An endoscope is provided having a shaft and a handle extending to the side of the shaft at the proximal end. A mechanism is provided for pivoting the view direction in an observation area and has at least one operating element being engaged with the mechanism for actuating the mechanism. The at least one operating element is positioned on the handle, such that the mechanism is actuatable with at least one finger or thumb of the same hand holding the handle.

The invention relates to an endoscope having a shaft and a handle extending sideward from the shaft and arranged at a proximal end. A mechanism is provided for pivoting the direction of view in an observation area and at least one operating element is engaged with the mechanism for actuating the same.
An endoscope of this type is disclosed in the German brochure of Olympus Optical Co. (Europa) GmbH, Hamburg, xe2x80x9cOLYMPUSxe2x80x94THE VISIBLE DIFFERENCExe2x80x9d with the designation xe2x80x9cSchwenkprisma-Boreskopxe2x80x9d ([xe2x80x9cBorescope with pivotable prismxe2x80x9d]).
Endoscopes are becoming more important both in technical as well as medical applications. In technical fields, such endoscopes allow an inexpensive, non-destructive, visual control of material quality. Difficultly accessible cavities and hidden components can be visually inspected with an endoscope without time-consuming disassembly. A further application of technical endoscopes is in the study of combustion processes in internal combustion engines, turbines or reactors, only to name a few.
In the medical field, endoscopes are employed in minimally invasive surgery. Operations without larger incisions can be carried out under visual control with the endoscope, where the patient is only slightly affected.
It will be understood that the viewing direction is the direction of the symmetry axis of the light cone, limited by the image angle, of the observation light entering the distal end of the shaft. In a simple type of the known endoscopes, the view direction is fixed and can only be altered by changing the position of the endoscope, which however is only possible to a limited extent. Thus to observe an object from different perspectives or to enlarge the viewing area, i.e. the view field, separate endoscopes having different optics have been provided. These include for example optics for a forward view, a view slightly displaced from forward, side view and rear view. These types of endoscopes must be exchanged with one another during an operation to alter the view direction, which however is inconvenient. For each exchange, the one endoscope must be withdrawn from its entry opening into the observation area and the next endoscope must then be inserted.
Endoscopes of the type mentioned at the outset have been developed with a mechanism for pivoting the view direction at least in the circumferential direction of the shaft. With one single endoscope, an object can be inspected from different perspectives or a larger region can be seen in the observation area. Thus the view direction can be altered without changing the position of the endoscope.
The endoscope known from the above company brochure comprises a handle projecting from a side of the shaft at its proximal end. The handle can be comfortably held in the hand, since it can be readily gripped by the fingers and the thumb when placed in the hand. An operating element is provided which operatively engages with the mechanism for pivoting the view direction, so that the desired direction can be adjusted by actuating the operating element.
The operating element in the known endoscope is provided as an adjustment ring, which is arranged concentrically with the axis of the shaft near the ocular. This configuration of the endoscope has drawbacks with respect to its operational capabilities. When the endoscope is held in the one hand, the other hand must be used to actuate the operating element to pivot the view direction. It is not possible or it is very difficult to operate the ring with the same hand holding the handle, because the ring is positioned above and behind the hand handle. In addition, actuating such an adjustment ring normally requires the use of the thumb and the index finger. The view direction and the image focus cannot be adjusted simultaneously, because no hand is free for actuating the focusing ring at the time the operating element is being used to pivot the view direction.
Since the ring is not ergonomically positioned on the handle and the ring is formed to be concentric with the shaft, the endoscope cannot be held in one hand and simultaneously the ring actuated with the same hand. Thus it is not suited for one-hand operation.
An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an endoscope of the above-mentioned type, in which the operational capabilities of the endoscope are improved.
According to the present invention, an endoscope is provided, comprising:
a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end;
a handle disposed at said proximal end of said shaft and extending sidewards of said shaft, said handle being configured in pistol-like fashion;
a mechanism for pivoting a view direction of said endoscope within an observation area; and
at least two operating elements which are operatively engaged with said mechanism for actuating said mechanism, a first one of said at least two operating elements being for pivoting said view direction with respect to said longitudinal axis of said shaft and the second one of said at least two operating elements being for pivoting said view direction in circumferential direction, said first operating element being disposed on a front side of said handle such that it is operable with at least one finger of the hand holding said handle,
wherein said second operating element is disposed on a side face of said handle such that it is operable with the thumb of said same hand holding said handle.
The endoscope of the present invention allows a one-hand operation, not possible in the known endoscope, through the configuration with at least two operating elements positioned on the handle itself, one on the front side and one of the side face of the handle, so that the one can be actuated with at least one finger and the other with the thumb of the same hand holding the handle. The positioning of the operating elements on the handle allows the handle to be held firmly in the hand while actuating the operating elements and the operating elements to be actuated without substantial change in the position of the hand or in the manner of gripping. The sidewardly extending handle thus remains comfortably held in the hand also when actuating the at least one operating element. The invention is therefore to position at least two operating elements on the handle at a location where the thumb and at least one finger lies when normally gripping the handle in relaxed manner. An advantage is that the operating elements can be actuated with only slight movement of a finger and thumb. The endoscope of the present invention is considerably improved in handling due to the one-hand operability.
Positioning one of the elements at the front side has the advantage that the operating element can be actuated with the fingertips or the forward finger joints of one or more fingers of the same hand holding the handle. A further advantage is that the endoscope can be operated by left as well as right-handed persons, because the operating element can be provided at a central position on the distal side of the handle.
At least two operating elements are provided, where the at least one operating element for pivoting the view direction with respect to the longitudinal direction and the at least one further operating element for rotating the view in circumferential direction are positioned with respect to one another such that one the operating elements is actuated with the thumb and the other with at least one finger of the same hand which holds the handle.
With this configuration, the view direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft is pivoted by adjusting the disposition of the optical element, i.e. the view direction relative to the longitudinal axis is adjusted by adjusting the disposition of the optical element in an angular range between for example a forward view and a rear view. On the other hand, by rotating the shaft the view direction is altered in circumferential direction of the shaft. The known endoscope mentioned in the introduction comprises such a rotatable shaft and a pivotal prism. However, for rotating the shaft and for pivoting the prism, a ring is arranged concentrically about the shaft, which as already mentioned cannot be operated by the same hand holding the handle.
In contrast, a one-hand operation of two operating elements is achieved in the present invention, because these operating elements are ergonomically positioned on the handle. A considerable advantage of the invention is that an arrangement is provided through the position of the operating element for rotating the shaft and the operating element for adjusting the optical element, which allows a simultaneous actuation of both operating elements. The one operating element can be actuated for example with the index finger and the further operating element with the thumb, such that the desired view direction can be adjusted more easily and much faster, which is not possible with the known endoscope.
The object underlying the present invention is thus completely achieved.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first operating element is configured as a pistol-like trigger.
In combination with the positioning of the first element on the front side of the handle, this has the advantage that the trigger can be operated over a small distance and therefore operated with slight finger movement by bending the finger. The trigger, which can be formed as a pivot lever, can preferably be actuated with the index finger, while the remaining three fingers and the thumb comfortably hold the handle. This configuration of the operating element is therefore particularly ergonomic.
In a further preferred embodiment, the first operating element is formed as a button.
