A panel tray display system for improving storage capabilities beyond that of standard shelving has at least one tray support panel with vertically spaced lip troughs extending substantially continuously across the panel. The display system also has trays of a standardized, modular length that is chosen to allow a user to arrange two or more trays in a substantially side-to-side relationship on the display system. Each tray has a hanger member, a tray shelf and upturned front and side retaining rails. The hanger members are engaged in lip troughs so that the trays hang from the support panel. The trays may be repositioned vertically and horizontally on the panel as desired. The predetermined modular length of the trays is shorter than the length of traditional shelving and allows the user to maximize available storage space by adjusting the vertical distances between vertically adjacent short trays. The trays are thin, on the order of 1/16 inch, to further increase available storage space. The panel tray display system may form the basis of a prefabricated product storage and dispensing facility having a modular prefabricated enclosure. The enclosure may be assembled on site from within the enclosure, so that the enclosure may be made to tightly conform to the dimensions of a space in a preexisting building.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a panel tray display system for improving storage capabilities beyond that of standard shelving, and to a prefabricated product storage and dispensing facility incorporating such a panel tray display system.
2. Description of Prior Art
The physical plan of the pharmacy has changed little since the 1950's. Most pharmacies are an enclosed space having extensive shelving on which prescription items are stored, as well as counter space and a sink. The heart of the pharmacy is the shelving, which takes up the most space. However, as the variety of prescription products has grown and as the volume of prescription sales has multiplied, little has been done to optimize the space efficiency of traditional shelving.
There are at least four significant drawbacks with traditional pharmacy shelving. First, the width available to store and display products is less than the shelf width. The typical shelf unit has several vertically-spaced shelf boards spanning horizontally between two end boards, which prevent the products from falling off the ends of the shelf boards and provide structural stability to the shelf unit. However, the end boards are each typically 1/2" to 3/4" thick. Consequently, for a 32 inch wide shelf unit with 3/4" thick end boards, each shelf board is only 301/2 inches long. That is, 11/2 inches of the width of the shelf unit, or nearly 5% of the width, cannot be used to store product.
Second, the thickness of the shelves occupies what could otherwise be storage space. The shelf board in typical pharmacy shelving is between 1/2" and 3/4" thick. For a shelf unit having ten shelves spaced eight inches apart, 5" to 71/2" of vertical space is occupied by the thickness of the shelves. Another shelf could be added if this lost space could be reduced, thereby significantly increasing storage space.
Third, there is typically considerable "joint dead space" where adjacent shelf units meet, in which product cannot be stored. Most pharmacies are designed to have shelf units arranged either side-by-side or perpendicular to one another. Either way, the presence of end boards reduces the amount of available storage space.
In a side-by-side arrangement, two shelves come together at a joint. The joint is occupied by two vertical end pieces adjacent to one another. For end pieces having a thickness of 3/4", 11/2" inches of storage space is lost at each joint in a side-by-side arrangement.
When two or more shelf units are arranged at right angles, there is typically some "joint dead space" where the units meet that reduces storage capacity. As a practical matter, the products should be displayed so that a user can both see and reach all of the products. Unfortunately, the shelving needs end boards to prevent products from falling off of the end of the shelves. The end piece of one shelf unit typically prevents the user from seeing into and reaching into the joint to remove product from the adjacent, perpendicular unit.
Fourth, the height of the tallest package determines the vertical spacing between adjacent shelf boards. With the individual shelves spanning the full distance between end boards, the vertical spacing between the shelves is determined by the height of the tallest product on the shelf below. Although approximately 90% of all RX packaging is 6 inches high or less, the typical shelf spacing is about 9 inches to accommodate the occasional tall package. Consequently, there is often 3 inches or more of wasted empty space between the top of the typical package and the next shelf above.
This is true even with shelving in which the height between individual shelves is adjustable. RX packages are typically arranged alphabetically in a "book fashion", in which packages are arranged in ascending alphabetical order from the left hand side of a shelf to the right hand side. FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art shelving unit 40 on which RX packages 42 have been arranged in "book fashion", as books are shelved in a library.
Once a shelf is full, the alphabetical order continues at the left hand side of the next lower shelf. The tall-packages cannot be separated out onto their own shelf because to do so would be to break the alphabetical arrangement and make finding particular packages difficult. Thus, significant storage space is lost when the spacing is determined by the tallest package on the shelf below.


The invention is an adjustable height stairway having two parallel elongate ower frame members and two parallel elongate upper frame members swingable on a base. The upper frame members have wave-like edges that can fit with complimentary wave-like edges on the lower frame members. A set of steps parallel to the base has pivotal connections to each frame member at peaks of the wave-like edges. At a first angular position, the stairway is in a collapsed configuration wherein the pivotal connections are coplanar and the steps lie in a common plane to form a runway. In a second angular position the stairway is in an expanded configuration form a ladder or set of stairs.

The U.S. Army uses a turret motion base simulator to move a turret detached from its armored vehicle as if the turret were actually on the vehicle during travel over various terrains. To install a turret on the simulator, it is necessary to have a work platform at the testing station disposed at the height of the turret. The platform needs an access stairway so that workmen carrying tool boxes or test equipment can get to the platform from the ground. Since the U.S. Army tests turrets of varying configurations, it is helpful and often necessary to raise and lower the platform to better adapt the platform to a given turret. Consequently, the U.S. Army needs a stairway that moves with the platform but still allows workmen to carry heavy or bulky objects between the ground and the platform.
I have devised an adjustable stairway which can both rise with the platform and form either an inclined or a horizontal ramp suitable for wheeled carts. My stairway comprises two parallel upper frame members swingable about a first axis and two parallel lower frame members swingable about a second axis. A set of horizontal steps are pivotally connected to the frame members and normally remain parallel as the stairway swing up and down about the axes. When the frame members reach a horizontal position, the stairway is collapsed such that the steps are aligned in a common plane to form a runway. The connection between the base and the upper frame members can be released so that the steps can be swung into the common plane when the frame members are not horizontal, whereby the stairway forms an inclined ramp.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


The present invention relates to clear or translucent, rinse-added fabric softening compositions comprising from about 20% to about 80% imidazoline, imidazolinium, and/or di(2-amidoethyl)methyl quaternary ammonium fabric softener active, from about 2% to about 25% C.sub.8 -C.sub.22 mono-alkyl cationic quaternary ammonium compound dispersibility aids, and from about 17% to about 75% non-aqueous organic solvent, wherein the fatty acyl groups of the softener active have an average Iodine Value of at least about 50. Preferably the compositions have a viscosity of from about 15 cps to about 500 cps when diluted with from about 1:1 to about 1:5, softening composition to water.

The art discloses problems associated with formulating and preparing clear, concentrated fabric conditioning formulations. For example, European Patent Application No. 404,471, Machin et al., published Dec. 27, 1990, teaches isotropic liquid softening compositions with at least 20% by weight softener and at least 5% by weight of a short chain organic acid.
Although fabric softening compositions containing high solvent levels are known in the art, these compositions are still deficient in providing acceptable cold-water dispersibility and stability at sub-normal temperatures while maintaining satisfactory softening performance. This is due to the general problem that as the level of softener active in the composition increases, the dispersibility of active ingredients in the rinse water can decrease. Softener agglomerates may form and can deposit on clothes which can result in staining and reduced softening performance. Also, compositions may thicken and/or precipitate at low temperatures, i.e., at 35.degree. F. to 65.degree. F., or when diluted 1:1 to 1:5, softening composition to water, e.g., for use in automatic softener dispensers.
The present invention therefore provides concentrated liquid textile treatment compositions having improved stability (i.e., remains clear or translucent and does not precipitate) at sub-normal temperatures under prolonged storage conditions and good cold water dispersibility, together with excellent softening, anti-static and fabric rewettability characteristics across a broad range of fabric types.
The object of the present invention is to provide highly concentrated, clear or translucent rinse-added fabric softening compositions which readily disperse in rinse water, which remain phase stable at low temperatures, and which preferably maintain acceptable viscosity under low dilution conditions, for example when the consumer pre-dilutes the composition by adding water with the composition into the dispensing device of an automatic washing machine or into an automatic dispensing device. The compositions of the present invention preferably maintain acceptable viscosity under these pre-dilution conditions which result in ratios of from about 1:1 to about 1:5, softening composition to water.

