An image forming apparatus includes an image density detector, an image forming device, a rotator, an image density controller, and a timing correction data obtainer. The image density detector detects a toner density of an image formed on an image bearing member. An image forming device forms the image using a density adjustable element that adjusts the density of the image. The rotator forms an image pattern while the density adjustable element is changed, and a density thereof is detected by the image density detector. The image density controller controls the image forming device using a density correction data for the density adjustable element corresponding to a rotational period of the rotator. The timing correction data obtainer obtains timing correction data for correction of driving timing of the image forming device based on a change in the density of the image pattern detected by the image density detector.

1. Technical Field
Exemplary aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to an image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a multi-functional system including at least one of these functions, and more particularly to, an image forming apparatus capable of detecting a density of an image and an image forming method.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been known image forming apparatuses using electrophotography in which an image is formed using toner. The known image forming apparatuses, such as copiers, facsimile machines, printers, or multi-functional systems having at least one of copying, printing, scanning, and facsimile capabilities, typically form an image on a recording medium according to image data. Thus, for example, a charger uniformly charges a surface of an image bearing member (which may, for example, be a photosensitive drum); an optical writer projects a light beam onto the charged surface of the image bearing member to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member according to the image data; a development device supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member to render the electrostatic latent image visible as a toner image; the toner image is directly transferred from the image bearing member onto a recording medium or is indirectly transferred from the image bearing member onto a recording medium via an intermediate transfer member; a cleaning device then cleans the surface of the image carrier after the toner image is transferred from the image carrier onto the recording medium; finally, a fixing device applies heat and pressure to the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image to fix the unfixed toner image on the recording medium, thus forming the image on the recording medium.
In recent years, such image forming apparatuses have spread throughout printing industries, and demand for higher output speed and higher image quality has been increasing rapidly. The demand for higher image quality includes a strong demand for density uniformity within a page, i.e., uniformity in density of an image formed on a recording medium, such as a sheet of paper. Uniform density within a page has become one criterion that users use to select an image forming apparatus. It is therefore important to minimize uneven density in a page.
Uneven density is caused by various elements, such as uneven charging of the image baring member due to non-uniform charging, uneven exposure by the exposure device, uneven rotation or uneven sensitivity of the image bearing member such as a photosensitive member, uneven resistance of a developer bearing member such as a development roller, uneven charging of toner, and uneven transfer by a transfer roller, for example. Uneven density attributed to, among other things, the uneven rotation or uneven sensitivity of the image bearing member particularly occurs at relatively short intervals, and thus periodically occurs within a page and is easily noticeable, which is often the cause of a complaint. It is therefore particularly important to suppress uneven density attributed to the uneven rotation or uneven sensitivity of the image bearing member.
The above-described varieties of uneven density will now be described in detail.
Uneven density attributed to the uneven rotation of the image bearing member will be described first. In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electric field generated by the potential difference between the developer bearing member and the image bearing member causes toner to adhere to an outer circumferential surface of the image bearing member, to form an image. The uneven rotation of the image baring member, therefore, changes a development gap between the image baring member and the developer bearing member, resulting in a change in the electric field and thus a change in image density.
Meanwhile, uneven density attributed to the uneven sensitivity of the image bearing member occurs as follows. If the sensitivity of the image bearing member to exposure varies over time or due to a change in ambient conditions, even when the image bearing member is exposed at a constant level, there will be a difference in a bright portion potential, which is a potential of the image bearing member after exposure. As a result, the electric field fluctuates and hence the density changes, resulting in uneven density. Reducing the changes in the sensitivity of the image bearing member by using a highly accurate manufacturing method leads to a higher cost which complicates efforts to reduce the manufacturing cost.
In order to correct uneven density, process parameters including a charging bias, a development bias, exposure conditions may be changed based on a profile of uneven density which changes according to the rotational period of the image bearing member and uneven sensitivity. For example, image patterns for detection of uneven density are formed to create correction data for each process parameter.
According to this method, the development bias is modulated in accordance with the rotational period of the image bearing member, for example. More specifically, in this method, a rotational position detector for detecting the rotational position of the image bearing member and a density detector for detecting the density of the image are employed. According to this method, uneven density detected by the density detector is divided by the rotational period of the image bearing member, and the development bias is periodically changed with the use of the signal of the rotational position detector as a trigger, such that the change of the electric field due to elements such as the uneven rotation of the image bearing member is canceled to stabilize the electric field and thereby suppress the detected uneven density.
In this method, not only the development bias, but also the charging bias may be modulated.
Meanwhile, uneven density attributed to the uneven sensitivity of the image bearing member occurs as follows.
The sensitivity of the toner adhesion amount to the electric field changes in accordance with the image density. That is, the sensitivity of the image bearing member to the electric field changes in accordance with the image density, thereby changing the sensitivity of the image bearing member. More specifically, in a shadow portion having a relatively high density, such as a solid image portion having a relatively large toner adhesion amount, a development potential (i.e., a potential difference between the development bias and the bright portion potential) is dominant. By contrast, in a halftone or highlighted image portion smaller in the toner adhesion amount than the shadow portion, a background potential (i.e., a potential difference between the development bias and the dark portion potential) is dominant. Herein, the dark portion potential refers to the potential of a non-exposed portion of the image bearing member.
If a parameter such as the development bias is controlled to correct uneven density in the shadow portion, therefore, the effect of the control is not achieved in the halftone or highlighted image portion, and uneven density is increased.
Furthermore, there is known a method in which uneven density appearing periodically as a streak in an image may be comprehensively reduced in an electrophotographic or electrostatic-recording image forming apparatus such as in JP-H09-062042-A. In this method, the image forming apparatus includes a first fluctuation data storage device which stores periodical density fluctuation data of the image density in advance and a first controller which controls an image forming condition on the basis of the density fluctuation data. According to this method, the first fluctuation data storage device stores density fluctuation data corresponding to at least one rotational period of the developer bearing member, and the first controller controls one of the charging voltage, the exposure light amount, the development voltage, and the transfer voltage to correct the density in accordance with the rotational period of the image bearing member.
Uneven density may be suppressed by another method focusing not on the rotational period of the image bearing member but on the rotational period of the developer bearing member such as in JP-2000-098675-A (JP-3825184-B). The method changes the development bias in accordance with the rotational period of the development roller to reduce uneven density in the image occurring cyclically with the rotational period of the development roller. More specifically, the method detects uneven density in image patterns formed on the image bearing member, and performs phase matching between the detected uneven density information and the rotation of the development roller, thereby controlling the development bias.
If the control target is limited to the development bias, however, it is highly possible that the image density correction works in the solid image but not in the halftone image.
In such a case, in addition to changing the development bias, the charging bias may be changed in accordance with the rotational period of the development roller. As described above, the method in which the image density in the halftone image is effectively corrected by changing the development bias and the charging bias in accordance with the rotational period of the development roller may be applied to correction of the image density in the halftone image by changing the development bias and the charging bias in accordance with the rotational period of the image bearing member.
If the uneven sensitivity of the image bearing member as mentioned above is caused by its own characteristics, the uneven sensitivity occurs with the rotational period of the image bearing member. Thus, changing the development bias and the charging bias in accordance with the rotational period of the image bearing member may suppress the uneven sensitivity.
Uneven density attributed to the uneven rotation and the uneven sensitivity of rotators, i.e., the image bearing member and the developer bearing member may be effectively corrected using the correction data for correcting image forming conditions such as the development bias and the charging bias cyclically with the rotational period of the image bearing member and the development bearing member.
In order to perform the correction, it is necessary to apply accurately the correction data created to correspond to the rotational period of the rotators at the phase at which the uneven density is canceled. For example, in a case in which a toner image detector reads the image patterns created for detection of the uneven density, and the correction data for correcting parameters such as the development bias and the charging bias to suppress the uneven density in the image patterns is created, it is preferable to obtain the following time information. That is, the time information refers to a time period from an operating point of the control of the development device and the charging device, that is, a position at which the development bias and the charging bias are applied, to the time at which the toner image detector detects the image patterns.
This is because even when the phase of the rotators is detected, if the layout distance between the operating point of the control and the toner image detector is not an integral multiple of the rotational period of the rotators, it is difficult to apply accurately the correction data in such a manner as to suppress the uneven density. The time information may be obtained by dividing the layout distance by the rotation speed of the rotators if the layout distance and the phase of the rotators are known.
Even when the time information is obtained, in reality, it is difficult to apply accurately the correction data in such a manner as to suppress the uneven density. As a result, desirable correction of the uneven density is not performed using the correction data.
The difference between a design value of the layout distance and the actual layout distance causes difficulty in correction of the uneven density. Taking the design value of the layout distance into consideration is not enough to accurately match the phase of the correction data with the phase of the uneven density. In an actual machine, due to accumulation of manufacturing tolerances and installation errors of parts, and parts variations, there is a discrepancy between the design layout distance and the target distance. As a result, there is a discrepancy between the time information obtained from the design value of the layout distance and the actual time information so that the position of generation of the uneven density on the rotator and the phase of the correction data, for example, a control table, do not correspond to each other, resulting in insufficient correction effects.
Another cause is a shift in the control table due to a delay in the response from a high-voltage power pack serving as a power source to apply the development bias and the charging bias. Because there is a delay in the response from the high-voltage power pack that outputs the development bias and the charging bias, the phase of the uneven density and the phase of the control table do not coincide with each other, hence resulting in insufficient correction effects. In general, when the rotational period is short, that is, when the frequency is high, the delay in the response is long.
Furthermore, without operating the actual machine, the substantial control operating point of the development bias and the charging bias cannot be determined. In other words, the substantial control operating point of the development bias cannot be determined when using a development device using a multi-stage roller development system and the like. The substantial control operating point of the charging bias also cannot be determined when using a scorotron charging method using a grid electrode. These control operating points are known only when the actual machine is operated. Therefore, it is difficult to know the layout distance based on the design control operating points. In view of the above, it is necessary to obtain the control points somehow. The same is true for a single-stage development roller and a charging method using a roller.
If only taking the layout position into account, it is difficult to accurately apply the correction data for the uneven density which is made to correspond to the rotational period of the rotators in such a manner as to suppress the uneven density.
In view of the above, there is demand for an image forming apparatus that can apply accurately correction data for uneven density corresponding to a rotational period of a rotator to suppress the uneven density.
Such a configuration is proposed, for example, in JP-2006-267486-A.
Conventionally, there is known a single-beam optical scanning device employed in, but not limited to, an image forming apparatus, such as a digital copier or a laser printer, in which a recording speed is increased by increasing a rotation speed of a polygon mirror serving as a deflector.
In view of the above, there is demand for a device capable of minimizing operational load.

