A method that improves compensation for hard cuts and/or vertical motion effects in the conversion of 2D images to 3D images, displays 2D images to one eye and computed images to the other eye. Generating the computed images includes using an approximation variable that represents some relationship between the 2D images, such as the speed of motion across two images. Compensating for the hard cut or vertical motion effect includes temporarily setting the approximation variable to a value that makes the left and right eye images more similar (if identical, displaying a 2D image). The approximation variable can be pre-set to a value based on the speed of motion in a scene to be displayed. A method of displaying images in either 2D or 3D may include converting 3D images to 2D images by displaying images computed from images intended for either the left eye or the right eye.

Three-dimensional imaging is often used to analyze objects, particularly in the fields of medicine and science. Various methods with which television pictures in particular can be produced in three dimensions have also been developed for general consumer applications. Three-dimensional images also are used for entertainment, such as television programs, movies, videos, video games, etc.
Among the methods of 3D imaging, there is a basic distinction between sequential image transmission, in which the images for the right eye and the left eye are transmitted alternately one after the other or saved to a storage medium, and parallel transmission, in which the images are transmitted on two separate channels.
One particular disadvantage of sequential image transmission in connection with conventional television systems is the fact that the refresh rate is reduced to twenty-five images per second for each eye. This creates an unpleasant flickering for the viewer. Of course, this limitation does not occur when the image sequences are each transmitted on their own channel (left or right). However, problems may still arise with synchronizing both channels, as well as with the requirements placed on the receiver, which must be able to receive and process two channels simultaneously. This is not possible for most systems generally available on the market.
Signal transmission and processing likely will be entirely digital in future television systems. In such systems, every image is broken down into individual pixels which are transmitted in digitized format. In order to reduce the bandwidth required for this process, the appropriate compression methods are used; however, these create problems for stereo transmission.
For example, using block coding methods with a reasonable rate of compression, generally it is not possible to reconstruct every individual line of an image precisely. In addition, interframe coding techniques, such as MPEG-2, do not allow transmitting or saving stereo images in a sequential image format, because image information from one image still is contained in another image, creating the so-called "crosstalk effect", which makes clear separation of the right image from the left image difficult or impossible.
Other methods for generating a 3D image sequence from a 2Dl image sequence are disclosed in DE 35 30 610 and EP 0 665697. An autostereoscopic system with an interpolation of images is disclosed in EP 0 520 179, whereas in "Huang: Image Sequence Analysis" (published in Springer Verlag) problems of the recognition of motion areas in image sequences are discussed.
Therefore, one problem addressed by the invention is the creation of a method and a device with which it is possible to generate images that provide a very natural 3D image impression even if using the above-mentioned transmission and/or compression methods.
Several examples are mentioned in which techniques have been used to convert 2D images to 3D images. One conversion technique according to an aspect of the invention is described in detail below. Two-dimension to 3D conversion is advantageous when a given television program, movie, video, video game, or other sequence of images, etc. (hereinbelow collectively referred to as "video" for brevity) has been prepared in a 2D format. Therefore, if a viewer (person) were to obtain a 2D video, e.g., on a DVD (digital video disk), compact disk (CD), video tape, or some other storage medium (hereinbelow collectively referred to as "DVD" for brevity), the individual may be able to view the video in 3D format using a 2D to 3D conversion system.
Sometimes a video may be prepared in both 2D and 3D formats and stored in a DVD for subsequent display in the selected 2D or 3D format, as the viewer may select. From time to time a person viewing a 3D format movie may decide to watch the same in 2D format. This would be possible by switching from the 3D format stored on the DVD to the 2D format stored on the DVD, but the switching may take time because usually it is not possible to switch from one scene in 3D format to the same scene in 2D format; rather it would be necessary to restart the 2D format video and to search for the scene where the 3D format of the video was stopped. Meanwhile, the interest, emotion, suspense or intrigue created by watching the video may be lost while taking the time to make the format switch. Some videos are created and stored only in a 3D format. If such were the case, a viewer would not be able to switch between the 3D format and a 2D format. Accordingly, there is a need to provide such ability to switch from a 3D format movie to a 2D format. There also is a need to improve the versatility of such display systems to allow the receiving of 2D format or 3D format input image data/images and to provide outputs for display of the images represented by the image data in either 2D or 3D format.
The term "hard cut" is a term frequently used in the video field to indicate that an image of one scene very quickly switches to another scene. For example, one scene may be of a person sitting at a table while eating, and the next scene may show a view outside the window of the room in which that person is sitting. The two scenes are entirely different. It is possible that a portion of one scene may be included in the other scene, but still there is a substantial difference overall between the two scenes.
In the techniques used for converting 2D format images, e.g., movies, etc., to 3D format images for display, the techniques used may involve a determining of relationship between two images and making the appropriate adjustments (compensation) to left or right images, for example, so that the viewer perceives a 3D visual effect. However, upon occurrence of a hard cut, the relationship between two sequential scenes may be almost non-existent. Absent such relation, it may be difficult, or impossible, to obtain a conversion to 3D format or at least to a sequence of images that may be comfortably viewed by a viewer. Thus, there is a need to provide hard cut compensation when converting from a 2D format to a 3D format.
The occurrence of a hard cut may disrupt smooth conversion of images from 2D format to 3D format. Such disruption may lead to a less than optimum 3D viewing experience for the viewer. Therefore, there is a need to detect occurrence of hard cuts and to compensate or adjust for the same in a 2D to 3D conversion system.
Vertical motion effect in images, e.g., movies, etc., that are converted from 2D format to 3D format can be somewhat disadvantageous. For example, most depth perception (3D or stereo effect in viewing a scene, for example) is obtained in a generally horizontal plane rather than in a vertical plane because the viewer's eyes are spaced apart usually in a generally horizontal plane and respective views are seen according to the stereo base of the distance between the viewer's two eyes. Vertical motion or disparity between a pair or more than a pair of sequential images of a movie may tend to be construed by 2D to 3D conversion systems as motion indicative of depth, which, of course, may be incorrect.
Accordingly, viewing images with vertical motion in 3D format may present a less than optimal 3D viewing experience for the viewer and also may inaccurately represent the actual depth information. Accordingly, there is a need to detect vertical motion effect and to reduce the same or to eliminate it in systems and methods for converting 2D format image data to 3D format image data and associated images provided therefrom.
Some types of movies, television shows, videos, etc., are more active than others, e.g., greater action, movement, scene changes, etc. For example, a war movie usually would have much more action than a television talk show. If the same 2D to 3D conversion technique, variables, values, etc., were used to convert an action movie as would be used to convert a television talk show from 2D format to 3D format, substantial effect of the 3D images may be lost during at least part of the program. For example, in an action movie there is a great deal of motion and usually a great deal of depth information that can be detected as a result of that motion; therefore, if the conversion from 2D format to 3D format relied on the motion, then substantial depth would be encountered. However, if the same approached were used convert a talk show program from 2D format to 3D format, the depth or 3D effect may be much less than in the action movie or, in any event, it may take much longer for the depth or 3D effect to become evident to a viewer from the 3D format images of the talk show program. Accordingly, there is a need to accommodate the different characteristics of the type of program, e.g., action movie, television talk show program, wildlife video, etc., when converting to 2D format representations thereof to 3D format.
It is noted here that reference may be made to television, video, movie, video game, etc., all of which are obtained by a sequence of images. The sequence of images provide information indicating the characteristic of a given scene at one moment in time and the characteristic of that scene in another moment of time. Reference herein to television, video, movie, video game, etc., may be construed to include all of the same and other formats of information conveyance, e.g., by a sequence of images that are presented for viewing. The viewing may be via a television, a computer monitor, a flat panel display, a projector, glasses or goggles, such as, for example, those used in connection with virtual reality type displays, game displays, etc., which provide images directly to the eyes of a viewer, and so forth. Furthermore, reference herein to images may also include image data, i.e., signals, data, etc., that may be stored, may be transmitted, or may be created, synthesized, interpolated, or otherwise obtained to represent the images. Thus, in the description below, reference to an image may be construed to mean the image itself or the data representing the image, whereby, if that data is appropriately provided to a display device, so the image can be viewed by a viewer (reference to viewer typically would mean a person who would view the image). 2D means two-dimensional images, sometimes referred to as mono, monoscopic, etc. type of images. 3D (sometimes written as 3-D) means three-dimensional images or images that appear to have not only height and width characteristic, but also depth characteristics. Sometimes 3D is referred to as stereo, stereoscopic, etc. type of images. These definitions (and others presented herein) are not intended to be limiting; standard or conventional definitions of the terms used herein also apply.
