A digital PLL circuit having an impulse noise remover for removing an impulse noise component from an external reference clock signal and for outputting an internal reference clock signal having had noise removed therefrom. The acquisitor and the phase detector receive the internal reference signal. The acquisitor generates a reset signal according to the external reference clock signal and according to an act mode signal for synchronizing with an external system. A phase detector, which is reset by the reset signal, is operative for comparing the phase of the external reference clock signal with that of a clock signal self-divided at the same frequency as the external reference clock signal. The phase detector generates a phase detection signal. A frequency synthesizer generates a corrected clock signal, by changing the division ratio of a system clock signal according to the phase detection signal and an act clock signal, to generate a locked final output.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital communication field, and more particularly, to a digital phase locked loop (PLL) circuit having a short initial synchronizing time and a digital PLL method.
2. Description of the Related Art
To connect two different networks, one network must be synchronized with the other. For example, when two different channels, such as a basic channel generally used in a private switching system, and an integrated services digital network (ISDN) which is another network, are connected to each other, data is lost during communication since the channels are not synchronized with each other due to a difference between system clock signals used in each channel.

Digital phase locked loop circuit and method therefor


According to one embodiment, an ophthalmologic apparatus is configured such that an operation unit is attached thereto. The ophthalmologic apparatus includes a measuring head, a user interface, and a controller. The measuring head is configured to perform optical measurement of a subject's eye. The user interface is used for performing an operation in relation to the optical measurement of the subject's eye. The controller is configured to detect whether an operation on the operation unit is enabled. Further, the controller is configured to perform at least display control for the user interface in different operation modes between an enabled state in which the operation on the operation unit is enabled and a disabled state in which the operation on the operation unit is disabled.

An ophthalmologic apparatus is capable of photographing a subject's eye or measuring the characteristics of the subject's eye using an optical system. Generally, the ophthalmologic apparatus includes a measuring head that is movable in the lateral direction, vertical direction, and front-back direction relative to the base, and an operation unit for moving the measuring head. The measuring head is provided with an optical system for measuring the characteristics of the subject's eye or capturing an image of the subject's eye, and an alignment unit or the like for aligning the optical system with respect to the subject's eye. In response to an operation performed on the operation unit, the ophthalmologic apparatus moves the measuring head to perform a measurement at a position where the measuring head has been moved.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 3676053 discloses an ophthalmologic apparatus, in which a measuring head and an operation and display unit are connected by a cable. The operation and display unit includes a joystick for operating the measuring head and a display for displaying an image of the subject's eye.
If the measuring head and a unit for operation are formed separately, the unit for operation is likely to be provided as optional equipment for a main body including a measuring head. In this case, the examiner or the like is required to know the mounted state of the unit to operate the ophthalmologic apparatus. Especially, if the main body has another operation unit, the examiner or the like may wonder whether to use the operation unit of the main body or the unit for operation as optional equipment, resulting in a prolonged examination time. Further, the examiner or the like may perform an examination while forgetting that the measuring head can also be operated with the unit. In this case, the subject loses the opportunity to be examined with high accuracy by operation on the unit.

Ophthalmologic apparatus and ophthalmologic apparatus system


A new and distinct Polyscias balfouriana cultivar named ‘ARA8001’ is disclosed, characterized by a distinct foliage variegation pattern, including a creamy yellow leaf margin and deeply lobed leaves. Plant form of the new cultivar is highly compact, with characteristically very slow growth. The new variety is a Polyscias, and is normally used as an ornamental plant.

The new cultivar was discovered as a chance, whole plant mutation in a commercial nursery in Bangkok, Thailand. The inventor, Magaly Zaias, a citizen of the United States, discovered the new variety as a whole plant mutation among several plants of the unpatented commercial variety, Polyscias balfouriana. The new variety was discovered in April 2007 by the inventor.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar 'ARA8001' by vegetative cuttings was performed at a commercial nursery in Bangkok Thailand in early 2008. Since that time, many generations have been reproduced, and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type through successive generations.


In the speaker system, an acoustic pipe for conducting a sound wave is arranged in front of a speaker for reproducing a middle and low frequency sound. The acoustic pipe has a rectangular open end portion. A speaker for reproducing a high frequency sound is disposed within the acoustic pipe coaxially with and in front of the speaker for reproducing the middle and low frequency. With this construction, attenuation of middle and high frequency components of sound signals which are produced from the middle and low frequency sound reproducing speaker is suppressed. Moreover, it is possible to conduct the high and middle frequency components and a high frequency component, which is reproduced by the high frequency sound reproducing speaker, as naturally composed sound signals to the open end portion of the acoustic pipe. The speaker system thus exhibits excellent characteristics in sound image localization and articulation of sound, thereby providing a high tone quality to the TV. The TV may be miniaturized with the speaker system.

The present invention relates to a speaker system which is used for video equipment, such as a TV and audio equipment for automobile and a TV utilizing the speaker system.
A method for providing a horn or an acoustic pipe in the front of a speaker to introduce sound wave generated by the speaker to an opening of the horn or the acoustic pipe has been widely used since it has advantages by which large sound pressure can be obtained and sound can be transferred in a specific direction in comparision with a case in which no horn or acoustic pipe is used. A prior art speaker system with an acoustic pipe will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 17.
FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a TV with a pair of middle and low frequency range speaker systems which comprise the prior art speaker systems in which acoustic pipes are used. The speaker systems are incorporated into the TV to be located along a cathode tube 4. Each of the speaker systems includes a middle and low frequency range reproducing speaker 1 and an acoustic pipe 2 disposed in front thereof for conducting sound wave. A TV cabinet 3 of the TV is formed to fit to the speaker systems for miniaturizing the TV in size.
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing the construction of the prior art speaker system of FIG. 13. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 5 designates an acoustic equalizer provided at an front portion of the middle and low frequency range reproducing speaker 1. On the opposite sides of the acoustic equalizer 5 there are formed a pair of apertures 7 for conducting sound wave emitted from the middle and low frequency range reproducing speaker 1 into the acoustic pipe 2. Reflection plates 6 are provided outside the apertures 7. A sound absorbing material 9 is placed on both sides of the reflection plates 6. Each of the acoustic pipes 2 includes a panel 8 and a cover 10 covering an upper open side thereof.
The acoustic equalizer 5 and the reflection plates 6 which are provided in the front of each of the speakers 1 serve to improve high frequency characteristic of the speaker system. The sound absorbing material 9 placed outside the vertical reflection plate 6 serves to suppress a standing wave which is produced within the acoustic pipe 2. Each of the acoustic pipe 2 is formed so that the cross-sectional area thereof is gradually increased from the front portion of the middle and low frequency range reproducing speaker 1 toward the open end of the acoustic pipe.
FIGS. 15 and 16 are perspective views showing conventional TVs each utilizing middle and low frequency range reproducing speaker systems with acoustic pipes 2 above described and high frequency range reproducing speakers. In FIG. 15, reference numeral 11 designates an open end of the acoustic pipe of each of the middle and low frequency range reproducing speaker systems, and 12 indicates a high frequency range reproducing speaker arranged above the open end 11. In the TV of FIG. 16, each of the high frequency range reproducing speakers 12 is arranged at the front portion of the open end 11 of the corresponding middle and low frequency range reproducing speaker system.
To make the TV compact relatively easily, the high frequency range reproducing speakers 12 are placed at the front of the TV for the following reasons: for the purpose of conducting sound to the opening end portion thereof in a manner similar to that of the middle and low frequency range reproducing speaker system using the acoustic pipe 2, it is necessary to appropriately dispose a sound absorbing material 9 within the acoustic pipe 2 to remove a standing wave generated within the acoustic pipe 2; and the inner construction of the acoustic pipe 2 becomes rather complicated to conduct a high frequency component to the front of the open end 11 without attenuation.
These construction, however, makes the middle and low frequency range reproducing speaker 1 and the high frequency range reproducing speaker 12 rather different from each other in mounted position, and the difference in phase between sound waves reproduced by the middle and low frequency range reproducing speaker 1 and the high frequency range reproducing speaker 12 is produced in every frequency band. Thus, as shown at 24 in FIG. 17, a sound pressure vs. frequency characteristic with many peak dips is thus provided to the speaker systems, and the speaker systems are also provided with an unnatural tone quality.
Furthermore, the TV having the high frequency range reproducing speaker 12 arranged above the middle and low frequency range reproducing speaker 1 as shown in FIG. 15 raises a problem in that sound moves up and down in a middle and high frequency range since the middle and low frequency range reproducing speaker 1 and the high frequency range reproducing speaker 12 are greatly different in mounted position. This deteriorates performance of the speaker systems in sound image localization and articulation of sound, and the speaker systems are not sufficient for an advanced TV.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a speaker system which is capable of exhibiting excellent sound characteristics in sound image localization and in articulation of sound, which cannot be provided by the prior art.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A novel cytokine designated TRAIL induces apoptosis of certain target cells, including cancer cells and virally infected cells. Isolated DNA sequences encoding TRAIL are disclosed, along with expression vectors and transformed host cells useful in producing TRAIL polypeptides. Antibodies that specifically bind TRAIL are provided as well.

