Transmitted light from a transmitting original recording medium based on light from a first light source which emits light in at least the visible light range is introduced to a solid imaging element via an infrared cutout filter. Image information recorded on the transmitting original recording medium is read based on signals obtained from the solid imaging element. Transmitted light from a transmitting original recording medium, based on light from a second light source, which emits light only in the infrared range, is introduced to the solid imaging element without passing through the infrared cutout filter. Defect information of the recording medium itself is read based on signals obtained from the solid imaging element, so that the read defect information can be removed from the read image information. This enable the recorded image on the film to be read in a suitable manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, and particularly to an image reading apparatus in which light transmitted from a transmitting original recording medium is imaged on a solid imaging element in an imaging optical system, so as to read the information from the original.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there are color image scanners, color photocopiers, and the like, as image reading apparatus for converting image information from original documents and the like into electric signals and importing this into a computer.
FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a conventional image reading apparatus. This image reading apparatus is an apparatus with a 2-to-1 scanning optical system which irradiates light onto an original document recorded on a non-transparent sheet, and processes the light reflected from the sheet, i.e., reads a reflecting original. A 2-to-1 scanning optical system means an optical system in which part of the scanning optical system operates at xc2xd the scanning speed in the sub-scanning direction, as described later.
As shown in FIG. 23, a reflecting original 103 placed on an original table glass 100 is illuminated by direct light flux from a reflecting original illuminating lamp 101 and by reflected light flux from a reflecting shade 102, and the reflected light from the reflecting original 103 is sent to a CCD 107 via a mirror 104, roof mirror 105, and imaging lens 106, where multiple unit solid imaging elements arrayed in line fashion to form the CCD 107 convert the reflected light into electrical signals, thereby forming the image in the main scanning direction.
Also, regarding image forming in the sub-scanning direction, the reflecting original illuminating lamp 101, reflecting shade 102, and mirror 104 are mechanically moved in the sub-scanning direction at a predetermined scanning speed relative to the reflecting original 103, and further the roof mirror 105 follows in the same direction at xc2xd of the predetermined scanning speed, keeping the length of the optical path from the reflecting original 103 to the CCD 107 (i.e., the conjugated relation) constant, thereby forming a two-dimensional image as a total when combined with the main scanning.
Also, particularly for color reading, the 3-line color image reading method is generally known, wherein a lamp having white spectral properties is used for the reflecting original illuminating lamp 101, and a 3-line type CCD having filters for each of the colors of RGB is used for the CCD 107, so as to simultaneously read the image information for each of the colors of RGB with a single scan on an image processing circuit, and the signals for each of the colors of RGB on the same line are overlaid to form a color image. A light source switchover color image reading method uses three lamps having the spectral distribution of each of the colors of R, G, and B, and a 1-line CCD having sensitivity over the entire white area.
It is also possible to transmit original reading system for positives, negatives, and the like, by adding a simple configuration to such image reading apparatuses.
FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration in an image reading apparatus for reading transmitting originals. This image reading apparatus also is a 2-to-1 scanning optical system. Note that the configuration of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 24 is the same as the configuration of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 23, so the same components will be denoted with the same reference numerals.
As shown in FIG. 24, the transmitting original 108 such as a positive or a negative placed on the original table glass 100 is illuminated with a transmitting original illuminating lamp 110 via a scattering plate 109 provided above, and a main scanning direction image is formed in the same manner with the transmitted light from the transmitting original 108 with the same process as that of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 23, i.e., by converting into electrical signals at the CCD 107 via the mirror 104, roof mirror 105, and imaging lens 106. Also regarding the image forming in the sub-scanning direction here, the transmitting original illuminating lamp 110 and mirror 104 are mechanically moved in the sub-scanning direction relative to the transmitting original 108 while maintaining the same speed and same phase, and further in the same manner as with the reflecting original, the roof mirror 105 follows in the same direction at xc2xd of the scanning speed, keeping the length of the optical path from the transmitting original 108 to the CCD 107 (i.e., the conjugated relation) at a constant, thereby forming a two-dimensional image as a total when combined with the main scanning.
Also, image reading apparatuses with integrated optical systems which is a different method from the above-described 2-to-1 scanning optical system, are also known.
FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of a conventional integrated optical system image reading apparatus that reads reflecting originals. Note that the configuration of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 25 is basically the same as the configuration of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 23, so the same components will be denoted with the same reference numerals.
A reflecting original illuminating lamp 101, reflecting shade 102, mirrors 104a, 104b, 104c, imaging lens 106, and CCD 107 are positioned within an optical unit 111, and the optical unit 111 itself moves with respect to the reflecting original 103.
FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of a conventional integrated optical system image reading apparatus which reads transmitting originals. Note that the configuration of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 26 is basically the same as the configuration of the image reading apparatus shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, so the same components will be denoted with the same reference numerals. Further, the operation of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 26 is the same as the operation of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 25, so description thereof will be omitted.
The image reading by these integrated optical system image reading apparatuses is similar to a 2-to-1 scanning optical system, but with the transmitting original reading for example, as shown in FIG. 26, the transmitting original 108 such as a positive or a negative placed on the original table glass 100 is illuminated with a transmitting original illuminating lamp 110 via a scattering plate 109 provided above, and a main scanning direction image is formed by guiding the transmitted light from the transmitting original 108 to the integrated optical system. Also with respect to the image forming in the sub-scanning direction, the transmitting original illuminating lamp 110 and optical unit 111 are mechanically moved in the sub-scanning direction relative to the transmitting original 108 while maintaining the same speed and same phase, thereby forming a two-dimensional image as a total when combined with the main scanning.
Now, with the above 2-to-1 scanning optical system and integrated optical system transmitting original image reading apparatuses, two apparatuses are known for detecting foreign matter such as dust existing on the transmitting original or damage to the film surface such as scratches (this detection hereafter will be referred to as xe2x80x9cforeign matter/scratch detectionxe2x80x9d), and removing the effects of the foreign matter and scratches by image processing from the read image. The following is a description of the foreign matter/scratch detection functions.
FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a first foreign matter/scratch detecting apparatus. This apparatus is particular a 2-to-1 scanning optical system, and basically has the same configuration as the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 24. The same components will be denoted with the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
The characteristic configuration of the first foreign matter/scratch detecting apparatus is that the transmitting original illuminating lamp 110 has a light-emitting intensity 112 in a particular infrared range other than the visible light range, as shown in FIG. 28. FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating the spectral intensity distribution properties of the transmitting original illuminating lamp 110, with the maximum of the light-emitting intensity for the vertical axis being set at a value 1 and normalized.
Further, an infrared cutout filter 113 or a visible light cutout filter 114 is inserted in the optical path between the imaging lens 106 and the CCD 107 shown in FIG. 27. The infrared cutout filter 113 has spectral transmittance properties such as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 29, and the visible light cutout filter 114 has spectral transmittance properties such as indicated by the single-dot broken line in FIG. 29. FIG. 29 shows both the spectral transmittance of the infrared cutout filter 113 and the visible light cutout filter 114, and also illustrates the relative light emitting intensity (indicated by a solid line) of the transmitting original illuminating lamp 110.
In the reading mode for reflecting originals and transmitting originals, the infrared cutout filter 113 is inserted in the optical path so as to transmit light in the visible range, and the light-emitting intensity 112 of the transmitting original illuminating lamp 110 at a particular infrared range is cut out. Also, in the foreign matter/scratch detecting mode, the visible light cutout filter 114 is inserted in the optical path instead of the infrared cutout filter 113, the light-emitting intensity 112 is transmitted, and light in the visible range is cut out.
Next, the process for detection of foreign matter and scratches will be described.
First, in the reading mode for reflecting originals and transmitting originals, the infrared cutout filter 113 is inserted in the optical path and the original illuminating lamp 110 is turned on. At this time, the light-emitting intensity 112 of the transmitting original illuminating lamp 110 at a particular infrared range is cut out by the infrared cutout filter 113, so a suitable image without effects of infrared light can be obtained from the CCD 107.
Next, in the foreign matter/scratch detecting mode, the visible light cutout filter 114 is first inserted in the optical path and the transmitting original illuminating lamp 110 is turned on. At this time, the light in the visible range of the original illuminating lamp 110 is cut out by the visible light cutout filter 114, so only the light-emitting intensity 112 of the transmitting original illuminating lamp 110 at the particular infrared range reaches the CCD 107. Now, the transmitting original 108 such as a positive or negative film transmits infrared light regardless of the photosensitive image thereof, so only the image of objects such as foreign matter, dust, scratches, etc., which physically shield the optical path is imaged on the CCD 107 as an inverted image. This foreign matter/scratch detecting image and the image obtained by the above-described reading mode are subjected to image processing, the image of foreign matter and scratches is removed from the image obtained by the reading mode, thereby obtaining a suitable image.
FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a second foreign matter/scratch detecting apparatus. This apparatus is also a 2-to-1 scanning optical system, and basically has the same configuration as the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 24. The same components will be denoted with the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
The characteristic configuration of the second foreign matter/scratch detecting apparatus is that instead of the transmitting original illuminating lamp 110, an LED 115 which emits light of the colors R, G, and B is positioned in close proximity to a foreign matter/scratch detecting light source 117 having a light-emitting intensity in a particular infrared range other than the visible light range. The LED 115 is a light source which only emits light in the visible range, as shown in FIG. 31, and the foreign matter/scratch detecting light source 117 has light-emitting intensity in a particular infrared range 116 other than the visible light range, as shown in FIG. 31. FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating the light-emitting intensity properties of the LED 115 and the foreign matter/scratch detecting light source 117, with the R-light-emitting properties of the LED 115 represented with a broken line, the G-light-emitting properties with a single-dot broken line, the B-light-emitting properties with a solid line, and the properties of the foreign matter/scratch detecting light source 117 with a two-dot broken line.
The process for detection of foreign matter and scratches with the second foreign matter/scratch detecting apparatus will now be described.
In the reading mode for reflecting originals and transmitting originals, the main scanning image reading is performed in the state of the R, G, and B colors of the LED 115 lit, and the foreign matter/scratch detecting light source 117 off. On the other hand, in the foreign matter/scratch detecting mode, image reading of foreign matter, dust, scratches, etc., is performed in the same manner as with the first foreign matter/scratch detecting apparatus, with the R, G, and B colors of the LED 115 off and the foreign matter/scratch detecting light source 117 lit. Both images thus obtained are subjected to image processing, to obtain a suitable image while suppressing image deterioration due to foreign matter and scratches.
However, the above two conventional apparatuses have the following problems.
With the first foreign matter/scratch detecting apparatus, the inserting/extracting mechanism for the two filters makes the foreign matter/scratch detecting apparatus complex. That is, this apparatus is advantageous in that the transmitting original illuminating lamp 110 doubles as a visible light range illumination necessary for the image reading mode and the infrared range illumination necessary in the foreign matter/scratch detecting mode, so that the configuration around the lamp is the same configuration as conventional configurations, but this arrangement requires two filters 113 and 114 with differing spectral transmittance properties, and further a configuration is necessary wherein the infrared cutout filter 113 and visible light cutout filter 114 are selectively inserted to and extracted from the optical path according to the mode, thus making the configuration of the apparatus complex.
Also, with the first foreign matter/scratch detecting apparatus, in the event that a fluorescent lamp or xenon lamp is used as the lamp having light emitting intensity in the visible light range and infrared range, the light-emitting intensity in the infrared range thereof is extremely small when compared to the light-emitting intensity thereof in the visible light range, and also fluorescent lamps and xenon lamps have instability with respect to environmental temperature changes over time. Further, in the event of using a fluorescent lamp or xenon lamp, the light-emitting intensity in the infrared range which is small is further reduced by using a filter at the time of detecting foreign matter and scratches, meaning that noise on the image when the CCD is dark is not negligible, and deterioration in the process of removing the foreign matter/scratch image is unavoidable.
With the second foreign matter/scratch detecting apparatus, the visible light amount is insufficient. This arrangement is advantageous in comparison with the first foreign matter/scratch detecting apparatus in that filters are not needed, but the amount of light from the LED with the R, G, and B colors used as the light source for emitting light only in the visible light range is drastically smaller than that of fluorescent lamps or xenon lamps, meaning that the image reading speed with reduction optical systems using projecting lenses is extremely slow, and thus impractical.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus capable of suitably reading image information recorded on a transmitting original recording medium.
To this end, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an image reading apparatus, which images transmitted light from a transmitting original recording medium on a solid imaging element in an imaging optical system so as to read information from the original includes:
a first light source that emits light primarily in the visible light range and in a first infrared range.
A second light source emits light primarily in a second infrared range that does not include the first infrared range.
An infrared cutout unit disposed within the optical path, which does not transmit the light in the first infrared range but does transmit light in the second infrared range.
An image information reading unit guides transmitted light from the transmitting original recording medium based on light from the first light source to the solid imaging element via the infrared cutout unit. The image information reading unit reads image information recorded on the transmitting original recording medium based on signals obtained from the solid imaging element.
A defect information reading unit guides transmitted light from the transmitting original recording medium based on light from the second light source to the solid imaging element via the infrared cutout unit. The defect information reading unit reads defect information other than recorded image information existing on the transmitting original recording medium based on signals obtained from the solid imaging element.
A correcting unit is adapted to remove the defect information read by the defect information reading unit, from the image information read by the image information reading unit.
Also, according to another embodiment of the present invention, an image reading apparatus, which images transmitted light from a transmitting original recording medium on a solid imaging element in an imaging optical system so as to read information from the original includes:
a first light source which emits light at least in the visible light range and a second light source which emits light only in the infrared range.
An infrared cutout filter that does not transmit light in the infrared range and an image information reading unit that guides transmitted light from the transmitting original recording medium based on light from the first light source to the solid imaging element via the infrared cutout filter. The image reading unit reads image information recorded on the transmitting original recording medium based on signals obtained from the solid imaging element.
A defect information reading unit guides transmitted light from the transmitting original recording medium based on light from the second light source to the solid imaging element without using the infrared cutout filter, and reading defect information other than recorded image information existing on the transmitting original recording medium based on signals obtained from the solid imaging element.
A correcting unit removes the defect information read by the defect information reading unit, from the image information read by the image information reading unit.
According to such a configuration, image information on a transmitting original recording medium can be read suitably.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present embodiment will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.