Clear or translucent, concentrated fabric softener compositions


The (run, level) pairs in an original series are inspected to determine whether or not modification of the (run, level) pairs would produce a desirable decrease in a number of bits required for variable-length encoding of the series of (run, level) pairs, despite introduction of noise. If so, the (run, level) pairs are modified prior to variable-length encoding. For example, a (run, level) pair of (M, N) is modified by substitution of a first (run, level) pair of (M−1, 1) immediately followed by a second (run, level) pair of (0, N). A lookup table or testing of predetermined ranges of run length and level magnitude provides a fast determination of whether or not to modify a (run, level) pair. The decoder can be programmed to reduce the noise introduced by this process by recognizing and rejecting (run, level) pairs that are likely to have been inserted during the encoding process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to variable-length coding for data compression, and in particular the variable-length coding of (run, level) pairs.
2. Background Art
Variable-length coding (VLC) is a well-known technique of data compression. If certain data patterns occur much more often than other data patterns, then data compression occurs if the frequent data patterns are assigned shorter variable-length codes, and the infrequent data patterns are assigned longer variable-length codes. The technique has been well known since the introduction of the Morse code for telegraphy in the 19th century. The Morse code, for example, is a set of variable-length code words, each of which is comprised of a series of "dots" and "dashes." The most frequently used letters of the alphabet (E and T) are assigned the shortest code words, consisting of a single dot for the letter E, and a single dash for the letter T.
For encoding pictures or audio-visual data, the variable-length coding often encodes (run, level) pairs. Typically the run represents the number of consecutive zero-valued transform coefficients in a series of transform coefficients, and the level represents the nonzero value of a transform coefficient which terminates the above chain of zero valued coefficients. For example, a number of standard image compression techniques subdivide a picture into 8×8 blocks of pixels. For each block, a two-dimensional discrete cosine transform is applied to the pixel values to produce a series of 64 DCT coefficients. The coefficient values are quantized in such a way that a large number of the coefficients typically have a level of zero, and most of the coefficients have relatively small level magnitudes.
There are various ways that (run, level) pairs can be variable-length coded. In a common coding scheme, each of the most frequent (run, level) pairs is assigned a corresponding variable-length code having a length that is inversely proportional to the frequency of the (run, level) pair. The less frequent (run, level) pairs, however, are encoded in a different fashion, which will be referred to as an escape sequence. For example, the escape sequence is a fixed-length code word, consisting of an escape code, followed by the run value and the level value. Such variable-length coding of (run, level) pairs is used in a popular video compression technique known as MPEG.
MPEG is an acronym for the Moving Picture Experts Group, which was set up by the International Standards Organization (ISO) to work on compression of video and its associated audio. MPEG provides a number of different variations (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, etc.) to suit different bandwidth and quality constraints. MPEG-2, for example, is especially suited to the storage and transmission of broadcast quality television programs.
For the video data, MPEG provides a high degree of compression (up to 200:1) by encoding 8×8 blocks of pixels into a set of discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients, quantizing and encoding the coefficients, and using motion compensation techniques to encode most video frames as predictions from or between other frames. In particular, the encoded MPEG video stream is comprised of a series of groups of pictures (GOPs), and each GOP begins with an independently encoded (intra) I frame and may include one or more following P frames and B frames. Each I frame can be decoded without information from any preceding and/or following frame. Decoding of a P frame in general requires information from a preceding frame in the same GOP. Decoding of a B frame in general requires information from both a preceding frame which can be in the previous or the same GOP, and a following frame in the same GOP. To minimize decoder buffer requirements, transmission orders differ from presentation orders for some frames, so that all the information of the reference frames required for decoding a non-causally predicted frame, that is to say a B frame will arrive at the decoder before the B frame.
In addition to the motion compensation techniques for video compression, the MPEG standard provides a generic framework for combining one or more elementary streams of digital video and audio, as well as system data, into single or multiple program transport streams (TS) which are suitable for storage or transmission. The system data includes information about synchronization, random access, management of buffers to prevent overflow and underflow, and time stamps for video frames and audio packetized elementary stream packets embedded in video and audio elementary streams as well as program description, conditional access and network related information carried in other independent elementary streams. The standard specifies the organization of the elementary streams and the transport streams, and imposes constraints to enable synchronized decoding from the audio and video decoding buffers under various conditions.
The MPEG-2 standard is documented in ISO/IEC International Standard (IS) 13818-1, "Information Technology-Generic Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio Information: Systems," ISO/IEC IS 13818-2, "Information Technology-Generic Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio Information: Video," and ISO/IEC IS 13818-3, "Information Technology-Generic Coding of Moving Pictures and Associated Audio Information: Audio," which are incorporated herein by reference. A concise introduction to MPEG is given in "A guide to MPEG Fundamentals and Protocol Analysis (Including DVB and ATSC)," Tektronix Inc., 1997, incorporated herein by reference.

Insertion of noise for reduction in the number of bits for variable-length coding of (run, level) pairs


A toning roll assembly in which a rotatable core member with magnetic poles disposed about the periphery thereof is positioned within a hollow shell so that the shell-to-core clearance, and therefore, the magnetic field strength on the outside surface of the shell varies from point-to-point on the shell. Magnetically attractable developer particles are fed onto the shell's surface at a point of higher field strength and moved through a point of lower field strength on the shell. The latter field strength is such so that under the operating and design parameters of the assembly, only the amount of developer required to properly tone the latent image on an associated photoconductor remains magnetically supported on the shell for transport to the photoconductor after the developer passes the point of lower field strength. In one embodiment, the core and shell are rotatable cylinders disposed eccentrically with respect to each other, while in another embodiment the core is a rotatable cylinder and the shell is non-cylindrical and stationary.

Electrostatographic or electrophotographic processes involve a device one of the components of which includes a layer of photoconductive insulating material fixed to a conductive backing, i.e., a "photoconductor". Initially the surface of the photoconductor is uniformly, electrostatically charged over its entire surface, following which it is exposed to a pattern of light corresponding to an image to be reproduced. The charge on the surface areas impacted by the light of the image is thereby dissipated, leaving only areas not so impacted in the initially charged condition. The residual charge remaining on the surface of the photoconductor, therefore, conforms to the configuration of the pattern of light reflected from the image that is to be reproduced.
This latent electrostatic image can subsequently be developed or made visible by exposing it to finely divided, electrostatically attractable, particulate material. The material is drawn or attracted to the surface areas by the electrostatic charge thereon in amounts proportional to the magnitude of the charge in the electrostatically affected areas, thereby forming an image of the material being copied on the photoconductor.
The particulate material used to create the image, referred to in the industry as "toner", typically consists of a pigmented, thermoplastic resinous composition which can subsequently be transferred to a supporting substrate on which the document is to be permanently "fixed". Such transfer can be accomplished, for example, with the assistance of a corona discharge device which results in the creation of an electrostatic charge on the substrate, opposite in nature to the charge of the toner which forms the image on the photoconductor. Transfer of the toner image to the substrate by electrostatic attraction occurs when the substrate and the photoconductor with the image thereon are brought into close proximity with each other. The transferred image can thereafter be permanently fixed to the substrate by fusing the toner composition, using any of the several known methods.
Transfer of the toner to the latent electrostatic image takes place in a "toning zone" in which the photoconductor is brought into contact with a supply of the toner, either in the form of a two component "developer", i.e., magnetic carrier particles coated with toner composition, or in the form of a single component developer, consisting of toner which includes a magnetic component as part of the composition thereof. (Developer, as is used herein, covers the foregoing magnetic material. It does not cover non-magnetic single component developers.) At the point of contact, the developer is carried on a device often termed a "toning roller", and the developer is in motion relative to the photoconductor. The toning roller generally includes a core or roll having magnetic poles on its surface, and a shell in which the core rotates to move developer on the shell. The amount of developer carried on the toning roller at the contact point is of considerable importance in maintaining a high quality image. In this regard, if too little developer is carried on the toning roller, contact between the developer and the electrostatic latent image is reduced, resulting in an image having an undesirably light tone density. On the other hand, if there is an excess of developer present, such excess is forced outwardly along the longitudinal axis of the toning roller, where it can ultimately be lost from the ends of the roller, resulting in contamination of the electrostatographic device. Furthermore, excess developer can also accumulate at the entrance to the toning zone. This is sometimes called roll-back of the developer. This is undesirable since the area of the photoconductor in contact with the developer gradually increases as a consequence, resulting in a corresponding increase in the time of contact between the latent electrostatic image and the developer. This in turn causes an undesirable increase in the tone density of the image.
The problem described has long been recognized, and several remedial approaches have been suggested in an attempt to overcome it. For example, it has been proposed to use a doctor blade or "feed skive" adjacent to the roller, adjusted to provide just enough clearance between the edge of the skive and the surface of the shell to produce a coating of developer on the roller having the thickness necessary to assure that the toning zone will receive a supply of developer in the correct amount.
A disadvantage of developer flow control achieved through use of a feed skive, however, results from the sensitivity of results to the clearance between the skive and the shell. In this connection, a change of as little as 0.005 inch in the feed gap is capable of varying the tone quality of the image obtained. Proper adjustment of the gap, therefore, can be detrimentally affected by a skive whose surface is not perfectly straight, or by imperfections in the toner roll, for example, its non-circularity in the case of a rotating roll.
Another solution proposed has involved the use of a slotted feed plate positioned between the toner roll and the feed roller supplying it, the amount of developer passing through the slot determining the thickness of the coating on the toner roll, and therefore, the amount of developer available in the toning zone. Again, however, the dimensions are critical, and in this regard, as little as a 0.005 inch change in the slot width, or in the position of the feed plate relative to the toning roller, has a disproportionate influence on image quality.

