A battery module includes plurality of battery cells, a cell housing configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and a cover housing configured to cover an upper side of the cell housing. The cover housing includes an upper cover configured to form an upper portion of the cover housing, a lower cover bolt-coupled to the upper cover and disposed at the upper side of the cell housing and a bus bar unit disposed between the lower cover and the upper cover, electrically connected to electrodes of the plurality of battery cells, and sealing-coupled to at least one of the upper cover and the lower cover.

Secondary batteries which are highly applicable to various products and exhibit superior electrical properties such as high energy density, etc. are commonly used not only in portable devices but also in electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), golf carts and the like, driven by electrical power sources. The secondary battery is drawing attentions as a new energy source for enhancing environment friendliness and energy efficiency in that the use of fossil fuels can be reduced greatly and no byproduct is generated during energy consumption.
Secondary batteries widely used at the preset include lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel hydrogen batteries, nickel zinc batteries and the like. An operating voltage of the unit secondary battery cell, namely a unit battery cell, is about 2.5V to 4.6V. Therefore, if a higher output voltage is required, a plurality of battery cells may be connected in series to configure a battery pack. In addition, depending on the charge/discharge capacity required for the battery pack, a plurality of battery cells may be connected in parallel to configure a battery pack. Thus, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack may be variously set according to the required output voltage or the demanded charge/discharge capacity.
Meanwhile, when a plurality of battery cells are connected in series or in parallel to configure a battery pack, it is common to configure a battery module composed of at least one battery cell first, and then configure a battery pack by using at least one battery module and adding other components.
Since a battery pack of a multi-module structure is manufactured so that a plurality of secondary batteries are densely packed in a narrow space, it is important to easily discharge heat generated from each secondary battery. Since the charging or discharging process of the secondary battery is performed by electrochemical reaction, if the heat of the battery module generated during charging and discharging is not effectively removed, heat accumulation may occur, resulting in deterioration of the battery module and causing ignition or explosion.
Thus, a high-capacity large-capacity battery module and a battery pack including the battery module should have a cooling structure for cooling the battery cells included therein. For the cooling, a conventional battery module includes a thermal interface material or coolant in a cell housing that accommodates the battery cells. In addition, the conventional battery module is processed to be airtight around the cell housing in order to prevent foreign substances from penetrating into the cell housing or to prevent the coolant from being evaporated or discharged out.
However, in the conventional battery module, a cover housing connected to the cell housing to cover the upper side of the cell housing and having a connector exposing opening for connecting an external high current terminal has relatively low airtightness. For example, the connector exposing opening is always exposed out of the cover housing.
Thus, in the conventional battery module, a coolant or the like for cooling is relatively easily evaporated or discharged to the outside, which may deteriorate the cooling performance.
Therefore, it is required to find a way to prevent the loss due to the evaporation of the coolant by increasing the airtightness of the battery module.

Battery module, battery pack including battery module, and vehicle including battery pack


A carrying case for neck ties comprises three panels which fold one over the other and include special loops to support the midpoint of the ties within the carrying case. The separate panels are connected by soft, living hinges. The carrying case is especially useful in smaller luggage cases of the type popular for airline carry on travel.

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a carrying case for neck ties, and more particularly, to a carrying case for neck ties which enables the ties to be folded without unnecessary creasing in a compact manner enabling them to be stored in a relatively small item of luggage, such as an airline carry-on case.
Carrying cases for neckties have previously been available in combination with travel luggage. Typically, a carrying case for a necktie comprises an elongate panel with a fabric cover that has zipper access through the panel so that the tie may be placed with a single fold within the necktie case. With the advent of smaller and smaller sizes of luggage that may be carried onto airlines, there has developed a need for a tie case which will enable packing thereof within the smaller sizes of carry-on luggage. However, a problem that may result when attempting to fold a tie with multiple folds is the development of undesired creasing in the tie. Thus, there has developed the need for an improved neck tie carrying case which will provide protection for the tie yet enable folding of the tie with multiple folds without undesired creasing. Additionally, it is desired to have a neck tie case which enables use thereof in combination with smaller style luggage cases that are acceptable as carry on items for airline travel.
Briefly, the present invention comprises a carrying case for neck ties which includes three panels each connected one to the other by a flexible living hinge wherein tie support rings or ring members are attached to one end panel by a ribbon member in a manner which permits the placement of multiple ties on the inside surface of the carrier. Retention straps and folding retention rings are also provided to hold the ties in place. The three panels may then be folded, one over the other, for storage and transport of the ties. A buckle is provided to close the panels and maintain them in the folded condition. Hanging straps are provided to support the open case.
Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved carrying case for neck ties which includes three panels made of generally semi-rigid material that are connected one to the other by means of very flexible hinge sections.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a necktie carrying case which may be folded with multiple ties therein in a manner which permits storage of the case in a protective fashion within smaller sizes of luggage.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a neck tie carrying case which provides for folding of multiple panels in a manner which protects the ties yet, when the panels are arranged in an unfolded or planar condition, will permit easy access to the ties.
Another object of the invention is to provide a neck tie carrying case which is compact, easy to use, may be utilized to hold multiple ties, and which includes various means for hanging the carrying case with the ties in a folded condition or an unfolded condition.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.


One embodiment provides a method, including: detecting, at an information handling device, voice command input; determining, using a processor, an orientation state of the information handling device, wherein the orientation state is one of: a closed state or an open state; and displaying, responsive to determining that the orientation state is associated with the closed state and on an auxiliary display of the information handling device, a notification acknowledging receipt of the voice command input. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Information handling devices ("devices), for example laptop computers, hybrid devices, other clamshell or foldable devices, and the like, may be capable of receiving voice command input from a user, processing the input, and thereafter performing a function based on the input. A user may be apprised of the recognition of their command input by the inherent performance of the desired function and/or by a visual notification generally displayed on a primary displace of a device.

Command detection notification on auxiliary display


Headset includes a signal interface configured for receiving and forwarding electrical signals, a bending-resistant, bendable retaining member, and a functional device attached to the retaining member. Retaining member being bendable and held in a bent position without a restoring force, and is connected to signal interface for positioning functional device. Electrical signal lines provided in retaining member, and running between signal interface and functional device. Fixing element which can be placed on retaining member in various longitudinal positions to secure retaining member. Retaining clip, which can be bent into position, extends between signal interface and fixing element; and. Rear section of retaining member, signal interface, retaining clip, fixing element form a loop, the size of loop being adjustable and changeable by displacing fixing element along retaining member, in use, and loop being configured for receiving an auricle of a user and running at least partially behind auricle, is use.

Headsets are used particularly for fastening microphones to the head of the user. In this way, voice input by the user into the microphone can be performed without the user having to hold the microphone by his hands.
Headsets of this type typically include—similar to headphones—a clip that is placed over the head, the clip due to its elasticity tensioning and securing the headset against the head. They can be used, for example, by singers during live appearances or by task force members, for example the police, for communication purposes.
Headsets of this type, however, are expensive, bulky, and at times impair audio reception. Furthermore, they interfere with the visual appearance of the person and interfere with additional head gear the user may be wearing.
Locking a functional device in place to the outer ear by means of slings, suspension clips or the like in general does not guarantee stable, slip-free fastening, whereby the functional device can be positioned starting from the outer ear, for example, as a microphone in the mouth region of the user.
DE 102 27 450 B4 shows a headset for a functional device, particularly a microphone, wherein an insert body is inserted in the concha or auditory canal of the user and held by a retaining clip, which is braced against the concha. On the insert body, a holding device is provided, which carries the attached functional device, for example a rigid wire clip.
Headsets are furthermore used in the medical field to attach transmitters for cochlea implants. These headsets may include a bending element and an otoplasty element to be inserted in the patient's ear, as is described in DE 201 05 562 U1, for example.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,396,935 B1 shows a headset with a rigid, bendable retaining member, and at the ends of which a microphone and a speaker are provided. The retaining member is placed around the auricle of the user and on the inside includes a transceiver for reciprocal communication with a device, which is carried in the shirt pocket, for example.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A printed wiring board and an electronic device using the same with which the formation of cracks in base portions of projecting external electrodes formed on lands on the printed wiring board is certainly prevented. With respect to a printed wiring board 11 having lands 16 formed in a wiring pattern where external electrodes 13 are to be formed and a pattern-protecting film 17 having openings 17a where the external electrodes 13 are to be formed, the opening diameter D1 of the openings 17a in the pattern-protecting film 17 is set greater by a predetermined dimension than the external diameter D2 of the lands 16 and a gap is thereby provided between each of the external electrodes 13 and the pattern-protecting film 17 so that the external electrodes 13 and the pattern-protecting film 17 do not make contact with each other and as a result there is no cracking of the external electrodes 13 caused by differential thermal expansion of the external electrodes 13 and the pattern-protecting film 17. An electronic module comprising the electronic device of the invention mounted on a mother board can be widely used by being incorporated into various types of electronic equipment.