A board work system including ark arrangement members, on which are arranged multiple marks that have a specified relative positional relationship, are arranged straddling first work area in which first work head moves and second work area in which second work head moves, and, when performing work with respect to a board, which is a single board held by a board holding device in a state straddling the first work area and the second work area, based on positions of the marks in first work area measured based on image data of first imaging device that is moved along with the first work head and positions of the marks in second work area measured based on image data of second imaging device that is moved along with the second work head.

In patent literature 1 below, two component mounters, or board work machines, are arranged side by side and are configured such that board conveyance devices provided in each of the two component mounters can together fixedly hold a single board, and component mounting heads provided in each of the component mounters can both mount components on that single board. In other words, patent literature 1 below discloses a board work system that performs work on a single board using two work heads.


A carbon dioxide consuming material and a method for manufacturing it from waste released in the building industry, including: a primary crushing step 5 for crushing concrete fragments 1 under a pressure; a secondary crushing step 7 for crushing or smashing primary-crushed concrete fragments 11 from the primary crushing step by utilizing a grinding motion in a highly dense and pressurized condition; and a screening and separating step 8 for mixture of products obtained by the secondary crushing step.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to reusing building industrial waste and, in particular, to a carbon dioxide absorber in the form of fine powder of mortar, which is made by crushing fragments of concrete, and to a method for manufacturing the carbon dioxide absorber from concrete fragments released as building industrial waste.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, concrete fragments, which are most part of building industrial waste, have been crushed into lumps in the order of 50 mm and are used as a roadbed material or a backfilling material. These ways of use, however, consume only a limited amount of waste, and unused waste, which is inevitably disposed as useless matter, causes a serious problem in terms of industrial waste disposal.
Concrete fragments include aggregate, such as ballast, crushed stone, and so on, and unreacted cement. The existing ways of reusing such waste have been directed only to the use as a roadbed material or a backfilling material, without paying attention to resources contained in concrete fragments, and no consideration has been taken on effective use of the resources.
Under these circumstances, the present Applicant filed a patent application for an invention entitled "Method for Reproducing Aggregate from Building Industrial Waste" in the Japanese Patent Office on Dec. 25, 1991, which proposes to obtain high-quality reproduced aggregate from building industrial waste.
The prior proposal certainly makes it possible to reproduce high-quality aggregate from concrete fragments released as building industrial waste. However, as to processing of mortar released as by-products in the form of fine grains, the prior application merely proposes to use it as a soil modifier by mixing it with reproduced minute aggregate obtained simultaneously and by using unreacted cement component.
It is noted that, along with industrial development and an increase in energy consumption, a progressively large amount of oxygen has been consumed and that carbon dioxide generated thereby continues to break the balance in the global environment and causes global warming.
Although generation of carbon dioxide has been treated as a serious issue, there are still only a few proposals on positive consumption or absorption of carbon dioxide, and the present status is far from solution of the issue.

Carbon dioxide absorber and method for manufacturing same from building industrial waste


The disclosure provides a network data configuration method and a network data configuration system. The network data configuration method includes the following steps: when receiving a configuration command that instructs configuring data for a network device, the network data configuration system enters a global configuration mode; when receiving in the global configuration mode a mode switch command that instructs switching to a first configuration mode, the network data configuration system switches directly from the global configuration mode to the first configuration mode, wherein the first configuration mode is any configuration mode under the global configuration mode; when receiving in the first configuration mode a mode switch command that instructs switching to a second configuration mode, the network data configuration system exits from the first configuration mode and switching directly to the second configuration mode, wherein the second configuration mode is the global configuration mode or any configuration mode under the global configuration mode. The application of the disclosure can effectively reduce mode switch operations in the process of network data configuration and improve the configuration efficiency of network data.

