A community emergency response service system is provided with three types of destinations to which emergency calls may be routed. These include public safety answering points (PSAPs), switch directory numbers and public switching telephone network directory numbers. A last chance routing system is effective upon failure of the system to route an incoming one of such emergency calls to one of such three types of destinations. The last chance routing facility performs a linear search of all PSAPs within such system to determine whether any of such PSAPs has been inspected for availability to handle such emergency call. When such linear search identifies a PSAP which has not previously been inspected with respect to its availability to handle such emergency call, a determination is made as to whether such PSAP is currently available. Such determination includes determining whether such PSAP is currently at its call capacity. That call capacity is determined based upon a call capacity depth established for each workstation at such answering point. The call capacity limit is obtained by multiplying such call capacity depth times the current number of workstations that are active at such PSAP.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a telephone system for emergency calls and more particularly to a system which facilitates the administration of the call capacity of a public safety answering point (PSAP) and provides last chance routing of emergency calls after an attempt to route such calls to designated and alternate PSAPs.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
In the field of telephony, equipment and services for routing emergency telephone calls (911 Calls) have been associated with the universal telephone number (TN) "9-1-1", abbreviated herein as "911" and referred to as an emergency service number ("ESN"). These equipment and services are herein respectively designated "911 Equipment" and "911 Services".
Prior 911 Equipment has generally been provided for large metropolitan areas which are served by a public switched telephone network (PSTN) generally having more than one-hundred fifty thousand subscriber lines. The PSTN is divided into service areas, each of which may have over 150,000 subscriber lines. Each subscriber's telephone number (TN) in a particular service area is assigned to a particular ESN, and is served by a specific end office (EO). The EO routes a 911 Call that is on a particular one of its subscriber lines to the 911 Equipment via trunks. The trunks are generally capable of carrying automatic number identification ("ANI") codes. Those trunks having such capability are referred to herein as "ANI trunks." ANI code is in the form of eight bits, including a seven digit TN and one information bit that represents the numbering plan digit, or area code, within which the call originated.
Each ESN represents a geographic region within the service area where all subscribers in that region are served by the same primary group of emergency service agencies (ESPs). The groups could, for example, include a fire department, a police department and a hazardous material recovery department of a particular municipality.
In the past, the 911 Equipment has been used to provide 911 Services. The 911 Services are separately provided for each service area by PSAP equipment which responds to 911 Calls having the same ESN. Because so many subscriber lines (e.g., over 150,000) are served by the EO for a given urban service area, the PSAP for the given urban service area (an "urban PSAP") is staffed by attendants on a twenty-four hour a day basis. Such an urban PSAP is generally always ready to receive 911 Calls, and is thus generally always "active", as compared to a PSAP which has suspended its 911 Services and which is referred to as being "inactive."
Attendants are people who are trained to handle 911 Calls using the particular 911 Equipment at the PSAP according to the procedures that have been established at that PSAP. Such procedures may include how the PSAP is designated. A PSAP may be designated "first choice" or "alternate", which refers to the order in which 911 Calls are directed to the PSAP to be answered. First choice PSAPs are the first PSAPs which should receive 911 Calls from the service area. Alternate PSAPs are PSAPs which receive 911 Calls when some event prevents the first choice PSAP from receiving the 911 Call. For example, the alternate PSAP may receive the 911 Call as a transfer from a first choice PSAP or directly from subscribers or the public via subscriber lines when the first choice PSAP to which the 911 Call is assigned is experiencing power failure, doesn't answer the 911 Call within a specified time, or when all routes to the first choice PSAP are busy. These and other situations at the first choice PSAP result in overflow of 911 Calls to the alternate PSAP.
The PSTN includes a feature that automatically provides the caller's ANI Code. When a 911 Call is received at a PSAP via an ANI Trunk, it will be received with the ANI code.
An ALI/DMS also includes a feature that automatically provides the caller's address and other pertinent details, referred to as the automatic location identification (ALI) feature. Via ALI, when a 911 Call is received at a PSAP it is received with such details, which is referred to as the ALI code. However, in existing 911 Equipment the database for producing the ALI code is generally stored in the PSTN at a central location for a very wide geographic area. For example, for the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming in one PSTN, the ALI database for the ALI code for a relatively small area in Wyoming is stored in Denver, Colorado. To provide the ALI Code for a 911 Call in that area in Wyoming, a long distance call must be made to Denver, and redundant long distance lines must be kept available to assure reliability. This increases the cost and time required to provide the ALI code for 911 Calls in remote areas.
911 Equipment known to Applicants provides incoming 911 Call data to the PSAPs in the form of a string of data. This data is unrelated to the first choice PSAP and to the trunk that carries the 911 Call to the 911 Equipment. The ALI code is obtained from an ALI/DMS host which is part of the PSTN. Neither the ALI/DMS nor the 911 Equipment organizes that code into a format that is efficiently and quickly useful to the PSAP attendant for determining why the 911 Call was not properly and quickly routed to the first choice PSAP or another PSAP.
In one example of prior 911 Equipment, only information identifying the trunk that is carrying the 911 Call is sent to the first choice PSAP. A remote system provides for the display of the ANI and NPD of the incoming 911 Call. However, because such system is remote from the first choice PSAP, problems arise from queuing and transmission delays.
911 Equipment known to Applicants includes that used in connection with the trademark "1A ESS" by The American Telephone & Telegraph Company ("1A 911 Equipment"), which is used to provide "E9-1-1" service. In the IA 911 Equipment, in an endeavor to answer all incoming 911 Calls, when a particular 911 Call has not been initially routed to a PSAP or other transfer point the 1A 911 Equipment searches a "link" list of destinations to which a particular 911 Call could possibly be routed. These destinations are searched on a most logical basis, and only include destinations (such as alternate PSAPs) that were previously "searched" in a prior attempt to route the 911 Call. The search loops once through the link list.
Problems with such logical searches of previously searched destinations are that:
(1) the link list, being based on previously searched destinations, may omit destinations which are available to answer the 911 Call, but which are not searched because they are not on the link list, and PA0 (2) if the search of the link list fails to locate an available destination, an attempt is made to route the 911 Call to a default destination, and if that is not available, to disconnect the call. As a result, only one additional search of the link list is conducted prior to disconnecting the 911 Call, which tends to increase the probability of disconnecting the 911 Call.
Additionally, many COs provide incoming calls to the 1A 911 Equipment and incoming trunks are connected from the 1A 911 Equipment to an ANI facility. Significantly, the number of such incoming trunks limits the number of calls that may be sent to the ANI facility. Because the ANI facility is then connected to the key of the 1A 911 Equipment the number of calls available to such key is limited.

Emergency call system with call capacity/last chance routing feature


Orders are processed within an Order Processing Environment which includes an Order Processing Container, Relationship Registry, and Factory Registry. The Order Processing Environment is extended by a Reference Resolvement Function Component. The RRFC provides the basic functionality for resolving References defined in the Order Document at runtime and make the referenced data available as a usual input parameter for the resources involved in the Order Processing. Each Task in the Order may contain Resource Property References and Resource Property Relationship References which are pointers to properties of resources. These references are resolved by the RRFC during the Order Processing before the Order Document is delegated from one resource to the next. When resolving a Reference, the value of the referenced Resource Property is determined and the Reference is replaced by this value so that it can be used by the resource having it defined in its Task section as a usual input parameter. Hence, by using References, resources are able to get access to the properties of other resources that participate in the Order Processing or are contained in the Resource Topology tree and use them as an input parameter for executing their own Task without having to know where the data is gathered from.