A one-hand operation is also advantageously achieved with this configuration. The button can be positioned on a side face of the handle to be operated with the thumb or as mentioned above, positioned on the front side of the handle to be operated with one finger of the hand grasping the handle. In a configuration with a pair of buttons, one button is preferably configured to pivot the view in one direction and the neighboring button to pivot in the opposite direction. In a configuration as a toggle button, one side of the button is preferably for pivoting the view in one direction and the other side for pivoting in the opposite direction.
In a further preferred embodiment, the first operating element comprises a circumferentially closed or partially open ring for actuation with one or more fingers.
The feature has the advantage if the operating element is not moved against a return force, so that the element can be moved back and forth with the same finger or fingers or with the thumb without having to reposition the finger or fingers.
In a further preferred embodiment, the second operating element is formed as a slide member and is arranged on the at least one side face of the handle.
The feature represents a further advantageous possibility of positioning and configuring the operating element, which enables actuation with the thumb alone. If such a slide member is provided on both side faces of the handle, the present endoscope can then advantageously be operated with the left or right hand.
In a further preferred embodiment, the second operating element is configured as an adjustment wheel, which is rotatably mounted in the handle, where the handle includes at least one window on at least one of its side faces in which a portion of the circumference of the adjustment wheel is exposed.
An advantage is that the adjustment wheel, of which only an operable portion protrudes from the handle, can be rotated with the thumb with only slight thumb movement. Preferably, an actuatable portion of the adjustment wheel is exposed on both sides of the handle, so that the endoscope can be operated with the left or the right hand in the same manner.
In a further preferred embodiment, the adjustment wheel is arranged in the handle with its pivot axis not being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
An advantage is that the direction of operation of the adjustment wheel runs approximately in the direction of the shaft axis. This operation direction is advantageously adapted to the freedom of movement of the thumb when the handle is grasped by the hand of the user.
In a further preferred embodiment, the mechanism for pivoting the view direction comprises at least one optical element arranged to be adjustable in position at the distal end of the shaft, where the position adjustment provides pivoting of the view direction substantially with respect to the longitudinal direction of the shaft and the first operating element is operatively engaged with the optical element.
In combination with the positioning of the at least two operating elements on the handle, an advantageous one-hand operation of the pivoting of the view direction is achieved with respect to the longitudinal direction, for example between a forward and rearward view direction.
In a further preferred embodiment, the mechanism provides rotatability of the shaft, where the shaft is rotatable about its longitudinal axis to pivot the view direction in circumferential direction and wherein the second operating element is operatively engaged with the shaft for rotating the shaft.
In combination with the position of the at least one operating element on the hand handle, an advantageous one-hand operation for rotating the view direction is achieved also in the circumferential direction.
In a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the first and second operating elements is configured to be self-retarded.
An advantage of this feature that an adjusted view direction is maintained without the one and/or the other operating element needing to be held fixed. An additional advantage is that an undesired displacement of the view direction is avoided.
In a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the first and second operating elements can be locked in at least one operating position.
An advantage is that at least one view direction, preferably however any view direction, adjusted with the operating elements, can be locked in place, so that when interrupting an inspection, the inspection can be started again with an unaltered view direction and a desired location being observed can be immediately found again. The locking of the operating element for rotating the shaft is preferably achieved by a catch of the operating element which can be engaged and disengaged.
In a further preferred embodiment, at least one display means is provided for displaying the respectively adjusted view direction.
An advantage is that the user of the endoscope can determine and document the position of an object with respect to other observed objects or with respect to points in the observation space in the manner of a bearing. This is possible based on the adjusted view direction being displayed as an angle with respect to a fixed direction, for example an axis of the endoscope.
In a further preferred embodiment, the display means is arranged in the image transmission path of the endoscope, so that the adjusted view direction is displayed in a viewfinder image in the optics of the endoscope.
An advantage is that the adjusted view direction can be particularly conveniently determined by simply looking through the endoscope.
Preferably, the display means comprise a disc-like element having reference markings distributed about its circumference and a pointer running about the longitudinal axis of the shaft relative to the markings.
This is an advantageous configuration of the display means for displaying a view direction in circumferential direction, by which the pointer moves about the shaft when it is rotated, while the disc-like element, for example in the form of a compass with reference markings, remains fixed when rotating the shaft. The element comprising the reference markings is preferably a shutter in the image transmission path of the endoscope. The reference markings can also be denoted with numbers in degrees, for example in steps of 30xc2x0. By simultaneously displaying the markings and the pointer, the angle between the handle and the circumferential view direction can at least be estimated and is also adjustable. For example, when holding the handle in vertical position, the vertical axis becomes the reference axis and the circumferential view direction is therefore defined. A location to be observed can be advantageously found again in this manner, or the observation direction, at least in circumference, can be estimated and documented.
In addition, the display means preferably comprises a bubble in a fluid for indicating the vertical direction.
This feature has the further advantage that the ground vertical direction is always defined by the bubble position, as in a level, during handling of the endoscope even when the handle is tilted slightly to the side. The bubble indicator can be provided in place of or in addition to the above-mentioned reference markings.
In a further preferred embodiment, the display means comprises a digital or analog display of the adjusted view direction.
An exact display of the respective view is advantageously made possible, namely a display can be provided for the view with respect to the longitudinal direction and/or the circumferential direction. The display can also be made visible in the image transmission path of the optics in the view field.
In a further preferred embodiment, the display means comprise one or more display windows arranged on the handle with digital or analog displays for the adjusted view direction.
This feature has the advantage that the adjusted view with respect to the longitudinal direction and/or in circumferential direction is shown on the handle itself, so that operational conditions of the endoscope with respect to the adjusted view direction can be recognized at any time.
In a further preferred embodiment, the handle projects from the shaft to be inclined with respect to the shaft toward the distal end.
With this configuration of the handle, an ideal ergonomic form is achieved, which is adapted for the purposes of manipulation of the endoscope. Namely, when using the endoscope, the ocular cup is drawn close to the eye of the user, so that the lower arm is closely adjacent to the upper arm. Due to the handle being inclined toward the distal end, the handle can be held in relaxed, tire-free manner with the wrist being angled slightly backwardly and upwardly.
In a further preferred embodiment, a connector for connecting an optical cable is arranged to be sunk in the handle, where the handle comprises an opening at least on one side at the position of the connector.
The connector being recessed or sunk in the handle has the advantage that the end of the cable, normally reinforced with a sleeve to protect against bending, is completely recessed into the handle, so that only the flexible portion of the optical cable extends from the handle. This has the advantage that the reinforced portion of the cable end does not hinder the use of the endoscope, whereby the utilization of the endoscope is further improved. The at least one opening provided on one side, preferably however two openings in the vicinity of the connector, allow easy handling for fixing and releasing the optical fiber connector.
In a further preferred embodiment, a TV camera is integrated at the proximal end of the endoscope.
The camera can be integrated at the proximal end of the handle in place of the normal ocular, so that the region to be observed can advantageously be made visable on a monitor.
The above advantages of the endoscope according to the present invention can be employed in technical endoscopy, but also in medical applications, particularly endoscopic surgery, in advantageous manner.
Further advantages will become apparent from the following description and the attached drawings. It will be understood that the above-mentioned features and those to be discussed below are applicable not only in the given combinations, but also in other combinations or taken alone without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Selected embodiments are shown in the drawings and will be discussed in more detail below with reference to the figures.


