A method of encoding invisible identification code into an image, which is highly resistant to degradation across communications links, and which does not require the presence of the original image for decoding, comprises analyzing the image and determining strongly featured regions such as edges, and inserting code into such regions by altering the structure of the image in a predictable manner, as for example a concave elliptical insert centered on and aligned with an edge, which alteration is not visible to the eye. When decoding, area of concavity are determined, and a correlation is performed with a predicted insert function to assess whether code has been inserted. A hardware embodiment is described.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the insertion, and subsequent decoding, of coded information into images.
It is known to insert codes into images for example video transmissions or video clips or stills transmitted across a telecommunication link, for the purpose of identifying the owner of the images. There are a number of known schemes for inserting identification codes into the sync periods, and more recently it has been proposed to insert identification codes into the image itself, but in such a manner that the code cannot be detected by the eye.
All of the schemes heretofore proposed suffer from the disadvantage that low pass filtering and other processes such as data compression, which may occur in image compression algorithms or transmission across a telecommunication link may remove the code or degrade it to an extent where it cannot be recognised.
EP-A-0581317 discloses a scheme wherein relative extrema of intensity within the image are detected and the intensity values are modified by a certain amount. This provides a large number of sites within the image and a signature is created by modifying the value of intensity at selected sites. Although it is claimed that this method is resistant to certain types of image processing, nevertheless a more robust scheme for transmission e.g. broadcasting is desirable. Further, a disadvantage with this method is that in order to recover the encoded digital signature, it is necessary to have to hand the original image; this severely limits the application of the method.
WO 95/14289, published on May 26, 1995, discloses the embedding of an identification code throughout an image by modulating a digitised version of the image with a small noise signal. The specific system described suffers from the disadvantage of requiring to hand the original image for code identification. Further improvements in code robustness for transmission over telecommunications links or broadcasting are also desirable.
WO 95/20291, published on Jul. 27, 1995, discloses a method of hiding copyright related messages with a digital data work, which relies on commonly occurring patterns or sequences of data in the work acting as signposts to target data elements which are modified according to certain rules. The disclosed method suffers from a lack of robustness to signal degradation.
All of the above references suffer from a disadvantage that they are concerned wholly or principally with the digital domain, and the disclosed techniques are not suited to the analog domain, in particular where digital to analog conversion and analog to digital conversion may easily lose or degrade individual pixel values.
WO 89/08915 discloses an invasive coding technique in which insignificant digits of recorded material are replaced with a code digit from an independent sequence. WO 90/09663 discloses a non-invasive technique wherein data words are identified according to predetermined criteria and a unique identifying pattern is created therefrom. Neither of these techniques is well suited to practical use such as in broadcasting applications.
An object of the present invention is to provide a highly robust method of encoding information into an image, which is highly resistant to image manipulation and degradation and is effective equally in analog and digital domains.
The present invention is based in one aspect on the realisation that coded information may be inserted into an image in strongly featured regions of the image in such a way that the code is resistant to image compression and/or low pass filtering such as may occur in transmission over telecommunication links, but is not visible to the eye, and furthermore the code does not require for decoding the presence of the original image.
In a first specific aspect, the invention provides a method for inserting coded information into an image, comprising analysing the image, identifying strongly featured regions and inserting coded information into these regions.
By strongly featured regions is meant, for the purposes of this specification, regions of primary strength to which the eye responds in viewing an image for example textured regions or lines or boundaries between two regions of different luminance, wherein in such regions, it is possible to insert a relatively large amount of information without significantly altering the image in its appearance to the eye; such regions will be referred to herein as "strongly featured region(s) as defined herein". It is possible in some applications in order for an adequate prospect of decoding the code, that the code is inserted at an intensity which may risk some visible artefact; nevertheless the present invention always permits the possibility of completely invisible code insertion.
Because the method of the invention relies on an analysis of the entire image and code being inserted in strongly featured regions rather than in individual pixels as in the prior art, the code is better able to survive analog to digital conversions and digital to analog conversions, where there will inevitably be pixel misalignments. between the original and processed images, and hence the pixel values will be apparently altered.
As preferred, edge regions between areas of different luminance are employed since these are very distinctive and will permit code insertion without visibly degrading the image. However, edge regions between areas of different chrominance may alternatively or in addition be employed. In a further preferred form, textured regions may be employed as will hereinafter be described.
As preferred, the coded information is inserted into strongly featured regions by altering the structure of the image in such region in a predictable or identifiable manner. The structure of the image may be altered by inserting a distinct subimage, for example a rectangular bar or ellipse along the length of an edge region. Alternatively and as preferred, the image is altered by applying an insert function to an area including the strongly featured region, which insert function gradually decreases in intensity from the centre of its region of application, so as to blend with the surrounding region.
A main advantage of applying the coded information by altering the image in a predictable or identifiable manner is that the information can be recovered in a decoding process at a remote location without having the original to hand. Thus, upon decoding, the image is analysed and a search is made for any feature resembling the structural alteration. If one or more features can provisionally be identified, then such features can be regarded as coded information; as preferred a "confidence factor" may be attached to each detected feature denoting the degree of reliability of the identification.
Prior to inserting the information, the image is preferably analysed to determine at least one masking threshold or masking parameter which provides a measure of by how much the structure of the image may be altered without risking the coded information becoming visible. If such threshold or parameter is sufficient to enable insertion of coded information of sufficient intensity to permit decoding, the coded information is inserted at a level determined by the masking parameter or threshold.
Thus as preferred an assessment is made of the strength or energy of the strongly featured regions within the image, in order to determine the permissible strength of insertion. This assessment value is employed to appropriately scale the insert function as it is inserted into the image. Further masking thresholds may be provided by assessing whether the image is suitable for code insertion, for example the degree of consistency of the edge, the definition of the edge centre, and the strength to prevent insertions when the image is determined to be unsuitable.
Thus in a more specific aspect, the invention provides a method for inserting coded information into an image, comprising analysing the image, identifying strongly featured regions, determining for at least one such region a masking parameter, and inserting coded information into such region in a predictable or identifiable manner by an amount determined by said masking parameter.
As preferred the coded information is inserted into an edge region by varying the luminance intensity in a local area, along the length of an edge, for example, by applying over the area a luminance intensity having a non-linear contour, for example a concave or convex function, which is aligned with the edge. A function applied in this way may represent a digital "1" or "0" according to whether it is concave or convex (for the purposes of this specification, where the terms concave, concavity and concaveness are used, they are to be understood as including convexity, which may be regarded as concavity with a negative radius of curvature). Such a method is very resistant to signal degradation arising for example from image compression. Other methods of encoding may be envisaged for example applying a non-linear function which varies perpendicular to the edge.
For textured regions, an example of which is a carpet with several colours distributed at random in the carpet fibre, a code would be inserted by first performing a statistical cluster analysis on the image to identify regions which consist of two or more basic values which are randomly distributed. The most intense "foreground" value is determined, and a circular function, appropriately scaled by a suitable masking parameter, centred in the textured region and gradually diminishing to zero radially, is applied to the foreground pixels to modulate their intensities. In the decoding process, a similar analysis is applied to the image, and the set of foreground pixels in each textured region is analysed to assess whether such circular function has been applied.
As preferred, the image, e.g. a video frame or field, is divided up into a number M.times.N of blocks in M rows and N columns, each block comprising n.times.n pixel elements (e.g. 8.times.8). Strongly featured regions are searched in each block for insertion of code. In order to encode a significant amount of information into an image, it is necessary to apply the insertion function to a number of featured regions, say edges, in the image. If for example, one edge is chosen in each block into which the image is divided, then in order to increase confidence when attempting to recognise the code, the edges in one row may be encoded according to two separate pseudo-random codes, representing a "1" or "0". Thus when an image is scanned for a code, the insertion function in each block may or may not be located with a degree of confidence. The identified functions for a row of blocks, with appropriate confidence weighting factors, are compared with the pseudo-random codes to derive a "1" or "0" with a much higher confidence factor.
However as preferred and as an alternative to relying on rows of blocks, each row representing one bit, the various blocks which together represent one bit, may be distributed throughout the image according to a further predetermined code. Thus, when decoding an image, knowledge of the predetermined code enables the blocks to be grouped together for analysis with the pseudo random codes to determine the value of the bit. This method has the advantage that areas where no edges occur, for example background regions of sky, can be avoided.
Although two pseudo random codes of ones and zeros are preferred for decoding data, other pseudo random codes may be employed. For example, a single pseudo random code may be employed where a watermarking type code is required indicating ownership of the image. Other types of code may also be employed.
A problem with dividing an image into a number of blocks occurs in decoding the image, since if there are only a few edges in the image and many blocks without an edge, it is difficult to maintain synchronisation with the encoding process.
As a means of overcoming this problem, the video synchronisation process may be altered so that synchronisation occurs at the start of each row or line of blocks; if then as described above, each row represents a single bit of information, a secure method of coding is provided. One means of providing synchronisation information, for example, where video images are employed, is to use the line sync pulses as a method of synchronisation. As an alternative, a very low frequency modulation may be applied to an entire image (for example a digitised still photograph image) so that there is provided a part of a cycle or one or two cycles of a low frequency modulation across the width and/or height of the image to enable centering of the decoding process onto this low frequency modulation, in a manner somewhat analogous to an archer's target. In any event, the decoding stage will automatically align to the reception of digital information to permit the required synchronisation.
In regions of the image where there does not occur strong features, for example background regions, it may be desired to insert a code in the form of a region of fixed or variable luminance, for example a circle which although relatively large in size, is not visible to the eye. This ensures that coding information is present in all parts of an image for robustness of transmission and decoding.
In a further specific object therefore the present invention provides a method of coding information into an image, dividing the image in M.times.N blocks in N rows and M columns, and inserting into selected blocks code information of one of a plurality of types, the type of code inserted depending on an assessment of the image features in the respective block.
The present invention also extends to a method of decoding, and according the invention provides in a further aspect a method of decoding information contained in an image, the method comprising analysing the image, identifying strongly featured regions, determining for at least one such region an anticipated insertion of coded information, and correlating such anticipated insertion with the image to determine whether there has been inserted into the strongly featured region coded information.
As preferred in the decoding method, similar processing steps are carried out as in the encoding method, involving analysing the image and defining an anticipated insertion function, as will become clear in the description of the preferred embodiment.
The present invention also extends to apparatus for carrying out any of the aforesaid aspects of the invention.
The information encoded into an image may be used for a variety of purposes, for example as follows:
to insert copyright or identification information in video clips or films; PA1 to insert copyright or identification information into stills; PA1 to log when adverts or films are played in broadcasts, for monitoring purposes; PA1 to identify the master copy from which pirated videos are copied.
The information encoded may represent coding information which initiates operations within the decoding apparatus, or provides specific identification information, for example copyright information with the name of the copyright owner etc. Alternatively, the information may be merely analogous to a watermark, serving merely to identify the source of the image information but not being specific to the particular image.