Today's IT infrastructures are composed of a large number of heterogeneous, distributed stateful IT resources (see also layer "IT Resources" in FIG. 1). That is, IT services typically comprise or are hosted by several heterogeneous IT resources (e.g. servers, operating systems on those servers, databases, application server software, etc.). The term IT Service Environment is used for a collection of resources and a set of behavioural conditions that all together define a specific IT service. IT services may be part of outsourcing agreements of IT services providers with customers, or they may be in-house applications.
For each of the resources used by IT Services several resource-specific management functions are available for controlling the operation of a resource, i.e. for creating (provisioning), destroying (de-provisioning) and controlling the operation and configuration of a stateful resource. Resource management functions of a resource may also control other resources—for example, a resource that acts as a resource manager may offer a service to create/provision a new instance of a certain other resource. The described view on the management capabilities of resources is depicted as "Systems Management Layer" in FIG. 1. This layer summarizes the management interfaces of the resources.
In order to perform systems management in the scope of a whole IT Service Environment (in contrast to single resources) an integration of single Systems Management Tasks into a systems-wide Systems Management Flow is necessary in order to treat the IT Service Environment as a whole and to keep it in a consistent state (see also layer "Systems Management Flows" in FIG. 1). Thus Systems Management Flows play a key role for the management of IT Services.
Another important aspect is to provide the data the distributed resources of the IT Service Environment acts upon at runtime in an appropriate way. So for example, a resource may require information of another resource to perform its system management task.
As an example for a Systems Management Flow, it is assumed that a new server WebServer3 has to be provisioned as depicted in FIG. 2. The related simplified Systems Management Flow could contain following Tasks (the following list first mentions the resources that perform the Tasks followed by a brief description of the Tasks):
Systems Management Flow 1:
Cluster1: task create server resource: create a new logical server and name it WebServer3; add a relationship from Cluster1 to WebServer3
WebServer3: task initial application start (including install and start image): obtain a new physical server from the server free pool; load and install a system image that contains an operating system and a web server application on WebServer3 from an image management system; reboot WebServer3
LoadBalancer: task register web server: add host name and IP-address of WebServer3 to the list of available web servers for load balancing
The data required by the resources performing the system management tasks have to be provided in an appropriate way. In the example discussed before, the WebServer3 resource needs information about the cluster and the resource pool it can use to obtain a new physical server. This information is provided by the Cluster1 resource. The LoadBalancer resource needs information about the host name and the IP address to be able to register the newly created web server. This information is provided by the WebServer3 resource. FIG. 2 shows the required data mappings in the discussed system management flow.
Initial Problem
Systems Management Flows can change when the underlying IT system changes. The more features, combinations of features, and different implementations of features a management solution offers, the more different Systems Management Flows must be defined and handled. There is a potentially large number of different Systems Management Flows required due to the quickly growing number of possible different IT Service Environment definitions. This can be compared to the assembly process in the automotive industry: the more options and accessories are offered for a car (e.g., engine type, transmission, colour, wheels, spoilers, etc.) the more complicated the assembly process gets and the more different car configurations can be produced.
Changes of the IT system landscape could require adapting a large part or even all of the Systems Management Flows. Because of the potentially large number and the complexity of Systems Management Flows, administration and maintenance of Systems Management Flow definitions is a demanding challenge.
Considering the sample system management flow depicted in FIG. 1 again, let us assume that the web server application should be installed by an individual task and that the image management system provides images containing the operating system only (these images could then also be used as a basis for the installation of other applications in different environments). For this purpose, an additional layer of operating system resources OS Server[n] is added to the resource topology and the task for the initial application start is decomposed into two tasks (see also FIG. 4). The adapted systems management flow would look like this:
Systems Management Flow 2:
Cluster1: task create server resource: create a new logical server and name it Server3; add a relationship from Cluster1 to OSServer3
OSServer3: task initial operating system start (including install and start OS image): obtain a new physical server from the server free pool; load and install a system image that contains an operating system only on OSServer3 from an image management system; reboot OSServer3; create a new logical server and name it WebServer3; add a relationship from OSServer3 to WebServer3
WebServer3: task initial application start (including install and start of the web server application): load and install a package that contains the web server application on WebServer3
LoadBalancer: task register web server: add host name and IP-address of WebServer3 to the list of available web servers for load balancing
If the targeted management solution has to support both of the discussed features (provide complete images as well as OS images and web server installation packages) it would be necessary to provide the two discussed systems management flows for provisioning new web servers.
The second system management flow would not only have to consider one additional operating system resources layer, but also the data distribution and data access would change. So in system management flow 1 the WebServer3 resource did only depend on the Cluster1 resource to get required information, such as cluster and resource pool information. The other information, such as IP address and credentials, resulted from the system management task to install and start a system image, which was performed by the cluster task itself. In contrast, in the second system management flow the installation of the operating system and the web server application are separated and hence performed by different resources. The OS installation is performed by the new OSServer3 resource and requires information about the cluster and the resource pool, which has to be provided by the Cluster1 resource. The Web Server installation is performed by the resource WebServer3, and the required information such as the IP address, operating system type and the operating system credentials has now been provided by the OSServer3 resource. FIG. 5 shows the changed data mappings in the system management flow 2.
Decomposing the Task to install a web server application also changes the relationships and the necessary knowledge of the participating resources among each other. In system management flow 2, the OSServer3 resource has to be aware that the WebServer3 resource depends on its input, and therefore has to make sure to provide the required data.
Hence supporting new features or changing existing ones results in changes of the data exchange among the involved system management tasks. Adapting the data exchange each time supported features change is error-prone, time consuming, and requires recompilation of the workflows in traditional workflow engines. A better approach would be to define data exchange only in a descriptive manner and let the system management system provide the data at runtime.
Prior Art
At the lowest level, System Management Flows are described by a set of machine-unreadable documents containing lists of System Management Tasks to be performed in a more or less specific way for the operator. This way of implementing Systems Management Flows is error-prone, time consuming, and requires administrators with a broad knowledge for interpreting the documents correctly and to run management tools and other programs with appropriate configuration parameters in the correct sequence.
At the next level, scripts and programs are used to support development and execution of System Management flows. While being very efficient this solution has the drawback that it does not use any standardized way for choreographing multiple tasks.
At a higher level, workflow techniques are used to define and run Systems Management Flows. Workflow techniques integrate several services into an overall flow in a clearly defined and consistent way. An established standard for describing workflows that integrates services having Web Services interfaces is the Business Process Execution Language (BPEL). BPEL descriptions of flows involving several single services can be executed by workflow processing engines (e.g. WebSphere Process Server). There also workflow engines / workflow systems supporting adaptive workflows. Adaptive workflows can be modified by modification operations during their instance life cycle in contrast to static workflow instances as provided by most of the workflow engines (especially, BPEL-engines).
Workflow engines/workflow systems provide data mapping techniques to obtain the required data in activities from preceding activities or the process input. Data mapping requires less development effort and is more flexible when changes in the process model are necessary. The data mapping logic (code) is typically isolated from the implementation of the activities to minimize its dependencies from changes in the mapping logic.
The IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager (TPM) and the IBM Tivoli Intelligent Orchestrator (TIO) products both automated manual tasks of provisioning and configuring servers and virtual servers, operating systems, middleware, applications, storage and network devices acting as routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancers. Both products contain a deployment engine (DE) which acts as a proprietary workflow engine on entities (resources) which are part of a data center model. One of the features of the DE is the support of the hierarchical workflow/sub-workflow pattern in a very powerful and integrated way.
EP 1636743A1 describes another approach for integrating resource management functions into Systems Management Flows by a so-called resource catalog. The basic idea is that the resource catalog contains resources either being expandable node elements or being leaf elements of a resource tree. The node elements represent composed logical resources (for example, a load balanced web application) which are more and more refined towards the leaf elements which refer to concrete resources, like servers, firewalls, etc. The resource tree is built up in such a manner, that Systems Management Flows are derived from the sequence of the leaf nodes from left to right. The sequence of the leaf nodes and corresponding resource management actions from a resource management actions catalog are compiled to a service environment definition which basically defines a set of flows that can be executed on any workflow engine. The techniques that have been described here are also depicted in FIG. 6.
Residual Problems
The technologies mentioned above already allow for the integration of several systems management tasks into an overall Systems Management Flow. However, these technologies have some disadvantages.
All mentioned workflow based technologies provide some kind of definition language for specifying workflows. Systems Management Flows can be represented in such systems by corresponding workflow definitions. These definitions describe in which sequence activities are to be executed. So these descriptions are very sensitive to changes in the IT Infrastructure. As stated earlier, there is a potentially large number of different system management flows required. Changes of the IT system landscape could require adapting all or part of the Systems Management Flows. This means that the corresponding workflow definitions must be changed accordingly which results in a complex administration of workflow definitions.
The usage of workflow data mapping techniques does not avoid those activities which provide data for subsequent activities have to write this data by itself to the workflow output container. Thus, changes in the process model, such as integrating new activities which require data from preceding activities, result in additional development effort for these already existing activities (an activity could only avoid this dependency by always writing all its data to its output). A further problem is that changes of the data maps require a recompilation of the workflow. Therefore it would be much better to have the possibility to define the data exchange between the workflow activities in a descriptive way without the need to recompile the workflow and let the workflow engine take the required steps to supply the data at runtime.
Instead of storing Systems Management Flows directly as workflow definitions, it is desirable to derive Systems Management Flows from a more stable basis that is easier to handle when changes in the IT infrastructure or changes in the offerings of the management solution for the customer occur.
EP 1636743A1 proposes such a strategy, as described above. Changes of the IT infrastructure or changes in the offerings of the management solution for the customer can be handled by simply adding new resources to or modifying resources in the resource catalog and add or modify resource management action definitions. The drawback of the solution is that the changes do not become effective in existing, instantiated service environments. Only new subscriptions can benefit from the changes since the instantiation of the service environment for a subscription is the result of a compilation process that is performed only once at the beginning of a service environment life cycle. The mentioned compilation process includes the creation of the resource tree starting from a root node element, and the derivation of the resulting workflow and the parameter mappings from the resource tree.