This invention relates to a printed wiring board on which various electronic components are mounted having on one side thereof lands for forming external electrodes on and an electronic device using this printed wiring board.
Semiconductor devices called BGAs (ball grid arrays) are typical known electronic devices of this kind.
As shown in FIG. 1, a BGA is a device made by mounting a semiconductor device 2 on one side (the upper side) of a printed wiring board 1 of about 1 mm in thickness made of an organic material or an inorganic material and disposing projecting external electrodes 3 in a predetermined array, for example in the form of a matrix, on the other side (the lower side) of the printed wiring board 1. The semiconductor device 2, which is an active component, is connected by for example gold bonding wires 4 to a wiring pattern on the printed wiring board 1 and encapsulated in this state together with the bonding wires 4 by a molded resin 5.
These external electrodes 3, as shown enlarged in FIG. 2A, are each formed on a circular land 6 made of a conducting material such as copper foil, and a pattern-protecting film 7 made of solder resist or the like is formed around the periphery of this land 6, exposing the land 6. The external electrodes 3, which are connecting electrodes for connecting the printed wiring board 1 to a mother board or the like, are formed after the semiconductor device 2 is encapsulated with the molded resin 5 so that they project from the underside of the printed wiring board 1 by heating and thereby melting solder grains or solder paste or the like supplied to the lands 6.
However, in this printed wiring board 1 of the related art, the pattern-protecting film 7 is formed on the peripheral portions of the lands 6 as well as around them, and when the external electrodes 3 are formed on the lands 6 the external electrodes 3 and the pattern-protecting film 7 come into contact with each other. Because of this there has been the problem that when the device is mounted on a mother board or is temperature cycle tested, thermal stresses arise in the base portions of the external electrodes 3 due to a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the external electrodes 3 and the pattern-protecting film 7 and cracks (microcracks) 3a form in these base portions of the external electrodes 3 as shown in FIG. 2B.
This has resulted in the semiconductor device having fatal flaws such as that crack formation causes external electrodes 3 to come off the printed wiring board 1 and make electrical connection of the printed wiring board 1 to the mother board impossible or the insides of cracks oxidize and the electrical resistance increases, adversely influencing the device characteristics.

Printed wiring board and electronic device using same


A rechargeable battery including: an electrode assembly; and a case including a receiving portion to house the electrode assembly, a junction portion disposed around the receiving portion, formed by bonded films of the case, and gas outlet disposed in the junction portion. The gas outlet includes a first block portion, a second block portion, and a buffering space disposed between the first and second block portions.

1. Field
The described technology relates generally to rechargeable batteries.
2. Description of the Related Art
A rechargeable battery with low capacity is used for small portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, laptop computers, and camcorders. On the other hand, a rechargeable battery with high capacity can be used as a power source for driving a motor of a hybrid electric automobile and the like, or as a large-capacity power storage device.
High power rechargeable batteries have been recently developed that include a non-aqueous electrolyte and have a high energy density. A plurality of these rechargeable batteries can be coupled in series, to form a large capacity battery module for a device having high power requirements (e.g., a motor in an electric vehicle).
A rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive and negative electrodes; and a case in which the electrode assembly is installed. The case may have various structures, such as a pouch-type case, a metal case, or a polymer case. The pouch-type case has a structure in which film members are bonded to each other, and an electrode assembly is inserted between the bonded film members. The pouch-type case has a simple structure, so that it can be easily manufactured. However, a safety device may be difficult to install, because the structure thereof may be difficult to modify.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and, therefore, it may contain information that does not constitute prior art.


A solid-state laser having a rod of active material optically pumped along the side of the rod by an array of diode lasers. Beam shaping elements, such as Brewster angle facets on the end of the laser rod, cause the laser beam to assume a generally elliptical shape within the rod with the long axis of the ellipse aligned with the irradiation angle of the diode lasers. However, the beam is circularly shaped outside the rod. Preferably, the laser rod is held within an optical cavity formed within a cooling block which both cools the rod and reflects pump light back into the rod. The diode lasers irradiate the rod through a linear slit in the cooling block. Also, preferably, a slab-shaped optical waveguide is placed within the slit to guide the light from the diode lasers to the side of the laser rod.