Method and apparatus for coding information by inserting codes in strongly featured image regions


A multi-colored dental floss includes a unitary and flexible core member with an elongated shape provided with opposed first and second ends. The second end is covered by a multi-colored outer coating surrounding an entire circumference thereof, and the first end is an exposed outer surface spaced from the multi-colored outer coating such that the beginning segment remains uncolored. An housing is provided with a bottom cavity, a planar top surface spanning across an entire top side of the cavity, a cutting implement directly attached to the top surface and nested within a first one of the apertures, and a lid pivotally attached to the top surface. The multi-colored dental floss further includes a spool statically seated within the housing, and the core member is concentrically wound about the spool and channeled upwardly therefrom.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to dental floss and, more particularly, to multi-colored dental floss for notifying a user of an end portion of the dental floss.
2. Prior Art
Brushing one's teeth is one of the most important parts of healthy hygiene. In addition to freshening the breath and strengthening the teeth, proper brushing also kills the germs and bacteria that can grow inside the mouth. Recently, the Office of the Surgeon General released its first ever report on the oral health of America and the results were surprising. According to the report, the most common chronic childhood disease by far in this country is tooth decay. In fact, American children lose a staggering 512 million school hours a year due to dental related illness.
Adults also suffer from various forms of dental disease and these complications can lead to painful oral surgeries and costly trips to the dentist. A booming industry, the national health expenditures for dental services exceeded sixty billion dollars in the year 2003. While the Office of the Surgeon General reports that there have been vast improvements in the past fifty years regarding oral health issues, much can still be done in this area. Health professionals maintain that through education and a concerted effort, the number of adults and children suffering from dental disease can be significantly reduced.
To have a healthy smile, the American Dental Association recommends that teeth should be brushed at least twice daily. In addition to brushing, daily flossing has been the prescription for healthy teeth and gums offered by dental hygienists for over 80 years. While flossing is not as widespread as it should be due to what some perceive as challenges, from bleeding gums to dexterity difficulties to the time-consuming nature of the practice, most consumers endeavor to complete this necessary regimen and try to keep floss at the ready whenever they brush their teeth. However, even people who floss conscientiously encounter a frustrating challenge.
Particularly, since the typical packaging of dental floss involves a ball or collection of the string ensconced within a closed container, it can be almost impossible to tell when one is about to reach the string's end. As many consumers would readily attest, there is little more annoying than beginning to floss, only to discover there is only about two or three inches of string left to do the job. Unfortunately, these individuals have no choice but to go to the store immediately for more floss or put off the regimen until a more practical time. Obviously, is would be advantageous to provide a means for a convenient solution to the aforementioned problem.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,874 to Dorfman discloses an indicator of the end of a length of a tape of dental floss contained within a dispenser. The indicator is a segment of the length of tape having a different indicia or appearance than a prior segment of the length of tape. The indicator is located at a predetermined distance from an end of the tape to indicate that the length of the tape remaining within the dispenser is being depleted. Unfortunately, this prior art example does not provide several indicators to a user for establishing exactly how much dental floss remains.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,816 to Ariagno discloses a process for making a multi-colored dental floss formed of a plurality of bundles of fibers comprising. The process includes: knitting the floss into a tube shape, flattening the tube, printing both surfaces of the flattened tube with a sequence of colored stripes, and unknitting the floss. Unfortunately, this prior art example does not provide several indicators to a user for establishing exactly how much dental floss remains.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,516 to Guay discloses a dental hygiene article, including a dental floss, and a microcapsule associated with a portion of the floss. The microcapsule includes a pigment encapsulated within the microcapsule for changing the color of a portion of the floss associated with the microcapsule upon rupture of the microcapsule as an indication of use or release of an active agent. Unfortunately, this prior art example does not provide several indicators to a user for establishing exactly how much dental floss remains.
Accordingly, the present invention is disclosed in order to overcome the above noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing an apparatus that is convenient and easy to use, lightweight yet durable in design, and designed for notifying a user of an end portion of the dental floss. Multi-colored dental floss uses simple color codes to indicate that the end of a string is approaching, and thereby eliminates the frustration that occurs when a user discovers that there is not enough floss remaining to sufficiently complete a regimen. The present invention offers an easy reminder that facilitates keeping plenty of fresh dental floss on hand at all times. The present invention is simple to use and inexpensive.

Multi-colored dental floss and associated method


A camera and a beam-scan type laser radar whose optical axes are coincident are mounted on a vehicle. A lane detector detects the vehicle's own lane on a display image by processing an image picked up by the camera. A coordinate transforming device transforms the coordinates of positional information of an object, most likely a vehicle, detected by the laser radar in conformity with coordinates on the image of the camera. Another detector compares a position of the vehicle's own lane with a position of the detected object, judges whether or not the detected object is within the vehicle's own lane, and separates the detected object within the vehicle's own lane from objects detected outside the vehicle's own lane. A failure detection method and a corresponding apparatus are provided to determine whether the optical axes of the camera and the laser radar are coincident.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for monitoring the surroundings of a running vehicle and a vehicle-mounted apparatus for carrying out the method, including a camera and a laser radar for detection of vehicles on the road and in the lane of the vehicle. The present invention also relates to a method for judging failure of the monitoring apparatus by detection of coincidence between the optical axes of the camera and the laser radar.
The instant application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. HEI 7-300214, filed Nov. 17, 1995, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
As one of the conventional apparatuses of this type, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 113482/1993 discloses a vehicle-mounted rear-end collision preventing apparatus. In this conventional apparatus, a laser radar of a single beam type, from which a laser beam is emitted in one direction in a defined narrow range ahead of a vehicle, is associated with an image processing means, whereby an obstacle ahead in the vehicle's own traffic lane is detected.
An object of this conventional apparatus is to detect an obstacle in the vehicle's own lane. However, if the road is curved ahead of the vehicle, the laser beam emitted from the vehicle's laser radar does not irradiate the vehicle's own lane, but irradiates an adjacent lane on either the left or the right side of the vehicle.
Accordingly, in case of a curved road, any obstacle ahead of the vehicle detected by the laser radar is not necessarily in the vehicle's own lane.
In view of the foregoing situation, in this conventional apparatus, first, an image ahead of a vehicle picked up by a camera is processed to detect the vehicle's own lane, and then the curvature ahead of the vehicle's own lane is detected. Then, direction of beam irradiation from the laser radar is adjusted in conformity with the curvature, whereby the laser beam correctly irradiates the vehicle's own lane at all times even though the road is curved ahead of the vehicle.
However, only a laser radar of single beam type for emitting a laser beam in one direction in a defined narrow range is described in the mentioned conventional art.
For the purpose of monitoring the surroundings of a running vehicle over a wider range, several systems for causing a laser beam to scan a wider range in the horizontal direction have been heretofore proposed.
For example, Japanese Patent Publication (examined) No.6349/1986 discloses a vehicle-mounted obstacle detecting apparatus. In this apparatus, a laser beam emitted in the running direction of a vehicle performs a two-dimensional scan, and reflected light from an obstacle is measured, whereby distance to the obstacle and the position thereof in the leftward or rightward direction are detected.
In the apparatus as disclosed in this Japanese patent publication, since it is intended to monitor not only the vehicle's own lane but also adjacent lanes over a wide range, it is possible to detect not only any obstacle in the vehicle's adjacent lanes but also any obstacle in other lanes further away from the vehicle.
In such a detection system there still remains the following problem. In a laser radar of the beam-scan type, since not only other vehicles running ahead in the vehicle's own lane but also other vehicles running in other lanes, including adjacent lanes, may be detected, it is absolutely essential to identify which of these vehicles represents an actual obstruction.
If the road is straight any other vehicle in the vehicle's own lane is running in front of the vehicle at all times. In this case, identification of another vehicle running ahead in the vehicle's own lane is very easy.
However, in reality no road is straight everywhere. On an ordinary road, another vehicle running ahead in a vehicle's own lane is not always in front of the vehicle. For example, where the road is curved rightward ahead of the vehicle, the other vehicle running ahead in the vehicle's own lane is on the right side of the vehicle.
On the other hand, where the road is curved leftward ahead of the vehicle, the other vehicle running ahead in the vehicle's own lane is on left side of the vehicle.
Moreover, depending upon the type of curve, there may be a case where another vehicle running in an adjacent lane is actually in front of the equipped vehicle.
Accordingly, with respect to a beam-scan type laser radar, it is certain that obstacles may be detected over a wider range, but it is difficult to judge what is a true obstacle in the vehicle's own lane.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 113482/1993 discloses a vehicle-mounted rear-end collision preventing apparatus in which the irradiation range of the laser beam is fixed. This allows for any obstacle ahead in the vehicle's own lane to be identified within a fixed range. In this apparatus, however, only an obstacle in the vehicle's own lane can be detected. Thus, the capability of the beam-scan type laser beam to monitor a wide range is not sufficiently utilized.

