A pair of first and second concrete layers (1, 2) spaced away from each other by a certain distance are connected to each other through a corrugated plate (3) having a uniform magnitude of amplitude so that there are formed a space between the concrete layers (1, 2). A weight of a concrete-made panel is decreased by this hollow structure. A corrugated plate (3) is designed to have a trapezoidal cross-section of rectangular corrugation. By sinking mountain and valley portions of the corrugated plate into the first and second concrete layers (1, 2), the concrete-made panel can have enhanced compressive strength in a direction of corrugation of the corrugated plate (3), and have enhanced rigidity because of diagonal members of a truss which keeps the concrete-made panel being kept to be a plane.

A construction floor, a roof, a wall, and a construction wall plate of an outer wall in a concrete-made structure and a floor made of steel framed reinforced concrete have been conventionally fabricated by forming a certain temporary form in a construction site, arranging reinforcing steels, if necessary, and introducing concrete into the form and hardening concrete. In place of the construction employing a form in a construction site, there have been widely used a construction method of preparing a concrete-made panel which has been in advance made in a factory, that is, a so-called pre-cast plate, and carrying the pre-cast plate to a construction site, and attaching the pre-cast plate to a structure, because the construction method makes it possible to enhance workability and shorten a construction period.
In the conventional construction methods as mentioned above, the method including the steps of constructing a temporary form in a construction site and introducing concrete into the form takes much time and effort in constructing a temporary form in a construction site, introducing concrete into the form, and curing the concrete. Hence, the construction cost is increased, and there is a limitation in shortening the construction period. In addition, since a large amount of concrete is used, the resulting structure weighs much. In the case of a skyscraper, there would arise a limitation that larger beams have to be used in underlying floors.
With respect to an increase in weight due to employing concrete, it would be possible to used light-weight concrete in place of ordinary concrete to thereby lighten a structure. However, since the conventional light-weight concrete lacks strength, a construction has be made thicker in order to compensate for the lack of strength, resulting in additional limitations in designing a construction.
On the other hand, the method of in advance fabricating concrete-made panels in a factory for enhancing workability, the most important point is to make the concrete-made panels light-weight, as much as possible, in order to enhance transfer efficiency from a factory to a construction site and also improve handling efficiency. The applicant of the present invention has already suggested a light-weighted concrete-made panel in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-257706, which was published as Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-90972.
The concrete-made panel disclosed in the Publication is comprised of a pair of non-flammable boards vertically spaced away from each other, a corrugated steel plate sandwiched between the pair of the non-flammable boards, an outer frame securing to the corrugated steel plate at its periphery for sealing, and hard foaming resin filled in the outer frame. The concrete-made panel is ensured to have a sufficient strength since the corrugated steel plate has a sufficient strength, and to be more light-weight in comparison with conventional light-weight concrete.
The corrugated steel plate is arranged in such a way that outer surfaces of mountain (peak) and valley (trough) portions thereof are in abutment with surfaces of the non-flammable boards, and thus a restraint force does scarcely exert between the corrugated steel plate and the non-flammable boards in a direction of corrugation pitch of the corrugated steel plate. In other words, the upper non-flammable board is supported by the outer frame so that the non-flammable boards are mounted on the mountain or peak portions of the corrugated steel plate, and that the lower non-flammable board makes contact with the valley or trough portions of the corrugated steel plate. Hence, the corrugated steel plate provides compensation against a vertical compression force, and, the corrugated steel plate provides a little support against an external force acting on the non-flammable board in a direction of the corrugation pitch.
As mentioned above, by employing the corrugated steel plate, a construction can be made light-weight. However, since a restraint force is small in a direction of the corrugation pitch between the non-flammable boards and the corrugated steel plate, an extra retaining structure has to be added when the non-flammable boards and the corrugated steel plate are connected to each other through the outer frame.
It is of course possible to integrally form a concrete-made panel including a corrugated steel plate therein, an outer frame, and an upper and lower non-flammable boards through concrete. To this end, a frame acting as a container is used in combination with a core. Employing a core, there is formed a mold having a cavity into which a corrugated steel plate is to be inserted.
However, even if such a mold is used, after a hollow concrete-made panel has been fabricated, a corrugated steel plate is inserted into the concrete-made panel. Thus, mountain or peak and valley trough portions of the corrugated steel plate simply make abutment with an inner wall of the cavity of the concrete-made panel. Accordingly, similarly to the above, sufficient strength can be obtained against compression, however the restraint between the corrugated steel plate and the concrete-made panel in a direction of the corrugation pitch is left small.
The concrete-made panel having a corrugated steel plate therein is preferable with respect to making the panel light-weight, there remains a unsolved problems about the connection between a cover material of concrete and a corrugated steel plate.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a concrete-made panel which is light-weight, has a high strength, and is superior in heat and sound insulation, and a method of fabricating the same.

Concrete-made panel and method of fabricating the same


A contactless IC chip is mounted or adhered on a certificate and used in a service system having an interrogator and a computer system. The interrogator and the computer system are interconnected via a network such as the Internet. The IC chip is used as an electronic tag and the interrogator receives first information by reading information printed on the certificate including a digital signature and by receiving second information from the electronic tag through an antenna of the interrogator. Then, the first information from the certificate and the digital signature are used by the computer to calculate third information that is compared with the second information received from the electronic tag. If the comparison results in a match, then the certificate is deemed authentic.