The programmed cell death known as apoptosis is distinct from cell death due to necrosis. Apoptosis occurs in embryogenesis, metamorphosis, endocrine dependent tissue atrophy, normal tissue turnover, and death of immune thymocytes (induced through their antigen-receptor complex or by glucocorticoids) (Itoh et al., Cell 66:233, 1991). During maturation of T-cells in the thymus, T-cells that recognize self-antigens are destroyed through the apoptotic process, whereas others are positively selected. The possibility that some T-cells recognizing certain self epitopes (e.g., inefficiently processed and presented antigenic determinants of a given self protein) escape this elimination process and subsequently play a role in autoimmune diseases has been suggested (Gammon et al., Immunology Today 12:193, 1991). A cell surface antigen known as Fas has been reported to mediate apoptosis and is believed to play a role in clonal deletion of self-reactive T-cells (Itoh et al., Cell 66:233, 1991; Watanabe-Fukunage et al., Nature 356:314, 1992). Cross-linking a specific monoclonal antibody to Fas has been reported to induce various cell lines to undergo apoptosis (Yonehara et al., J. Exp. Med., 169:1747, 1989; Trauth et al., Science, 245:301, 1989). However, under certain conditions, binding of a specific monoclonal antibody to Fas can have a costimulatory effect on freshly isolated T cells (Alderson et al., J. Exp. Med. 178:2231, 1993).
DNAs encoding a rat Fas ligand (Suda et al., Cell, 75:1169, 1993) and a human Fas ligand (Takahashi et al., International Immunology 6:1567, 1994) have been isolated. Binding of the Fas ligand to cells expressing Fas antigen has been demonstrated to induce apoptosis (Suda et al., supra, and Takahashi et al., supra).
Investigation into the existence and identity of other molecule(s) that play a role in apoptosis is desirable. Identifying such molecules would provide an additional means of regulating apoptosis, as well as providing further insight into the development of self-tolerance by the immune system and the etiology of autoimmune diseases.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

DNA encoding a soluble fragment of TRAIL polypeptide


The method is used to produce a varistor which has a cylindrical resistance body (1) made from a material based on metal oxide, and two electrodes (2, 3) which are each arranged on one of two mutually parallel end faces of the cylindrical resistance body (1). In a first method step, a layer of electrode material is applied to both end faces, as far as their outer boundary (9), which is designed as a sharp edge. In a -second method step, a circular ring (4), which is delimited by the outer boundary (9), runs to as far as the end face of the resistance body (1) and has a width of from approx. 10 to 500 .mu.m, is removed from the electrode, or the resistance body (1) and electrode are beveled (5') at the outer boundary.. The method allows simple and economic manufacture of a varistor.

1. Field of the Invention
A varistor produced using the method mentioned is used in medium- or high-voltage installations for measurement, protection or control purposes has a cylindrical resistance body which is arranged between two parallel electrodes and is made from a sintered ceramic or a polymer which has been highly filled with sintered ceramic granules with a varistor character.
The wintered ceramic or the sintered ceramic granules generally comprise(s) a zinc oxide which has been doped in a controlled manner with selected metals, such as Bi, Sb, Co and Mn.
The varistor is preferably used in surge arresters and has to be specified in such a way that it can conduct high-power current pulses which have been produced by lightening strikes or switching operations without being damaged. During the manufacturing process, such current pulses are applied to the electrodes of the varistor, in order to test their capacity to withstand high currents.
2. Discussion of Background
Methods producing such varistors are given in DE 34 05 834 C2 and EP 0,494,507 A1. In each of these methods, a cylindrical, ceramic resistance body based on zinc oxide is produced and an electrode is applied to each of the two parallel, planar end faces of the resistance body.
In the method described in DE 34 05 834 C2, circumferential steps are ground off the resistance body in the peripheral areas of both end faces. Then, the resistance body is provided with an insulating material which covers the circumferential face and the steps. After that, the end faces and some of the insulating material which has been applied to the steps are ground off. Finally, the metal electrodes are applied to the end faces in such a manner that they partly overlap the steps which have been filled with the insulating material but do not reach all the way to the edge of the end face. This method is extremely complex and, in addition, is susceptible to faults, since metal splashes may be formed in the peripheral area when the electrode material is applied, which splashes may lead to dielectric sparkovers when high-field current is applied. In addition, the incomplete coverage of the electrodes results in local overheating of the current density or the electric field in the resistance body, which overheating reduces the dielectric strength of a varistor which has been designed in this way.
In the method described in EP 0,494,507 A1, each of the electrodes is applied all the way to the edge of the end faces of the resistance body. Since, in a varistor of this type, each of the two electrodes extends over the entire end face of the resistance body, a homogenous electric field is formed inside the resistance body when a high current is conducted for a short time. This results in a uniform current density and therefore also in uniform heating of the varistor. Since the unprotected resistance body has sharp edges and points in the area of the outer boundaries of the end faces, and since the electrode material, which runs to as far as the outer boundaries, may pass into the circumferential surface of the resistance body, a ring made from a polymer with a high dielectric constant and with a high temperature stability is positioned on the circumferential surface of the resistance body. This ring ensures that the electric field is reduced in the circumferential surface, thus avoiding undesirable sparkovers. Again, such a method for producing varistors is extremely expensive and complex.

Method for producing a varistor based on a metal oxide and a varistor produced using this method


Disclosed is a vibratory sieve for separation of fibrous materials from materials containing them, the vibratory sieve comprising a sieve body and a mechanism for imparting vibration to the sieve, the sieve body including a screen to be vibrated by the mechanism, the sieve being adapted to convey a mixture of water and the materials containing the fibrous materials onto the screen through meshes of which finer particles and water are passed by the vibration of the screen, leaving the fibrous materials on the screen, the sieve being characterized in that the sieve is provided with an annular member which is movable on the screen surface by the vibration of the screen and whose movement is confined by an inlet member in such a way that the mixture of water and the materials containing the fibrous materials is placed inside the annular member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vibratory sieve for sifting fibrous materials like asbestos from massed materials containing them.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Asbestos has been frequently used as refractory materials such as building materials. Since it has been recently found that asbestos is carcinogenic, repair works are under way to remove asbestos from the walls of public facilities and the like. If the asbestos-containing waste thus removed is discarded as it is, the asbestos dust suspends in air at the dumping site and flies away, tending to scatter a source of pollutant. Consequently asbestos must be separated from such waste before disposal. At present, attention is directed to the use of a vibratory sieve to separate the asbestos at low costs. In the operation of the vibratory sieve, the asbestos-containing waste is comminuted and mixed with water, the mixture is placed onto the vibrating screen of a sieve, and finer particles and water are passed through screen meshes, leaving the separated asbestos on the screen.
Asbestos and like fibrous materials are easily entangled in screen meshes, thereby directly causing clogging in screen meshes. Because of this drawback, vibratory sieves have entailed difficulties in separating fibrous materials like asbestos.