At present, network administrator generally configures data for a network device using a Command Line Interface (CLI) provided on the network device; the specific configuration method, as shown in FIG. 1, mainly includes the following steps:
Step 101: first entering a global configuration mode according to an input configuration command, wherein the global configuration mode can contain a plurality of configuration modes and each configuration mode further can contain a plurality of configuration modes, like a tree structure; the global configuration mode contains a plurality of subnodes and each subnode also can contain a plurality of subnodes, and so on. Each configuration mode corresponds to a specific module on the network device;
Step 102: if it is needed to configure data in a first configuration mode (a subnode of the global configuration mode), inputting a mode switch command in the global configuration mode, switching from the global configuration mode to the first configuration mode and configuring data in the first configuration mode;
Step 103: if it is further needed to configure data in a second configuration mode (a subnode of the first configuration mode), then inputting a mode switch command in the first configuration mode, exiting from the first configuration mode, switching to the second configuration mode and configuring data in the second configuration mode;
Step 104: if it is further needed to configure data in a third configuration mode (a subnode of the global configuration mode), then inputting an exit command in the second configuration mode, exiting from the second configuration mode and switching back to the first configuration mode;
Step 105: inputting an exit command in the first configuration mode, exiting from the first configuration mode and switching back to the global configuration mode;
Step 106: inputting a mode switch command in the global configuration mode, switching to the third configuration mode from the global configuration mode, and configuring data in the third configuration mode.
As shown in FIG. 2, a specific embodiment of the above network data configuration method is provided; supposing the content of data configuration needed to be completed is as follows: data configuration of a gei—1/1 (Gigabit Ethernet Interface) module, data configuration of a BGP4+ (Border Gateway Protocol) module, data configuration of an address-family module and data configuration of a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) module.
From Step 201 to Step 209, it can be seen that, after configuring data of one module, if it is expected to configure data of another mode, it is needed to return to the global configuration mode from the configuration mode corresponding to the current module level by level and then to switch to the configuration mode corresponding to a next module from the global configuration mode level by level; for example, when it is needed to switch to the VLAN configuration mode from the address-family configuration mode of a subnode of the BGP4+ configuration mode as shown in FIG. 2, it is needed to switch first to the BGP4+ configuration mode from the address-family configuration mode, and then to the global configuration mode from the BGP4+ configuration mode, and finally to the VLAN configuration mode from the global configuration mode; during this process, multiple mode switch operations are executed, thus, the configuration efficiency of network data would be impacted inevitably.

Network data configuration method and network data configuration system


The present disclosure discloses a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) port configuration information obtaining method, a DMRS port configuration information delivery method, and an apparatus, and relates to the field of communications technologies, to reduce signaling overheads. The DMRS port configuration information obtaining method may include: receiving, by user equipment (UE), indication information sent by a base station, where the indication information includes overview information of DMRS ports of all UEs scheduled by the base station; and obtaining, by the UE, DMRS port configuration information of all the UEs according to a preset rule and the indication information.

A DMRS is used to demodulate a spatially multiplexed data stream. Currently, DMRS port configuration information is usually obtained in the following manner: A base station sends downlink control information (DCI) to user equipment (UE). The DCI includes DMRS port configuration information of the UE, and specifically includes a DMRS port number and a scrambling code corresponding to the DMRS port number that are allocated by the base station to the UE. In addition, the base station indicates, to the UE, the DMRS port configuration information of only the UE rather than DMRS port configuration information of other UEs.
In a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) scenario, the base station can schedule a plurality of UEs each time. In a scheduling process, a data stream sent by the base station to scheduled UE is interfered by a data stream sent by the base station to another scheduled UE. An interference value of the interference may be obtained through an operation based on DMRS port configuration information of the UE and DMRS port configuration information of the other UE. If the DMRS port configuration information is obtained by using the method provided above, the UE cannot learn of the DMRS port configuration information of the another UE, and therefore cannot obtain the interference value.
To resolve the foregoing technical problem, an optional DMRS port configuration information obtaining method is as follows: The base station indicates the DMRS port configuration information of the other UE to the UE by indicating the DMRS port configuration information of the UE to the UE. For example, assuming that the base station schedules two UEs, namely, UE 1 and UE 2, this time, the base station sends DCI to the UE 1. The DCI includes DMRS port configuration information of the UE 1 and DMRS port configuration information of the UE 2. However, this method has the following problem: an amount of information included in the DCI increases as a quantity of UEs scheduled by the base station at a time increases, causing a problem of relatively large signaling overheads.

DMRS port configuration information obtaining method, DMRS port configuration information delivery method, and apparatus


The control circuit 11 causes display of messages received through the communication unit 1 in the display unit 14 in list form. A cursor for making selections from the messages displayed in list form has different patterns. The control circuit 11 associates the cursor patterns with message types. In another embodiment, the control circuit 11 groups received messages into new messages not yet reproduced by a user and old messages already reproduced, causes display of the number of the new messages in a predetermined area of the display unit when the new messages are stored in RAM 13, and display of the number of the old messages in said predetermined area when the new messages are not stored in RAM 13.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication terminal, especially a communication terminal whose display unit having a limited display area is effectively used to improve its handiness.
2. Background Art
The communication terminal of the present invention is typically a mobile communication terminal, especially a pager (pocket bell), a PHS (personal handy phone system) phone, a cellular phone and the like. Personal computers endowed with communication capability are also included therein.
Functions which communication terminals are provided with are increasing in number to meet various user demands. On the other hand, miniaturization of some communication terminals moves forward, and therefore, the display areas of their display units are becoming smaller. Consequently, the need of realizing more functions using a smaller display area is becoming stronger.
One of the functions which a communication terminal is provided with is storage and reproduction of messages. It enables sending a message from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal via a switching station, and reproducing the message at the receiving terminal. The message may be a message of character codes or a voice message. In the case of a text message, the switching station transmits the message to the receiving terminal, and the message is stored in a memory unit within the receiving terminal until it is reproduced or displayed by an addressee. In the case of a voice message, the voice data itself is stored in a voice mail center within the switching station, and information indicating existence of the voice message is transmitted from the station to the receiving terminal. The voice data is transmitted in response to an addressee's requirement, and reproduced (vocalized) at the receiving terminal. There is a communication system which can transmit identifying information together with a message, the information indicating whether the message is a preferential (urgent) one or not. The communication system based on U.S. Standard TIA/EIA/IS637 is one example thereof.
There is also a communication terminal which holds a message even after the message is reproduced until it is deleted by a specific deleting operation. In such a communication terminal provided with a message displaying facility, it is desirable to provide indications to distinguish a preferential message from ordinary messages at the time of displaying them in list form. However, it is impracticable when the display area is small. Further, although it is convenient to indicate not only the number of text messages not yet reproduced but also the number of text messages already reproduced, it is also impracticable when the display area is small.
Further, the full text of a message cannot be displayed if it is long, and it has to be scrolled, which causes inconvenience in reading the message. This problem can be serious when displaying E-mail of a long text from a personal computer and the like in the display unit of a communication terminal, such as a cellular phone.
Further, there is a communication terminal which, when there arises reception error or memory overflow while it is used for voice communication, indicates information immediately on its current screen to notify a user of that status if it is urgent and, if it is not urgent, indicates the information at the time of returning to the initial screen. In such a communication terminal, if the power is turned off before returning to the initial screen, the information is not indicated and, accordingly, the user cannot receive the information until the power is turned on next.
There is also a communication terminal in which, for setting the volume of a sound, such as a received sound, transmitting sound, key click sound and the like, a setting of illuminating time of the backlight, a setting of notifying procedure of an incoming call, and for lookup in a phone directory and so on, an operation which includes selecting one of options in each selection screen (a menu screen) to open the next menu screen, is repeated in order to make desired settings by selecting necessary functions. Since the number of options that can be displayed in the display area is limited, there is known a system that enables making a selection from options other than those currently displayed in the display area by operating a ten-key pad. In such a case allowing selection of options other than those currently displayed in the display area, when a return to the previous screen has been made the option selected is not displayed, which causes inconvenience.
Furthermore, in a communication terminal of a cellular phone type in which one of an external speaker and an external microphone, and an internal speaker and an internal microphone can be selected, it is preferable to indicate the status of the selection. However, it may be impossible if the display area is small.