Method and apparatus for monitoring the surroundings of a vehicle and for detecting failure of the monitoring apparatus


An imaging system wherein the subject or patient to be examined is placed in a uniform constant magnetic field which is movable over the patient. A secondary magnetic field is generated by paramagnetic substances within the subject when located within the constant magnetic field. In a human body, the primary paramagnetic substance is deoxygenated blood, whereupon the presence of deoxygenated blood in the constant magnetic field produces the above-mentioned secondary field. The secondary field is detected by a two-dimensional array of magnetic field detectors, in close proximity with the patient, mechanically moved simultaneously with the source of primary magnetic field through a region, whose resulting electrical signals are received and processed by an array processor which operates to provide a reconstructed three-dimensional image. In the preferred embodiment as a medical scanner, the present invention provides three-dimensional imaging of arterial and venous blood throughout the human body.

Various medial imaging systems and apparatus provide the desired imaging according to phenomenon associated with the tissue. For instance, the absorption of x-rays is exploited for x-ray and computer-aided tomography imaging. The effects on nuclear spin of various molecular elements is used in the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging systems. Ultrasonic imaging is provided by exploiting the reflectance and transmissivity of the tissue. All imaging systems have particular limitations and features for their applications. However, one such limitation of imaging systems are that they are generally tissue-selective, whereupon only a few types of tissue features provide a varying phenomenon measurable by the particular imaging system necessary to produce the desired image.
Of particular interest in the practice of oncology is observation of the development of new capillaries at tumor sites. However, many of the available imaging techniques fail to provide the desirable information necessary to provide a useful image. Alternatively, invasive techniques such as injecting an radioactive opaque dye produce an image, but also produce discomfort to the subject and create a degree of risk. It is therefore useful and important to the medical community to provide high-contrast imaging of the circulatory system with minimal patient discomfort and risk.
In addition to NMR imaging, other prior art measurements of body tissue in a magnetic field presume that the body tissue acts a attenuator of the field. However, the attenuation provided by such models only provides one part in 10.sup.-5 attenuation, providing a change in magnetic field which is well into the noise and experimental error of such apparatus. The signal is insufficient to provide the information to create useful results, let alone tissue imaging.

Paramagnetic dynamo electromotive force detector and imaging system incorporating same


An object is associated with an identifier which is detectable on the object. The identifier may be an inherent characteristic of the object itself or its packaging, or it may reflect a random or arbitrary value which may then be disposed on the object or its packaging deliberately in a readable form for the purposes of the invention. Additionally, there is disposed a machine readable code comprising a URI incorporating a representation of the object identifier encoded according to one of a number of predefined encoding methods (algorithm and associated parameters), and an encoding identifier, specifying the encoding method used. A reader can read the machine readable code, decode it according to specified encoding method, and prepare a representation of it for comparison with the characteristic reflecting the object identifier. The machine readable code and the characteristic reflecting the object identifier may be readable for example by optical, tactile, radio, olfactive or acoustic mechanisms. The URI may additionally be defined to call a local resource adapted to process the code. The URI may additionally be defined to specify a web site.

Logistics as a field inherently attracts information technology solutions, and as internet technology has developed through the twentieth century a number of different mechanisms for making a connection between any physical object and an electronic information handling system have been developed. Punched cards were developed as the original input means for computing devices, and the possibility of using similar cards was quickly identified as a rapid means of registering the sale of an object. A major development in this field came with the development of the Universal Product Code (UPC) system, based on the reading of a one or two dimensional barcode with a laser scanner. On the basis of this and related technologies, virtually all packaged consumer goods today are provided with such a code. More recently, matrix, or two dimensional bar codes, such as "QR Codes" (registered trade mark in some jurisdictions) described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,435 have become common. Such codes are able to encode more information in a small area than conventional 1 dimensional bar codes, and as such are frequently used to encode a Uniform Resource Indicator (URI) for example as defined in IETF Request For Comments RFC 1630. Meanwhile, in addition to these optical solutions, radio based tagging solutions such as those based on RFid tags are increasingly widespread.
One frequent usability issue with machine readable codes of this kind is that the machine readable code is often not comprehensible to a human reader. It is therefore common to accompany the machine readable code with a human readable representation of the key content of the machine readable code.
While in the context of the tagging of commercial goods there is little incentive to use misleading or corrupts tags, as such tags become common in a wide range of situations outside the strictly regulated field of commerce, such misuse becomes more likely. This is compounded by the increasing capabilities of modern tagging systems. For example, the capacity for QR codes or RFID tags to incorporate a URI which may point to an internet site hosting dangerous code, or even to incorporated harmful scripting itself means that these technologies may become a threat. Meanwhile, the fact that QR tags may appear on posters, business cards, letters and so on means that the context in which such codes are used is increasingly uncontrolled.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a mechanism whereby the content of a machine readable code may be verified with regard to the object with which it is associated.
Certain partial solutions to this problem are known.
Each NFC Chipset memory has a unique serial number, called the UID (Unique Identifier). It may be 7 bytes long (7×8=56 bits, 04:73:91:A2:16:3C:81) or 4 bytes long (4×8=32 bits, like 04:73:91:A2).
On some NFC Chipsets a specific feature allows a so called UID ASCII mirror for automatic serialization of NDEF messages". Writing a URL (ex http://xt.ag/#) in an NFC tag for example in the form UID: 04:73:91:A2:16:3C:81 gives an extended URL stored in the NFC Chipset memory. This feature writes the UID in ASCII hex format in the NDEF URL. This may support some server side verification concerning the registered usage of the chip in question.
Meanwhile, an extension to the standard QR Code format has been developed entitled: "Security QR Code (SQRC)". The terms "Security QR Code" and "SQRC" are registered trademarks in some jurisdictions. SQRC contains both encrypted and normally readable data. While these features can be used to combat fraud and help prevent counterfeit, grey-market and black-market issues, this approach remains dependant either on the reader device being pre-programmed with the encryption algorithm and parameters of the code to be decoded (and no others), or being in communication with a remote server which is able to provide the required information.
FR3008211 describes a method for printing security graphics on a support that is to be secured, characterized in that it involves using, in combination, at least three different types of printing security graphics taken from a group of eligible printing security graphics items, and in that said printing security graphics items that are used are interdependent by construction, such that a modification to one of the EGS items forming the print item automatically results in an identifiable inconsistency.
FR3009409 concerns a method for encoding an access to a computer resource, consisting of including, in a physical representation of the code, a first item of information encoded according to a first encoding type corresponding to the access path and to the identification of said computer resource, and capable of being decoded by a reader, characterised in that: the physical representation further comprises an item of validity condition information encoded according to a second encoding type, corresponding to a validity condition of the access to said computer resource,—said validity condition information being capable of being decoded by an application installed on an element of the network including the reader of the physical representation, one or a plurality of gateways and the server that hosts said computer resource. Where this system operates at a purely local level, it relies on a predefined encryption key whereby security is reinforced with reference to additional validity information entered by a user or from an additional machine readable code. It is desirable to provide an approach offering satisfactory security without recourse to these additional steps. It is desirable to provide a tagging solution offering security and improved flexibility.