A charge pump circuit of a liquid crystal display driver integrated circuit (LDI) is provided, which can reduce unnecessary current consumption when a load of an output node varies is provided, where, in a gradient mode of a display-on mode, in which an output node of the charge pump circuit has a maximum load, the current driving capability of a driver in the charge pump circuit is increased, and where, in a binary mode, in which the output node of the charge pump circuit has a smaller load than in the gradient mode, the current driving capability of the driver is lower, to prevent unnecessary current consumption caused by too large driving transfer transistors in the driver and to maintain boost efficiency at a proper level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to liquid crystal display driver integrated circuits (LDI), and more particularly, to a charge pump circuit of an LDI.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional liquid crystal display driver integrated circuit (LDI) for mobile equipment includes a source line driving voltage generating circuit 11 that generates a source line driving voltage SVDD, a common electrode driving voltage generating circuit 13 that generates a common electrode driving voltage VCOM, a gamma driving reference voltage generating circuit 15 that generates a gamma driving reference voltage (GVDD), and an LCD on/off voltage generating circuit 17 that generates an LCD on/off voltage VON/VOFF, in order to drive an LCD. Each of the source line driving voltage generating circuit 11, the common electrode driving voltage generating circuit 13, and the gamma driving reference voltage generating circuit 15 includes amplifiers.
Further, the LDI includes a charge pump circuit 19 to supply a power voltage to the circuits. The charge pump circuit 19 receives an external battery source voltage VCI of about 2.5 volts to 3.3 volts and then boosts the external battery source voltage VCI to produce a boost voltage AVDD of about 5.5 volts, and supplies the boost voltage (AVDD) to the circuits as source voltages.
Meanwhile, the LDI of FIG. 1 performs power-on operations in the sequence as illustrated in FIG. 2 to stably supply a source voltage to each of the circuits 11, 13, 15 and 17. After a reset, the charge pump circuit 19 is turned on to generate the boost voltage AVDD, and the LCD on/off voltage generating circuit 17 generates the LCD on voltage VON and the LCD off voltage VOFF in operations S1 and S2, respectively.
Next, the common electrode driving voltage generating circuit 13 and the gamma driving reference voltage generating circuit 15 are turned on by the boost voltage AVDD as a source voltage, and generate the common electrode driving voltage VCOM and the gamma driving reference voltage GVDD, respectively, in operations S3 and S4.
Finally, in a display-on mode in which an LCD panel is driven, the source line driving voltage generating circuit 11 is turned on in operations S5 through S7. The display-on mode may be a binary mode, which is a black and white mode, or a gradient mode, which is a color mode.
All of the amplifiers in the source line driving voltage generating circuit 11 are turned off in the binary mode, and are turned on in the gradient mode. Thus, the largest number of amplifiers operates in the gradient mode so that a load of an output node of the charge pump circuit 19 is maximized in the gradient mode. That is, the load derived from the boost voltage AVDD is greatest in the gradient mode.
In a conventional charge pump circuit used in an LDI, the current driving capability of a driver, such as a driving transfer transistor, which transfers a boost voltage generated in the charge pump circuit to an output node, is fixed based on the gradient mode of the display-on mode, in which the output node has a maximum load.
Accordingly, the driver consumes excess current even in an operational mode in which the charge pump circuit has a smaller load than in the gradient mode.

Charge pump circuit of LCD driver including driver having variable current driving capability