Method and system for executing system management flows

International Business Machines Corporation


A film-forming method and apparatus by high frequency plasma CVD, characterized by using a specific high frequency power introduction means comprising at least an electrode for introducing a high frequency power into a deposition chamber containing a substrate therein and an insulating member which covers the electrode such that the surface of the electrode is isolated from glow discharge caused in the deposition chamber, the electrode being provided with a plurality of gas ejection holes for ejecting gas against an inner face of the insulating member, wherein the formation of a deposited film on the substrate in the deposition chamber is conducted while ejecting gas (inert gas or hydrogen gas) from the gas ejection holes of the electrode against the inner face of the insulating member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a deposited film on a substrate by plasma chemical vapor deposition (hereinafter referred to simply as xe2x80x9cplasma CVDxe2x80x9d). More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a functional deposited film such as a semiconductor film on a substrate by plasma CVD, said deposited film being capable of use in the production of semiconductor devices, electrophotographic light receiving members (or electrophotographic photosensitive devices), image input line sensors, image pickup devices, photovoltaic devices (including solar cells), and the like.
2. Related Background Art
In the image-forming industrial field, for the photoconductive material to constitute a light receiving layer in an electrophotographic light receiving member, it is required to be highly sensitive, and have a high S/N ratio [photo-current (Ip)/dark current (Id)], absorption spectrum characteristics suited for an electromagnetic wave to be irradiated, quick photoresponsibility, and a desired dark resistance. It is also required not to be harmful to living things, especially the human body, upon use.
Particularly, for the electrophotographic light receiving member [hereinafter occasionally refered to as xe2x80x9clight-receiving memberxe2x80x9d for simplification purposes] used in an electrophotographic apparatus which is used as a business machine at the office, not causing pollution is highly important.
As an electrophotographic light receiving member, there can be mentioned electrophotographic light receiving members comprising a non-single crystalline silicon material such as an amorphous silicon (a-Si) material (the electrophotographic light receiving member comprising an amorphous silicon (a-Si) material will be hereinafter referred to as a-Si series electrophotographic light receiving member), example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,991 discloses electrophotographic light receiving members having a photoconductive layer constituted by an a-Si material and which excels in moisture resistance, durability and electric and photoconductive characteristics.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,120 discloses electrophotographic light receiving members having a surface layer constituted by an amorphous material containing silicon atoms (Si), carbon atoms (C), and hydrogen atoms (H) in an amount of 41 to 70 atomic %.
Based on these techniques, there have been realized desirable a-Si series electrophotographic light receiving members comprising an a-Si material, which are satisfactory in electric, optical and photoconductive characteristics, use-environmental characteristics and durability, and which provide a high quality reproduced image.
To effectively produce an electrophotographic light receiving member, an advanced technique is required. Particularly, in the case of an a-Si series electrophotographic light receiving member, it is necessary to have a greater area and thickness in comparison with other devices. As a result an a-Si deposited film formed as the light receiving layer must be uniform. It is also important to prevent formation of abnormal film growth due to a nucleus comprising foreign matter during the formation of a-Si deposited film.
In view of this, there are various proposals for stably and efficiently producing a high quality a-Si series electrophotographic light receiving member on an industrial scale.
In the production of an a-Si series electrophotographic light receiving member, a spherical growth defects during production. These cause a defective image comprising a so-called xe2x80x9cwhite dotxe2x80x9d (comprising a minute white dot) on a reproduced image. Such spherical growth defects are considered to occur due to abnormal film growth based on a foreign particle, deposited on a substrate on which the deposited film is formed, when a film deposited on the inner face of a deposition chamber is dislodged and lands on the substrate during the formation of the deposited film.
In order to prevent the occurrence of this problem Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 183871/1992 proposes a deposited film-forming method using a microwave plasma CVD apparatus having a microwave introduction means with two different regions. This document describes that by making the microwave introduction means have a face, which is contacted with plasma generated upon film formation, that has a value of 2xc3x9710xe2x88x922 or less in terms of a product of dielectric constant (xcex5) and dissipation factor (tan xcex4) with respect to the frequency of a microwave used, stable discharge can be caused while preventing a film from depositing on the inner face of a deposition chamber. Thus a deposited film having improved uniformity and which does not result in defective reproduced images can be formed. A technique of coating a microwave introduction means with an alumina ceramic by way of a plasma spraying process is described as an optimal method. According to the technique described in this document, it is understood that a high quality deposited film with few spherical growth defects can be formed.
In recent years, there has been an increased demand for an electrophotographic apparatus with improved performance to provide a high quality reproduced image at a high speed with good durability. In addition, for decreased the electrophotographic apparatus, there is an increased demand for maintenance by improving the reliability of its constituents.
The electrophotographic light receiving member used in the electrophotographic apparatus, has been improved so that it can be continuously used under various environmental conditions over a long period of time without conducting maintenance works.
However, for the electrophotographic light receiving member thus improved, there are still some areas requiring further improvement.
Electrophotographic light receiving members produced by a conventional film-forming apparatus provided with a high frequency power introduction means, sometimes have defective images having minute white dots depending upon the image-forming conditions employed.
From an industrial standpoint, when the productivity of an electrophotographic light receiving member produced is taken into consideration, forming a desirable deposited film at a high speed (or a high deposition rate) is an important technical subject.
In order to form a deposited film at a high speed using the conventional film-forming apparatus provided with the high frequency power introduction means, increasing the amount of a film-forming raw material gas introduced into the deposition chamber (the reaction chamber) while increasing the quantity of a discharging power introduced into the deposition chamber is usually employed. However, in the conventional film-forming apparatus, not only the electrode, but also the insulating material which covers the electrode, are heated to high temperature as the quantity of the high frequency applied to the electrode is increased. As a result, problems related to the film-forming apparatus such as peeling of the film deposited on the insulating material, breakage of the insulating material due to thermal stress, and the like are liable to occur. In this case, it is difficult to achieve uniform film production at high rate.
An principal object of the present invention is to eliminate the foregoing problems in the prior art and to provide a film-forming method and apparatus which enable efficient and stable formation of a high quality deposited film without the occurrence of spherical growth defects found in the prior art, whereby a high quality electrophotographic light receiving member which stably and continuously provides a high quality image free of minute white dots can be efficiently produced.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a film-forming method and apparatus which enables efficient production of a high quality electrophotographic light receiving member even when the formation of a deposited film is conducted at a high speed (a high deposition rate).
A further object of the present invention is to provide a film-forming method which comprises the steps of arranging a substrate for film formation in a reaction chamber capable of being evacuated, introducing a film-forming raw material gas into said reaction chamber, and simultaneously, introducing a high frequency power into said reaction chamber through a high frequency power introduction means, thereby causing glow discharge in said reaction chamber to form a deposited film on said substrate. The high frequency power introduction means comprises at least an electrode for introducing said high frequency power into said reaction chamber and an insulating member which covers said electrode such that the surface of the electrode is isolated from the glow discharge caused in said reaction chamber. The electrode is provided with a plurality of gas ejection holes for ejecting gas against an inner face of said insulating member, wherein the formation of said deposited film on said substrate is conducted while ejecting said gas from said gas ejection holes of said electrode.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a film-forming method which comprises the steps of arranging a substrate for film formation in a reaction chamber capable of being evacuated, introducing a film-forming raw material gas into said reaction chamber, and simultaneously, introducing a high frequency power into said reaction chamber through a high frequency power introduction means arranged in said reaction chamber, thereby causing glow discharge in said film-forming raw material gas introduced into said reaction chamber to form a deposited film on said substrate. The high frequency power introduction means comprises a tubular electrode capable of serving also as a gas feed means and is provided with one or more gas ejection holes for ejecting gas at the periphery thereof and an insulating member arranged to cover said electrode while having a clearance between said electrode and said insulating member so that said electrode is isolated from said glow discharge caused in said reaction chamber. The formation of said deposited film on said substrate is conducted while ejecting said gas from said gas ejection holes to said insulating member to cool said insulating member.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a film-forming apparatus comprising a reaction chamber capable of being evacuated, a substrate holding means for arranging a substrate for film formation in said reaction chamber, a raw material gas introduction means for introducing a film-forming raw material gas into said reaction chamber, and a high frequency power introduction means for introducing a high frequency power into said reaction chamber, wherein said high frequency power introduction means comprises at least an electrode for introducing said high frequency power into said reaction chamber. The insulating member covers said electrode so that the surface of the electrode is isolated from glow discharge caused in said reaction chamber. The electrode is also provided with a plurality of gas ejection holes for ejecting gas against an inner face of said insulating member.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a film-forming apparatus comprising a reaction chamber capable of being evacuated, a substrate holding means for arranging a substrate for film formation in said reaction chamber, a raw material gas introduction means for introducing a film-forming raw material gas into said reaction chamber, and a high frequency power introduction means for introducing a high frequency power into said reaction chamber. The high frequency power introduction means has a hollow portion and comprises an electrode having one or more gas ejection holes communicated with said hollow portion, and an insulating material provide about said electrode to oppose said ejection holes of said electrode so that said electrode is isolated from the inside of said reaction chamber.