Authenticity tag and methods of encoding and verification


A plug valve having a valve body with a cylindrical plug receiving opening extending therethrough having at least one terminal end thereof outwardly chamfered. Fluid inlet and outlet passageways communicate with the receiving opening and are chamfered at the areas of communication therewith. A plug member includes a cylindrical plug portion closely received in the body receiving opening. This plug portion has a transverse fluid flow passage which is selectively rotatable into and out of alignment with the valve body inlet and outlet passageways. Axially spaced apart circumferential sealing members disposed on both sides of the flow passage prevent fluid flow outwardly of the receiving opening. An inlet passageway sealing means disposed in the plug portion side wall intermediate the opposite flow passage ends sealingly surrounds the passageway in the valve closed position. A fluid relief channel communicating between the flow passage and plug portion side wall relieves fluid pressure through the outlet passageway as the valve is moved to the closed position. The plug portion advantageously includes a thin coating of plastic material for enhancing its fluid sealing relationship with the receiving opening and for improving ease of rotation between the valve opened and closed positions. The plug member is axially retained in position in the receiving opening by a snap ring at one end and by a handle at the other end. The handle is rotatable only between positively defined maximum valve opened and closed positions. Spaced apart circumferential grooves included in the plug portion side wall receive the axially spaced apart sealing members and at least the bottom walls of these grooves are also coated with the plastic material.

This invention pertains to the art of fluid control devices and more particularly to fluid control valves.
The invention is particularly applicable to a so-called plug valve and will be described with particular reference thereto. While the valve is particularly applicable to liquid systems, it will be appreciated that the invention may have application to other environments.
Plug valves of various types and styles are known in the art. Basically, these valves include a valve body having a generally cylindrical plug receiving opening therein adapted to closely receive a plug member. This plug member includes a flow passage extending therethrough and is selectively rotatable in the valve body for purposes of moving the flow passage into and out of alignment with the valve body inlet and outlet passageways. Seal means are disposed at any open end area or end areas of the plug member for preventing fluid by-pass outwardly from the valve body receiving opening. In some cases, seal means have also been provided in the plug member to sealingly surround at least the valve body inlet when the valve is moved to a closed condition. In addition, some prior plug valve designs have incorporated various relief opening configurations to facilitate fluid pressure relief when the valve is moved to the closed position. Still other prior plug valves have incorporated coatings or the like on the plug member for reducing the force requirements in rotating the plug member between valve opened and closed positions.
While some prior plug valves have proved successful for selected applications, most have had certain undesirable operational characteristics. These characteristics include valve leakage, complexity of valve design and assembly, blow-out of sealing members when the valves are moved between opened and closed positions, difficulty of movement between valve positions, abrading of the seal members during valve assembly, disassembly and operation, and limitations as to the types of fluid systems in which they could be used. Accordingly, it has been desired to develop a plug valve construction which would overcome the aforementioned particular difficulties and the subject invention is believed to successfully meet these needs.


A voltage transformer for AC/DC comprising an IC having a rectifying unit with a function to transform AC of full waveform to continuous semi waveform, and a wave-filtering unit employing Gate transient voltage preset by Field Effect Transistor to proceed with filtering sample by ON and OFF method such that the preset voltage passes through the output terminal and achieves the effect of transformed voltage, and a voltage stabilizing unit which processes the output voltage for suitable utilization, wherein the sampling method of the AC with respect to Field Effect Transistor includes: (i) Fixed voltage sampling and (ii) Fixed time sampling method.

(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voltage transformer, which converts AC or DC as input power source to a preset voltage.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Most electrical appliances are generally provided with a voltage transformer so as to change voltage at 110 V or 220 V for DC power source.
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional transformer includes a transformer coil a, a rectifying element b and a voltage stabilizing element c. The transformer coil converts the AC 110 V or AC 220 V of the input terminal to smaller voltage AC by means of magnetic induction of the transformer coil, and via the bridge-type rectifying element b, the AC is transformed to DC. A capacitor is connected in series so as to stabilize the output voltage.
Although this conventional transformer has the advantage of having a simple structure, the following drawbacks are commonly found:
Due to the components, such as the transformer coil, etc, the size of the transformer cannot be made into a smaller size device.
Conventional transformer does not applicable to AC and DC.
Vibration, distortion, and hear are produced in the conventional transformer.
Heat energy is evolved and the housing of the transformer may be damaged after a period of use.
If the input voltage is not stable, the output voltage from the transformer may be too great that electrical appliances may be damaged.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a voltage transformer AC and DC, wherein electronic parts are provided on a circuit board so as to lower the voltage of the power source and the vibration and noise of the conventional transformer are not found, and the AC and DC voltage are used as input voltage, and thus, the size and weigh of the transformer are reduced.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a voltage transformer AC and DC, wherein the essential electrical components produce low heat energy and their workability are stable, ensuring the stability of the output voltage, with no distortion and surge.
The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.


A sealing structure of a multicore cable includes the multicore cable, a rubber stopper, a cap, and a holder. The multicore cable includes first to fourth electric wires covered with a sheath. The rubber stopper is fitted on an end of the sheath and first to fourth through holes through which the first to the fourth electric wires are passed, respectively. The cap is fitted on the rubber stopper and presses the rubber stopper inward. The holder includes a sheath holding portion for holding the sheath and a cap holding portion for holding the cap.

Conventionally, a terminal water blocking structure for a multicore cable disclosed in JP2012-182924A (Patent Document 1) has been known. The multicore cable includes electric wires covered with a sheath made of insulating resin. Portions of the electric wires pulled out of an end of the multicore cable are protected from moisture by a hot melt block that includes partitions arranged among the electric wires for separating the electric wires from one another and melted by heating while the partitions are arranged among the electric wires to fill among the electric wires.


An acoustic ink print head includes an array of individual emitters. Each of the emitters have a corresponding transducer with a lower electrode, a separate layer of a piezo-electric material located on the lower electrode, and a separate upper electrode provided on the upper surface of the piezo-electric layer. The upper and lower electrodes are connected to a source of conventionally modulated RF power. A dielectric layer is deposited on top of this structure and lenses are etched into the top of the dielectric layer. The lenses focus energy generated by the transducer to a region of the upper surface of a body of liquid located above the transducer. The lenses concentrate sound waves from the transducers thereby disturbing the surface and causing droplets to be emitted. The print head is formed as an array of individual emitters. The upper electrodes of the individual emitter array have varying surface areas dependent upon their location within a row of electrodes and their output efficiencies. The upper electrodes are altered in order to provide a uniform end-to-end print output.

The present invention relates generally to acoustic ink printing (AIP) and more particularly to improved print head transducers, for increasing printing uniformity.
AIP is a method for transferring ink directly to a recording medium having several advantages over other direct printing methodologies. One important advantage is, that it does not need nozzles and ejection orifices that have caused many of the reliability (e.g., clogging) and picture element (i.e., "pixel") placement accuracy problems which conventional drop-on-demand and continuous-stream ink jet printers have experienced. Since AIP avoids the clogging and manufacturing problems associated with drop-on-demand, nozzle-based ink jet printing, it represents a promising direct marking technology. While more detailed descriptions of the AIP process can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,308,547, 4,697,195, and 5,028,937, essentially, bursts of focused acoustic energy emit droplets from the free surface of a liquid onto a recording medium. By controlling the emitting process as the recording medium moves relative to droplet emission sites, a predetermined image is formed.
To be competitive with other printer types, acoustic ink printers must produce high quality images at low cost. To meet such requirements it is advantageous to fabricate print heads with a large number of individual droplet emitters using techniques similar to those used in semiconductor fabrication. While specific AIP implementations may vary, and while additional components may be used, each droplet emitter will include an ultrasonic transducer (attached to one surface of a body), a varactor for switching the droplet emitter on and off, an acoustic lens (at the opposite side of the body), and a cavity holding ink such that the ink's free surface is near the acoustic focal area of the acoustic lens. The individual droplet emitter is possible by selection of its associated row and column.
As may be appreciated, acoustic ink printing is subject to a number of manufacturing variables, including transducer piezo-electric material thickness, stress and composition variation; transducer loading effects due to wire bond attachment to the top electrode and top electrode thickness; ink channel gap control impacting acoustic wave focal point variations; aperture hole variations causing the improper pinning of the ink meniscus; RF distribution non-uniformity along the row electrodes, electromagnetic reflections on the transmission lines, variations in acoustic coupling efficiencies, and variations in the components associated with each transducer. Because of manufacturing constraints, these variables cannot be sufficiently controlled. The variables can result in non-uniform print profiles such as print head end-to-end non-uniformity printing. One type of non-uniform printing is a fixed pattern "frown" effect, wherein the intensity of ink in a middle portion of a print area is greater than at the outer edges of the print area.
A typical "frown" effect is illustrated by test print pattern A of FIG. 1. The "frown" results from non-uniform droplets, i.e., droplets that vary in size, emission velocity, emission frequency and/or other characteristics. In addition to the "frown" effect, other non-uniform printing which can occur include a "smile" effect, which exists when there is non-uniformity in printing in a direction orthogonal to the length of the print head. Non-uniform droplet ejection velocity can produce misaligned droplets. Non-uniform droplets may degrade the final image so much that the image becomes unacceptable. Therefore, a need exists to improve droplet uniformity in acoustic ink printing, for the "frown" and "smile" effects, as well as other non-uniformity patterns.