A printer controller comprising a rasterizing part for producing raster data as printing data, a skew correcting part for correcting the raster data for a skew error in accordance with a correction coefficient delivered form the color image forming device and indicating a skew error, a compression part for compressing the raster data corrected for the skew error so as to deliver the compressed raster data, and storing the compressed raster data in memory, an expansion part for expanding the compressed raster data so as to restore the raster data, and a magnification correcting part for correcting the raster data delivered from the expansion part, for a magnification error accordance with correction coefficient delivered from the color image forming device and indicating a magnification error. With this configuration, it is possible to eliminate the necessity of line memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer controller for creating and delivering printing data (raster data) which is received by a color image forming device for forming an image.
2. Related Art
Recently, full color printer devices using an electrophotographic process or an ink jet system have been prosperously used as office printers, that is, output terminal units for personal computers, workstations or the like.
Referring to FIG. 5 which is a configuration view illustrating a color printer in general, there are shown a personal computer 30, a printer 31, a printer controller 100 which is one of components of the printer 31, and a color image forming device 200 which is also one of the components of the printer 31.
As shown in FIG. 5, printing in the printer 31 using a electrophotographic system is carried out in such a way that printing data created by the personal computer 30 is received through an interface by the printer 31 for forming an image. It is noted that a CAD, a workstation or a digital camera may be used, instead of the personal computer 30.
The configuration of the printer 31 will be detailed. As shown in FIG. 5, the printer includes therein the printer controller 100 and a printer engine 200.
Referring to FIG. 6 which is a block diagram illustrating the printer controller 100, there are shown a receiving part 101 for receiving printing data, an interpreter part 102 for interpreting languages for the printing data, a rasterizing part 103 for converting the interpreted printing data into raster data, a compression part 104 for compressing the raster data and for delivering a compressed raster data, a memory 105 for storing the compressed raster data, an expansion part 106 for restoring the compressed raster data, and a data transmission part 107 for transmitting the restored data to the color image forming device (printer engine) 200.
As shown in FIG. 6, in the printer controller 100, the receiving part 101 receives printing data such as data including print language, bit map data or mixture thereof, concerning a document to be printed. The printing data in the form of the print language is interpreted by the interpreter part 102, and is converted by the rasterizing part 103 into raster data with which the printer engine 200 forms an image. As to the volume of raster data for four-color printing, estimating that the degree of resolution is 600 dpi while the size of a printing sheet is A3, and a gradation is binary, the data size becomes 35 Mbytes. Further, should the degree of resolution be increased, or should data for a plurality of pages be once rasterized, the volume of raster data would be extensive, and accordingly, a mass memory for temporarily storing the rater data would be required. Thus, there has been in general used such a technique that the volume of the raster data is reduced by the compression part 104 so as to decrease the volume of the data. The data which has been compressed is once stored in the memory 105, and the compressed data is then restored by the expansion part 106 before the data is transmitted to the printer engine 200 through the data transmission part 107.
Meanwhile, the printer engine 200 carries out image formation after a latent image is formed in accordance with the raster data delivered from the printer controller 100.
Referring to FIG. 7 which is a schematic view illustrating a printer engine 200, there are shown image forming stations 1a to 1d, photosensitive media 2a to 2d, chargers 3a to 3d, developing units 4a to 4d, cleaning units 5a to 5d, exposure units 6a to 6d, transfer units 8a to 3d, exposure beams 9a to 9d, support rollers 10, 11, an intermediate transfer belt 12 serving as a image bearing medium, raster data receiving parts 13a to 13d, a pattern detecting part 14, a paper feed cassette 16, sheet materials 17, a paper feed roller 18, a sheet material transfer roller 19, a fixing unit 20, a skew/magnification detecting part 32, and an image forming light drive control part 35.
As shown in FIG. 7, the printer engine 200 includes a plurality of image forming stations 1a to 1d for carrying our processes of forming images so as to form color images such as a cyan image, a magenta image, a yellow image and a black image which is preferable, on the intermediate transfer belt 12, and then, the images on the intermediate transfer belt 12 are transferred onto a sheet material 17, being superposed with one other, at an image transfer position so as to form a full color image. The above-mentioned printer engine which is a tandem type has been proposed. Such a tandem type printer engine is advantageous in view of speed-up of the image formation since the plurality of image forming parts are provided for the color images, respectively.
However, there has been raised such a problem that how the color images which are formed respectively in the different image forming parts can be satisfactorily aligned with one another because deviation among four color image forming positions causes positionnal deviation or color tone variation, finally.
Next, the positional deviation among transferred images will be explained with reference to FIGS. 8a to 10. FIG. 8a is a view for explaining a positional deviation in the travelling direction of the transfer medium, that is, in the direction of the arrow A in the figure, (this positional deviation will be referred to "vertical scanning positional deviation"), FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a positional deviation in a scanning direction, that is, the direction orthogonal to the direction of the arrow A, (this positional deviation will be referred to "horizontal scanning positional deviation), FIG. 8c is a view for explaining a positional deviation in a skew direction (this positional deviation will be referred to "skew error"), FIG. 8d is a view for explaining a magnification error, and FIG. 8e is a view for explaining a curving error. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating parts relating to correction for skew and magnification in the color image forming device, and FIGS. 10 to 10c are views for explaining correction for skew and magnification errors in a conventional printer engine.
Referring to FIG. 9, there are shown a printer controller 100, a color image forming device 101, a skew/magnification detecting part 32 for transmitting a skew error and a magnification error, a skew/magnification correction coefficient computing part 33 for computing a skew correction coefficient and a magnification correction coefficient from detected errors, a skew/magnification correcting part for correcting the skew errors and the magnification error in accordance with the skew correction coefficient and the magnification correction coefficient, an image forming beam drive control part 35 for driving and controlling an image forming beam, and a line memory for storing therein data.
As to the kinds of positional deviations in a transferred image, as shown in FIGS. 8a to 8e, there are presented the vertical scanning positional deviation (Refer to FIG. 8a), the horizontal scanning positional deviation (Refer to FIG. 8b), the skew error (FIG. 8c), the magnification error (Refer to FIG. 8d), and the curving deviation (Refer to FIG. 8e). However, the above-mentioned five kinds of deviations and errors are superposed with one another, being actually exhibited.
Further, as to main causes of the above-mentioned positional deviations, the vertical scanning positional deviation (Refer to FIG. 8a) is caused by installations errors of the image forming stations and the scanning optical systems, and as well, by installation errors of lenses and mirrors (which are not shown) in the scanning optical systems, and the horizontal scanning positional deviation (Refer to FIG. 8b) rly caused thereby. Accordingly, these deviations can be simply eliminated, for example, by electrically adjusting the timing of the exposures 6a to 6d of raster data.
The skew error shown in FIG. 8c is caused by angular errors of the rotary shaft of a photosensitive drum and angular installation error of the scanning optical systems, in the image forming station. The magnification errors (Refer to FIG. 8d) is caused by deviations in the scanning length due to the optical lengths from the scanning optical systems to the photosensitive drums in the image forming stations, and the curving error (refer to FIG. 8e) is caused by errors of the assembly of the lenses in the scanning optical systems.
Accordingly, there has been proposed the following correcting manner: the above-mentioned five kinds of deviations are detected from reference patterns (register patterns) which have been drawn previously, by means of the skew/magnification detecting part 32 (detection of a positional deviation), and then, degrees of alignment (skew values and magnifications) for images in accordance with the deviations are calculated from the result of the detection by the skew/magnification correction coefficient computing part 33 so that correction is made by the skew/magnification correcting part 34.
FIGS. 10a to 10c show the manner of this correction. Referring to FIG. 10a, a rectangle to be drawn, indicated by the chain line is actually depicted as being indicated by a solid line due to a skew error and a magnification error with no correction. Accordingly, pixels are shifted in the vertical scanning direction on the basis of a skew correction angle α as shown in FIG. 10a, and thereafter, the pixels are enlarged (reduced) in the main scanning direction on the basis of a magnification correction rate β as shown in FIG. 10c. It is noted that FIGS. 10a to 10c are drawn, being exaggerated more or less in order to clarify the skew correction. However, actually, the correction is made with a minimum unit of the resolution of vertical scanning.
Should the correction for deviations and errors shown in FIGS. 10a to 10c be made, as mentioned above, in the printer engine 200, the line memory 36 would be required for storing data having a volume corresponding to a number of lines for the correction in the vertical scanning direction of printing, as shown in FIG. 9.
As mentioned above, the conventional printer controller has raised such a problem that a line memory 36 is additionally required for produced raster on the printer engine side in order to correct a skew and a magnification of the printer engine 200.
In this printer controller, it is required to eliminate the necessity of a line memory, by correcting skew and magnification errors within the printer controller.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Printer controller responsive to skew and magnification error