Another aspect relates to a method for the generation of 3D images represented by 3D image data that includes at least two channels of data for respective left and right eye views from a sequence of 2D images represented by 2D image data, comprising the steps of:
i) assigning the 2D image data to a first channel;
ii) determining a measure of similarity (δk) between sets of 2D image data representative of sequential 2D images;
iii) comparing the measure of similarity (δk) to predetermined threshold values (δ0<δ1<δ2) where                (1) if δ0<δk<δ2 and δk−δk−1≦−δ1 and an approximation variable (α) is less than or equal to Ks, the approximation variable is set to α:=α+s,        (2) if δ0<δk<δ2 and δk−δk−1≧δ1 and α≧s, the approximation variable (α) is set to α:=α−s, and        (3) if δ0≧δk, the approximation variable (α) is set to α:=0, where the approximation variable (α) determines the width of a stereo base, and s denotes a step width;
iv) calculating 3D image data for a second channel from the 2D image data using the approximation variable (α); and
v) assigning the first channel and the second channel to respective left and right eye views for display.
Another aspect relates to an apparatus for generating 3D images represented by 3D image data that includes at least two channels of data for respective left and right eye views from a sequence of 2D images represented by 2D image data, comprising:
i) means for assigning the 2D image data to a first channel;
ii) means for determining a measure of similarity (δk) between sets of 2D image data representative of sequential 2D images;
iii) means for comparing the measure of similarity (δk) to predetermined threshold values (δ0<δ1<δ2) where                (1) if δ0<δk<δ2 and δk−δk−1≦−δ1 and an approximation variable (α) is less than or equal to Ks, the approximation variable is set to α:=α+s,        (2) if δ0<δk<δ2 and δk−δk−1≧δ1 and α≧s, the approximation variable (α) is set to α:=α−s, and        (3) if δ0≦δk, the approximation variable (α) is set to α:=0, where the approximation variable (α) determines the width of a stereo base, and s denotes a step width;
iv) means for calculating 3D image data for a second channel from the 2D image data using the approximation variable (α); and
v) means for assigning the first channel and the second channel to respective left and right eye views for display.
Another aspect relates to a system for the generation of 3D images represented by 3D image data that includes at least two channels of data for respective left and right eye views from a sequence of 2D images represented by 2D image data, comprising:
i) means for determining a measure of similarity (δk) between sets of 2D image data representative of sequential 2D images;
ii) means for comparing the measure of similarity (δk) to predetermined threshold values (δ0<δ1<δ2) where                (1) if δ0<δk<δ2 and δk−δk−1≦−δ1 and an approximation variable (α) is less than or equal to Ks, the approximation variable is set to α:=α+s,        (2) if δ0<δk<δ2 and δk−δk−1≧δ1 and α≧s, the approximation variable (α) is set to α:=α−s, and        (3) if δ0≦δk, the approximation variable (α) is set to α:=0, where the approximation variable (α) determines the width of a stereo base, and s denotes a step width;
iii) an image generator for calculating 3D image data for a second channel from the 2D image data using the approximation variable (α).
Another aspect relates to a method for generating 3D images, comprising providing a first sequence of images for display, computing a second sequence of images for display from one or more images of the first sequence using an approximation variable representative of a relationship between at least two images of the first sequence, allowing the approximation variable to change in response to a relationship between at least two images of the first sequence, checking for occurrence of a hard cut between images of the first sequence, and in response to occurrence of a hard cut, setting the approximation variable to a value that provides a low degree of parallax between respective images of the first and second sequences of images or the appearance of a 2D image.
Another aspect relates to an apparatus for generating 3D images, comprising means for providing a first sequence of images for display, means for computing a second sequence of images for display from one or more images of the first sequence using an approximation variable representative of a relationship between at least two images of the first sequence and allowing the approximation variable to change in response to a relationship between at least two images of the first sequence, means for checking for occurrence of a hard cut between images of the first sequence, and means operative in response to occurrence of a hard cut for setting the approximation variable to a value that provides a low degree of parallax between respective images of the first and second sequences of images or the appearance of a 2D image.
Another aspect relates to a method of compensating 3D image data in response to hard cut detection, comprising preparing 3D image data for display from a first sequence of images and a second sequence of images computed from at least two respective images of the first sequence by using an approximation variable that changes based on a relationship between at least two images of the first sequence, in response to occurrence of a hard cut in images of the first sequence, setting the approximation variable to a value that provides a low degree of parallax between respective images of the first and second sequences of images or the appearance of a 2D image.
Another aspect relates to an apparatus for compensating 3D image data in response to hard cut detection, comprising means for preparing 3D image data for display from a first sequence of images and a second sequence of images computed from at least two respective images of the first sequence by using an approximation variable that changes based on a relationship between at least two images of the first sequence, means responsive to occurrence of a hard cut in images of the first sequence for setting the approximation variable to a value that provides a low degree of parallax between respective images of the first and second sequences of images or the appearance of a 2D image.
Another aspect relates to a method for generating 3D images, comprising preparing 3D image data from a first sequence of images and a second image sequence of images computed from at least two images of the first sequence using an approximation variable that changes based on a relationship between at least two images of the first sequence, and reducing the value of the approximation variable upon the occurrence of vertical disparity between at least two images of the first sequence.
Another aspect relates to an apparatus for generating 3D images, comprising means for preparing 3D image data from a first sequence of images and a second image sequence of images computed from at least two images of the first sequence using an approximation variable that changes based on a relationship between at least two images of the first sequence, and means for reducing the value of the approximation variable upon the occurrence of vertical disparity between at least two images of the first sequence.
An aspect of the invention relates to a method of converting 3D image data for a 3D image that includes image data representative of respective left and right eye views to 2D image data for a 2D image, comprising                i) using the 3D image data representative of one of the left and right eye views to provide first image data representative of a 2D image, and        ii) computing computed image data representative of a subsequent 2D image from the first image data.
Another aspect relates to a device for converting 3D image data, which includes image data representative of respective left and right eye views of a 3D image, to 2D image data, comprising
i) an output providing the image data that is representative of one of the respective left and right eye views of the 3D image data as 2D output image data for a 2D image, and
ii) a computation device to compute from said image data representative of said one of said respective left and right eye views computed image data that is representative of a subsequent 2D image.
Another aspect relates to a method of providing images for display, comprising
i) receiving image data in either of 2D format or 3D format, and
ii) selectively outputting in either 2D format or 3D format output image data for display, and wherein selectively outputting 2D format output image data from 3D image data includes outputting at least some output image data computed from one eye view of the 3D format image data.
Another aspect relates to a system for use in displaying images, comprising
i) an input for receiving image data in either of 2D or 3D format,
ii) a converter to convert 2D image data to 3D image data and to convert 3D image data to 2D image data, and
iii) a selector operable to select the format of output image data, including                2D output image data in response to 2D input image data,        3D output image data in response to 3D input image data,        2D output image data converted by the converter from 3D input image data, and        3D output image data converted by the converter from 2D input image data.
Another aspect relates to a method for generating 3D images, comprising preparing 3D image data from a first sequence of images and a second sequence of images computed from at least two images of the first sequence using an approximation variable that changes based on a relationship between at least two images of the first sequence, and presetting the initial value of the approximation variable according to the anticipated amount of motion across at least two images of the first sequence.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described in the specification and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but several of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be suitably employed.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Although the invention is shown and described with respect to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present invention includes all such equivalents and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the claims.