The present invention relates to a service system, an information processing system and an interrogator using a contactless IC chip.
In a service system such as health insurance, automobile physical damage insurance and travel insurance, a user has been certified his eligibility for the membership of the service by presenting a paper certificate. A subscriber of health insurance can obtain the health insurance service (i.e., medical service) by possessing a health insurance certificate. A paper money (bill) or a merchandise coupon is considered as a kind of certificate which has a monetary value for exchanging with a product or service. Thus, hitherto, certificates for which countermeasures against counterfeiting using printing technology are provided have been used for obtaining various types of services.
A facility of service which manages the overall service system have executed a certificate-based management of the service system. After receiving some compensation from a user, the facility of service gives a certificate which certifies the right of use of the service to the user. The user then presents or transfers the certificate to a facility to execute service which actually executes the service to thereby obtain the service. In some cases, the facility of service and the facility to execute service are same as each other, and in the other cases, they are different from each other. One example of the service in which the facility of service and the facility to execute service are same is a transportation system using a passenger ticket. A railway company or the like issues a certificate such as a passenger ticket or a commuter pass to a user and provides the transportation service only to a user who carries the certificate. One example of the service in which the facility of service and the facility to execute service are different is a health insurance, in which the facility of service is a health insurance society and the facility to execute service is a medical institution.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11-277963 discloses a method for attaching a contactless IC chip onto an admission ticket and writing data which is identical as the data printed on the ticket to the IC chip.

Service system, information processing system and interrogator


A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a first path through which a sheet passes; a switchback member that switches back the sheet passing through the first path and conveys the sheet; a second path through which the sheet switched back and conveyed by the switchback member passes; a guide member that can swing; and a limit member that limits the swing of the guide member. The guide member guides the sheet passing through the first path on one side of the guide member and guides the sheet passing through the second path on the other side of the guide member. A preceding sheet passing through the second path and a following sheet passing through the first path are conveyed in such a way that they pass each other and when the guide member is swung to the second path side, the swing of the guide member is limited by the limit member, whereby a predetermined path interval is secured in the second path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus for conveying sheets and an image reading apparatus that is provided with the sheet conveying apparatus and reads images on the sheets conveyed by the apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional image reading apparatuses provided in digital copying machines, printers, and facsimiles include an image reading apparatus in which an Auto Document Feeder (ADF), which is one example of the sheet conveying apparatuses, is provided in such a way as to be freely opened or closed with respect to a platen glass and a original base glass in order to feed a document, which is one example of the sheets, automatically to the image reading apparatus.
Among the reading methods of the image reading apparatus provided with this ADF is the following reading method (hereinafter referred to as "flow reading"): reading means provided below the ADF is moved to a set position with respect to a document automatically fed by the ADF by a motor and is stopped there; then, light is emitted from a lamp unit to the document conveyed at a predetermined speed to scan the document; and then its reflected light is detected by reading means to read the image.
Further, in the case of a two-sided document is adopted the following three-circulation two-side reading method: a document is fed to a reading part where an obverse image is read by flow reading; then, the document is switched back by a sheet discharging part and is fed again to the reading part where a reverse image is read; and then, the document is again switched back by the sheet discharging part and then is again circulated to the reading part to change the direction of the document and then is discharged.
In order to improve productivity in reading the two-sided document, there is provided a high-speed two-side reading method for conveying a following two-sided document by utilizing time that elapses while a preceding two-sided document is switched back, that is, a conveyance path space. The method is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-143104. To be more specific, according to this method, an image on the reverse side of the Nth document is read and then the (N+1)th document is fed to the reading part where an image on the obverse side of the (N+1)th document is read; and then, the (N+1)th document is switched back while the Nth document of the third circulation is passed through the reading part.
However, in the case of performing the high-speed two-side reading, a path length needs to be elongated so as to prevent two documents from colliding with each other to elongate the time required to pass the path, which does not very much improve productivity. Further, the elongated path length presents a problem of increasing the size of the apparatus.
Further, if the construction shown in FIG. 12 is adopted to convey sheets in such a way that a preceding sheet and a following sheet pass each other when the preceding document is switched back, the path length can be shortened and an apparatus can be prevented from being increased in size, but the following defects remain.
In the state shown in FIG. 12, an image on the reverse side of the Nth document is read and the Nth document is switched back by a sheet discharging and reversing part X and is being conveyed to the second registration rollers 27′, 28′.
Further, the next (N+1)th document is being conveyed to the sheet discharging and reversing part X while an image on the obverse side is being read. At this time, the (N+1)th document travels while lifting a flapper 31′ by its front end.
Here, the Nth document passing the top surface side of the flapper 31′ is sandwiched between an upper guide and the flapper 31′ to become wavy at the sheet discharging and reversing part X to impair the entry of the (N+1)th document.
To prevent the document from becoming wavy, it is required to elongate an interval between the Nth document and the (N+1)th document in such a way that after the front end of the Nth document enters the second registration rollers 27′, 28′ and the sheet discharging and reversing roller is separated from the Nth document, the (N+1)th document enters the flapper 31′. However, this presents a problem of elongating a conveyance-path and increasing the size of an apparatus.
Further, if the Nth document and the (N+1)th document are conveyed in such a way that they pass each other, the Nth document and the (N+1)th document are put into sliding contact with each other. The sliding contact between the Nth document and the (N+1)th document applies load to the conveyance of the Nth document. Hence, to the Nth document are applied the load caused by the sliding contact with the (N+1)th document and the load caused by the pressure of the flapper 31′. There is a possibility that the load applied to the Nth document will impair also the conveyance of the Nth document.
In order to avoid the swing of the flapper from applying load to the document, a construction for preventing the flapper from swinging is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-95542. In the construction shown in FIG. 13, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-95542, switching members 460, 470 that construct a flapper is applied a force in the counterclockwise direction by a spring 471. A document is conveyed to the left side in the drawing by a conveyer roller 431 and the top surface of the document is guided by the bottom surface of the flapper 460.
When the document is guided and conveyed by the switching members 460, 470, the switching member 470 that is integral with the switching member 460 is swung by the force applied by the front end of the document. The swinging of the switching member 470 is limited by the lower protrusion 470a2 of a stopper 470a abutting against the lower wall surface 430b of a frame. The pressing force that the front end of the document applies to the switching member 460 opens a path on the downstream side of the swinging pivot 453 of the switching members 460, 470 and closes a path on the upstream side of the swinging pivot 453 to a position where a path to the downstream side is secured. That is, the construction disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-95542 solves a problem that when the document moves the switching member, the conveyance of the document is impaired by the flapper.
However, as described by use of FIG. 12, there still remains the following problem: in the construction where Nth document and the (N+1)th document pass each other, the (N+1)th document swings the flapper; and the swung flapper impairs the conveyance of the Nth document.
In other words, the Nth document is pinched by the swung flapper 31′ to become wavy and the wavy Nth document prevents the entry of the (N+1)th document. Further, there are cases where the load caused by the Nth document being pressed by the flapper 31′ and the load caused by the sliding contact with the (N+1)th document are applied to the Nth document and this load applied to the Nth document is likely to impair the conveyance of the Nth document.