Method for forming a deposited film by plasma chemical vapor deposition


In accordance with the present approach, a library management system identifies third-party libraries that developers request to incorporate into a software release. The library management system may determine whether a master ticket or usage ticket for a new third-party library exists. If a master or usage ticket is not already existing and approved for the third-party library, the third-party library management system may automatically analyze the third-party library to determine whether it corresponds to third-party libraries that are already approved and stored in a central repository. After approval of a master ticket, the third-party library may be incorporated into the central repository and referenced by subsequent usage tickets that are particular to an individual software release. If not approved, the library management system provides the third-party library to a manual approval system. Moreover, the library management system provides efficient reporting of and access to statuses of the requested third-party libraries.

The present disclosure relates generally to management of third-party software libraries.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Enterprises and other organizations may develop various applications (e.g., software) that may be licensed or sold to other entities and implemented on various types of computational systems. Such applications may be implemented using executable computer code (e.g., a script) that may be changed or further developed (e.g., updated, patched, modified) over time. In this manner, developers are able to modify a version of the application to meet additional needs or purposes identified by the organization or entity using the application. The modified computer code (e.g., a subsequent version of the application) may therefore include augmentations to the original computer code of the application.
In many cases, software developers modify the computer code of the application to include or reference third-party libraries that supplement the operation of the application. To be appropriately packaged with the application, the third-party libraries may require approval from engineering, legal, and/or security departments of the enterprise. However, manually analyzing and approving these third-party libraries may be a work-intensive operation that is performed after development of a next release of the software application, potentially slowing the next release. Accordingly, there is a need to improve the manner in which third-party libraries are detected, analyzed, and approved for incorporation within an application.

Systems and methods for third-party library management


Disclosed is a processing apparatus capable of optimizing its rule base comprising a plurality of rules having an antecedent and a consequent each. The antecedent contains input conditions of machining, and the consequent describes the result of machining. The antecedents are applied to input condition data. The consequents of the applied rules yield machining result data that are evaluated for rule fitness. When the rule base is updated, some rules are deleted and some preserved depending on their degrees of fitness. Between given two rules having the same consequent, any number of corresponding conditional elements in their antecedents are exchanged so as to generate new rules. The process is repeated until the rule base is optimized. With the antecedents of rules applied to input condition data and with the consequents of the applied rules yielding machining result data, those data may be modified according to modification request data. The consequents of rules are applied to the modified machining data, and the antecedents of these applied rules furnish corrective input condition data. This backward application of rules is an easy way to obtain corrective input condition data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a processing apparatus having a rule base which can be used as various processings apparatus such as a numerical controller for a machine tool in which the result of a machining operation is predicted with a rule base.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The rules making up a rule base are generally composed of an antecedent and a consequent each. The antecedent defines the premise for each rule to be met, and the consequent specifies the conclusion in effect when the rule is met. That is, the so-called if-then structure constitutes each rule. A large number of rules of this nature are gathered and combined into a rule base, the individual rules being derived from the empirical and intuitive knowledge of experts in a given field.
The rule base is used to automatically infer desirable conclusions from numerous phenomena that actually take place. The rule base is commonly called a knowledge base, and the apparatus operating on that base to draw conclusions is called a knowledge tool.
It is never easy to construct a rule base. The reason is that, although one conclusion may be readily drawn from one premise, the conclusion from a plurality of premises organically interconnected with one another is never the simple sum of the individual conclusions from the respective premises. Creating rules that interconnect with one another is a difficult task.
A rule base does not necessarily contain all rules that cover every phenomenon and that always allow desirable conclusions to be drawn therefrom. In practice, some rules in the rule base are perceived over time to be irrelevant and new rules are found which need to be added to the base. Thus the rule base is maintained, i.e., reconstructed periodically, by use of the accumulated examples to which the rules have failed to apply.
The examples on which the reconstruction of the rule base is based are accumulated by experts who actually used the base and found it amiss. So far, there is no known apparatus that would automatically generate optimum rules of the data base or update the rules thereof on its own. That is, no apparatus exists which would cause the rule base to evolve by itself.
A rule base is used typically in connection with numerically controlled machine tools. What the rule base does in that application is to predict the result of a given machining operation, and to acquire, where the result of machining needs to be modified, the machining conditions that would provide the modified result of machining as desired.
Machining conditions are calculated and the result of machining is predicted generally as follows. Input condition data are composed of machining condition data (e.g., feed rate) and fixed condition data (e.g., grain size of grinding stone, finish grade of workpiece). Such input condition data are calculated either by human experts or by computer in response to machining specifications for a workpiece to be machined. The result of machining is simulated by computer on the assumption that the workpiece is machined using those input condition data.
Frequently, the simulated result of machining fail to meet desired machining result. In such a case, it is necessary for the expert to further modify the input condition data. Therefore, it is required to repeatedly execute two kinds of operations: operations for obtaining the simulated data on the result of machining, and operations for modifying the input condition data accordingly.
It may happen that the input condition data are already determined, that machining is carried out based on those data, and that it is desired to modify some machining specifications based on the actual result of machining. For example, a slightly improved surface roughness may be desired for the workpiece. In this case, too, it is necessary to repeat the modification of the input condition data and the simulation of the result of machining.
Common to the above cases is the lack of interconnectedness between input condition data and machining result data. When any one item of the machining result data is to be modified, it is difficult to obtain optimum input condition data accordingly all at once.

Rule fitness determination, rule removal, and new rule generation

Atsubetsu-chuou, Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido


A coil part used in a antenna coil has a cross shape core that includes: a first winding frame part extending a first direction and being provided with a coil, and a second winding frame part extending a direction crossing the first direction and being provided with a coil. A first core including the first winding frame part is interlocked with a second core 20b including the second winding frame part.