Image forming apparatus and image forming method


A light source having a substrate with a plurality of component LED light generators mounted thereon is disclosed. The substrate has a first metallic surface characterized by a normal that points in a normal direction. The first metallic surface is in contact with air over the first metallic surface. The component LED light generators are mounted directly on the first metallic surface. Each component LED light generator includes an LED characterized by an operating temperature and emitting light in the normal direction. Each LED generator generates more than 0.5 watts of heat. The component LED light generators are spaced apart on the first metallic surface such that the operating temperature remains less than 75° C. above the air temperature. In one aspect of the invention, the first metallic surface surrounding each component LED light generator radiates an amount of heat equal to the heat generated by that component LED light generator.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are an important class of solid-state devices that convert electric energy to light. Improvements in these devices have resulted in their use in light fixtures designed to replace conventional incandescent and fluorescent light sources. The LEDs have significantly longer lifetimes than both incandescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes. In addition, the efficiency of conversion of electricity to light has now reached the same levels as obtained in fluorescent light fixtures. Finally, since LEDs operate at relatively low voltages, issues related to the high voltages at which fluorescent light fixtures operate are substantially reduced.
The electrical conversion efficiency and lifetime of LEDs depend on the operating temperature of the LEDs. Increases in temperature lead to a loss in conversion efficiency and a lowering of the LED lifetime. Transferring the heat from the LEDs to the surrounding air is, hence, an important consideration in replacing existing high power lighting systems with LED-based light sources. Typically, LED light sources in the power range of existing fluorescent tube light sources or incandescent based light fixtures require a large heat transfer surface. The heat transfer is typically accomplished by mounting the LEDs on the front side of a carrier that has a heat-conducting bottom surface that is attached to a larger heat-radiating surface in the final light fixture. The design of the final heat-radiating system presents challenges for the light fixture manufacturer.


A shielded electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a front mating end, a rear terminating end and a plug-receiving cavity extending into the housing from the front mating end thereof. A conductive shield substantially surrounds the housing and has a front end, a rear end and at least one flexible arm extending from the rear end toward the front end of the shield. The flexible arm has a flared distal end for engaging a mating plug inserted into the cavity. The shield has an aperture aligned with the distal end of the flexible arm and into which the distal end can flex to increase the flexure range of the arm. A terminal is mounted on the housing and extends forwardly into the cavity for engaging an appropriate terminal of the mating plug.

Shielded electrical connector typically include some form of dielectric housing mounting one or more conductive terminals for engaging the terminal(s) of a complementary mating connector. At least portions of the dielectric housing are covered by a metal shield which protects the connecting interface from EMI and/or RF interference. The shield often has one or more tabs, arms or other structural components which flexibly engage a shield of the mating connector.
With the ever-increasing miniaturization of electronics and electrical components, it has become increasing difficult to design and manufacture shielded electrical connectors which are strong and which provide a good, positive mechanical engagement between the shield of the connector and the shield of the mating connector. The present invention is directed to solving these problems.


A method of the present invention is used for the high-rate deposition of materials, such as carbon, silicon, metals, metal oxides, and the like, onto a metal substrate defined by a metal tape. The particles of the material are mixed with fluid and are injected against the metal tape at high pressure and high velocity. The particles of the material form a current collection surface of the metal tape. The metal tape is used as cathode or anode combined with a separator to form a fuel cell of a secondary battery, metal-ceramic membranes, film composite metal-ceramic materials for electronic devices.