Optically pumped, solid-state lasers have long been known but continue to offer superior performance in many applications. Such lasers include an optically active medium, typically in the shape of a cylindrical rod, having multiple electronic energy levels. A high-energy optical source pumps the active medium of the rod so as to invert the population densities of the energy levels. The lasing radiation has energy defined by the differences between the energies of the inverted levels. Two mirrors define an optical cavity at least partially extending along the axis of the laser rod so that the lasing radiation grows and resonates within the cavity. The lasing medium then lases at a somewhat lower energy (longer wavelength) than that of the pump light. One of the mirrors is made partially transmissive so as to extract a fraction of the lasing light.
A semiconductor laser diode provides an efficient source of optical pumping light. It can very efficiently convert 30 to 45% of the electrical energy input to the diode to optical energy emitted as laser light from the diode. For very high intensity lasers, semiconductor laser diodes are available in linear arrays, referred to as diode bars, which are capable of providing very high intensity radiation. These bars are primarily composed of GaAlAs and emit light in the 800 nm region of the spectrum. As illustrated in plan view in FIG. 1, such a light diode bar 10 includes a large number of parallel laser stripes 12 formed on a common GaAs substrate 14. The large number of stripes 12 are arranged in smaller groups 16 with gaps 18 separating the groups 16. Each group 16 laterally extends over about 200 .mu.m, and the entire light diode bar 10 laterally extends over about 1 cm and emits from a line 20 extending over nearly the same distance. The generally wedge-shaped light emission pattern from such a light diode bar 10 is illustrated isometrically in FIG. 2. In the vertical direction, the emission is diffraction limited from the approximately 1-.mu.m high stripe and has a full vertical angle of 60.degree.. On the other hand, the emissions from the groups 16 of laser stripes 12 have a full lateral angle of 10.degree. extending outwardly from the relatively wide line 20 and they soon overlap, but this divergent beam still needs focusing in the far field if the source is widely separated from the point of use.
The use of bar diodes as sources of pump light has introduced a set of conflicts in coupling the pump light into the laser rod, particularly if two important engineering characteristics are to be achieved: highly efficient coupling between the pump and laser light; and the mode purity of the laser beam.
The coupling between the pump and laser light involves a process in which the coupling is proportional to the overlap between the radiation field of the pump light and the radiation field of the lasing light, itself resulting from the pump light. If the radiation field of the pump light, for whatever reason, does not coincide with the radiation field of the lasing light, the non-coinciding portion of the pump light is lost and the efficiency of the solid-state laser is decreased. Hence, if the desired laser beam is round, it is preferred that the pump light present a round distribution which matches the size of the laser beam.
A yet more fundamental problem arises from the need to stabilize the lasing modes of the solid-state laser. A large-scale solid-state laser tends to support, absent counter measures, a large number of modes, which for this discussion will be restricted to transverse modes. The fundamental mode in a circularly symmetric system is the TEM.sub.00 mode, itself having two degenerate orthogonally polarized modes. This mode manifests a circular energy symmetry and a Gaussian energy distribution about the center of the rod. Higher-order modes, such as TEM.sub.01, TEM.sub.10, TEM.sub.11, TEM.sub.12, etc. have an azimuthal energy distribution introducing nodes into the optical distribution around the cross section of the rod. It is generally desired to restrict the lasing mode to the fundamental TEM.sub.00 mode with only one linear polarization, excluding all of the others. This leads to the highest performance, diffraction-limited lasers.
An efficient laser design shows a preference for TEM.sub.00 operation and has a pump light profile which has a substantial overlap with this mode.
At least two problems arise if higher-order modes are not suppressed. Higher-order modes have larger modal cross sections than the fundamental mode. If the output beam is to be focused to a spot, the higher-order radiation presents a larger virtual image of the laser source. Also, if the optical conversion efficiency in the laser rod is generally high, any pump light coupled into the higher-order modes lowers the amount of pump light available for coupling into the desired fundamental mode. That is, coupling into higher-order modes reduces the conversion efficiency into the fundamental mode.
There are basically two distinct ways of coupling pump light into a laser cavity, end pumping and side pumping.
In end pumping, as illustrated generally in FIG. 3, the diode bar 10 irradiates an optical system 26 that focuses the sheet-like or wedge-like bar beam 28 through an entrance mirror 30 so as to present a circularly symmetric beam onto a laser rod 32. An exit mirror 34 together with the entrance mirror 36 form an optical cavity about the laser rod 40. The exit mirror 34 is itself partially transmissive so that an output laser beam 42 is extracted from the cavity. This end-pumping configuration offers a number of advantages. Assuming that the beam of the pump light is circularly symmetric, the pump light both well overlaps the fundamental TEM.sub.00 mode and also by its symmetry prefers the TEM.sub.00 mode over other transverse modes. This configuration tends to be efficient if the length of the rod 40 is longer than the absorption length of the pump light, and if the pump light does not diverge substantially over the absorption length.
However, the end-pumped configuration has problems when a diode bar provides the pump light. The diode bar 10, as was described with respect to FIG. 2, inherently provides an optical source having vastly asymmetric characteristics across the two symmetric dimensions of the circular rod 40. Extra measures must be taken to convert the linearly extending output of the diode bar to the circularly symmetric pump favored for TEM.sub.00 laser output.
Measures can be taken to create an asymmetric pump mode to match the asymmetry of the diode bar. For example, Wallace et al. disclose in U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,457 an end-pumped laser system having pumping beam-shaping elements, including Brewster angle prisms, disposed at the ends of the laser rod to convert the astigmatic pump light into a generally symmetric pump field in the active medium. This effectively matches the circular laser mode to the asymmetrically shaped pump radiation. In any case, the optics required to create this mode-matching introduce undesired complexities despite the obvious advantages of the end-pumping geometry.
Additionally, the end-pumping geometry suffers from an inability to conveniently scale to high power levels. Since the mode matching must occur with optical beams that are typically only 0.5 mm in diameter, it becomes very difficult to concentrate large amounts of power into such a small spot. Normally, only 15 to 20 W of pump power can be so tightly focused. This high intensity of pump light also incurs severe materials limitations, as the heat load causes strong distortions in the laser medium. Common laser materials, such as Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, and Nd:YVO.sub.4 all reach their operational limits in this power range. Their operation is limited by fracture, aberrated thermal lensing, stress birefringence, and other strain-optical effects.
The alternative geometry is side-pumping in which, as illustrated in the isometric view of FIG. 4, the line 20 of the diode bar 10 is aligned with an axis 43 of the laser rod 40, and the optical output of the diode bar irradiates the longitudinally extending side of the laser rod 40. This geometry has several advantages in matching the linearly extending bar diode 10 with the linearly extending laser rod 40. There is no need to focus the optical output of the diode bar 10 in the direction along the longitudinal axis 42 of the laser rod 40. Even focusing circumferentially of the laser rod may not be required if the diode bar 10 can be brought close enough to the laser rod 40 so that its beam 44 irradiates only a small portion of the circumference of the rod. As a result, the pump entrance optics may be considerably simplified. The number of diodes may be increased to thereby increase the total laser output since the length of the laser rod is not fundamentally constrained. Additionally, thermal limitations of the laser material are not encountered in the 5 to >100 W output range because the pump light is distributed over a greater amount of laser crystal than in the case of end-pumping.
However, the side-pumped configuration has fundamental geometric disadvantages, especially for a cylindrically shaped laser rod. For highly efficient coupling, the bar diode 10 is positioned relatively closely to the laser rod 40 with the result that a generally wedge-shaped beam 44 irradiates a central plane of the laser rod 40. Generally, it is desired to produce a circularly shaped laser beam since other shapes typically having higher-order components that are difficult to optimize with normal optics. Also, the simple structure of FIG. 4 requires a trade off between increasing coupling efficiency by making the absorption length of the pump light shorter than the rod diameter and increasing pumping uniformity by making the absorption length longer.
The uniformity problem can be significantly reduced by coating the portions of the cylindrical sidewall of the laser rod, not including where the pump beam 44 initially strikes, with a highly reflective coating, as has been described by Ajer et al. in "Efficient diode-laser side-pumped TEM.sub.00 -mode Nd:YAG laser," Optics Letters, vol. 27, no. 24, 1992, pp. 1785-1787. If diode bar 10 is brought close to the laser rod 40, the incident aperture not covered by the reflective coating is relatively small. Thereby, the pump light is substantially trapped within the laser rod 40, with the subsequent passes across the rod tending to circularize the pump field within the rod. Ajer et al. further increase the circularity of the pump field by positioning two such laser bars 10 along the laser rod but oriented circumferentially at positions offset by 90.degree. with respect to the rod center. They reported that their structure provided a coupling efficiency of 27% in pulsed operation and a circular, TEM.sub.00 laser beam. However, their structure did not accommodate any heat sinking of the laser rod and is thus subject to deleterious thermal effects if CW operation were to be attempted.
One of the present inventors, Kmetec, has suggested in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/268,781, filed Jun. 30, 1994, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, a particularly advantageous configuration for a side-pumped solid-state laser. Other art is available for many of the features of Kmetec, including U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,541 to Suni. As illustrated in the axial cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 and in the isometric view of FIG. 6, the laser rod 40 is embedded in a cylindrical cavity in a solid block 50 of copper or other highly thermally conductive material, and the rod 40 tightly contacts the copper block 50 to provide good thermal conductance. A surrounding surface 52 of the cylindrical cavity is coated with gold or other highly reflective material so as to reflect light with high efficiency. A linear slit 54 is formed between the cylindrical cavity and the exterior of the copper block 50 and is sized to closely accommodate the 60.degree. vertical emission angle from the stripe 20 of the diode bar 10 with perhaps a few reflections within the slit 54. The diameter of the rod 40, that is, its dimension along the pump incidence direction, is preferably a small fraction, e.g. less than 1/2, of the absorption length of the pump light within the rod 40, which low absorption is in direct contrast to the conventional practice for side-pumped lasers. As a result, light emitted from the diode bar 10 through the slit 54 traverses the laser rod 40 many times as it is multiply reflected by the sides 59 of the slit 54 of the gold-coated copper block 50. The cylindrical cavity of the copper block 50 serves as an optical trap so that all the incident light, minus any reflectivity losses at the gold coating at the surrounding surface 52 and any back reflections through the slit 54, is absorbed by the laser rod 40.
Even with the nearly optimal optical absorption, the lasing medium in the rod is not totally efficient, and a large fraction of the absorbed optical pump power is dissipated as heat. The configuration of FIGS. 5 and 6, however, allows effective thermal coupling by thermal conduction between the laser rod 40 and the copper block 50, which, besides having a large thermal mass, is mechanically and thermally fixed on a mount 55 that is heat sunk to cooling means, examples of which are chilled water, refrigeration systems, thermoelectric coolers, or finned radiators. Such efficient thermal conduction is especially important for laser rods generating 1 W or more of laser power.
Nonetheless, the side-pumping configuration presents some fundamental problems. The intrinsic problem is that the pump field is necessarily non-uniform across the circular rod. The reflectance from the walls of the circular cavity is somewhat less than unity; a 5% loss per reflection is considered good. If the pump-to-active coupling efficiency is to be kept high by keeping the absorption per pass substantially above the wall loss, then the resultant pump field tends to be distinctly asymmetric. As illustrated in the axial cross section in FIG. 7, the laser bar 10 irradiates the laser rod 40 with a beam 53 propagating along a central optical axis 56 assumed to intersect the center of the rod 40. The figure includes a number of items related to the invention to be described later. The beam 53 has a full Gaussian angular width in the width direction of the slit 54 of about 60.degree. in free space, but the width is substantially less inside the high-index laser rod 40, about 32.degree. full width for YAG, with the strongest portions significantly nearer the optical axis 56. The first few passes of rays of the 60.degree. divergent beam 54 through the rod 40 are schematically illustrated in FIG. 7. The effective pump field can be approximated by a cross-sectional area 58 in the general form of an ellipse. The major axis of the ellipse extends along the optical axis 56 of the beam 53 from the laser bar 10 and may be large enough to approximately equal the diameter of the rod 40; however, the minor axis of the ellipse, transverse to the major axis, is substantially less than the rod diameter. The elliptical shape of an effective pump field is only an approximation to the real non-uniform field, which undoubtedly has higher order terms. But, based on the experimental results discussed below, the elliptical field appears to be a reasonable approximation.
Kmetec attempts to circularize the pump field within the laser rod 40 by enhancing the scattering of the pump light on reflection so as to more completely randomize the pump light, but this never completely circularizes the field and further introduces additional constraints on the design. Kmetec further attempts to remove the flattened pump field by using multiple diode bars aligned at different azimuthal angles about the laser rod, for example, three bars separated by 120.degree. between any pair. While this approach removes some of the non-circular components, it can leave nodes in the pump pattern. Furthermore, the geometrically determined multiplicity of laser bars constrains the design, and the different angles introduces a large, complex mechanical structure.
Fujino discloses a design similar to the above described features of Kmetec et al. in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 5-335662. Golla et al. disclose in "300-W diode-laser side-pumped Nd:YAG rod laser," Optics Letters, vol. 20, no. 10, 1995 an extension of the azimuthal arrangement of multiple diode bars. They position eighteen diode laser arrays in a 9-fold symmetry, and a separate reflector is positioned on the opposite side of the laser rod from each diode laser array. This arrangement produces a pump field that was highly concentrated around the axis of the laser rod, even more highly than that of Fujino. The rod is heat sunk in a flow tube, and thermal effects become significant above about 400 W of pump power. Walker et al. disclose a somewhat similar side-pumped laser in "Efficient continuous-wave TEM.sub.00 operation of a transversely diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser," Optics Letters, vol. 19, no. 14, 1994, pp. 1055-1057. They use reflective optics to focus the pump light at the central axis of the pump rod, thus producing a highly concentrated pump field.
The elliptical pump field 58 is obviously not well matched to a circularly symmetric laser field and hence the radiation coupling efficiency is less than ideal.
Hobbs et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,147 disclose a different approach of matching the laser beam to the pump field. They arrange two arrays of laser diodes on opposed sides of a flattened laser rod and focus the light into the rod, to thus create a sheet-shaped pump field in the rod. They then use optics at the two ends of the rod to pass the laser beam multiple times through the pump field but at positions arranged along the pump irradiation direction. Thereby, a round laser beam is better matched along its entire length to the pump field.
Zhang in U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,394 teaches the importance of beam shaping both in side-pump and end-pumped lasers. In all his embodiments, he uses a slab-shaped laser body (rectangular body having sides of substantially different sizes), and uses optics between the diode bars and the slab to produce a sheet-like pump field in the laser slab. In his end-pumped laser, prisms at one end of the laser slab shapes the laser beam to better conform to the sheet-shaped pump field. Thus, Zhang's use of laser beam shaping is predicated upon his flattened rectangular laser body, and the highly collimating optics disposed between the pump source and the laser body.
A further problem with the slotted heat sink of Kmetec is the limited access of the diode bar radiation through the slit and into the laser rod. Kmetec teaches allowing the diode beam 53 to multiply reflect off the walls 59 of the slit 54 before it reaches the laser rod 40. Suni in U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,541 shows a similar light-guiding slit within a heat sink. Generally, in these structures the slit depth should be relatively short so that the 60.degree. vertically divergent radiation reaches the laser rod with only a few reflections from the slit walls. Kmetec recommends coating the slit walls 59 with gold or other reflective materials, but smoothly forming and coating a narrow slit is difficult and the overall limitation on slit length remains. A slit of relatively shallow depth means that the heat-sinking medium surrounding the rod 40 is distinctly asymmetric near the slit 54, thus introducing thermal gradients around the circumference of the rod 40. On the other hand, for better optical coupling, the number of reflections from the slit walls 59 can be reduced by increasing the width of the slit 54 or by decreasing its depth, but an increased slit width or a decreased slit depth only exacerbates the thermal and optical asymmetries associated with the slit. Overall, the optimal slit for thermal uniformity is small in width and large in depth while the optimal slit for optical coupling the slit is large in width and small deep in depth. Obviously, the two considerations are incompatible in the prior art.