Matsushita Electric Indtustrial Co., Ltd.


A frequency modulated radio frequency broadcast network in which re-transmitting stations employ a synchronous frequency modulated booster system. Included in the frequency modulated booster system is a synchronous frequency .[.modualted.]. .Iadd.modulated .Iaddend.exciter for converting a frequency modulated intermediate frequency into a frequency modulated broadcast signal. The synchronous frequency modulated .[.exicter.]. .Iadd.exciter .Iaddend.includes phase locked loop circuits for synchronizing the re-transmitted frequency modulated broadcast signal with the frequency modulated intermediate frequency signal by detecting reference signals in the composite baseband of the intermediate frequency signal and in the composite signal frequency modulated broadcast signal.

The present invention relates in general to a frequency modulated radio frequency synchronous repeater system for the transmission of frequency modulated broadcast signals, and more particularly to a frequency modulated radio frequency repeater system employing a synchronous frequency modulated booster system for the re-transmission of frequency modulated broadcast signals.
Frequency modulated broadcast transmissions have been limited to audiences within a reception area. In order to increase the reception area for the frequency modulated broadcast transmission to reach a greater audience, re-transmission sites have been installed in areas remotely located from the originating transmitter. At the re-transmission sites were booster transmitters and synchronous transmitter exciters to increase the power level of the frequency modulated broadcast signals at a re-transmission site.
Heretofore, a demodulation process was used at a re-transmission site which caused phase shifts, delays and inconsistent modulation levels between the originating frequency modulated broadcast signal and the frequency modulated broadcast signal at the re-transmission site. Phase shifts, delays and inconsistent modulation levels between the originating frequency modulated radio frequency signal and the re-transmitted frequency modulated radio frequency signal resulted in signal degradation and noise interference in the coverage area intended for improvement by the re-transmitted frequency modulated broadcast signal of the booster transmitter.
Heretofore, a device was employed to produce a reference signal for synchronizing and stabilizing the output of frequency modulated radio frequency signals transmitted at a re-transmission booster site. The device did not use a reference signal generated at the site of the originating transmitter or re-use the FM modulation in the original carrier. Hence, the output of the frequency modulated radio frequency signal of the transmitter at the re-transmission booster site was modified from the original FM signal in frequency and in phase.
In the U.S. Pat. to Wu et al., No. 4,710,970, issued on Dec. 1, 1987, for Method Of And Apparatus For Generating A Frequency Modulated Ultrahigh Frequency Radio Transmission Signal, there is disclosed an ultra high radio frequency transmitter. The output of a very high frequency voltage controlled generator is phase locked through a phase detector with a voltage controlled crystal oscillator producing a reference signal for the stabilizing of the output transmission frequency of the ultra high radio frequency transmission frequency oscillator.
In the U.S. Pat. to Martinez, No. 4,208,630, issued on June 17, 1980, for Narrow Band Paging Or Control Radio System, there is disclosed a radio system for paging in which a central transmitting device and remote receiving devices are phase locked to a local broadcast station radio frequency carrier so as to provide a means to synchronize the transmitting device with the receiving device.
The British Patent to McGraw-Edison Company, No. 2,061,581B, published on May 18, 1983, for Communication System For Distribution Automation And Remote Metering, discloses a phase detector to which is applied the output of a limiter-amplifier and a reference signal from a voltage controlled crystal oscillator. The output of the phase detector is a control signal which is proportional to the phase differences of the input signals to the phase detector. The error signal is applied to the voltage controlled crystal oscillator. The circuit described is part of a phase locked loop circuit.
In an article published by Omega International of Irvine, Calif., entitled Synchronous Repeaters, there is mentioned that the output frequency of a booster is phase locked with the originating station through analog simulation of a digital control signal derived from the originating station.
Heretofore, FM exciters were sold to accept the composite baseband signal from a stero generator, and STL system or monaural audio and SCA programming, and to generate its operating frequency with a digitally programmed, phase-locked frequency synthesis system. Such an FM exciter was sold by Continental Electronics Mfg. Co. of Dallas, Tex., as the Continental Type 802A FM exciter, and by Broadcast Electronics of Quincy, Ill., as the Model FX-30.

Frequency modulated radio frequency broadcast network employing a synchronous frequency modulated booster system


A safety structure for a cover device includes a base assembly and a cover assembly. The base assembly has a concave portion. The cover assembly is hinged to the base assembly and may cover the base assembly. The cover assembly has a cover body and a projection, which may elastically protrude out of and retract into the cover body, and may be fit into the concave portion for positioning. The projection is configured such that it may retract into the cover body to prevent an object from being hurt when the cover assembly is placed down and touches the object.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a safety structure for a cover device, and more particularly to a safety structure for a cover device having a projection.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional computer peripheral such as a scanner, a projection and a concave portion that provide the positioning function are adopted in order to ensure the positioning precision between the cover and the body. At present, the scanner functions are gradually increased with the growing demands of the users. For example, a transparency adaptor may be attached to the cover of the scanner so that the transparency (e.g., film) scan may be performed. Alternatively, an automatic document feeder may be attached to the cover of the scanner so that the sheet-fed scan may be performed. More particularly, a scanning module may be attached to the automatic document feeder so that the duplex sheet-fed scan may be performed.
Hence, the weight of the scanner cover is increased with the addition of the attached assembly/assemblies. When the user places the document on the scanner body and then places the cover down, the projection of the cover together with the concave portion of the body may hurt the human hand therebetween. Alternatively, if the cover drops unexpectedly, the projection may further stab and hurt the human hand.
Because the conventional cover is light-weighted, the projection is directly fixed to the cover or body, and the projection only provides the positioning function without considering the problem of hurting the human hand.
On the other hand, the projection may also cause some botherations in some conditions. For example, when the user places a large-scale document on the scanner, the cover's projection may perforate through the document, or the cover cannot be placed down and cannot flatten the document. It is disadvantageous to this case because the better scan quality can be obtained only if the large-scale document has been flattened.