Methods and systems for 2D/3D image conversion and optimization


A liquid developing head is arranged to confront a surface of an image bearing member via a developing gap and a squeeze gap and carries out a developing by use of a developing liquid. The liquid developing head includes a housing, a developing roller, supported by the housing, supplying the developing liquid to the developing gap by rotating so that a portion of the developing roller confronting the image bearing member moves in a direction which is the same as a moving direction of the surface of the image bearing member, a squeeze roller, supported by the housing and arranged on a downstream side of the developing roller in the moving direction of the surface of the image bearing member, removing a surplus developing liquid adhered on the surface of the image bearing member at the squeeze gap by rotating so that a portion of the squeeze roller confronting the image bearing member moves in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the surface of the image bearing member, a developing liquid supply path, formed within the housing and having an ejection hole located at a portion on an upstream side of the developing gap in the moving direction of the surface of the image bearing member, supplied with the developing liquid from outside, and a developing liquid recovery path, formed within the housing, forcibly recovering the surplus developing liquid in response to a suction force applied from the outside.

The present invention generally relates to liquid developing heads, liquid developing units and image forming apparatuses, and more particularly to a liquid developing head and a liquid developing unit used in an electrophotography type printer which is provided with a photoconductive drum and to an image forming apparatus having such a liquid developing head and liquid developing unit.
The developing unit used in the electrophotography type printer which is provided with the photoconductive drum may be categorized into a dry type developing unit which uses a toner in the powder form, and a liquid developing unit which uses a developing liquid. The grain diameter of the powder toner is on the order of 5 to 10 .mu.m, while the grain diameter of the toner within the developing liquid is on the order of 0.1 to 3 .mu.m and small. Accordingly, when the liquid developing unit is used, it is possible to carry out the printing with a high resolution as compared to the case where the dry type developing unit is used. In addition, compared to the case where the dry type developing unit is used, it is possible to obtain a high color reproducibility of the toner when the liquid developing unit is used, and the liquid developing unit is suited for carrying out the printing with a high picture quality.
On the other hand, there are demands to reduce the size of the electrophotography type printer. In order to meet such demands, it is desirable that the set up location and the set up position of the liquid developing unit can be selected with a large degree of freedom.
A conventional liquid developing unit 10 has a construction shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a developing roller 14 and a squeeze roller 15 are arranged side by side above a tank 12 which stores a developing liquid 11. The developing roller 14 supplies the developing liquid 11 on a surface of a photoconductive drum 13, and the squeeze roller 15 removes the developing liquid 11 adhered on the surface of the photoconductive drum 13.
With respect to the photoconductive drum 13, the position of the conventional liquid developing unit 10 is generally limited to a position under the photoconductive drum 13 so that the developing liquid 11 will not leak. In other words, the degree of freedom of the set up location and the set up position of the conventional liquid developing unit 10 was poor.
For this reason, in the electrophotography type printer which can carry out a color printing, a yellow (Y) liquid developing unit, a magenta (M) liquid developing unit, a cyan (C) liquid developing unit and a black (Bk) liquid developing unit are provided sequentially below the photoconductive drum as proposed in a Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.5-273861, for example. In this proposed electrophotography type printer, a liquid developing unit moving mechanism successively shifts each of the liquid developing units to a position immediately below the photoconductive drum. As a result, it was difficult to reduce the size of the electrophotography type printer.

Liquid developing head liquid developing unit and image forming apparatus


A motor control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle with a diesel engine provides for a reduced compulsory regeneration time period so as to achieve enhancement of the fuel cost. The motor control apparatus includes a filter for collecting particulate matter in exhaust gas of the diesel engine, a compulsory regenerator for compulsorily regenerating the filter, and a battery charger for converting the output power of the diesel engine into electric power based on a charged state of the battery, and for charging the battery with the electric power. When the compulsory regeneration is executed, the supply of electric power to the battery by the engine is inhibited.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a motor control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, and more particularly to control of a motor upon compulsory regeneration of a filter which collects fine particles in exhaust gas.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a hybrid vehicle or a hybrid electric automobile wherein an internal combustion engine (engine) and an electric motor (motor) are used in combination to obtain driving force for the vehicle has been developed and placed into practical use. As hybrid vehicles of the type described, a series hybrid vehicle wherein an engine is used exclusively for an electric power supplying source (generator) for a motor and a parallel hybrid vehicle wherein an output power shaft of an engine and an output power shaft of a motor are mechanically connected to each other such that a driving wheel is driven by driving force of both of the engine and the motor are known.
In the parallel hybrid vehicle, a driving toque requirement is determined from load information such as an operation amount of the accelerator pedal by the driver and the speed of rotation of the engine, and the output power distribution between the engine and the motor is set from the remaining capacity (charging rate) of the battery.
Incidentally, it is a possible idea to apply a diesel engine as the engine for a parallel hybrid vehicle. In particular, a technique is know wherein an oxidation catalyst (DOC) and a filter for particulate collection are interposed in an exhaust path of a diesel engine such that PM (Particulate Matter) included in the exhaust gas is collected by the filter and the PM collected by the filter is oxidized (burned) to continuously regenerate the filter. It is to be noted that, in the following description, the PM is used in the same meaning as soot.
In such a technique as described above, for example, a pressure difference sensor is provided for detecting the pressure difference between the entrance and the exit of the filter, and if the pressure difference detected by the pressure difference sensor becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value, it is determined that the filter suffers from clogging, and compulsory regeneration of the filter is executed.
Upon such compulsory regeneration, additional fuel injection (post fuel injection) is performed at a later stage of the expansion stroke or at an initial stage of the exhaust stroke. Thus, from within the additional fuel, unburned fuel (HC: hydrocarbons) undergoes oxidation reaction (combustion) by an oxidation catalyst so that the temperature of exhaust gas flowing into the filter is raised by heat of the reaction then. Thus, the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing into the filter is raised so high that the PM in the filter is self ignited and burned thereby to achieve compulsory regeneration of the filter (first prior art).
It is to be noted that Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-115869 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) discloses a technique wherein, in a hybrid automobile which has an ordinary traveling mode in which the automobile travels while changeover between traveling by an engine and traveling by a motor is performed suitably and a special traveling mode in which the automobile travels while being driven only by the engine, when the catalyst is not in an activated state, the traveling mode of the automobile is compulsorily changed over to the special traveling mode. By the control described, when the temperature of the catalyst is low, the catalyst temperature can be raised rapidly (second prior art).
Incidentally, in the parallel hybrid vehicle, when the remaining capacity of the battery becomes low, the motor is sometimes driven by the engine so that it acts as a generator to charge the battery.
However, the first prior art described above has a subject that, if charging of the battery while the vehicle is in a stopping state (such charging is hereinafter referred to as stopping vehicle generation control or merely as generation control) and compulsory regeneration of the filer overlap with each other, then since the oxygen is consumed by the combustion of the fuel, the compulsory regeneration is not promoted and the compulsory regeneration time period is elongated, resulting in deterioration of the fuel cost. In particular, when the motor is driven by the engine and acts as a generator, the load to the engine increases and the fuel injection amount increases while the excess air ratio decreases (that is, becomes rich) and almost all of the oxygen is used for the combustion. Therefore, the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas drops and the oxygen amount to be supplied to the filter decreases, and the combustion (oxidation) of the PM in the filter is not promoted and the compulsory regeneration time period is elongated. Then, the fuel cost is deteriorated as the compulsory regeneration time period is elongated.
Meanwhile, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 (second prior art), when the catalyst is not in an activated state, the traveling mode is compulsorily changed over to the special traveling mode in which only the engine is used for traveling of the vehicle. However, the second prior art is a technique which is applied while the vehicle is traveling, but a countermeasure for solving the subject described above which arises while the vehicle is in a stopping state is not disclosed at all.

Motor control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation


The present invention discloses an MEMS sensor and a method for making the MEMS sensor. The MEMS sensor according to the present invention includes: a substrate including an opening; a suspended structure located above the opening; and an upper structure, a portion of which is at least partially separated from a portion of the suspended structure; wherein the suspended structure and the upper structure are separated from each other by a step including metal etch.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor, in particular to a MEMS pressure sensor; the present invention also relates to a method for making such MEMS sensor, which is compatible to standard CMOS process.
2. Description of Related Art
MEMS devices are used in a wide variety of products; examples of such applications are absolute and relative sensors such as blood pressure sensor and micro-acoustical microphone. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,012,336; 6,536,281; 6,928,879; 7,121,146; 6,743,654; and 7,135,149 are relevant art, but the processes employed in these prior art either are too complicated or require equipment or materials which are not compatible to or not standard in CMOS process. A MEMS sensor having a structure which can be manufactured by a standard CMOS process is desired in this industry.

Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor and method for making same


A heat shrinkable label comprises (A) a heat shrinkable film comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer, and (B) a curable adhesive comprising (1) at least one urethane (meth)acrylate resin having an average of about 1 to about 1.6 (meth)acrylate groups per resin molecule, (2) at least one tackifier, and (3) at least one photoinitiator, where the film has an ultimate shrinkage at 135° C. of at least 15%, and the adhesive has sufficient precure tack, wherein the loop tack of the uncured adhesive is at least 4.3 g/cm2. The heat shrinkable label is useful in high-speed industrial processes such as beverage container labeling.

Heat shrinkable films are useful to encapsulate articles for protective and/or identification purposes. There is a constant need for heat shrinkable films that combine good shrink performance with other physical properties to meet the demands of various applications.
Adhesives are useful for sealing, coating and attaching and thus have a widespread industrial application. Curable adhesives can provide advantages in terms of energy consumption, environmental and occupational safety compliance, and compatibility with high speed industrial processes. Current commercially available energy curable adhesives, for use with heat shrinkable films for wrap-around labeling of articles such as beverage containers, are in general extremely viscous, require a high temperature for application to the film, can cause an undesirable preshrinkage of the film, and generally results in a label having poor appearance.

Heat shrinkable film with (meth)acrylate resin curable adhesive


In one aspect, a process for producing a biofuel comprises reacting a feed material that comprises a glyceride with an alcohol in the presence of a catalytic composition such that at least some of the glyceride in the feed material is converted into a biofuel mixture that comprises glycerol and the corresponding alcoholic ester of the glyceride. The catalytic composition comprises a heterogeneous catalyst and a homogeneous catalyst. The heterogeneous catalyst and the homogeneous catalyst have a synergistic effect in catalyzing the reaction of the glyceride in the feed material with the alcohol.