Side-pumped laser with shaped laser beam


A baking cup form comprising a baking cup body and at least one pair of pull-tabs. The baking cup body being formed by shaping a substrate, the shaped comprising a continuous sidewall extending from a base section, the continuous sidewall being shaped in an inverted frustum to form a receiving volume for receiving a batter for baking. Each pull-tab extends radially outward from an external surface of the baking cup body having one pull-tab being diametrically opposed to the second pull-tab. The pull-tabs may be a separate member bonded to the external surface of the baking cup body or fabricated by shaping the baking cup body substrate. The pull-tabs may be oriented having either a perpendicular or parallel relation to a base section of the baking cup body. The pull-tabs may be provided in an aesthetically pleasing shape.

Cup cakes are one form of baked goods. Cup cakes refer to small sized cakes that are often baked in individual forms and took their name from the cups they were baked in. This is the use of the name that has persisted, and the name of "cupcake" is now given to any small cake that is about the size of a teacup.
Originally, cupcakes were baked in heavy pottery cups. Some bakers still use individual ramekins, small coffee mugs, large tea cups, or other small ovenproof pottery-type dishes for baking cupcakes.
Currently, cupcakes are usually baked in muffin tins. These pans are most often made from metal, with or without a non-stick surface, and generally have six (6) or twelve (12) depressions or "cups". The forms may alternatively be made from stoneware, silicone rubber, or other materials. A standard size cup is 3 inches (76 mm) in diameter and holds a volume of approximately 4 ounces (110 g) of ingredients. It is noted that other sizes, such as those for miniature and jumbo size cupcakes also exist. Specialty pans may offer many different sizes and shapes.
Individual baking cups, or cupcake liners, may be used in baking. These are typically round sheets of thin paper pressed into a round, fluted cup shape. Liners can facilitate the easy removal of the cupcake from the tin after baking, keep the cupcake moister, and reduce the effort needed to clean the pan. Liners aid in the packaging and distribution process. The use of liners is also considered a more sanitary option when cupcakes are being passed from hand to hand. Like cupcake pans, several sizes of paper liners are available, from miniature to jumbo.
In addition to paper, cupcake liners may be made from very thin aluminum foil or, in a non-disposable version, silicone rubber. Because they can stand up on their own, foil and silicone liners can also be used on a flat baking sheet, which makes them popular among people who do not have a specialized muffin tin. Some of the larger paper liners are not fluted and are made out of thicker paper, often rolled at the top edge for additional strength, so that they can also stand independently for baking without a cupcake tin. Some bakers use two or three thin paper liners, nested together, to simulate the strength of a single foil cup.
Prior to consumption, the cupcake liner is removed from the cupcake. The removal process is often completed by pinching the fluting and pulling the liner away from the baked product. The pinching process often removes a portion of the baked goods.
What is desired is a feature that would aid in separating a cupcake liner from a baked product without affecting the baked product.


Disclosed is a system and method of image-based space detection. The system includes an image selection module, a 3-layer detection mechanism and an optimization module. At least one image processing area that may affect space-status judgment is selected from plural image processing areas. The 3-layer detection mechanism having an observation layer, a labeling layer, and a semantic layer observes the information about the selected image processing area, associates with a local classification model, and adjacent local constraint model and a global semantics model to completely describe the probability distribution of the links among the three layers, and provide global label constraint information. The optimization module analyzes the probability distribution and global label constraint information, and generates an image-based optimized space detection result.

Intelligent video surveillance technology is widely used. By placing a plurality of cooperative cameras and using image processing, this technology may be used for space detection in a large area, such as parking space detection.
The parking space management usually relies on manual registration, using mechanical bar at the entrance, or installing sensor at each parking space to register the space status. Although the parking management has a simple structure, to find a parking space in a large outdoor parking lot, such as shopping mall, stadium, theater and office building, still takes a lot of time. The registration at the entrance may only provide the number of available parking spaces instead of the exact location of the available space. It is not only inefficient, but also fails to provide other valuable service functions, such as surveillance, guided parking, and so on.
The use of sensors, such as infrared, supersonic, electromagnetic, at each parking space requires the installation of the sensor, which may be prohibitively expensive for a large parking lot. In addition, the maintenance is costly, and may also be affected by the temperature, humidity or other climatic factors. This type of parking space management provides no further safety integrated services, such as guided parking, car surveillance, car theft prevention, bumping tracking, and so on.
The parking management technology is usually classified as sensing-based parking management detection technology or mechanical control based parking management detection technology. The sensing-based technology uses a sensor, such as parking card sensor, infrared sensor, supersonic sensor or electromagnetic sensor. The operation theory is to use a microwave transmitter to transmit microwave (infrared/supersonic) to detect whether a parking space has any large object responding to the microwave, such as blocking or reflecting the microwave. A receiver determines whether a corresponding signal is received to detect the presence of a vehicle. As the sensor may only detect a limited area, each parking space must have its own detection unit. Hence, the high set-up cost, complex hardware wire and difficult maintenance all contribute to the unpopularity of this technology.
Mechanical control based technology uses mechanical facility, such as raising bar, to control and record the number of the cars entering and leaving, and the number of the parking spaces. However, a mechanical bar at the entrance only counts the number of the cars inside the parking lot to get a rough estimation of the available space, but is unable to detect the status of individual parking space and finding the exact location of the available parking space. Hence, finding available parking space may take much time. To alleviate the above problem, a mechanical bar may be installed at each parking space; however, this again involves a high set-up cost. This solution may only be suitable for small parking lots.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,259 disclosed a system and method for delivering parking information to motorists. An exemplary embodiment is to use image analysis to find available parking space. By comparing the grey-level values of the image taken by the camera with an unoccupied parking space model, the system may detect whether the parking space is unoccupied. However, the disadvantage is that the precision of this method may be affected by the light and the climate change, or by the camera angle and the shielding of nearby cars.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0144890 disclosed a parking management system and method, where the system user may reserve or bid on a parking space, or join a loyalty program to use the parking management system. An exemplary embodiment of this patent application is to encode all the pixels of an image of a single parking space taken by a camera into a feature vector, and then divide as unoccupied or occupied status to realize the space detection. This method has the disadvantage that the pixel coding can be affected by the light change or noise interference. Another exemplary embodiment uses the detection of the presence of license plate in a parking space as the basis for determining whether the space is occupied or unoccupied. This embodiment also has the disadvantage of the camera angle, the possible incompleteness of a license plate image and the shielding by nearby cars.