Developer flow rate regulation for an electrophotographic toning roller


An apparatus to support a device includes a first base; a first support; a first base-support hinge adapted to rotatably couple the first base and the first support along a first axis of rotation; a first swivel slidably connected to the first support and having a first cut-out adapted to receive a first portion of the device; a second base; a second support; a second base-support hinge adapted to rotatably couple the second base and the second support along a second axis of rotation; and a second swivel slidably connected to the second support and having a second cut-out adapted to receive a second portion of the device spaced apart from the first portion of the device.

Applicant's apparatus relates to apparatus and devices for supporting portable electronic devices and other devices or objects, and more particularly to an apparatus that can transform in shape to take the form of a credit card that may be stored and carried in a case for holding cards, such as a wallet.
There are many stands on the market that are able to hold electronic mobile devices. One such stand is known as the Apple IPHONE™ docking station that can hold a device at a predetermined angle in the portrait view, while placed upon a flat surface. Another is the Glif-IPHONE™ 4 Tripod Mount & Stand that can hold a device at predetermined angles and is small enough to fit inside a pocket, and also allows the device to be mounted on a standard tripod. Still other stands include the type that is portable which can fit inside a pocket and allows for articulation of a mobile device to a certain extent, such as the tiltpod. However, these stands are not thin enough to fit inside a wallet for a truly portable apparatus that can also allow the user to position a mobile device at any possible orientation angle in both the landscape and portrait views.

Apparatus to support portable electronic devices and other devices or objects


A coil module comprises a circular core and a winding is provided. The circular core comprises an outer circular portion and an inner circular portion. The winding is wound around the outer circular portion in a single-layer configuration and around the inner circular portion in a multi-layer configuration. The coil module comprises a first thickness after the winding is wound around the outer circular portion and comprises a second thickness after the winding is wound around the inner circular portion, wherein the first thickness is greater than or equal to the second thickness.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention provides a coil module with a thin-profile design.
2. Descriptions of the Related Art
As passive electronic components, coil modules have been widely used in various electronic products to provide the filtering, energy storage, energy releasing and functions of the like, by converting electric energy into magnetic energy or vice versa, thereby, stabilizing the output current. In conventional technologies, a coil module (not shown) comprises a circular core 10 as shown in FIG. 1 (a cross-sectional view of the circular core 10 is shown in FIG. 1) and at least one winding (not shown) wound around the circular core 10. The circular core 10 of the conventional coil module typically has a rectangular cross-section 13, so that the inner circular portion 12 and outer circular portion 11 of the circular core 10 have the same height H0. Because an outer perimeter corresponding to the outer circular portion 11 is greater than the inner perimeter corresponding to the inner circular portion 12, the winding density in the inner circular portion 12 of the circular core 10 is greater than that in the outer circular portion 11 of the circular core 10 when the winding is wound around the circular core 10. As the turn number of the winding wound around the circular core 10 increases, the winding density in the inner circular portion 12 of the circular core 10 will become more compact, and possibly result in a plurality of winding layers in the inner circular portion 12 of the circular core 10. The increase in winding layers causes an increase in the height corresponding to the inner circular portion 12 of the coil module. This is especially true when the winding has a large wire thickness and the difference between the outer perimeter and the inner perimeter is excessively large.
Because most electronic products today are evolving towards a lightweight, thin-profile, and miniaturized design, conventional coil modules can no longer satisfy this demand. An increase in the height corresponding to the inner circular portion 12 of such a coil module would have a significant adverse influence on the overall volume of the coil module, making it impossible to install such a conventional coil module in miniaturized and thin-profile electronic products.
In view of this, efforts still have to be made to provide a coil module with a thin-profile design adapted to effectively reduce the overall volume of the coil module so that the coil module may be used in various miniaturized electronic products.


A reversible sequin pattern sheet includes a layer of fabric positionable substantially in a plane and a plurality of sequins each having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the sequins being arranged in an array. Each sequin includes an aperture extending between the first and second surfaces, at least a portion of the first and second surfaces of the sequins having different indicia thereon. A thread extending through each aperture is secured to the fabric layer for securing the sequins to the fabric layer and for allowing each sequin to pivot with respect to the fabric layer between a first position and a second position. The indicia are selected such that when the array is in the first position a first message is conveyed, and when the array is in the second position a second message is conveyed.

This invention relates generally to novelty decorative devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a reversible decorative device that can switch between multiple positions depending on the desire of the user.
Throughout history, people have been adding decorative material to their clothes and possessions to enhance their visual appeal or to signify the owner's wealth or status. With regard to fabrics and cloths, handicraft is often used to incorporate materials onto a backing in a specific arrangement to form a desired "picture" or pattern. Such well-known methods of handicraft include quilting, needlepoint and cross-stitching among others which attach a substance, such as colored yarn, to the fabric background or backing. As an alternative to sewing additional yarn or fabric on the backing, the use of sequins has arisen in recent years. The sequins, made in a wide variety of colors, are attached to the backing where each sequin forms a certain subsection of the overall image or message. For example, common designs might include household pets or photographs of famous landmarks.
However, if a new design or image is desired on a given decorated article, the previous design must be completely removed from the article and a new design attached. In the alternative, an owner could purchase an identical article and decorate it with the new design. These traditional approaches to decorative articles do not allow switching between multiple designs without prohibitive costs and labor. The present invention overcomes the limitations of the traditional systems and provides other related advantages. The reversible sequin pattern sheet of the present invention is a device for conveying a multiplicity of decorative messages. With the inventive pattern sheet, multiple decorative messages can be displayed at will without the need for removing the sequins to alternate an image or without the need for multiple sheets for each individual image.


The invention provides a broadband ocean bottom seismograph with a single glass sphere. The seismograph comprises an anchor at its bottom having a frame structure with a rigid ring for accommodating a seismometer chamber. The seismometer chamber comprises a bell-shaped protective hood opening downward where a seismometer sealed chamber is suspended to the inner surface of the protective hood by cables. The bottom of the seismometer sealed chamber protrudes through the opening of the protective hood to be seated in direct contact with the seabed. A functional chamber comprises a plastic instrument chamber and a glass global instrument chamber secured in the plastic chamber. The plastic instrument chamber is fixedly mounted on top of the protective hood. A release mechanism is mounted on the top of the functional chamber, and connected to frame of the anchor via fusible tensioning steel wires.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a field of observing natural earthquake, and more particularly, relates to a combined broadband ocean bottom seismograph (OBS) with single glass sphere.
2. Description of the Related Art
Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences is a major institution in China engaging in researching and developing ocean bottom seismograph and takes on most of tasks for developing ocean bottom seismograph in China. In the special development program financially supported by Ministry of Finance for developing important scientific research equipment during the Outline of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan of China, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a seven-channel multifunctional ocean bottom seismograph, and has successfully put it into use in the South China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea and has obtained a great amount of valuable scientific data.
FIG. 1 is a structural view of a conventional multifunctional ocean bottom seismograph with seven-channels. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional multifunctional ocean bottom seismograph with seven-channels comprises a release mechanism, a plastic instrument chamber, a glass instrument sphere and an anchor. The release mechanism is provided at the top end of the plastic instrument chamber. The glass instrument sphere is fixedly mounted inside the plastic instrument chamber. The anchor is provided at the bottom of the plastic instrument chamber. The release mechanism and the anchor are connected with each other by tensioning steel wires so that the instrument chamber is secured in the anchor. Inside the glass instrument sphere is provided with a battery unit, an O-ring, a broadband three-component leveling seismometer, a three-component high frequency detector, a normally-horizontal support, electronic circuit, an acquisition system and a water acoustic communication module and the like. The battery unit is disposed in the lower half of the glass instrument sphere via the O-ring. The broadband three-component attitude control seismometer and the three-component high frequency detector are integrated with each other by screws to form a seismometer assembly. The seismometer assembly is connected to the normally-horizontal support inside the glass instrument sphere via bearings to rotate freely within a working angle of 30 degree. The electronic circuit, the acquisition system, and the water acoustic communication module are secured on the top of the seismometer assembly comprising the broadband three-component attitude control seismometer and the three-component high frequency detector to integrate into a unit inside the glass global chamber.
With the conventional multifunctional ocean bottom seismograph with seven-channels, the seismometer assembly is disposed inside the glass instrument sphere which is enclosed by the plastic instrument chamber, and the plastic instrument chamber is coupled to the anchor and the anchor is then coupled to the seabed. Due to such multiple coupling, the data recorded by the seismometer assembly are amplified by the plastic chamber, the anchor and other relevant components. Furthermore, it is difficult to ensure the sufficient coupling strength during assembly of these components, which adversely affects the seismic record and results in large error in obtained data.
In addition, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) develop a kind of ocean bottom seismograph, which mainly comprises a cantilever beam for hanging the seismometer so that the seismometer works on the seabed directly. In order to keep away from the anchor and floating ball, the cantilever beam must have a certain length, and to avoid external torque influence due to external condition, the seismometer is disposed in a separate glass sphere. To provide sufficient buoyancy, multiple spheres are necessary. Typically, there are four to eight glass spheres, so that the weight of the seismograph amounts to several hundreds kilogram or more, and the manufacture cost is increased greatly. The price of a single seismograph is nearly one million Renminbi (RMB). Further, it increases difficulty in putting the seismograph into operation under sea and recovering it from the ocean bottom. FIG. 2 shows a structure of the seismograph provided by WHOI.
Presently, with the higher requirements for performance of the ocean bottom seismograph, the ocean bottom seismographs developed in several countries and the broadband multifunctional ocean bottom seismograph with seven-channels previously developed by the applicant have some disadvantages: there is much difference in performance of the ocean bottom seismograph when it works in sea water environment and on land. The frequency of the natural seismic signal is in the range of 0.01-10 Hz. The coupling between the ocean bottom seismograph and the seabed has apparent influence on the data quality in seismic observation, and the surging of the sea water has great influence on the horizontal signal recorded by the instrument during work. Firstly, the less the pressure on the seabed applied by the ocean bottom seismograph, the better the coupling between the ocean bottom seismograph and the seabed. In other words, the more proximity between the density of the ocean bottom seismograph and the density of the sea water, the better the recording effect. Secondly, since the inconsistency between the vibration of the seabed and the motion of the sea water, the ocean bottom seismograph will be affected by additional moments when it is recording signals, and the higher the ocean bottom seismograph, the longer the equivalent arm of force, resulting in a greater influence.
For the above reasons, the current broadband multifunctional ocean bottom seismograph with seven-channels in which the seismometer is integrally mounted inside the glass instrument chamber cannot resist well the impact of sea water flow and there is great distortion of recorded signal. On the other hand, the broadband ocean bottom seismograph with a cantilever beam cannot be broadly used due to the weight and the cost.