A remote keyless entry system or a smart entry system used for various types of operations such as locking and unlocking a car door is coming to widespread use. In a remote keyless entry system, a transmission device carried by a user sends a radio wave that contains a prescribed code to a reception device placed on a car. Subsequently, the reception device receives this radio wave, and locks or unlocks a door only when the code stored in a memory of a control device placed on a car matches with the prescribed code mentioned above.
Some reception devices are provided with an antenna coil that can receive a radio wave in three axial directions. For example, the patent document 1 discloses a technology of an antenna coil capable of receiving a radio wave in three axial directions.
[Patent document 1] WO2005/088767 [Refer to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6]


Useful information taking the form of an analog or digital voltage is communicated between a transmitter and a receiver using UWB signals. The transmitter includes a subcarrier modulator, a high frequency oscillator and a transmission antenna and the receiver includes a reception antenna and an amplifier and a demodulator for discriminating the useful information in a signal received at the reception antenna. On transmission, the method generates a narrow frequency band high frequency carrier, modulates the high frequency carrier using a subcarrier with a modulation index at least equal to 10, and modulates the subcarrier using the useful information. On reception, the method demodulates the carrier to extract therefrom the subcarrier and demodulates the subcarrier to extract therefrom the useful information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of establishing communications using ultrawideband (UWB) signals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wavelet signals are used in the communication art to transmit digital information using modulation, for example pulse position modulation (PPM) or ON-OFF keying (OOK) of the wavelet signals.
Because the energy spectrum of wavelet signals is spread over a very wide frequency band, the global energy level can, all other performance factors being equal, be relatively low, with the result that using wavelet signals makes it easier to conform to the regulations governing telecommunications. Moreover, communication using wavelet signals is relatively insensitive to interference and to reflections, and therefore can be used with advantage in confined environments in which other narrow frequency band high power communications are already present. As a general rule, a UWB signal has a bandwidth BRF such that, at a center frequency fc:
      B    RF    ≥            f      c        4
Several methods of generating UWB wavelet signals are known in the art. They employ either short Gaussian pulses or bursts or scanning of sinusoidal signals obtained by radio techniques or fast switching (fast on-off keying) techniques.
However, as the duty factor of wavelet signals used for digital communications is relatively low, the prior art methods cited above have the drawback of necessitating synchronization between the transmitter and the receiver, to make the active window of the receiver coincide with wavelets sent by the transmitter. This kind of synchronization requires relatively complex circuits. Moreover, the circuits necessary for generating the wavelets are also relatively complicated.
An object of the invention is to provide a method of establishing ultrawideband communications for transmitting digital information that necessitates only simple circuits that are available off the shelf and dispenses with synchronization between transmission and reception.

Method of communicating information between a transmitter and a receiver using ultrawideband signals

CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA- Recherche et Developpement


An apparatus and method for evaluation of hearing loss is disclosed. The apparatus and method use evoked Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) to determine if the subject is able to hear click stimuli that are repeatedly administered. In order to facilitate efficient differentiation of the ABR from the accompanying noise, normative data is used to detect test conditions where physiological, non-physiological, and ambient acoustic noise would interfere with the progression of test.

In the past, hearing impairment in babies and children was often not detected until after it was observed that the baby or child did not respond normally to sound. Unfortunately, it often took months or even years for the parent to observe the impairment, and by that time the child's language and learning abilities were negatively and often irreversibly impacted. Indeed, recent studies indicate that the vocabulary skills of hearing impaired children markedly increases if their hearing loss is detected early. The optimal time to evaluate for hearing loss is thus immediately after birth, both because early detection allows for early treatment, and because parents often fail to bring their infants for later appointments. As a result, a number of states have implemented programs to evaluate newborns for hearing loss.
However, babies, especially newborns, cannot participate in traditional hearing tests, which require the subject to indicate if he or she hears the auditory stimulus. Thus, devices and methods have been developed to objectively determine hearing loss, without the voluntary participation of the subject. One such method involves analysis of the involuntary electroencephalographic (EEG) signals that are evoked from a subject in response to an auditory stimulus. It has been found that when a subject is able to perceive a sound having particular characteristics, a specific EEG waveform known as an Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) is generated. This ABR response signal is typically small in magnitude in relation to general EEG activity. Therefore, statistical and signal processing techniques have been employed and developed to help detect, to a pre-defined level of statistical confidence, whether an ABR response has in fact been evoked. ABR testing is especially applicable to evaluation of infants, but can be applied to any subject.
The ABR that is evoked in response to the auditory stimulus may be measured by use of surface electrodes on the scalp or neck. As a practical matter, the electrodes will also detect noise signals from neural activity (besides the ABR), muscle activity, and non-physiological, environmental noises. Accurate detection of excessive noise, and excessive non-physiological noise, has thus been a challenge for those developing ABR evaluation tests. It would be especially advantageous to discern non-physiological noise, because such noise may be ameliorated or even eliminated (such as by moving or turning off an interfering device).
The present invention represents a major advance in the art because it allows for more accurate detection of excessive noise, and because it provides a method to detect non-physiological noise.

Hearing evaluation device with noise detection and evaluation capability


An insulator capable of supporting the conductor of an electric fence including at least one retaining portion capable of retaining at least one fixing element to the insulator prior to the insulator being fixed to a support structure with the fixing element.

Presently insulators are used to support the conducting material of electric fences. These insulators are generally secured to fence posts via screws, staples or other fixing elements.
To secure insulators to posts generally requires a farmer to hold both the insulator and the fixing element. Understandably affixing the insulator to the support structures can be a fiddly affair. It is very easy to drop the fixing element while obtaining the device to engage the fixing element, for example a hammer, or a screwdriver. This results in either wasting resources by leaving the fixing element on the ground, or alternatively having to reach down and scramble around trying to find it on the ground, which can be difficult when working over rough ground.
Another drawback is that currently the fixing element must be directly held onto, to avoid it falling out. This increases the chance of hitting your thumb or fingers during the process of fixing the insulator to the supporting structure, for example a fence post.
Consequently, fixing insulators to supporting structures can be frustrating, and either a time consuming exercise, or wasteful of resources. These problems make the present system of affixing insulators an inefficient process, demanding more time and resources than are necessary.
It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an insulator capable of supporting the conducting material of an electric fence,
characterised in that
the insulator includes at least one retaining-portion capable of retaining at least one fixing element to the insulator prior to the insulator being affixed to a support structure with the fixing element.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of affixing to a support structure an insulator capable of supporting the conducting material of an electric fence characterised by the steps of
(a) placing a fixing element in at least one retaining-portion in the insulator capable of retaining the fixing element, and
(b) fixing the insulator with the fixing element to the support structure.
It is envisaged that the retaining-portion may have a variety of different shapes and configurations without departing from the scope of the present invention.
There are provided standard apertures in insulators through which fixing elements pass to secure the insulators to the support.
In general, the retaining-portion may be in the form of an opening of a configuration capable of holding a fixing element to a greater degree than would normally be provided by the standard apertures.
In some embodiments the opening of the retaining-portion may include a number of projections which project into the opening. The projections may be made from a material which is at least partially resilient.
In preferred embodiments, inserting the fixing element into opening causes distortion of the projections, which are then able to frictionally engage the fixing element so as to retain it within the opening.
In preferred embodiments, the retaining-portion may be in the form of an opening which includes a number of flaps which project therein. The flaps which project therein may also be made from a partially resilient material, for example nylon or plastic.
In some other embodiments the retaining-portion may be in the form of an opening of a size and configuration which enables it to frictionally engage the fixing element so as to retain it within the opening. Preferably the opening in such embodiments may be made surrounded by at least partially resilient material.
In one embodiment the opening may be of a narrower girth than the rest of the aperture through which the fixing element passes.
Alternatively the whole of the opening may be of a smaller size than the cross-section of the fixing means. It is the resilient material around the opening that xe2x80x98givesxe2x80x99 to hold the fixing element.
The retaining-portion may be capable of holding the fixing elements in the orientation required to enable the element to affix the insulator to the support member/structure.
Some embodiments may just hold the fixing element before the user places it into the aperture for fixing. However, these embodiments have less advantages than the previous one.
It is envisaged that the fixing element may be any device capable of affixing an insulator to a support member/structure.
It is envisaged the fixing elements may include nails, screws and staples. However, it should be appreciated that this list is not intended to be limiting.
In general, the support member may be a fence post, or the outer surface of a building or other structure. Again, this should not be seen as necessarily limiting the scope of the present invention.
An advantage of the present invention may have over existing insulators, is that the process of affixing insulators to support structures is facilitated rendering it less fiddly to undertake. Thus, the present invention also enables less time to be spent on the exercise, and less resources lost, creating a more efficient method of affixing insulators to their supporting structures.
Also, by removing the requirement to hold the fixing element there is less pain and frustration occuring due to injuries.