System and method of image-based space detection

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A dioxin preventative includes an adsorbent that sorptively removes dioxin precursors from an exhaust gas stream of an incinerator at a point prior to the exhaust gas stream cooling to below a temperature of 400.degree. C. The dioxin preventative includes a covering agent which coats flyash.

The present invention relates to a material preventing the formation of organic chlorine compounds such as polychlorinated-p-dibenzodioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) (which will hereinafter be referred to as "dioxins" collectively) in an incinerator and also a method for preventing the formation of dioxins specifically. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method which makes possible to lower the dioxin concentration in an exhaust gas and in the flyash with certainty at a low cost. The present invention achieves such benefits not by using a large-scaled dioxin removing apparatus but by simply adding chemicals to the exhaust stream.
In an incinerator, a large amount of organic compounds and hydrocarbons (C.sub.n H.sub.m) are evolved. They are brought into contact with air, followed by decomposition into CO.sub.2 gas and water. If they are not brought into contact with air well, dioxin precursors are generated.
Examples of the dioxin precursors include aromatic compounds such as phenol or benzene, chlorinated aromatic compounds such as chlorophenol or chlorobenzene, chlorinated alkyl compounds, etc.
The above-exemplified dioxin precursors become sorbed to the flyash particles. "Sorbed" means adsorbed or absorbed. The difference being one of scale and distance from a surface. There is no sharp boundary between adsorption and absorption. The chemical processes of interest in dioxin formation occurs near or on a surface. Accordingly, the terms "adsorb", "adsorbed", and "adsorption" are used herein but one of ordinary skill in the art understands the extent that absorption is included in the term adsorption for such processes.
As the dioxin precursors are sorbed to the flyash particles, by catalytic action of the active sites on the flyash, the precursors are converted to dioxins. The precursors do not easily become dioxins at high temperatures of 400.degree. C. or higher even under the coexistence of the flyash. When the temperature lowers and becomes about 200.degree.-400.degree. C., however, a (catalytic) reaction as shown by the below formula, for example, occurs and these precursors convert into dioxins: ##STR1##
It is known as a method for removing the dioxins so formed, which are contained in an exhaust gas, before they are released to the environment, to inject activated carbon in the powdery form into a combustion exhaust gas line which is 120.degree.-250.degree. C. at the point before the dust collector, thereby having dioxins, which have been once formed on the flyashes in the exhaust gas treatment system, adsorbed on the activated carbon and removing them (Japanese Patent Kokai No. HEI 5-31323), incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The above method makes it possible to reduce the amount of dioxins in the exhaust gas, but is accompanied with the problem that the flyash contaminated with dioxins is produced. Furthermore, waste activated carbon on which dioxins have been adsorbed is generated so that another dioxin treatment becomes necessary for the disposal of the waste activated carbon.

Dioxin formation preventative in incinerators and method for preventing the formation of dioxins


An apparatus for measuring jump distances has a housing with a bottom surface, a track extending longitudinally along the housing, a carriage translatably affixed to the track, and a laser mounted to the carriage so as to direct the beam in a direction away from the housing. A scale is affixed to or adjacent to the track. The scale has distance indicia formed therein. The carriage has an indicator thereon that is directed to the scale such that the distance indicia corresponding to the indicator corresponds to a location of a surface to which the beam of the laser is directed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to jumping activities, such as a long jump, a standing broad jump, a triple jump, and similar jumps. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices that are utilized for the measurement of the length of the jump. Additionally, the present invention relates to devices for use in association with jumping activities whereby a jump pit is utilized by the jumper.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
A variety of jumping activities commonly occur at track meets and similar events. These jumping activities can be a long jump, a standing broad jump, or a triple jump. In the case of the long jump and the triple jump, a runner will run down the runway and jump at a marker board at the entry end of a jump pit. The jumper will eventually land in the jump pit so as to displace granular material within the jump pit. At the location where the jump is terminated, a measurement is necessary so as to determine the distance of the jump. Typically, this measurement will occur at the rearward end of the area in which the granular material is displaced. As such, the length of the jump will be measured between the jump line and the divot created in the sand of the jump pit.
In the past, the measurement of this distance has been conducted through the use of a tape measure. One end of the tape measure is positioned at the jump line or foul line. The other end of the tape measure is moved so as to correspond with the end edge of the divot in the sand. As such, the length of the jump can be calculated. This tape measuring of the jump is time-consuming and filled with inaccuracies. First, an accurate tape measure is required to be initially positioned at the foul line. When the line is extended, it may extend have an angle that is not directly transverse to the jump line. As such, the tape measure may have a small angular offset from its intended direction. This can serve to inaccurately lengthen the jump measurement. In other circumstances, the end of the tape adjacent to the divot created by the landing will be positioned forward of or rearward of the actual endpoint of this divot. Once again, inaccuracies can be created. Under other circumstances, the tape measure may have a certain degree of elasticity. As such, this elasticity can change the desired measurement of the jump. As such, a need has developed so as to very accurately and reliably determine the length of the jump.
In the past, various patents have issued relating to laser devices or measurement devices associated with jumping activities. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,912, issued on Mar. 15, 1994 to Bednarz et al., shows a long jump and triple jump foul detector system. A laser beam is emitted parallel to and directly above the foul line. A laser beam detector detects the interruption of the laser beam by the athlete's shoe. A foul detector provides a foul indication. The system distinguishes between a relatively quick interruption of the beam caused by the athlete's shoe when jumping and a relatively slow interruption of the beam which may result such as by the judge placing his or her hand in the beam when measuring a jump.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,595, issued a May 28, 1996 to A. W. Lee, shows a training device for ice skating jumping. A beam of an electromagnetic wave is suspended at an adjustable distance above a floor or an ice surface by a mechanism that generates electromagnetic wave energy and detects that same energy bounced back from a reflector plate placed a distance apart from the generator source. The beam of the electromagnetic transmission is suspended across the distance between the transceiver and reflector so as to keep an electric switch open and an electric alarm disabled or silent. Whenever the invisible beam is broken or cut by any obstruction, such as a skater's boot or leg, the alarm mechanism is energized and signal an interruption.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,928, issued on Aug. 1, 2000 to K. A. Goszyk, discloses a three-dimensional object path tracking device. This captures the path of an object moving through a sensing volume determined by a three-dimensional coordinate system. First, second and third angle detectors are mounted in a common housing positionable at a vortex of a sensing cone encompassing the sensing volume. The detectors are separated from one another by known fixed distances. Each detector receives a respective light beam from the object having a respective angle relative to a respective reference line of the three-dimensional coordinate system so as to provide a signal corresponding to the respective angle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,714,284, issued on Mar. 30, 2004 to Norman et al., shows a track and field measuring apparatus and method. In particular, this is applied to a throwing event at a track-and-field meet. The device is set in a position outside of a throwing circle and a landing area for the event being measured and is aimed at a target placed at a landing position of a thrown object. This method utilizes a laser distance measuring device to determine the height of a crossbar in a leaping event at a track-and-field meet.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,840, issued on Jun. 21, 2005 to M. A. Gaines, describes a football first down indicator system. The first down indicator system includes a pair of first down marker members each having an elongate housing member and also having a stub shaft attached to a bottom of the elongate housing member for resting upon the ground. A down display housing is attached to the top of the elongate housing member. A plurality of number displays are rotatably disposed in each down display housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,110,092, issued on Sep. 19, 2006 to Kasper et al., shows a measuring device and measuring method for determining distance and/or position. The measuring device is provided with a signal generator and a signal receiver. The signal receiver is located at a measurable distance from the signal generator. The signal generator is designed for the emission of at least two signal beams covering an area. The signal receiver is designed for the time-resolved the reception of the signal beams in such a manner that the generator-receiver distance can be determined from the time signature of the signal beam reception.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,231,834, issued on Jun. 19, 2007 to T. Kurono, teaches a stride measuring apparatus in which a signal wave emitter and a signal wave detector are opposed to each other in a direction intersecting with a predetermined direction in which the running surface is driven. The signal wave emitter emits a light beam. The signal wave detector outputs an ON signal when receiving the light beam, and outputs an OFF signal when the light beam is intercepted. A detector calculates a moving speed on the basis of a definite difference between a fall time and a rise time of one OFF signal out of two OFF signals outputted in succession from the signal wave detector.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,570, issued on Oct. 20, 2009 to Wilkins et al., provides an exercise device having a position verification feedback. The exercise device includes a base unit defining a support surface, at least two position sensors arranged along a sensing plane relative to the support surface for detecting the presence of the user upon the sensing plane, and a controller in communication with the position sensors to determine the user's position relative to the sensing plane.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,713,808, issued on May 6, 2014 to A. Amron, describes a system and method for projecting a visible line on an athletic field surface. The temporary line projection system is designed to be grasped by hand and moved, by a single human operator, into a desired location, such as along the sidelines of a football field adjacent to where a first down line is to be projected. The system includes a movable structure that is dimensioned and arranged to be supported by and projected upwardly from an athletic field surface. A laser source is supported by the movable structure and is maintained by the movable structure at an elevated location relative to the athletic field surface. This allows the laser source to direct optical energy downward upon the field while the movable structure is maintained substantially in a first orientation relative to the athletic field surface.
It is object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for measuring jump distances that is usable on any surface.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for measuring jump distances that has great accuracy.
It is still another object of the present invention provide an apparatus for measuring jump distances which promotes better competition.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for measuring jump distances that provides uniformly accurate results.
It is a further object of the present invention provide an apparatus for measuring jump distances that allows the operator to sit comfortably in a location adjacent to the jump pit.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for measuring jump distances that serves to promote sponsor brand identity.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for measuring jump distances that is usable with standard measuring tape.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for measuring jump distances that is easy to assemble with simple tools.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for measuring jump distances that does not require calibration.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.