Combined broadband ocean bottom seismograph with single glass sphere


A method and apparatus for managing common and application specific presence information, wherein the apparatus programs a computer to perform the method, which includes: receiving a publication message comprising presence information from a presentity; partitioning the presence information into common presence information and application specific presence information; storing the common presence information in a common presence information database, wherein authorization for access to the common presence information database is controlled by the presence server; and forwarding the application specific presence information to an external application, wherein the external application controls storage of the application specification presence information and authorization for access to the application specific presence information.

In computer and telecommunications networks, presence information is defined as a status indicator that conveys status data, such as availability, activities, and physical location, of a presentity. A presentity is defined as an entity described by presence information. A presentity usually refers to a human (a user), but can also refer to a group of users. A presentity provides presence information to a presence service that runs on a presence server. The presence service stores the presence information in a presence information database (also interchangeably referred to herein as a store).
The process wherein the presence service collects presence information is termed aggregation. In addition, the presence service distributes presence information to entities called watchers, wherein a watcher is defined as an entity (a user) that requests information about a presentity from a presence service. A watcher can subscribe to presence information from a presence service by requesting notification from the presence service; and in such a case, the watcher is referred to as a subscriber. Alternatively, a watcher may fetch presence information from a presence service by simply requesting the current value of a presentity's presence information; and in such a case, the watcher is referred to as a fetcher. Oftentimes, a presence server is a centralized server running a presence service, which authorizes a presentity, and stores (or saves) the presentity's presence information in a centralized database. Moreover, the presence service authorizes a watcher, and retrieves (or gets) presence information from the centralized database before forwarding the presence information to the watcher. However, in deployments where the presence server aggregates presence information of a user across a varied set of applications, some part of the user's presence information may comprise information that is relevant and common to all contributing applications (which thus defines "common" presence information) while the other may be viewed as application specific (which thus defines application specification presence information).
For example, a police officer's availability and physical location is relevant to all applications that are running on a dispatcher's computer and the police officer's computer or device, and can, thus, be deemed as common presence information. To the contrary, the application specific presence information is only relevant to a specific application. For instance, for a job-ticketing application, a user's completion status for a particular job ticket or an enumeration of the various job tickets that a user is currently working on may be viewed as application specific presence information.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus to partition presence information into common and application specific presence information and to store and manage access to this presence information.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative other elements to help improve understanding of various embodiments. In addition, the description and drawings do not necessarily require the order illustrated. It will be further appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required.
Apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the various embodiments so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Thus, it will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, common and well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment may not be depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments.

Method and apparatus for managing common and application specific presence information


A method and system is provided for distributed optimal caching for information centric networking. The system and method disclosed herein enables each router/node in the network to make an independent decision to solve the optimization problem based upon a cost feedback from its neighbors. Content is received by a first router which determines if it should store the content in its cache based on a Characterizing Metrics (CM) value or send it to a neighbor router j, where the neighbor router j is selected based on a transaction cost determination. The node j on receiving the content shared with itself again performs similar computation to determine if the content should be stored in its cache. The method is performed iteratively for optimal distributed caching.

In any network, caching plays an important role. If the available content in the network were small, every node/router in the network could have stored all the content and this would have led to the best possible performance.
It is not possible to store all the content on every node/router. Hence, the nodes/routers must store only those contents which help these devices to serve the requests arriving from the users directly connected to them i.e., improving the local cache hits.
However, such an approach of maximizing local cache hits does not necessarily lead to an optimal performance of the network i.e., maximizing of total cache hits in the network. Hence, a collaborative approach with neighbors for cache sharing may lead to a better resource utilization and system performance.
Although various network architectures proposed in the literature for Information Centric Networking (ICN) are different from each other in their operations, they all address at least two primary challenges of ICN a) Naming: naming schemes should be efficient as well as scalable to handle massive growth of contents/data. b) Caching: in ICN routers are enabled to cache the contents passing through them. Due to limited available storage memory, it is not possible to store all the contents in the caches of these routers. Hence these caches need to replace content using various standalone caching policies. Existing standalone policies which are in use include Least Recently Used (LRU), Least Frequently Used (LFU), and Universal Caching (UC) etc.
Further, most of the existing standalone ICN caching schemes focus on individual cache routers where each router intends to maximize its cache usage by storing high demand content. Many a times some of the router caches may be underutilized by storing relatively low demand contents while other routers may get over utilized and may be forced to drop high demand content.
The existing standalone caching policies have characterizing metrics based on which caching of the new content and content replacement is performed. For Example Characterizing Metric (CM) ensures that the cache hit for a router is maximized, however this does not ensure that the overall cache hit of the system is maximized. There may be routers in the network which are not very frequently accessed and hence may offer better opportunities for data to be cached in their respective caches. The prior art does not focus on the problem of optimized cache utilization in a network architecture giving consideration to overall network utility and the same is a challenge in the technical domain.