Timer generates a first time code with a relatively high resolution. Second time code, given from a reproduction device in relation to video or music reproduced by the reproduction device, has a resolution lower than the first time code. By correcting the timer-generated first time code on the basis of the second time code, there can be generated a corrected first time code having a same over-time progression as the second time code but having a higher resolution than the second time code. Once an operator, such as a mixer, is operated at given reproduction timing of the video or music during recording, data indicative of the operation is stored in a memory along with the first time code corrected in accordance with the second time code. In reproduction, the memory is read in accordance with the first time code, corrected on the basis of the second time code.

The present invention relates generally to operation information recording/reproducing apparatus and methods suited for use in digital mixing consoles etc., as well as time code generating apparatus and methods pertaining to the operation information recording/reproducing apparatus and methods.
Generally, the digital mixing consoles known today include a user-operable operation panel having an electromotive fader unit, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) for processing audio signals, and a CPU for detecting operational states of the operation panel and establishing algorithms for the DSP on the basis of the detected operational states. Among the known digital mixing consoles is one having a so-called "automix" function. The automix function is intended to automatically set fader operation amounts, equalizing amounts, etc., in accordance with the passage of time, in synchronism with external equipment, such as a video tape recorder, digital tape recorder or MIDI sequencer.
Recording processing by the automix function is carried out as follows. First, a time code is supplied, along with information of video, audio and/or the like, from external equipment to the mixing console. As the user manipulates or operates the electromotive fader unit or the like, event data are sequentially recorded in a memory or the like. The event data to be recorded here include operation data indicative of the contents of the user's operation and "time stamps" corresponding to values of the time code at the time of the user operation.
These various event data will be generically called "automix data". In reproduction, a time code is supplied again, along with information of video, audio and/or the like, from the external equipment to the mixing console, as in the recording. In the mixing console, the corresponding event data, included in the auto mix data, are read out in accordance with a progression of the supplied time code, and the electromotive fader unit etc. are automatically driven in accordance with the operation data included in the event data.
Conventionally, any desired type of the time code supplied from the external equipment is variably selectable from several types, such as "30", "30drop", "25" and "24", classified according to the resolution per second. These values are predetermined in accordance with the frame frequencies in various image recording methods. The time code of resolution "30" is based on the frame frequency of "29.97" Hz in the NTSC system; namely, the frame frequency "29.97" Hz is rounded off to the integral value "30". The time code of resolution "30drop" is intended to cause a broadcasting time to coincide with that of the frame frequency "29.97" Hz, by periodically inserting a value of the "second" of resolution "29" in resolution "30". Further, the time code of resolution "25" represents the frame frequency of the PAL system, and the time code of resolution "24" represents the frame frequency of movie films.
However, in cases where event data are recorded with a time code of a given resolution, the conventional mixing console could not reproduce the recorded event data using a time code of a resolution different from the given resolution. Thus, if the recorded format of images is changed using, for example, a "telecine" converter, the automix data recorded before the change of the recorded format could not be used by the conventional mixing console.

Apparatus and method for recording/reproducing operation information in association with video or music


This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods including a depletion-mode switch configured to pass an audio signal from an input to an output in a low-impedance state when a power source is below a threshold and to isolate the input from the output in a high-impedance state when the power source is above the threshold and a noise-cancelation circuit configured to receive the audio signal from the input and to provide a modulated audio signal at the output when the power source is above the threshold.

In typical active noise-canceling systems including noise-canceling circuitry powered by a battery, when the battery has a low charge, the audio output can become distorted or absent. The existing art addresses this problem in several ways.
To avoid the distortion from the noise-canceling circuitry, a user can either provide more power, such as by removing and replacing or otherwise changing the battery or plugging the active noise-canceling system into another power supply. Other systems include a switch coupled to the noise-cancelation circuitry that the user can physically toggle to divert the audio path around the noise-canceling circuitry. One existing solution requires the user to disconnect the battery from the noise-canceling circuitry. However, each of these solutions requires physical interaction from a user and can interrupt audio output or other interaction between a headset and the user.
In another example, a wireless headset can include a digital signal processor configured to monitor battery conditions and ambient noise levels and to turn off part of or all noise-canceling circuitry in the wireless headset in response to low levels of detected ambient noise or in response to low battery conditions. However, this solution requires that a wireless headset include a digital signal processor for implementation, and, as such, when the battery level drops below a required threshold for operation of the digital signal processor, this solution fails, as the wireless headset can no longer communicates with any other electronic device.

Noise-canceling headphone depletion-mode switch


A resin composition contains an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) in which an ethylene unit content is from 10 to 60 mol %, a hindered amine-based compound (B) having a 2,2,6,6-tetraalkylpiperidine ring structure and having an alkoxy group bonded to a nitrogen atom in the structure, and a hindered phenol-based compound (C) having an ester bond or an amide bond. The resin composition contains 0.1 to 5 parts by mass of the hindered amine-based compound (B) and 0.2 to 5 parts by mass of the hindered phenol-based compound (C) with respect to 100 parts by mass of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A), and a mass ratio (C)/(B) is from 0.2 to 3.6.

In general, an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer is excellent in transparency, gas barrier properties, aroma retention, solvent resistance, and oil resistance. By making use of such characteristics, the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer is used as being molded into a film or a sheet for a food packaging material, a pharmaceutical packaging material, a heavy chemical packaging material, or an agricultural pesticide packaging material, or a container such as a bottle. On the other hand, by making use of barrier properties, thermal insulation, and resistance against contamination, the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer is often used also for such applications as an agricultural film, a hot water circulation pipe, and a fuel pipe. In such applications as an agricultural film, a hot water circulation pipe, and a fuel pipe, however, the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer is often exposed for a long period of time to ultraviolet rays (sunlight) or chemicals such as an agricultural pesticide, and lowering in physical properties (mechanical strength, gas barrier properties, and antifogging properties) of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer due to light and chemicals is a concern. In order to suppress such lowering in physical properties, an attempt to blend a hindered amine-based compound having a specific structure into a polyolefin resin composition or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer resin composition has been made. For example, PTL 1 describes blending a hindered amine-based compound having a specific structure into a polyolefin resin composition and PTL 2 describes blending a hindered amine-based compound having a specific structure into an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer resin composition.

Resin composition and applications thereof


A light-emitting device is provided having an anode, a cathode, and a light-emitting material contacting and separating the cathode and anode. Wherein the cathode includes a graphene and/or graphene oxide.

Technologies like printed electronics are opening the possibility for light-emitting devices that are light-weight, flexible, low-cost, and relatively efficient compared to, e.g. incandescent light bulbs, and that can be created on large surfaces. Organic light-emitting devices such as the polymer organic light-emitting diode (p-OLED) are slated to revolutionize the use of electronics, bringing it to currently inactive surfaces in applications such as architecture (walls, ceilings, etc.), and consumer packaging (for advertising, information display, etc.). p-OLEDs have the advantage over so-called small molecule OLEDs (sm-OLEDs) in that the polymer active material can usually be manufactured via printing and simple coating techniques, while the small molecule active material in sm-OLEDs require more expensive vacuum processing to manufacture.
OLEDs require two electrodes made of conducting materials to function. In p-OLEDs, the alignment of the work function of the cathode (the negative electrode) with the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the light-emitting and semiconducting polymer in the active material, and the alignment of the work function of the anode (the positive electrode) with the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the polymer, are critical for the attainment of efficient and balanced charge injection and efficient device operation. Materials that are suitable for the cathode in p-OLEDs in accordance with the above criteria are metals with low work functions (e.g. Ca), and which therefore are highly reactive. Moreover, such low-work function metals are not amenable to solution processing. The necessity for a low-work function metal as one of the electrode materials in p-OLEDs accordingly represents a serious problem from both a stability and fabrication perspective.
Furthermore, at least one of the two electrodes in OLED devices must be transparent; otherwise, the light generated within the active material will never emerge from the device. In OLEDs a transparent and conducting material termed indium tin-oxide (ITO) is commonly used as the anode, but as a material, ITO is not ideal. The surface of ITO is typically very uneven and problems stemming from the formation of hot spots and electrical short circuits during operation of OLEDs are well known in the field. Moreover, the amount of Indium in the world is limited, so the material is becoming increasingly expensive. Finally, devices comprising metals in general, including indium and tin, may be difficult to re-cycle and often require special handling during waste disposal, etc.
To summarize the situation with OLED devices, the current generation is not amenable to solution processing of all components (i.e. the cathode, active material and anode). The active material in sm-OLEDs is typically not amenable to solution processing, and functional p-OLEDs comprise a cathode, which is reactive and not suitable for solution processing. Moreover, typical employed metal-based electrode materials in OLED devices are often expensive, heavy, non-disposable, and in some cases even hazardous
In the latter context, we note that US20090017211A1 discloses how graphene/graphene oxide can be used to replace ITO as the anode material in an OLED, but that no actual functional device is demonstrated.
One way to overcome the drawbacks of OLEDs is to add an electrolyte to the active material to create a device called a light-emitting electrochemical cell, or a LEC. The unique operation of LEC devices is based on mobile ions that are intimately intermixed with the light-emitting (polymer or small molecule) organic semiconductor. These ions redistribute during device operation in order to allow for efficient and balanced electronic charge injection, which in turn eliminates the work function requirements on the electrodes.
Another advantage of LEC devices is that the thickness of the active layer (the inter-electrode gap), in some cases is not critical for the device to operate optimally, as it is in an OLED. This is because the mobile ions in the active material enable electrochemical doping of the organic semiconductor. One example of the thickness independence in LEC devices is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,546, wherein a planar surface cell configuration with a large micrometer-sized inter-electrode gap is disclosed. Moreover, Shin et al. (Applied Physics Letters, 89, 013509, 2006) have demonstrated that planar surface cell devices with an enormous mm-sized inter-electrode gap separating identical (high-work function and stabile) Au electrodes can be operated with efficient emission at a low applied voltage of 5 V.
LECs, however, have other challenges. For example, the mobile ions in LECs enable side-reactions, both electrochemical and chemical. This limits the choice of materials useable in the device, especially for the electrodes. For example, an article describing electrochemical side-reactions associated with using aluminum instead of gold electrodes in LECs were highlighted by Shin et al. (Electrochimica Acta, 52, pp. 6456-62, 2007). The electrochemical stability of the electrode materials is very important in LECs. As a result, no LEC (or OLED) has been demonstrated that solely comprises solution-processable components, i.e. the cathode, active material, and anode, based on metal-free, lightweight and carbon-based materials.
There is hence a need for such a light-emitting device which can be easily produced and which does not have the drawbacks of the prior art devices.