Vibratory sieve with screen and annular ring member thereon


A method for casting plastic lenses includes a step in which lens forming materials having at least one liquid monomer and at least one photosensitive initiator are injected into a mold. The lens forming materials in the mold are subjected to ultraviolet light. The mold assembly is cooled in a liquid cooling bath. The temperature of the lens forming material within the mold is monitored, and the ultraviolet light is turned off when the temperature reaches a predetermined upper set point temperature. The ultraviolet light is turned on again when the temperature falls to a predetermined lower set point temperature. The process can be performed automatically with a programmable process control, which monitors the temperature, compares the temperature to the predetermined set point temperature, and turns the ultraviolet light on and off according to the results of the comparison.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to processes for casting optical lenses, and more particularly to processes for casting plastic optical lenses.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Plastic lenses are desirable because they are lighter in weight, higher in impact resistance, and lower in manufacturing cost than comparable inorganic glass lenses. The most common monomer utilized to produce optical plastic lenses is diethylene glycol diallyl carbonate (hereinafter referred to as DAC), which is marketed by AKZO Chemicals Inc. of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. and PPG Industries, Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pa. under the trademarks Nouryset 200.RTM. and CR-39.RTM., respectively. DAC is widely accepted due to the clarity, strength, impact resistance, resistance to discolorization, and resistance to physical warping or distortion of products made from DAC.
According to current manufacturing processes, the DAC monomer is mixed with free-radical initiator, such as di-isopropyl peroxy dicarbonate. These lens forming materials are injected within a pair of glass mold sections that are sealed by a gasket and held together by a spring clip or other suitable fastener. The charged mold assembly is then heated in a water bath or air oven to a predetermined temperature to cure the resin.
The above described thermal curing process has several drawbacks. As an initial matter, the peroxide catalysts require extreme care in handling. Also, the plastic lenses made from DAC have a refractive index (nD) of about 1.50, which is lower than the refractive index of conventional inorganic glass lenses, the latter being about 1.523. The center thickness and edge thickness of the lenses must, therefore, be made larger than the thickness of inorganic glass lenses.
Efforts have been made to develop compositions which are capable of producing higher refractive index lenses than those currently produced by the polymerization of DAC. Such compounds were found to increase the value of the refractive index, but also required very long curing times, usually 1 to 4 days in length. Also, the resulting lenses typically lack one or more desirable physical properties, such as impact strength, scratch resistance, heat resistance, and colorless transparency.
Conventional thermo-casting techniques require very long curing times, at least about 10 to 20 hours to cast finished (thin) lenses, and about 20 to 60 hours to produce optically acceptable semi-finished (thick) lenses. This low lens productivity requires a large inventory of the expensive glass molds that are used to cast the lenses. There is, therefore, a significant need for a process which will complete the curing in shorter periods of time.
A variety of researchers have developed processes and compositions which shorten the curing time by utilizing ultraviolet (UV) radiation as a driving force to carry out the polymerization reaction. Such processes typically employ a photosetting type resin such as di-functional acrylic monomer and a photoinitiator. The mixture is poured into a transparent mold having a desired optical surface, and thereafter the ultraviolet light is radiated to the resin through the transparent mold to cure the photosetting resin. Examples of such processes are illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,088, U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,005, U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,469, U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,318, U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,850, U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,358, and published application WO92/12851. The disclosures of these references are hereby incorporated by reference.
Ultraviolet curing processes are advantageous because of the relatively short curing times, however, problems associated with discoloration, distortion and insufficient hardness are common. The most significant drawback is the striations that are caused by uneven curing and stress. It is known that these striations are the result of thermal gradients in the gel-state, which produce convection lines that become frozen in place and cannot be dispersed. The exothermic nature of the polymerization reaction, and the poor heat transfer of the glass casting mold, are the main cause of the problem. The striations are especially pronounced in thick lenses, where the amount of exothermic heat generated by the polymerization reaction is increased by the increased monomer volume. Efforts to use low temperature, low intensity, and evenly distributed ultraviolet light were largely unsuccessful for casting thick lenses. These processes are, therefore, mostly utilized for the casting of thin, finished prescription lenses.
Lipscomb et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,318, discloses an alternating source of illumination, or the rotation of the reaction cell, to alternate the illumination and to thereby minimize overheating problems. Blum, U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,358, and Blum et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,850, disclose rotation of the mold assembly. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 3-193313 discloses the use of interrupted illumination to control the polymerization reaction. However, this process does not provide adequate means for determining the cycles of illumination, which will change with changing mold geometry and process characteristics.
It remains desirable to provide a process for the ultraviolet casting of lenses which is faster and more economical than those currently available, and yet which results in the production of high quality lenses which are substantially free of striations and distortions.


An EB (electron beam) or UV (ultra violet) curable, low-gloss, dry-erase coating formulation for static and electronic whiteboards is disclosed. The coating contains an acrylate silica blend, an aliphatic urethane acrylate or a polyester acrylate, a polyfunctional reactive diluent and at least one photoinitiator.

The present invention relates to a low-gloss dry-erase coating formulation. More specifically, the invention relates to an EB (electron beam) curable or UV (ultra violet) curable, low-gloss, dry-erase coating formulation. The invention further relates to methods of manufacturing the low-gloss dry-erase coating formulation.
Dry-erase boards also referred to as "whiteboards", have become popular replacements to paper and chalkboards, as they are convenient, inexpensive, and versatile. Additionally, whiteboard surfaces can be combined with optical and electronic capabilities to produce surfaces from which the images can be reproduced, either on paper or digitally. Because of the capabilities that go far beyond those of traditional whiteboards, electronic whiteboards are also gaining popularity.
EB/UV-curable coatings are desirable for dry-erase surfaces as they are abrasion resistant and smooth. These EB/UV-curable coatings, however, produce high gloss surfaces. High gloss surfaces tend to create eyestrain and are difficult to see from certain angles. Thus, in many applications, low-gloss surfaces are desirable as they reduce eyestrain and can be viewed more easily from different angles.
The gloss in the coatings can be reduced by roughening the coating through the process of embossing or wrinkling. Gloss can also be reduced by introducing additives (i.e., matting agents such as silica). Surface roughening, however, may introduce sites that trap stains and inks and produce "ghosting", i.e., a residual image of previously written material that remains after the writing is erased.
In addition, the gloss-reducing additives when added to the coating formulation tend to disperse imperfectly. Thus, dispersing equipment and dispersing agents, such as surface tension modifiers, are required for evenly dispersing these additives in the coating formulation.
In view of the aforementioned, it is desirable to minimize the use of both i.e., the surface roughening agents and the dispersing equipment and/or dispersing agents in the coating formulation.
It is further desirable to have an EB/UV curable, low-gloss, dry-erase coating formulation that are used to form hardcoats with minimal or preferably no "ghosting".
Several patents disclose dry-erase compositions:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,476,965 (He et al.) discloses a dry erasable substrate and projection screen having a dry-erase low-gloss top layer, a pigmented layer, and a bead matrix layer comprising glass beads. The dry erasable top layer as disclosed in this invention, however, contains additives such as flatting agents that require dispersing agent and equipment to evenly disperse these additives. Further, it includes a pigmented layer and a bead matrix layer to form the low-gloss, dry-erasable article.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0077497 (Korane et al.) discloses dry-erase surfaces produced from heat-cured resins. The dry-erase surfaces in this invention, however, use additives (e.g. flatting agents like amorphous precipitated silica) to reduce gloss. Thus, the composition disclosed in this application requires dispersing agents to evenly disperse the additives. Further, the reduced gloss, dry-erase surface as disclosed in this application is produced from heat-cured resins.
There is a need for an EB/UV-curable dry-erase coating formulation that has very low-gloss and yet minimizes the use of surface roughening agents, additives, dispersing equipment and/or dispersing agents.
There is a further need for EB/UV-curable low-gloss, dry-erase coating formulation that has enhanced dry-erase properties yet has superior writability (i.e., a marker is able to wet the dry-erase surface formed from the present coating formulation without dewetting or reticulation.)
There is a further need for EB/UV-curable low-gloss, dry-erase coating formulation that is capable of forming into a hard, abrasion and chemical resistant coating and yet is substantially flexible.


An insertion-type connector having a housing of an electrically insulating material and at least one electrically conductive first contact element and having a free end, and at least one electrically conductive second contact element, wherein the first contact element has a first plate-shaped section, and the second contact element has a second plate-shaped section, wherein the second contact element has an end which is designed for electrical connection to a cable, the plate-shaped sections arranged parallel to one another and facing one another such that the plate-shaped sections at least partially overlap one another in the direction perpendicular thereto in an overlap region and are at a specific distance from one another, wherein for the electrically conductive connection of the first contact element to the second contact element, and at least one helical spring of an electrically conductive and spring-elastic material is provided between the mutually facing plate-shaped sections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an insertion-type connector, and in particular to a charging connector or high-current connector, having a housing of an electrically insulating material and having at least one first contact-making member which is of an electrically conductive material and which is arranged in the housing, the housing having an insertion end which is designed for connection by insertion to a complementary insertion-type connector and having a cable end which is designed for electrical and mechanical connection to an electrically conductive cable, and the at least one first contact-making member having a free end which is adjacent the insertion end.
2. Description of Related Art
A high-current insertion-type connector for transmitting electric currents is known from DE 20 2010 010 827 U1. This has a housing of electrically conductive material which is designed for mechanical and electrical connection to a cable and which has an open end for the insertion of a mating insertion-type connector made of an electrically conductive material. Also provided is a contact-making member which is so arranged and formed in the housing that it makes electrical contact with a contact surface and produces contact-making pressure between the housing and the mating insertion-type connector inserted therein. The contact-making member has at least one annular helical spring.

Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH & Co. KG


An apparatus and method for transferring a particulate material in a non-contact manner. The apparatus has a driving device including a nozzle curved surface portion fitted to the transfer pipe to join with the inner wall surface of the pipe. The nozzle curved surface portion has a curved surface whose diameter continuously increases from the inner wall surface. The driving device further includes an annular gap-forming member that forms a nozzle gap between it and the nozzle curved surface portion. A fluid is caused to flow into the transfer pipe from the driving device, thereby forming a buffer layer of a spiral flow in the vicinity of the inner wall surface of the transfer pipe and thus keeping the particulate material in a non-contact state. Moreover, a pressure gradient is produced between the inner wall surface of the transfer pipe and the central portion of the transfer pipe to make the pressure in the central portion negative relative to the pressure at the inner wall surface of the pipe, thereby transferring the particulate material while keeping it from contact with the wall surface of the transfer pipe. The apparatus is suitable for the production of spherical semiconductor devices.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for transferring a particulate material through a pipeline while keeping it from contact with the inner wall surface of the pipe. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for transferring pulverized semiconductor particles through a pipeline in a non-contact state to produce semiconductor devices.
There have been known apparatuses for transferring a particulate material through a pipeline while keeping it from contact with the inner wall surface of the pipe. The conventional transfer apparatuses employ a method wherein a powdery material is electrically charged by a multiplicity of electrodes disposed on the inner wall of the pipe, thereby allowing the powdery material to be transferred in the state of being out of contact with the wall surface of the pipeline. However, these conventional apparatuses are used to transfer a fine powdery material having a particle diameter in the range of from several micrometers to several tens of micrometers. There has been no apparatus designed to transfer a particulate material having a particle diameter of 1 millimeter or so through a pipeline while keeping it from contact with the inner wall of the pipe.
The transfer method wherein particles are electrically charged is likely to cause dielectric breakdown or other failure in the case of transferring electronic material particles, particularly finely pulverized semiconductor particles. Therefore, the method wherein particles are electrically charged by an electric field could not be adopted as a non-contact transfer method for semiconductor particles.
There has been another known non-contact transfer method that utilizes magnetic attraction and repulsion forces. In this case, however, it is essential that the object to be transferred should be a magnetic material or a substance having magnetism, or a transfer carrier made of a magnetic material should be used. Thus, the non-contact transfer method cannot be used for the purpose of transferring particles of a non-magnetic material individually.
A method of transferring an object in a non-contact state by a gas flow is carried out in a process of producing paper or other belt-shaped members. However, a gas flow is not used for non-contact transfer of particles. There has been proposed no method of efficiently transferring particles in a non-contact state.
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for transferring a particulate material through a pipeline while keeping it from contact with the inner wall of the pipe. More particularly, an object of the present invention is to provide a device whereby a semiconductor material previously formed into spherical particles is transferred in the state of being out of contact with the inner wall of the pipe.
More particularly, an object of the present invention is to provide a transfer apparatus and method suitable for the production of a spherical semiconductor integrated circuit in which a semiconductor circuit is formed on the surface of a spherical semiconductor particle, which is proposed, for example, in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 60/0320340, 08/858004, and PCT/US97-14922 by the assignees of the present invention.
Existing integrated circuits are fabricated by forming circuits on a disk-shaped silicon wafer, and there is a tendency to use silicon wafers of larger sizes, i.e. to change over from wafers of 8 inches in diameter to wafers having a diameter of 12 inches, in order to produce a large number of semiconductor devices in a short period of time. However, as the diameter of silicon wafers increases, the size of production systems increases, resulting in a need for large-sized production facilities, e.g. clean rooms for accommodating production equipment.
In the spherical semiconductor integrated circuit proposed by the assignees of the present invention, a semiconductor circuit is formed on the surface of a spherical silicon particle without using a silicon wafer. The spherical semiconductor integrated circuit is a novel device that makes effective use of the surface area of a sphere, and it is an epoch-making invention that needs no large-scale clean room because no large-sized production system is needed. Under these circumstances, it is demanded to develop a novel method for producing the spherical semiconductor integrated circuit.

Transfer apparatus and transfer method for particulate material

Applied Science Karasawa Lab. & Co., Ltd.


A door lock handle assembly in which left and right latch members are rotatably supported on a pin, a sector lock member is secured to an operating shaft coupled to a rotor of a front unit and also to a stem shaft of a thumb knob, a lock projection is secured to a shoulder portion of the left latch member such that it is in contact with a left end portion of an arcuate edge of the sector lock member, a lock projection is secured to a shoulder portion of the right latch member such that it is in contact with a right end portion of the arcuate edge of the sector lock member, a drive member is secured to an interlock shaft coupled to shafts of front and rear handles, and a drive projection is secured to an arm of the drive member such that it is in contact with passive arms of the left and right latch members. The handle assembly can be used for both leftward and rightward pulling doors and permits manufacturing cost reduction by mass production of a single item product.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a door lock handle assembly for both leftward and rightward pulling doors, for instance boat and yacht cabin entrance/exit doors.
2. Prior Art
Among the doors provided at the entrance/exit of boat and yacht cabins are those which are opened by turning them about a hinge axis, and those which are pulled along a straight guide rail. Among the pulling type doors are those of leftward pulling type, which are accommodated in a door accommodation section on the left side of an entrance/exit in the open state thereof, and those of rightward pulling type which are accommodated in a door accommodation section on the right side of an entrance/exit.
The prior art door lock handle assembly lacks versatility with respect to the leftward and rightward pulling doors. That is, a door lock handle assembly designed for a leftward pulling door and a door lock handle assembly designed for a rightward pulling door are not interchangeable. This means that two different kinds of door lock handle assemblies have to be fabricated and stocked independently to meet different demands, thus leading to extra stock space and making it difficult to reduce the cost of manufacture.

Door lock handle assembly for leftward and rightward pulling doors


A rapid deployment system for recovering oil from beaches includes an articulated vehicle for propelling and suspending a vacuum head above a beach or the like. A selected area of the beach is irrigated with sufficient quantities of water to saturate the selected area. Oil deposited on the beach is driven to the surface. A sufficient quantity and velocity of air moves over the surface beneath the vacuum head to develop a water column upon which resides a frothy foam mixture of air, water and oil which is drawn into the head. In the vacuum head, the velocity of the air flow is suddenly and significantly reduced above a fluid sump wherein entrained oil and water droplets fall into a sump for processing outside of the vacuum head. A metal auger can be provided within the vacuum head to pump oil from pools and separate entrained oil droplets from the high velocity air flow. A special terrain vehicle which propels and supports the vacuum head is modular and can be transported by helicopter with the entire system.

Large quantities of oil are presently transported from oil-producing regions to oil-consuming regions by various means, including large sea-going vessels. As the number and size of such vessels increases, the probability of a large oil spill occurring, with its attendant, serious environmental consequences also increases. A number of such accidents have occurred which have resulted in contamination of beaches with possibly permanent environmental damage.
Substantial progress has been made in the recovery of oil spilled on large bodies of water. Typically, the oil spill is surrounded by a floating boom to contain the spill. Conventional vacuuming and filtering equipment are then employed to remove the oil from the circumscribed area, as the oil will continue to float on the surface of the water as long as the more volatile components of the oil have not evaporated. Such efforts have proven effective as long as the oil remains at sea, the booms are quickly deployed, and the sea is not too rough.
Recovering oil from beaches is substantially more difficult than recovering oil from the sea. The beach environment contains a large number of organisms which live on the beach, and below the surface of the beach to a depth of approximately one foot. In contrast, the upper layer of the ocean is a relatively "dead" ecological environment. Therefore, oil spills which have washed up on beaches generally cause significantly greater ecological damage than oil spills which are contained at sea.
Unfortunately, no currently known technologies have been successful in recovering oil directly from beaches in an ecologically acceptable manner. Presently, the most effective method of cleaning oil contaminated beaches is to wash the spilled oil back into the ocean so that the boom and vacuum method described above can be employed. This technique is only successful if the oil spill is fresh (i.e., the volatiles have not evaporated). If the oil has begun to evaporate, the beach deposit becomes a heavy sludge which can only be washed off with steam or extremely hot water at high pressure. This combination destroys the beach and is injurious to the organisms which live on and under the beach.
The above-described technique of washing spilled oil back into the ocean is generally accomplished with high pressure hoses. This technique in itself has been recognized as being ecologically harmful in U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,426 to Cloutier. Cloutier describes a device which locally floods a selected area of a beach to suspend spilled oil in a slick above the sand. A conventional skimming device then removes the oil slick. Cloutier's technique requires prodigious amounts of water, heavy equipment, and substantial setup time and therefore is not amenable to rapid deployment to locations distant from industrialized areas where oil spills often occur. Without such rapid deployment capability, the oil spill is likely to viscosify before the equipment arrives rendering Cloutier's technique unusable.
In view of the above, a need exists for a self-contained, rapidly deployable system which can effectively remove oil deposited on a beach, including the surface beneath the beach, without substantially disturbing the physical structure of the beach or killing the organisms which reside thereunder.