Method and system for distributed optimal caching of content over a network


A retaining device has a multi-layer protective cladding for protecting the bearing and containment structure of a spreading chamber for the controlled spread and cooling of a melt from a nuclear reactor pressure vessel. The spreading chamber is configured under the spreading concept, i.e. the melt spreads and cools therein. The protective cladding has at least two layers: an outer sacrificial layer acts as a thermal shock barrier and melting substance; a protective and insulating layer, disposed inside the sacrificial layer and protecting the underlying bearing and containment structure, acts as thermal protection layer and retaining layer for the hot melt. The protective and insulating layer includes a first partial layer of fireproof concrete adjacent the bearing and containment structure, and a second partial layer of temperature-resistant ceramic blocks, in particular ZrO.sub.2 adjacent the sacrificial layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a retaining device with a multi-layer protective cladding for protecting the bearing and containment structure of a spreading chamber, for the controlled spreading and cooling of a hot melt, in particular a core melt, which after emerging from the nuclear reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor installation designed on the spreading concept can be carried into a spreading chamber and cooled therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has been known heretofore, for retaining core melt emerging from a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor installation, to dispose a crucible-like catching container directly below the reactor pressure vessel, in the reactor cavern carrying the reactor pressure vessel. The catching container can hold the core melt within a compact volume and can be cooled both on its outside and in its interior. British Patent 2 236 210 A describes one such retaining device with a catching container, also called a core catcher. The core catcher is embodied by a supporting structure that is spaced apart from the wall and bottom of the reactor cavern and is supported by support elements disposed on the bottom. In the interior, the core catcher is lined with a core retention layer of zirconium oxide blocks. The core retention layer is lined with a sacrificial layer, preferably of a steel, for its protection during normal power plant operation. The core retention layer is thus sandwiched between the bearing structure and the sacrificial layer. For mechanical stability of the sacrificial layer, the zirconium oxide blocks are joined to one another and to the bearing structure and to the sacrificial layer by a zirconium oxide cement. To enable the core catcher to hold all the emerging core melt, the container is drawn upward in crucible fashion to beyond the bottom of the reactor pressure vessel. As a result the core melt can be caught in a kind of smelting crucible with a small directly-coolable surface area.
A retaining device for receiving a spreading core melt is described in the conference offprint "Emerging Nuclear Energy Systems 1989, ICENES '89, Karlsruhe July 3-6, Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Emerging Nuclear Systems, pp. 19-24; see particularly FIG. 1 on page 23 in conjunction with the text on page 21. In that known retaining device, a cooled catch basin (core catcher) is likewise disposed inside the reactor containment directly below the reactor pressure vessel; in this basin, the melt can spread over a large area and can be cooled with water in direct contact with an enlarged surface area. The steam generated by the decay heat of the melt condenses in the upper part of the steel shell of the reactor containment and from there flows back to the retaining device. Specifically, the bottom of the catch basin is supported by a support structure made up of double-T beams, and is formed by a perforated steel plate. Core melt can be cooled directly with water both through the steel plate and via openings in the wall of the catch basin. What is known as a "sacrificial concrete layer" is located on the steel plate. That sacrificial layer is reinforced in the surface region of the shielding pit, or in other words below the reactor pressure vessel. Cooling water in the lower part of the reactor containment permanently surrounds the catch basin. The cooling water can also spread along the top of the sacrificial layer, or in other words the surface of the sacrificial layer toward the reactor pressure vessel. However, as much as possible, an immediate contact of a core melt emerging from the rounded bottom portion of a reactor pressure vessel with water should be avoided. Moreover, in the known retaining device the water layer below the catch basin is the only protective layer for the structural concrete located beneath it.

Device for retaining a hot melt in particular a core melt-through inside the spreading chamber of a nuclear reactor installation


A method of automated workflow processing includes transforming an object, A1, which is of class X, into an object which is of class Y. The method includes the steps of separating existing data elements of A1 from the object itself, generating new data elements corresponding to class Y, inserting the new data elements into object A1, and computing values for the new data elements, possibly based on values of the old data elements. Other objects that referred to A1 before the transformation continue to do so afterwards. Values of data elements prior to transformation can be preserved, e.g., to facilitate review, to facilitate further transformation, and/or to facilitate back transformation.

The invention pertains to digital data processing and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for implementation of object-oriented programming (OOP) objects. The invention has application, by way of non-limiting example, in the design and implementation of Business Process Management (BPM) systems, including, by way of non-limiting example, workflow applications.
The popularity of languages like C++ and Java, and of programming design methodologies like Booch and UML is, in large part, due to the object-oriented programming paradigm supported by these systems. Of late, these methodologies have been extended from more conventional programming languages to mark-up languages, such as XML, which permit ready definition of structured "documents" that are easily transmitted over networks (such as the Internet) and that can contain object-like data.
Objects are a very natural and intuitive way to model complex systems; they correspond closely to the way human domain experts think about a particular application. In general, objects typically correspond to "nouns"; the relevant things for a particular application. Attributes of the objects correspond to adjectives that provide details about the objects, and methods of the objects correspond to verbs that change the state of the object. This sort of correspondence supports rapid development of complex systems, often by individuals who are domain experts more than they are programmers.
An example domain area where the object-oriented paradigm has been used extensively is workflow applications, where work items, resources, and constraints are modeled as objects. Workflow applications typically require modeling complex business processes. Such modeling requires sophisticated data structures in order to adequately represent all the relevant information. Such applications are characterized by large numbers of classes, deep class hierarchies, and intricate links between associated object instances.
One important characteristic of workflow applications is that they are very dynamic; the information associated with a work item changes significantly as the work item is passed from operation to operation in the business process. Such information changes can be frequent, as the business process may be very detailed, and many enterprises have near real-time performance of such transactions as a goal.
Typically, a work item is represented using a very simple object that contains information like the work item's ID, its due time, etc. All other information, e.g., pertaining to the work item's ever-changing states, is represented in objects that are related to the work item. This is a perfectly valid approach under the object-oriented programming paradigm. However, it does lead to a lot of complexity as there may be a large number of objects related to the work item in intricate or indirect ways. This can present a problem for a programmer attempting to model the work item and the workflow of which it is a part.
In view of the foregoing, an object of this invention is to provide improved methods and apparatus for digital data processing and, more particularly, for example, for modeling and processing workflows.
A related object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus for improved implementation of object-oriented programming (OOP) objects.
A further object is to provide such methods and apparatus as can be implemented in any variety of programming languages and/or on any variety of platforms.
A still further object is to provide such methods and apparatus as simply the modeling of workflows or other processes that utilize items of changing state.

Methods and apparatus for digital data processing with mutable inheritance


A machine with a central strut, which strut has a center portion first and second end portion, two pairs of flexible bows, each pair comprised of two bows under flexed stress and having first and second ends. The bows are flexed in an arc such that said first and second ends of the bows extend at 90.degree. angles to each other. The first end of each the bows in a pair are fastened to each other in overlapping longitudinal relationship to form a handle for said machine, and the second end of each of said bows are rotatably secured to an end portion of the strut in a manner to prevent lateral or longitudinal movement.. The machine converts forces applied in a direction perpendicularly to a plane to a force acting perpendicularly to the same plane but in a direction opposite that of the first force applied. The first force may be applied in the first direction of a single point, or a pair of points, in equal or differing magnitudes.. The force applied is converted to act in the opposite direction relative to the plane, and may act through one point, or a pair of points in equal or differing magnitude, or through a third point.. A slow steady motion in the direction of the first force may be utilized to obtain an extremely strong "snap-action" in the opposite direction in a further embodiment.. In an alternate embodiment, the central strut is articulated at its mid-point.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is concerned with a simple machine which is capable of converting force applied in one direction perpendicularly relative to a plane to a force directed in the opposite direction perpendicularly relative to the same plane.
The force conversion may be accomplished by application of the force in the first direction at a single point, or a pair of points, in equal or differing magnitudes.
The force applied is converted to act in the opposite direction relative to the plane, and may act through one point, or a pair of points in equal or differing magnitude, or through a third point.
Mechanical advantages of extremely large magnitude are easily obtained using certain embodiments of the invention.
A slow steady motion in one direction may be utilized to obtain an extremely strong "snap-action" in the opposite direction in a further embodiment of the invention.
2. Prior Art
No device is known which incorporates the same principles of operation as the machine of the present invention. The devices which seem most nearly related to the machine of the present invention are the lever and the bow are arrow.


A safety monitoring system based on a smart toilet and a smart toilet are provided. The monitoring system includes a smart toilet, and a cloud server. The smart toilet is configured to detect toilet usage time of a user, and transmit the toilet usage time to the cloud server. The cloud server generates first prompt information, and transmits the first prompt information to the smart toilet. The smart toilet is further configured to prompt, according to the first prompt information, a user when the first prompt information is received.

At present, with the change in the age structure of the population, China will gradually become aging. However, China's endowment pattern is still dominated by family pension, while children in the family are relatively few. At this time, if children (especially only child) need to support many elderly people at the same time, there will inevitably be conflicts between work and caring for the elderly.
For this reason, the known technology has disclosed that the type of activity of the elderly (such as entering and leaving the bathroom, flushing, fainting in the ground, entering and leaving the house, etc.) is detected, and when the toilet is not used for a long time and the user goes into the bathroom for a long time, corresponding alarm signal is generated, and the generated alarm information is transmitted to the family's mobile phone, a specific monitoring center, or upload to the network side; or an action path for the elderly is established, and the health status or living rules of the elderly are obtained by analysis according to the path. However, the accuracy is poor by determining possible danger only by the case that the toilet is not used for a long time or the user goes into the bathroom for a long time or obtaining the health status or living rules of the elderly according to the action path, and inconvenience can be brought to the user, so the user experience will not be good.

Smart toilet and safety monitoring system based on smart toilet


A holder for a blade of a saber saw unit, wherein the blade is of the type provided with a pair of opposed side marginal edges and a notch in at least one side marginal edge near the rear end of the blade. The holder includes a support having a slot for receiving the blade and projecting means shiftably mounted on the support near one side margin of the slot for movement across the same and into the notch of the blade when the blade is in the slot to releasably hold the blade in the slot. Bias means holds the projection means in an operative position in the notch of the blade in the slot. A number of embodiments of the holder are disclosed.