Light-emitting electrochemical device, a system comprising such a device and use of such a device


An apparatus generates sine waves of electromotive force (i.e. alternating current) from a battery. The battery includes a given number of cells connected in series. A stator and commutator is formed by a multiple of segments. Each of the segments is connected in sequence to a respective cell of the battery. The apparatus can be incorporated in a rotary switching device that further includes a rotor having at least one brush contacting the segments of the stator and commutator to carry a step waveform approximating a sine wave. The rotary switch can be included in various setups to provide a backup or alternate generator that provides alternating current.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to alternating-current power generators working from batteries.
2. Description of the Related Art
Auxiliary power systems based on batteries provide backup electrical current when normal power is interrupted or unavailable. In his article, Marshall Brain broadly describes, "How Emergency Power Systems Work," HowStuffWorks, Inc. 1998. As described, batteries are the power source in one of the main types of backup power supplies. Batteries are charged with and produce direct current. In contrast, most public electrical utilities provide alternating current due to limitations of direct current. In addition, most appliances utilize alternating current.
To make the power from batteries usable by household appliances, inverters are used to convert direct current to alternating current. However, inverters are relatively expensive because they require semiconductors such as Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs). Inverters utilizing semiconductors cannot be used with reactive loads because the reactive load will quickly burnout the semiconductor component. Furthermore, the semiconductors generally have a limited lifespan. The short lifespan, coupled with the expense, makes inverters impractical for extended use.
Like batteries, the power from alternators cannot be used to directly power household appliances. Alternators connected to an internal combustion engine produce pulsating direct current. Such direct current is suitable for charging a battery. However, pulsating direct current cannot be used to power appliances that are configured to run on alternating current.
Generators connected to internal combustion engines are not practical for producing alternating current for household appliances. Generators connected to internal combustion engines rely on fuel. In many applications where electrical utilities are unavailable, so is the fuel needed to power internal combustion engines. Furthermore, voltages output by the generator depend on the rpm of the motor. In addition, the efficiency of such generators is limited by the electromotive effect.
In U.S. Pat. No. 1,691,986 issued to Nyquist, an apparatus and a method for generating pure sine waves of electromotive force are disclosed. Nyquist teaches to connect a battery producing a single voltage to two "distributors", which are formed by a resistor system. The resistor system is formed by two potentiometer resistors, a respective one connected to each terminal of the battery. Then multiple taps, which are each resistors, connect at various points along the potentiometer resistor to a respective segment of a stator and commutator (i.e. "tributor ring"). A rotor can then be turned within the stator and commutator to produce an alternating sine wave. As shown in FIG. 2 of Nyquist, the resulting waveform has an uneven step-up; i.e. the height of each step near the baseline is shorter than a step near the apex of the wave. In addition, because the system utilizes resistors, the output voltage of the sine wave depends on the resistance of the load and the resistance of the circuit. As a result, the output voltage is variable.

Apparatus for generating sine waves of electromotive force, rotary switch using the apparatus, and generators using the rotary switch


A television receiver comprising an information extracting circuit for extracting information from a format or content of an input video signal, a video signal processing circuit for processing this video signal by a program or data, a memory for storing the program and data, a CPU for controlling, operating or driving these elements, and a display device for displaying an image. The video signal processing circuit can, under the control of the CPU, decode the signal, correct or set the picture quality such as gradation and sharpness, or adaptively process an on-screen display based on the input video signal. The television receiver is also able to adaptively extend the functions of the television receiver corresponding to various signal formats.

The present invention relates to a television receiver for controlling programmable signal processing adaptively corresponding to various signal formats by using a CPU.
In a conventional NTSC system television receiver, various picture quality corrections and setting are done, such as sharpness and gradation of luminance signal (Y) and color saturation of chroma signal (C) separated from NTSC composite signal by Y/C separation circuit, or functions for changeover of video input and on-screen display are provided for the request or convenience of the user.
However, the specifications of the television receiver requested by the users are becoming more and more sophisticated in the recent trend of multimedia, and numerous models must be developed to cope with these requests adequately. It is a subject for television receiver manufacturers to develop many models of television receivers differing in part of processing functions while maintaining common processing functions depending on the requests.
If a specification change or additional function occurs in a television receiver, it is hard to change the circuit composition according to the specification change of the receiver because the circuit composition of television receiver is realized by optimization. On the other hand, if more functions than necessary are incorporated in the television receiver, functions not needed by the user are built in the receiver, and the price of the receiver becomes higher.
Or when extending the functions of the television receiver, since the additional functions are diverse, the interface types of the additional function units and the internal circuit of the television receiver are also diverse, and plural interface circuits may be accommodated.
Still more, when the user of the television receiver connecting such units for extending the additional functions further desires functional changes of the additional function extension units by change of condition of use or the like, change or modification of the additional function extension units is required again, and it causes much labor and cost. At the same time, the content of the memory incorporated in the receiver must be changed.

Television receiver that provides gradation correction using a CPU

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A magnetic field sensor for the measurement of at least one component of a magnetic field comprises a ferromagnetic core that serves as a magnetic field concentrator, an excitation coil and a read-out sensor. The read-out sensor preferably comprises two sensors arranged in the vicinity of the outer edge of the ferromagnetic core and measures the at least one component of the magnetic field. The ferromagnetic core is ring-shaped or disc-shaped. On operation of the magnetic field sensor, a current is temporarily applied to the excitation coil in order to bring the ferromagnetic core into a state of predetermined magnetization in which the magnetization of the ferromagnetic core produces no signal in the read-out sensor.

