Color separation processing is performed on the input image data to generate material amount data representing the recording amount of each recording material. Halftone processing of generating binary data for each recording scan in an image recording apparatus is performed based on the material amount data. A discharge of a colored material in a first recording scan of recording the colored material and a discharge of a high transmissivity material in a second recording scan of recording the high transmissivity material are represented by the binary data for each recording scan. The high transmissivity material is recorded at a predetermined thickness on a recording layer of the colored material after the first recording scan.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and image processing method for generating image data for image recording using, as recording materials, a colored material and a high transmissivity material higher in transmittance than the colored material.
2. Description of the Related Art
An inkjet recording method is known as a typical example in a recording apparatus which records information such as a character or image on a sheet-like recording medium such as recording paper or film. Recently, various recording materials have been proposed in recording apparatuses employing the inkjet recording method. Typical examples are dye ink and pigment ink.
The color material of the dye ink exists as a very small molecule in a recording material. When the dye ink is used in the inkjet recording method, the color material penetrates into a recording medium and is fixed. When the second color material is applied a short time after the first color material is fixed in a recording medium, the second color material is fixed in the recording medium in a state in which it is mixed with the previously fixed first color material.
The color material of the pigment ink exists as a particle of about several ten nm in a recording material. The pigment ink whose color material exists as a particle is almost free from decomposition of the color material by light and dissolution into water. The pigment ink is superior to the dye ink in the weather resistance and water resistance of a character and image.
When the pigment ink is used in the inkjet recording method, the color material hardly penetrates into a recording medium and is fixed on the surface of the recording medium because the particle size of the color material is large. When the second color material is applied a short time after the first color material is fixed on the surface of a recording medium, the second color material is fixed on the previously fixed first color material. That is, for the pigment ink, color materials form recording layers in the recording order. Hence, there has been proposed a technique of obtaining the decorative effect of an image by controlling the recording order of pigment inks (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-085123: to be referred to as "literature 1" hereinafter).
According to the technique in literature 1, a color material (colorless material) having a relatively high transmittance is fixed on an upper layer with respect to a color material (colored material) which is arranged on a relatively lower layer and has a relatively low transmittance. The colorless material fixed on the upper layer forms an optical thin film. By controlling the thickness of the colorless material, various colors (structural colors) by thin film interference are reproduced. The technique in literature 1 exploits the fact that the structural color is different from the color of a colored material on a lower layer. By controlling the thickness of a colorless material on an upper layer, a desired color image is formed to obtain the decorative/decorating effect.
The method in literature 1 utilizes thin film interference for the decorative/decorating effect of an image, but does not use it for improvement of the quality of an image.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method


A hydraulic control system for shifting an automatic transmission to desired gears by selectively coupling and uncoupling friction coupling elements which controls a shifting pressure necessary to bring a friction coupling element into coupling according to a presumed friction coefficient of the friction coupling element during shifting so as thereby to achieve an intended gear shift over an intended shifting time.

1. Field of the invention
The resent invention relates to a hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission.
2. Description of Related Art
Typically, automatic transmissions for automobiles comprise mechanical transmission devices or mechanisms and torque convertors. Available engine torque from a crankshaft is multiplied and transferred first by a torque convertor and subsequently by a mechanical transmission. Such a mechanical transmission includes a planetary gearset consisting of a sun gear, a ring gear and pinions which changes the path of power flow for gear shift. Specifically, in order for mechanical transmission to change gears or the path of power flow, the automatic transmission is provided with friction coupling elements, such as clutch mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the transmission of power to specific gears of the mechanical transmission and braking elements for braking specific gears of the mechanical transmission. These friction coupling elements and braking elements are selectively actuated by hydraulic control so as to perform gear shifts.
In the automatic transmission, if a shifting time which refers to a time necessary to complete a gear shift is too short, in other words, if the friction coupling element is abruptly actuated by high hydraulic pressure, the automatic transmission causes what is called "shift shock." Contrary, if the shifting time is too long, i.e. if the friction coupling element is slowly actuated by a high hydraulic pressure, there occurs a deterioration in the quality of driving. For that reason, in the hydraulic control of automatic transmission, the pressure of oil is typically controlled so as to complete gear shifts over specified shifting times according to driving conditions.
The shifting time is governed by torque transferred through a friction coupling element by which a specific gear shift is made and a coupling force of the friction coupling element, i.e. an oil pressure applied to the friction coupling element. Specifically, the greater the torque transferred through the friction coupling element, the longer the shifting time that a gear shift effected by the friction coupling element takes. On the other hand, with an increase in oil pressure, the shifting time becomes shorter. Consequently, controlling the oil pressure suitably in conformity with the torque transferred through the friction coupling element enables the automatic transmission to cause a specific gear shift achieved by the friction coupling element over a target or intended shifting time.
As it has been proved that a torque transferred through a friction coupling element related to a gear shift during shifting is a resultant force from a torque transferred to a transmission gear mechanism and an inertia caused by a change in rotational speed of a power transfer line to the transmission gear mechanism. That is, since a drop in rotational speed occurs to the turbine shaft of the torque convertor which is on the input side of the transmission gear mechanism, the power transfer line imparts to the friction coupling element the force of inertia in the same direction as torque of the turbine shaft during a shift-up and, on the other hand, in the direction opposite to torque of the turbine shaft during a shift-down. On that account, the hydraulic control system is adapted to control an oil pressure according to a torque transferred to the transmission gear mechanism and the force of inertia of the power transfer line to the transmission gear mechanism so as to enable the automatic transmission to cause a gear shift over a target shifting time. Hydraulic control systems of this kind are known from, for instance, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications Nos. 3-249468 and 4-72099.
Experiments conducted by the inventors of this application led to the conclusion that hydraulic control systems of this kind are hard to cause the automatic transmission to achieve gear shifts over a target shifting time.
As shown in FIG. 11, the experimental results prove a comparatively adequate correlation which has a friction coefficient of correlation of 0.96011 between the inertia component pressure and angular deceleration .omega.'. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, the correlation between the torque component pressure and the input torque Tt has a coefficient of correlation of 0.788101, alluding that the torque component pressure is less correlated with the input torque Tt. According to the experimental results, there is a linear relation between the inertia component pressure Tci and angular deceleration .omega.'. However, it is hard to say there is a linear relation between the torque component pressure and the input torque Tt. In FIG. 12, the measured values seem to be on a curve. If the equation (1) represents properly the correlations of line pressure with angular acceleration and a torque, they must have a coefficient of correlation of 1 (one) and all of the measured values must be exactly on straight lines in FIGS. 11 and 12.
It is apparent from the above discussion regarding the estimation of a target pressure P that the equation (I) is not always precise in order to estimate the target pressure P which is sufficiently accurate for achievement of a gear shift over an intended shifting time.
According to a conclusion derived by the considerations by inventors of this application, while the kinetic friction coefficient of a friction coupling element is considered to change according to an interfacial pressure or a relative speed between drive and driven members of the friction coupling elements, the prior art hydraulic control system is designed and configured on condition that the kinetic friction coefficient of a friction coupling element is constant and, consequently, produces changes in the target shifting time due to changes in the kinetic friction coefficient. In the light of the above considerations, it concluded that controlling the line pressure according to changes in the kinetic friction coefficients of friction coupling elements cause gear shifts achieved exactly over intended shifting times, respectively. Specifically describing, in the prior art hydraulic control system for an automatic transmission, a line pressure P, which in turn refers to a target shifting pressure, is regarded to be given by the following equation (I): EQU P=A.multidot..omega.'+B.multidot.Tt+C (I)
where .omega.' the angular acceleration, i.e. the force of inertia;
Tt is the torque transferred to the transmission gear mechanism; and PA1 A, B and C are constants, respectively.
If the constants A, B and C can be known based on a plurality of measurements of these angular acceleration .omega.' and torque Tt and a line pressure at which the automatic transmission actually achieves a gear shift over an intended shifting time, a target pressure P is obtained for various angular acceleration .omega.' and torque Tt. Keeping the line pressure at the target pressure P forces the automatic transmission to achieve the gear shift over the intended shifting time.
The inventors made a survey of these factors for gear shifts achieved over the intended shifting time and a multiple regression analysis of 64 sets of angular acceleration .omega.', input torque Tt and line pressure P was done to determine the constants A, B and C which leads to minimum errors. According to the equation (I), a part of the whole hydraulic pressure corresponding to angular deceleration .omega.', which is referred to as an inertia component pressure, is proportional to angular deceleration .omega.'. Further, a part of the whole hydraulic pressure corresponding to an input torque Tt, which is referred to as a torque component pressure, is proportional to an input torque Tt. In other words, there must be a linear relation both between the inertia component pressure and angular deceleration .omega.' and between the torque component pressure and the input torque Tt. The experimental results which were obtained in the way described above are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

Hydraulic pressure as a function of friction coefficient in control system for automatic transmission


In a voice over IP system, an IP telephone includes an LED lamp that indicates a voice message has been stored in a remote voice mail system. The IP telephone can then access that voice message. The message can also be moved from one remote site to another.