The term "nanotechnology" generally refers to objects, systems, mechanisms and assemblies smaller than one ten of micron and larger than 1 nm. In recent years nanotechnology has been used to make products, that is, raw materials are processed and manipulated until the desired product is achieved. In contrast, nanotechnology mimics nature by building a product from the ground up using a basic building block—the atom. In nanotechnology atoms are arranged to create the material needed to create other products. Additionally, nanotechnology allows for making materials stronger and lighter such as carbon nanotube composite fibers.
One of the areas of continuous development and research is an area of energy conversion devices, such as for example secondary batteries capable of charging electricity after discharge and having at least one electrochemical cell. The cell includes a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte disposed between the electrodes. One of the electrodes is called a cathode wherein an active material is reduced during discharge. The other electrode is called an anode wherein another active material is oxidized during discharge. Secondary batteries refer to batteries capable of charging electricity after discharge. Recently, intensive research has been conducted on lithium secondary batteries because of their high voltage and high energy density. The typical lithium metallic or lithium ion battery has an anode containing an active material for releasing lithium ions during discharge. The active material may be metallic lithium and an intercalated material being capable of incorporating lithium between layers. The active material is deposited or coated upon a metal current collector formed from a metal tape to increase electro-conductive characteristics of at least one of the electrodes.
Alluding to the above, various methods for deposition of the active materials onto the metal current collector have been used in the prior art applications. One of these methods is physical vapor deposition (PVD), which includes E-beam evaporation, flash (thermal) evaporation, plasma evaporation and DC or RF sputtering deposition, is currently used to generate thin films on substrates, i.e. the metal current collector. However, this method includes numerous disadvantages, such as, for example, non-time effective deposition rates as relate to coating thickness of the substrate per unit, typically in the range of a few microns per minute. Another method is known as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), including rapid thermal CVD, or RT CVD, results non-time effective deposition of the coating onto the substrate. Sputtering techniques such as RF or DC sputtering, as well as laser evaporation, plasma arc evaporation, electro-spark deposition (ESD), and the like are also known to have low deposition rates or not sufficient adhesion strength to the current collector. Moreover, all of the aforementioned methods are performed by and require expensive vacuum equipment and do not provide strong adhesion of the coating to the substrate, which is detrimental in various applications, particularly in manufacturing electrodes for energy conversion devices, such as batteries.
These aforementioned methods are proven to achieve rates of tens of microns per minute. However, if the deposition rates of these methods are increased to higher rates, it may adversely impact adhesion of the coating upon the substrate. As such, these methods are limited to deposition of the coating that results in a range of 10-20 μm per minute, which has limited industrial application, such as to production of a very thin battery of the type used in electronic devices. However, these prior art methods are not cost effective when used in a production of other types of batteries, such as, for example, batteries for vehicles, and the like.
Alluding to the above, another method, which uses vacuum, was also applied in fabrication of the substances of the electrodes. However, this method had negatively impacted the crystalline composition of the materials deposited upon the substrate. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a shortage of oxygen in spinel phases leads to transformation of cubic crystal matrix to tetragonal one, which negatively affects electrochemical properties. The usage of carbon as a conductive agent, in some of the prior art applications, presents numerous disadvantages because of the lower electrical conductivity of the carbon as compared to metals, thereby creating additional voltage drop at the interface with the metal current collector.
The art is replete with various other methods and apparatuses for forming metal current collector for electrodes of a battery cell, which are disclosed in the United States Patent Publication Application Nos. 20020177032 to Suenaga; 20030203282 to Grugeon; 20040248010 to Kato et al.; and the U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,744 to Tsukamato et al. Other United States Patent Publication Nos. 20040197654 to Barker et al.; 20040202937 to Barker et al.; 20040185343 to Wang et al.; and 20040137326 to Munshi disclose various methods of electrode production, which use coating process, wherein ground particles of active substance and current conducting material are mixed with solution and organic binder to form a paste-like mixture or slurry. A current conducting collector is covered with the paste-like mixture, rolled, and dried. The electrodes used by the aforementioned "coating" method are known to have limited points of contact as defined between the ground particles of active substance and current conducting material and the current collector which drastically reduces the porosity of the current collector. The U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,399 to Matsumoto teaches an electrode substrate formed by mechanically processing a nickel foil so as to be made three dimensional through the creation of concave and convex parts, and then, this substrate is filled with active material or the like so that an electrode is manufactured. The concave and convex parts are rolling pressed to incline in one direction. Furthermore, an electrode for a secondary battery is formed by using the above described method. This method has a major disadvantage such as low permittivity due to a large amount of metal constituent. This method is non-cost effective because it depends upon special mechanical processing and equipment.
These aforementioned prior art methods share at least one disadvantage such as the active layer formed on top of the metal current collector of the electrodes to define a space therebetween, which negatively impacts specific power and energy, cycleability and possibility to properly function in applications requiring higher C-rate. The aforementioned methods negatively impact both the life span of the battery and the manufacturing costs associates therewith is the structure of the battery wherein the active layer is formed on the metal current collector and additional binders used as adhesion between the active layer and the metal current collector thereby increasing both the weight and size of the battery, which, as mentioned above, negatively impacts both the impedance characteristics of the battery and the manufacturing costs associated therewith.
Alluding to the above, none of these prior art references teaches the method of forming the electrode which would satisfies majority of the requirements, such as, for example, accessible porosity sufficient for penetration of electrolyte to contact with particles of the active material, a conducting agent, which should provide contact of the active material with a metal current collector and constitute no more than 10-20% of the active substance weight. In the normal process of gas dynamic evaporation accelerated to supersonic speed metallic particles form a coating on the substrate as a result of their plastic deformation. The usage of this method for electrodes production is significantly limited. The ceramic particles of active material are inculcated in the metal current collector and do not form the necessary porosity. Mixing a metal powder the ceramic components results in plastic deformation of the metal particles as they collide with the ceramic particles. In response to the plastic deformation, the metal particles create films on the ceramic particles resulting in low adhesion strength. The resulting material does not have sufficiently accessible pore structure and have poor mechanic strength.
But even with the aforementioned technique, to the extent it is effective in some respect, there is always a need for an improved processes for engineering of porous electrodes that is light, thin, cost effective, have improved life-span and ability to properly function in applications that depend upon higher C-rate and easy to manufacture.

Electrode for energy storage device and method of forming the same


An assembly includes an engine main body, a spark plug and a gasket. The spark plug is mounted to the engine main body by tightening a male-threaded portion of the spark plug into a female-threaded portion of the engine main body with the gasket elastically deformed between a seat surface of the engine main body and a seating surface of the spark plug. The gasket is made of a metallic material whose yield stress or 0.2% proof stress is not lower than 200 N/mm2. The gasket has first and second contact surfaces respectively in contact with the seating surface of the spark plug and the seat surface of the engine main body. The first and second contact surfaces of the gasket are each formed as a part of a curved surface that has a convex shape, and are offset from each other in a radial direction of the spark plug.

1 Technical Field
The present invention relates to an assembly of a spark plug and an engine main body, which includes a gasket to hermetically seal between the spark plug and the engine main body.
2 Description of Related Art
A spark plug is generally mounted to a main body of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle or a cogeneration system, so as to ignite the air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of the engine by generating sparks in a spark gap of the spark plug.
More specifically, the spark plug is generally mounted to a cylinder head (i.e., a part of the main body) of the engine by threadedly engaging a male-threaded portion formed on an outer surface of a metal shell of the spark plug with a female-threaded portion formed in an inner surface of a spark plug-mounting bore of the cylinder head.
Moreover, there is disclosed, for example in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-187966, a technique for reliably sealing between the metal shell of the spark plug and the cylinder head. According to the technique, a substantially annular gasket is interposed between a seat surface of the cylinder head and a seating surface of the metal shell of the spark plug. The seat surface of the cylinder head is formed around an open end of the spark plug-mounting bore; the open end is on the opposite side to the combustion chamber of the engine. The seating surface of the metal shell is formed on the proximal side (i.e., the opposite side to the combustion chamber) of the male-threaded portion of the metal shell so as to face the seat surface of the cylinder head. In mounting the spark plug to the cylinder head, the male-threaded portion of the metal shell of the spark plug is tightened into the female-threaded portion of the cylinder head, elastically deforming the gasket interposed between the seat surface of the cylinder head and the seating surface of the metal shell. Consequently, with an elastic force of the gasket, which is created by the elastic deformation of the gasket, it is possible to maintain the tightening axial force of the male-threaded portion of the metal shell of the spark plug, thereby forming a hermetic seal (or fluid-tight seal) between the seat surface of the cylinder head and the seating surface of the metal shell.
However, in recent years, lean burn and high output have been pursued for engines, resulting in increases in the combustion temperatures as well as in vibration of the engines. Consequently, when the above technique is used, an excessive force may come to be applied to the gasket, causing the gasket to be plastically deformed and thereby decreasing the thickness of the gasket in the axial direction of the spark plug. That is, "permanent set" of the gasket may occur, thereby lowering the elastic force of the gasket. As a result, it may become difficult to secure a high sealing performance between the metal shell of the spark plug and the cylinder head of the engine.
Further, with occurrence of permanent set of the gasket, the tightening axial force of the male-threaded portion of the metal shell of the spark plug may be lowered, thereby loosening the engagement between the male-threaded portion of the metal shell and the female-threaded portion of the cylinder head.
To prevent permanent set of the gasket from occurring, one may consider increasing the yield stress of the gasket.
On the other hand, the main purpose of employing the gasket is to realize, with the elastic deformation of the gasket during the tightening of the male-threaded portion of the metal shell into the female-threaded portion of the cylinder head, intimate contact between the seat surface of the cylinder head and the seating surface of the metal shell, thereby securing a high fluid-tightness therebetween.
However, if the yield stress of the gasket is increased for preventing occurrence of permanent set of the gasket, it may become difficult for the gasket to be elastically deformed during the tightening of the male-threaded portion of the metal shell into the female-threaded portion of the cylinder head, thereby making it difficult to realize intimate contact between the seat surface of the cylinder head and the seating surface of the metal shell. Consequently, it may become difficult to secure a high fluid-tightness between the seat surface of the cylinder head and the seating surface of the metal shell.

Assembly of spark plug and engine main body


Disclosed are methods for reading a set of bits from a NVM array (such as a SPI or parallel NOR NVM or otherwise) including: retrieving each of the set of bits from the NVM array substantially in parallel, applying substantially in parallel to each of the retrieved bits a segmented search, each search indexed using an order number of the respective bit being checked, and correcting a bit whose search indicates an error.