Rapid deployment apparatus recovering oil from beaches


A process of forming the wall of the mouth of a cylindrical, metal container or packaging from a tubular ring that may or may not be molded that has to accommodate a sealing lid equipped with an elastic seal secured by a vacuum created in the container is characterized essentially by the use of a single element, the head carrying out the deformation of the internal diameter of the container by expansion to produce a bead together and simultaneously with a contraction that produces shrinkage above the bead of the mouth, the head comprising an expansible stationary part and a moving part that turns around the stationary part, the parts of the head being coaxial, which has the effect of compressing the metal and hardening it by organizing the metal molecules under two simultaneous stresses, which hardens the packaging and allows it to withstand the vacuum applied thereto.

This invention relates to a process for forming the wall of the mouth of a metal container or packaging and the device for this purpose and the packaging or container obtained.
The packaging, according to the invention, is produced from a tubular ring that may or may not be molded to improve its strength.

Process for forming the wall of the mouth of a metal container or packaging, device for this purpose and packaging or container obtained


The invention relates to a method for preparing multiple metal oxides and intermediate compound, i.e. spherical nickelous hydroxide which is lopped. The intermediate compound is prepared by: mixing bivalent nickel salt, cobalt salt, ammonia water and ammonium salt to form solution containing complex; then adding the said solution containing complex with the mixture solution of metal salt(s) and alkali into reaction vessel in parallel flow, stirring to form precipitate of spherical nickelous hydroxide which is dopped, and washing to remove the impurities. The resulting spherical nickelous hydroxide which is dopped, as an intermediate compound, can be used to produce multiple metal oxides. The resulting multiple metal oxides can be used as anode active material. The spherical nickelous hydroxide has advantages of uniform size and narrow size distribution. The multiple metal oxides has high electric conductivity and cycle performance, particularly, is suitable to be used as anode material.

Currently a lithium ion battery has an extensive application in such electronic devices as mobile telephones, portable computers, and portable audio-visual equipment. However, price of its anode material, lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), is going up continuously because of resource problems, which limits development of the lithium ion battery. Therefore, people have been working hard to look for a suitable substitute material. The material recently studied most is such composite anode materials as cobalt nickel manganese. The most widely used method reported in literature is a codeposition method. According to this method, prepare a metal salt solution according to a certain proportion; add such additives as ammonia water to control crystallization velocity of a hydroxide; and then react with an alkali to produce a deposit. In accordance with this method, add ammonia water into a base solution; after the salt solution is dripped into the base solution, first such metallic ions as Ni2+ and Co2+ have a complexation with ammonia (NH3) to produce a complex ion of X(NH3) n2+(n=1˜6, X=Ni, Co), concentration of the metallic ion being lowered; then amount of Ni2+ and Co2+ is dramatically reduced due to their reaction with OH− to produce a hydroxide deposit; and then M(NH3)n2+ releases the complex metallic ions to keep a certain concentration of the metallic ions in the solution. However, this method has the following shortcoming: After the salt solution is added into the base solution, ammonia (NH3) and OH− coexist with the metallic ions, resulting in a competitive behavior; and it is very difficult for ammonia (NH3) to control crystallization due to the fact that it is easier for OH− than NH3 to react with such ions as Ni2+ and Co2+, which makes the intermediate particles have an irregular microstructure and a wider size distribution.
Umicore, Belgium thinks that the material with a bigger particle size has a poorer cycling performance. According to the research done by Guoliang Wu et al., particle size distribution of the material has a remarkable influence on the discharge capacity, especially on the charge-discharge cycling performance; and the wider the particle size distribution, the poorer the cycling performance. The reason is that, the material with a wider particle size distribution will have a poor porosity, which affects its capillarity with an electrolyte and thus makes the impedance show higher; and when the battery is charged to an extreme potential, Li+ on surface of a big particle will deintercalate excessively, which will damage its layered structure and is to the disadvantage of the cycling performance.

Method for preparing spherical nickelous hydroxide which is dopped and multiple metal oxides, and lithium ion secondary battery


Augmented reality can be used to display previously captured images on a viewfinder of a camera as the camera's active position nears a position from which the picture was originally taken. A histogram file may associate the original image with positional information of the camera when the image was captured. When the cameras active position nears those coordinates, a transparent version of the digital image is displayed on the viewfinder of the camera. The positional information may include a spatial location of the camera (e.g., GPS coordinates, etc.) as well as an orientation of the camera (e.g., yaw, pitch, roll, etc.). Augmented reality can be used to guide the user to configure/re-configure the camera in order to correct (or avoid) an image quality issue/defect when re-taking a picture.

Various factors and/or settings can influence image quality when taking pictures or videos with modern digital cameras. Indeed, some features and settings may be adjusted by the user to enhance image quality. For instance, exposure related parameters (e.g., aperture, shutter speed, ISO speed, etc.) may be optimized for various lighting conditions. Further, a camera position can be shifted to improve image quality, as may be the case when a shadow or glare produces an image artifact. Novice users may lack the advanced knowledge/skill required to effectively manipulate camera settings and/or camera positioning to achieve optimal image quality. Accordingly, mechanisms for directing users to adjust camera settings and/or camera positioning are desired.

Camera augmented reality based activity history tracking


A MOS integrated circuit includes: a voltage-to-current conversion circuit configured to convert first and second voltages to a first current having a current value corresponding to the first voltage and a second current having a current value corresponding to the second voltage; and a current comparison circuit configured to compare the respective current values of the first and second currents and to output a voltage showing the comparison result. Oxide films of MOS transistors of the current comparison circuit are thinner than oxide films of MOS transistors of the voltage-to-current conversion circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) integrated circuit of a comparator, and an electronic equipment including the MOS integrated circuit.
2. Related Art
A conventional comparator has, for example, a structure as shown in FIG. 14. The comparator shown in FIG. 14 includes a current source 10, P-channel MOS transistors 11, 12 respectively receiving a differential voltage Vin, Vin′, N-channel MOS transistors 13, 14, and a buffer 15. The transistors of the comparator (i.e., the P-channel MOS transistors 11, 12, the N-channel MOS transistors 13, 14, and transistors of the buffer 15) have a gate oxide film of the same thickness.