Voice over IP ("VoIP") is a relatively recent development that is utilized to transmit voice conversations over a data network using the Internet Protocol ("IP"). Internet Protocol is a part of the TCP/IP family of protocols described in software that tracks the Internet address of nodes, routes outgoing messages, and recognizes incoming messages. Such a data network may be the Internet or a corporate intranet, or any TCP/IP network. There are several potential benefits for moving voice over a data network using IP. First, there is a savings in money compared to the need to use traditional tolled telecommunications networks. Additionally, Voice over IP enables the management of voice and data over a single network. And, with the use of IP phones, moves, adds and changes are easier and less expensive to implement. Moreover, additional and integrated new services, including integrated messaging, bandwidth on demand, voice e-mails, the development of "voice portals" on the Web, simplified setting up and tearing down, and transferring of phone calls are capable.
Using Voice over IP technology, phone systems can communicate with each other over existing TCP/IP data networks typically present between remote offices. This feature alone can eliminate the need for expensive, dedicated circuits between facilities. The shared bandwidth can also be used for voice calls and data communication simultaneously; no bandwidth is dedicated to one or the other.
Another advantage of a Voice over IP system is the ability to implement a phone system over an existing data network that is already connecting workstations within a local area network, such as over an Ethernet. An Ethernet operates over twisted wire and over coaxial cable for connecting computers, printers, workstations, terminals, servers, etc., within the same building or a campus. The Ethernet utilizes frame packets for transmitting information. Voice over IP can utilize such packet switching capabilities to connect IP phones onto the Ethernet.
Traditional voice mail systems within a wide area network possess limitations that reduce their effectiveness. For example, such telephone systems typically need to have either a centralized voice mail system that has to be accessed remotely, or separate and distinct voice mail systems within each location with only a limited ability to share information. What is desired is a telephone system having voice mail functionality that is essentially transparent to the location of the user.

Voice mail in a voice over IP telephone system


A system for capturing and displaying images of subjects includes a digital camera and a slide show controller disposed in a common case. A subject can take his own picture using the digital camera. The resulting image is stored in an electronic folder with other images and all the images from the folder are distributed by a controller to several large displays.

a. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to a system and apparatus for capturing high quality digital images of models and other subjects and to display the images concurrently on a plurality of large screens. Optionally, the images are stored and/or printed.
b. Description of the Prior Art
Photo booths have been with us since the 50's and they are used to make wallet sized pictures using wet chemistry. The pictures produced are very low quality but the devices are somewhat popular because they provide almost instantaneous results.
More recent apparatus have been proposed that produce somewhat better results. See for instance U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,815 disclosing a modular photographic system, U.S. Patent Publication 20010011262 disclosing a digital public photo booth capable of sending a digital image to a remote location; Japanese Patent Publication JP 2001311993A2 which discloses a photo booth that takes a picture of a subject and superimposes a selected background on the resulting image; U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,581 discloses takes an image of a subject, defocuses the background and superimposes a selected image as background; U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,197 discloses a photo booth generating pictures by printing images from a video camera; EP Application 1059799 discloses a digital photo booth with a video camera generating images of a subject, a monitor for displaying the images and a printer for making pictures from the images; U.S Pat. No. 3,852,783 discloses an electronic photo studio with strobe lights a camera exposing images on a film and a processing device for developing the exposed film; U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,515 discloses a photo booth with a movable camera and a movable background.
However, all these devices are constructed and designed as a unitary permanent or semi-permanent structure placed usually in a high volume area. Moreover, the quality of images and pictures obtained from these devices are not very high.

System for capturing and displaying digital images


A cartridge-connecting subassembly for a shaving razor handle including a cartridge connecting structure, a handle connecting structure, and a movable component within the cartridge connecting structure that interacts with a replaceable cartridge when it is connected. The cartridge connecting structure and handle connecting structure have outer side surfaces that mate with inwardly directed surfaces of the cartridge and handle so that the subassembly is substantially covered when it is mounted in the handle and a cartridge is connected. The subassembly has an assembly opening for receiving the movable component during assembly, a cartridge interaction opening through which the component is movable for interaction with the cartridge, and blocking structure that retains the movable component in the subassembly. The movable component is an ejector structure that is separate from the cartridge connecting structure. The subassembly is connected to the handle by staking. The handle has gripping pads with an elastomeric outer layer and an nonelastomeric support layer thereunder.

The invention relates to shaving razors having handles and replaceable cartridges.
Shaving systems often consist of a handle and a replaceable cartridge in which one or more blades are mounted in a plastic housing. After the blades in a cartridge have become dull from use, the cartridge is discarded, and replaced on the handle with a new cartridge. In some shaving systems the blades are resiliently mounted with respect to the cartridge housing and deflect under the force of skin contact during shaving. In some shaving systems the connection of the cartridge to the handle provides a pivotal mounting of the cartridge with respect to the handle so that the cartridge angle adjusts to follow the contours of the surface being shaved. In such systems, the, cartridge can be biased toward an at rest position by the action of a spring-biased plunger (a cam follower) carried on the handle against a cam surface on the cartridge housing.


An anti-deformation mechanism for an axial rod motor comprising a base, two vertical fixing seats, two axial fixing seats, two axial screws, a stator and a mover arranged on the stator. The two vertical fixing seats are arranged on the base to support the stator vertically. The two axial fixing seats are arranged on the base and located outside the two vertical fixing seats. Each of the two axial fixing seats is provided with a fixing through hole for insertion of the axial screw. The stator is an elongated cylindrical rod and provided with an axial screw hole at each of two ends thereof to be screwed with the axial screws. Both ends of the stator are fixed by the vertical fixing seats and the axial screws, and synchronously, the two axial screws apply pull forces to the stator to prevent the bending deformation of the stator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a positioning device usually used on laser boring machine, small milling machine, image detecting instruments, etc, and more particularly to an anti-deformation mechanism for an axial rod motor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Currently, a conventional axial rod motor essentially comprises, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a base 80, two vertical fixing seats 81, a stator and a mover 83. The two vertical fixing seats 81 are disposed on two opposite ends of the base 80, and each of the vertical fixing seats 81 is provided with an elastic combining hole 811 having an axial opening at the top thereof, and each combining hole 811 is provided with a screw hole 812 to be screwed with a screw 813. The stator 82 is an elongated cylindrical rod, and both ends of the stator 82 are inserted through the elastic combining holes 811 of the two vertical fixing seats 81 in such a manner that the stator 82 is suspended. After the screw 813 is screwed in the screw hole 812, both ends of the stator 82 can be locked by the elastic combining holes 811. The mover 83 is arranged on a portion of the stator 82 between the two vertical fixing seats 81. The mover 83 is provided for placement of devices and controlling the movement of the devices.
The mover 83 drives the devices to move along the stator 82 in such a way that the stator 82 serve as a principal supporting member besides a rail. The stator 82 generally has a great length and made of a material with toughness and flexibility, and only two ends of the stator 82 are supported by the vertical fixing seats 81, so that the stator 82 will bend after a long time of bearing a load, as shown in FIG. 8, the farther the load is from the two vertical fixing seats 81, the more obvious the bending deformation of the stator 82 will be, thus affecting the movement precision of the mover 83 and consequentially increasing the error of the measurement and finished products.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

Anti-deformation mechanism for an axial rod motor


A mechanism is provided for improving the performance of particular database queries operating on a view comprising binary-encoded XML. A determination is made about whether a XML index is available to improve the computation of XPath data before deriving an optimized execution plan for a particular query. When a XML index is not available to help expedite the computation of binary-encoded XML, then deferring the computation of the XPath data until after the view merge stage avoids unnecessary computation of XPaths that are part of the view but not needed for the particular query.