Different types of flash memories may include NAND and NOR arrays which generally differ in the architecture of the memory array. Two types of popular NOR arrays are Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) and parallel NOR arrays. The former (SPI) is characterized by the data being outputted from the memory in small segments (typically 1, 2 4 and/or 8 bits) while the latter (parallel) is characterized by the data being output to a user in larger segments (typically 8 or 16 bits). A user may be any apparatus or circuit configured to access the memory array and/or receive data from the memory such a processor, a buffer, an output and more.
NAND technologies may utilize error correction code (ECC) blocks to reduce errors in the outputted data from the array. Error correction for both SPI and parallel NOR proves more difficult since the data is output very quickly which in many products does not leave enough time for the calculations required for the ECC block. In order to save time and/or meet specification timing requirements parallel calculations may be utilized but at a substantial area increase/penalty/cost.
Several technologies may be utilized to produce NVM arrays such as floating gate, MirrorBit, additional charge trapping technologies and more.
Turning now to prior art FIG. 1, depicted is an NVM memory circuit 100 which includes am encoder 102 configured to encode data to be stored in/on Flash memory 104. Flash memory 104 may be a Non-Volatile flash Memory (NVM). Flash memory 104 may be read and data (r) may be output to decoder 106 which may include an ECC block. Based on the data (r) a Syndrome Generator 108 may relay the generated Syndrome(s) S to a Coefficient Calculator 110 which may further relay the coefficient(s) σto a Chien Search block/module/circuit 112. As depicted in element 114 which is a gate level example implementation of Chien search block 112, all n bits of data r are output and utilized in parallel to calculate the appropriate Chien search block 112 result for each appropriate bit ei. The resultant ei results are then transferred through a XOR gate 116 to inverse any incorrect bit and the resultant corrected data bits are output from the NVM memory circuit 100. The calculation of the Chien search block result ei is carried out substantially in parallel, the ei result for each data bit r is calculated in a dedicated circuit at substantially the same time, delays due to propagation and other electrical delays known in the art or otherwise may occur.

Methods, circuits, systems and computer executable instruction sets for providing error correction of stored data and data storage devices utilizing same


In order to harden the surface of workpieces having complex shapes without reviously applying absorption promoting surface layers, a mixture of inert gas and oxygen are supplied to the processing zone while the workpiece is exposed to laser radiation. The degree of absorption is maximized by adjusting at least one of the mixing ratio, the volume flow rate, and the processing temperature to conform to a nominal value.

The present invention pertains to a method for increasing the degree of absorption during the solid-phase surface hardening of workpieces, especially of geometrically complicated workpieces, by means of laser radiation, in which measures which increase the degree to which the laser radiation is absorbed are taken on the workpiece during the course of the process in the area of the processing zone.
The invention also pertains to an apparatus for increasing the degree of absorption during the solid-phase surface hardening of workpieces, especially of geometrically complicated workpieces, by means of laser radiation, this apparatus being provided with a process gas feed device.
In the processing of materials, e.g., in the surface treatment of structural components, lasers have become well established and are being used in many different areas for a wide range of applications. When laser systems are used, the result of the treatment depends strongly on how much of the laser's power can actually be transferred to the workpiece. The amount of power which can be transferred depends in turn on the degree of absorption at the surface of the workpiece, which itself depends on various factors.
One of the areas of the surface treatment of workpieces is solid-phase hardening with laser radiation. A hardening process of this type is carried out especially on the areas of a workpiece which are subjected, for example, to increased loads or to severe wear or which must withstand elevated temperatures.
By means of the processes used so far for solid-phase hardening of ferrous materials with CO.sub.2 or Nd-YAG laser radiation, the degrees of absorption which can be achieved without additional measures are 10% at a wavelength of .lambda.=10.6 .mu.m and 30% at .lambda.=1.06 .mu.m. The degree of absorption and thus the efficiency of the process, .eta..sub.p P.sub.abs /P.sub.W, where P.sub.abs is the amount of laser power absorbed and P.sub.W is the laser power applied to the workpiece, can be increased only by the use of additional, preparatory work steps. These include the application of absorption-increasing coatings such as graphite or paint to the surface. Because a surface treatment of this type must be carried out in highly defined areas, that is, in the areas which meet the industrial requirements, such absorption-increasing coatings must be applied to the workpiece surface in a highly defined manner with respect to, first, their location and, second, with respect to their uniformity of thickness and homogeneity. For this purpose, spraying or rolling methods can be used, but these involve considerable difficulty when the geometry of the workpiece is complicated. The result is therefore a low degree of reproducibility with respect to the application of the coating, especially with respect to the thickness of the layer and its homogeneity, which leads in turn to unsatisfactory processing results. Reproducibility in this sense, however, is mandatory precisely in the mass production of structural components. In addition, production costs are increased by the additional work step of applying the absorption-increasing coatings before the treatment with laser radiation and by the need to remove the residues of these coatings from the surface after the treatment. To prevent oxidation, nitrogen (N.sub.2) is used as a shielding gas according to the state of the art.

Process and device for increasing the degree of absorption during superficial solid phase hardening of workpieces by laser radiation

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.


A data processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input data, a first processing unit configured to generate intermediate data using a printer driver based on the data input by the input unit according to a print setting that is determined not to divide an editing area of the data into pages, and a second processing unit configured to perform editing processing based on the intermediate data generated by the first processing unit.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to a data processing apparatus that processes data to be edited, a data processing method, and a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of information have been generally acquired by accessing a web page on the Internet. The web page includes a structured document described in a structured language, e.g., a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) or an Extensible Hyper Text Markup Language (XHTML). The web page can be displayed on a display by software referred to as a web browser, and can be printed out by a printer.
When the web page, which has been acquired using the web browser, is output after being edited, the image quality of an object such as characters and graphics is less degraded if the object is acquired in a vector format. Thus, the image quality of the edited web page will increase.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-187566 discusses generating editable data using a virtual printer driver and editing the generated data. The editable data is generated using the virtual printer driver so that the data can be edited in a vector format using a printer driver that is capable of outputting an object having a vector format still in the vector format.
When data having no information about a page such as a web page is converted into data having a format that can be printed by a printer driver, the printer driver generates a printing data while dividing the data into pages according to a recording medium size used for printing. At this time, some printer drivers provide a margin in an outer edge of each of the generated pages. Therefore, if there is an object existing across the pages when the data generated by the printer driver is edited, a margin may be inserted into the object. If the object is moved, for example, not to exist across the pages when the data generated by the printer driver is edited, the margin provided by the printer driver needs to be deleted. This can result in an increase in a processing load or degradation in image quality. In addition, some printer drivers move the object to the subsequent page if there is an object existing across the pages as described above. In this case, the data changes in layout from the original data so that an editing result according to the original layout cannot be obtained.

Data processing apparatus and data processing method for generating data to be edited using a print driver


A gun holder device is provided for releasably securing a long gun to a tree stand. The device includes a pair of elongate flexible elements made of webbing or the like which are secured together in a substantially cross shape configuration. The first element includes a loop portion at one end which mounts a pair of D-rings for securing the gun in place on the stand. The second element includes first and second hooks and loops fasteners at opposite ends on opposite sides for securing the device to the frame of the stand.

A variety of tree stands, i.e., devices which are adapted to be mounted or supported in a tree and which include a seat or platform for a hunter, are commercially available. One problem with such tree stands is that they are relatively large and cumbersome and create a burden, particularly for a lone hunter, when the hunter also has to carry his gun along with the tree stand. As indicated below, some tree stands have been proposed which make provision for supporting a gun thereon but these proposals have not been completely successful, and there is a disadvantage with respect to versatility in having a permanently affixed gun holder. In the latter regard, most tree stands do not include a gun holder and it would be advantageous to have a simple gun holder that could be used with different tree stands at different times and locations.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,395 to Rittenhouse discloses a tree stand for hunters comprising frame, a plywood platform secured to the frame, a canvas seat attached to the frame, a safety belt secured to the frame, a block and tackle suspension unit attached to the frame, and a tree securement belt looped around the frame. A long gun support device in the form of a slidable clamp is permanently secured to the frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,216 to Amacker discloses an apparatus for climbing an upright columnar member such as a tree comprising a first climbing arrangement including a first gripping means for gripping the tree, first and second upper bars and third and fourth middle bars for supporting the body of the user, a first platform, spaced from the tree and movable along the third and fourth middle bars, for supporting the body of the user in a sitting position and a second climbing means for accommodating the feet of the user. A rack, permanently attached to the first climbing means by a nut and bolt, is provided for holding a gun or other weapon. The rack includes a resilient clip for retaining the gun.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,292 to Van Gompel discloses a portable tree stand including a platform, a pair of rollers mounted at an angle on one side of a tree and a roller locking claw disposed on the other side of the tree which locks the stand at the desired height. A ladder extends downwardly from the stand and allows the hunter to climb up to the stand, after which the ladder can be pulled upwardly to the stand to form a chair. The stand includes a gun holder arrangement which includes projections which are received in holes in the platform and which is formed by a pair of interconnected legs that are used in cradling a gun or in supporting a bow.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,052 to Keton discloses a weapon holding apparatus, including a pair of nylon straps adapted for holding, and readily releasing, a firearm or bow across a hunter's lap while the hunter is sitting on the ground or in a tree. Each nylon strap itself comprises a leg strap and a weapon retainer strap made of nylon webbing material attached together in a cruciform fashion. The ends of each strap have hooks and loops fastener material attached thereto. The leg strap is wrapped around the hunter's leg, while the weapon retainer strap is wrapped around the firearm or bow, with one strap being placed around each leg. The straps secure in place opposite ends of the firearm or bow, leaving the hunter's hands free while keeping the weapon readily accessible.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,949 to Peebles discloses an apparatus for supporting a firearm comprising a base, at least one hinged surface securement member attached to a bottom surface of the base, an extensible firearm support port in the base, an upright locking member removably placed within the extensible firearm support port, an extensible firearm support removably connected to the upright locking member, and a plurality of seating member ports located within the base. A releasable firearm securing apparatus (preferably a hooks and loops fastener) is permanently attached to a gun support cradle mounted on the firearm support.