A side release buckle includes a male member having two forward extended elastic retaining arms, each of which has a curved outer sidewall with a retaining shoulder portion formed near a proximal end thereof and a downward locating block; and a hollow female member having a front opening and two side openings, and two projected stoppers. The curved outer sidewalls of the retaining arms enable the male member to slide into the front opening of the female member from an angular position, and the engagement of the male member with the female member at the retaining shoulder portions and axially front ends of the side openings and at the locating blocks and the stoppers provides the buckle with enhanced force-bearing strength to prevent the male and the female member from easy breakaway.

Side release buckles are widely employed on various apparels and articles, such as backpacks, to detachably connect two ends of a fastening belt. Such buckles usually include a male and a female member connected to the two ends of the fastening belt. By engaging or disengaging the male and female members with or from each other, or depressing or releasing a push element, the two ends of the fastening belt could be connected or separated under control. In addition to control the connection or separation of the two ends of the fastening belt, the buckle also serves as a major supporting means when the fastening belt is subjected to an external force.
In a conventional side release buckle as shown in FIG. 1, the male member A typically includes an insert head having two spaced elastic retaining arms A1, and the female member B a front opening B1 corresponding to the insert head and two side openings B2. When the male member A is inserted into the front opening B1 of the female member B and reaches at the two side openings B2, the two spaced elastic retaining arms A1, which are initially compressed inward by the front opening B1 of the female member B, elastically spring into the two side openings B2 due to a restoring force to firmly hold the male member A to the female member B. When it is desired to open the buckle, simply apply two opposite inward forces on the two elastic retaining arms A1 exposed from the side openings B2 to cause separation of the elastic retaining arms from the side openings B2, and then pull the male member A out of the female member B.
The male member A of the above-described conventional side release buckle could be inserted into the female member B only when the two members are generally aligned with each other. The buckle just could not be locked when the male member A is in an angular or biased position relative to the female member B. It is necessary to re-align the male and the female member A, B to lock the side release buckle. The buckle tends to become worn easily when the male and the female member A, B are frequently misaligned and repeatedly operated to lock the buckle.
Moreover, a main force-bearing structure on the conventional side release buckle to prevent the locked male and female members A, B from unexpected separation from each other includes two axially front ends of the two side openings B2 of the female member B, upon which the two outward sprung elastic retaining arms A1 of the male member A abut. Since the two elastic retaining arms A1 elastically exposed from the side openings B2 are subject to inward compression and deformation to easily separate from the axially front ends of the side openings B2, the buckle tends to open unexpectedly to cause inconveniences or even dangers.

Side release buckle allowing locking from an angular position


A method of recording data into a recording medium by forming a recording region which is physically different from the nonrecorded portions is disclosed. The optical data recording/reproducing method includes a first trial writing operation in which trial writing data are recorded into the recording medium while changing the recording power conditions, the recorded trial writing data are reproduced, and the reproduced trial writing data are evaluated to set an optimum recording power. The method also includes a second trial writing operation in which trial writing data are recorded into the recording medium while changing the servo conditions, the recorded trial writing data are reproduced, and the reproduced trial writing data are evaluated to set optimum servo conditions.