Sheet conveying apparatus and image reading apparatus


A media feedpath having a feed assist roller, comprises a media feedpath having a C-shaped portion, a media input and a feed roll nip, an input roller feeding media from the media input, a feed assist roller downstream of the C-shaped portion of the media feedpath, the feed assist roller assisting media indexing through the media feedpath on a single side and without an opposed pinch roller, the feed roll nip having a driven roller and a feed roll pinch roll opposite the driven roll, the feed assist roller being driven by a toggle gear transmission from the driven roller of the feed roll nip, the gear train adapted for toggling to operably engage or disengage the feed assist roller depending on a driving direction of the driven roller of the feed roll nip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a media feedpath. More particularly, the present invention relates to a media feedpath having a feed assist assembly positioned along the media feedpath.
2. Description of the Related Art
Printing and other peripherals having media feeding functionality typically feed or index media by utilizing opposed pairs of rollers along a media feedpath. The opposed rollers engage or pinch media rotate to control and advance the media along the feedpath.
When feeding media to a printer or to a scan window of an auto-document feed scanner, the media is typically indexed or advanced through a feed roller nip to either a print zone or scanning zone. However, the media typically extends backward through the feedpath beyond the feed roller nip and therefore may be engaged by other roller nips located along the feedpath. The sum of forces applied by these other roller nips acting on the media introduces resistive forces on the feed roller nip which may cause print or scan defects. Also, C-shaped feedpaths cause additional resistive forces on the feed roller nip due to the bending of the media in passing through the feedpath.
It would be desirable to assist the feed roller nip in advancing media by eliminating or reducing upstream forces from these other nips engaging media. Additionally, it would be desirable to improve media feeding by limiting resistive forces at the feed roller nip in order to decrease print and scan defects.