MOS integrated circuit and electronic equipment including the same


A method for molding a cam ring which is provided on the peripheral surface thereof with convex cams whose shape in a developed view is non-linear, the cams overlapping each other at the ends thereof as viewed in the axial direction of the cam ring. The method includes setting first and second cylindrical split molding dies so that cam forming surfaces thereof are located in a normal molding position; and upon completion of a molding operation, rotating the first and second cylindrical split molding dies relative to each other and relative to the molded cam ring, in a direction of an angle not greater than the minimum angle defined between a tangential line on each corresponding the front and rear cam surfaces and the plane including the axis of the cam ring, to thereby part the first and second cylindrical split molding dies from the molded cam ring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for molding a cam ring with convex cams, a molding die assembly therefor, and a molded cam ring.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, a conventional lens barrel is provided on its peripheral surface (inner and/or outer peripheral surface), with a cam ring having a convex cam. A molding die assembly to mold the cam ring from a synthetic resin material is moved in the axial direction of the cam ring. To this end, if a plurality of identical convex cams are provided on the peripheral surface of the cam ring, it is necessary to form the convex cams so as not to overlap each other at the ends thereof, with respect to the axial direction thereof. Namely, in the case of a cam ring having, on its peripheral surface, for example, four identical convex cams which are spaced from one another at an equal angular distance, if the length of each convex cam in the circumferential direction is greater than 90 degrees, it is impossible to part the molding die which is moved in the axial direction of the cam ring from the molded product.
Of course, even if the convex cams partly overlap at the ends thereof with respect to the axial direction of the cam ring, it is in theory possible to realize a molding die capable of parting, by providing a complicated split structure for the molding die assembly. In this case, however, parting lines of the molding dies are produced on the cam surfaces of the convex cam. A parting line on the cam surface makes the cam surface profile defective, and accordingly, such a method is undesirable.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a die assembly for molding a cam ring having a plurality of convex cams whose ends overlap in the axial direction, wherein the cam ring can be molded without producing a parting line on the cam surface, and to provide a cam ring molded via such a method.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, a method is provided for molding a cam ring from synthetic resin, the cam ring being provided on the peripheral surface thereof with a plurality of convex cams whose shape in a developed view is non-linear so that an angle defined between a tangential line on each convex cam and a plane including an axis of the cam ring is smoothly varied, the convex cams overlapping each other at the ends thereof as viewed in the axial direction of the cam ring, wherein a first cylindrical split molding die having a cam forming surface corresponding to one of front and rear cam surfaces of the convex cams, and a second cylindrical split molding die having a cam forming surface corresponding to the other of the front and rear cam surfaces of the convex cams are provided. The method includes setting the first and second cylindrical split molding dies so that the respective cam forming surfaces are located in a normal molding position to mold the cam ring having the convex cams; and upon completion of a molding operation, rotating the first and second cylindrical split molding dies relative to each other and relative to the molded cam ring, in a direction of an angle not greater than the minimum angle defined between the tangential line on each corresponding the front and rear cam surfaces and the plane including the axis of the cam ring, to thereby part the first and second cylindrical split molding dies from the molded cam ring.
In an embodiment, the cam forming surfaces of the first and second cylindrical split molding dies and a plane which includes an axis of the cam ring and intersects the cam forming surfaces are perpendicular to each other.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a molded cam ring having convex cams can be provided, wherein the molded cam ring is produced by the above-described method.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a molding die assembly is provided, for molding a cam ring from synthetic resin, the cam ring being provided on the peripheral surface thereof with a plurality of convex cams whose shape in a developed view is non-linear so that an angle defined between a tangential line on each convex cam and a plane including an axis of the cam ring is smoothly varied, the convex cams overlapping each other at the ends thereof as viewed in the axial direction of the cam ring, the molding die assembly including a pair of cylindrical split molding dies having cam forming surfaces corresponding to front and rear cam surfaces of the convex cams, respectively; and oblique parting surfaces provided on the pair of cylindrical split molding dies respectively, the parting surfaces being oriented in a direction of an angle not greater than the minimum angle defined between the tangential lines on the front and rear cam surfaces and a plane including the axis of the cam ring. The oblique parting surfaces are entirely brought into surface contact with each other when the cam forming surfaces are located in a normal molding position, and the cylindrical split molding dies are relatively rotatable along the oblique parting surfaces.
In an embodiment, the cam forming surfaces of the cylindrical split molding dies and a plane which includes an axis of the molded cam ring and intersects the cam forming surfaces are perpendicular to each other.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a molded cam ring can be produced by the above-described molding die assembly.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a cam ring molded from synthetic resin is provided, having on the peripheral surface thereof a plurality of convex cams whose shape in a developed view is non-linear so that an angle defined between a tangential line on each convex cam and a plane including an axis of the cam ring mold is smoothly varied, the convex cams overlapping each other at the ends thereof as viewed in the axial direction of the cam ring, wherein a parting line is not produced on the cam surfaces of the convex cams by split molding dies which are used to form the cam ring mold.
In an embodiment, cam forming surfaces of the split molding dies and a plane which includes an axis of the molded cam ring and intersects the cam forming surfaces are perpendicular to each other.
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-241719 (filed on Aug. 9, 2000) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Method for molding cam ring with convex cams, molding die assembly, and molded cam ring


An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor configured to capture an image of a subject, a finder optical system configured to enable a photographer to optically observe the subject, and an image display unit disposed in the finder optical system and configured to display an image of the subject captured by the image sensor and to enable the photographer to observe an electronic image of the subject when the photographer looks in the finder optical system. The image display unit is configured to display an image having been subjected to image processing performed on the electronic image considering a distortion caused by the finder optical system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that can capture an electronic image.
2. Description of the Related Art
As discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-282004, there is a conventional camera that enables a photographer to know a rate of an image-capturing screen occupied by an area having calculated adequate exposure value and approximately adequate exposure value when the photographer looks in a finder.
The above-described camera is configured to display an object image on a focusing screen of the finder and also display exposure conditions (e.g., subject luminance distribution, shutter speed, and diaphragm state) of the camera on separate display units positioned near the finder. The camera can divide the object image into a plurality of segments in a two-dimensional matrix pattern and measure the luminance in each segment. A central processing unit (i.e., CPU) provided in the camera can process the measured luminance data.
A histogram, which can be displayed by the display unit of the camera, includes a central portion indicating the number of segments whose luminance is optimum for the designed exposure conditions, a right side indicating the number of segments having higher luminance values, and a left side indicating the number of segments having lower luminance values.
According to the camera discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-282004, photographers cannot confirm various conditions that may be required to capture intended photographs even though the photographers can know the rate of the image-capturing screen occupied by the area having calculated adequate exposure value and the approximately adequate exposure values when the photographers look in the finder.
For example, photographers cannot confirm whether an appropriate white balance is set, whether a shutter speed is adequate to prevent a blur of an image, whether a subject is in focus, and whether a composition resulting from an image stabilization operation is an intended one.
Moreover, photographers cannot confirm the presence of a foreign particle adhered to an optical low-pass filter and a mode setting state that can be switched between a color mode and a monochrome mode. From the foregoing reasons, the camera is desired to let photographers confirm a previously captured image in a shooting operation.


A top case arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a motorcycle or a motor-cycle like vehicle, and a vehicle having such a top case, are provided. The top case arrangement includes a top-case, and a base support arranged below the top case. The base support connects to the vehicle structure and includes connecting sections for selectively connecting armrests to the base support. The top case includes in the region of the lower side, at least one cavity in which both connecting sections are arranged when the top case is in an installed position on the vehicle.

The invention relates to a top case arrangement, in particular to a top case arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a motorcycle or a motorcycle-like vehicle, a vehicle equipped with such a top case arrangement.
Top cases with integrated armrests are known, for example, from US patent specifications U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,187 B and 4,600,208 B. The armrests are installed fixed to the vehicle so that such top case arrangements do not offer the user any possibility of optionally removing the armrests where necessary.
The object of the invention is therefore to provide armrests which can be mounted and dismounted, where necessary, on such a vehicle in a manner which is easy and also for inexperienced users and the vehicle also remains safely usable for the user even in the dismounted state.
There is accordingly provided a top case arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a motorcycle or a motorcycle-like vehicle, with a top case and a base support arranged below the top case, wherein the base support is formed for connection to a vehicle structure and has two linking portions for optional linking of two armrests to the base support. The top case furthermore has in the region of an under side at least one indentation in which both linking portions of the base support are arranged.
This means that the base support comprises at least two linking portions which are arranged in each case for optional linking of one of the two armrests. The top case is configured in such a manner that it has, on its under side, i.e. the outwardly facing surface of a base, or at least in the region of this under side, the one or more indentation. An indentation is to be understood, for example, as a recess, an undercut, an offset or a clearance of the base which is provided in the otherwise, for example, case- or chest-shaped contour of the top case and provides a receiving volume for receiving one or both linking portions.
The receiving volume is accordingly a space defined by the indentation, which space is defined on one hand by the wall provided by the indentation and on the other hand is opened with respect to the surroundings. The indentation can be defined, for example, by side walls, which protrude beyond the under side, of the top case. In this case, the side walls protrude, for example, in the downward direction.
The receiving volume defined by the indentation should fundamentally be differentiated from an actual luggage volume of the top case, wherein luggage can be arranged in the luggage volume and is enclosed by the top case.
In each case, at least in the installed or installable state of the top case arrangements, the two linking portions are positioned inside this at least one indentation. The two linking portions can accordingly be arranged in the same indentation or in each case in a separate indentation. The rest of the base support can also be arranged either in one or two indentations, or in an additional indentation of the under side of the base or outside such indentations.
The top case arrangement offers the particular possibility that the linking portions are arranged in the at least one indentation in such a manner that they do not protrude beyond its outer contour at least in a lateral direction of the top case. The linking portions can additionally also be arranged entirely in the at least one indentation so that they, also on the under side of the top case, do not protrude out of the associated indentation and thus beyond the contour of the top case.
In this manner, the possibility of a permanent fastening of the base support to the vehicle is created irrespective of whether the armrests are mounted or not. In the event that no armrests are connected to the linking portions, rather only the base support is provided on the vehicle, a projection of the linking portions beyond the top case is avoided and thus hindrance to the user or a risk of injury by otherwise projecting linking portions is effectively eliminated.
Where necessary, the armrests can be fastened to the top case arrangement without further complex measures. Dismounting or mounting of the armrests can thus be carried out without simultaneous dismounting or mounting of the base support and is thus possible even for inexperienced users without greater outlay. Instead, the base support can be part of the top case arrangement and thus remains mounted on the vehicle at all times during user operation.
According to one embodiment, the top case forms, in a non-mounted state of the armrests, a covering at least of the two linking portions of the base support by means of the at least one indentation.
For example, the top case can, for this purpose, have the two described side walls which, for the formation of the indentation, project beyond the under side of the top case and additionally comprise in each case a removable wall portion which forms at least one lateral covering of one of the two linking portions. This means that the side walls of the top case, as a result of their projection beyond the under side, laterally delimit the indentation and thus define the receiving volume. The wall portions are to be understood as removable sub-portions of the side walls. For the receiving portions arranged (at least partially) in the indentation, this means that these are covered and protected at least by the downwardly protruding side walls in the lateral direction.
All spatial indications, in particular "top", "front", "rear", "below" and "lateral", are to be understood in terms of an orientation of the top case arrangement in an installed state on the vehicle and in accordance with its orientation. For example, the side walls of the top case are accordingly oriented according to the corresponding vehicle sides.
These removable wall portions can furthermore be connected in each case by means of a positive-locking and/or non-positive connection detachably to the respectively assigned side wall (i.e. to be more precise: of the remainder of the side wall) of the top case. This offers the possibility of removing the lateral covering of the linking portions where necessary and making these accessible, in particular for connection to in each case one armrest. In this case, only the respective detachable wall portion must be removed. The wall portion is correspondingly formed as a removable panel.
It is furthermore possible that the under side of the top case comprises one or more further recesses for at least partial reception of the base support. This means that the base support on the under side of the top case can be inserted into the recess(es) fully or only with further portions so that a compact and modular top case arrangement is provided. These recesses can also be embodied as further depressions, indentations or undercuts.
The base support is preferably formed for connection to a vehicle structure embodied as a rear frame. The top case can also be connected to the base support, in particular fastened thereon.
Each of the two linking portions can furthermore be configured for positive-locking and/or non-positive linking in each case of an armrest. The term armrest refers, for example, to armrest stumps which are connected to the base support and are fastened via this to the vehicle structure.
For example, the two linking portions are arranged at opposite ends of the base support. The armrests can correspondingly be attached at both sides of the top case and thus on both sides of the vehicle or at both sides of a vehicle user sitting on the vehicle.
Moreover, there is proposed a vehicle, in particular a motorcycle or a motorcycle-like vehicle, with a top case arrangement, wherein the top case arrangement is formed according to the description. The term motorcycle-like vehicle refers in particular to all single-track vehicles, but also to multi-track vehicles in each case with a corresponding saddle-shaped seat or seat bench for the user, particularly preferably two-wheeled, three-wheeled or four-wheeled motor scooters and scooters, as well as quads or trikes.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A display device includes: a display panel including a plurality of pixels; a power voltage generator to generate a high power voltage that is provided to the pixels through a high power line; a degradation compensator to calculate a degradation degree of the pixels by measuring a power current flowing through the high power voltage line, and to calculate a compensation amount of a degradation of the pixels based on the degradation degree of the pixels and image data provided to the pixels; a scan driver to provide scan signals to the pixels; a data driver to provide data signals to the pixels; and a timing controller to generate control signals to control the power voltage generator, the degradation compensator, the scan driver, and the data driver.