The present invention relates to a data recording/reproducing apparatus for recording data onto, or reproducing data from, a recording medium. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of highly precisely recording and reproducing recording marks relying upon thermal recording and to an apparatus therefor.
In a conventional recording system as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 22223/1991, a sequence of recording codes of recording marks are converted into pulses to form a sequence of pulses corresponding to the length of the sequence of recording codes. The length and amplitude of the sequence of pulses are controlled depending upon the length of an opposite phase of the sequence of recording codes located just before the sequence of recording codes. The sequence of pulses is divided into three parts, and the widths of the pulses are changed to execute the recording.
In the above-mentioned prior art, however, no attention has been given to the fact that the recording sensitivity of the recording medium changes due to a change in the thickness of the recording medium or a change in the ambient temperature, and that a relative recording sensitivity changes due to a change in the position of a light spot of the recording/reproducing apparatus. Therefore, the recording mark is not highly precisely controlled causing the recording capacity to decrease. The object of the present invention is to minimize the change of the recording mark caused by a change in the recording sensitivity and to control the recording mark highly precisely.
In order to improve matching between the recording medium and the recording apparatus according to the present invention, trial writing is effected in advance into a predetermined position of the recording medium. Optimum light powers for recording during the recording and optimum servo conditions are found from reproduction signals obtained by the trial writing and, then, the recording of normal data is started.
The trial writing data and a sequence of input data bits of normal data are converted into a sequence of codes that correspond to a modulation system of the recording apparatus. It is desired to form a sequence of data to record the sequence of codes into the recording medium, and drive a laser beam source of to form a recording area in the recording medium thereby to effect correct recording. This makes it possible to handle the trial writing data and normal data using a common circuit.
When data are to be recorded into, and erased from, the recording medium using two or more energy levels, it is desired that the light power is optimized during the recording for each of the energy levels. This constitution makes it possible to further improve matching between the recording/reproducing apparatus and the recording medium, so that the data can be reliably recorded and erased.
The present invention compensates for a change in the recording sensitivity that is caused by a change in the thickness of each of the recording medium, by a change in the ambient temperature and by a change in the characteristics of the recording apparatus. For this purpose, a predetermined trial writing pattern having a severe recording condition is written into the recording medium prior to recording normal data. In order to detect an optimum light power for recording, the recording operation is carried out while changing the light intensity or the energy of the waveform for recording, and the recorded data are reproduced and are evaluated to determine an optimum light power for recording. Moreover, the condition for controlling the position of light spot, such as focusing, tracking, etc., changes accompanying a change in the characteristics of the recording apparatus. Therefore, the trial writing pattern is recorded while changing the condition for controlling the position of the light spot, and the trial writing pattern is reproduced to determine optimum control conditions. In practice, first, an optimum light power for recording is roughly set and, then, the condition for controlling the position of the light spot is set. As the condition for controlling the position of the light spot changes, the optimum light power for recording changes, too. Therefore, the light power for recording is set again in order to eliminate erroneous operation in recording the data caused by a change in the recording sensitivity and to effect the recording and reproduction maintaining improved reliability.
When the data recorded using other apparatus are to be reproduced, it is desired to prevent as much erroneous operation as possible during the reproduction caused by variance in the characteristics between the apparatuses. For this purpose, trial reading is effected to reproduce a predetermined pattern prior to reproducing normal data, and the reproducing condition is set based upon the result of trial reading in order to improve matching between the recording marks and the reproducing apparatus.
In this specification, pits formed in the optical recording medium by the irradiation of light, magnetic recording domain, change in the phase and change in the color are all referred to as recording marks.
In the optical recording, the optical recording medium is irradiated with a laser spot of a diameter of about 1 μm to locally heat that part in order to form a recording mark of a binary code. In the case of the magneto-optical recording, however, the recording is usually effected by being irradiated with a laser spot and by the application of an external magnetic field in combination.
The system for recording data for the binary coded data includes an inter-mark recording system and a mark length recording system. As for the data "010010", for instance, the former system gives a mark relying upon the optical spot onto a central portion of the data "1" and the data "0" is placed between the two marks corresponding to two "1s". In the latter system, the mark is raised relying upon the light spot at the central position upon the arrival of the first "1", the mark is lowered at the center when the next "1" has arrived, and the mark is raised when "1" after the next "1" has arrived. That is, the data "0" is placed between the two edges between the raising of the mark and the lowering of the mark.
As a record control method which easily accomplishes high precision by utilizing a mark length recording system, the present inventors have previously proposed a method of controlling record into a magneto-optical disk by controlling the output of laser beam by superposing a plurality of kinds of pulses having different pulse widths and pulse levels (Japanese Patent Application No. 238276/1992).
FIG. 19 schematically illustrates this method, wherein FIG. 19a is a diagram illustrating laser outputs for making a record into a magneto-optical disk, FIG. 19b is a diagram illustrating a temperature distribution of the magneto-optical disk heated upon the irradiation with a laser beam, and FIG. 19c is a diagram showing recording marks recorded into the magneto-optical disk.
A minimum level in the laser beam output is a light power Pr during the reproduction. The power level Pa is such that the magneto-optical recording medium is heated to some extent even during the rest period of a sequence of recording codes and that the temperature distribution is maintained constant at a moment of the rise of the recording pulse for writing the next recording mark. The recording pulses consist of a relatively broad head pulse 40 and relatively narrow one or a plurality of succeeding pluses 41. The head pulse 40 has a recording power level Pw1 and the succeeding pulses 41 have a recording power level Pw2.
The temperature is raised by the head pulse 40 in the laser beam output waveform shown in FIG. 19a, and the temperature is maintained nearly constant by the succeeding pulses 41. Therefore, the temperature distribution corresponding to the recording pulse irradiation period and the rest period can be controlled to be constant, and the temperature distribution is imparted to the disk medium as shown in FIG. 19b. Thus, by setting the temperature level of the magneto-optical recording medium to be constant, the width and length of the recording mark are controlled to be within a predetermined precision shown in FIG. 19c.
According to the above-mentioned recording method, the temperature distribution is maintained nearly constant on the magneto-optical recording medium during the irradiation with recording pulses, and the high-density recording is accomplished maintaining high precision.
Even by the above-mentioned recording method, however, a change in the power supply which feeds electric power to the recording apparatus results in a change in the recording power or in the width of the recording pulse, which is a cause of change in the recording sensitivity for the recording medium, making it difficult to utilize the above-mentioned advantage to a sufficient degree.
In the inter-mark recording system, even a slight change in the width of the recording pulse or in the power level simply results in a change in the size of the mark in the form of a concentric circle without almost causing the center position of the recording mark to be deviated, and no problem arises. In the case of the mark length recording system, on the other hand, the mark length for recording the data undergoes a change, which is much of a problem.
The object of the present invention is to suppress as much as possible the change in the recording mark caused by a change in the power supply in the optical recording apparatus, and to control the recording mark maintaining high precision.
Another object of the present invention is to increase reliability of the optical recording apparatus in order to increase the storage capacity and the transfer rate of the data.
The above-mentioned object is accomplished by detecting the power supply voltage applied to the optical recording apparatus, and by changing the light source drive pulse, i.e., by changing the power level of the light pulse maintaining a predetermined relationship depending upon the power supply voltage that is detected. It is desired that the power supply voltage is detected at least prior to starting the recording operation.
The above-mentioned recording method can be adapted to the mark length recording system which is constituted by a relatively broad head pulse that rises in synchronism with the rise of a recording code period in the sequence of recording codes and relatively narrow one or a plurality of succeeding pulses of which the final falling portion is in synchronism with the fall of the recording code period.
The power level of the light pulse is controlled by so controlling the power level of the succeeding pulses that the ratio of the power level of the succeeding pulses to the power level of the head pulse assumes a value that has been determined in advance depending upon the power supply voltage.
When the data are to be recorded by the ZCAV (zoned constant angular velocity) system in which a reference clock is changed for each of the zones to maintain the recording density nearly constant in the inner and outer circumferences, it is desired that the ratio of the power level of the succeeding pulses to the power level of the head pulse determined in advance depending upon the power supply voltage is changed depending upon the recording position in the radial direction of the optical recording medium.
According to the present invention, the optical recording apparatus comprises a source of laser beam, an optical system for converging the light beam from the source of laser beam onto an optical recording medium, a recording waveform forming means for forming a sequence of recording pulses including a relatively broad rectangular head pulse that rises in synchronism with the rise of the recording code period based upon the recording code sequence data and relatively narrow one or a plurality of succeeding rectangular pulses, the final falling portion of which being in synchronism with the falling of the recording code period, a laser drive means for driving the source of laser beam using the sequence of recording pulses formed by the recording waveform forming means, a power supply voltage detecting means, and a means for compensating a change in the power supply voltage to compensate, depending upon the power supply voltage detected by the power supply voltage detecting means, the power level of a light pulse generated from the source of laser beam in response to the rectangular head pulse and the succeeding rectangular pulses, whereby a change in the power supply voltage is compensated to form recording marks maintaining high precision.
Means for compensating a change in the power source may include means for controlling the power level of light pulses generated from the source of laser beam in response to the succeeding rectangular pulses, so that the ratio of the power level of light pulses generated from the source of laser beam in response to the succeeding rectangular pulses to the power level of a light pulse generated from the source of laser beam in response to the rectangular head pulse, assumes a value that has been determined in advance depending upon the power supply voltage.
When the optical recording is the magneto-optical recording, the optical recording apparatus includes an external magnetic field application means, and the recording is effected by being irradiated with a light spot and by the application of a magnetic field from the external unit in combination.
The present invention can be applied not only to a recording system which records the data using light pulses of a plurality of kinds having different pulse widths and power levels but also to a recording system which effects the recording using light pulses, as well as to recording systems other than the mark length recording system.
A change in the power supply voltage during the optical recording results in a change in the drive current characteristics and drive frequency characteristics of the laser driver. In particular, a high drivability is required as the recording frequency increases. When the supply voltage drops, therefore, the rising time of the recording waveform is delayed. As the recording frequency increases, the recording pulse width becomes narrow, the total recording power decreases, and it is no longer possible to correctly record the data. Furthermore, the recording power (crest value) tends to decrease. When the applied voltage is high, on the other hand, the recording power becomes too great and the data are not correctly recorded.
As shown in FIG. 14, for instance, when the voltage of the power supply applied to the optical recording apparatus is as represented by a solid line 320 which is that of the waveform of practical laser drive pulses of a rated power supply voltage, the waveform of the laser drive pulses changes as represented by a broken line 330 when the power supply voltage is lowered. The power of light pulse generated from the source of laser beam changes like the waveform of the laser drive pulses. The effective energy that contributes to the optical recording is the energy before the power reaches the highest value; i.e., the energy in the falling portion after the power has reached the highest point does not much contribute to the recording.
The effect of a change in the power supply voltage, in the case of the sequence of recording pulses of FIG. 19a, appears conspicuously for the succeeding pulses 41 which determine the rear end position of the recording mark 23. When the power of the succeeding pulses 41 changes, the length of the recording mark changes, which results in the occurrence of erroneous recording. When the recording method called ZCAV (zoned constant angular velocity) is employed in which the reference clock is changed for each of the zones so that the recording density is nearly constant in the inner and outer circumferences in order to increase the recording capacity, the above-mentioned effect becomes more serious since the recording frequency becomes higher toward the outer circumferential portion of the recording medium than in the inner circumferential portion.
As described above, a change in the power supply voltage appears as a change in the width of the pulse for driving the source of light and as a change in the power level. According to the present invention, the power level only is not simply rendered to become constant but also a change in the pulse width is reflected in controlling the power level, so that the power that contributes to the recording becomes constant. The amount of change in the recording power due to a change in the power supply that supplies power to the recording apparatus and the amount of change in the average recording power due to a change in the recording pulse width, are measured in advance, and the setpoint value of the recording power is changed depending upon the change in the power supply voltage, so that the recording medium is irradiated with nearly the same recording power irrespective of a change in the power supply voltage.
In practice, the recording power and a decrease in the irradiation power caused by a change in the recording pulse width are measured for each of the apparatuses, and a power level of light pulses that offsets the change is found. The power source voltage and the setpoint power level of light pulses are stored in the recording apparatus, an optimum power level of drive pulses is set to the recording apparatus from a relationship between the power supply voltage and the preset power level of light pulses based upon the voltage measured by a power supply voltage measuring device in the recording apparatus, and the recording power is irradiated with nearly the same recording power at all times irrespective of a change in the power supply voltage. This makes it possible to improve matching between the recording medium and the recording apparatus despite a change in the power supply voltage, and erroneous operation can be avoided.
Even when the power supply voltage is raised, the setpoint power level of pulses for driving the light source is lowered in the recording apparatus, so that the recording medium is irradiated with an optical recording power avoiding erroneous operation.
According to the present invention, the recording marks can be recorded highly precisely making it possible to improve reliability of the optical recording apparatus. Moreover, owing to their high recording precision, the recording marks can be densely recorded to increase the recording density and the rate for transferring the data.