Since traditional fossil energy resources are limited, research is being directed towards the use of alternative renewable fuels. One of the approaches is the conversion of vegetable oils and animal fats into biodiesel. Vegetable oils and animal fats are comprised of complex mixtures of triglycerides (TGs) and other relatively minor components, such as free fatty acids (FFAs), gums, waxes, etc. Biodiesel is usually made through a chemical process called transesterification, whereby TGs react with methanol in the presence of a catalyst to produce a complex mixture of fatty acid alkyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerol.
Many of the commercial biodiesel that are currently produced in the U.S. come from the transesterification of soybean oil using homogeneous base (such as NaOH or KOH) catalyzed processes. Alkali cations are removed after the transesterification reaction as alkali soaps in glycerol phase. An acidic neutralization step with aqueous acid is required to neutralize these salts. Even though homogeneous catalyzed biodiesel production processes are relatively fast and show high conversions, usage of homogeneous base catalyst suffers from the formation of undesirable side reaction such as saponification which creates problems in product separation and ultimately lowers the ester (biodiesel) yield.
In order to minimize problems associated with the homogeneous catalytic processes, attempts have been made to develop heterogeneous catalyst systems in transesterification of triglycerides. Solid base catalysts are used to replace alkaline homogeneous catalysts, to minimize soap formation, separation, corrosion and environmental problems. At the laboratory scale, many different heterogeneous catalysts have been reported, including MgO, hydrotalcites, zeolites loaded with sodium oxide, Li/CaO, KF/ZnO, mixed metal oxides (Al2O3—SnO, Al2O3—ZnO), Zn/I2, mixed oxide of zinc and aluminum, and potassium loaded alumina. Catalytic activities of the heterogeneous base catalysts in the transesterification of soybean oil show a correlation with their corresponding basic strengths. Although alkali metal-containing catalysts show strong basicities, alkali metal ions are easily dissolved in the reaction media. Thus, reaction proceeds according to homogeneous mechanism. Other solid metal oxides such as those of tin, magnesium, and zinc are known heterogeneous catalysts but again function according to a homogeneous mechanism leading to metal soaps or metal glycerates.
Much work has focused on the preparation of solid catalysts possessing strong basic sites. Strong basic sites are generated by removal of water or acidic gas molecules by pretreatment at high temperatures. These basic sites are fragile and can be easily contaminated by moisture, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gaseous substances when exposed to air. As a result, the exposed surface does not exhibit their intrinsic catalytic activities. Up to now, conversions of most heterogeneous catalysts are not high enough to be used for the industrial scale biodiesel production. In comparison with homogeneous catalysts, relatively prolonged reaction periods are required in heterogeneous catalytic process. The Esterfif-H process is one of the few known processes which claims to have comparable performance as the homogeneous catalytic process.

Combined homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic transesterification process for biodiesel production


A forming jaw for producing a succession of sealed packages from a tube of sheet packaging material filled with a pourable food product and fed in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis is disclosed. The jaw includes sealing structure that seals a cross section of the tube; and forming structure that imparts a predetermined shape to the tube between two successive sealed cross sections. The forming structure has first and second surfaces for interacting with the tube and which extend respectively in a direction crosswise to, and in a direction parallel to, the axis of the tube. The first surface has a convex portion which exerts pressure on, to control filling of, the packages being formed.

Many pourable food products, such as fruit juice, pasteurized or UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.
A typical example of such a package is the parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is produced by folding and sealing a web of laminated packaging material. The packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a layer of fibrous material, e.g. paper, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene.
In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, such as UHT milk, the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, defined for example by a sheet of aluminium, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material eventually forming the inner face of the package contacting the food product.
As is known, such packages are produced on fully automatic packaging machines, on which a continuous tube is formed from the web-fed packaging material. The web of packaging material is sterilized on the packaging machine, e.g. by applying a chemical sterilizing agent, such as a hydrogen peroxide solution, which, after sterilization, is removed, e.g. vaporized by heating, from the surfaces of the packaging material.
The web of packaging material so sterilized is maintained in a closed sterile environment, and is folded into a cylinder and sealed longitudinally to form a continuous tube. The tube of packaging material is fed in a vertical direction parallel to its axis, is filled continuously with the sterilized or sterile-processed food product, and is fed through a forming station where two or more pairs of forming jaws act cyclically and successively on the tube to seal it along equally spaced cross sections and form a continuous strip of pillow packages connected to one another by respective transverse sealing bands, i.e. extending in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the tube axis.
More specifically, according to a possible known solution, each pair of jaws is hinged at the bottom to a slide running up and down along a vertical guide parallel to the tube of packaging material, so that, as the slide moves vertically between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position, the jaws open and close substantially "book-fashion" about the tube of packaging material.
To seal the tube of packaging material transversely, the jaws in each pair have respective sealing members cooperating with opposite sides of the tube and defined, for example, by a heating element for locally melting the mutually contacting plastic layers of the packaging material, and by one or more pressure members made of elastomeric material and for providing mechanical support to grip the tube to the required pressure.
More specifically, packaging material in which the barrier layer is defined by a sheet of electrically conducting material, e.g. aluminium, is normally heat sealed by means of a so-called induction heat sealing process, in which, when the two jaws are gripped about the tube, electric current is induced in, and locally heats, the aluminium sheet, thus resulting in localized melting of the heat-seal plastic material.
Upon completion of the heat-seal operation, a cutting member—carried, for example, by one of the two jaws—is activated and interacts with the tube of packaging material to cut it along the centerline of the transverse sealing band and so detach a pillow package from the bottom end of the tube of packaging material. The bottom end is therefore sealed transversely, and, once the slide reaches the bottom dead center position, the jaws open to avoid interfering with the upper part of the tube; and the pillow packages are fed to a final folding station where they are folded mechanically into the finished parallelepiped shape.
In one known solution described and illustrated, for example, in Patent Application EP-A-1172299, the sealing members are generally carried by respective horizontal bar portions of the jaws in each pair, which, above the bar portions, have respective open-fronted, C-section forming tabs which, following heat sealing by the relative sealing members, cooperate with each other to define a cavity of given shape and volume and which encloses and forms the tube of packaging material into a rectangular-section configuration.
More specifically, each forming tab comprises an end wall, from whose opposite lateral edges extend respective parallel lateral walls which cooperate with respective lateral walls of the other forming tab to surround the tube of packaging material.
To control filling of the pillow packages being made, the end walls of each pair of forming tabs have respective convex portions, which exert pressure on or "squeeze" the lateral walls of the packages to limit the amount of food product in and so obtain the desired weight of each package.
Though fairly effective on the whole, the above package filling control system still leaves room for further improvement.
In particular, in the case of small packages, i.e. with small-area lateral walls, to achieve the desired squeezing effect, convex portions must be used which project sharply with respect to the end walls of the relative forming tabs, and which may result in the packages being formed into unacceptable shapes. Moreover, even using sharply projecting convex portions does not ensure the desired weight of the package.

Forming jaw for producing a succession of sealed packages from a tube of sheet packaging material


The present invention relates to a signal processing system, and proposes the switching operation of device selection which is naturally performed for a user. The signal input device 5 comprises a registration means for registering the signal output devices 3, 4, and an establishment means for, when an establishment request signal requesting the establishment of a signal path is sent from any signal output device 3, 4 out of a plurality of the signal output devices 3, 4, judging whether the signal output device 3, 4, which sent the establishment request signal, is registered in the signal input device 5, and establishing the signal path between the signal output device 3, 4 and the signal input device 5 depending on the judged result, thereby avoiding unnatural operation which is not performed in accordance with user operation, thus making it possible to perform the switching operation of device selection which is naturally performed for a user.