The present invention is directed a multifunctional polymer capable of inhibiting both calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate scale. The multifunctional polymer contains at least one monomer unit from each of four groups: dicarboxylic acids, mono-carboxylic acids, nonionic monomers, and sulfonated or sulfated monomers. The polymer also inhibits many other alkaline earth scales, such as calcium sulfate scale and provides stabilization of minerals such as iron, zinc and manganese. The polymer is especially effective in highly stressed systems that contain high electrolyte concentrations and have a high number of cycles of concentration.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a polymer capable of inhibiting both calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate scale. The polymer also inhibits calcium sulfate scale and provides iron stabilization. The polymer is especially effective in highly stressed systems that contain high electrolyte concentrations and have a high number of cycles of concentration.
2. Background Information
One problem in industrial water treatment is the prevention of calcium scales caused by the precipitation of calcium salts, such as calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate and calcium phosphate. These salts are inversely soluble, meaning that their solubility decreases as the temperature increases. For industrial applications, where higher temperatures and higher concentrations of salts are present, this usually translates to precipitation occurring at the heat transfer surfaces. The precipitating salts can then deposit onto the surface, resulting in a layer of calcium scale. The calcium scale can lead to the loss of heat transfer in the system and cause overheating of production processes. In addition, scaling can promote localized corrosion. Calcium phosphate, unlike calcium carbonate, is not generally a naturally occurring problem. However, ortho-phosphates are commonly added to industrial systems (and sometimes to municipal water systems) as a corrosion inhibitor for ferrous metals, usually at levels between 2.0-20.0 mg/L. Therefore, the precipitation of calcium phosphate not only can result in the scaling problems previously discussed, but can also result in severe corrosion problems, as the ortho-phosphate is removed from solution. As a result, industrial cooling systems require periodic maintenance in which the system must be shut down, cleaned and the water replaced. Lengthening the time between shutdowns saves costs, and is desirable.
One way to lengthen the time between maintenance is through the use of polymers that can function by either inhibiting the formation of the calcium salts, or by modifying the crystal growth so that the salt disperses when it precipitates rather than depositing on heat transfer surfaces. Dispersion of the precipitated salt crystals is believed to be the result of the adsorption of the inhibitor onto precipitated crystals. The adsorption of the inhibitor can also be used to stabilize the system by facilitating the dispersion and subsequent removal of other suspended particulates, such as mud, silt and clay, and metals such as iron and zinc and their insoluble salts, from aqueous systems. The inhibitor may also interfere with and distort the crystal structure of the scale making the scale less adherent to surfaces or other forming crystals or existing particulates.
Currently different polymers are used to control different types of scale. Maleate-based polymers, along with phosphonates are used to control calcium carbonate scale. Sulfonate-based polymers, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,725, are used to control calcium phosphate, iron, and other particulates. U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,823 describes a method for controlling silica scale formation using a terpolymer of (meth) acrylic acid or maleic acid, a (meth)acrylamido methyl propane sulfonic acid or styrene sulfonic acid, (meth)acrylamide, and another vinyl monomer. The disclosure fails to recognize the importance of both a mono- and a di-carboxylic acid, and does not disclose a polymer for inhibiting both calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate scale.
Multi-functional scale inhibitors have focused on terpolymers polymerized from a strong acid monomer, a weak acid monomer, and a non-ionic monomer. Examples of these polymers include those polymerized from a) (meth)acrylic acid, b) sulfonic acid or acrylamido methyl propane sulfonic acid, and c) acrylamide, sulfonated styrene, phosphino carboxylic acid, or (meth)acrylates. These scale inhibitors tend to have only moderate calcium carbonate inhibition.
The cooling water treatment industry is moving toward a greater degree of water reuse, and higher operating cycles to conserve energy and water. To achieve this goal, increased demands are placed on cooling water treatment programs. These stressed systems contribute to a high tendency to form a variety of scales and deposits in the system. Stressed conditions and their potential negative effects include:
Stressful conditionPotential Scales/DepositsHigh pHCaCO3, Ca3(PO4)2, Fe(OH)3High hardnessCaCO3, Ca3(PO4)2High alkalinityCaCO3, ZnCO3High phosphateCa3(PO4)2High sulfateCaCO3, FeSO4High chlorideFeCl3High ironFe(OH)3High silicaSiO2, MgSiO3High suspended solidsParticulateHigh organicsMicrobiological foulingHigh temperatureCaCO3, Ca3(PO4)2, Fe2O3High conductivityFe2O3Oxidizing biocidesFe2O3Low flowParticulate, Fe2O3
It is an objective of the current invention to provide a single, multifunctional polymer capable of inhibiting both calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate scaling. It is also an objective of the present invention that the single multi-functional scale inhibiting polymer be able to perform at a treatment level equal to or below the combined treatment level of the two or more polymers presently required for the same performance, which would generally not exceed 15.0-20.0 ppm active product. It is a further objective to provide a single, multi-functional polymer that is effective under stressed conditions.
Surprisingly it has been found that a multifunctional polymer containing a dicarboxylic acid, a mono-carboxylic acid, a non-ionic monomer, and a sulfonated or sulfated monomer, in the proper ratios, provides excellent scale and deposit control. This is especially true for systems under stressed conditions. The polymer inhibits calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate scale formation and stabilizes iron and zinc, even at high dissolved and suspended solids levels.

Multifunctional calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate scale inhibitor

National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation


Combined stethoscope integral housing and belt adapter for mounting a stethoscope on the belt of a care giver. The integral housing has a back wall and first and second side walls. The upper portion of each side wall contains an ear piece receptacle. A pair of front walls are spaced apart from each other to form a slot and spaced apart from the back wall to form an opening for a stethoscope chest piece. The belt adapter is hingedly attached to a back upper portion of the housing by an axially mounted rod.

This invention relates to stethoscope holders. More particularly, it refers to a stethoscope holder generally mounted on the belt of a health provider and having a slotted front opening for receipt of a stethoscope chest piece as well as longitudinal bores for receipt of the stethoscope ear pieces.
A stethoscope is an important medical instrument carried by most care givers at some time during their days"" medical activities. Frequently, the stethoscope is stuck in a pocket of a medical coat where it occupies space needed frequently for other medical devices. Clip-on devices for carrying the stethoscope on a belt have been devised such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. Des 425,353. Unfortunately, the ear pieces on the stethoscope are not retained in a fixed position in this device and they have a tendency to flip out. Another prior art stethoscope holder is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,563, but this holder merely drapes the tubes from the stethoscope in a belt clip. This causes the chest piece and ear pieces to bounce when carried by a care giver. An improved stethoscope belt holder is needed which securely mounts the chest piece and ear pieces, but still permits ready access for use with patients by the care giver.
The belt mounted stethoscope holder of this invention provides ready access to the stethoscope by being mounted on the care giver""s belt, but at the same time, is securely fastened out of the way and outside a care giver""s pocket. The stethoscope holder is an integral housing with a combined belt adapter hingedly moving on a rod mounted on a top rear portion of the integral housing. The integral housing has a rear wall and a pair of side walls with ear piece receptacles mounted in a top portion of each side wall. A pair of front walls are spaced apart from each other to form a slot and spaced apart from the back wall to form an opening for receipt of a stethoscope chest piece. An opening at a bottom of the slot accommodates a stethoscope tube.


