink cartridge replacement designs such as with model PSC 950 of HP Co. It that model, the entire scan platform must be lifted toward the back side of the machine. As almost all of the elements of the entire scanning module are located on the scan platform, the platform is quite large and heavy. The lifting operation is thus inconvenient.

Multi-function peripheral with replaceable ink cartridge and associated systems and methods


A gas laser apparatus includes a receptacle for enclosing a laser gas, a laser oscillator that emits a laser beam, a pressure detecting unit that detects gas pressure inside the receptacle, an exhausting unit that discharges a gas from the receptacle, a feeding unit that supplies a laser gas into the receptacle, a pressure storing unit configured to store the pressure detected by the pressure detecting unit and retain stored information even when a power supply is shut off, a comparing unit that compares pressure inside the receptacle when the gas laser apparatus has stopped suddenly with pressure inside the receptacle when the gas laser apparatus is restarted thereafter, and a determining unit that determines whether or not a gas should be discharged from the receptacle and whether or not the laser gas should be supplied into the receptacle based on the result of the comparison.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gas laser apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
Output efficiency of a gas laser apparatus decreases in accordance with a decrease in the purity of a laser gas enclosed in a receptacle. Although a receptacle of a gas laser apparatus is designed so as to be sealed substantially hermetically, a surrounding atmospheric gas may enter the receptacle in some cases. Therefore, a laser gas is replaced by discharging a gas from the receptacle to the outside and by refilling the receptacle with a laser gas, in order to increase the purity of a laser gas.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 02-65187 discloses a laser gas replacing method in which a laser gas in a container is replaced periodically. According to this laser gas replacing method, the laser gas is exhausted from the container until the pressure inside the container reaches a predetermined pressure, and the exhausting process is terminated after the exhausting process is continued for a predetermined period of time.
Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 2561510 discloses a gas laser apparatus that includes a gas leak detecting device. The gas leak detecting device is configured to detect a gas leak during the time when the gas laser apparatus is stopped. Specifically, the gas leak detecting device disclosed in Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 2561510 stores the pressure of a laser gas prior to the power supply being turned off, and compares the pressure of a laser gas when the power supply is turned on again with the stored pressure of the laser gas. The gas leak detecting device then detects an occurrence of a gas leak on the basis of the result of the comparison.
With the laser gas replacing method disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 02-65187, however, the laser gas is replaced at a fixed cycle, and thus the laser gas is replaced even when the laser gas does not need to be replaced. Therefore, the amount of consumed laser gas increases, and the running cost of the gas laser apparatus increases. In addition, the gas laser apparatus needs to be put on standby until the replacement of a laser gas is completed, and thus the startup time of the gas laser apparatus tends to become longer. Furthermore, with the gas laser apparatus disclosed in Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 2561510, efficiency of the startup process of the gas laser apparatus is not taken into consideration.
Accordingly, there is a need for a gas laser apparatus in which a laser gas can be replaced as necessary, making it possible to reduce the startup time and to reduce the amount of consumed laser gas.

Gas laser apparatus carrying out improved startup process