Various types of storage mechanisms are used to store a XML document. One type of storage mechanism stores a XML document as a text file in a file system. Another type of mechanism for storing XML documents is a database server. In a database server, a XML document may be stored in a row of a table and nodes of the XML document are stored in separate columns in the row. An entire XML document may also be stored in a lob (large object) in a column. A XML document may also be stored as a hierarchy of objects in a database; each object is an instance of an object class and stores one or more elements of a XML document. Tables and/or objects of a database system that hold XML values are referred to herein as base tables or objects.
Such database servers include many mechanisms that allow for powerful and efficient ways to query large collections of XML documents. Database servers that store XML documents may be enhanced to efficiently perform XML operations using these mechanisms. One such type of XML operation is to execute queries over collections of XML documents using XML query languages, such as XQuery/XPath. XML Query Language ("XQuery") and XML Path Language ("XPath") are important standards for a query language, which can be used in conjunction with SQL to express a large variety of useful queries. The term XML query is used to refer to queries that conform to (1) XQuery, XPath, and/or another XML language standard, (2) queries including SQL queries that may embed XQuery or XPath expressions, and (3) proprietary dialects of XQuery, XPath, SQL, or XML standard languages. When a database server receives a XML query, the database server may perform a XML rewrite to refer to the underlying base tables and database objects that store the XML data.

Mechanism for deferred rewrite of multiple XPath evaluations over binary XML


A method for reinforcing or repairing a pipe pulls a liner assembly with a flexible smooth bore liner and a semi-rigid helix that gives non-collapsible characteristics within the damaged pipe for both linear pipe sections and curved pipe sections. The existing pipe is first cleaned with a specially designed brush with two wooden spheres at each end of the brush to prevent snagging or jamming during brush operations. The liner assembly is then pulled through the total length of the pipe and anchored at each end with retaining sleeves, which are sandwiched and glued within the liner assembly and the inside diameter of the existing pipe.

After years of use, many devices which require water can suffer leaks in the supply pipes, which bring water supply to the area. Typically, the supply pipes are underground pipes. Due to age, the intrusion of roots, placement of heavy loads and shifting of the earth above and around existing piping or a variety of other reasons, underground piping can become damaged, requiring this repair for the resulting leaks. This makes repair thereof difficult. While repair may be accomplished by excavating, removing and replacing the total existing pipe or only damaged sections of the pipe; such procedures are either very time consuming, expensive or even impossible to perform.
As can be seen from FIG. 1, underground polyvinyl chloride piping or plastic specifically used for the circulation of pool water, chiefly the underground main piping system 116 located at the bottom, a deep end of the pool 110, has a tendency to leak during years of operation. These pipes range in sizes with inside diameters of usually 1.5 inches, 2 inches, 3 inches and 4 inches and are imbedded from under the pool bottom, or its adjacent sides (skimmers) to the pump and filter units. Conditioned pool water returns to the pool 110 through the underground main piping system 116 and exits through water jet outlets 120 built below the water line located in the poolside walls. These units are usually housed within a building structure fitted with or without a foundation and with or without concrete flooring 118. Another obstacle is the location of the pool 110 itself. Pools on top or within buildings are unable to be excavated or to use excavating equipment to get to and replace the existing piping 124, which leaks.
During initial construction, a main drain water inlet 122 was built into the deepest section of the pool 110. The main drain water inlet 122 connects one of the underground main piping system 116 needed to transport pool water for proper circulation of chemically treated, heated (if the pool 110 is equipped with a pool heater), and filtration for pool water clarity. Skimmers (not shown) are located in the pool walls partially submerged at the water line to skim any debris from the pool water surface and to transport the debris and water it ingests to the pump house 118 through underground return lines. These lines are also susceptible to leakage. The pump house 118 heats, filters, and chlorinates the water and returns the conditioned water back to the pool 110 through other underground piping (not shown). This return piping is also susceptible to leakage while exiting through wall mounted outlet jets 120 located in the sides of pool 110 below the water line.
Hot tubs and Jacuzzis also have potential pipe leakage problems that take extensive time, labor and materials to repair such leaks including the renovation of the surrounding area to its original state. It thus becomes critical to simplify this repair process.
Natural gas pipes made of galvanized, metal pipe are also a major problem. The interior of the galvanized pipe corrodes relatively quickly upon contact with the gas being transited. A large build-up of corrosion restricting gas flow is not uncommon. This restricted gas flow elicits a safety hazard. The initial demand for gas from a restricted gas line has the tendency to starve off and snuff out gas pilot lights located in appliances such as ovens, stoves and gas water heaters without the knowledge by the user of the pilot being extinguished. The present process to repair this quandary is to insert a straight rigid plastic sleeve into the existing pipe. The difficulty exists if there is the slightest turn or bend in the pipe being repaired. At that locality, the existing pipe has to be excavated in order to be repaired.
It is not uncommon for electricians to bury plastic (Polyvinyl chloride) pipe ranging from 1.5 inches to four inches in inside diameter to house exposed individual or bundled electrical wiring. At times, high water tables along with damaged pipe containing above-mentioned wiring become submersed or saturated with ground or influent water. This problem can be difficult to solve, even with excavation to access these pipes. Many solutions of the above-mentioned problems have been sought, but no previous solution has been regarded as fully viable.
Previous repair mechanisms mainly repair only straight piping with minimal if any curves. Previous devices, especially to solve this curve problem are too elaborate and mostly consist of expensive machinery, such as abrasive blasting machines, to prepare the existing pipe for liner adhesion. Adhesive, epoxy or resin tanks for mixing and distribution to line the damaged pipe after the sand blasting are mandatory and complicated.
Compressed air along with steam or heat producing machines are also implemented to clean the damaged line or to adhere the resin impregnated liner to the inside diameter of the damaged line after it had been set into place. Curing also has to take place after the impregnation process is complete. This leads to excessive down time and man-hours playing a major role to install resin impregnated liners and other similar systems.
Another usual method of repair is therefore still to excavate the damaged area or the total length of the damaged pipe if able, or to tear down and restore existing structures such as bathrooms or indoor pools and Jacuzzis. This results in great expense and trouble along with down time of the existing unit as the damaged pipe is supporting the day-to-day operations of the existing unit. Thus, any method or device, which minimizes the down time and speeds up the repair offers great advantages.

Method and device for repairing or reinforcing an underground pipe


A variable aperture X-ray collimating device that fits over existing intraoral radiographic sensor positioners enables clinicians to provide radiation protection for their patients while allowing the flexibility to accommodate various commercially available positioning kits. In addition, the variable aperture allows for easy accommodation of various sensor sizes.

The rectangular collimator is a dental device that has been used in conjunction with external positioning devices intended to give proper geometric alignment between the X-ray generator, the patient's teeth and the X-ray film or digital radiographic sensor. The purpose of the rectangular collimator is to restrict the size of the X-ray beam to approximately the size of the imaging field of the film or sensor. This protects the patient against unnecessary radiation exposure and improves image quality by reducing side scatter.
Such devices also improve image quality by reducing X-ray side scatter from anatomic structures outside the imaging field of view but within the uncollimated X-ray beam.
The main deficiency in the current design of all rectangular collimating devices is the user's inability to adjust the size of the rectangular opening to match that of the actual X-ray film or digital sensor size to minimize the non-imaging patient X-ray exposure.
There are three common sizes of intra oral x-ray film or digital sensors commonly used in dentistry: Size 0, size 1, and size 2. The existing rectangular collimators are usually slightly larger than the size 2 X-ray film or digital sensor.
A rectangular collimating device with the adjustability for the three different size imaging fields would further reduce the patient's X-radiation exposure by matching the rectangular opening of the collimator to the specific film or sensor size used.