Controlling AIP print uniformity by adjusting row electrode area and shape


A method of waveform generation using a VLSI digital tester unit without an arbitrary waveform generator. A software application produces a series of vectors to drive a digital tester unit from a set of datapoints which defines a waveform needed in the test program. The set of datapoints can be generated in a test simulator such as SPICE or can be generated by digitizing the arbitrary waveform needed in a test program. The vectors describe the number of resistors of a pseudo arbitrary waveform generator (PAWG) circuit to be driven high in order to reproduce the desired waveform for input into the device under test. The software also determines the resolution, e.g., 5 ns, of the waveform.

The present invention relates to the field of electronic design and testing, and specifically to the field of generation of analog test signals for device testing.
Mixed-signal devices require synchronized analog and digital signals to be sourced to the Device-Under-Test (xe2x80x9cDUTxe2x80x9d) for comprehensive test coverage. Linear DUTs also require analog signals to be sourced as input for complete test coverage. These mixed analog and digital signals are known as test stimuli. Both types of devices require input waveforms which are extremely difficult to generate. The problem is increasingly difficult when attempting to test such devices with a VLSI digital tester.
The analog signal and mixed signal (digital patterns that work in combination with analog signals) portions of test programs are typically generated by a test engineer. The test engineer uses mostly manual processes to create and measure sine waves, current, DC voltages, and digital patterns to exercise the analog and mixed-signal portions of the DUT. Consequently, generation of analog and mixed-signal test programs is still a laborious and manual process.
The traditional solution to generating the waveforms needed to fit the analog portion of a test program is to add an expensive Arbitrary Waveform Generator (or xe2x80x9cAWGxe2x80x9d), such as the HP E1441A by Hewlett Packard, to a digital tester unit. Typically, an AWG such as the HP E1441A can output standard waveforms: sine, square, triangle, ramp, and noise. The AWG also allows custom design of waveforms. Any waveform generated can be modulated using AM, FM, FSK, or other forms of modulation. Frequency sweeping is also typically available. The number of datapoints defined in the waveform (or xe2x80x9cthe resolution of the waveformxe2x80x9d) is also subject to user control in the AWG.
FIG. 2 depicts the connection of a digital tester unit to both an AWG and a DUT. The VLSI Digital Tester initiates and controls the generation of waveforms needed to test the DUT. Communication of the VLSI Digital Tester unit with the DUT depends upon the design of the DUT. Generally, an electronic interconnection, such as Testhead 102 is constructed as the interface between the output pins of the VLSI Digital Tester unit and the input pins of the DUT. The interface can include additional hardware which further modifies the output of the digital tester unit. A device interface board 104 is used to connect the Testhead 102 to the DUT. The Tester Control Computer controls both the AWG and the VLSI Digital Tester while a test program is administered. The AWG must also be in communication with the VLSI digital tester unit. The VLSI digital Tester and the AWG are connected in order to synchronize the output of the AWG (input to the DUT) with the VLSI Digital Tester. As FIG. 2 reveals, one source of problems for the test engineer in utilizing an AWG is cabling. When setting up a test of a device type that uses AWG output, the test engineer must install cables to the Testhead, the VLSI Digital Tester, and the Tester Control Computer. When a device type that does not use the AWG is setup for testing, the cables must be removed.
Aside from interface issues, another disadvantage of using an AWG is cost. The cost of an AWG usually depends on the resolution of the waveform (or the number of samples per second) which it can process. The rise in costs of AWGs is often disproportional to the resolution of the waveform generated. The result can be a digital tester/AWG combination with a 1998 price tag of $1 million connected to a DUT priced at $2.
The present application discloses a method which allows an inexpensive circuit of resistors and capacitors to convert the output of digital tester drivers to a finite range of arbitrary waveforms. The generation of arbitrary waveforms takes place without an AWG.
A software application receives a set of datapoints which defines a waveform needed in the test program. The set of datapoints can be generated in a test simulator such as SPICE or can be generated by digitizing the arbitrary waveform needed in the test program. The software, based on the set of datapoints, determines how many resistors of a pseudo arbitrary waveform generator (PAWG) circuit need to be driven high in order to reproduce the waveform for input into the DUT. The software also determines the resolution, e.g., 5 ns, of the waveform. Once these calculations are complete, a set of digital vectors is created which describes to the VLSI digital tester how and when to drive the resistors. The vector set generated must be in a language accepted by the target VLSI tester.
As the vector set is processed, the resistors of the PAWG circuit cause the voltage at the output of the circuit to modulate. A capacitor connected to the resistors smooths the modulation creating a waveform substantially similar to that described by the set of datapoints. The output of the circuit (the test stimulus) is then applied to the DUT.


A ratchet wrench may comprise a main body, a circular ratchet gear, a locating unit, a spring and at least an accessory tool. The main body has an operating rod and a head portion, and an operating hole penetrates through a central portion of the head portion. Also, the ratchet gear is installed inside the operating hole. The locating unit is configured to extend toward an interior of the operating hole through an engaging portion thereof, and a peripheral groove is located at an end of the accessory tool along an outer periphery thereof. By engaging the engaging portion of the locating unit with the peripheral groove of the accessory tool, the accessory tool inserted into the connecting hole is configured to be secured on the main body for operation.

Generally, a conventional ratchet wrench has a main body, and a driving portion and a ratchet piece are secured at a head end thereof. Also, a plurality of peripheral teeth are arranged along an outer periphery of the driving portion, and a locating unit is configured to press and allow the ratchet piece to engage with the peripheral teeth. Moreover, the ratchet wrench has a switching unit, and the ratchet piece has two different teeth portions at two sides thereof. Thus, the switching unit is configured to drive the ratchet piece to engage with peripheral teeth through either of two teeth portions, thereby completing the engaging process.
However, the conventional ratchet wrench is disadvantageous because: in actual application, an accessory tool is simply received in a polygonal hole of the driving portion, and there is no a locating unit to firmly secure the accessory tool on the ratchet wrench when operating. Thus, a user has to use one hand to hold the accessory tool, and use another hand to operate the ratchet wrench, which is inconvenient in operation. Therefore, there remains a need for a new and improved design for a ratchet wrench to overcome the problems presented above.


The present invention is an injection-molded gear made of a polyacetal resin composition comprising a polyacetal and a filler having a particular shape and particle diameter. An object thereof is to provide a gear which has durability and is excellent in the balance between dimensional accuracy and rotation transmission accuracy. Specifically, the gear is an injection-molded gear made of a polyacetal resin composition comprising more than 5 and less than 100 parts by mass of a filler (II) having a particle size distribution satisfying a particular expression and an average aspect ratio (L/D), i.e., a ratio of an average major-axis length (L) of the particles to an average minor-axis length (D) of the particles, of less than 3 and 0 or less than 10 parts by mass of an organic acid (III) based on 100 parts by mass of a polyacetal (I), characterized in that the gear comprises 10% or less of aggregates of the filler (II) having an aggregate diameter of 3 μm or more.