Disclosed is an apparatus for tamper protection of an application which includes: an input unit that receives codes to be used for an application; a code separator that separates the inputted codes into sensitive codes requiring application tamper protection and general codes including sensitive method calling routine for calling the sensitive codes by analyzing the input codes; an encoder that encrypts the sensitive codes and inserts the address of an sensitive code connector storing the address information of the sensitive codes; a controller that converts the sensitive method calling routine to be able to call dummy codes by inserting the dummy codes to the general codes, inserts vector table generator, to the sensitive codes, and insert a sensitive method calling routine converter, to the sensitive codes; and a code combiner that creates the application by combining the general codes and the sensitive codes.

The application obfuscation apparatuses and methods for Java language obfuscate applications of the related art that operate in a java virtual machine by changing the code structure of the applications. The obfuscated applications are composed of a group of commands and an object file that operate in a java virtual machine in the same way before the obfuscation.
The obfuscation apparatuses and methods in the related art, however, there is a problem in that the vulnerability to reverse engineering of the managed code that operates in a virtual machine remains even after obfuscation.
The vulnerability to reverse engineering of the managed code is as follows. Source code information such as the class name, the member variable name, and the method name is included in a complied object code and the code is explicitly structurized, such that it is easy to find or analyze a specific logic through reverse engineering.
Android applications, similar to the applications that operate in a java machine, are also composed of managed codes that operate in a dalvik virtual machine, and are stored in a DEX (dalvik executable) file type. Accordingly, the android applications are also vulnerable to reverse engineering of the managed code, similar to the java applications.
The background art of the present invention has been described in Korean Patent Registration Publication No. 10-1234591 (2013, 2, 19).

Apparatus for tamper protection of application code based on self modification and method thereof

SOONGSIL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CONSORTIUM TECHNO-PARK


A sequential compression and temperature therapy blanket with a plurality of air chambers is disclosed. The air chambers are filled and released by a valve assembly that may be separate from or integrated within the blanket. The temperature therapy blanket includes a fluid bladder for delivering hot and/or cold therapy to a patient. The temperature therapy blanket may also include an air bladder for providing compression.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to thermal therapy systems in general, including therapeutic cooling, heating, and compression systems used in association therewith, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a programmable, sequential compression system adapted for high thermal contrast modality, and incorporating multiple, independently controllable chambers in a thermal therapy blanket.
2. Description of the Related Art
Medical care providers have long recognized the need to provide warmth and cooling directly to patients as part of their treatment and therapy. Better recoveries have been reported using cold therapy for orthopedic patients. The benefits of warming patients undergoing surgery has been conclusively proven. It is also desirable to cool portions of a patient's anatomy in certain circumstances. Yet another advantageous therapy is the application of heat then cold to certain areas of injury.
Several devices have been developed that deliver temperature controlled fluids through pads or convective thermal blankets to achieve the above purpose. Typically these devices have a heating or a cooling element, a source for the fluid, a pump for forcing the fluid through the pad or blanket, and a thermal interface between the patient and the temperature controlled fluid. U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,304 to Elkins is directed to a mattress cover device which contains liquid flow channels which provide the selective heating or cooling by conduction.
Devices have also been developed for providing heat to a person in bed. Electric blankets containing electric heating elements have been used for years to warm a person in bed.
Cooling blankets, such as the blanket disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,388 to Greene, have also been proposed. Greene discloses a cooling cover having an inflatable pad with plenum chambers at opposite ends thereof. Cool air is generated in a separate unit and directed to the pad and out a number of apertures on the underside of the pad and against the body of the person using the cover.
A disposable heating or cooling blanket is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,238 to Ragan, et al which has three layers of flexible sheeting. Two of the layers form an air chamber and the third includes a comfortable layer for contact with the patient. Conditioned air is directed toward the covered person through a multiplicity of orifices in the bottom layers of the blanket.
A temperature controlled blanket and bedding assembly is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,285 to DeVilbiss et al., the disclosure of which describes a temperature controlled blanket and temperature control bedding system which has the provision of both recirculating temperature controlled fluid and temperature controlled gas to enhance performance for convectively heating or cooling a patient. Counter-flow or co-flow heat exchanging principles between the temperature controlled liquid and the temperature controlled gas achieve temperature uniformity across different sections of the blanket and the bedding system. Drapes and the temperature controlled bedding system provided temperature controlled envelope around a person using the bedding system. In one embodiment of the bedding system, the air portion of the bedding system is provided for use with a patient that supplies the fluid portion of the overall bedding system. In another embodiment of the bedding system, the fluid portion of the bedding system is provided for use with a patient bed which supplies the air portion of the overall bedding system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,829 to Quisenberry describes an improved temperature controlled fluid circulating system for automatically cooling a temperature controlled fluid in a thermal blanket with a thermoelectric cooling device having a cold side and a hot side when powered by electricity. The temperature controlled fluid is cooled by the cold side of the cooling device and pumped through, to, and from the blanket through first and second conduits.

Compression sequenced thermal therapy system


A collapsible, lightweight, sturdy bassinet-style combination and convertible baby bed and carrier which is also flexible, comfortable, durable, and modular. A fabric basket with a flexible support structure having rounded edges combine to create a soft sided yet semi-rigid and sturdy carrier, and a rocker unit is provided.