Apparatus and method for retrofitting an intraoral radiology positioning device with a rectangular collimation device


An apparatus for partitioning, scaling and displaying video and/or graphics across several display devices includes a video source, a master device and multiple display devices arranged into a multiple display configuration. Preferably, the master device partitions the video stream into image sections and assigns each display device a corresponding image section based on its position within the multiple display configuration. Each display device then preferably receives the video stream and separates the data representing the corresponding image section. Preferably, once the data for the corresponding image section is separated, the display devices then scale their respective image sections to a full screen size image and display the scaled image simultaneously with the display of the entire frame on all display devices within the multiple display configuration. In an alternative embodiment, the master device is responsible for partitioning the video stream into image sections, scaling the image sections, encoding the scaled image sections and transmitting the scaled and encoded image sections to the appropriate display devices within the multiple display configuration. The display devices then simultaneously display the image at an appropriate time based on information in the video stream or as specified by the master device. This process is repeated for each frame within the video stream. In a further alternate embodiment, the multiple display configuration includes a combination of display devices capable of physically partitioning an image section from the video stream and display devices to which the master device partitions, scales, encodes and transmits the image for display.

The present invention relates to the field of displaying video and graphics on display devices. The present invention relates to the field of coordinating the display of video and graphics across several display devices.
The IEEE 1394-1995 standard, xe2x80x9c1394 Standard For A High Performance Serial Bus,xe2x80x9d is an international standard for implementing an inexpensive high-speed serial bus architecture which supports both asynchronous and isochronous format data transfers. In addition, the IEEE 1394-1995 bus has a universal clock called the cycle timer. This clock is synchronized on all nodes. Isochronous data transfers are real-time transfers which take place based on the universal clock such that the time intervals between significant instances have the same duration at both the transmitting and receiving applications. Each packet of data transferred isochronously is transferred in its own time period. An example of an ideal application for the transfer of data isochronously would be from a video recorder to a television set.
The video recorder records images and sounds and saves the data in discrete chunks or packets. The video recorder then transfers each packet, representing the image and sound recorded over a limited time period, during that time period, for display by the television set. The IEEE 1394-1995 standard bus architecture provides multiple independent channels for isochronous data transfer between applications. A six bit channel number is broadcast with the data to ensure reception by the appropriate application. This allows multiple applications to simultaneously transmit isochronous data across the bus structure. Asynchronous transfers are traditional reliable data transfer operations which take place as soon as arbitration is won and transfer a maximum amount of data from a source to a destination.
The IEEE 1394-1995 standard provides a high-speed serial bus for interconnecting digital devices thereby providing a universal I/O connection. The IEEE 1394-1995 standard defines a digital interface for the application thereby eliminating the need for an application to convert digital data to analog data before it is transmitted across the bus. Correspondingly, a receiving application will receive digital data from the bus, not analog data, and will therefore not be required to convert analog data to digital data. The cable required by the IEEE 1394-1995 standard is very thin in size compared to other bulkier cables used to connect such devices in other connection schemes. Devices can be added and removed from an IEEE 1394-1995 bus while the bus is operational. If a device is so added or removed the bus will then automatically reconfigure itself for transmitting data between the then existing nodes. A node is considered a logical entity with a unique address on the bus structure. Each node provides in a standard address space, an identification ROM, a standardized set of control registers and in addition, its own address space.
The IEEE 1394-1995 standard defines a protocol as illustrated in FIG. 1. This protocol includes a serial bus management block 10 coupled to a transaction layer 12, a link layer 14 and a physical layer 16. The physical layer 16 provides the electrical and mechanical connection between a device and the IEEE 1394-1995 cable. The physical layer 16 also provides arbitration to ensure that all devices coupled to the IEEE 1394-1995 bus have arbitrated access to the bus as well as actual data transmission and reception. The link layer 14 provides data packet delivery service for both asynchronous and isochronous data packet transport. This supports both asynchronous data transport, using an acknowledgement protocol, and isochronous data transport, providing an un-acknowledged real-time guaranteed bandwidth protocol for just-in-time data delivery. The transaction layer 12 supports the commands necessary to complete asynchronous data transfers, including read, write and lock. The serial bus management block 10 contains an isochronous resource manager for managing isochronous data transfers. The serial bus management block 10 also provides overall configuration control of the serial bus in the form of optimizing arbitration timing, guarantee of adequate electrical power for all devices on the bus, assignment of the cycle master, assignment of isochronous channel and bandwidth resources and basic notification of errors.
In commercially available display systems, it is perceived that the larger the display, the greater the user experience. Accordingly, home theater systems and professional display environments can benefit from large display devices. However, there are limits to the physical size of display devices. Alternatives such as projection systems either do not provide the necessary quality of image or are not feasible for various logistical or expense reasons. An alternative means of achieving a large display system is to scale the video stream across many discrete display devices. Wall-of-video configurations include multiple display devices arranged together to present a video presentation.
The IEEE 1394-1995 standard has been chosen as the industry standard for connecting upcoming generations of audio/video and information technology devices, including digital televisions. When transmitting a digital video stream across an IEEE 1394-1995 network to multiple display devices on a given isochronous channel, conventionally, each display device receiving the given isochronous channel will display the full contents of the stream. In such a configuration, instead of achieving a single display of the video image across multiple display devices, the entire video image is displayed on each display device within the configuration. Currently, there is no known system which controls the partitioning of a video stream across multiple display devices within a wall-of-video configuration.
An apparatus for partitioning, scaling and displaying video and/or graphics across several display devices includes a video source, a master device and multiple display devices arranged into a multiple display configuration. Preferably, the master device partitions the video stream into image sections and assigns each display device a corresponding image section based on its position within the multiple display configuration. Each display device then preferably receives the video stream and separates the data representing the corresponding image section. Preferably, once the data for the corresponding image section is separated, the display devices then scale their respective image sections to a full screen size image and display the scaled image simultaneously with the display of the entire frame on all display devices within the multiple display configuration. In an alternative embodiment, the master device is responsible for partitioning the video stream into image sections, scaling the image sections, encoding the scaled image sections and transmitting the scaled and encoded image sections to the appropriate display devices within the multiple display configuration. The display devices then simultaneously display the image at an appropriate time based on information in the video stream or as specified by the master device. This process is repeated for each frame within the video stream. In a further alternate embodiment, the multiple display configuration includes a combination of display devices capable of physically partitioning an image section from the video stream and display devices to which the master device partitions, scales, encodes and transmits the image for display.
In one aspect of the invention, a method of displaying images on a multiple display configuration including a plurality of display devices includes the steps of determining capabilities and characteristics of the display devices, partitioning an image into a plurality of image sections each corresponding to a display device within the multiple display configuration, assigning each image section to a corresponding display device, capturing each image section corresponding to each display device from an original data stream, scaling each image section for each display device thereby forming scaled image sections corresponding to each display device and displaying the corresponding scaled image sections at each display device at an appropriate time thereby forming a magnified image across the multiple display configuration representing the image. The method further includes the steps of determining display dimensions of the multiple display configuration, determining image dimensions of the image and calculating a size of each image section. The method further includes the steps of determining a latency value for each of the display devices, determining a worst case latency value for the display devices and communicating the worst case latency value to each of the display devices. The corresponding scaled image section represents a full screen of data for the display device. The steps of capturing and scaling are preferably performed by each display device on the appropriate image section corresponding to the display device. Alternatively, the steps of capturing and scaling are performed by a master device on each appropriate image section. The method further includes the step of encoding each scaled image section into an encoded data stream representing the scaled