Heretofore, there is an IEEE (Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers) 1394 standard as bus standards for transferring multimedia data with high speed in real-time, and various kinds of AV devices which can mutually transmit data through a network using digital serial buses under the IEEE1394 standard have been developed.
In such network system, provided are an isochronous transfer mode for transmitting real-time data and an asynchronous transfer mode for transmitting control commands without fail.
In this network system, therefore, a logical connection (hereinafter, referred to as logical connection) should be established as a signal transfer path between a source and a sink to transmit real-time data, the source generating and outputting the real-time data, the sink receiving the real-time data outputted from the source.
On the other hand, in this network system, the AV devices connected to the network system can be controlled by transmitting AV/C (Audio/video control) command•transaction•set (A/V Command Transaction Set) (hereinafter, referred to as AV/C command) as a control command.
By the way, there exist various plugs for both ends of logical connections, and the plugs include a subunit•plug (Subunit Plug) for transmitting signals inside a device, a plug•control•register (Plug Control Register) (hereinafter, referred to as PCR) for inputting/outputting digital signals between devices, and an external•plug (External Plug) for inputting/outputting analog signals between devices.
As the subunit•plug, there exist a subunit•source•plug (Subunit Source Plug) for output and a subunit•destination•plug (Subunit Destination Plug) for input. As the PCR, there exist an oPCR (Output Plug Control Register) for output and an iPCR (Input Plug Control Register) for input. As the external•plug, there exist an external•output•plug (External Output Plug) for output and an external•input•plug (External Input Plug) for input. In this connection, plugs for output are referred to as output plugs and plugs for input are referred to as input plugs in the following description.
In addition, as a logical connection, there exist an internal device connection and an interdevice connection, and the internal device connection indicates a signal path existing inside a device and the interdevice connection indicates a signal path between a source and a sink.
Further, the interdevice connections have various forms. That is, the interdevice connections include a point•to•point (Point-to-Point) connection (hereinafter, referred to as PtoP connection) in which one oPCR and one iPCR are connected on one isochronous channel (hereinafter, referred to as channel).
In addition, the interdevice connections include a broadcast•out (Broadcast out) connection (hereinafter, referred to Bout connection) in which one oPCR is connected to one channel, and a broadcast•in (Broadcast in) connection (hereinafter, referred to as Bin connection) in which one iPCR is connected to one channel, and these Bout connection and Bin connection are referred to as broadcast (Broadcast) connection.
In addition, the interdevice connections include an external•connection in which an external•output•plug and an external•input•plug are connected.
A procedure to establish and cancel such logical connection is standardized by IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) 61883-1.
It should be noted that the establishment of one interdevice connection in a network system requires a channel and an isochronous band (hereinafter, referred to band), and the channel and band are referred to as isochronous resource (hereinafter, referred to as resource).
By the way, in such network system, a command set called AV/C connection•and•compatibility•management (AV/C Connection and Compatibility Management) (hereinafter, referred to as CCM) is provided to mutually communicate information for establishing a proper logical connection using a control command which is communicated between a source and a sink at the time of establishing a logical connection.
Now, explanation will be made on how to establish a signal path, which is a logical connection, using the CCM. The internal device connection can be established using a signal•source (SIGNAL SOURCE) command provided under the CCM, and the interdevice connection can be established using an input•select (INPUT SELECT) command provided under the CCM.
The input•select•command defines four sub•functions (sub functions): connect (CONNECT); path•change (PATH CHANGE); select (SELECT); and disconnect (DISCONNECT), and one of them should be specified when an input•select•command is sent. Now, a concrete explanation will be made on a case in which a sink accepts an input•select•command, that is, returns an accepted (ACCEPTED) response.
The sink establishes an interdevice connection with a designated source in the case of receiving CONNECT, and in the case of receiving PATH•CHANGE, it basically establishes an interdevice connection with a designated source, but it is able to reject the establishment of the interdevice connection, that is, to return a rejected (REJECTED) response if it does not select the designated source.
Further, when the sink receives SELECT, it selects a designated source and in this case, the sink can decide by itself whether to establish an interdevice connection. When the sink receives DISCONNECT, it disconnects a designated interdevice connection.
Under the CCM, a source communicates information on the source to a sink by transmitting an input•select•command, so that the sink establishes an interdevice connection with the source based on the information. In this case, in the network system, the sink which is a transmission target of the input•select•command should be recorded in the source in advance. In the CCM, an output•preset (OUTPUT PRESET) command is prepared for realizing such function. In addition, in the CCM, an input•select•command is used to record a source in a sink.
In such network system, based on the CCM, an internal device connection is established by a device itself and an interdevice connection is established by a sink. In this connection, the internal device connection can be controlled from the outside with a signal•source•command.
By the way, in the network system using the CCM, a source sends an input•select•command to a sink with information on an output plug of the source (hereinafter, referred to as output plug information) attached to the input•select•command. The sink establishes an interdevice connection based on the output plug information given in the received input•select•command.
In addition, in the network system, when the sink establishes an interdevice connection, the sink directly establishes the interdevice connection based on output plug information of default.
Furthermore, in the network system, when a controller which is an AV device other than sources and sinks establishes an interdevice connection, the controller sends an input•select•command to a sink with output plug information of default attached to the input•select•command. The sink establishes an interdevice connection based on the output plug information given in the received input•select•command.
By the way, in the network system adopting the CCM, an auto-play processing has been developed to establish an interdevice connection between a source and a sink depending on the change of the state of the source.
Specifically, the controller makes the source register the sink by transmitting an output•preset•command to the source. If a trigger, such as the change to a replay mode, occurs in the source thereafter, the source transmits an input•select•command to the sink. The sink receives the input•select•command, and establishes an interdevice connection based on the information stored in the input•select•command.
In addition, in the network system adopting the CCM, path information notification processing by a source has been developed as a technique to establish an interdevice connection without a controller.
Specifically, when an appropriate output plug of the source is changed, the source notifies each of all registered sinks of new output plug information by transmitting an input•select•command in which the subfunction•field indicates PATH•CHANGE, to all the sinks. Each sink receives the input•select•command and establishes an interdevice connection with an appropriate input plug based on the output plug information stored in the input•select•command.
By the way, in a conventional network adopting the CCM, the selection condition of AV devices may be changed automatically without user operation, which is unnatural and unpreferable operation for a user.
A concrete explanation will be made on such operation hereafter. It is assumed that a network system is constructed by connecting an STB (Set Top Box), VCR (Video Casette Recorder), and TV (Television) to an IEEE1394 serial bus, the TV operates as a controller and a sink, and the STB and VCR operate as sources.
The TV firstly operates to set the VCR for auto-play processing. That is, the TV, which operates as the controller, transmits an output•preset•command to the VCR serving as the source to register the TV as a sink in the VCR serving as the source.
When the VCR serving as the source starts playback operation in response to user operation thereafter, it transmits an input•select•command to the TV serving as the sink. The TV serving as the sink receives this input•select•command, and then establishes an interdevice connection with the VCR.
Sequentially, the TV operates as the controller to register the STB as a source to change images to be displayed on a display from images being outputted from the VCR to images to be outputted from the STB. Specifically, the TV which operates as the controller registers the STB as a source in own functional blocks operating as the sink. In this case, the interdevice connection between the VCR and TV is cancelled.
Next, the TV operating as the controller transmits an output•preset•command to the STB to register the TV as a sink in the STB serving as the source. If the STB serving as the source is now outputting AV data, it transmits an input•select•command to the TV serving as the sink. When the TV serving as the sink receives this input•select•command, it establishes an interdevice connection with the STB.
Now, it is assumed that such change of condition that an appropriate output plug is changed occurs in the VCR, like a case where AV data to be outputted is changed on a tape from digital signals to analog signals, for example. In this case, since the VCR serving as the source has registered the TV as a sink, it notifies the TV of the new output plug information by transmitting an input•select•command in which the subfunction•field is PATH•CHANGE.
When the TV serving as the sink receives this input•select•command, it is designed to establish an interdevice connection with the VCR based on the output plug information stored in the input•select•command. In this case, however, the TV changes images being displayed on the display from output images of the STB to output images of the VCR without user operation, which is unnatural operation unintended by a user.

Signal processing system, signal receiving device, and communication control method


A digital median filter is made using a successive approximation A/D converter circuit, which is arranged to produce an output based on majority weighting.

Median filtering is a well-known image processing tool which replaces one or many pixels of an image with a median value of a neighborhood of pixels. The median filter has been used for various functions including noise removal. A median filter uses a local neighborhood of pixels, usually a square of n.times.n pixels. The median value of the neighborhood is the pixel which has x number of pixels brighter than that pixel value and x number of pixels that are less bright than that pixel value. The same number of pixels are hence brighter and less bright than the median.
Median values have been used for certain effects in images. One particularly preferred use for median values is in correction of inoperative pixels in a pixel device, i.e., dead pixels.
Various complicated operations have been used to obtain the median value. One common way of obtaining the median value includes storing all the pixel values of the neighborhood into registers, and subsequently testing the register contents and determining which pixel value is the median among those values. This requires multiple comparisons which dictate the speed of the process.
Many median filtering operations have been digital operations. Median filtering of image hence often necessitated a separate analog to digital conversion step.
The present invention defines a digital median filter. The technique of the present invention simultaneously carries out analog to digital conversion while obtaining a digital median value bit by bit. The system of the present invention allows obtaining varying resolution as a tradeoff for a longer conversion time.
Another aspect of the present invention is a median filter which operates without analog circuit components such as a differential amplifier. Yet another object of the present invention is to describe a combined A/D converter and median filter which carries out both operations in a single step to improve the speed thereof. The operation according to the preferred embodiment is carried out by using a successive approximation A/D technique which is modified to produce an output value indicative of the median value. It is hence another object of the present invention to use a successive approximation type A/D converter in a special way to secure a digital output indicative of a median value.