Holding device for securing a weapon in place of a tree stand


Methods and systems are provided for purging a multi-port canister into an engine intake. Air is circulated through the canister and a resulting purge air is directed to an intake passage upstream of a throttle in engine configured with a throttle body. An amount of fresh intake air received at the intake passage is corresponding decreased.

Vehicles may be fitted with evaporative emission control systems to reduce the release of fuel vapors to the atmosphere. For example, vaporized hydrocarbons (HCs) from a fuel tank may be stored in a fuel vapor canister packed with an adsorbent which adsorbs and stores the fuel vapors. At a later time, when the engine is in operation, the evaporative emission control system allows the fuel vapors to be purged into the engine intake manifold from the fuel vapor canister. The fuel vapors are then consumed during combustion.
In one example described by Covert et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,729, a fuel vapor canister includes a plurality of inlet ports and purge ports regulated by respective valves. During operation of the engine, the purge valves and the air inlet valves are opened to supply a negative pressure from an engine air induction passage to within the canister. As a result of the supply of the vacuum, fuel vapor is purged to the intake manifold of the engine from the fuel vapor canister.
However, the inventors herein have recognized issues with the above approach. For example, in engine applications that operate with low vacuum air induction, or near atmospheric pressure (as measured post throttle body in the engine's intake manifold), the small amount of vacuum may not be enough to sufficiently purge the fuel vapor canister. More particularly, in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) applications, the engine run time may be shorter than the amount of time it takes to purge the fuel vapor canister with low vacuum. As such, if the canister is not completely purged, exhaust hydrocarbons may slip into the atmosphere, degrading exhaust emissions and making the vehicle emissions non-compliant. In addition, the low vacuum may increase the engine operation time required to purge the fuel vapor canister. The unintended increase in engine run time for the hybrid vehicle can degrade vehicle fuel economy.
Thus, in one example, some of the above issues may be at least partly addressed by a method for operating an engine comprising displacing an amount of unthrottled intake air with air received from a fuel system canister. In this way, a fuel system canister can be purged even when there is low vacuum induction in an engine.
For example, a fuel system canister may be purged using intake air that is substantially at atmospheric conditions. The canister may be a multi-port canister having a plurality of intake ports or vents, as well as a plurality of purge ports. When purging conditions are met, a vent control valve may be opened to enable atmospheric air to enter the canister through the multiple vents and desorb stored fuel vapors from the canister. The fuel vapors may then be purged to an engine intake upon passage through the multiple purge ports by opening a purge valve. A diverter valve coupled between the purge line and an intake passage may be opened so that the fuel vapors can be received upstream of an intake throttle. In particular, the opening of the diverter valve may be adjusted so that an amount of intake air received in the engine intake is displaced by the ingested fuel vapors. For example, as the amount of fuel vapors ingested increases, an amount of intake air may be correspondingly decreased.
In this way, a purge flow is created by redirecting an amount of incoming engine air mass from an engine's air cleaner to enter from a fuel vapor canister. By using air that is substantially at atmospheric pressure to purge a canister, a vacuum requirement for purging is reduced. By purging multiple regions of the canister simultaneously, a time required to completely purge the canister is lowered. By better enabling canister purging to be completed, the likelihood of attaining zero bleed emissions from the canister is increased. By displacing an amount of intake air directed to an engine with fuel vapors received from a canister, and by mixing intake air with the fuel vapors upstream of an intake throttle before delivering the mixture to an intake manifold, a combustion air-to-fuel ratio can be maintained. Overall, exhaust emissions and emissions compliance may be improved.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.


Apparatus and method for identifying type and distillation properties of light oil. A pulse voltage is applied for a predetermined period of time to a liquid type identification sensor heater comprising a heater and an identification liquid temperature sensor provided in the vicinity of the heater; the light oil to be identified is heated by the heater; and the liquid type is identified with a voltage output difference V0, corresponding to a temperature difference between the initial temperature and the peak temperature of the identification liquid temperature sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid type identification apparatus for a light oil, for identifying the type and distillation properties of a light oil, and a liquid type identification method for a light oil.
2. Background Art
Automobile exhaust gases contain contaminants such as unburned hydrocarbons (HCs), NOx gases, and SOx gases. An attempt to reduce these contaminants has hitherto been made, for example, by a method in which, for SOx, S in the light oil is removed, or unburned HCs are burned in the presence of a catalyst.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 16, in an automobile system 100, air is introduced through an automatic element (filter) 102, is then passed through an air flow rate sensor 104, and is fed into an engine 106. On the other hand, a light oil within a light oil tank 108 is fed through a light oil pump 110 into the engine 106.
Further, the automobile system 100 is constructed so that, based on the results of detection with an A/F sensor 112, fuel injection in the engine 106 is controlled by a fuel injection control device 114 so that the air-fuel ratio is brought to a predetermined theoretical air-fuel ratio.
An exhaust gas from the engine 106 is fed into a catalyst device 116 where hydrocarbons (HCs) contained in the exhaust gas are burned. The exhaust gas is then passed through an oxygen concentration sensor 118 and is discharged as an exhaust gas.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Type identification system for diesel oil and method for identifying type of diesel oil


A high-side driver circuit for a switching power supply, configured to translate a low-side switching control signal referenced to a first ground rail to a high-side switching control signal referenced to a second, high-side ground rail for driving a switching control connection of a power switching device, the high-side driver circuit including first and second inputs to receive first and second low-side switching control signals; a differential amplifier having a differential pair of inputs coupled to said first and second inputs and having an output, the differential amplifier having a ground connection for connection to said high-side ground rail and a power connection to receive a power supply from a second voltage supply; and an output coupled to said differential amplifier output to provide the high-side switching control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is generally concerned with what are known in the art as high-side driver circuits, in particular for switching power supplies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Broadly speaking, a high-side driver is a circuit which transforms a low-side (low voltage) gate drive signal, generally referenced to a system and/or chip ground, to a high-side (high voltage) gate drive signal which is typically referenced to the mid-point of a half bridge. This mid-point has a potential which can vary between, for example, 0 and 500 volts above the system or chip/PCB (Printed Circuit Board) ground. Often the mid-point potential is rapidly varying over a range of several hundred volts. The high-side driver circuit provides a means of translating or communicating between the low (voltage)-side and the high (voltage)-side circuitry.
FIG. 1 shows an example fluorescent lamp driver circuit 100 incorporating a high-side driver 110.
The lamp driver has a mains power supply input 102 to a rectifier and filter stage 104, for example comprising a bridge rectifier and smoothing capacitors, which provides a low voltage supply to a control circuit 106. The rectifier and filter stage 104 also provides a high voltage supply 109, optionally via a PFC (Power Factor Control) stage 108.
The control circuit provides set and reset outputs to a pair of level shift transistors which provide input signals to high-side driver 110. The control circuit also provides a low-side drive signal to a low-side gate drive circuit 114. The high-side drive 110 drives a high-side switching transistor 116a and the low-side gate drive drives a low-side switching transistor 116b. Transistors 116a and 116b form a half-bridge coupled between the high voltage supply and a system ground rail 118. The high-side driver 110 is connected to a mid-point 120 of the half-bridge. This mid-point also provides a high (alternating current) voltage output to lamp and resonant capacitor 122 via a de blocking capacitor and resonant inductor 124.
In operation the low-side drive signal typically comprises a waveform with a duty cycle of around 40 percent. Similarly the set and reset signals are controlled so that the drive to the high-side transistor also has a duty cycle of around 40 percent. The low-side and high-side transistor drive waveforms are aligned so that the low-side transistor and high-side transistor are not on simultaneously, the less than 50 percent duty cycle waveforms providing a degree of tolerance in achieving this.
A difficulty with design of the high-side driver is that the signal (usually in the form of a current) which is used to communicate between the low-side and high-side circuitry is easily confused by system noise, especially when the half-bridge is switching.
Conventional solutions to this problem rely on either making the communicating signal very large relative to the interfering signals, with a consequent waste of power, or on using blanking signals which blank out the (regular) interfering signal. As the interfering signals happen at known times, in particular when the mid-point of the bridge is flying (transitioning) high or low, blanking pulses can be used to blank out these signals, but this approach also wastes power, is tricky to implement, and is prone to error. Background prior art can be found in: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,994,955; 6,897,492; 6,781,422; 6,781,423; 5,274,274; 5,068,571; and WO2003/055072.