Polyacetal is a high-crystalline engineering plastic and is widely used as a gear such as spur, helical, screw, pinion and rack gears for structural parts and the like of precision apparatuses in the electric and electronic field because it is excellent particularly in slidability and fatigue resistance in addition to mechanical characteristics. Polyacetal also features excellence in moldability, which often allows these gears to be produced by an injection molding method.
The quality and performance of products have been improved in the field of precision apparatuses in recent years; as a result, there is also a need for improved performance for the gears used. By way of example, an image-forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a facsimile machine and a copier is sturdier, smaller and capable of splendid printing with more rapidity and precision, such that it has a higher commercial value. In the image-forming apparatus, gears are used as parts for transmitting and controlling the movement, angle, etc. of a photoreceptor drum, a developing roller or the like. Thus, these gears are being required not only to have improved durability and dimensional accuracy compared to conventional gears but also to be particularly excellent in rotation transmission accuracy.
Here, the dimensional accuracy of gears refers to roundness and pitch error, tooth profile error, tooth trace error, tooth space runout, etc. Here, the roundness indicates whether the initial gear shape forms a proper circle; the pitch error, tooth profile error, tooth trace error, tooth space runout, etc. represent accuracy against the initial specifications (the initial gear shape) and are values measured by the method prescribed in JIS D 1702. The rotation transmission accuracy is the accuracy of rotation transmission when the gear is actually driven; specifically, it is represented, for example, by the double or single flank meshing error prescribed in JGMA (Japan Gear Manufacturers Association) 116-2.
The dimensional accuracy sometimes suggests a relation with the rotation transmission accuracy. However, a gear practically rotates in a state subjected to torque; therefore, thrust is produced on the flank, which may result in the gear moving with deformation or deflection. Thus, a gear excellent in dimensional accuracy sometimes cannot necessarily be said to be excellent also in rotation transmission accuracy. In addition, a mechanism is present in which the torque loading on a gear varies during the rotation thereof; it may also be necessary that the rotation transmission accuracy does not change.
As conventional techniques, methods for improving the dimensional accuracy are disclosed which include, for example, a method involving improving a decrease in the module, an arrangement of a gear shape such as thinning and the design of a rib or the like as a reinforcing mechanism (e.g., patent documents 1 and 2), a method involving performing improvement in the method of producing the gear, such as partially pressuring the molded product, or using the reduction of resin viscosity by allowing the molten resin to contain a gas (e.g., patent documents 3 to 6), a method involving subjecting the prepared gear to secondary processing such as aging treatment, and, further, a method involving achieving accuracy by designing a gear train (e.g., patent document 7). The above techniques allow gears to have sufficient durability and are also effective for dimensional accuracy. However, a problem has been posed that the type, rib structure and the like of the gear used are limited, and a problem has further been present that equipment investment is required for producing a gear, e.g., it is necessary to modify an injection molding machine.
Accordingly, methods have been attempted for improving materials themselves used as gears to provide gears excellent in dimensional accuracy and rotation transmission accuracy. Examples thereof include a method involving optimizing the proportion of a copolymerized component in a polyacetal (e.g., patent document 8), a method involving blending a particular ester compound in a polyacetal (e.g., patent document 9) and, further, a method involving blending wollastonite having a particular shape and a sliding agent in a polyacetal (e.g., patent document 10). However, the above methods for improving materials have some effect, but have yet failed to be sufficiently satisfactory in rotation transmission accuracy.
Reinforcement by adding a filler seems to be effective to obtain a gear excellent in dimensional accuracy and rotation transmission accuracy by improvement of a material. However, the method involving adding a filler is known to reduce the slidability of a polyacetal and tends to be poorly used for gears. (For example, non-patent document 1). In addition, the addition of a filler is described to be hardly capable of having a sufficiently satisfactory effect on the accuracy of gears. (For example, patent documents 6 and 8).
Thus, it has been difficult in conventional techniques to obtain a durable gear well-balancedly having the dimensional accuracy and rotation transmission accuracy being required in recent years by an injection molding method, which is excellent in industrial productivity.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-11-013861
Patent Document 2: JP-A-11-082686
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2001-323990
Patent Document 4: JP-A-2001-323991
Patent Document 5: JP-A-2002-096366
Patent Document 6: JP-A-2002-031213
Patent Document 7: JP-A-2004-340160
Patent Document 8: JP-A-11-051154
Patent Document 9: JP-A-2002-020577
Patent Document 10: International Publication WO9943751 (Corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 6,391,956)
Non-Patent Document 1: Molded Plastic Gears Handbook, p 58-68, 1st Edition, edited by Molded Plastic Gear Research Expert Committee of Precision Engineering Institution, published by Sigma on Apr. 20, 1995.
The present invention is a gear made of a polyacetal resin composition comprising a polyacetal and a filler having a particular shape and particle diameter. An object thereof is to provide a gear which has durability and is excellent in the balance between dimensional accuracy and rotation transmission accuracy.


For providing a liquid cooling system for an electronic apparatus having a heat-generating element within a housing thereof, enabling small-sizes thereof and being effective for lowering noises when the apparatus is operated, equipped with a new type of a driving means for a liquid coolant therein, comprises a heat-receiving jacket 100 for transferring heat generated from the heat-generating element to a liquid coolant, to evaporate it, within an inside thereof; a radiator 200 for guiding the evaporated coolant supplied from the heat-receiving jacket into an inside thereof, so as to cool it to be liquefied; and a driving means 300 for applying driving force for circulating the liquid coolant, through repetition of heating and cooling upon a portion of the liquefied liquid coolant supplied from the radiator, while restricting a flow direction of the liquid coolant within an inside thereof into one direction, whereby circulating said liquid coolant within a circulation loop including the heat-receiving jacket, the radiator, and the driving means.

The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, such as, a personal computer and/or a server, etc., and in particular, it relates to a liquid cooling system, being enable to cool a semiconductor integrated circuit element mounted within an inside thereof, as being a heat-generating element, with using a liquid coolant, effectively.
In general, a heat-generating element, for example, a semiconductor integrated circuit element, which generates heat within the electronic apparatus, such as, a personal computer of desk-top type or notebook type, or a server, etc., and in particular, a CPU (i.e., a central processing unit), representatively, it needs a cooling for maintaining the normal operation thereof. Conventionally, for that reason, it is general that such cooling is achieved with using a heat-transfer body, which is built up with fins called by a heat sink, to be a unit, and also a fan for sending a cooling wind upon the surface thereof. However, in recent years, small-sizing and high-integration on the semiconductor integrated circuit element, as being the heat-generating element, causes a problem, such as, localizing portions of generating the heat within the heat-generating element. For that reason, in the place of the conventional cooling system of air-cooling type, attentions are paid upon a cooling system of liquid-type, with using a coolant therein, such as, a water or the like, for example, having a high cooling efficiency.
Namely, with the liquid-type cooling system of high cooling efficiency, which is applied in the personal computer and/or the server, etc., as is already known in the following patent documents, for example, in general, a member, being so-called by a heat-receiving (or cooling) jacket, is directly mounted upon the surface of the CPU, being the heat-generating body, while a liquid-like coolant is communicated within a flow passage, which is formed within an inside of that heat-receiving jacket; i.e., transmitting the heat generated from the CPU into the coolant flowing within the jacket mentioned above, thereby cooling down the heat-generating body with high efficiency. Further, within such the cooling system of liquid-cooling type, in general, there is built up a heat cycle, while applying the heat-receiving jacket as a heat-receiving portion thereof, and in more details thereof, comprising a circulation pump for circulating the liquid coolant within the cycle, so-called a radiator, being a heat radiation portion for radiating the heat of the liquid coolant into an outside thereof, and further a coolant tank, being provided in a portion of the cycle if necessary, and wherein those are connected in the structure thereof through tubes, being made of a metal, or an elastic material, such as, rubber, etc., for example.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-304086 (2003);    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-022148 (2003);    Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-182797 (2002);    Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-189535 (2002);    Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-189536 (2002); and    Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-188876 (2002).
On the other hand, generally within such the cooling system relating to the conventional arts mentioned above, so-called a centrifugal pump is applied, widely, to be the circulation pump for driving the liquid coolant, which is provided in a portion of that heat cycle, due to the following reasons; i.e., a flow rate obtained therefrom is relatively large in an amount thereof, and noises are small, which are caused due to contact, etc. With such the circulation pump of applying such the centrifugal pump therein, however there is a necessity of providing an electric motor, separately, for the purpose of rotationally driving such the pump, although being also true for the case of applying a pump of other types therein; and for this reason, the circulation pump as whole comes to be relatively large in the sizes thereof.
On the other hand, in recent years, it is of course for the electronic apparatuses, including, such as, the personal computer of the desktop type and the server, etc., that demand or requirement for small-sizing thereof rises up to be higher and higher, in particular, upon the personal computer of the notebook type, for the purpose of improving the portability thereof. For this reason, under the present situation, it is not always possible to deal with such the requirement with the circulation pump of the conventional arts mentioned above. In addition thereto, further there is also demand or requirement increasing up, for lowering the noises generated during when such the electronic apparatus is operating.


A dispensing device includes a body having an open end, a second end, and a stick disposed in the body, the stick including a semi-solid material. The device also includes a mechanism adapted to cause a portion of the stick to extend from the open end of the body in response to an action by a user. The semi-solid material may include a deodorizing material, antiperspirant material, sanitizing material, perfume, sterilizing material, air freshening material, or insect repellent material. The stick may be uniformly composed of the semi-solid material, or may include a plurality of detachable blocks, each block including a layer of aluminum foil, a layer of adhesive material, and a layer of semi-solid material.