A magnetic field sensor for measuring magnetic fields is known from EP 1 182 461. The magnetic field sensor is suitable for determining the direction of a two-dimensional magnetic field. The magnetic field sensor comprises a magnetic field concentrator with a flat shape and two sensors that comprise at least one Hall element, whereby the Hall elements are arranged in the area of the edge of the magnetic field concentrator. The first sensor measures a first component of the magnetic field and the second sensor measures a second component of the magnetic field. The direction of the magnetic field can therefore be determined from the signals of the two sensors.
A further magnetic field sensor for determining the direction of a magnetic field is known from EP 1 052 519. The magnetic field sensor comprises a ferromagnetic core in the form of a cross, an excitation coil for periodically saturating the ferromagnetic core, and read-out coils. The magnetic field sensor is operated as a flux gate sensor. The disadvantage with such a sensor is that a relatively high current is necessary for the magnetic saturation of the ferromagnetic core. Such a magnetic field sensor is therefore not suitable for applications with battery operation.
A further magnetic field sensor for determining the strength of a magnetic field is known from GB 2315870. The magnetic field sensor comprises a ferromagnetic core in the form of a ring, an excitation coil in order to periodically saturate the ferromagnetic core and read-out coils. Furthermore, in one design type, the sensor comprises additional ferromagnetic cores that work as external magnetic field concentrators. To reduce a possible residual magnetism of these additional cores, additional coils are present to which current is periodically applied in order to demagnetize the additional cores.
The object of the invention is to develop a magnetic field sensor with which magnetic fields can be measured the strength of which only amounts to some nT to mT even when power is supplied by a battery without the battery having to be frequently changed.
Investigations have revealed that a significant problem exists in that the ferromagnetic core serving as magnetic field concentrator can be magnetized or the magnetization can be reversed to such an extent by an external, for example temporarily occurring magnetic interference field, that the ferromagnetic core becomes a magnetic dipole that produces a signal in the read-out coils. Here, the invention provides a remedy in that the ferromagnetic core is brought into a state of predetermined magnetization by applying a magnetic field at selected times. A coil is provided for producing the magnetic field. The magnetic field produced by the current flowing through the coil must be large enough that the magnetic reversal of the ferromagnetic core caused by the interference field can be cancelled. In doing so, the necessary current intensity is dependent on the magnetization curve of the ferromagnetic core.
A magnetic field sensor in accordance with the invention for the measurement of at least one component of a magnetic field comprises a ring-shaped ferromagnetic core that serves as a magnetic field concentrator, an excitation coil and a read-out sensor. The read-out sensor comprises at least one, preferably two sensors arranged in the vicinity of the outer edge of the ferromagnetic core and measures the at least one component of the magnetic field. On operation of the magnetic field sensor, a current is temporarily applied to the excitation coil at selected times in order to bring the ferromagnetic core into a state of predetermined magnetization in which the magnetization of the ferromagnetic core produces no signal in the read-out sensor. The current flowing through the excitation coil must be large enough so that the magnetic field produced by the current in the ferromagnetic core achieves at least the coercive field strength given by the material of the ferromagnetic core. Preferably, the current is selected so high that the magnetic field produced by it is two to three times greater than the coercive field strength. If the material has a so-called hard and a soft magnetic axis, then the greater coercive field strength of the hard magnetic axis has to be selected. With this process, the ring-shaped ferromagnetic core is magnetized for example in such a way that the field lines within the core run as closed field lines in tangential direction. This magnetization is called circular magnetization. By means of this predetermined magnetization, the problem of the previously mentioned residual magnetization that leads to errors is solved.
This process of bringing the ferromagnetic core into a state of predetermined magnetization is preferably carried out before an actual measurement of the external magnetic field. It can however be carried out periodically or at any other time. The ferromagnetic core is thus magnetized with a predetermined magnetization and this predetermined magnetization is refreshed or restored at specific times.
In order to bring the ferromagnetic core into the desired state of magnetization, a certain amount of magnetization energy is necessary. The required magnetization energy is, on the one hand proportional to the volume V of the ferromagnetic core and, on the other hand to the magnetic product B×H that is dependent on the hysteresis curve of the material used. In order to get the smallest possible magnetic product, a soft magnetic material, eg, Vitrovac 6025Z is selected as the material for the ferromagnetic core. The volume to be magnetized is determined by the geometry of the ferromagnetic core. Because the achievable magnetic amplification is mainly determined by the diameter of the ring-shaped ferromagnetic core, the width and thickness of the ring are selected as small as possible. For the above-mentioned material Vitrovac 6025Z, with a ring diameter of 1 mm for example, a width of 20_m and a height of 10_m are selected. The width therefore amounts to only two percent of the diameter of the ring. It makes sense when the width and height of the ring are as small as is possible as the used technology allows it. When using other technologies such as for example attaching the core to a semiconductor chip by means of electrolysis or sputtering, the thickness of the core can be reduced to one micrometer or less.
A further advantage of reducing the volume of the core exists in that the build up of the premagnetization by means of a magnetic field produced by the coil is itself less inhibited by eddy currents produced in the core. In this way, the current pulse for magnetization can be shorter and the total required energy reduced. A sensor optimised in this way is also suitable for applications with little admissible energy consumption such as a watch for example.
The magnetic field sensor can be used for example in order to measure the strength of a weak magnetic field the direction of which does not change. Such a magnetic field sensor can also be used as a current or energy sensor whereby it measures the strength of a magnetic field produced by a conductor with current flowing through it. In addition, the sensor can have a second read-out sensor in order to measure a second component of an external magnetic field. When two components of the external magnetic field are measured, then its direction can also be determined from them. Such a magnetic field sensor can therefore also be used as a compass.
In the following, three embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail based on the drawing.

Magnetic field sensor and method for operating the magnetic field sensor


A container having a scented label attached using an in-mold label process and methods of making the same. A scented material is supplied to the label, and the label is attached to the container using an in-mold label process. In another embodiment, a container comprises an interior cavity for retaining a substance, and a label adapted to dispense a scent, wherein the label is disposed on an exterior surface of the container using an in-mold label process. The scent may be suggestive of the content of the container.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a container having an in-mold label. Particularly, embodiments of present invention relate to the container having an in-mold label adapted to release a scent and to methods for supplying a scent to a label and affixing the label to a container using an in-mold label process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many products are often sampled by the consumer prior to their purchase. Some of these products give off a fragrance, flavor, perfume, or other distinctive or pleasant scent. In many cases, the consumer will open a container to gain exposure to the scent of the product. Such practice is common in products such as toiletries. However, the consumer sampling the product in this manner may have the undesired effect of contaminating or inadvertently adulterating the product.
To overcome this problem, a variety of sampling methods have been developed to allow the consumer to sample the product without opening the packaging or container. One method is to make available an "open" sample for sampling on site. This method is often used in the marketing of cosmetics. The method of providing open samples has limited usage and may become quite expensive. Another sampling method is to apply a sticker that has been treated with the fragrance of the product on the packaging. Typically, the sticker is made of paper and includes an adhesive such as glue on the back side of the paper. The fragrance may be added by dosing the sticker with the fragrance oil. The fragrance may also be applied to the sticker using an encapsulation process. This type of sticker is commonly known as the scratch and sniff sticker. One drawback of the sticker sample is that it is removable. Another drawback is that the sticker sample will lose its fragrance in a relatively short period of time with repeated sampling at the shelf.
There is a need, therefore, for a method for associating a fragrance with an article. There is also a need for an article having a mechanism for conveying a scent to a user.


An implantable drug delivery system includes a middle ear section with a proximal end fixed to a tympanic membrane of a patient, and a distal end that penetrates through a fluid-tight sealed opening into the inner ear. An inner ear section has a proximal end that is connected to the distal end of the middle ear guide member at the sealed opening, and a closed distal end terminating the inner ear holding member some predetermined distance within the cochlea. A hollow interior of the inner ear section is configured for containing a replaceable pharmaceutical agent, and an outer surface is configured to release the pharmaceutical agent from the hollow interior into the inner ear of the patient. The middle ear section and the inner ear section are configured to cooperate for replacing the pharmaceutical agent through the proximal end of the middle ear section to the inner ear section.

Fluid delivery systems and devices are often used to provide pharmaceuticals to the body of a human or animal subject. Such systems and devices may employ catheters for fluid delivery. It is also known in the art to implant electrodes and electrical prosthesis in the body to provide electrical stimulation to internal organs and tissue.
For example, intra cochlear electrodes are intended to restore some sense of hearing by direct electrical stimulation of the neural tissue in proximity of an electrode contact. As more and more patients with significant and usable residual hearing are implanted with cochlear implants, it becomes imperative to use a minimally traumatic electrode. In addition, devices may be implanted in a subject when the subject is at a very young age and it may be necessary to re-implant several times during a lifetime. Each consecutive insertion of a cochlear implant may cause trauma to spiral ganglion cells to a minimum. Trauma to spiral ganglion cell is cumulative and cannot be undone in the present state of technology.
To reduce trauma to the organ or tissue, electrodes and catheters should be soft, flexible, and insertion forces should be minimum. Unfortunately, most cochlear implant electrodes on the market today require significant force to be inserted, even for distances which are much less than the full length of the scala tympani.
The required force to insert the electrode or catheter is related to the size, geometry, and the material used in the fabrication of the particular device. Material used in such devices includes materials for wires, contacts, functional metallic or polymer segment, and bulk material. The size of the electrode or catheter, the rigidity of the material used in the electrode or catheter, the hydrophobicity of the outer shell of the electrode array, the energy stored in one way or another in the electrode and the insertion process of the device have an impact on the amount and location of damages that will be inflected to the tissue of the labyrinth during electrode placement. With respect to fluid delivery systems in general, removal and replacement of the system or of particular parts of the system may also cause trauma and damage to living tissue.
Damage and trauma cause bleeding, inflammation, perforation of soft tissue, tears and holes into membranes, and fracture of thin osseous structures. The resulting damage to the inner ear, for example, may cause loss of surviving hair cells, retrograde degeneration of the dendrite which innervates the organ of Corti, and in the worst case, spiral ganglion cell death in the Rosenthal's canal. Cell death means quantitatively less neural tissue is available for stimulation, and qualitatively, that less frequency-tuned fibers are available to represent frequency information. Loss of dendrites without loss of spiral ganglion means that acoustic stimulation is no longer possible, and that no synergetic effects between acoustic and electric stimulation is available. Electro-acoustic synergetic effects may be critical for good sound discrimination in noisy environments.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Implantable fluid delivery apparatus and implantable electrode


A warming blanket for use by individuals is provided. The warming blanket has an integrated heat coil which can be heated up by a pair of attached battery packs. Each of the battery packs is removably attached and includes at least one battery. The warming blanket is ideally used as an extra safety feature for vehicles in case the vehicle is stranded during very cold or very bad weather, such as a snowstorm, in which warmth may play a crucial role in the survival of individuals within the vehicle. In addition, the warming blanket will assist in saving lives.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a safety blanket and, more particularly, the invention relates to a safety blanket usable to maintain a person's warmth.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,548,789, issued to Rock, discloses a heating and warming fabric such as a blanket that is powered by a battery.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,515, issued to McCormack, discloses a warming blanket having battery powered electrical heating elements for maintaining the temperature of a user.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,695, issued to West, discloses a warming blanket capable of being powered form various sources such as a rechargeable battery.