image section. The step of encoding includes updating a display time value within the encoded data stream. The method further includes the step of transmitting the encoded data stream in a format across a high speed serial interface, wherein the format is a selective one of an MPEG format and a DV format and the high speed serial interface is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network. The encoded data stream for each display device is transmitted over a separate isochronous channel. This method further includes the step of transmitting each scaled image section to each appropriate display device. The step of transmitting alternatively includes combining data representing the scaled image section for an appropriate display device in a stream of data packets, each including an address value corresponding to a memory location within the appropriate display device. The method further includes the step of transmitting a trigger packet on occurrence of a trigger event, the trigger packet including a trigger address value corresponding to a trigger memory location within the appropriate display device. The trigger packet includes a trigger bit, which when written into the trigger memory location, signals that storage of a current scaled image section for display by the appropriate display device is complete. The data packets are preferably isochronous packets. The trigger packet further includes a presentation time value specifying a display time of the scaled image section. The method further includes the step of transmitting the original data stream to each appropriate display device over a high speed serial interface. The high speed serial interface is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network. The original data stream includes a selective one or more of video, graphics and text.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of transmitting images to display devices within a multiple display configuration includes the steps of logically partitioning an image into a plurality of image sections each corresponding to a display device within the multiple display configuration, instructing each display device to physically partition and capture an appropriate image section corresponding to the display device from an original data stream and transmitting the original data stream to each display device. The method further includes the steps of determining display dimensions of the multiple display configuration, determining image dimensions of the image and calculating a size of each image section. The method further includes the steps of determining a latency value for each of the display devices, determining a worst case latency value for the display devices and communicating the worst case latency value to each of the display devices. The method further includes the step of instructing each display device to display its appropriate image section at an appropriate time. The appropriate time is based on the worst case latency. The step of transmitting is completed over a high speed serial interface. The high speed serial interface is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network. The original data stream includes a selective one or more of video, graphics and text.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of receiving images at a display device includes the steps of receiving instructions specifying an appropriate image section within an image to receive, capturing the appropriate image section for each image within an original data stream, scaling the appropriate image section for each image within the original data stream thereby forming a corresponding scaled image section and displaying the corresponding scaled image section at an appropriate time. The corresponding scaled image section represents a full screen of data for the display device. The method further includes the step of receiving the original data stream over a high speed serial interface. The high speed serial interface is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of displaying images on a multiple display configuration including a plurality of display devices and a master device includes the steps of partitioning an image into a plurality of image sections each corresponding to a display device within the multiple display configuration, assigning each image section to a corresponding display device, capturing each image section corresponding to each display device from an original data stream at the master device, scaling each image section for each display device thereby forming scaled image sections corresponding to each display device at the master device, transmitting each scaled image section to each appropriate display device and displaying the corresponding scaled image sections at each display device at an appropriate time thereby forming a magnified image across the multiple display configuration representing the image. The method further includes the step of encoding each scaled image section into an encoded data stream representing the scaled image section, before the step of transmitting is completed. The step of encoding includes updating a display time value within the encoded data stream. The step of transmitting includes transmitting the encoded data stream in a selective one of an MPEG format and DV format across an IEEE 1394 serial bus network. Alternatively, the step of transmitting includes combining data representing the scaled image section for an appropriate display device in a stream of data packets, each including an address value corresponding to a memory location within the appropriate display device. The method further includes the step of transmitting a trigger packet on occurrence of a trigger event, the trigger packet including a trigger address value corresponding to a trigger memory location within the appropriate display device. The trigger packet includes a trigger bit, which when written into the trigger memory location, signals that storage of a current scaled image section for display by the appropriate display device is complete. The data packets are preferably isochronous packets. The trigger packet further includes a presentation time value specifying a display time of the scaled image section. The step of transmitting is performed over a high speed serial interface. The high speed serial interface is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network. The method further includes the steps of determining display dimensions of the multiple display configuration, determining image dimensions of the image and calculating a size of each image section. The corresponding scaled image section represents a full screen of data for the display device. The original data stream includes a selective one or more of video, graphics and text.
In yet another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for configuring and controlling the display of images on a multiple display configuration including a plurality of display devices includes a communications circuit configured for receiving and transmitting data and a control circuit coupled to the communications circuit for partitioning an image into a plurality of image sections each corresponding to a display device within the multiple display configuration, and assigning each image section to a corresponding display device. The control circuit further communicates through the communications circuit to provide instructions to the display devices to configure the display devices to each capture, scale and display an appropriate image section at an appropriate time. The apparatus further includes a capturing circuit coupled to the communications circuit for capturing each image section corresponding to each display device from an original data stream. The apparatus further includes a scaling circuit coupled to the capturing circuit for scaling each captured image section for each display device thereby forming scaled image sections corresponding to each display device. The apparatus further includes an encoding circuit coupled to the scaling circuit and to the communications circuit for encoding the scaled image sections thereby forming encoded image sections and transmitting the encoded image sections to each appropriate display device. The communications circuit is coupled to the display devices by a high speed serial interface. The high speed serial interface is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a display for receiving and displaying images within a multiple display configuration includes a communications circuit configured for receiving and transmitting data, a capturing circuit coupled to the communications circuit for capturing an image section assigned to the display for each image within an original data stream, a scaling circuit coupled to the capturing circuit for scaling each captured image section thereby forming a scaled image section and a display circuit coupled to the scaling circuit for displaying the scaled image section. The display circuit displays the scaled image section at an appropriate time specified by a master device. The scaled image section represents a full screen of data for the display device. The communications circuit is coupled to a master device and to other display devices within the multiple display configuration by a high speed serial interface. The high speed serial interface is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network. The original data stream includes a selective one or more of video, graphics and text.
In still yet another aspect of the invention, a multiple display configuration system includes a plurality of display devices each including a display communications circuit configured for receiving and transmitting data, a capturing circuit coupled to the display communications circuit for capturing an image section assigned to the display for each image within an original data stream, a scaling circuit coupled to the capturing circuit for scaling each captured image section thereby forming a scaled image section and a display circuit coupled to the scaling circuit for displaying the scaled image section and a master device coupled to the plurality of display devices including a master communications circuit configured for receiving and transmitting data and a control circuit coupled to the master communications circuit for partitioning an image into a plurality of image sections each corresponding to one of the display devices and assigning each image section to a corresponding display device. The multiple display configuration further includes a video source coupled to the display devices and to the master device for providing a video stream as the original data stream to be displayed on the display devices. The display circuit displays the scaled image section at an appropriate time specified by the master device. The scaled image section represents a full screen of data for the display device. The display devices and the master device are all coupled together by a high speed serial interface. The high speed serial interface is an IEEE 1394 serial bus network. The original data stream includes a selective one or more of video, graphics and text.