The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a micro-fluidic device comprising a substrate, a cavity in the substrate and a plurality of micro-pillar columns located inside the cavity. The micro-pillars columns are configured to create a capillary action when a fluid sample is provided in the cavity. A micro-fluidic channel is present between two 5 walls of any two adjacent micro-pillars in a same micro-pillar column. Each of the two walls comprises a sharp corner along the direction of a propagation path of the fluid sample in the micro-fluidic channel thereby forming a capillary stop valve. A notch provided in a sidewall of the cavity acts as a capillary stop valve.

Typically, micro-fluidic capillary systems necessitate the use of capillary pumps. The capillary pumps have posts to create a capillary pressure inside the capillary system. An effective and efficient micro-fluidic capillary pumping system requires a high capillary pressure with a low-flow resistance. The dimensions of the posts of the capillary pump should be kept relatively small to create a high capillary pressure with a low flow resistance of the fluid.
In a capillary pumping application, the capillary pressure may be represented by ΔPcap=2γ/R, wherein γ is the liquid-vapor surface tension and R is the radius of curvature of the liquid-vapor interface. The radius of curvature 'R' is dependent on the geometry of the hydrophilic posts of the capillary pump. Therefore, the dimensions of the channel are kept small to provide a large capillary pressure. However, smaller channel dimensions result in the creation of viscous forces that result in an increase of the flow resistance of the fluid through the channel. Therefore, there is a trade-off between high capillary pressure and low flow resistance of a fluid.
Several solutions are suggested for overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks. One of the solutions is to use a plurality of parallel channels to reduce the flow resistance while maintaining a high capillary pressure. Another solution is to use a micro-pillar array. Both the aforementioned solutions may provide a high capillary pressure and a low flow resistance.
However, these solutions do not provide a reliable regular and controlled filling of the capillary pump. An irregular and uncontrolled filling of the capillary pump results in the creation of shortcut paths of a liquid in the capillary pump, whereby the fluid finds a direct path between an inlet and an outlet of the pump, without completely filling the pump. Further, the irregular and uncontrolled filling of the capillary pump results in the creation of air bubbles in a closed loop capillary pump resulting in a decrease of the volume of the capillary pump.
Hence, there is a desire for a capillary pump with a reliable controlled filling mechanism whilst achieving a high capillary pressure and a low flow resistance of a fluid sample in the pump. Further, there is a desire for a capillary pump with a reliable controlled filling mechanism to guide a fluid sample along a desired propagation path.
The abovementioned shortcomings, disadvantages, and/or problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following description.

Microstructured micropillar arrays for controllable filling of a capillary pump


An emergency call system includes an emergency call device capable of accessing at least a wireless telecommunication network by means of a communication apparatus. A server processes the emergency call coming from an emergency call device via the communication apparatus. The invention is applicable to emergency call systems in case of health accidents, assaults, accidents and the like. The emergency call device can be a smart card.

The invention relates to emergency call systems and devices which enable the bearers of these emergency call devices to inform an emergency call centre of the occurrence of an event which requires urgent processing.
These systems and devices are used, for example, by elderly people in the event of a health problem or a problem of protection against theft and assaults. To that end, the elderly person is equipped with a fixed telephone and a device for controlling the telephone so as to automatically generate a telephone call by means of the fixed telephone to the emergency call receiving and processing centre. This device can be a simple button on the fixed telephone or an object carried by the elderly person communicating by radiofrequency with the fixed telephone.
There also exist, on the telephone networks, emergency call numbers limited to two or three digits in order to facilitate memorisation and dialling.
These systems and devices of the prior art have the following drawbacks:                a reduced field of action since this is limited solely to the network to which the telephone handset is connected, for example the conventional telephone network, the GSM network, the Internet, etc.;        a geographical area limited to the immediate vicinity of the telephone handset;        authentication of the caller is carried out by means of the calling number, which is not error-free, in particular in the case of erroneous or malicious calls;        no information is transmitted as regards the personal and medical data of the caller;        no information is transmitted as regards the biomedical data related to the emergency situation, in particular the blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar level, etc.


A method and device for performing some preprocessing on voice transmissions depending upon the intended destination of the transmission. The device includes a receiving component configured to receive a voice signal from a source over a network. The device also includes a processing component configured to determine a destination address associated with the received signal, determine a signal processing algorithm from a plurality of signal processing algorithms based on the determined address, and process the voice signal according to the specified algorithm. The device further includes a delivery component configured to send the processed signal to the associated address.

Voice transmission over a digital wireless network involves capturing sound waves using a microphone and converting them to electrical signals and then binary data. The process comprises sampling, digitizing, and other digital signal processes at the receiver unit (e.g., telematics module or cell phone.)
There is a fundamental difference between the way humans process auditory input and the way automated speech recognition (ASR) servers process voice input. Thus, different algorithms for signal processing should be used. In current applications, however, a single, compromise process is used, with resultant inefficiencies.

Method and device to distinguish between voice conversation and automated speech recognition


Search result re-ranking is provided by employing a concept graph from a metabase. When a search query is received, a query context of the search query is analyzed to identify dominant concepts for the search query. The dominant concepts are expanded by identifying the dominant concepts within a concept graph and identifying additional concepts having a strong relationship with the dominant concepts within the concept graph. A set of search results for the search query is analyzed to determine strength of relationship of each search result to the expanded concepts. The search results are re-ranked based on the strength of relationship of each search result to the expanded concepts and the strength of relationship of each expanded concept to the dominant concepts.