Magneto-optical data recording/reproducing method


The invention relates to a method and system for booking a reservation in a booking system and synchronizing bookings in several booking systems comprising at least one booking systems; at least one service provider; a mediator service; a client, and at least one client terminal device that can be a mobile device and that includes a dialogue. In addition, the system comprises telecommunication connections that are used to connect the booking systems, the service providers, the mediator, and the client terminal device. The client uses the dialogue to enter information into the system. There mediator gets inquiries and answers from booking systems, service providers, and dialogues, and transfers and adapts information between them.

Services that are booked or used via the Internet are constantly increasing. The Internet enables one to use several on-line services such as services connected to banks, health services, travel agencies, vehicle maintenance, and so on.
The increasing popularity of mobile computing and communications devices introduce new challenges to services on the Internet. Mobile terminals are able to deliver information to users when needed and where needed. Users want ubiquitous access to information and applications from the device at hand. They also want to access and update this information wherever they happen to be.
It is important to notice, however, that not all the terminals will be mobile. Future services must be able to communicate with a large variety of terminal devices, both those that are mobile and those that are not. Different terminal devices have very different capabilities.
The interoperability of different services and terminal devices requires standards on several levels. It is not enough to have, say, common communication protocols. It would be very important to share common concepts and understanding what a certain piece of data means in a certain context. However, it has been very difficult to agree on those issues, as there exist an enormous number of companies, organizations, and other actors in the field.
Many services must be able to manage bookings. They include for example booking appointments for health services; booking travel reservations for hotels, airlines, and rental cars; booking tickets for venues; booking appointments for vehicle maintenance; booking maintenance for apartments; and so on. It would be very useful, if those services could get information from one another. For example, if a customer is booking tickets for a concert, he or she might want to book a table in a restaurant also. It helps, if the restaurant's booking service gets basic information, like date and customer's name from the theater's booking system. Unfortunately, there have not been methods to exchange information between different kinds of booking systems.
There are many methods to exchange information between services. Speaking of services that include booking or calendar functions, information exchange often takes place as synchronizing booking or calendar entries. For that purpose, several important standardization efforts are going on. For example, SyncML is an industry initiative to develop and promote a single, common data synchronization protocol.
vCalendar is an exchange format for personal scheduling information. It is applicable to a wide variety of calendaring and scheduling products and is useful in exchanging information across a broad range of transport methods. A number of vendors have adopted the specification because it allows their products to exchange calendaring and scheduling information. vCalendar is an open specification based on industry standards such as the x/Open and XAPIA Calendaring and Scheduling API (CSA), the ISO 8601 international date and time standard and the related MIME email standards. The vCalendar format utilizes data normally stored within a calendaring and scheduling application, facilitating the cross platform exchange of information about items such as events and to-do's. An event is a calendaring and scheduling entity that represents a designated amount of time on a calendar. A to-do is a calendaring and scheduling entity that represents an action item or assignment. For instance, it may be an item of work assigned to an individual.
vCard automates the exchange of personal information typically found on a traditional business card. vCard is used in applications such as Internet mail, voice mail, Web browsers, telephony applications, call centers, video conferencing, PIMs (Personal Information Managers), PDAs (Personal Data Assistants), pagers, fax, office equipment, and smart cards. In addition to text, vCard information may include elements like pictures, company logos, live Web addresses, and so on.
As these examples show, there have been lots of efforts to build systems that can synchronize booking systems. A common problem with all of these existing solutions is that they do not provide common semantics for different systems. For example, if an entry is tentative, different systems may interpret it in different ways.
Another problem is that booking systems have multiple different and usually quite complex user interfaces. If a customer wants to both make an appointment with a dentist and book a taxi to take him or her there, the customer needs to enter all the booking information to both booking systems in different ways.
One more problem is that it becomes challenging to manage client replies, if a client has been given a number of questions. For example, it makes sense to use SMS text messages to ask client which option he or she chooses, because in many countries, like in Finland, it is very common to communicate with SMS text messages and they create revenues to operators. However, if a client replies to several inquires by sending a number of text messages, it can be troublesome to find out, which answer corresponds to a certain question because the reply does not automatically include a reference to the question. Say, a service asks a client if he or she wants to reserve—in addition to a flight ticket—also a taxi and a hotel room, and the client replies "yes" to one question but "no" to the other, the service does not necessarily know which offer the client has accepted.


The invention is a sewage treatment system with a filter apparatus enclosed within a housing. The filter operates to separate a liquid component from a solid component of the sewage. It does so by having the sewage drop onto a diffuser. The diffuser has a conical shape with its apex facing upward. The diffuser breaks up the sewage and forces the sewage to flow against the filter walls. The filter walls are liquid permeable which separates liquid from solid.. The solid component then falls to the bottom of the filter walls which has as its base an incinerator plate. Hot air is then used to dry the sewage. The incinerator plate heats to a combustion temperature and burns the sewage. The ash resultant and the liquid component of the sewage is then removed from the chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating sewage at its source, for example, at a residence or business. The apparatus substantially separates the sewage into its solid and liquid components and then incinerates the solid component.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, sewage is disposed of in one of the following three ways: municipal sewer system, private cesspool or private septic tanks.
A municipal sewer system requires a connection from a toilet to a sewage treatment plant. The sewage is carried through pipes to the plant by large quantities of fresh water. Such treatment plants typically employ chemical and bacterialogical treatment methods for decomposing and purifying the sewage.
While generally effective, the municipal sewer system does have some substantial deficiencies. One deficiency is encountered primarily in urban areas where sewer systems are common. The problem arises with the fixed capacity of the sewer system. Sewers and sewage treatment plants cannot respond to urban growth. Because new buildings need sewer connections, this problem has lead to a moratorium on new construction in some areas. Where capacity has been exceeded, severe pollution and environmental hazards have been created as a result of overflowing systems.
There is no simple solution to this problem. System expansion is extremely expensive and requires a substantial lead time. Private systems generally cannot be used because of lack of available space and health considerations.
In rural and suburban areas where land is more plentiful, private septic tanks and cesspools have been employed. Both systems work by bacterial breakdown of the solid waste and subsequent drainage into leaching fields or overflow tanks. These systems both require large amounts of fresh water and are subject to clogging. The cesspool often has the added drawback of creating offensive odors. Each of these systems are subject to the percolating ability of the land as well as form of the terrain. The land must be able to diffuse the sewage properly. This is difficult in rocky areas. At the same time, the land cannot be too wet such that sewage travels to ground water. The terrain also is limited as to its form. A cesspool will not work well if the terrain is steep and the sewage simply runs out of the pool.
Several sewage treatment systems have been devised that treat sewage at the source.
One system, U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,317, uses grinders to pretreat the sewage and holding tanks for subsequent bacterial breakdown. This system is not only mechanically complex but presents many of the same operational problems associated with septic tanks.
Another system, U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,133, uses a gravity filtration system to separate the aqueous component and microwaves to incinerate the solid waste. The filter medium in this device is easily clogged over time necessitating frequent maintenance adding to an already high expense.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sewage treatment system.
Another object is to provide an incinerator-based sewage treatment system.


A tube dispenser 10 and a dispensing method for collapsible tubes 24 are disclosed for operation by one hand. The dispenser has a pistol-like handle 12 which allows a high torque to consistently be applied to the tube by the thumb, thereby dispensing the tube's contents rapidly and in a uniform bead.

Devices for dispensing the contents of collapsible tubes have been known in the art for many years. Each of these previous devices utilizes some form of winding key or knob arrangement, operated by two hands, to dispense the contents of the collapsible tube by rotating the dispenser in the direction of the tube's neck. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,986,409, 1,990,929, 2,492,594, 4,570,828, and 4,653,670 all utilize the fundamental winding key concept. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,473,698, 3,759,421, 3,885,708, and 4,576,314 add a tapered guide for compressing the tube as it is wound around the dispenser. U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,293 employees an anti-unwinding feature which is especially useful in dispensing the contents of plastic tubes.
In order to dispense the contents of the collapsible tube into a uniform bead, these prior art devices require the use of two hands to simultaneously hold and rotate the dispenser so as to maintain a constant pressure within the tube. It is quite difficult however to maintain this continuously even pressure while concurrently rotating the dispenser.
If only one hand is employed, it is almost impossible to dispense a uniform bead for a prolonged period of time. One reason for this is that it is extremely strenuous and tiring to maintain a constant pressure on the tube.
This is particularly true in the case of tubes containing thick fluids such as industrial caulks, sealers, glues and the like. Further, the contents tend to move in multiple directions within the tube as pressure is applied, thus requiring the application of even greater pressure over a larger surface area of the tube.
This movement problem is exacerbated when a significant portion of the contents of the tube is depleted. Additionally, only a small portion of the contents of the tube can be dispensed before the process must necessarily stop and the dispenser again be rotated toward the neck of the tube. Each of these factors can result in both a reduced and uneven discharge rate and the consequent lack of uniformity in the dispensed bead.

Tube dispenser and method for dispensing the contents of a collapsible tube