A turning tool includes a tool body and a turning insert, and an insert seat in which the turning insert is mounted. The insert seat includes a bottom surface and a side surface, the side surface having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface includes a contact surface, wherein the contact surface is in contact with a portion of the side surface of the turning insert. The tool body includes a coolant channel, which extends between a coolant channel inlet and a coolant channel outlet opening into a void between the side surface of the turning insert and the first surface of the side surface of the insert seat.

The present invention refers to a turning tool comprising a tool body and a turning insert, the turning tool comprising an insert seat in which insert seat the turning insert is mounted, a longitudinal axis extends from a rear end to a forward end, the insert seat comprising a bottom surface and a side surface, the side surface comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first and second surface form an angle relative to each other, the turning insert comprising a top surface, an opposite bot-tom surface, and a side surface connecting the top and bottom surfaces, the bottom surface of the turning insert is in contact with the bottom surface of the insert seat, a portion of the side surface of the turning insert is in contact with the side surface of the insert seat, the tool body comprising a coolant channel, the coolant channel extends between a coolant channel inlet and a coolant channel outlet.
Such a turning tool is known from EP 3153261 A1, where a turning tool comprises a turning insert mounted in an insert seat formed in a tool body. A coolant channel may be provided to a coolant channel outlet spaced apart from the insert seat, below the turning insert as shown in FIG. 8. Said turning tool is advantageously used in longitudinal turning as shown in FIG. 2, thereby forming a machined surface.
Although the above described turning tool and machining method has been found to provide significant positive benefits, the inventors have found that there is a need for an improved turning tool. Especially, the inventors have found that there is a need for a turning tool which can be used for a longer time, especially in longitudinal turning during long time in cut, such as e.g. shafts having a length greater than 300 mm.

Turning tool for metal cutting comprising a coolant channel


The presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) relates generally to a composition of a slurry for use in preparation of a lithium ion battery. The slurry comprises a binder composition comprising a modified guaran for use in battery electrodes and methods of preparing such. The presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) also relates to compositions and methods of making electrodes, either anodes and/or cathodes, with the binder composition comprising the modified guaran.

1. Field of the Invention
The presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive process(es), procedure(s), method(s), product(s), result(s), and/or concept(s) (collectively referred to hereinafter as the "presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s)") relates generally to a slurry for use in battery electrodes and methods of preparing such. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) relates to the slurry comprising a binder composition comprising a modified guaran. Additionally, the presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) relates to compositions of electrodes and methods of making the electrodes, either anodes and/or cathodes, with the binder composition comprising the modified guaran.
2. Background of the Invention
Lithium batteries are used in many products including medical devices, electric cars, airplanes, and most notably, consumer products such as laptop computers, cell phones, and cameras. Due to their high energy densities, high operating voltages, and low-self discharges, lithium ion batteries have overtaken the secondary battery market and continue to find new uses in products and developing industries.
Generally, lithium ion batteries (LIBs) comprise an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte material such as an organic solvent containing a lithium salt. More specifically, the anode and cathode (collectively, "electrodes") are formed by mixing either an anode active material or a cathode active material with a binder and a solvent to form a paste or slurry which is then coated and dried on a current collector made of a material, such as aluminum or copper, to form a film on the current collector. The anodes and cathodes are then layered or coiled prior to being housed in a pressurized casing containing an electrolyte material, which all together forms a lithium ion battery.
When making electrodes, it is important to select a binder with sufficient adhesive and chemical properties such that the film coated on the current collector will maintain contact with the current collector even when manipulated to fit into the pressurized battery casing. Since the film contains the electrode active material, there will likely be significant interference with the electrochemical properties of the battery if the film does not maintain sufficient contact with the current collector. Additionally, it is important to select a binder that is mechanically compatible with the electrode active material(s) such that it is capable of withstanding the degree of expansion and contraction of the electrode active material(s) during charging and discharging of the battery. As electrode active materials continue to evolve, binders will need to continue to adapt in order to remain mechanically compatible with the evolving electrode active materials. If not, large capacity fades during cycling can result from the use of new electrode active materials like, for example, silicon-containing with currently existing binder compositions. As such, binders play an important role in the performance of lithium ion batteries.
Currently, lithium ion battery technology generally teaches binder compositions comprising cellulosic materials selected from carboxymethylcellulose, carboxyethylcellulose, aminoethylcellulose, and/or oxyethylcellulose. More specifically, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) has become the preferred choice of cellulose material to be included in LIB binders comprising graphite as the anode active material. See, for example, US 2004/0258991 filed by Young-Min Choi et al., hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Binder compositions comprising these cellulose derivatives alone may not have the mechanical properties necessary, however, to support the large volume changes that occur with some of the electrode active materials currently interested.
Specifically, silicon-containing material has recently come to the forefront as a promising anode active material for LIBs. See, for example, B. Lestriez et al., On the Binding Mechanism of CMC in Si Negative Electrodes for Li-Ion Batteries, Electrochemistry Communications, vol. 9, 2801-2806 (2007), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Some of the reasons that silicon-containing material has come to the forefront as a promising anode active material are: its high theoretical specific capacity of 4200 mAhg−1 for Li4.4Si, low electrochemical potential between 0 and 0.4 V versus Li/Li+, and a small initial irreversible capacity compared with other metal- or alloy-based anode materials. See, B. Koo et al., A Highly Cross-linked Polymeric Binder for High-Performance Silicon Negative Electrodes in Lithium Ion Batteries, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 8762-8767, hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. It has been found herein that a specific capacity of about 600 mAhg−1 can be achieved by mixing graphite with silicon oxide (SiOX) and conductive carbon at a weight ratio of about 0.795/0.163/0.042 and, alternatively, a specific capacity of about 450 mAhg−1 can be achieved by mixing graphite with silicon oxide at a weight ratio of about 92 to 5, both of which increase the specific capacity of the anode material above the 340 mAhg−1 associated with graphite independent of any other electrode active material. Silicon-containing material has been known, however, to undergo large volume changes during charging and discharging, which can cause problems for a battery's capacity and overall performance.
The presently disclosed and/or claimed binder compositions comprising a guaran and/or modified guaran, however, actually improve the capacity of lithium ion batteries comprising a silicon-containing electrode active material. This is due in part to guaran having a high molecular weight and strong adhesive properties, which contribute to guaran being capable of withstanding the large volume changes generally associated with silicon-containing electrode active materials.

Modified guaran binder for lithium ion batteries and methods for producing the same