Search engines can be used to extract web results, news, and other documents of interest for search queries. When search portals want to present these results in a meaningful manner, the portals are usually unaware of the relative importance of these documents for their user context. The available documents, news articles, and other documents are ranked but do not necessarily take into account the dominant topical context. This has the unintended effect of lessening the importance of key result items that are relevant to the context of the user.

Re-ranking search results based on lexical and ontological concepts


A drill collar assembly allows a sensor to be mounted with the same standoff from a borehole wall independent of the size of stabilizer and borehole involved. A sensor component disposes in a receptacle in the drill collar, but does not affix in the receptacle. Instead, a stabilizer fits on the drill collar and covers the receptacle, and the sensor component mounts directly to the underside of the stabilizer so the component “floats” or “suspends” in the receptacle. The sensor component can mount at a stabilizer blade so the sensor can be positioned in closer proximity to the borehole wall to measure parameters of interest. Because the drill collar and sensor component can be used in different sized boreholes, different sized stabilizers may be positioned on the drill collar to account for the different sized boreholes while the sensor still has the same standoff.

FIG. 1 shows the general configuration of a drilling system in a Measurement-While-Drilling (MWD) or Logging-While-Drilling (LWD) environment. A downhole tool 10 disposes in a borehole BH and is operationally connected to a drill string 12 by a suitable connector 14. At its lower end, the tool 10 has a drill bit 16. Uphole, a rotary drilling rig 60 rotates the drill string 12, the downhole tool 10, and the drill bit 16 to drill the borehole BH. As will be appreciated, other types of borehole conveyance can be used for the downhole tool 10.
The downhole tool 10 has a drill collar 20, a borehole sensor 50, and an electronics subsection 52. The drill collar 20 has a stabilizer sleeve 30 disposed thereon, and the borehole sensor 50 is mounted at a stabilizer blade 32. Depending on the desired parameters of interest, the borehole sensor 50 measures data in the borehole environs, and the electronics subsection 52 can process and store the data and can telemeter the data uphole for any of the various purposes associated with LWD/MWD.
A surface processor 64 cooperating with the electronic subsection 52 may handle the data and can perform additional mathematical operations associated with standard geological applications. Processed data can then be output to a recorder 66 for storage and optionally for output as a function of measured depth thereby forming an "image" or "log" 68 of one or more parameters of interest. All throughout operations, signals can be sent downhole to vary the direction of drilling or to vary the operation of the downhole tool 10.
There are a few techniques for mounting a sensor on a downhole tool 10 for interaction with a borehole BH. Conventional wisdom in the art has been to either install the sensor externally on a drill collar or stabilizer or to particularly configure the sensor to install on the drill collar or stabilizer. Thus, one technique simply mounts a sensor with a plate on a portion of a drill collar. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,250,768 to Ritter et al. discloses a modular cross-over sub for a bottom hole drilling assembly having a stabilizer. Separate from the stabilizer, a resistivity sensor on a plate affixes to the outside of the sub where the sensor and measuring electronics are disposed.
Alternatively, a sensor can be directly part of a stabilizer. For example, U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2009/0025982 discloses instrumentation devices disposed externally on a blade of a stabilizer using rings attached to the blade with screws or other attachment means.
Finally, a particularized package for a sensor can fit in a recess of a downhole tool and can have a stabilizer fit thereover. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,285 to Jones et al. discloses a drilling conduit having a cavity particularly sized to receive an instrument package. A portion of the package radially protrudes a distance, and an alignment channel in a stabilizer element is dimensioned to receive the protruding portion of the instrument package. For ease of manufacturing, the alignment channel extends the entire length of the stabilizer element.
As a particular example, FIG. 2 is a side cross-section of a portion of a downhole tool 10 having a sensor and stabilizer arrangement according to the prior art. The drill collar 20 is shown with its internal bore 22 for passage of drilling fluid. A sensor housing 40 fits inside a recess or pocket 24 formed on the outside surface 23 of the drill collar 20 and hard-mounts to the drill collar 20 using mounting components 42. The sensor housing 40 has a sensor 50 (e.g., LWD downhole measurement equipment), and the hard mounting of the housing 40 provides stable positioning of the sensor 50 and helps protect the sensor 50 from damage.
The sensors used for LWD/MWD applications typically measure parameters of the formation traversed by the borehole or of the borehole itself. In typical applications, measurement accuracy is degraded by excessive and/or inconsistent standoff between the sensor and the surrounding borehole wall. To reduce standoff, the sensor 50 may actually be positioned in the drill collar's pocket 24 at a further radial distance than the drill collar's outer surface 23. This allows the sensor 50 to position closer to the borehole wall. To help maintain the consistent standoff and to protect the sensor 50, a stabilizer sleeve 30 is typically employed and is positioned directly on the drill collar's outer surface 23. When the sleeve 30 is pushed into position on the outside of the drill collar 20, one of the stabilizer blades 32 on the stabilizer sleeve 30 fits directly over the sensor housing 40, and the stabilizer sleeve 30 can be retained using a shoulder on the drill collar 20 and a bushing 34 or other features.
Because the housing 40 is physically mounted to the collar 20, the distance between the sensor 50 and the borehole wall will change if the diameter of the borehole BH to be drilled is changed and if the stabilizer sleeve's diameter is also changed accordingly. This impacts the ability to make consistent measurements with the sensor 50 when used in different configurations because the changes in distance from the borehole wall will attenuate the measurements made.
For example, FIGS. 3A-3B are end views diagramming the prior art sensor and stabilizer arrangement for different sized boreholes BH1 and BH2. As can be seen, the radius R1 of the first borehole BH1 is smaller than the radius R2 of the second borehole BH2. As is common, the same sized drill collar 20 may be used to drill both of these boreholes BH1 and BH2, while other components of the drilling system are changed to create the different sized boreholes BH1 and BH2. To account for the difference in borehole size relative to the same sized drill collar 20, different sized stabilizer sleeves 301 and 302 are used when drilling. For instance, the first stabilizer sleeve 301 for the smaller borehole BH1 has lower profile stabilizer blades 321, while the other stabilizer sleeve 302 for the larger borehole BH2 has higher profile stabilizer blades 322.
Yet, in both circumstances, the sensor housing 40 hard-mounted to the drill collar 20 keeps the sensor 50 at the same position on the drill collar 20. As a result, the sensor 50 has a smaller standoff S1 relative to the wall of the smaller borehole BH1, but has a larger standoff S2 relative to the wall of the larger borehole BH2.
For measurement accuracy, the sensor 50 is typically calibrated electronically and with processing algorithms to operate best with a particular standoff from the borehole wall. Due to the different sized stabilizer sleeves 301 and 302 needed in some drilling applications as seen in FIGS. 3A-3B, the standoff under which the sensor 50 measures can change. To obtain useful measurements, operators must therefore recalibrate the sensor 50 to operate with the different standoffs S1 and S2, or an entirely different sensor housing 40 may need to be used so the sensor 50 will have the calibrated standoff.
As always, changes or modifications made in drilling applications can increase costs, slow down drilling operations, engender unwanted errors, and the like. For these and other reasons, the subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