1. Field
One or more aspects of example embodiments of the present inventive concept relate generally to a display device. More particularly, one or more aspects of example embodiments of the present inventive concept relate to a display device and an electronic device having the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flat panel display (FPD) devices are widely used as a display device of electronic devices, because FPD devices are relatively lightweight and thin compared to cathode-ray tube (CRT) display devices. Examples of FPD devices include liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, field emission display (FED) devices, plasma display panel (PDP) devices, and organic light emitting display (OLED) devices. The OLED devices have been spotlighted as the next-generation display devices, because the OLED devices have a wide viewing angle, a rapid response speed, a thin thickness, low power consumption, etc.
An organic light emitting diode included in a pixel of the OLED device may be degraded as time passes. Luminance of the pixel that is emitted corresponding to a data signal may be reduced as the organic light emitting diode is degraded. Thus, a compensating method of the degradation of the organic light emitting diode has been studied.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention, and therefore, it may contain information that does not constitute prior art.

Display device including a degradation compensator and electronic device having the same


A metal composite for use in electrochemical devices is disclosed. The metal composite comprises a stainless steel interior component and a deposited nitrided metal exterior layer, wherein the nitrided exterior layer has lower electric contact resistance and greater corrosion resistance than the stainless steel interior component. A bipolar plate made of such metal composite and methods of producing the metal composite and bipolar plate are also disclosed.

Electrochemical devices such as fuel cells and batteries typically involve corrosive electrochemical reactions and high electric current flow. Some of the key components of such electrochemical devices require high corrosion resistance and very low electric resistance for long product life and minimal energy loss. Bipolar plates in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, for example, must be cost effective, electrochemically stable, electrically conductive, hydrophilic, and stampable. Sophisticated designs with flow channels on both sides of the plate can be formed by a metal stamping process. Stainless steels posses some of those desirable characteristics including low cost and stampability. The presence of the passive oxide film on the surface of stainless steel, however, creates an extensive contact resistance with the gas diffusion medium. In addition, typical stainless steels do not have the corrosion resistance required for a bipolar plate in a demanding fuel cell. Corrosion of a bipolar plate also results in metal ion contamination that adversely affects the performance of a fuel cell. A conductive coating of noble metals, such as gold, has been used to minimize the electric contact resistance of the stainless steel. Noble metal coating adds significantly to the cost of the bipolar plate. Thermal nitriding of certain types of stainless steel has also been disclosed. Relatively expensive types of stainless steel are required in order to achieve the desired corrosion resistance and low electric contact resistance. The thermal nitriding process inherently generates a non-uniform and heterogeneous surface layer. Desired consistency and reliability may be difficult to achieve in large volume production using a thermal nitriding process. There is thus a need for a low cost, highly corrosion resistant, and highly conductive material for electrochemical devices.

Corrosion resistant metal composite for electrochemical devices and methods of producing the same


An optical printing apparatus is provided for use in color printing systems wherein an image is projected by a fiber-optic faceplate CRT onto an imaging sheet which contains a layer of pressure rupturable capsules, each capsule encapsulating a photoreactive composition and a chromogenic material. The image is focused on a display screen of the fiber-optic faceplate CRT and transmitted through a plurality of optical fibers in parallel so that the image can be sharply focused on the imaging sheet. A scanning technique permits multiple exposures of the imaging sheet and results in the development of a color image having distinct color gradations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a capsule rupture printing system for recording an image in an imaging sheet with a layer of subminiature capsules, and more particularly to a system comprising a cathode-ray tube which projects images or information to be recorded onto the imaging sheet.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A review of the prior art reveals a number of existing printing systems, namely; a thermotransferring printing system, an inkjet printing system and a xerography system.
The thermotransferring printing system selectively energizes plural heat generating elements which are disposed on a thermal head. Using the heat radiated from the selected heat generating elements, an ink on a surface of an ink sheet is melted. The ink is then transferred onto a sheet of recording paper for printing image and letter information.
In this system, a dot of ink corresponding to the area of one heat generating element adheres onto the sheet of recording paper and thereby producing one pixel. There are two methods for tone gradation printing according to this system: one is to repetitively print at one spot to change the density of a printed pixel; and the other is to change a printed area per unit area. However, using the former method is required in order a long time to obtain a tone gradation. According to the later method, the area of a pixel is large and therefore the quality of printed pixel is low. Furthermore, when full color printings are required, three printing processes for three different colors, cyan, magenta and yellow, are used in order to produce a color picture. As a result, there occurs a mis-superpose of colors in which three pictures of different colors are not perfectly superposed on top of the other. The result is that it takes a long time to produce a full color picture. The inkjet printing system has the same problems as those of the thermotransferring printing system.
Finally there is the xerography system, whereby an image or pattern is formed on a cylindrical sensitized or photoconductive drum whose outer surface is coated with a photoconductive material such as Se, ZnO, amorphous Si or an organic semiconductor. Areas on the outer surface of the photoconductive drum, which correspond to a desired image to be reproduced, are exposed to light, and electrostatically charged to form a latent image. The latent image is developed by using a toner, and the toner image is then transferred to paper. The xerography system described above is characterized by its capability of reproducing images at a comparatively high speed. However, since this system employs an optical system for producing the latent images on the photoconductive drum, it requires that the drum be made to extremely tight dimensional tolerances. Moreover, since the toner is always consumed, it is necessary to always store and supplement the toner. Accordingly, the cost of manufacturing the drum and the copying apparatus is considerably high. Further, the construction of the apparatus becomes complicated and the maintenance, thereof, troublesome.
In order to solve the above problems, imaging systems based on using a photosensitive sheet are known, F. W. Sanders et. al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,399,209 and 4,440,846 describes an imaging system wherein a photosensitive layer comprising microcapsules containing a photosensitive composition in the internal phase is image-wise exposed to actinic radiation and subjected to a uniform rupturing force whereupon the microcapsules rupture and image-wise release the internal phase. Image-forming agents such as substantially colorless chromogenic materials are typically associated with the microcapsules, so that when the microcapsules rupture, the chromogenic materials are able to image-wise react with a developer material and produce a color image. As the photosensitive composition encapsuled in microcapsules on the imaging sheet solidifies to varying degrees according to the amount of exposure to light, the amounts of chromogenic materials released from the capsules vary depending upon the degrees of exposure to the light. Consequently, a tone of the printed-out image can be changed. Isobe et. al. disclose in their Japanese laid-open Pat. No. 61-143738 a method to project an image displayed on a CRT display as shown in FIG. 7 onto an imaging sheet coated with the microcapsules, which is disposed adjacent to the display screen of the CRT display, and records its latent image on the imaging sheet. Unlike the xerography system, the Isobe system does not require a photoconductive drum for producing a latent image nor a toner, and therefore the apparatus can be manufactured at a low cost and in small size, and, of course, the maintenance for the drum and toner is not required. However, according to this system, light, emitted from a fluorescent material 16 coated on the inner face of a glass plate 17 composing a CRT display screen, pass through the glass plate 17, and then through a space between the CRT display screen and the imaging sheet, and reach the imaging sheet, and as a result, an image focused on the CRT display becomes out of focus on the imaging sheet.