In America alone, there were approximately 4 million babies born in 1994. Many of today's parents are particularly concerned about every aspect of their baby's well being, from safety and nutrition to physical fitness, and many such parents are looking for the next generation of products that are safe, convenient, practical and beautifully designed, and which give parents the peace of mind they are demanding. With a concern for economics as well, a baby bed/carrier system which is convertible and multi-functional would meet these needs in a way not yet satisfied by existing products.
The baby bed and carrier system of this invention includes, at its core, a fully supported (semi-rigid) collapsible, lightweight combination baby bassinet style bed and hand-held baby carrier which is also convertible into a backpack style carrier. The system of this invention makes use of additional modular attachments, including a rocker support unit to create a rocking baby bed, a wheel support unit to create a stroller, and a car seat unit to create a baby car seat.
The overall baby bed and carrier system of this invention is flexible and convertible, comfortable, durable, and modular. It achieves these benefits by using an integrated structure and a combination of features not previously appreciated by other workers in the field, and not shown in any prior product of which the inventors are aware. Prior efforts in this field are illustrated by the following prior patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 385,633 of Kelly et al. shows a rigid baby basket or cradle having a set of rockers on the bottom. The rockers are collapsible against the bottom of the baby basket.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,096,917 of Gudiksen discloses a collapsible baby basket having an upper frame including a rigid rectangle formed by metal tubing, a lower frame including a rigid rectangular board, and downwardly folding side walls.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,862 of Mairs shows a combination bassinet, baby carrier and diaper bag. The Mairs bag includes a collapsible shell which can be partially closed for use as a tote bag and which can be expanded to a fully open position, including the use of a pair of removable rods to impart a degree of rigidity to the open position, for use as a baby basket. A sheet doubles as both a liner for the baby basket when the structure is used for that purpose, and as a body pack to strap a baby to the torso of an adult wearer when used as a baby carrier.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,056 of Carmichael describes a soft-sided infant carrier including a cloth shell having a bottom which curves downwardly and a foam rubber piece of a semi-oval shape which, together with a plastic insert in the front portion of the shell, helps to support the inside of the shell along the bottom and sides of the shell and helps to hold the cloth shell away from the baby's face.
Other collapsible or folding baby baskets, cribs, cradles or beds are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 823,321 of Dejonge; U.S. Pat. No. 1,412,177 of Glaum; U.S. Pat. No. 2,622,250 of Coles (a collapsible baby crib with a wire frame stand, a removable rigid bottom piece, a pair of rigid rods with one each disposed along each of the two long top sides, and two rigid end pieces at either end to receive the rods); U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,634 of Hesketh et al. (a baby carriage convertible to a cradle having collapsible wire rockers under the wheels of the carriage/cradle); U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,260 of Hagerstrom; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,520 of Milliken.
Despite all the prior efforts, no one has yet developed a baby bed and carrier system which includes a fully supported (semi-rigid) collapsible, lightweight combination baby bassinet style bed and hand-held baby carrier which is also convertible into a backpack style carrier. Nor has such a combination bed and carrier been incorporated into a modular system including a rocker support unit and a wheel support unit so that the same bed and carrier may also become an integrated part of the baby's rocker and stroller. It would be highly desirable to create such a product. Moreover, it would be desirable if such a combination bassinet style baby bed and carrier were also:
lightweight and easily portable so that the bed function does not sacrifice the baby carrier function (that is, the desirable product should be under 3 pounds in weight, properly balanced for carrying, and supported so that the child's mother can carry it by the handle, free swinging at her side or over her shoulder with the baby inside); PA1 comfortable and inviting to the infant as a semi-rigid bed so that the baby carrier function does not sacrifice the baby bed function (that is, the bed should be framed and supported with sufficient rigidity that the baby would be happy and content inside it for extended periods of time, including not only at home, but on airplanes, in restaurants, in offices, in hotels, in churches and other public places, and in the homes of friends and relatives; in short, the desirable product should be a "real" rigidly supported bed in which an infant can comfortably rest for extended periods of time); PA1 durable and long lasting so that the light weight carrier function does not sacrifice the heavy duty materials that would make the product last (that is, the product should not be of flimsy construction, but should be one which a baby could use almost constantly for at least the first 12 months of life and on occasion during the next several years; in short, the desirable product should be of solid construction built to last under constant use for at least the infant's first year, and should still serve as a bed or napping place for the growing toddler and young child up to 60 pounds); PA1 convertible from one mode of use to another so that the benefits of the product are not sacrificed to cost and a single system can accomplish multi-purpose use for the family (that is, the desirable product should be not only a combination bassinet bed and baby carrier, but it should be flexible and convertible so that with an included harness system which properly supports the infant, the hand-held carrier converts to a backpack style carrier); and PA1 modular and multifunctional further to reduce the overall cost and duplication of using separate products for similar functions (that is, the desirable product should be part of a system that can be used with available accessories as the focal point of the parent's needs for several products, thereby helping to eliminate duplicative purchases of several products; the desirable system should be multifunctional and have "clip on" compatibility to a range of accessories, including rockers, wheels, stands, car seats and others so that a single core product and system can be the foundation upon which, by modular attachments, such multi-purpose uses as strollers, rockers, cribs, and car seats can be added on at a savings relative to buying a completely separate product for each use, and without wasteful duplication of production resources).
The lightweight, collapsible and convertible combination baby bed and carrier system of this invention uses fiberglass rods to impart rigidity, yet collapses to 30 inches by 12 inches by 3 inches and weighs approximately 2.5 pounds. It uses adjustable-length, ergonomically engineered handles for balance in the hand-held carrier mode and for ease of carrying in a free swinging manner at an adult's side, or over the shoulder.
The bed and carrier system is semi-rigid, and the fiberglass frame and fabric structure allows it to carry up to 60 pounds. The system converts from a hand-held (or over the shoulder) style to a baby backpack style carrier, using a harness system for proper support. The bed and carrier system of this invention is modular, and has clip-on compatibility with a number of other accessories so that it can function as rocker, stroller, or car seat. The bed and carrier, although semi-rigid, is soft sided to create a comfortable womb-like environment for an infant and, in a preferred embodiment, includes such comfort features as a sheepskin lining and reversible fitted colored and patterned sheets.
It is, thus, the intent of this invention to solve the problems not yet addressed by the prior art in a combination baby bed and carrier which is at the same time lightweight, comfortable, durable, convertible, modular and multifunctional. These and other advantages of the convertible combination baby bassinet bed and carrier system of this invention will be described in more detail in the description which follows.