An indicator for a hanger includes a body having side walls and joining end walls, openings at opposing top and bottom ends, and a passage extending through the body and joining the openings. The indicator may be positioned around a hook of the hanger such that the hook extends from the opening at the top end of the body. The indicator may also include an attachment mechanism for securing the indictor to the hanger. Alternatively or in addition, the hanger may include a mechanism for securing the indictor to the hanger. Information may be displayed on one or more of the side walls and end walls of the indicator.

A garment hanger is often provided with an indicator (i.e., indictor device) that specifies a size of a garment supported from the hanger. The indicator is normally positioned either on a hook or a central hook boss/neck portion of the hanger such that the information on the indicator is visible from the front and back faces of the hanger.
Notably, locating the indicator in this fashion causes difficulty when multiple hangers and associated garments are suspended from display racks/rails in shops. In particular, when a number of hangers are hanging from a rack, the hangers are typically positioned in close proximity to one another, with the front and back faces of the hangers pressed up against each other, thereby concealing the information on the indicators. As a result, customers must force the hangers apart to be able to see the information on the indicators. The customers must repeat this process until the desired hanger/garment is found.
Notably, customers also often remove hangers from a rack to properly view garments, and then return the hangers to incorrect positions on the rack, resulting in the garments being haphazardly orientated with respect to information on the indicators. As a result, the staff of a shop must occasionally check the racks to re-orient the hangers as necessary. However, like the customers, the staff must force the hangers apart to be able to see the indicators, thereby making this process slow.


The present invention provides a head driving device and method capable of ejecting a necessary amount of a viscous body from a head including a pressure generating element, such as a piezoelectric element, a droplet ejecting apparatus including the head driving device, a head driving program, and a device manufacturing method including, as one manufacturing step, a step of ejecting a viscous body using the method. The invention can be achieved by applying a drive signal COM to a pressure generating element, such as a piezoelectric element included in a head. A clock signal can be supplied to a drive signal generating circuit that generates the drive signal COM. The drive signal generating circuit generates the drive signal in synchronization with the clock signal. According to the present invention, the rate of change in voltage value of the drive signal per unit time is changed by changing the frequency of the clock signal in accordance with a deformation rate of the pressure generating element per unit time.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to head driving devices and methods, droplet ejecting apparatuses, head driving programs, device manufacturing methods, and devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a head driving device and method for driving a head that ejects a highly viscous body, such as a liquid resin having high viscosity, a droplet ejecting apparatus including the head driving device, a head driving program, a device manufacturing method including, as one step, a step of ejecting a viscous body using the above-described method and manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display, a color filter substrate, a microlens array, an optical device having a coating layer, and other devices, and a device thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, various electronic devices, such as computers and handheld information devices, have been advancing greatly. In accordance with the advancement of the electronic devices, electronic devices having liquid crystal displays, and particularly color liquid crystal displays showing high display performance, have been increasing in number. Despite their size, color liquid crystal displays are capable of having a high display performance, and therefore applications for such devices have been expanding. A color liquid crystal display has a color filter substrate for colorizing an image to be displayed. Various methods for manufacturing the color filter substrate have been proposed. One such method proposed is a droplet ejecting method for causing R (red), G (green), and B (blue) droplets to land on the substrate in a predetermined pattern.
A droplet ejecting apparatus implementing the droplet ejecting method has a plurality of droplet ejecting heads that eject droplets. The droplet ejecting heads each have a fluid chamber for temporarily accumulating an external droplet, a piezoelectric element serving as a drive source that pressurizes a fluid in the fluid chamber to eject a predetermined amount of the fluid, and a nozzle face having a nozzle drilled therein, from which the droplet from the fluid chamber is ejected. These droplet ejecting heads are disposed at equal pitches and thus make a head group. While the head group scans the substrate along a scanning direction (for example, X direction), the droplets are ejected. As a result, the R, G, and B droplets land on the substrate. In contrast, the positional adjustment on the substrate in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction (for example, Y direction) is made possible by moving a platform on which the substrate is placed.

System and methods for providing a head driving device


Using site-directed mutagenesis to mutate the Xanthomonas campestris pectate lyase gene, variants of Xanthomonas campestris pectate lyase with improved thermostability and/or enzymatic activity have been expressed in Escherichia coli, and then isolated and purified. The mutant Xanthomonas campestris pectate lyases are more effective than the wild-type enzyme, also expressed in E. coli, in removing pectic compounds from natural hemp fiber.

Extraction of fiber from fiber plants would allow its eventual usage. Extraction primarily involves removal of non-cellulosic material, e.g. pectin and colour-containing materials, from the fiber. This removal of non-cellulosic material is sometimes referred to as degumming. Pectin is a polysaccharide which is a polymer of galacturonic acid. Pectin is not soluble in water or acid. However, it can be removed by strong alkaline solutions like caustic soda (concentrated sodium hydroxide).
General methods for isolation of clean fibers include dew retting, water retting, and chemical and enzymatic processes, with different variations. In these methods, the glue that holds the fibers together must first be loosened (or removed altogether) by retting. In conventional retting, stalks are dew-retted by allowing them to lie in the field after cutting. These retting approaches depend on digestion of pectin by enzymes secreted by microbes thriving under favorable conditions. Although water-retting yields more uniform fiber, the process pollutes the water. Dew-retting requires anywhere from two to six weeks or more to complete, requiring the stalks to be turned at least once for highest-quality fiber. Dew-retting is thus affected by the weather, which offers no guaranty of favorable condition.
On an industrial scale, chemical scouring is common. Chemical scouring is a process that improves the water absorbancy and the whiteness of textile by removing the non-cellulosic substances from cotton, flax or other natural cellulosic fibers, thereby facilitating the subsequent dyeing and finishing processes (Sawada and Ueda. 2001; Solbak, et al. 2005; Tzanov et al., 2001). Violent, hazardous chemicals like soda ash, caustic soda and oxalic acid used in the current scouring processes cause severe environmental problems, besides a loss of fiber strength.
In the past several years, considerable attention has been paid to replacing traditional processes, e.g. chemical scouring of raw cotton and flax fabrics and retting of flax and hemp fibers, with more environmentally friendly and economically viable biotechnological processes. Enzyme retting or bioscouring involves the action of a pectinase, especially pectate lyase, with or without other enzymes like xylanase and/or cellulase. Such processes are generally known (Akin et al., 2001; Klug-Santner et al., 2006; Ossola and Galante. 2004; Ouajai and Shanks. 2005; Sawada and Ueda. 2001; Solbak, et al. 2005; Tzanov et al., 2001). Pectate lyases specifically remove non-cellulosic material without damaging the cellulose backbone of the fiber. Further, enzymes used for bioscouring reduce environmental pollution (Solbak, et al. 2005). Pectate lyases widely exist in bacteria (Berensmeier et al. 2004; Klug-Santner, et al. 2006; Kluskens, et al. 2003) and fungi (Benen et al. 2000; Huertas-Gonzalez et al. 1999).
Other examples of prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,127, WO 2001/079440, WO 2000/042152 and WO 2006/0089283. These documents disclose various pectate lyases for use in detergents or textile processing.
Despite the interest in pectate lyases for use in bioscouring processes, many pectate lyases currently in use suffer from a lack of scouring efficiency. Lack of scouring efficiency can arise from thermal instability and/or low enzymatic activity of the pectate lyase. Thermal instability results in reduction of activity over time due to thermally induced changes in enzyme conformation. Higher temperatures accelerate reduction in activity. Low enzymatic activity limits the rate at which scouring can occur. Scouring efficiency can be increased by using pectate lyases having increased thermostability and/or enzymatic activity.
Thus, there is a need for enzymes, particularly pectate lyases, having increased thermostability and/or enzymatic activity.

Pectate lyases with increased thermostability and/or enzymatic activity


A pistol with a firing pin includes a firing pin safety provided in the breech part. To afford a firing pin safety that is as simple and operationally safe as possible, a resilient tongue attached on an external side face of the breech part is provided, which resilient tongue forms a hook extending into the interior of the breech part, which hook comes to lie in front of a shoulder provided on the striker when the latter is in its cocked position, and the resilient tongue has a downwardly projecting web which cooperates with the trigger arm. The resilient tongue is integrally formed with an ejector spring.