Median filter with embedded analog to digital converter


A new and improved thermal printing ink ribbon includes a heat-resistant base, a release layer disposed on the base including an ester wax and a rubber copolymer containing a specified aromatic monomer content and an ink layer disposed on the release layer by a solvent or hot-solvent process. The thermal printing ink ribbons exhibit satisfactory transferability even during high speed printing or after high temperature storage. The thermal printing ink ribbons are well suited for use in end face head-type printers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to so-called thermal printing ink ribbons for printing character and/or bar code images on substrates such as labels, and more specifically thermal printing ink ribbons which are excellent in transferability of the ink layer.
2. Prior Art
In recent years, it is common to control prices and sales information of commercial products by means of a bar code image printed on the package or a label attached to each product.
Thermal printing ink ribbons have long been used as means for printing such a bar code image.
These thermal printing ink ribbons comprise an ink layer consisting of a colorant and a binder material such as wax on a heat-resistant base, and may be fitted to a printer so that the ink layer is molten under heat of the thermal head and transferred onto packaging paper or a label to give a desired thermal bar code image thereon.
Common means for forming the ink layer on the base includes the so-called hot-melt process involving melting an ink layer composition under heat into liquid and applying the ink liquid on a base; or the so-called solvent process involving dissolving an ink layer composition in an organic solvent such as toluene to prepare a solution and applying the ink solution on a base; or the so-called hot solvent process involving dissolving an ink layer composition under heat in an organic solvent such as toluene to prepare a solution and applying the ink solution as heated on a base.
Recently, there are growing demands for improving the transferability of such thermal printing ink ribbons or the durability of the bar code images printed. As means to meet these demands, an ink ribbon provided with a release layer comprising a predominant amount of wax between a base and an ink layer (JPA No. 78692/86) or an ink ribbon provided with a release layer comprising a predominant amount of wax with a small amount of rubber (JPA Nos. 2-589 and 78585/92) have been widely known.
The release layer comprising a predominant amount of wax is readily molten under heat and transferred with an ink layer, and therefore it can be expected to improve the durability and transferability.
The release layer including a small amount of rubber can be expected to not only improve the transferability and durability but also prevent the ink layer from slipping off. On the other hand, there is a demand for printers to operate at high printing speed in order to increase the efficiency of printing operation. In order to meet this demand, so-called end face head-type printers have recently drawn interest wherein a heat generating element 100 of a thermal head fitted to the printer is formed at the front end of the head substrate 101 in the moving direction of an ink ribbon 102, as shown in FIG. 3.
This printer is expected to improve the transferability of the ink layer even at high printing speed because of the greater angle .theta. at which the ink ribbon 102 is separated from a substrate 103 such as a label compared with prior printers when the ink layer is in hot-molten state with a low cohesive force.
However, any thermal printing ink ribbon even provided with the above mentioned release layer could not give satisfactory transferability or other performances of the ink layer for practical use at high printer speed. In particular, the transferability has scarcely been improved with ink ribbons prepared by applying an ink layer by the solvent process or hot-solvent process.
The transferability of the ink layer of these ink ribbons was further lowered after they were stored in high-temperature environment.
The inventors investigated the cause of the above problems and found that they were associated with the coating process, i.e. the process of applying the ink solution on the base.
Namely, if the solvent process or hot-solvent process is used to form an ink layer on a release layer, the release layer is formed as a mixture with the ink layer because it is dissolved or dissolved under heat in the solvent in the ink solution. Thus, the boundary between the release layer and the ink layer becomes unclear, and the release layer is formed in a thickness much smaller than intended. As a result, the transferability of the ink layer is not improved.
In order to lower the extent to which the ink layer and the release layer mix with each other, a possible approach is to modify preparation conditions, particularly by lowering the temperature of the ink solution during coating in the hot-solvent process or lowering the temperature of the drying oven during evaporation of the solvent to drying in the solvent process or hot-solvent process.
However, these approaches invite coating failure due to the increase in viscosity or decrease in solubility of the ink solution or drying failure, thus considerably reduce the productivity.
The problem that the transferability of the ink layer is lowered after storage in high-temperature environment was also associated with the fact that the release layer and the ink layer mix with each other under environmental heat.
Particularly when the release layer and the thermally meltable ink layer contain the same type of wax, both are liable to mix with each other.
In order to lower here the extent to which the ink layer and the release layer mix with each other, a possible approach is a combination of different types of waxes in the release layer and the ink layer.
However, it is difficult to improve the transferability with a combination of different types of waxes of different heats of fusion or different components, because the release layer and the ink layer are required to be transferred together. Further, a coating failure such as pinhole may occur with a combination of different types of waxes due to the difference in polarity.
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a thermal printing ink ribbon clearly defining a boundary between the release layer and the ink layer during the coating process to ensure a good transferability even at high printing speed.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a thermal printing ink ribbon wherein the transferability is not lowered even if it is stored in high-temperature environment.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a thermal printing ink ribbon which can be suitably used even with end face head-type printers.


A method and apparatus for controlling a substrate temperature during an electroless deposition process. The apparatus includes a deposition cell configured to support a substrate at a position above a fluid distribution member. A heated fluid is dispensed from the fluid distribution member and contacts the backside of the substrate, thus heating the substrate. The fluid is dispensed from apertures configured to maintain a constant temperature across the substrate surface. The method includes flowing a heated fluid through a diffusion member against a backside of the substrate in a configuration that is configured to generate a constant processing temperature across the front side or processing side of the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to an apparatus and method for controlling the temperature of a substrate during fluid processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
The semiconductor processing industry relies upon several methods for depositing conductive materials onto substrates, such as silicon wafers or large area glass substrates, for example. More particularly, deposition methods such as physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, and electrochemical plating are commonly used to deposit conductive materials or metals onto substrates and into features. Another deposition method that has been used in the semiconductor processing industry is electroless plating. However, electroless plating techniques have presented challenges to producing uniform deposition of conductive materials.
One challenge with electroless deposition processes is that they are highly dependent upon temperature, i.e., if one portion of a substrate is as little as 1° C. warmer than another portion of the substrate, then the warmer portion of the substrate will experience a substantial increase in the electroless deposition plating rate as compared to the cooler portion of the substrate. This difference in the deposition rate in the warmer areas of the substrate causes uniformity variations, and as such, electroless plating processes have generally not been favored for semiconductor processing. However, if substrate temperatures could be properly controlled, electroless deposition could provide advantages to semiconductor processing techniques in areas such as seed layer repair, capping, feature filling, etc.
Another challenge with respect to electroless deposition cells is achieving effective backside sealing. The electroless deposition chemistry generally has surfactants and other constituents that tend to diffuse to the back of the substrate, resulting in contamination and/or deposition on the backside of the substrate. As such, there is a need for an electroless deposition cell configured to control substrate temperature such that a uniform electroless deposition process may be conducted and prevent surfactants and other processing chemicals from contacting the backside of the substrate.

Apparatus to improve wafer temperature uniformity for face-up wet processing


A multiple nozzle and strap assembly is adapted to be coupled with a nozzle body of a sprayer. A strap has an opening for receiving the nozzle body and a nozzle for coupling with the nozzle body for obtaining a selected discharge pattern. Another strap can be provided with a different nozzle for obtaining another discharge pattern.

Garden sprayers are typically employed in controlling insects, diseases and weeds and, at times, in supplying plant food and various additives to plants, shrubs, bushes and trees. Depending on the application, one may select from many different types and varieties of sprayers including compression sprayers, lever pump-up sprayers, barrel and bucket spray pumps, power sprayers, hand sprayers and many others. In all instances, a nozzle is employed to obtain the desired spray pattern. Some nozzles provide only a single spray pattern, other adjustable nozzles provide for multiple spray patterns. However, with respect to multiple spray nozzles, the selection of spray patterns has been limited for a single adjustable-nozzle. Where a wide range of discharge spray patterns are from time-to-time desired, one nozzle would have to be replaced with another. Obviously, individual detachable nozzles suffer the drawback of being misplaced, lost or simply not viable when its particular spray pattern is desired at a specific location or instance in time.

Multiple nozzle on a flexible strap for a garden sprayer


Process for removing oxygen-containing organic compounds from mixtures of hydrocarbon compounds, in which a liquid phase (1) containing hydrocarbons and oxygenates is charged to a first column (3), a light fraction is separated as top product (5) by distillation, and that a heavier C4+ fraction is removed from the bottom, the light fraction (5) and a gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons and oxygenates (2) is charged to a second column (7), and separated into a light and a heavy hydrocarbon fraction distillation, and an additional solvent (6) is supplied to the upper part of the second column (7), which dissolves the oxygenates and, the solvent and oxygenates being discharged as bottom product (9) and a hydrocarbon product (8), which is free from oxygenates leaves the top of the column (7). The solvent optionally is wholly or partly regenerated and recirculated to the extractive distillation column.