Many products exist to produce desired odors and fragrances, to mask an undesired odor, or to release a desired chemical into the air, including deodorants, antiperspirants perfumes, air fresheners, insect repellents, etc. Deodorants and antiperspirants are often available as a stick made from a semi-solid material disposed in a hand-held tube. Perfumes are typically sold as liquids or sprayable fluids in hand-held bottles. Many air fresheners and insect repellents are sold in a can and are applied as a spray.

Systems, methods, apparatus, mechanisms, and devices for delivering odors, fragrances, and chemicals


A system for vacuum chilling poultry product includes: a vacuum chamber configured to be evacuated to chill poultry product in the vacuum chamber; at least one inclined or vertical conduit coupled to the vacuum chamber, with the at least one conduit configured to hold at least one water seal when the vacuum chamber is evacuated; and a conveying mechanism that is configured to continuously convey the poultry product upwardly through the at least one conduit, then into and through the vacuum chamber, and then downwardly through the at least one conduit.

In the United States, federal regulations require that poultry products be chilled soon after slaughter and evisceration. While the regulations have recently been rewritten to provide the processor more flexibility, the previous prescriptive requirement is still presumed to be sufficient and provides a useful frame of reference for the process. The previous regulation required the internal bird temperature to be reduced to 40° F. or less within 4 to 16 hours of slaughter depending on bird weight and chilling method. Some processors adopt a lower target temperature in order to achieve commercial goals such as improved shelf life. This invention addresses reducing the temperature of products that may be whole eviscerated birds or any part thereof or bird giblets or other non-poultry products such as pork carcasses or beef tongues.
Commercial considerations also drive processors to effect chilling in a shorter timeframe than the regulatory guidance. In general, longer chilling times require more product to be resident in the chiller, and consequently the equipment must be larger. Not only is larger equipment more costly, it takes up more room in the plant and consequently increases the facility cost.
In addition to capital considerations, longer chilling times also complicate operations. Processors must schedule operations that occur before chilling such as evisceration and operations after chilling such as cut-up with sufficient delay for the chilling operation. Some processing facilities are on a 24 hour cycle with two shifts for processing followed by cleanup on third shift. For such operations, there is no more time available in the day to allocate for chilling.
There has been a sustained trend in the poultry industry toward increasingly large birds. Birds in excess of 10 pound live weight are now quite common. Due to the thickness of the meat, these large birds take longer to chill than smaller birds would in the same chilling equipment. This trend has created incentives for new technology that can reduce the chilling time.
Consider first the conduction of heat from the interior of the product (e.g., carcass) to the surface. It is well known that the conductive heat transfer rate between two points in a solid body is generally proportional to the difference in temperature between those points. Thus, the heat transfer rate from, for example, a point inside the breast muscle to the skin adjacent this muscle is proportional to the difference in temperature between those places. The actual rate further depends upon the thermal conductivity of the material (in this case muscle tissue) as well as the specific heat and mass density since the process is transient. The initial temperature at the center of the muscle is about 104° F. which is the nominal body temperature of chickens. Neither the initial temperature nor the thermal properties of the product can be altered. Thus, the only way to increase heat transfer and reduce the chilling time is to reduce the temperature at the surface of the product. This part of the theoretical problem is common to all chilling methods.
The method used for chilling the product determines how heat is transferred away from the surface of the product. Two chilling methods are well documented in the prior art: immersion chilling and air chilling.
The immersion chilling method causes the hot product to be submerged in chilled water or a mixture of water and ice. In the chiller, heat is removed from the surface of the product by convection of the chilling medium. Heat moves from the interior of the meat to the surface by conduction. The product remains in the chiller for a sufficient length of time so that the interior temperature is reduced to the target level. Over time, a variety of methods have been developed for controlling the length of time individual products remain immersed and these methods have come to be recognized as chiller types such as rocker chillers, drag chillers and auger chillers.
Within each type of immersion chiller, various techniques have evolved for increasing the convective heat transfer coefficient between the product surface and the body of water. However, even at very high convective coefficients, the surface temperature of a product in an immersion chilling system cannot be less than 32° F., since the water would freeze below that point and cannot be circulated about the product.
This inherent limitation of immersion chilling is significant, because in many cases the target for the interior temperature is only 36° F. This provides a temperature difference of only 4° F. within the product during the final stages of chilling. Such a small differential slows the chilling process.
The air chilling method sees individual products suspended in a chamber in which cold air is circulated around the product. Air does not suffer the temperature limitation of water; however, the convective heat transfer coefficient achievable with air is much lower than for water. Further, if the air temperature is too low, exposed parts of the product such as wings may freeze before heavier parts such as breast meat gets cold. In general, air chilling takes longer than immersion chilling.
It should be noted that a substantial part of the convective heat transfer in air chilling results from evaporation of water from the surface of the product.
In both immersion chilling and air chilling, heat transfer from the inner surface of the product—for instance the surface facing the organ cavity in a carcass—is limited by the difficulty of circulating the chilling medium through this cavity.
The present invention introduces the use of vacuum chilling to remove heat from the surface of product. The primary mode of heat transfer is evaporation at the surface. Vacuum chilling does not suffer the temperature limits of immersion chilling and enjoys higher heat transfer rates than air chilling.
There is no prior art known to the inventor related to using vacuum chilling for poultry or other meat products. Vacuum chilling has been used to remove field heat from certain fruits and vegetables to improve quality and extend shelf life. Typically, the process is operated in batch mode in which palletized produce is loaded into vacuum chambers which are sealed and then evacuated. Pressure is held at a very low level for a period of time, and then air is allowed back into the chamber and the produce is removed. Operating pressures are reduced to the flash point where water boils at the temperature of the product. This type of operation is well suited for products that are already batched into boxes and pallets. Also, the equipment is usually portable for moving from farm to farm as the growing season progresses.
Vacuum chilling is also used for other applications such as making ice.

Systems and methods for vacuum chilling poultry products


A water dispenser including a heat-exchanger, a heater, a water-storage tank, and a faucet is provided mainly. The heat-exchanger has a first/second guiding-channel, a first inlet/outlet communicated with two ends of the first guiding-channel, and a second inlet/outlet communicated with two ends of the second guiding-channel. The water flows into the heat-exchanger through the first inlet, and flows out of the heat-exchanger through the first outlet. Two ends of the heater are communicated with the first outlet and the second inlet, and the water flowed out of the first outlet is heated by the heater. The heated water flows into the heat-exchanger through the second inlet, and flows out of the heat-exchanger through the second outlet. The water-storage tank is used to storage the water flowed out of the second outlet. The faucet is communicated with the water-storage tank and the heater respectively.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a water dispenser. More particularly, the invention relates to a water dispenser having a energy-saving effect.
Description of Related Art
Human body contains 70% of water, and people must drink suitable water amount one day to keep healthy. Otherwise, people may be sick or tired. It can be seen that drinking water is important to human. Therefore, water dispensers for providing water at normal temperature or hot water are installed for drinking whether at home or in the office. However, in order to provide hot water at any time, it must take power to keep the temperature of water. This will consumes power, and increases the cost significantly.
Further, in order to decrease power-consuming, a heat-exchanger such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,655 can be applied in some water dispensers. However, the design of the heat-exchangers in U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,655 still could not provide a effective heat exchange function to decrease power-consuming.


A shield for a read element of a magnetic recording head is disclosed. The shield includes a first and a second triangular shaped closure magnetic domains positioned approximate a top surface of the shield such that a first surface of each of the first and second magnetic domains are formed by a portion of a first side of the shield and a second side of the shield, respectively. The shield also includes a third and a fourth triangular shaped closure magnetic domains positioned approximate the bottom surface of the shield. A first surface of the third and fourth magnetic domains are formed by a portion of the first side and the second side of the shield, respectively. A first magnetic domain wall is positioned between the first and second triangular shaped closure magnetic domains, while a second magnetic domain wall is positioned between the third and fourth triangular shaped closure magnetic domains.