The invention relates to a pistol having a longitudinally displaceable breech part containing a spring-actuated striker, with a lug cooperating with a trigger arm, firing pin safety provided in the breech part acting upon said striker, i.e. a pistol with firing pin firing, as opposed to pistols with hammer firing.
Besides their traditional safety which acts on the trigger mechanism, pistols also must have a firing pin safety which, for effectively increasing the safety, possibly should act at the final part of the chain of movement. In prior art pistols, for this purpose a spring-actuated rotating part is inserted in the slide, or in the breech part, respectively, which, for releasing the firing pin from the trigger arm, is pushed into an upper position by means of a vertically moved intermediate element.
What is disadvantageous is that the rotating part must be guided in the slide with narrow tolerance, which makes production more expensive, that the rotating part cannot act on a large area of the firing pin (little coverage), and that it has an unfavorable effect on the construction height of the slide.
From DE 197 02 374, a firing pin safety using a resilient tongue which cooperates with a shoulder of the striker is known. However, since this is a pistol with hammer firing, it is not comparable. First of all, the striker spring acts in the direction opposite to the firing pin spring of a pistol with striker firing. The resilient tongue does not cooperate with the trigger arm, and it engages on the rear end of the striker.

Pistol with a firing pin safety and an ejector


Described is a process for producing an N-biphenyl-methylthiadiazoline derivative (7) in accordance with the reaction formula described below. According to the process of the present invention, it is possible to produce a compound (7) advantageously from the industrial viewpoint. ##STR1##

Angiotensin II is an active center of the renin-angiotensin system, and has powerful vasopressor action and stimulating action for the synthesis and secretion of aldosterone in the adrenal cortex. It is also known to be a substance causing hypertension. Its action is considered to be caused through a specific receptor on various target organs such as adrenal cortex, kidneys, arterioles and the peripheries of sympathetic nerves.
Known conventional examples of substances which show antihypertensive effects by pharmacological inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors such as captopril and enarapril, angiotensin II antagonists and renin inhibitors. As angiotensin II antagonist out of these, saralasin ([Sar1, Ala8] AGII), which is an angiotensin II type peptide, and nonpeptide derivatives such as imidazole derivatives (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. SHO 56-7103 and SHO56-71074, and Japanese Language Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 3-501020) and pyrazole derivatives (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 3-218371) are already known.
The peptide derivatives, however, have difficulty in clinical applications because of their short in vivo half-life, lack of effectiveness upon oral administration and significant agonistic activities. Among the nonpeptide derivatives, few drugs have been used clinically.
With a view toward providing a clinically excellent drug under such circumstances, the present inventors have carried out an extensive investigation. As a result, finding that an N-biphenylmethylthiadiazoline derivative represented by the below-described formula (7) or salt thereof has an excellent angiotensin II antagonistic action and are useful as therapeutics for circulatory diseases such as hypertension, heart diseases and cerebral apoplexy, the present inventors have already filed international patent application thereon (WO94/04516).
In that international application, an N-biphenylmethylthiadiazoline derivative (7) is prepared in accordance with the process as shown by the following reaction scheme.
wherein R.sup.1 represents a lower alkyl group.
The above process is however accompanied with the drawback that it includes a step of introducing a tetrazole group into a biphenylnitrile derivative in a manner known to date (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. SHO 63-23868) so that a harmful trialkyltin compound should be used as a reagent for tetrazole introduction. The above process is therefore not fully satisfactory from the industrial viewpoint.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an industrially useful process for producing an N-biphenylmethylthiadiazoline derivative (7) or salt thereof which is an angiotensin antagonist, and also an intermediate for producing the same.

Process for producing N-biphenylmethylthiadiazoline derivative or salt thereof and intermediate for producing the same


A bird feeding system may include a platform that is sized and configured to catch at least a portion of the bird feed that may fall from a bird feeder. The platform may include a frame and a catching portion, which may have a permeable construction. The frame may be configured to be moved between a collapsed position for storage and an expanded position for use. Advantageously, the platform may be connected to different types and configurations of bird feeders and/or other structures using attachment members that are adjustable in length.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems for feeding one or more animals, and, in particular, to a system for feeding birds.
2. Description of Related Art
Bird feeders are known in the art. Conventional bird feeders include a container for bird feed and are typically used to attract wild birds. To use these conventional bird feeders, a person places bird feed within the bird feeder's container and typically places the bird feeder outdoors. The person then may watch birds eat the bird feed from the bird feeder.
As the birds eat, a substantial amount of the bird feed may fall to the ground. For example, perch feeding birds (such as buntings, bluebirds, finches, and chickadees) prefer to eat when perched at the bird feeder, but they can inadvertently drop some of the bird feed while eating at a conventional bird feeder. Further, ground feeding birds (such as native sparrows, house sparrows, and juncos) prefer eating bird feed off the ground and thus will deliberately cast the bird feed from the bird feeder onto the ground for eating.
While the birds may eat some of the fallen bird feed, much of the fallen bird feed often remains uneaten, causing several problems. For example, the uneaten fallen bird seed can attract rats, mice or other vermin that may be destructive, annoying and even cause health problems.
The uneaten fallen bird feed can also damage lawns. For example, some bird feed may include certain seeds that can grow to become weeds. In addition, the fallen bird feed can accumulate in piles, which can prevent sunlight from reaching portions of the lawn and thus damage the grass. Further, when animals attempt to eat the bird seed on the ground, they may damage the turf. Accordingly, to protect one's lawn, one may be required to spend a significant amount of time cleaning up the fallen bird feed.
In addition to wasting time, conventional bird feeders may waste money. For example, rain or other conditions can rot the fallen bird feed—making the fallen bird feed unusable for refilling the bird feeder. Accordingly, users must purchase more bird seed to refill their bird feeders. Further, even if some of the fallen bird feed is not rotten, retrieving the usable bird feed can be tedious, difficult, and inefficient.


A computer implemented method for tracking a marker on a deformable surface in augmented reality (AR) applications, comprising: detecting image-key-points in a currently processed video frame of a video-captured scene; performing key-point-correspondence searching and matching the image-key-points with model-key-points are identified from an original image of the marker, comprising: calculating an key-point matching score for each image-key-point; applying a key-point matching score filter on the key-point matching scores; restricting the searching of the image-key-points in the currently processed video frame to within same mesh block determined in a previously processed video frame of the captured video frames; and applying adaptive thresholds on the key-point matching scores in determining successful matches of the image-key-points; performing motion detection of the marker in the video-captured scene and halting the application of the key-point matching score filter and suspending the restriction on the image-key-point searching if the marker is in significant movement.

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology combining virtual objects and/or information with perceptions of the physical real-world environment through the use of sensors, computer-generated data, and/or multimedia playback devices in order to enhance the users' perception of the physical real-world environment. For example, a camera can be used to video-capture a scene and a display unit such as video display glasses or goggles is used to project a computer-processed view of the scene to the viewer. Different from virtual reality where the viewer is presented a total artificial computer-generated viewing experience, only certain computer-generated imagery or virtual object is superimposed into the computer-processed view of the scene. The computer-generated imagery or virtual object can be viewer-interactive or driven by real-time user control or pre-configured settings and instructions.
One key measure of the AR technique is how realistic the resulting augmented video as perceived, or how well the integration of the computer-generated imageries or virtual objects with the view of the scene. This requires the correct association of the computer-generated imageries or virtual objects and their placement locations within the scene throughout a motion sequence or consecutive video frames of the scene. One common issue among existing AR techniques is the tracking of three-dimensional coordinates and orientations of two-dimensional planar markers for placements of virtual objects within a video-captured scene. The tracking of markers allows the virtual objects to be superimposed into the scene at the marker locations and orientations through the motion sequence of the scene.
However, the current state of the art does not have a satisfactory technique for addressing the situation in which a tracking marker for virtual object is placed on a deformable surface in a video-captured scene. A deformable surface can be found on a soft article such as a shirt on a person in motion, a flying flag, or moving water surface. A virtual object superimposed on a deformable surface not only need to properly appear at the right position in the right orientation during a motion sequence, its texture and shape must change along with the distortions of the deformable surface.