Means is provided that produces stabilized trial write results when, for example, servo misalignments are caused due to deviations on an optical disc that requires trial writes at high linear velocity. A recording method produces a recording parameter in the event of recording information into an arbitrary address position in the manner that a recording parameter is obtained through a predetermined calculation method from the results of learning of recording parameters on two or more zones of the optical disc where the linear velocities are different form one another. In a zone where the linear velocity is low, the method determines an optimal recording parameter from a jitter value of a reproduced signal waveform generated in a trial write. In a zone where the linear velocity is high, the method determines an optimal recording parameter in accordance with information obtainable from an amplitude value of a reproduced signal generated in a trial write.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique of recording information onto an optical disc by using laser beams, for example.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical-disc rotation control schemes generally used include two types, namely, a CLV (constant linearly velocity) control scheme, which is executed in a constant linear velocity mode, and a CAV (constant angular velocity) control scheme, which is executed in a constant angular velocity mode.
In the CLV control, the optical-disc rotational velocity increases toward the inner periphery, such that it is difficult to enhance the recording/reproducing speeds by using the CLV scheme. As such, with increased recording/reproducing speeds, there is employed the CAV control scheme that enables enhancement in the linear velocity in the outer periphery portion.
In addition, generally, in the case that information is recorded by using marks and spaces, the emission power and emission time of laser light are finely controlled to enhance mark-forming accuracy. Such a control scheme is called a "write strategy."
The write strategy is variable depending on the linear velocity in the event of recording onto the optical disc through the CAV control, so that the linear velocity of the optical disc is different depending on the radial position of the optical disc. For this reason, record parameters of the write strategy, such as the amounts of control of emission power and emission time of the pulse, have to be specified corresponding to the respective radial position.
Further, characteristics such as those in rising and falling of recording laser light irradiated from lasers are slightly different depending on the respective laser, so that the write strategy has to be adjusted corresponds to each optical disc recording apparatus. As shown and described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-85753, in a CAV recording apparatus, record parameter learning is carried out on the innermost periphery and the outermost periphery, and record parameters in an inbetween radial position are obtained by interpolating, such as linear interpolation, from both learning results.
Generally, however, during the manufacturing process, there occur many cases in which nonuniformity of a recording layer, distortion of optical disc recording grooves, and the like occur in outer periphery portions of the optical disc. As such, when high speed recording is carried out through the CAV scheme, there occurs a noise higher than a servo band in the outer periphery portion. Any one of the aforementioned the recording layer thickness nonuniformity and the recording groove distortion, herebelow, will be referred to as deviation. The deviation causes recording failure and reproducing failure because of servo swings in the outer periphery portion.
For this reason, in the high speed CAV recording, when record parameter learning is carried out on the outer periphery portion with deviation, an inappropriate record parameter is likely to be learned to be an optimal record parameter. Especially, according to DVD-RAM standards, it is recommended that jitter corresponding to fluctuation of an edge component of a recording mark or space is set as an index in a record parameter learning scheme. As such, in the event that the S/N ratio is deteriorated due to recording failure as a result of the deviation, acquirement of the record parameters is significantly influenced, increasing the probability that an inappropriate record parameter is learned to be optimal.
As a method of preventing such the problem, a method is known that calculates a record parameter being employed in the event of recording at high linear velocity on an outer periphery zone by carrying out a predetermined calculation on a record parameter obtained from the result of a trial write of an inner periphery zone (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-123255).

Optical information recording method and optical information recording apparatus


This invention provides new condensed furan compounds which exhibit excellent 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase inhibition and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol elevating activities.. This invention also provides a therapeutic and prophylactic agent for hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.

Many epidemiological studies have shown that hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and smoking comprise the three major risk factors for arteriosclerotic diseases, such as myocardial infarction, angina pectoris and cerebral infarction. Appropriate control of blood cholesterol level is therefore critical to the prevention or treatment of arteriosclerotic diseases, such as ischemic heart diseases. Among the drugs that decrease the blood cholesterol level are drugs that capture bile acid and inhibit its absorption, such as cholestyramine and colestipol (disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,009, for instance) and drugs that inhibit acyl coenzyme A cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT) and suppresses intestinal absorption of cholesterol, such as melinamide (disclosed in British Patent No. 1123004), as well as drugs that suppress cholesterol biosynthesis, which have drawn attention. Cholesterol biosynthesis suppressors in pharmaceutical use include lovastatin (disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,938), simvastatin (disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,231,938 and 4,444,784) and pravastatin (disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,227), all inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. When HMG-COA reductase is inhibited, however, not only cholesterogenesis, but also biosynthesis of other components essential to be alive, such as ubiquinone, dolichol and heme A, are inhibited, resulting in adverse effects of concern. Ubiquinone, dolichol, heme A etc. are known to be biosynthesized from farnesyl pyrophosphate in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway; to prevent adverse effects due to their reduction, it is desirable that the enzymes after farnesyl pyrophosphate in the cholesterogenesis are inhibited. For example, 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase (EC 220.127.116.11) is an enzyme that converts 2,3-oxidosqualene to lanosterol; 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase inhibition results in a diminishment of cholesterol synthesis, owing to inhibited production of lanosterol, which is used for conversion to cholesterol, eventually leading to lower blood cholesterol levels. Also, the 2,3-oxidosqualene accumulation, as a result of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase inhibition, is metabolically converted to oxysterol via dioxide squalene, which is known as an HMG-COA reductase repressor [F. R. Taylor et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1986, vol. 261 (32), pp. 15039-15044]. 2,3-Oxidosqualene cyclase inhibitors are therefore capable of inhibiting cholesterogenesis potently by the synergetic effect of HMG-COA reductase suppression at the transcription level, in addition to the inhibition of one enzyme after farnesyl pyrophosphate in the cholesterogenesis pathway. Already reported 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase inhibitors include diphenyl derivatives (disclosed in European Patent No. 464465), aminoalkoxybenzene derivatives (disclosed in European Patent No. 410359), piperidine derivatives (described by D. S. Dodd et al. in the Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1992, vol. 57, pp. 2794-2803 and 7226-7234; Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 234362/1992), decalin derivatives, azadecalin derivatives and indane derivatives [described in WO 80/08450; Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1981, vol. 254, pp. 11258-11263; N. Gerst et al., Biochemical Pharmacology, 1988, vol. 37, pp. 1955-1964; M. W. Wannamaker, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1992, vol. 35, pp. 3581-3583; Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication Nos. 140112/1993 and 3144/1989], 2-aza-2,3-dihydrosqualene and 2,3-epiminosqualene [described by A. Duriatti et al. in Biochemical Pharmacology, 1985, vol. 34, pp. 2765-2777], squalenoid epoxide vinyl ether [described by M. Ceruti et al. in the Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transaction 1, 1988, pp. 461-469], 29-methyliden-2,3-oxidosqualene [described in the Journal of American Chemical Society, 1991, vol. 113, pp. 9673-9674], azacycloalkane derivatives (disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 192256/1994) and arylcycloalkylamine derivatives (Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 211763/1994). As concerns infectious diseases, the sterol biosynthesized by fungi is ergosterol, while that by mammals is cholesterol; however, since the process of biosynthesis to lanosterol is common between the two kinds of sterol, inhibition of the process at a point before lanosterol suppresses the synthesis of both. 2,3-Oxidosqualene cyclase inhibitors are therefore expected to exhibit antifungal action [J. L. Adams et al., Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry, 1990, vol. 2, pp. 333-364].
Compounds that inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis are useful in the treatment of some syndromes, especially hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia, which comprise risk factors for onset of atherosclerotic vascular lesions and diseases subsequent thereto, such as coronary artery disease (CHD), cerebral ischemia, intermittent claudication and necrosis. Major symptoms of atherosclerosis are intimal proliferation of macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells, and cholesterol accumulation in such cells. It is a well-known that hypercholesterolemia, especially increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, is an important risk factor in the development of atherosclerosis. Since epidemiological studies have revealed that the incidence of coronary heart disease can be decreased by lowering blood cholesterol [see Lipidology 2(4), 234, 1991], blood lipid-lowering agents have been used to suppress atherosclerotic vascular lesions. Such use, however, is for prophylaxis, rather than treatment.
It is also known epidemiologically that high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol lowers the incidence of heart disease. Regarding the mechanism of this action, HDL is known to reduce cholesterol from foam cells. However, there is no report regarding substances used to increase blood HDL or HDL-cholesterol.
Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 41332/1979 describes as a sickle cell anemia or sicklemia remedy, possessing anti-inflammatory, vasodilating and platelet aggregation-inhibiting activities, a compound represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein x represents an atom of oxygen or sulfur; R represents a group selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom; phenyl group; phenyl groups substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, nitro, amino, sulfonylamino, aryl, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, hydroxymethyl and methylenedioxy groups; styryl, naphthyl, thienyl and benzhydryl groups, each of which may be substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, aryl, nitro, amino, sulfonylamino, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, hydroxymethyl and methylenedioxy groups; benzoyl group; and benzoyl groups substituted by at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, nitro, amino and sulfonylamino groups; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represent at least one atom or group selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom, halogen atoms, hydroxy, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, nitro and amino groups; R.sup.3 represents a group selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom, halogen atoms, hydroxy, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, nitro and amino groups; n represents an integer from 0 to 15; when n is greater than 1, the R.sup.3 radicals in the respective CHR.sup.3 groups may have different meanings. PCT International Patent Application WO93/13105 describes as an antipsychotic or antianxiety drug a compound represented by the formula: ##STR2## wherein ring S is a thiophene ring; R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen, an alkyl, or the like; R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, an acyl, or the like; G represents --CH.sub.2 --, --CH(OH)--, --CO--, or the like; Q represents an alkylene; T represents --NH.sub.2, --NHRa (Ra represents an alkyl, a cycloalkyl, or the like), or --N(Rb)(Rc) (Rb and Rc independently represent an alkyl, or the like, or bind together to form a cyclic amino); D represents --CH.sub.2 -- or --S--; A and B independently represent a carbonyl or thiocarbonyl, or none; m and n each represent an integer from 0 to 4, but m+n does not exceed 4, exemplified in Example 41 by a compound represented by the formula: ##STR3##
However, no compounds have been found that are fully satisfactory in 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase-inhibiting and blood cholesterol-lowering activities; there is need for the development of such compounds.

Condensed compounds, their production and use