A number of devices have been developed over the years for holding saber saw blades to reciprocating mechanisms of saber saws. Currently, the simplest way to do this is to use a set screw carried by the reciprocating part so that the screw can bear against the blade and hold it in a fixed position in a slot of the reciprocating part. The disadvantage of this is that the screw can come loose by constant vibration due to the reciprocatory motion of the blade so that a sawing operating must be interrupted until the screw is again tightened.
Other blade holders used for this purpose have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,750,283; 3,795,980; 3,823,473; 3,927,893 and 4,020,555. For the most part, the holders of these patents relate to a specific type of blade, one in which one or more holes are drilled through the blade near the rear end thereof for receiving conical detents, balls or the like carried by the holder.
It has become apparent that the construction of the blade is important and that, in some cases, it is desirable that the blade not be drilled or punched so as to maintain a relatively high structural integrity. This would suggest that a recess be placed in the blade only at a side marginal edge thereof. Thus, a need has arisen for an improved holder for a blade having a side marginal edge notch.


The present invention provides a light-emitting diode (LED) device and a fabrication method thereof. The LED device has a double-layered contact layer structure with a surface of one contact layer being patterned to increase ohmic contact area of the double-layered contact layer structure to lower an operation voltage of the LED device, and hence reducing power consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-emitting device and a fabrication method thereof, and more particularly to a light-emitting diode and a fabrication method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
With reference to FIG. 1, which is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of a conventional light-emitting diode device. The light-emitting diode device 1 includes a substrate 10, a buffer layer 11 on the substrate 10, a first confining layer 12 on the buffer layer 11, an active layer 13 on the first confining layer 12, a second confining layer 14 on the active layer 13, a contact layer 15 on the second confining layer 14, a transparent electrically conductive layer 16 on the contact layer 15 and a set of electrode units 17. The set of electrode units 17 is comprised of a first electrode 17a located on the first confining layer 12 and a second electrode 17b located on the transparent electrically conductive layer 16, which work in coordination to provide the light-emitting diode device 1 with electric energy.
For the above-mentioned structure, the first confining layer 12 has a type of electrically conductivity different from that of the second confining layer 14. For example, the first confining layer 12 and the second confining layer 14 are made of n-type doped and p-type doped gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor materials, respectively.
The first and second electrodes 17a and 17b of the set of electrode units 17 are made of metals such as gold, chromium and/or the alloy thereof. The first electrode 17a is arranged on the n-typed first confining layer 12, and an ohmic contact therebetween is formed, while the second electrode 17b is arranged on the top face of the transparent electrically conductive layer 16, and an ohmic contact thereof is formed with the contact layer 15, so as to provide the n-typed first confining layer 12 and the p-typed second confining layer 14 with electric energy.
While the electric energy is applied to the light-emitting diode device 1 through the first and second electrodes 17a and 17b, the current will pass through the n-typed first confining layer 12 and the p-typed second confining layer 14. The current flowing from the second electrode 17b into the light-emitting diode device 1 is uniformly distributed whereby the electron and the hole are combined within the active layer 13 so that the energy is released and converted into light energy for light-emitting. The active layer 13 has a structure of multi-quantum wells including a plurality of barrier layers 13a and plural layers of quantum well 13b which are stacked on each other.
In order to enhance the light-extraction efficiency of the light-emitting diode device 1, the p-typed second confining layer 14 and the contact layer 15 are patterned to form a plurality of openings therein, so as to enable a sufficient contact of the second electrode 17b with the p-typed second confining layer 14 and the contact layer 15. In this case, the lighting brightness of the light-emitting diode device 1 can be increased.
Nevertheless, the working voltage of the patterned p-typed second confining layer 14 is relatively increased as well. In view of this, an improved structure for the light-emitting diode device and the fabrication method thereof are provided in the present invention, by which not only the issue relating to the increased working voltage is addressed but the fabrication process therefor is simplified and the product cost thereof is reduced.

Light-emitting diode device with a double-layer contact structure and a fabrication method thereof


A wall mounting system includes an interlocking mesh backing element mounting to a substrate, such as foam insulation. The backing element has pointed corner portions that are pushed into the substrate and retain the backing element. A wall covering layer such as drywall overlays the substrate and the mesh backing element. A fixture having has bolts, screws or other attachment members extending through the wall covering layer and the mesh backing element. The system has several backing element styles, including planar elements, inner right angle elements and outer right angle elements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mounting system for building walls, and in particular to a mounting system utilizing interlocking mesh backing elements.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Mounting fixtures and other elements to walls is a common job with which many problems may be encountered. Many wall coverings, such as sheetrock, drywall, plasterboard, paneling and other similar types of wall covering materials, do not provide a secure base to securely attach fixtures. In addition, such materials often have insulation backing the sheetrock or similar material where the fixture is to be mounted. Insulation is typically a fiberglass or foam insulation that does not provide a sufficient anchor point for receiving screws, bolts and other fasteners. Studs for the frame may provide a better solution for mounting, but may be difficult to locate behind an outer wall covering. In addition, it is often desired to mount a picture or other fixture at a location wherein a stud is not available.
To overcome such problems, mounting hardware has been developed that provides fasteners that expand radially when a screw is inserted to grip the back of the wall covering panel. Such a system is adequate in many mounting situations, but further improvements are possible. These mounting methods are limited to the particular type of screw and do not provide for nails or different sizes as may be needed for some mounting applications. Moreover, the load capacity needed for some mounting applications is greater than that provided with such prior art devices. Where handrails and other fixtures with high load requirements are mounted, prior art devices do not provide sufficient load capacity or meet the code needed for mounting through the outer wall layer, such as sheetrock. The prior mounts have low load capacities, as the load is concentrated at very small areas where the screws or other mounting hardware attach. When too great a load is placed on the mounting hardware, the hardware may pull out and the fixture detached from the wall.
It can be seen then that a new and improved wall mounting system is needed. Such a system should provide for simple, economical and secure mounting through the outer wall layer. The system should be easy to install without requiring special tools or modification to the insulation, wall or other building materials. Moreover, such a system should provide for high load capacity without having to utilize mounting at locations wherein only studs are available. The present invention addresses these as well as other problems associated with wall mounting systems.