Method of and apparatus for partitioning, scaling and displaying video and/or graphics across several display devices


Technologies are generally described for controlling remote display. In some examples, a method for controlling a remote display device using a handheld computing device includes receiving, by a handheld computing device, one or more data from one or more remote display devices over a wireless communication network, selecting a remote display device based on the received data and sending a control signal to the selected remote display device.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Portable electronic devices, including hand-held devices such as cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), by their nature have limited display capabilities primarily due to the small size of the display screen. Recent prevalent use and availability of public display devices, combined with the ubiquitous availability of high-speed network connectivity, contribute to the increased demand by portable electronic device users for displays having better resolution and larger size. In order to use a public display device, the user needs access to a suitable input device such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch screen interface, etc. In order to control the display device. However, for various reasons including economic and sanitary reasons, it is not feasible for the public display devices to have associated input devices.


The disclosure defined by this invention relates to an electronic control facility for a stairlift. The control facility includes an installation mode in which a number of steps to be undertaken at the time of installation of the stairlift are defined. The control facility also includes a user mode in which the operation of the stairlift is controlled by a user. According to the invention, the control facility is configured so that the user mode cannot be entered until all steps in the installation mode have been completed.

A stairlift is a safety-critical device widely installed in private homes and used by persons who typically have some form of physical disability and no particular technical training. It is therefore important that a stairlift is installed correctly and is functioning correctly when the technician effecting the installation leaves the installation site. This is all the more so because, unlike some safety-critical devices which require inspection by an independent person prior to being approved for use, the installing technician is also the individual who approves the device for use.
At present the installer will typically work to a check-list which itemises the individual checks that should be made at the time of installation. However, if a particular check is overlooked, there is no indication of this and no prevention against it occurring.
It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus for a stairlift which will go at least some way in addressing the aforementioned problem; or which will at least provide a novel and useful choice.


A static mixer for the through-mixing of a flow in a line conducting the flow, more preferably of an exhaust system of a combustion engine with several guide vanes. To create adequate through-mixing at low flow velocity and a through-flow resistance that is not too high at high flow velocity, the guide vanes are produced of a shape memory alloy wherein below a predetermined limit temperature the guide vanes have at least one low-temperature shape and above the limit temperature the guide vanes have at least one high-temperature shape, which differs from the low-temperature shape through a reduced through-flow resistance of the mixer.

In many technical fields it is required to homogenize a multi-phase flow. To this end, a mixer can be arranged in a stationary manner in a line conducting the flow, through which mixer the flow flows and in the process mixes the individual phases of the flow, which leads to the desired homogenization. Such a mixer arranged in a stationary manner subjected to a through flow is also described as static mixer. The static mixer can for example be used for the mixing of a flow having two or more fluid phases. For example, it can be that two different gases or two different liquids have to be thoroughly mixed. It is likewise conceivable to thoroughly mix at least one liquid phase with at least one gas phase, wherein at the same time the aim can be an evaporation of the liquid phase.
With modern exhaust systems a reduction of nitric oxides can be realized with the help of an SCR-catalytic converter in connection with a reduction agent fed to the exhaust gas flow. A suitable reduction agent for example is ammonia, which is preferably fed to the hot exhaust gas in liquid form in the form of a watery urea solution. In particular, the watery urea solution is injected into the exhaust gas flow. Up to the SCR-catalytic converter the injected urea solution is to be completely evaporated and homogeneously distributed in the exhaust gas flow in order to be able to realize the desired reduction of the nitric oxides. In order for this evaporation and homogenization to be realisable over as short as possible a distance, static mixers can be employed. The respective static mixer is then positioned downstream of an injection device for injecting the reduction agent and upstream of the SCR-catalytic converter.
Another possible application arises during the regeneration of particle filters, which for this purpose have to be heated to a self-igniting temperature of the deposited particles. For this purpose, an oxidation catalytic converter can be arranged upstream of the respective particle filter with which fuel can be exothermically converted, which for this purpose is injected upstream through nozzles. Because of this, the exhaust gas is greatly heated and the exhaust gas then transports the heat to the particle filter located downstream in order to heat the latter. For this application, too, mixing and evaporation of the nozzle-injected fuel with the exhaust gas is advantageous.
The use of such mixers in the exhaust system however is problematic. In order to be able to achieve an adequate homogenization even with relatively low exhaust temperatures and comparatively low flow velocities the mixer must possess a particularly high effectiveness which however is accompanied by a comparatively high through-flow resistance. At higher flow velocities, this leads to a considerable drop in power of the combustion engine. In addition it can be advantageous to arrange guide vanes of the mixer in the cross section that can be subjected to the through-flow so that in a projection of the guide vanes orientated parallel to the line longitudinal direction it is largely covered. In this manner, the risk for example of a droplet strike-through at low exhaust gas temperatures can be reduced. Such a largely "view-tight" arrangement of the guide vanes likewise results in a high through-flow resistance.
From DE 10 2008 017 395 A1 such a static mixer for the mixing of a flow in a line conducting the flow, particularly of an exhaust system of a combustion engine, is known, which comprises several guide vanes which with the known mixer are produced of usual steel plate.

Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GMBH & CO. KG


A motion estimation apparatus and method is disclosed. The apparatus includes a block error calculator to calculate a specified block error based on a candidate motion vector previously estimated and spatiotemporarily neighboring on a present block; a motion estimation mode decider to decide a motion estimation mode for the present block to be processed based on the calculated block error; and a motion vector estimator to estimate a last motion vector in the decided motion estimation mode.

1. Field of the Invention
An aspect of the present invention relates to a motion estimation apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a motion estimation apparatus and method that extracts an even motion vector with a high reliability even in a video format conversion technology.
2. Description of the Related Art
In image processing operations, such as frame rate up-conversion (FRC) and interlaced to progressive conversion (IPC), motion estimation between image frames is necessarily performed.
A motion estimation technology estimates a motion vector for motion compensation, and is one of the most core technologies to improve picture quality in various video-processing systems. In general, motion estimation is performed using a block matching algorithm.
The block matching algorithm compares two sequentially inputted frames and fields in the unit of a block, and estimates one motion vector per block. The motion vector is estimated using a motion prediction error value, for example, a sum of absolute difference values (SAD values), and, in a motion compensation process, the motion compensation is performed using the estimated motion vector.
Recently, the motion estimation technology has been widely used in noise reduction operations based on motion compensation, an image compression based on motion compensated prediction, and a video format conversion using motion compensated interpolation.
In the image compression technology based on the motion compensated prediction, a motion estimation technology is mainly used to eliminate temporal redundancy between frames of a moving image.
On the contrary, in the video format conversion technology, the motion estimation technology is used to interpolate and create image data in a spatiotemporal position that has not been stored or transmitted. Therefore, the video format conversion technology requires the motion estimation technology to extract an even motion vector with a high reliability in comparison to the image compression technology.


A flash memory device and an erase method thereof are included. The erase method includes performing an erase operation of a memory cell block including a plurality of pages, performing an erase verify operation and storing unerased page information about a page including unerased memory cells that have not been normally erased, and performing an additional erase operation of the page including the unerased memory cells based on the unerased page information. When the unerased memory cells exist, the erase verify operation and the additional erase operation are performed repeatedly.

The present invention relates to a flash memory device and an erase method thereof and, more particularly, to a flash memory device in which threshold voltage distributions of erased memory cells can be narrowed and an erase method thereof.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating an erase method of a conventional flash memory. The flash memory device includes a memory cell array 10, a block switch 20 and a X-decoder 30. The memory cell array 10 includes a plurality of memory cell blocks 11 (only one memory cell block is illustrated for convenience sake). Each of the memory cell blocks 11 includes a plurality of cell strings S0 to Sn. Each of the cell strings S0 to Sn includes a drain select transistor DST, a plurality of memory cells F0 to Fi and a source select transistor SST all of which are connected in series. The drain select transistors DST included in the respective cell strings S0 to Sn are connected to corresponding bit lines BL0 to BLn, and the source select transistors SST included in the respective cell strings S0 to Sn are connected in parallel to a common source line CSL.
The X-decoder 30 outputs a block select signal BSLk to select one of the plurality of memory cell blocks according to an address signal ADD.
The block switch 20 includes a plurality of NMOS transistors M0 to Mi+2. The plurality of NMOS transistors M0 to Mi+2 operate according to the block select signal BSLk of the X-decoder 30, and transfer voltages, applied through global word lines GWL and global select lines GDSL and GSSL, to the drain select line DSL, the word lines WL0 to WLi and the source select line SSL of a selected memory cell block 11.
An erase method of the conventional flash memory is described in detail below. An erase operation is carried out per memory cell block. One memory cell block 11 of the plurality of memory cell blocks is selected according to the address signal ADD applied to the X-decoder 30. 0V is applied to the word lines WL0 to WLi of the selected memory cell block 11, and a high voltage of about 20V is applied to a well of the memory cell block 11 for about 1.4 ms. Thus, the voltages of the drain select line DSL and the source select line SSL are boosted to about 20V due to capacitance coupling with the well. Further, threshold voltage distributions for the memory cells within the memory cell block 11 are moved from positive distributions to negative distributions by means of a high voltage difference between the word lines WL0 to WLi and the well.
An erase verify operation is performed once per memory cell block. To this end, an erase pulse should be long enough to sufficiently erase all cells F0 to Fi within the memory cell block 11. However, the memory cells erase at different speeds within the memory cell block 11, and threshold voltages after erase can vary widely. Further, an erase operation time can become long, and an interference influence occurring due to capacitance coupling between cells. In particular, it serves as an obstacle to degrade reliability of the operation in devices requiring narrow threshold voltage distributions as in multi-level cells.