Photosensitive microcapsule sheet recorder with CRT image projection


A light-sensitive lithographic printing plate comprising a support having on at least one surface thereof a light-sensitive layer, said light-sensitive layer exhibiting a higher oleophilicity (high affinity to grease) at the outermost surface thereof than in the balance of the light-sensitive layer. This light-sensitive lithographic printing plate is capable of beginning the printing operation with a relatively small number of spoilages and exhibits not only excellent press life but also high developability and excellent storage stability.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-sensitive lithographic printing plate (or so-called presensitized plate) and more particularly to an improved light-sensitive lithographic printing plate in which a light-sensitive layer has a particular constitution.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The light-sensitive materials previously used in presensitized printing plates are, for the most part, diazonium compounds and of such compounds, the most frequently used are diazo resins such as the formaldehyde condensates of p-diazodiphenylamines. On the occasion that such a diazo resin is coated on an appropriate support such as a sheet of paper, a plastic film, a metal plate or the like and the resulting coating is exposed to actinic radiation through a negative transparency, the diazo resin present undergoes photodecomposition in the exposed areas and is converted into water-insoluble substances (such portions are hereinafter referred to as the image areas). On the other hand, the unexposed areas are subsequently washed out with water and thereby the surface of the support is exposed in areas corresponding to the unexposed areas (such portions are hereinafter referred to as non-image areas). When the support used has been subjected to a preliminary treatment so as to render the surface thereof hydrophilic, the hydrophilic surface is exposed in the unexposed areas through development. Accordingly, this area accepts water and repels greasy ink on an offset printing machine. On the other hand, the photodecomposition products of a diazo resin display an oleophilic property and repel water and accept greasy ink thereon. Light-sensitive printing plates of this kind are the so-called negative working light-sensitive printing plates.
Compositions of the light-sensitive layers suitable for the light-sensitive printing plates of the above-described kind can be grouped into two classes: One class includes compositions consisting of diazo resins alone, namely compositions free from binders, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,066; and the other class includes compositions consisting of combinations of diazo resins and binders, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,826,501 and British Pat. No. 1,074,392. In the former case, the thickness of the light-sensitive layer is on the order of 20 to 100 mg/m.sup.2 (converted to a basis of coated weight) due to the absence of a binder. The light-sensitive layer can only provide an image possessing low abrasion resistance and short press life as it stands. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the image areas. In order to afford printing plates that can resist various kinds of mechanical forces such as friction, peeling and like forces, which occur during the printing process certain resins are selectively fixed on the image areas using lacquers in the form of emulsions simultaneously with or after the development-processing. Lacquers employed for such purpose must have excellent abrasion resistance, be able to adhere to the image part and not likely to cause catch up, scum and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 2,754,279 discloses an improved lacquer composition. However, since plate-making operators coat lacquers on the lithographic printing plates and further many of the abilities of the printing plates obtained depend on whether lacquers are coated thereon skillfully or unskillfully, great skill is required. With the intention of overcoming such disadvantages, light-sensitive lithographic printing plates incorporating in the light-sensitive layers together with diazo resins, resins excellent in abrasion resistance corresponding to the above-described lacquers, and in which the light-sensitive layers are adjusted so as to have the requisite thickness (about 0.5 to 5 g/m.sup.2) have been proposed as disclosed in each of U.S. Pat. No. 2,826,501 and British Pat. No. 1,074,392. When the light-sensitive lithographic printing plate of this kind is exposed to light through an image-bearing transparency and subsequently development-processed using a certain developing solution, the unexposed areas of the light-sensitive layer can be removed from the base and the exposed areas of the light-sensitive layer are left on the base, because the exposed areas possess lower solubility in the developing solution or lower facility upon swelling in the developing solution than the unexposed areas do. Accordingly, the thus-obtained lithographic printing plates exhibit excellent printabilities equivalent or superior to those attained in the case that the above-described lacquers are coated upon the image areas after development.
However, in the case of the incorporation of resins into the light-sensitive layers the compatibilities of the resins used with the diazo resins and the selection of common solvents are important, and the resins contained as binders in the light-sensitive layers must have such a property that the exposed areas of the light-sensitive layer containing the resin functioning as a binder becomes, on the whole, insoluble in the developing solution through photodecomposition of the light-sensitive substance, or there is a clear difference in solubility or in the degree of swelling between the exposed and the unexposed areas, namely excellent hardening property. Further the coexistence of the resin with the light-sensitive diazo resin cannot cause deterioration in the storage stability of the light-sensitive layer. That is, properties of the light-sensitive layer such as sensitivity, developability, etc., are maintained at fresh levels upon storage. It has been known that certain water-soluble colloids can produce resists of very high quality when employed as binders for diazo resins but they deteriorate in a few days due to a dark reaction and lose their sensitivities to light.
As resins possessing many of the properties required for the above-described purposes to a satisfactory extent, shellac as described in British Pat. No. 1,350,521; homopolymers of hydroxyalkylacrylates or hydroxyalkylmethacrylates or copolymers prepared from either of the above-described monomers and one or more of a copolymerizable monomer, as described in British Pat. Nos. 1,460,978; 1,475,599 and 1,505,739; and so on have been known.
However, even in the lithographic printing plates made using light-sensitive lithographic printing plates having light-sensitive layers comprising such binders and diazo resins, the sensitivity to grease (namely the ability to accept greasy ink employed for lithographic printing) in the image areas is low. Therefore, when prints are produced in large numbers repeatedly using the same printing plate, the first sheets of prints have low image densities and only upon subsequent printing are prints of desired image densities obtained. Accordingly, the first sheets of prints having low image densities cannot but be discarded as spoilages. The solution of this problem has been sought earnestly by one skilled in the printing art for a long time.
Now, as a technical approach for producing light-sensitive lithographic printing plates which can afford lithographic printing plates having image areas possessing high oleophilic property (i.e., affinity to grease), a method in which a small amount of binder having a strong oleophilic character is added to the light-sensitive layer has been adopted. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,297 corresponding to Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 125806/75 (the term "OPI" as used herein refers to a "published unexamined Japanese patent application") discloses a process for imparting a high affinity to grease to the light-sensitive layer in which a strongly oleophilic novolak type t-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin is homogeneously incorporated in small amounts into the light-sensitive layer comprising an o-quinonediazide and a novolak type cresol-formaldehyde resin. However, there are various restrictions on the material such as the strongly oleophilic binder employed to increase the oleophilic property must possess good compatibility with the binder employed for improving the press life and must not reduce developability. Under these circumstances, such an approach can be applied only with an extremely limited range of binders. In practice, although the above-described approach has been applied to the negative type light-sensitive lithographic printing plates disclosed in British Pat. No. 1,475,599 for the purpose of producing lithographic printing plates more excellent in the affinity to grease, satisfactory results could not be obtained.

Light-sensitive lithographic printing plate and compositions therefore with multiple resins


A display apparatus includes a first pixel, a second pixel, a light sensor, and a light shield. The first pixel has a first light-emitting device which includes a first emission layer that emits light in a first wavelength band in a first direction. The second pixel has a second light-emitting device which includes a second emission layer to emit light in a second wavelength band in a second direction different from the first direction. The second emission layer is below the first emission layer of the first light-emitting device. The light sensor senses light in the second wavelength band emitted from the second pixel and reflected by an object. The light shield is arranged along a light path incident to the light sensor.

1. Field
One or more embodiments described herein relate to a display apparatus and a method of manufacturing a display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
The demand for measuring or sensing biometric information is increasing. Biometric information may be measured or sensed using separate devices, one device for irradiating light onto a human body and another device for collecting light reflected from or transmitted in the human body.

Display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same