Collapsible and convertible combination baby bed and baby carrier system with rocker unit


An optical element holder is provided with a holding frame having a side surface provided spaced apart by a specific distance from an end portion of the correction lens in a longitudinal direction by deeming a light scanning direction as the longitudinal direction and holding the correction lens so as to cover the correction lens except for at least an incident portion and an exiting portion of light, and a pushing member that pushes the correction lens toward the holding frame, so that displacement in the light scanning direction due to heat of the optical element is lessened.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical element holder and a light scanning unit used in an image forming apparatus, such as a printer, a facsimile machine, and a copying machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a digital printer, a copying machine, and the like are provided with a laser scanner unit (hereinafter, abbreviated to LSU) that performs scanning using a laser beam in order to form an image on the surface of an image carrier, such as a photoconductive drum.
The LSU has optical components, such as a laser light source, a polygon mirror, an fθ lens, and a reflection mirror. These optical components are disposed fixedly at specific positions on the frame of the LSU. In this LSU, light emitted from the laser light source is deflected on the surface of the polygon mirror to be scanned equiangularly, and then scanned by the fθ lens at a constant velocity on the image carrier used as an image forming surface. The fθ lens is a lens elongated in the light scanning direction, and it is directly placed on the housing of the LSU (for example, see JP-UM-A-6-43617).
Meanwhile, there has been a need for a color image forming apparatus in recent years to increase a speed, and a tandem-type image forming apparatus is now being adopted, in which image forming units for black, yellow, magenta, and cyan are disposed separately.
For the tandem-type image forming apparatus to achieve a reduction in size, there has been proposed a method of scanning light on the image carrier in each image forming unit using a single polygon mirror (for example, see JP-A-2005-288825).
FIG. 10 is a schematic cross section of the LSU disposed at the lower position of the tandem-type image forming apparatus in the related art. As is shown in FIG. 10, a photoconductive drum 100a for black, a photoconductive drum 100b for cyan, a photoconductive drum 100c for magenta, and a photoconductive drum 100d for yellow are provided.
Laser beams emitted from four laser light sources (not shown) corresponding to four dyes are scanned equiangularly by a single polygon mirror 101 and scanned on the respective photoconductive drums at a constant velocity by a group of fθ lenses. The group of fθ lenses is formed of scanning lenses 103 and correction lenses 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d for the respective laser beams.
The scanning lenses 103 corresponds to the fθ lens disclosed in JP-UM-A-6-43617 and chiefly plays a role of scanning a laser beam at a constant velocity. The correction lenses 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d chiefly play a role of correcting bows in the sub-scanning direction (a phenomenon that the scanning line of a light beam deflected by the deflector is curved).
Such correction lenses 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d are unnecessary in the image forming apparatus in the related art disclosed in JP-UM-A-6-43617. However, for the image forming apparatus of FIG. 10, it is necessary to form images of laser beams on the respective photoconductive drums 100a through 100d, and because correction by the scanning lenses 103 alone is insufficient, there arises a need to provide the correction lenses 102a through 102d for the respective photoconductive drums.
As is shown in FIG. 10, in order to prevent a correction lens for a given dye from interfering with the optical path of the laser for another dye, the correction lenses 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d cannot be placed directly on the bottom surface 104 of the LSU.
Hence, the correction lenses 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d have to be disposed spaced apart from the bottom surface 104 to form a space for allowing a laser beam to pass through. The correction lenses 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d therefore need to be fixed to the housing of the LSU at the both ends (the both end portions in the horizontal direction deemed as the longitudinal direction of the lenses).
The LSU, however, is provided with heat sources, such as the laser light source and a motor to rotate the polygon mirror 101, and due to heat from these heat sources, the correction lenses 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d undergo thermal expansion. In the event of thermal expansion when the correction lenses 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d are fixed at the both ends, bending occurs in the vertical direction with respect to the longitudinal direction (light scanning direction) . When bending occurs in the correction lenses 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d as described above, displacement occurs in the light scanning direction, which results in a color shift in a tandem-type color copying machine or the like.