Flash memory device and erase method thereof


A computer integrated communication system for restaurants that includes a central server and a series of table units and staff units. The table and staff units each include a display and wireless communication device that enables customer request information and other communications to be sent from the table unit to the staff units either directly or by first being passed through the central server unit. The central server further can monitor the communications and direct the request to another staff member or management for action in the event of delays or other problems with the customer's request.

Customer service is a particular concern in the restaurant industry where competition for customers is tight. Poor service or repeated problems can lead to an unpleasant dining experience, resulting in the loss of business and the development of a poor reputation for the restaurant. One of the primary causes of many service problems is the inability of patrons to quickly and easily communicate with their waiter/waitress or manager, especially when the restaurant is busy, or, when due to lack of staffing or other problems, a waiter or waitress has responsibility for tables in different areas of the restaurant, possibly on opposite ends of the restaurant. As a result, waiters and waitresses can get too busy to monitor each of their tables on a regular basis. In addition, difficult or demanding customers who monopolize a large portion of the waiter or waitress' time further compound this problem. As a consequence, patrons will be frustrated with their inability to contact and communicate with their waiter or waitress for even simple requests such as drink refills. Such frustrations lead to dissatisfaction on the part of the customer, which at times requires the intervention of the manager to try to salvage the situation and placate the dissatisfied customers such as by offering free food or "comping" all or part of the customers meal.
Most restaurants further inherently operate inefficiently as a result of the necessity for the wait-staff having to spend much of their time gathering and distributing information. For example, waiters repeatedly visit tables to ask if the customers have any requests, if they are ready to order, ready for their check, to advise them how their order is progressing, etc. The wait-staff typically takes and records the customer's orders on paper, after which orders are then walked to the kitchen or central services stand for input to the cooking staff. In more technologically advanced restaurants, computers are used to keep track of orders and inventory. But even in these cases there are many inefficiencies. For example, most waiters generally still take the orders using a pad and pen, after which they walk over to the data entry device, such as a PC, to enter the order into the restaurant computer system. Such a method of order taking is still inefficient and results in occasional order errors. Furthermore, the cooking staff has no effective way to inform the waiter that an order has been prepared and is ready to serve. Thus orders generally must sit and wait until the waiter comes into the kitchen to check the order. These delays extend the time that customers spend at the restaurant and prevent the restaurant from using the table to serve new customers.
Restaurants additionally lack accurate operational data to guide management for making decisions. Presently, the industry does not appear to have an integrated system to collect data concerning customer satisfaction, inventory levels, available seating wait times, employee performance and general information concerning the operation of the restaurant. For example, restaurants presently collect customer satisfaction information by asking customers to fill out response cards at the table or contracting with a firm to call customers at home. Both of these methods have problems. If the customer completes the response card at the table, it will then need to be reviewed and processed to generate statistical information that will be useful to the restaurants management. If the customer satisfaction information is gathered later by calling the customers, the information becomes less precise because significant time has elapsed between the dining experience and the gathering of the data.
Restaurants thus, generally lack a good way of measuring employee performance, particularly in restaurants staffed by young people with little work experience, leaving some employees to pull more than their share of the workload, while others are under performing. If an employee is providing poor service or has a bad attitude, it may go unnoticed by management. This can cost restaurants a loss of customers who may choose to never visit the restaurant again rather than report the problem to a manager. Similarly, the inability to accurately determine how fast tables are being turned, poses a problem for restaurants. Quite often, all the available seats in a restaurant will be occupied and customers put on a waiting list, with the hostess or manager being left to guess as to the wait times. If wait times are overestimated, the restaurant may lose business from customers perceiving the wait to be too long and leaving. If the time is underestimated the customer becomes frustrated by waiting longer than the estimated time.
Restaurants also need ways to better tailor advertisements to their customer. Most advertisements that are used presently, generally are somewhat generic in nature and tend to be less effective than advertisements that designed to fit the customer. For example, restaurants typically use point-of-sale signs or cards provided by the vendor to advertise beer or other alcoholic beverages, which ads typically have little, or possibly a negative effect, on customers with children who are visiting at breakfast or lunch. Furthermore, most advertisements are not timed to correspond with the purchasing choices being made, but instead are static and cannot be easily changed to fit the customer(s). For instance, restaurants often place cards on the table showing the special meals of the day. This advertisement becomes useless after the customer has placed their food order, whereupon the restaurant needs to promote the sale of deserts or drinks.
Accordingly, it can be seen that the need exists for an integrated system that streamlines communications between workers, provides accurate real time information, enables the delivery of tailored and timely advertisements and improves customer satisfaction.

Computer integrated communication system for restaurants


A cooling jacket for an electric motor and a motor unit with a cooling jacket mounted on an electric motor having simple structure and capable of being manufactured with reduced number of processes. A cooling pipe made of copper and the like is bent, and held by plate members and lid members, and resin having high heat-conductivity is filled in between to form a series of segments of the cooling jacket. Adjacent ones of the segments are connected with each other by connecting members to form the cooling jacket. The plate members are formed to conform with a shape of the electric motor. The series of segments are mounted on an outer surface of the electric motor and gaps between the adjacent segments are adjusted to bring the plate members into close contact with the outer surface of the electric motor. Since the cooling jacket is mounted on the electric motor after finishing the manufacturing of the electric motor, the electric motor is easily provided with cooling structure with reduced number of manufacturing processes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooling jacket for an electric motor and a motor unit having a cooling jacket mounted on an electric motor.
2. Description of Related Art
There have been developed various cooling structures for cooling an electric motor by providing passages of coolant such as water at a circumference of the electric motor.
As one of these structures, a structure for cooling an electric motor by coolant passages formed in an outer casing of the electric motor is known from JP 5-103445A, JP 9-285072A, JP 2002-119019A, for example. Further, an electric motor with cooling structure in which a cooling jacket for flowing coolant is arranged between a frame and a stator core of the electric motor is known from JP 2001-45701A.
In the structure where coolant passages are formed in the outer casing of the electric motor, it is necessary to machine the coolant passages in the casing of the electric motor so that a large number of machining processes is required to increase the manufacturing cost. Regarding the structure where the cooling jacket having coolant passages is arranged between the frame and the stator core, this structure is complicated and requires a large number of manufacturing processes to increase the manufacturing cost.
Further, there is known an electric motor in which a jacket having coolant passages is arranged around a cylindrical outer frame of an electric motor and is fastened at both ends by fasteners to be fit to the outer frame, and liquid synthetic resin mixed with adhesive or aluminum powder is filled between the jacket and the outer frame to expedite heat conduction in between, as disclosed in JP 9-201000A and JP 9-201010A.
In this structure, the jacket has to be prepared specific to the electric motor to increase the manufacturing cost. Further, it is possible to fasten the jacket onto the electric motor having a cylindrical outer frame in close contact therewith, but it is difficult to fasten the jacket closely onto an outer frame of a shape other than a cylindrical shape. Even in a case of the electric motor having the cylindrical frame, if the jacket abuts on the outer frame not evenly, close contact of the jacket and the outer frame is greatly decreased.

Cooling jacket and motor unit with cooling jacket


In order to improve a cable, comprising an inner cable body, in which at least one conductor strand of an optical and/or electrical conductor runs in the longitudinal direction of the cable, an outer cable sheath, enclosing the inner cable body and lying between an outer sheath surface of the cable and the inner cable body, and at least one information carrier unit, disposed within the outer sheath surface of the cable such that the cable also comprises a shielding, the invention proposes that the information carrier unit having an antenna unit lying in an antenna surface running approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cable, by the antenna surface running at a distance from an electrical shielding of the cable and by providing, between the antenna surface and the shielding, a spacing layer, in which the electromagnetic field that couples to the antenna unit and passes through the antenna surface can extend between the antenna unit and the shielding.