Hydrocarbon compounds are basic elements of the chemical industry and starting substances for a multitude of products. Industrially useful hydrocarbon compounds can be produced by converting solid, liquid or gaseous fossil fuels. An example for this is the increased utilization of natural gas for the production of liquid fuels and chemicals. Natural gas can for instance be converted to synthesis gas, and synthesis gas can be used for producing hydrogen, for instance for use in refineries and fuel cells, for producing Fischer-Tropsch products, such as sulfur-free fuels, lubricants, waxes and α-olefins, for producing DME, for instance for use in gas turbines and fuel cells, and especially for producing methanol as starting substance for the recovery of formaldehyde, solvent, methyl-tert-butyl ether, synthetic fuels, acetic acid, olefins, etc.
In the primary production processes, the hydrocarbon compounds typically are obtained in the form of mixtures which must be separated into individual fractions or pure substances by means of separation processes—above all fractionated distillation. The interconnection of the separation apparatuses used in the conventional processes leads to large dimensions of the individual equipment parts as well as to a high specific consumption of resources. Accordingly, the optimum configuration of the separation process is of great importance. The hydrocarbon compounds should be produced as pure as possible without the presence of oxygen-containing organic compounds (oxygenates). Oxygenates are understood to be compounds with at least one hydrocarbon backbone and a low content of oxygen.
In accordance with the prior art, the oxygenates were separated by a classically connected distillation or a physical washing of hydrocarbon compounds. In particular in the case of industrial production plants, however, this is very complex and expensive. In the references WO 03/020671, WO 03/020672 and WO 03/020678 processes for the extractive distillation of olefins are described.

Device for removing oxygen-containing organic compounds from mixtures of various hydrocarbon compounds


A network device including a receiver, a counter, and a trigger. The receiver is configured to receive idle code groups or false carriers from a remote device. The idle code groups indicate that there is no data to be sent from the remote device, and the false carriers indicate a fault. The counter is configured to count the at least one of the idle code groups or the false carriers detected during a predetermined period. The trigger is configured to (i) assert a first signal if the counter exceeds a predetermined threshold during the predetermined period to resynchronize the network device to the remote device and (ii) count a number of times the first signal is asserted without bringing down a link between the network device and the remote device.

Referring now to FIG. 1, first and second network devices 50 and 54 communicate over a medium 58. The network device 50 typically includes a medium access control (MAC) device 64 and a physical layer (PHY) device 68. The PHY device 68 may include an autonegotiation circuit 70. The network device 54 also includes a medium access control (MAC) device 74 and a physical layer (PHY) device 78. The PHY device 78 also may include an autonegotiation circuit 80. The medium 58 may be cable that includes two or more twisted pairs of wire.
In general, the network devices 50 and 54 are connected together by the medium 58. Once connected, the physical layer devices 68 and 78 attempt to establish a link so that data can be exchanged. Initially, the network devices 50 and 54 exchange link code words, which contain link parameters that relate to the abilities of the sending network device. Based on the received link parameters, the network devices 50 and 54 attempt to negotiate common link parameters such as link speed. One of the network devices may be designated a master and the other may be designated a slave. A common clock signal may be derived based on signals generated by the master, as will be described further below.
IEEE section 802.3 and 802.3ab, which are both hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, specify media types and other procedures for establishing links at data rates including 10 Mb/s, 100 Mb/s and 1000 Mb/s. For example, 1000BASE-T supports 1000 Mb/s data rates over four twisted pairs.
A receiver in the PHY devices 68 and 78 uses an scr_status parameter and the state of certain equalization, cancellation, and estimation functions to determine receiver performance quality. A loc_rcvr_status signal is generated to reflect the determined receiver performance quality. The loc_rcvr_status signal is used in the synchronization process between master and slave devices in accordance with FIGS. 40-15 (PHY Control State Diagram) of IEEE Std. 802.3, and is used to generate a 1000BASE-T link in accordance with FIGS. 40-16 (Link Monitor State Diagram) of IEEE Std. 802.3.
One of the devices is designated a "master" device that provides a clock signal that is acquired by the other or "slave" device during link negotiation. Both the master and the slave devices start in a "disable 1000BASE-T transmitter state" upon reset. After link negotiation, the devices enter a "slave silent" state. A signal corresponding to local receive status, i.e., loc_rcvr_status, is forced to a state corresponding to "not OK."
To the master, the "local" receive status refers to the status of the receiver in the master device. To the slave, the "local" receive status refers to the status of the receiver in the slave. A "remote" receiver status for the master refers to the status of the receiver in the slave, while a "remote" receive status for the slave refers to the status of the receiver in the master.
The specification also requires a "min" timer that establishes a predetermined time period. A device returns to the "slave silent state" if, after the predetermined time period, a device is in the "send idle or data state," the local receive status is not OK, and the transmitter of the device is not transmitting. In such a case, the local transmitter is responsive to a signal from the local receiver to transmit zeros, or an equivalent signal.
The master device will proceed directly from the "slave silent state" to a "training state," in which the master device starts transmitting idle code groups via the interconnecting cable to the slave device. These idle code groups comprise code groups recognizable by the slave device as valid code groups. A slave device, on the other hand, remains in the "slave silent" state until it is able to extract scrambler data from the master.
Once the slave device is locked, it asserts "SCR status OK" and enters the "training state." The slave then begins transmitting idle code groups (recognizable to the master as such) while the master is still in the training state. When the slave starts transmitting, the master decodes the idle code groups being sent by the slave. The idle code groups sent by the slave are encoded with symbols that are interpreted as a remote receive status by the master. When the master acquires the scrambler data and decodes the receive status, it goes from a "training state" to a "send idle or data" state, where it remains unless a fault occurs.
At this point, the master has set both the local receive status OK and the remote receive status OK, and can then start sending idle code groups with an encoded remote status, which is decoded by the slave. The slave, which already has local receive status set to OK, then sets the remote receive status to OK and enters the "send idle or data" state. At this point, both the master and slave can start transmitting data that is ready to be sent at the negotiated speed.
Faults can develop in the signal path between the master and slave. For example, the cable or pairs thereof between the master and the slave may break. In this case, the receiver of each network device may receive data from its own transmitter. Other examples of faults may occur because a remote transmitter becomes faulty or a local receiver becomes faulty. In these latter cases, code groups are not properly decoded by the local receiver and the link will go down. When the link goes down, autonegotiation is initiated and the process of establishing a link is repeated. Only after the link has been brought down is any attempt made to resynchronize the link.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus for breaking and resynchronizing a data link