Apparatus and method for forming an interpolated image corresponding to a given temporal distance ratio between a first and a second image including respectively, a first image in which the first and second images include a first and a second 3-D shape model of an object having respective shading values and that there is a 3-D motion vector defining the transformation between the first and the second 3-D shape models. The method includes: a) adjusting the interpolation 3-D motion vector (Vab) to obtain an interpolation 3-D motion vector (vi); b) forming an interpolation 3-D shape model (Mi) from the interpolation 3-D motion vector (Vi) and either the first or the second 3-D shape model (Ma,Mb); and c) forming an interpolation image from the interpolation 3-D shape model and the image shaping values from the first and second 3-D shape models. The invention provides a method and apparatus for frame interpolation of a moving image which remedies block-shaped distortion in interpolated frames, and which can reproduce smooth movement even when the input image includes movement in 3-dimensional space.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the frame interpolation of a moving image namely to a method and device for interpolating frames intermediate transmitted frames. The invention finds particular, but not exclusive, application to the transmission of moving images (e.g., in videophone systems).
2. Related Art
In the communication of a moving image at low bit rates for purposes such as videophone services, the necessity of making considerable cuts in the amount of information to be transmitted has frequently led to the adoption of techniques in which there is a reduction in the transmitted frame rate. However, when the frame rate is low, intermediate frames must be generated to provide a continuous image at the receiver. The intermediate frames can be obtained by repeating frames or preferably by attempting to obtain intermediate frames by interpolating from the received frames. This is illustrated in FIG. 8. A transmitter side transmits image frames Ta and Tb which are two temporally separated images of a moving input image. Frames Ta and Tb are received at a receiver side. An intermediate frame Ti is found by interpolating between frames Ta and Tb in order to produce an moving output image comprising three frames Ta, Ti and Tb instead of simply the two frames Ta and Tb.
When it is necessary to interpolate many frames between received frames it can be difficult to reproduce smooth movement at the receiver side. One known approach to solving this problem is to use motion vectors detected from the frames Ta and Tb, in the FIG. 8 example, to interpolate the missing frames at the receiver side.
In order to carry out such a method of frame interpolation of a moving image without giving rise to blurring or jerkiness, it is necessary to detect motion vectors which are visually correct. Methods which have been proposed for detecting motion vectors include:
(i) the method which takes the motion vector as the displacement giving the smallest predicted error power between frames; and PA1 (ii) the gradient method which uses the temporal and spatial gradients of the pixel values. PA1 a) adjusting the interpolation 3-D motion vector (Vab) to obtain an interpolation 3-D motion vector (Vi); PA1 b) forming an interpolation 3-D shape model (Mi) from the interpolation 3-D motion vector (Vi) and either the first or the second 3-D shape model (Ma, Mb); and PA1 c) forming an interpolation image from the interpolation 3-D shape model and the image shaping values from the first and second 3-D shape models. PA1 a) a 3-D motion vector adjustment means (6) for adjusting the interpolation 3-D motion vector (Vab) to obtain an interpolation 3-D motion vector (Vi); PA1 b) a first shape model transformation means (10) for forming an interpolation 3-D shape model (Mi) from the interpolation 3-D motion vector (Vi) and either the first or the second 3-D shape model (Ma, Mb)b) a first shape model transformation means for forming an interpolation 3-D shape model from the interpolation, on 3-D motion vector and the first 3-D shape model; and PA1 c) a frame interpolation means for forming an interpolation image from the interpolation 3-D shape model and the image shading values from the first and second 3-D shape models. PA1 (i) causing the 3-dimensional motion vector between the previous frame and the current frame to operate upon the 3-dimensional shape model of the previous frame; and PA1 (ii) causing the information on element shape changes between the previous frame and the current frame, said information having been transmitted from the transmitter side, to operate upon the latter stage of the aforementioned 3-dimensional shape model transformation process which transforms the 3-dimensional shape model of the previous frame. PA1 (i) causing the 3-dimensional motion vector between the previous frame and the interpolated frame, which motion vector has been obtained in the 3-dimensional motion vector adjustment process, to operate upon the 3-dimensional shape model of the previous frame; and PA1 (ii) causing the information on element shape changes between the previous frame and the interpolated frame, which information has been obtained in the aforementioned shape change information adjustment process, to operate upon the latter stage of the aforementioned 3-dimensional shape model transformation process which transforms the 3-dimensional shape model of the previous frame.
In these methods, the detection range is restricted to a 2-dimensional plane. Moreover, the unit of detection is frequently comparatively small for example a rectangular block 8 pixels.times.8 lines. An explanation will now be given of such a frame interpolation system based on block units, the assumed application being to videophones.
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 a frame interpolation method is shown which is based on motion vector detection in rectangular block units. In FIG. 9, encoded data is received at a decoding part 2, the decoded frame being passed to first frame memory 3 after the previously decoded frame stored in this first frame memory 3 has been moved into a second frame memory 4. Motion vectors are also received at the receiver which with the frames in frame memories 2 and 3 are the used to interpolate an intermediate frame Ti as will now be described with reference to FIG. 10.
In FIG. 10, Ta is the frame which has been transmitted from the transmitter side at the immediately preceding point in time, Tb is the frame at the current point in time, and Ti is a frame which is to be interpolated between transmitted frames Ta and Tb. Consider that the frame to be interpolated is temporally spaced between the frames Ta and Tb in the ratio a: (1-a) as shown in FIG. 10.
The frames Ta and Tb are considered to be composed of blocks B'(I) and B'(I), respectively with a set of motion vectors Vab denoting the displacements of blocks B'(I) between frames Ta and Tb. This is illustrated in FIG. 10.
A block B(I) of the interpolated frame Ti is obtained by the interpolation part 5 of FIG. 9 by means of the following equation: EQU B(I)=a.times.B'(I)+(1-a)*B"(I)
where, blocks B'(I) and B"(I) are linked by the motion vector Vab associated with the block B'(I).
A detailed description of a specific method may be found in an article by Wada: Masahiro WADA, "System for motion-compensated frame interpolation of colour moving image signals", Denshi Joho Tsushin Gakkai Ronbunshi, (B-I), Vol. J72 B I, No. 5, pp. 446-455.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,442 published on 9th Jun. 1987 describes a moving picture frame rate conversion system which converts the first picture signal with a first frame rate into a second picture signal with a second frame rate which differs from the first frame rate by generating an interpolation frame between two consecutive frames of the first picture signal. In this method the interpolation frame is generated by using a first picture block on the first frame and a second picture block on a second frame of the first picture signal and the second picture block is moved in position relative to the first picture block.
The prior art which has been presented is a frame interpolation method for a moving image which is based on the detection, in block units, of motion vectors in a 2-dimensional plane. However, the following problems are encountered with such a method. In conventional frame interpolation methods, the unit of motion vector detection is a block rather than a subject. Accordingly, block-shaped distortions will occur in interpolated frames if the motion vector detection in respect of one and the same body gives uneven results. Moreover, because motion vector detection is restricted to a 2-dimensional plane, it is difficult to achieve accurate detection of the motion vectors of a body which essentially includes movement in 3-dimensional space. For this reason, it is impossible to reproduce smoothly-moving images which correspond to the input images in such circumstances by the prior art methods of interpolation.
An article by Forchheimer and Kronander, titled "Image Coding--From Wave Forms to Animation" IEEE Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing Magazine, vol. 37 no. 12 30th Dec. 1989, pages 2003-2023 describes a method of coding face images in which a wire frame model of a face is transmitted and the surface face image synthesized assuming matte surface and one light source. Parameters are identified which indicate how the wire frame model is to move which determine at the receiver how the wire frame model of the face of the receiver is to move in order to provide a moving synthesized face image.

Method and device for frame interpolation of a moving image

British Telecommunications public limited company


A process cartridge mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a frame, an image bearing member, a toner carrying member for directing toner to the image bearing member, and a magnet disposed within the toner carrying member. A common positioning member, separate from the frame, contacts each of the image bearing member and the magnet to mutually position the image bearing member and the magnet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an image forming system, or an image forming apparatus, on which the process cartridge can be mounted. Such an image forming system may be embodied, for example, as an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser beam printer, a facsimile, a word processor or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In image forming systems such as copying machines, a latent image is formed by selectively exposing an image bearing member uniformly charged, the latent image is then visualized with toner, and then the toner image is transferred onto a recording sheet, thereby forming an image on the recording sheet. In such image forming systems, whenever the toner is used up, new toner must be replenished. The toner replenishing operation not only is troublesome, but also often causes the contamination of the surroundings. Further, since the maintenance of various elements or members can be performed only by an expert in the art, most of the users feel inconvenient.
In order to eliminate such drawbacks and inconvenience, an image forming system wherein parts such as a developing device in which toner was used up or an image bearing member of which a service life was expired can easily be exchanged, thereby facilitating the maintenance, by assembling the image bearing member, a charger, the developing device and a cleaning device integrally as a process cartridge which can be removably mounted within the image forming system, has been proposed and put into practical use, for example, as disclosed U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,985,436, 4,500,195, 4,540,268 and 4,627,701.
A conventional process cartridge is formed by a first unit holding a photosensitive drum, and a second unit holding a developing sleeve. In the first unit, the photosensitive drum is provided at both of its ends with flange gears and is supported by a frame of the first unit via drum shafts passing through holes formed in the flange gears. On the other hand, in the second unit, within the developing sleeve, there is disposed a magnet for holding magnetic developer on a surface of the developing sleeve. The developing sleeve is supported and fixedly held by a bearing mounted on a frame of the second unit via a flange secured to one end of the developing sleeve.
Further, the magnet is provided at both of its ends with D-cut portions. One end of the magnet at a driving side of the developing sleeve passes through the interior of the flange and is fixedly held by the frame of the second unit via a bearing and the other end of the magnet is also fixedly held by the frame of the second unit via a bearing.
Incidentally, the first and second units are held in a confronting relation to each other by springs and the like so that a predetermined distance is maintained between the photosensitive drum and the developing sleeve.
However, with the above-mentioned arrangement, a distance between the photosensitive drum and the magnet is varied or changed during the image forming operation due to the eccentricity or deflection of the developing sleeve, the poor concentricity between the developing sleeve and its flange, the poor concentricity between the developing sleeve and the magnet supported by the second unit, and/or the manufacturing and assembling errors of parts, with the result that it is feared that an amount of toner (developer) transferred from the surface of the developing sleeve to the surface of the photosensitive drum is also varied, thus causing unevenness in the image density.

Process cartridge and image forming apparatus


The specification describes a contact printing technique for forming patterns of thin films with nanometer resolution over large areas. The procedure, termed here “nanotransfer printing (nTP)”, relies on tailored surface chemistries for transferring thin films, typically metal films, from the raised regions of a stamp to a substrate when these two elements are brought into intimate physical contact. This technique is purely additive, it is fast (<15 s contact times), and the printing occurs in a single processing step at room temperature in open air. nTP is capable of producing patterns with a wide range of features with sizes down to ˜100 nm, and edge resolution better than 25 nm. Electrical contacts and interconnects have been fabricated for high performance organic thin film transistors (TFTs) and complementary inverter circuits, to demonstrate one of the many potential applications for nTP.