The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic data storage and retrieval. In particular, the present invention relates to a shield design of a magnetoresistive reader that eliminates magnetic interactions between a magnetic read head shield and a magnetic read element by preventing displacement of domain walls within the shield.
A magnetic read head retrieves magnetically-encoded information that is stored on a magnetic medium or disc. The magnetic read head is typically formed of several layers that include a top shield, a bottom shield, and a read element or sensor positioned between the top and bottom shield. The read element is fabricated from a magnetoresistive composition, typically a ferromagnetic material such as Nickel-Iron (NiFe). The read element is magnetized along an easy axis of low coercivity. The read element is mounted on the read head such that the easy axis is transverse to the direction of disc rotation and parallel to the plane of the disc. Magnetic flux from the disc surface causes rotation of the magnetization vector of the read element, which in turn causes a change in electrical resistivity of the read element. The change in resistivity of the read element can be detected by passing a sense current through the read element and measuring a voltage across the read element. External circuitry then converts the voltage information into an appropriate format and manipulates that information as necessary.
During a read operation, the top and bottom shields ensure that the read element reads only the information stored directly beneath it on a specific track of the magnetic medium or disc by absorbing any stray magnetic fields emanating from adjacent tracks and transitions. Within the bottom shield exists a plurality of magnetic domains. The magnetic domains are separate by one of a plurality of a magnetic domain walls. Each domain has a magnetization that is oriented in a direction different than the magnetization of all adjacent domains. The application of an external magnetic field, either during manufacture or from an adjacent track or transition of the magnetic storage medium during operation, to a shield can cause the magnetization of each of the domains within that shield to rotate, thereby causing the domains to move, grow, or shrink. Thus, the domain walls are relocated due to the external magnetic field. The movement of a domain wall through a portion of the shield that is directly adjacent the read element results in Barkhausen noise, which is a local perturbation of the magnetic structure within the read element producing an unwanted change in the resistance of the read element. Until recently, Barkhausen noise induced by domain wall movement has been negligible. However, as storage densities on magnetic media and discs have increased, the read element has necessarily become smaller, more sensitive, and more susceptible to Barkhausen noise created by domain wall movement. Therefore, there is a need for a shield design that elites Barkhausen noise by minimizing domain wall movement within the particular shield.

Magnetic read element shield having dimensions that minimize domain wall movement


Process for manufacturing nickel-cobalt composite represented by Ni1−x−yCoxMnyMz(OH)2 (where, 0.05≦x≦0.95, 0≦y≦0.55, 0≦z≦0.1, x+y+z<1, and M is at least one metal-element selected from Al, Mg, and the like), includes: forming seed particle, while reaction solution having mixed solution containing metal compounds and ammonia solution containing ammonium ion supply source at discharge head of an impeller from 50-100 m2/s2, the concentration of nickel ions is maintained within range 0.1-5 ppm by mass, whereby seed particles are formed; and growing seed particle wherein solution is obtained by supplying mixed and ammonium solutions to reaction solution is agitated with a concentration of nickel ions being maintained within range 5-300 ppm by mass and higher than the concentration of nickel ions in seed particle formation, whereby seed particles are grown up.

In recent years, as electronic technology progresses, reduction in size and weight of electronic devices has been rapidly progressing. Particularly, because of the recent spread and the increase in functionality of portable electronic devices, such as cell phones and notebook-sized personal computers, the development of a small and lightweight battery having a high energy density has been strongly desired as a portable power source to be used for those portable electronic devices.
Lithium ion secondary batteries, which are nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary batteries, are small in size and have a high energy, and therefore, have been already applied as a power source for portable electronic devices. Furthermore, lithium ion secondary batteries find applications other than those limited applications, and, there have been also carried out the research and development of lithium ion secondary batteries to make use of the batteries as a large-sized power source for hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, and the like.
As a positive electrode active material for lithium ion secondary batteries, lithium-cobalt composite oxide (LiCoO2), which is relatively easily synthesized, has been made use of, but, as a raw material of lithium-cobalt composite oxide, a cobalt compound, which is rare and expensive to be produced, has been used, and therefore, an increase in the cost of the positive electrode active material has been caused. A reduction in the cost of the positive electrode active material and the resulting realization of manufacturing of more-inexpensive lithium ion secondary batteries can be said to have great industrial significance because such cost reduction and realization allow the cost of currently-widespread portable electronic devices to be reduced and lithium ion secondary batteries to be loaded into future large-sized power sources.
Examples of other positive electrode materials applicable as a positive electrode active material for lithium ion secondary batteries include lithium-manganese composite oxide (LiMn2O4), in which manganese, more inexpensive than cobalt, is contained; and lithium-nickel composite oxide (LiNiO2), in which nickel, more inexpensive than cobalt, is contained.
Lithium-manganese composite oxide is not only made of an inexpensive raw material, but also has high thermal stability, particularly, has high safety from ignition and the like, and therefore, it can be said that lithium-manganese composite oxide is an effective alternative material for lithium-cobalt composite oxide.
However, lithium-manganese composite oxide has only approximately half the theoretical capacity of lithium-cobalt composite oxide, and hence, has the disadvantage of difficulty in satisfying yearly-increasing demands for a high-capacity lithium ion secondary battery. Furthermore, lithium-manganese composite oxide has the disadvantages of intense self-discharge at not less than 45° C. and the resulting decrease in charge-and-discharge life.
On the other hand, lithium-nickel composite oxide has the advantage of having a higher capacity than that of lithium-cobalt composite oxide, which has been currently a mainstream, and has the advantages that nickel, a raw material, is more inexpensive and more stably available than cobalt, and therefore, lithium-nickel composite oxide has been expected as a next-generation positive electrode material, and the research and development of lithium-nickel composite oxide have been actively carried out.
However, lithium-nickel composite oxide has a problem that, in the case where a lithium ion secondary battery is produced using, as a positive electrode active material, a lithium-nickel composite oxide which is constituted not by substituting nickel with another element, but by using only purely nickel, the lithium-nickel composite oxide has poorer cycle characteristics than lithium-cobalt composite oxide. The reason for this is considered to be that the crystal structure of lithium-nickel composite oxide changes from hexagonal to monoclinic with the desorption of lithium, and furthermore, changes to hexagonal again, and this crystal structure change is poor in reversibility, and therefore, as a charge-and-discharge reaction is repeated, sites for insertion and desorption of Li are lost little by little.
To solve this problem, the substitution of cobalt for a part of nickel has been proposed (for example, refer to Patent documents 1 to 3). The substitution with cobalt prevents the phase transition of the crystal structure caused by the desorption of lithium, and a larger amount of substitution with cobalt allows a crystal phase to be more stable, whereby cycle characteristics are improved.
An object of the addition of cobalt is to stabilize a crystal phase by substituting cobalt for nickel present in a crystal structure, and therefore, cobalt and nickel need to be uniformly mixed at the atomic level. Effective is a process in which a hydroxide produced by continuously coprecipitating a nickel source and a cobalt source is used as a raw material of a positive electrode active material which realizes the object.
For example, Patent document 4 discloses that the control of the particle shape, the particle diameter, the specific surface area, the tap density, the pore space volume, and the pore filling factor of a nickel-cobalt coprecipitation hydroxide prevents cycle deterioration and achieves a battery having excellent charge-and-discharge characteristics, and, actually, such control has achieved certain characteristics.
However, a conventional process for the foregoing synthesis of a hydroxide by continuously coprecipitating a nickel source and a cobalt source has a problem that it is difficult to manufacture a nickel-cobalt composite hydroxide having a uniform particle diameter. This is because, in the manufacturing of nickel-cobalt composite hydroxide by a continuous crystallization reaction, nucleation by precipitation and a growth reaction of each of particles simultaneously proceed.
In the case where a positive electrode active material having a wide distribution of particle size is used, non-uniform voltages are applied to particles in an electrode, and accordingly, a repetition of charge and discharge causes the selective deterioration of fine particles and a decrease in capacity. Therefore, a positive electrode active material is required to comprise particles having a uniform and appropriate particle diameter.
As for achieving a uniform particle diameter, for example, Patent document 5 proposes a process for manufacturing nickel-cobalt-manganese composite hydroxide particles, the process including: a nucleation step in which nucleation is performed by controlling a solution for nucleation so as to achieve a pH value of from 12.0 to 14.0, the pH value being measured at a reference liquid temperature of 25° C.; and a particle growth step in which a solution for particle growth containing nuclei formed in the nucleation step is controlled so as to have a pH value of from 10.5 to 12.0 to grow the foregoing nuclei, the pH value being measured at a reference liquid temperature of 25° C.
Patent document 5 describes that the separate implementation of the nucleation and the particle growth allows the achievement of nickel-cobalt-manganese composite hydroxide particles having a small particle diameter and a uniform distribution of particle size, and a positive electrode active material manufactured using these particles as a raw material is excellent in particle diameter uniformity.
However, in Patent document 5, an index indicating the degree of a particle size distribution, namely, [(d90−d10)/average particle diameter] is not more than 0.55, and hence, in the case of a biased distribution of particle size, it cannot necessarily be said that fine particles or coarse particles are prevented from being mixed in. Furthermore, the foregoing manufacturing process is limited to a batch type, and hence, the process cannot be said to have high manufacturing efficiency.
Therefore, there has been demanded a positive electrode active material in which fine particles and coarse particles are further prevented from being mixed in, which has high particle-diameter-uniformity, and which is capable of being manufactured with high productivity.

Nickel-cobalt composite hydroxide and process for manufacturing same