A liquified gas delivery system for a motorized platform includes a holding tank configured to receive liquified gas. A first conduit extends from a vapor holding portion of the tank to a valve device. A second conduit extends from a liquid holding portion of the tank to the valve device. Fluid coupled to the valve device is a vaporizer which is in communication with an engine. The valve device selectively withdraws either liquified gas or liquified gas vapor from the tank depending on the pressure within the vapor holding portion of the tank. Various configurations of the delivery system can be utilized for pressurizing the tank during operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fuel delivery systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems and methods for delivering liquified gas from a holding tank to an engine.
2. Present State of the Art
The increasing output of automobile emissions and the decreasing supply of oil reserves has motivated the search for alternative motor vehicle fuels. One alternative fuel is natural gas. Natural gas is clean burning and can be stored in a dense, high energy liquid form. Liquefying natural gas is accomplished by cooling the natural gas to a cryogenic temperature, typically below xe2x88x92260xc2x0 F., which condenses the gas into a liquid. Working with and keeping natural gas at a cryogenic temperature, however, creates inherent problems. Furthermore, natural gas, prior to combustion, is a harmful greenhouse gas. As such, it is important that the escape of any natural gas be minimized to prevent increased harm to the atmosphere.
In one approach to using natural gas in automobiles, the natural gas is initially stored in large tanks at refueling stations. The large tanks maintain the fuel at a cryogenic temperature so as to keep the natural gas in a dense liquid state. Smaller insulated fuel tanks are located within the automobiles and can be filled with the liquified natural gas at a refueling station. As discussed above, it is desirable to store the natural gas in a liquified state. It is also beneficial, however, to have the automobile fuel tank sufficiently pressurized so that the fuel therein will automatically flow to the vehicle engine. Although a pump can be used to deliver the fuel to the engine, use of a pump requires energy. Furthermore, pumping natural gas at cryogenic temperatures has been found to be problematic.
In one approach to obtaining the desired pressure within the automobile fuel tank, systems have been incorporated into refueling stations which warm the liquified natural gas as it is pumped into the automobile fuel tank. By heating the liquified natural gas to a desired temperature, a portion of the liquified natural gas vaporizes within the fuel tank to produce the desired pressure. The pressure created within the fuel tank as a result of warming the fuel is called xe2x80x9csaturation pressure.xe2x80x9d Although this process achieves the desired objective, it also produces several problems.
For example, the systems for heating the natural gas at the refueling station are time consuming and expensive to operate and build. Furthermore, as a result of warming the natural gas, less natural gas can be stored within the fuel tank. In addition, since all of the natural gas that is pumped into the automobile fuel tank is heated, the fuel must be used relatively quickly to prevent having to vent any of the natural gas to the atmosphere. Although the automobile fuel tank is insulated, once the liquified natural gas is pumped therein, the fuel begins to slowly warm towards an equilibrium with the outside temperature. As the fuel warms, the pressure within the tank increases. Once the tank reaches a designed relief pressure, a pressure relief valve is opened allowing a portion of the natural gas to escape into the atmosphere, thereby decreasing the internal pressure. The time period that a tank can hold natural gas without having to vent is called the xe2x80x9chold time.xe2x80x9d As previously discussed, releasing natural gas into the atmosphere is both wasteful and potentially harmful.
In contrast, if the natural gas is consumed too quickly, the pressure within the fuel tank can drop below the required operating pressure. As liquified natural gas is consumed, the volume of the vapor holding portion of the fuel tank is increased. As this volume increases, a portion of the liquified natural gas is vaporized to fill the space within the fuel tank. Vaporization of natural gas is an endothermic process which absorbs heat. Accordingly, as the natural gas within the fuel tank is vaporized, the temperature and thus pressure within the fuel tank decreases. If liquified natural gas is consumed too quickly, the pressure will drop below the operating pressure.
In an alternative approach to pressurizing the automobile fuel tank, a heater is directly coupled with the automobile fuel tank for heating the liquified natural gas therein. The problem with this approach is that it takes both time and energy to heat the fuel within the fuel tank. Furthermore, the same problem exists of having to use the natural gas relatively quickly to prevent having to vent portions of the natural gas to the atmosphere.
Other problems in conventional liquified natural gas systems relate to the lines extending from the fuel tank to the engine. Many of the prior art systems require the use of electronic switches, solenoids, and computers to operate them. The use of such electronics is expensive, increases the complexity of the system, decreases the reliability of the system, and consumes large amounts of energy.
The same problems as discussed above for vehicles are also applicable to using natural gas or other liquified gases to run engines that are not vehicle related.
It is an object of the present invention to provide improved delivery systems and methods for delivering liquified gases to an engine.
Another object of the present invention is to provide improved delivery systems which do not require a liquified gas to be warmed as it is transferred from a refueling facility to a holding tank for operating an engine.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide delivery systems which do not require all of the liquified gas disposed within the holding tank to be warmed therein.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide delivery systems which significantly increase the hold time of the liquified gas in the tank.
A further object of the present invention is to provide delivery systems for liquified gas which maintain a desired pressure within the holding tank substantially independent of the gas consumption rate.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide delivery systems which enable relatively quick pressurization of the tank holding the liquified gas.
Finally, an additional object of the present invention to provide delivery systems which provide fuel lines extending from the tank to the engine that do not require the use of electronic switches, solenoids or computers to function.
To achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a liquified gas delivery system and method are provided for use with an engine mounted on a mobile or stationary vehicle. The liquified gas delivery system includes an insulated holding tank configured to receive a liquified gas at saturated liquid/gas conditions. The holding tank bounds a chamber which includes a liquid holding portion for holding liquified gas and a vapor holding portion for holding liquified gas vapor. A vapor conduit extends from the vapor holding portion of the tank to a valve device such as an economizer valve or ecoshunt valve. A liquid conduit extends from the liquid holding portion of the tank to the valve device. A transition conduit extends from the valve device to a vaporizer.
The valve device is configured to operate in one of two positions depending on the pressure within the vapor holding portion of the tank. When pressure within the vapor holding portion of the tank is below a select pressure, the valve device facilitates the flow of the liquified gas from the tank to the vaporizer. When the pressure within the vapor holding portion of the tank exceeds the select pressure, the valve device blocks the flow of liquified gas and facilitates the flow of the liquified gas vapor from the tank to the vaporizer. Once sufficient liquified gas vapor has been removed from the tank to drop the pressure therein below the select pressure, the valve device again facilitates the flow of the liquified gas from the tank to the vaporizer.
The vaporizer is heated with coolant from the engine. As liquified gas is passed through the vaporizer, the elevated temperature causes the liquified gas to flash into a vapor. A delivery conduit extends from the vaporizer to the engine for delivering the liquified gas vapor thereto. A return conduit having a check valve coupled therewith extends from the delivery conduit to the vapor holding portion of the tank. Feeding of the liquified gas vapor from the return conduit to the vapor holding portion of the tank functions to pressure the tank.
It is desirable to keep the liquified gas within the tank at the lowest economical temperature. At such a temperature, however, there may be insufficient saturation pressure within the vapor holding portion of the tank to drive the liquified gas from the tank to the engine. Until such time that the liquified gas warms up from the outside environment to a point that it produces the required saturation pressure, the liquified gas vapor feeding from the return conduit to the vapor holding portion of the tank functions to create the required pressure to operate the system.
To enable effective pressurization of the tank using the return conduit, the vaporizer is most effective when positioned a required distance below the surface of the liquified gas in the tank. Specifically, the head between the surface level of the liquified gas and the point in the vaporizer where the liquified gas is vaporized must be sufficiently large to create a required pressure on the vaporized gas leaving the vaporizer. This required pressure must be greater than the summation of the pressure losses on the gas as it passes from the tank through the valve device, vaporizer, and back to the tank. As a practical matter, to enable operation of the engine at low levels of fuel within the tank, the vaporizer is preferably positioned below the elevation of the tank.
The systems of the invention have several advantages over prior conventional systems. For example, in the present inventive system the liquified gas within the holding tank can be maintained at its lowest possible temperature. As a result, it is not necessary to incorporate systems for warming the liquified gas as it is transferred from a refueling facility, or systems for warming the liquified gas within the tank. Furthermore, since the liquified gas is maintained at a low temperature, the hold time for the tank is much longer than conventional systems. In addition, the present system can continually regulate the pressure within the tank independent of the consumption rate. Finally, the system can be operated in a passive configuration which does not require the use of electronic solenoids, switches, or computers to run.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

Systems and method for delivering liquified gas to an engine


Apparatus and methods for closing a septal defect including a flap of tissue partially detached from a septum of a heart. A needle is advanced through a patient's vasculature within a delivery apparatus until the needle is disposed within a first chamber adjacent the septum. The needle is directed through the flap of tissue until the needle is disposed within a second chamber opposite the septum. A filament attached to an intermediate region of the needle is pulled, thereby causing the needle to pivot about the intermediate region such that the ends of the needle straddle the septal opening. A locking element is secured to the filament to secure the flap of tissue against the septum, and the filament is cut. Alternatively, the filament is biased to coil to engage the flap of tissue and secure the needle against the septum to close the opening.

During development of a fetus in utero, blood is generally oxygenated by the mother's placenta, not the fetus' developing lungs. Most of the fetus' circulation is shunted away from the lungs through specialized vessels or foramens that are open during fetal life, but generally close shortly after birth. Occasionally, however, these foramen fail to close and create hemodynamic problems, which may ultimately prove fatal unless treated.
One defect that may occur is a patent foramen ovale ("PFO") or patent ductus arteriosus ("PDA"), which may occur between the left and right atria of the heart. During fetal life, an opening called the foramen ovale allows blood to pass directly from the right atrium to the left atrium (bypassing the lungs). Thus, oxygenated blood from the placenta may travel through the vena cava into the right-atrium, through the foramen ovale into the left atrium, and from there into the left ventricle for delivery via the aorta to the fetus' body. After birth, the foramen ovale is replaced with a membrane called the fossa ovalis, and over time, a solid mass of tissue may form.
Occasionally, this membrane and tissue mass fail to form or completely close the foramen ovale, which may be fatal if untreated. Similar defects may occur in other regions within a septum between chambers of the heart, such as atrial septal defects, ventricular septal defects, and the like.
To close such defects, open surgery may be performed to ligate and close the defect. Such procedures are obviously highly invasive and pose substantial morbidity and mortality risks.
Alternatively, catheter-based procedures have been suggested. These may involve introducing umbrella-like structures into the heart that include opposing expandable structures connected by a hub. One of the expandable structures is inserted through the defect, and both are expanded to secure the tissue surrounding the defect between the structures in an attempt to seal and close the defect. Such structures, however, involve frame structures that support membranes, both of which may fail during the life of the patient being treated, opening the defect, and/or releasing segments of the structure within the patient's heart.
Accordingly, apparatus and methods for closing patent foramen ovale, patent ductus arteriosus, or other septal defects would be considered useful.

Needle apparatus for closing septal defects and methods for using such apparatus