(The following section contains background material that, unless specifically stated otherwise, may or may not be prior art).
Advanced techniques for nanofabrication are in widespread use for research in biology, physics, chemistry and materials science. They are also essential manufacturing tools for electronics, photonics and many other existing and emerging areas of technology. Established nanolithographic methods (e.g., electron-beam lithography, deep ultraviolet photolithography, etc.) require elaborate and expensive systems that are capable only of patterning a narrow range of specialized materials over small areas on ultraflat surfaces of rigid inorganic substrates. These limitations and the importance of nanofabrication to progress in nanoscience and technology have created substantial interest in alternative techniques, such as those based on forms of contact printing, molding, embossing, and writing. See for example, C. A. Mirkin and J. A. Rogers, MRS Bull. 26, 530 (2001); B. Michel et al., IBM J. Res. & Dev. 45, 697 (2001); Y. Xia, J. A. Rogers, K. E. Paul, and G. M. Whitesides, Chem. Rev. 99, 1823 (1999). Although the basic operating principles of these techniques are conceptually old, recent research demonstrates that their resolution can be extended into the micron and nanometer regime by combining them with advanced materials and processing approaches. For example, elastomeric stamps and selfassembled monolayer inks (see L. H. Dubois and R. G. Nuzzo, Ann. Rev. Phys. Chem. 43, 437 (1992)) form the basis of a relatively new high-resolution printing technique. See A. Kumar and G. M. Whitesides, Appl. Phys. Lett. 63, 2002 (1993) and Y. Xia and G. M. Whitesides, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 37, 550 (1998). This method, known as microcontact printing (μCP), is rapidly becoming important for a range of applications in biotechnology, (J. Hyun, Y. J. Zhu, A. Liebmann-Vinson, T. P. Beebe, and A. Chilkoti, Langmuir 17, 6358 (2001)) plastic electronics, (J. A. Rogers, Z. Bao, K. W. Baldwin, A. Dodabalapur, B. Crone, V. R. Raju, V. Kuck, H. E. Katz, K. Amundson, J. Ewing, and P. Drzaic, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 98, 4835 (2001); J. A. Rogers, Science 291, 1502 (2001)) and fiber optics (J. A. Rogers, R. J. Jackan, G. M. Whitesides, J. L. Wagener, and A. M. Vengsarkar., Appl. Phys. Left. 70, 7 (1997)) where the relevant patterning requirements cannot be satisfied easily with conventional methods. Although the resolution of μCP is only ˜0.25 μm, this method and other emerging printing techniques, such as those that rely on imprinted polymer resists ("Imprint lithography with 25-nanometer resolution" Chou S Y, Krauss P R, Renstrom P J, SCIENCE 272 (5258): 85-87 Apr. 5, 1996)) and cold welded metals, have characteristics that make them potentially attractive for nanolithography: they offer fast, low-cost approaches for patterning flat or curved surfaces over large areas in a single processing step. While these methods appear to be useful for a range of applications, they are all generally subtractive in their operation: they either pattern sacrificial resists or they remove selected regions of an existing layer of material.

Forming nanoscale patterned thin film metal layers


An emergency locking seatbelt retractor. The retractor includes a pivoting lock plate which can pivot through a limited arc during activation of a webbing sensor or a vehicle sensor. When the lock plate is in its quiescent position, a pin thereon operates to hold a lock bar out of engagement with ratchet teeth on the webbing spool, thereby allowing free rotation of the spool. If either or both of the webbing sensor and vehicle sensor are activated, the lock plate is caused to pivot, drawing the pin away from the lock bar and allowing the lock bar to engage the ratchet teeth, thereby locking the retractor. Additionally, the locking initiation mechanism (the lock plate) and the sensors are isolated from webbing withdrawal forces and may therefore be constructed of lightweight, inexpensive materials. The retractor includes a vehicle sensor which is effective in substantially eliminating any vertical motion of the sensor ball. This prevents the retractor from locking when it is subjected to a downward acceleration.

Seatbelts, such as those used in the automotive industry, are commonly provided with a spring biased retractor spool. Such a retractor automatically retracts the seatbelt webbing onto the spool to the extent that the spring bias force is not overcome by an extension force applied to the webbing. Therefore, the webbing will be automatically retracted onto the spool if the seatbelt is removed by the passenger. Additionally, if the passenger is wearing the seatbelt, the spring biased retractor will automatically size the seat belt to the passenger by removing any slack from the seatbelt. Except during the situations described hereinbelow, the webbing may be extended from the retractor whenever enough force is applied to the webbing to overcome the spring bias force of the retractor.
In order for the seatbelt to retain the passenger in the seat during an emergency situation, however, it is necessary for the retractor to lock and thereby prevent any further extension of the webbing from the retractor. This type of device is known as an emergency locking retractor. The emergency locking feature is generally activated in two different ways. First, the retractor is fitted with a webbing sensor which senses rapid extension of the webbing from the retractor and locks the retractor in response thereto. The webbing sensor is generally a flyweight which moves m response to rapid rotation of the retractor, causing an adjacent pawl to engage a toothed surface of the retractor, thereby preventing further extension of the webbing from the retractor.
A second type of emergency locking feature is provided by fitting the retractor with a vehicle sensor, which senses rapid acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. The vehicle sensor is generally a metal ball which is confined within an enclosed space. Any rapid acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle will cause the metal ball to be displaced from its normal resting position, thereby activating a retractor locking mechanism.
Such prior art emergency locking retractors provide important safety benefits, however they do exhibit some undesirable characteristics. For example, if the vehicle is parked on a slant from the horizontal, then it is possible for the metal ball of the vehicle sensor to be displaced from its normal resting position, thereby triggering the emergency locking feature of the retractor. Any attempt to withdraw the webbing from the retractor will be unsuccessful, preventing the seatbelt from being worn until the vehicle is moved to a suitably less inclined attitude.
Another problem results when the emergency locking retractor is not locked by the vehicle sensor and the webbing is rapidly withdrawn with such force as to trigger the webbing sensor. Further withdrawal will be prevented, causing frustration to the heavy handed user and discouraging the use of the seatbelt.
A further problem can result if the webbing is allowed to retract rapidly into an emergency locking retractor, coming to a stop at the fully retracted position. In this situation, the webbing sensor may be forced into the locking mode, thereby preventing all subsequent withdrawal of the webbing and rendering the seatbelt inoperative.
A further problem with the prior art emergency locking retractors results from the prior art design of the vehicle sensor. A typical prior art emergency locking retractor is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,350 to Ernst, which is illustrated in FIG. 1 and indicated generally at 1. The prior art retractor 1 includes a vehicle sensor which uses a ball actuator 2, wherein a metal ball 3 is mounted in a saucer like receptacle 4 having sloping sides. When acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle is applied to the vehicle sensor 2, the ball 3 is caused to roll up the side walls of the saucer 4 at a predetermined acceleration level which is dependent upon the angle of the side walls of the saucer 4. Riding over the top of the ball is a saucer shaped cap 5 which is mounted on one side by a jointed pair of pivot bearings 6. The upper portion of the cap 5 includes a reaching ball tip 7 which engages the locking mechanisms of the retractor 1. Upon displacement of the ball 3 from its resting position, the ball 3 will ride up the side walls of the saucer 4, displacing the cap 5 and forcing the pawl 8 to be displaced upwards, thus engaging the pawl 8 into the ratchet teeth 9 of the locking mechanism. The retractor 1 is shown in its locked position in FIG. 2. The conical shape of the cap 5 which engages the top of the ball 3 also aids in this upward movement.
Experience has shown that this prior art device has an inherent problem, particularly on vehicles where the vehicle sensor 2 is mounted in a position distant to the center of gravity of the vehicle. In this location, it is possible for the vehicle sensor 2 to be excited in a vertical direction by accelerations exceeding 1 g. For instance, if the vehicle sensor 2 is accelerated downwards, the ball 13 is left behind and suspended in space, thus driving the pawl 8 upwards into engagement with the locking mechanism 9. This result is undesirable in that it causes the retractor 1 to lock when the vehicle is traveling at a constant horizontal velocity, and under these conditions, locking is not desirable.
Finally, withdrawal forces applied to the webbing of a locked prior art retractor in an emergency situation are transmitted to the components of the sensor in the locking initiation mechanism. A retractor design which isolates the sensor and locking initiation mechanism from webbing withdrawal forces would be a substantial improvement over the prior art designs.
There is therefore a need in the prior art for an emergency locking seatbelt retractor which allows the seatbelt to be applied by the passenger when the vehicle is parked and inclined from the horizontal, which allows the webbing to be withdrawn by the user at a very rapid pace without locking the retractor prior to application of the seatbelt to the passenger, which will not lock-up when the webbing is allowed to retract rapidly into the retractor, which will not lock when the vehicle accelerates in a downward direction, and which isolates the sensor and locking initiation mechanism from webbing withdrawal forces. The present invention is directed toward meeting these needs.