Sensor mounting assembly for drill collar stabilizer


A dismountable pocket removably engaged within a cummerbund permitting a user to discretely store personal items therein. The dismountable pocket is removably engaged within a cavity of the cummerbund central portion utilizing a hook/loop system. A zipper is positioned on the first wall of the cummerbund body permitting access to the cavity therein. The dismountable pocket has a second zipper connecting the first and second pocket surfaces and permitting access to the storage cavity within the pocket. The cummerbund is configured to rest flat on the torso of the user while personal items are stored therein.

Cummerbunds are generally known in the art as fabric sashes worn at the waist along with formal attire such as a tuxedo in place of a vest. The cummerbund enhances the look of the tuxedo while adding a formal accessory to the traditional garment functioning solely as an ornamental element without any utility. Many tuxedo pants lack pockets to maintain the smooth appearance required in the formal setting. A wallet bulging out of a front or back pocket may be unsightly and is often discouraged. This constraint leaves many users searching for a means of storing personal essentials such as a credit card, identifications, and other small items.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,001,202 (Serrano) teaches a traditional cummerbund having an elongated main body of sufficient length to embrace the front and either side of the waist of the user. Serrano teaches a traditional cummerbund as commonly known in the arts. However, Serrano is limited in that it does not provide the storage utility of the cummerbund. The user is left without a secure means of storing personal items during use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,613 (Marshall) teaches a hidden pocket for the storage of valuables in a neckwear body. While Marshall teaches the idea of a hidden pocket stored within a storage pocket, Marshall does not teach the hidden pocket to be utilized within a cummerbund which requires a sufficiently discrete manner of storing the valuable items.
It can be seen that an advancement in the arts of a cummerbund having storage utilities is desired. One such advancement is described herein.

Cummerbund with hidden detachable storage


In a neutron detector for the detection of thermal neutrons .sub.6 LiF layers are provided for the conversion of the neutrons to ionizing radiation and the .sub.6 LiF layers are surrounded by layers for detecting the ionizing radiation generated by the neutrons in the .sup.6 LiF layers.

The invention relates to a neutron detector.
Spatial resolution detectors are known which have multi-wire chambers filled with helium gas or which utilize scintillation detectors operating according to the Anger camera principle. In both cases, an adequate spatial resolution, a reasonable detection probability and an acceptable gamma radiation discrimination are obtained. Sensitive detector surfaces of 50cm.times.50cm can be provided although at considerable expense.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a neutron detector which utilizes a different principle.


A need to effectively record data of various sizes on a large-capacity holographic memory capable of high-speed recording is achieved, for example, by curing a first part of the holographic recording which is able to be multiplex-recorded in one or more units of a predetermined volume, and by not recording/curing a second part which is not able to be multiplex-recorded in a predetermined volume at a timing when the first recording part is cured. Also the above need can be achieved by, another example, by adding dummy data to the second part. Alternatively, the second part can be recorded on another track, in which it is possible to record in different units, e.g. by bit recording in a track that utilizes a DVD recording format. According to the present examples, we can record data of various sizes on the holographic memory effectively while performing large-capacity and high-speed holographic recording.

The present examples relate to an optical information recording apparatus and an optical information recording method.
Optical disc products with a recording density of about 50 GB are being commercialized that are based on Blu-ray Disc (BD) standard and High Definition Digital Versatile Disc (HD DVD) standard using a blue semiconductor laser.
Optical discs are expected to have an increased capacity of as large as 100 GB to 1 TB, comparable to that of HDD (Hard Disk Drive), in the future.
However, to realize such an ultrahigh density with the current optical discs, a novel storage technology is required, different from the conventional trend of high density technologies that attempts to increase the storage capacity by shortening a wavelength and increasing NA of an objective lens.
With wide-ranging studies on next generation storage technologies under way, a hologram recording technology is available that records digital information using holography.
In the holographic technology, data information is recorded through interference patterns of a signal beam modulated two-dimensionally by a spatial light modulator and a reference beam in the holographic storage medium.
Data information is reproduced two-dimensionally by means of CMOS, CCD, or other type of photo detector. These features are effective for large-capacity, high-speed recording and reproduction of information.
Among the hologram recording technologies is one disclosed in JP-A-2004-272268 (Patent document 1). This patent document describes a so-called angle-multiplexed recording method which focuses a signal light flux on an optical information recording medium through a lens and at the same time throws a reference light of collimated rays to the medium to cause interferences to record a hologram and reproduces different pages of data on a spatial optical modulator while changing an incidence angle of the reference light to the optical recording medium to realize multiplexed recording. The patent document also discloses a technology that puts an aperture (spatial filter) at a beam waist of a lens-focused signal light to shorten the intervals of adjoining holograms, thereby increasing the recording density and capacity, compared with those of the conventional angle-multiplexed recording method.
Another hologram recording technology is disclosed in, for example, WO2004-102542 (Patent document 2). This document describes an example of shift multiplexing in a hologram recording method in which one spatial light modulator focuses a light from inner pixels as a signal light and a light from outer ring-like pixels as a reference light onto an optical recording medium through one and the same lens to cause interferences between the signal light and the reference light at near the focus plane of the lens to record a hologram.
Another related art is also found in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2007-256945-A (Patent document 3). This Patent Document 3 discloses an example of a system to cure a recorded hologram.
In addition, it is known that a "volume" is the actual 3D region on a holographic memory or recording medium, "page" is an interference pattern (2D) recorded at a location within the volume, "page data" is the data to be recorded as 1 page, "book" is an accumulation of pages of data multiplex-recorded on the holographic memory or recording medium, and "a book of data" or "book data" is the data to be recorded as a book on the holographic memory or recording medium.

Optical information recording apparatus and optical information recording method