In an image input device including a multistage aperture (13) which reduces a quantity of light by changing an aperture, and an ND filter (15) which reduces a quantity of light by changing transmittance of passing light, if ghosts tend to occur due to the second light reducing means, the generation of ghosts is effectively avoided. An object determining unit determines whether a strong light source is present on an object image formed by an optical unit (10) for imaging based on luminance distribution on the object image. The multistage aperture (13) and the ND filter (15) are controlled in order to obtain a proper exposure to pickup the object image. If the object determining unit determines which a strong light source is present on the object image, the ND filter (15), which reduces the quantity of light by changing the transmittance of passing light, is used as less as possible, and the multistage aperture (13) is functioned preferentially.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image input device such as a digital camera, and more particularly relates to an image input device intended to improve a light quantity adjusting technology for acquiring a high quality image.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image input device such as a digital camera which uses image forming optical means which forms an object image by means of an optical system typified by lenses, when the aperture is reduced for imaging an object, the image quality of the object image degrades due to a diffraction phenomenon of light a periphery of the aperture. To address this problem, a high-class camera often employs light reduction means which uses a neutral density (ND) filter or the like to reduce the transmitting light quantity, thereby reducing light without reducing the aperture, resulting in eliminating the necessity of reducing the aperture beyond a certain degree.
On the other hand, in imaging on various cameras, imaging effects by means of the aperture are utilized for artistic expression. The imaging effects by means of the aperture include reducing the aperture to increase the depth of field, thereby focusing in a wide range, resulting in a pan focus-like expression, or conversely, increasing the aperture to decrease the depth of field, thereby defocusing foreground and background other than an intended object, resulting in an expression which shows off the intended object. Particularly, for users referred to as high-end users who freely use high-level imaging techniques, expressions employing these imaging effects by means of the aperture are usual, and they want cameras on which the imaging effects by means of the aperture are available. In order to offer these effects, high-class cameras often employs a multistage aperture which can control the aperture at multiple stages.
To attain the above two requirements, it is efficient to use a multistage aperture which employs an ND filter together with a general multistage aperture. FIG. 2 shows an exterior of an example of a shutter unit on which a multistage aperture together with an ND filter is installed. The multistage aperture 13 generally includes multiple aperture blades, and is configured to employ a pulse motor, for example, to drive the respective aperture blades via a cam, thereby obtaining a desired aperture diameter in FIG. 2. If a pulse motor is employed as a drive source for the multistage aperture 13, the aperture diameter is controlled stepwise, and is generally designed so that the aperture diameter is changed by ½ AV (aperture value, used in a so-called apex system) or ⅓ AV per pulse. The ND filter 15 is generally constructed by affixing a filter member to blade members serving as support members, and controls the transmitting light quantity by moving the blade members forward and backward with respect to the optical axis, thereby inserting/extracting the filter member to/from the optical axis.
In this case, though a large ND filter which can adjust the light quantity in the full aperture may be employed, the filter member constituting the ND filter is expensive, and the ND filter is preferably constructed by a more or less small filter member.
In other words, as long as an exposure control characteristics indicated as exposure charts (refer to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10) can be constituted, an ND filter is to be configured using a smaller filter member which can be applied to a state starting from the aperture is more or less reduced. If an ND filter using a smaller filter member is employed, a mechanism which holds and drives the ND filter can be compact. The example shown in FIG. 2 has a configuration in dimensional relationship that the ND filter 15 can be used when the multistage aperture 13 reduces the aperture value by 1 AV or more from the full aperture.
With the above-described multistage aperture simultaneously employing the ND filter used for high class models, the ND filter can be used at any aperture value ranging from a full aperture state or a nearly full aperture state to a maximally reduced aperture state. As a result, if a certain light reduction quantity is required, there is a case where the light reduction is realized by means of only the multistage aperture and by the multistage aperture along with the ND filter. FIG. 9 shows an example of this case. The reduction by the multistage aperture and the reduction by the multistage aperture along with the ND filter are both available in grayed entries in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 shows this as an exposure chart.
Both the case where the ND filter is not inserted and the case where the ND filter is inserted are present at six stages from F5 to F9 in FIGS. 9 and 10. The full aperture is represented as a circled "1", and the minimum aperture is represented as circled "12" in FIGS. 9 and 10, resulting in 12 stages, and the respective circled numbers represent the stages of the multistage aperture (different from "aperture stages", which are referred to as "nth step of the aperture". "Aperture stage" generally corresponds to an AV value).
Though cases where the ND filter is simultaneously used for the 9th stage (circled "9") to the 12th stage (circled "12") of the multistage aperture are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, since it is sufficient that an actual camera can be applied up to LV 18 (LV: Light Value, used for the apex system), these four stages of the light reduction states are not used. Moreover, in the example of the multistage aperture shown in FIG. 2, since the ND filter 15 can be used in a state with an aperture value reduced from the full aperture by 1 AV or more, the simultaneous use of the ND filter is not applied to the first stage (circled "1") to the third stage (circled "3"), and since the aperture is not reduced so much in this range, the influence of the degradation of the image quality due to the diffraction is seldom present, and the simultaneous employment of the ND filter is not necessary in terms of the image quality.
If the same light reduction state with respect to a certain luminance of the object is realized by the aperture and the aperture along with the ND filter as described above, there poses a problem of determining which of them is more proper to use. The advantages and disadvantages of the light reduction only by the multistage aperture and the light reduction only by the ND filter are compared in FIG. 12.
The most important thing for image input devices such as a camera is how to acquire a better image quality, and a problem to be considered with this respect is the above-described problem of the image degradation upon a small aperture. The main reason for employing the ND filter as the light reduction means is to address the degradation of the image quality upon the small aperture. The employment of the ND filter eliminates the necessity of a small aperture, thereby eliminating the degradation of the image quality. FIG. 11 shows an example of a relationship between the aperture and an image forming capability (MTF) corresponding to the image quality. Thought the MTF can be maintained to a somewhat proper value from the full aperture to an aperture reduced by approximately 1.5 stages as shown in FIG. 11, if the aperture is reduced further, the MTF apparently degrades. In order to prevent the MTF from degrading, it is preferable to additionally employ the light reduction by the ND filter so as to eliminate the necessity of using a small aperture.
On the other hand, the reason for employing the multistage aperture is to control the depth of field according to the intention of a photographer. It is necessary to reduce the aperture by means of the multistage aperture thereby increasing the depth of field in order to focus in a wide range from a near view to a distant view.
Moreover, there is a difference between the light reduction by the multistage aperture, and the light reduction by the ND filter in terms of problems of ghosts and a reduction of quantity of light on periphery. In terms of the ghosts, the light reduction by the ND filter, which inserts an ND filter, is disadvantageous due to an increase of reflecting surfaces, and if ghosts are blocked by an aperture, the ghosts are reduced by reducing the aperture by means of the multistage aperture. In terms of the reduced quantity of light on periphery, in general, if the aperture is reduced by control, though the light quantity becomes uniform, and the reduction of the quantity of light on periphery is improved, the ND filter does not improve the reduction of the quantity of light on periphery.
Moreover, in terms of power consumption, there is a difference between the light reduction by the multistage aperture, and the light reduction by the ND filter. In general, the multistage aperture is often driven by a pulse motor, and the pulse motor including two coils tends to consume a more electric power. The ND filter moves only between an inserted position and a retracted position with respect to the optical axis, and it is thus possible to employ a moving magnet including a single coil, resulting in a small amount of the power consumption. The best strategy to reduce the power consumption is to reduce the movement as much as possible for both of them.
In view of the foregoing technical background, an imaging device which provides control to selectively switch to the optimal camera control method according to the advantages and disadvantages of the light reduction by the multistage aperture and the light reduction by the ND filter is proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-134393, for example. More specifically, the imaging device according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-134393 includes exposure control means which controls aperture control means and transmittance control means, which employs an ND filter or the like, in combination, and the exposure control means includes a first operation mode which controls the aperture control means and the transmittance control means preferentially for the depth of field. Moreover, the exposure control means includes, in addition to the first operation mode, a second operation mode which controls the aperture control means and the transmittance control means preferentially for resolution, and provides control for switching between the first operation mode and the second operation mode according to imaging conditions.
The present applicant improves the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-134393, and proposes a technology which minimizes the use of the control means, which changes the transmittance by means of the ND filter or the like, as Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-114283.
The applicant focused on the problem of ghosts which are generated by the ND filter in order to further improve prior art thereby acquiring image which more suits an intention of a photographer.
An item "GHOSTS" in FIG. 12 is first studied in detail.
If the aperture is reduced, ghosts can be reduced compared with the case of the full aperture in the control by the aperture while ghosts may increase and the image quality may degrade since the reflecting surfaces are increased by the insertion of the ND filter in the control by the ND filter. Especially, if a surface perpendicular to the optical axis such as an ND filter is present close to the position of the aperture, there occurs reflection between the ND filter and some surfaces close to an imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) such as a low-pass filter, a cover glass plate of the imaging element, and the imaging surface itself similarly perpendicular to the optical axis, thereby often causing ghosts.
FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a principle of the generation of an example of ghosts due to the ND filter. A light beam returns toward an aperture after reflected by a low-pass filter, a cover glass plate, an imaging element, or an imaging plane itself as a first reflecting surface, is reflected again on a rear surface of an ND filter as a second reflecting surface, and reaches the imaging plane resulting in a ghost. This is a major principle of the ghosts caused by the ND filter. The fact that the first reflecting surface is a flat surface close to the imaging plane implies that light on an acquired image plane is a cause of the ghosts, which corresponds to a case which occurs when an image is taken while the sun is present in the image plane, for example, is generally considered as "a sever condition where generation of ghosts is unavoidable", and is often permitted. However, for a high class model employing the multistage aperture, it is preferable to reduce ghosts as much as possible even under this sever condition since such an image is often taken by intention.