Deformable surface tracking in augmented reality applications

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited


A magnetic assembly and method permitting the use of low-cost magnets capable of being fabricated in an efficient and low-cost manner having a plate having a mounting surface and an opposing bottom surface, with a plurality of magnetizable elements, each of which is fitted in a fixture having plural radial wings for holding the magnetizable elements against the mounting surface, and with an over mold of a plastic material covering the mounting surface, the fixture and the bottom surface.

Magnetic housing assemblies are used with magnetic advertising signs for automotive vehicles. Because the magnets must withstand forces taking place during the vehicle's motion without becoming dislodged, a strong construction is necessary; however, because the signs are used as temporary fixtures and are frequently removed from vehicles, magnet strength must not be so high as to defeat removal. Therefore for certain applications, it is desirable to use a plurality of thinner, lower-cost, magnets arranged in a permanent fashion inside a housing, so that the magnetic force is distributed across the housing's surface area.
To assure that the magnets do not shift during construction of the assembly and during use, it is necessary to permanently fix the magnets in place. Although glue is used as one method to fix magnets in place, the glue must be able to withstand high temperatures to which the finished housing will be subjected. Use of high temperature glue is relatively expensive as well as unnecessary for the routine use of the magnet. In order to avoid these problems alternate solutions are desirable. An earlier version of a magnetic assembly for automotive signs is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,618,013, a disclosure of this is incorporated here by reference.


The specification and drawings present a new method and apparatus for a rotary hinge for transmitting an optical signal (e.g., comprising data) bi-directionally or uni-directionally from one part to another in an electronic device, wherein these parts can rotate relative to each other using the rotary hinge. The optical signal can be transferred from one side to the other side of the hinge independently from light transmitted in the opposite direction. A sending guiding element (e.g., an optical fiber or a light guide) can rotate around a common rotation axis permanently attached to the side sending the optical signal and the emitted optical beam is directed towards the common rotation axis. The receiving guiding element, which collects the optical beam, is concentrically in the center (coinciding with the common rotation axis) of the receiving side and permanently attached to it.

Transmitting an optical signal (e.g., bi-directional data transmission) through a rotary hinge is not an easy task, since uninterrupted optical fibers cannot be used.
A similar problem can be also found in hinges limited in its turning feature, e.g., to a range +/−180° hinges. In this case, in principle, one can lead optical fibers through the hinge, but then the durability of the optical fibers will be limited.
Bi-directional optical signal transmission is preferable for many practical applications, e.g., in mobile phones, where high-speed data transfer in two directions is required, e.g., where a display and a camera are located in the upper part of the phone and the image handling chip(s) are located in the lower part.


Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a method of fabricating a gallium nitride (GaN) based semiconductor device. The method includes growing GaN based semiconductor layers on a first surface of a GaN substrate to form a semiconductor stack, and separating at least a first portion of the GaN substrate from the semiconductor stack using a wire cutting technique.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of fabricating a gallium nitride (GaN) based semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a method of fabricating a GaN based light emitting diode with a vertical structure using a GaN substrate as a growth substrate.
2. Discussion of the Background
In general, since Group-III element nitrides such as gallium nitride (GaN) and aluminum nitride (AlN) have excellent thermal stability and a direct-transition-type energy band structure, the Group-III element nitrides have recently come into the spotlight as materials to be used for light emitting devices in the visible and ultraviolet light wavelength emission regions. Particularly, blue and green wavelength light emitting devices using indium gallium nitride (InGaN) may be used in various applications, such as large-sized full-color flat panel displays, traffic lights, indoor illumination, high-density light sources, high-resolution output systems, optical communications, and the like.
Since it may be difficult to fabricate a homogeneous substrate on which a Group-III nitride semiconductor layer can be grown, the Group-III nitride semiconductor layer has been grown on a heterogeneous substrate having a similar crystalline structure through a process such as metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), or the like. A sapphire substrate having a hexagonal system structure may be used as the heterogeneous substrate. Recently, a technique for fabricating a high-efficiency light emitting diode (LED) with a vertical structure has been developed by growing epitaxial layers, such as nitride semiconductor layers on a heterogeneous substrate, such as a sapphire substrate, bonding a support substrate to the epitaxial layers, and then separating the heterogeneous substrate using a laser lift-off technique or the like. Since the heterogeneous substrate such as the sapphire substrate and the epitaxial layers grown thereon may have different physical properties, the growth substrate can be easily separated by using the interface between the heterogeneous substrate and the epitaxial layer. The separated heterogeneous substrate may be reused as a growth substrate or for another purpose through subsequent surface treatment thereof.
However, the epitaxial layer grown on the heterogeneous substrate may have a relatively high dislocation density due to a lattice mismatch and a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the epitaxial layer and the growth substrate. It has been found that the epitaxial layer grown on the sapphire substrate generally has a dislocation density of 1×108/cm2. There may be a limitation on improvement of the light emitting efficiency of an LED using an epitaxial layer having such a high dislocation density.
In order to reduce a crystal defect resulting from the growth of the epitaxial layer on the heterogeneous substrate, there has been a recent attempt to use a GaN substrate as a growth substrate. The GaN substrate is a homogeneous substrate with respect to a GaN based semiconductor layer grown thereon, so that the crystal defect may be greatly reduced to enable growth of a high-quality GaN based semiconductor layer.
However, since the GaN substrate is a homogeneous substrate with respect to the GaN based semiconductor layer grown thereon, it may be difficult to separate the growth substrate from an epitaxial layer by using the interface between the substrate and the epitaxial layer. Accordingly, removing the GaN substrate by means of grinding after the growth of the epitaxial layer is completed may be considered. In this case, however, the GaN substrate cannot be reused, which may increase a total production cost.
Alternatively, separating a GaN substrate from an epitaxial layer by applying a laser lift-off technique may be considered. However, since the GaN substrate is a homogeneous substrate with respect to the epitaxial layer grown thereon, the wavelength range of a laser that may be selected for the laser lift-off technique may be considerably narrow. Accordingly, upon irradiation of the selected laser, most of the laser may be lost due to absorption in the GaN substrate while passing through the GaN substrate.

Method of fabricating gallium nitride based semiconductor device


A pacifier cover for removably storing a pacifier to prevent debris from coming in contact with the nipple of the pacifier. The pacifier cover includes a casing. The casing has a top wall having a peripheral edge. A peripheral wall is integrally coupled to and extends away from the peripheral edge of the top wall. The peripheral wall has a free edge. The free edge defines an opening into the casing. The casing is comprised of a resiliently elastic material. A pacifier may be extended through the opening and into the casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pacifier covers and more particularly pertains to a new pacifier cover for removably storing a pacifier to prevent debris from coming in contact with the nipple of the pacifier.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of pacifier covers is known in the prior art. More specifically, pacifier covers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,946,054; 4,493,324; U.S. Des. Pat. No. 409,309; U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,860,639; 4,329,996; and 5,156,617.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new pacifier cover. The inventive device includes a casing. The casing has a top wall having a peripheral edge. A peripheral wall is integrally coupled to and extends away from the peripheral edge of the top wall. The peripheral wall has a free edge. The free edge defines an opening into the casing. The casing is comprised of a resiliently elastic material. A pacifier may be extended through the opening and into the casing.
In these respects, the pacifier cover according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of removably storing a pacifier to prevent debris from coming in contact with the nipple of the pacifier.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of pacifier covers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new pacifier cover construction wherein the same can be utilized for removably storing a pacifier to prevent debris from coming in contact with the nipple of the pacifier.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new pacifier cover apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the pacifier covers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new pacifier cover which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art pacifier covers, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a casing. The casing has a top wall having a peripheral edge. A peripheral wall is integrally coupled to and extends away from the peripheral edge of the top wall. The peripheral wall has a free edge. The free edge defines an opening into the casing. The casing is comprised of a resiliently elastic material. A pacifier may be extended through the opening and into the casing.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new pacifier cover apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the pacifier covers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new pacifier cover which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art pacifier covers, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new pacifier cover which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new pacifier cover which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new pacifier cover which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such pacifier cover economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new pacifier cover which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new pacifier cover for removably storing a pacifier to prevent debris from coming in contact with the nipple of the pacifier.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new pacifier cover which includes a casing. The casing has a top wall having a peripheral edge. A peripheral wall is integrally coupled to and extends away from the peripheral edge of the top wall. The peripheral wall has a free edge. The free edge defines an opening into the casing. The casing is comprised of a resiliently elastic material. A pacifier may be extended through the opening and into the casing.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new pacifier cover that has a size and shape adapted for retrofittably receiving existing pacifiers.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new pacifier cover that has fingers thereon which hold the pacifier in the casing and yet are easy to maneuver around in order to remove the pacifier.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.