The invention relates to a cable, comprising an inner cable body, in which at least one conductor strand of an optical and/or electrical conductor runs in the longitudinal direction of the cable, an outer cable sheath, enclosing the inner cable body and lying between an outer sheath surface of the cable and the inner cable body, and at least one information carrier unit, disposed within the outer sheath surface of the cable.
Such cables are known from the prior art. In the case of these known solutions, however, the inner cable body is not shielded by a shielding in the cable.
It is therefore an object of the invention to improve a cable of the type described at the beginning in such a way that it also has a shielding.


The present disclosure provides a vertically retractable magnet field assembly for a Magnetic Imaging Resonance (MRI) system. The assembly can move from an upward raised position to a downward retracted position, and vice versa. The assembly includes a magnet configured with a bore for imaging a body portion of a subject. The bore defines an inner surface of the magnet and extends along a longitudinal axis of the magnet. The magnet includes at least one flux generating element disposed within the magnet and oriented such that each of the at least one flux generating element surrounds the bore. Each of the at least one flux generating element is configured to generate a magnetic field for magnetizing the body portion positioned within the bore to generate a visual representation of an anatomy of the body portion.

In the medical field, imaging techniques, such as MRI techniques, are typically used for generating visual representations of an anatomy of a body of a subject (e.g., an animal, a human, etc.) for clinical analysis and medical intervention. The MRI technique generates detailed spatial images of the body, enabling accurate and precise medical diagnosis by a medical practitioner. The MRI technique is typically employed to the subject via MRI scanners or devices.
The MRI scanners generally include a large magnet with a cylindrical tunnel, also called a bore, in which the subject is positioned. The subject is required to remain still for a predetermined duration of time for scanning a body portion. Hence, these MRI scanners are typically employed for human subjects, due to the requirement of subject cooperation. As such, these MRI scanners are unsuitable for imaging subjects such as equines or other animals, since such subjects i.e. animals do not ordinarily cooperate during the MRI scanning. The medical practitioner may, therefore, administer anaesthesia to the animal, for ensuring cooperation during the procedure. Administering anaesthesia to animals may carry significant risk to the health of the animals. Moreover, the dimensions of the MRI scanner may not be sufficiently large for accommodating large animals such as horses and thus the MRI scanner may only be able to scan extremities of limbs of large animals. To imaging horse legs in the human MRI machine, horses needs to undergo general anaesthesia and lay on its side. A typical horse is too big to fit its body into the tunnel. MRI imaging requires the region of interest be positioned at the isocenter of the bore, which typically means 60-80 cm into the tunnel. To image horse hoof or legs, special positioning needs to be considered to have the region of interest as close to the isocenter as possible.
To achieve high image quality, the MRI magnets must be high field strength. The high field magnets are typically made as a cylindrical tube-like structure using superconducting materials. Higher field magnets result in better imaging performance. However, if the bore of the cylindrical magnet is surrounding the leg of a conscious standing animal, the animal is in danger of being injured should it move away suddenly with its leg trapped in the bore of the MRI machine. When imaging a conscious animal, such as a standing horse, one must be ready for the animal to move unpredictably. Particularly a standing horse may get startled and move suddenly.
The high field clinical MRI scanners generally include a large superconducting magnet, consisting of a plurality of flux generating elements made of superconducting wire. The plurality of flux generating elements are required to be maintained below a critical temperature via a suitable cooling system during operation. Traditionally, for maintaining cryogenic operating conditions, the flux generating elements are immersed in a liquid helium bath, whose temperature is maintained by the cooling system. As such, the flux generating elements generate the required magnetic field for magnetizing the body portion of the subject. However, the liquid helium used in the scanners is typically associated with major maintenance issues, such as but not limited to, helium blow-off. In such scenarios, the helium is required to be refilled, which adds to the maintenance of the MRI scanner which is worsened by the repetitive liquid helium global shortage. Additionally, the leaked helium could freeze human tissues instantly and thus, poses serious cold burn hazards. Moreover, the expansion ratio of the helium going from liquid form to gaseous form is about 1:757. As such, in the event of a sudden loss of superconductivity, the helium is subjected to cryogenic boiling and expansion leading to over pressurization of the scanner. The expansion may result in the explosion of the scanner, which is hazardous. Though suitable vent pipes or safety systems may be employed in the scanner for relieving the gaseous helium, such constructions may make the device expensive and cumbersome for maintenance. The superconducting magnets cooled by liquid helium are also called "wet" magnets. In comparison, cryogen-free superconducting magnets, also called "dry" magnets, do not use cryogens such as liquid helium. Compact magnets can be cryogen-free, so that no liquid helium or other liquid cryogens are needed, eliminating the maintenance cost, construction cost, and potential safety issues associated with liquid helium. The "dry" magnet offers the advantages of 1) safe and economical operation; 2) free rotation of magnetic field axes; 3) ease of handling; and 4) compact and light. There is a third in-between magnet option called the cryogen-less superconducting magnet which uses smaller amount of liquid-cryogen for superconducting magnet, compared with the "wet" magnet.
Therefore, there is a need for techniques which can overcome one or more limitations stated above in addition to providing other technical advantages.

Retractable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnet field assembly for an equine MRI system


A pipeline is made by joining a number of pipe sections, each of which includes an inner pipe structure and an outer pipe structure. The outer pipe structure, which may be zinc plated or encased in an protective elastomeric material, includes mating couplings at each end to fasten similar sections together end to end. The inner pipe structure includes a hole extending throughout the pipeline and means for sealing around the hole at each joint. The inner pipe structure is resiliently mounted within the outer pipe structure. The outer pipe structure of each pipe section extends in both directions past the ends of the inner pipe structure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a pipe structure in which an inner pipe is resiliently supported within an outer pipe, and, more particularly, to an improved structure for protecting an inner pipe before, during, and after installation.
2. Background Information
In various applications, composite pipe structures, made up of layers of different materials, have been used to combine the advantages of different materials in providing mechanical strength, resistance to corrosion, thermal insulation, and the like. For example, underground steel pipes have been wrapped or otherwise surrounded by non-metallic materials to prevent the corrosive effects of ground water. Oil well casings, which are formed by strings of steel pipes fastened together and lowered as the well is drilled, are typically protected by cement introduced into the annular space between the outside of the outer wall of the casing and the well bore, to prevent the migration of ground water into the well. In the petroleum industry, concrete inner liners have also been used within pipes handling corrosive liquids, such as oil field brines.
In the construction industry various types of insulation have been wrapped around metal pipes carrying hot and cold fluids, including chilled water lines, hot water lines, and coolant lines in air conditioning systems. Extruded cylinders made from elastomeric resin foams are now widely used in this way.
In the food processing and food transportation industries, glass vessels and glass lined vessels are used extensively, because glass surfaces are chemically inert in such applications. In addition, glass surfaces are preferred because glass does not contain toxic materials which can be leached into food products and because glass can be easily cleaned. Glass containers of well known types are commonly used for the storage and shipment of various types of liquid food products, and glass linings have been used with very large containers, such as, tank trucks for carrying milk or storage tanks for storing milk. The use of glass in such applications avoids corrosive processes known to occur when metallic surfaces are exposed to the weak acids present in many food substances. Such corrosive processes in a unlined metal vessel may result in the release of poisonous by products of corrosion into the food products, in the formation of corroded surfaces of the vessel which cannot be adequately cleaned, and in the ultimate destruction of a vessel.
The alternative use of resinous materials, or plastics, in food processing and transportation has been limited in certain instances by the fact that certain plastic materials may contain dangerous substances which can be leached into the food, and by the fact that, above certain temperatures, such materials may break down to release dangerous substances. Because they are inert to attack from almost all chemical substances, glass vessels and glass lined metal vessels have found practical use in a number of applications in the chemical processing and transportation industries, as well.
While the use of glass piping in food and chemical processing applications offers many advantages, tubular glass is rarely used for anything other than small structures because the brittleness of glass makes large tubes hard to handle and to install, and because a simple method for joining sections of relatively large glass pipe has not been found. Before the many advantages of glass lined piping can be widely used, solutions to the above problems must be found.