A data distribution system includes a plurality of data sources each capable of transmitting a data item, and a data vending machine capable of receiving the data item from the plurality of data sources and selling the received data item to a user. The data vending machine includes a data selecting apparatus operated by a user to select a desired data item, a data source selecting apparatus connected to the data selecting apparatus for selecting, among the plurality of data sources, one that holds the data item selected by the data selecting apparatus, in accordance with a specific standard, a data receiving apparatus connected to the data source selecting apparatus for receiving selected data item from the data source selected by the data source selecting apparatus, and a data updating apparatus to which an external storage device is detachably mounted, for writing the data item received by the data receiving apparatus to the external storage device.

Along with the recent development of network technique and accompanying digital implementation of book data, music data and so on, a technique of distributing data using a communication network has been developed. Examples of such a technique are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2-47771 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-83948. The inventions disclosed in these published documents relate to a technique for down-loading electronic book data to a storage device such as a memory or a hard disk through a communication network and not through a bookstore, and reproducing the data by a reproducing apparatus.
More specifically, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2-47771 discloses an information transmitting system including a data supplying apparatus and a data reproducing apparatus connected thereto by a communication network. The data reproducing apparatus instructs the data supplying apparatus on the data to be retrieved, through the communication network. The data supplying apparatus includes a data base storing a number of data groups, a searching apparatus searching any of the data groups in the data base in accordance with the instructions from the reproducing apparatus, and a communication apparatus for data transmission/reception to and from the data reproducing apparatus.
The data supplying apparatus structured in this manner retrieves the data group instructed by the data reproducing apparatus from the data base, in response to a request from the data reproducing apparatus and transmits the data group through the communication apparatus and the communication network to the data reproducing apparatus. The data reproducing apparatus has a storage device storing the data group, and displays page by page the data group stored in the storage device, based on an instruction from the user. Thus it is possible for the user to obtain data of a book and the like simply through the communication network, without any intervenient bookstore. It is possible for the user to reproduce the data at any time and at any place as needed, using the data reproducing apparatus.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-83948 discloses a public information vending system including one or a plurality of public information vending machines installed at places readily accessible by unspecified number of information purchasers, and one or a plurality of information source apparatuses connected to the public information vending machines through a communication network. In this system, the information purchaser connects to any of the information source apparatuses that contains information of which purchasing is desired through the public information vending machine and the communication network, and makes a transaction for purchasing the desired information. Confirmation of an identification ensuring adjustment or payment of charges takes place at the time of completion of the transaction contract at the public information vending machine. At the same time, the purchaser can obtain immediately the desired information from appropriate information source apparatus through the public information vending machine and the communication network. It is expected that such a system promotes distribution of information.
In such a transaction, the information is once recorded on a storage medium and reproduced by the reproducing apparatus. As the digital data allows easy copying of data and are free of any degradation of data in data reproduction, there arises a problem of how to prevent unauthorized copying of the storage medium. Conventionally, a method has been known as one such technique in which copying is restricted by a flag indicating prohibition or allowance of copying. In accordance with such a method, when a recording apparatus is connected to a reproducing apparatus and an attempt is made to copy the data reproduced by the reproducing apparatus on a storage medium by the recording apparatus, the recording apparatus checks the flag embedded in the data. If the flag has a value that means copy-prohibited, the recording apparatus prohibits copying, or provides analog outputs instead of digital outputs, so as to prevent digital copying.
SCMS (Serial Copy Management System) employed for a DAT (Digital Audio Tape) has been known as a representative example of such technique. In SCMS, a copy flag of 2 bits is recorded in multiplexed manner in the data at every prescribed time period, so as to prevent unlimited digital copying. The copy flag has the definitions of "00: copy prohibited", "01: one copy allowed", "10: reserved" and "11: copy allowed," and copying is controlled by an appropriate operation in accordance with the copy flag.
The conventional technique outlined above is very convenient for distributing electronic data to the users. Actual use of such technique, however, has the following problems.
(1) When the capacity of the data to be distributed increases, necessary time for transmission becomes longer, resulting in excessively long wait time of the user. When the object of electronic distribution is extended to publications including a large number of photographs and/or pictures such as a picture book or a photograph album or further to CD (Compact Disk) albums having larger capacities than the text data, such an excessive wait time imposes a great difficulty in spreading the system. The time necessary for the user to obtain a desired book or the like through the common sales route, for example, at a bookstore, is generally unrelated to the contents of the publication. Therefore, solution of this problem is critically important if the system for distributing electronic data through communication is to be practically implemented.
(2) The problem of copyright protection is very important in a simple system of data distribution. If protection of copying of digital data is not at all afforded, it is impossible to detect any unauthorized copy by a malicious user purchasing the electronic data. This is a major difference between a paper document which requires time for copying and the electronic data. Embedding a copy flag within the data, as described above, may be a solution to this problem. Nevertheless, unauthorized copying cannot be prevented if an apparatus which ignores the copy flag is used as the recording apparatus. In other words, practical implementation of such data distribution system requires technical support to solve not only the technical problems but also institutional constraints including copyright protection.
(3) Another problem of the conventional technique is that a situation where various data sources (information sources) utilizing different communication rates and different communication methods coexist is not taken into consideration. For example, computers of various generations may possibly be the data sources, and the speed of processing of the computers may vary widely. Storing capacities thereof may also differ widely. Further, the method and the rate of communication may vary widely, possibly including wired communication, wireless communication, communication through optical communication, satellite network or satellite broadcast allowing broadcast of same data to multiple points simultaneously. Therefore, when there are a plurality of data sources holding data desired by a user, it becomes a problem from which data source the data should be received. In such a case, it is desired that an optimal data source can be selected automatically based on various standards.
As such various and wide data sources were not expected conventionally, optimization of data source selection has not been considered.
(4) Conventionally, a so-called "browsing in a bookstore" has been possible. When one wishes to a buy a book, he/she may actually look into the contents before determining to buy or not to buy the book. Electronic distribution of data makes it difficult for the user to examine the contents of the data before the purchase. In the conventional technique described above, accounting of the purchase of the electronic data takes place at the time of purchase, that is, at a time point when the data is received from the data source. Therefore, there is a relatively high possibility for the user to find that the contents of the purchased electronic data is not so interesting as expected. Such a problem may hinder use of the data distribution system by the users.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-85196 discloses a software vending machine solving such a problem. The software vending machine has a function of demonstrating the software of the user at the time of purchasing the software. Such a demonstration of the product to be purchased, however, does not allow the user to filly appreciate the true value of the product, except for only a few software products. Similarly, since books generally require significant time to be fully appreciated, they also cannot be sufficiently evaluated by a user according to this method. This problem must be solved to spread the use of the electronic data distribution system.
(5) The conventional technique described above has a problem that what can be purchased is limited to data already in the electronic form. This seems to be a matter-of-fact constrict. Where it is known that wide variety of contents not in the electronic form are available through the traditional route as in the case of books, there would be only a small number of users who would be eager to use such an electronic data distribution system that allows access to information of very limited contents. Therefore, a system allowing purchase of data which may or may not be in the electronic form, in a single manner is desired.
(6) In the conventional technique, the unit of transaction has been, in principle, the whole data of an electronic book, for example. Now, there may be a method of utilizing data in which data source search is conducted by a key word, and a portion including the key word is retrieved. At this time, a user may wish to retrieve not the segments of sentences including the key words but a section, a chapter or other sizable unit from the data source. Conventionally, such an apparatus for retrieving data in such a form from the data source did not exist.
(7) As already described, there is a method of determining whether a copy is allowed or not, based on a value of a copy flag included in the data, when there is an instruction for copying the digital data. When the value of the copy flag is set to indicate "copy prohibited", the user suffers from a problem that it is impossible to copy the data for back up. A back up copy is legitimate and hence there must be some measure for the user's convenience.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a data distribution system capable of reducing time necessary for data transfer as much as possible, and a data distributing apparatus and a data reproducing apparatus therefor.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a data distribution system effectively preventing unauthorized copying in electronic data distribution.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a data distribution system capable of distributing data to the user from an optimal data source in accordance with various standards.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a data distribution system allowing data purchase at a reasonable expense.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a data distribution system allowing a user to select any article other than electronic data.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a data distribution system allowing distribution of data in a unit of utility value for the user.

Data distribution system and data selling apparatus therefor, data retrieving apparatus, duplicated data detecting system, and data reproduction apparatus


When a non-contact tracing of a configuration of a three-dimensional model is carried out, the measurement axis of a tracer head is controlled to always be facing in an optimum direction with respect to a model surface by controlling the attitude of the tracer head, to thereby create tracing data of the configuration of the model. The tracer head is provided with two non-contact distance sensing units, and a normal vector of the model surface is determined based on a measurement value obtained by sampling tracing data supplied from the tracer head. At this time, the direction of a normal vector is determined from the outer product of surface vectors in a range in which the angle between an axial vector starting from a measurement point of the measurement axis of the tracer head and the normal vector at the measurement point does not exceed 90.degree.. The tracer head is controlled to be rotated in the direction toward a projection obtained by projecting the normal vector on a predetermined plane.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-contact digitizing method, and more specifically, to a non-contact digitizing method for creating a tracing data of a configuration of a three-dimensional model by controlling the attitude of a tracer head and tracing the configuration of the model while not in contact therewith,
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a non-contact trace control apparatus has been developed to trace a configuration of a model by using a non-contact distance sensing unit, An optical distance sensing unit is used as this non-contact distance sensing unit and is fixed to the extreme end of a tracer head, and a tracing is carried out by sensing a distance to a surface of a model, This tracing method eliminates any possibility of damage to a model, and accordingly, can be applied to a model composed of a soft material, and thus the applications for which a trace machining can be utilized are expected to increase,
In general, a function for tracing a configuration of a model, sensing data of the Locus of the traced configuration at all times, and automatically outputting the data to an NC tape or the like is referred to as a digitizing method, A non-contact digitizing method enables digitizing data to be calculated without damage to a model surface.
In this connection, when a portion of a model having a large angle of inclination is traced by a conventional non-contact trace control apparatus, a problem arises in that a tracing accuracy of this portion is poor, and thus digitizing data having a pinpoint accuracy cannot be obtained. For example, when a surface of a model almost perpendicular to the surface on which the model is installed is traced, and the measurement axis of a tracer head is almost parallel with the surface of the model, a circular spot on the surface of the model is enlarged and distorted to become an ova I shape and thus the distance sensing resolution is Lowered. Therefore, to perform a non-contact digitizing with a high accuracy, a configuration of a model must be traced by using a tracer head able to be inclined in a direction optimum to a model surface, instead of a tracer head fixed in the direction (Z-axis direction) perpendicular to a plane on which the model is installed.
To solve the above problem, the inventors have U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,230, wherein a tracer head is provided with two non-contact distance sensing units, a normal vector on a model surface is determined based on a measured value obtained by sampling tracing data from the tracer head, and the tracer head is controlled in the direction of a projection obtained by projecting the normal vector onto a predetermined plane.
The invention disclosed in the preceding patent application relates to a non-contact trace control apparatus whereby three points are selected from a plurality of measured points, two surface vectors are determined from these three points, and the outer product of these surface vectors is calculated to determine the normal vector. Since, however, an order in which the surface vectors are multiplied is not fixed, a problem arises in that, when the order is reversed, two normal vectors facing in completely opposite directions are determined.
At this time, when a normal vector N having a positive value NZ of a Z-axis component is selected, this problem usually can be solved. Nevertheless, a normal vector N having a negative value NZ may be selected as a correct normal vector, particularly when a configuration of a model having a vertical or almost vertical surface is traced, due to a measurement error caused by a non-contact distance sensing mechanism or a calculation error caused by a calculating mechanism. Consequently, a normal vector that is unsuitable as a normal vector of a model surface is selected in the above non-contact trace control apparatus, the measurement axis of the tracer head is rotated by 180.degree., and thus a problem arises in that the tracer head cannot perform the required measurement or interferes with the model surface.


A refrigerant system is provided with an unloader bypass line to selectively unload the compressor and deliver refrigerant from a partially (or fully) compressed location back to a suction port of the compressor. A section of this unloader bypass line is placed in the path of air having passed over an evaporator and towards an environment to be conditioned. This section of the unloader bypass line would contain refrigerant that is at a higher temperature than the refrigerant, which had been delivered into the evaporator by the main circuit. In this manner, this bypass line section will provide the function of reheating the air above the temperature to which it had been cooled in the evaporator to achieve a desired humidity level. Thus, the reheat function is obtained without requiring a dedicated reheat loop, associated components and additional structure. Also, through the refrigerant temperature reduction, compressor reliability and performance are improved. Furthermore, the flow control device may be of an adjustable type (e.g. modulating or pulsating) to achieve variable sensible heat ratios and to cover a wide range of potential applications. Lastly, the bypass line may have extended heat transfer elements allowing heat transfer enhancement between the air and refrigerant.

This application relates to a refrigerant system having a reheat function provided by hot refrigerant in a bypass line.
Refrigerant systems are utilized in applications to change the temperature and humidity or otherwise condition the environment. In a standard refrigerant system, a compressor delivers a compressed refrigerant to a heat exchanger, known as a condenser, which is typically located outside. From the condenser, the refrigerant passes through an expansion device, and then to an indoor heat exchanger, known as an evaporator. At the evaporator, moisture may be removed from the air, and the temperature of air blown over the evaporator coil is lowered. From the evaporator, the refrigerant returns to the compressor. Of course, basic refrigerant cycles are utilized in combination with many configuration variations and optional features. However, the above provides a brief understanding of the fundamental concept.
In some cases, while the system is operating in a cooling mode, the temperature level at which the air is delivered to provide a comfort environment in a conditioned space may need to be higher than the temperature that would provide the ideal humidity level. Generally, the lower the temperature of the evaporator coil is the more moisture can be removed from the air stream. These opposite trends have presented challenges to refrigerant system designers. One way to address such challenges is to utilize various schematics incorporating reheat coils. In many cases, a reheat coil placed in the way of an indoor air stream behind the evaporator is employed for the purpose of reheating the air supplied to the conditioned space after it has been cooled in the evaporator, and where the moisture has been removed from the air as well.
Known reheat systems require additional components such as flow control devices, and are susceptible to refrigerant charge migration problems that may affect system operational characteristics, functionality and reliability over a wide range of environmental and operating conditions. Of course, it is typically beneficial to reduce refrigerant system schematic and control complexity as well as to avoid potential reliability issues.
Also, an unloader or bypass function is often provided in a refrigerant system. In such a function, a portion of the refrigerant is bypassed from an intermediate compression point at the compressor back to the suction line of the compressor. This bypass or unloaded operation is utilized when the system demand for cooling capacity is lower than it might otherwise be. In such a case, by diverting a portion of the refrigerant back to the compressor suction and bypassing other system components, the load on the compressor and other components is reduced. At the same time, the temperature of the combined refrigerant flow (form the bypass and from the evaporator) at the compressor suction is increased, potentially negatively impacting compressor reliability and reducing the mass flow rate the compressor is capable of pumping through.
In some cases, when there is no an intermediate port incorporated in the compressor design, a so-called hot gas bypass is utilized for the unloading function. In such systems, hot discharge refrigerant vapor is diverted back to the compressor suction port (or sometimes to the evaporator inlet), having been passed through an expansion device first to reduce its pressure. As before, the temperature of the combined refrigerant flow at the compressor suction is increased, which may be detrimental for compressor reliability and may negatively impact compressor performance.

Utilization of bypass refrigerant to provide reheat and dehumidification function in refrigerant system