Optical element holder, light scanning unit, and image forming apparatus with accommodation for heat-related dimensional changes of optical element


A counting device for counting a number of image forming operations of an image forming apparatus. The counting device includes a registering device for registering a plurality of identification codes and a comparing device for comparing an identification code stored in a portable memory card with the plurality of identification codes registered in the registering device. A first memory counter counts a number of image forming operations of the image forming apparatus when the comparing device matches the identification code stored in the portable memory card with at least one of the plurality of identification codes registered in the registering device. A second memory counter counts a number of image forming operations of the image forming apparatus when the comparing device does not match the identification code stored in the portable memory card with any of the plurality of identification codes registered in the registering device. Thus, the number of copying operations can be both collectively and individually counted.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or the like, and particularly to an image forming apparatus that can become ready for operation and become capable of being controlled when a memory means such as a memory card that is detachable and portable is mounted on the apparatus main body.
An image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus has recently come into wide use, and it has shown remarkable advancement in terms of performance and function. Such a copying apparatus with high function is controlled to be used by plural departments in a company for common use in many cases, which is different from a simplified copying apparatus for personal use. In this case, the proper way for each department to bear the administrative expenses for the copying apparatus is to pay depending on the number of copies the department made using the copying apparatus. For this reason, memory cards (portable memory means) which are detachable and portable and carry registered codes of each department or personnel have been assigned to each department so that each memory card may be mounted on the apparatus main body when copying. Thus, the number of copies made by each department has been managed properly. Many copying apparatuses capable of accepting a memory card have been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 165664/1985, 277976/1986, 96958/1987, 96966/1987 and 105964/1964 disclose technologies related to the foregoing.
With regard to a memory card having highly advanced functions which can be attached to or detached from an image forming apparatus, an ID number (hereinafter referred to as an ID No.) such as a given number is usually stored in each memory card as a card ID No., while in the image forming apparatus, there are registered a plurality of card ID Nos. which can use the image forming apparatus. When these card ID Nos. agree with usable card ID Nos. stored in the memory card, it is possible to form images, and each time an image is formed, it is counted on a predetermined memory (a count memory means) corresponding to a usable card ID No., resulting in control of the number of image forming operations.
However, when each usable card ID No. is provided with a count memory means described above, many count memory means are required. In addition to that, the number of cards used frequently on the same image forming apparatus is not so large, and consequently, it is of no use from a viewpoint of centralized control to provide a count memory means on a card that is hardly used.
An object of the invention therefore is to provide an image forming apparatus wherein the number of image forming operations through cards which are hardly used can be controlled collectively for eliminating uselessness, in the case of centralized control of the number of image forming operations.

Image forming apparatus counting system using individual and collective counters


A memory storage structure includes a memory storage device, and a first meta-structure having a first size and operating at a first speed. The first speed is faster than a second speed for storing meta-information based on information stored in a memory. A second meta-structure is hierarchically associated with the first meta-structure. The second meta-structure has a second size larger than the first size and operates at the second speed such that faster and more accurate prefetching is provided by coaction of the first and second meta-structures. A method is provided to assemble the meta-information in the first meta-structure and copy this information to the second meta-structure, and prefetching the stored information from the second meta-structure to the first meta-structure ahead of its use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data processing, and more particularly to prefetching of branch and other Meta information between hierarchical storage levels.
2. Description of the Related Art
In most high performance processors, pipelining is used as a means to improve performance. Pipelining allows a processor to be divided into separate components where each component is responsible for completing a portion of an instruction's execution.
Referring to FIG. 1A, an illustration of the major components that make up a typical processor's pipeline 10 are shown. The components include an instruction fetch (stage I), instruction decode (stage II), address generation (stage III), operand fetch (stage IV), instruction execution (stage V), and store results (stage VI). Each instruction enters the pipeline and ideally spends one cycle at each pipeline stage. Assuming that each stage of the pipeline takes one cycle to complete, each instruction needs six cycles to pass through the pipeline. However, if the pipeline can be kept full, then each pipeline stage can be kept active, working on a different instruction, each at a different stage.
Hence, one instruction can be completed every cycle. Unfortunately, keeping the pipeline full and processing an instruction in one cycle for every stage of the pipeline is not easy. Pipeline stalls occur due to control flow dependencies, data dependencies, or instructions requiring multiple cycles to pass through a single pipeline stage. These stalls result in a performance loss.
To limit such performance losses, processors rely on two techniques, namely, caching and speculation.
By virtue of locality, a small structure can be used to retain information stored in a high latency, large structure if the information is used frequently. This "cached" information can then be accessed at the cost of accessing the smaller structure most of the time. The figure of merit of such structures, namely the hit rate, is the probability with which the information can be accessed in the smaller structure. If the hit rate of a locality based structure is high, then the average time spent in accessing the large structure is almost the same as accessing the small structure. By virtue of speculation, a hardware structure can be used to guess an unpredictable outcome of the program flow and can allow the processing of the instruction to continue. In case the guess is wrong, the instruction is processed again. The prediction rate determines the success of these structures and is the probability with which the structure can predict the outcome correctly. If the prediction rate is high then the performance lost due to uncertainty is minimized.
Such structures, which store information, which helps in processing the instruction faster, are called Meta-structures and the stored information is called Meta-information.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a functional block diagram of a pipeline 10 with Meta-structures is shown. These Meta-structures, for example, a translation look aside buffer (TLB), branch predictor, branch target buffer (branch history table (BHT)), cluster predictor, value predictor, address generation interlock (AGI) predictor, operand store compare predictor (OSC), etc., reduce the number of cycles spent in pipeline stalls.
The hit rate/prediction rate of the Meta-structures depends on their size. A larger structure (table) provides a better hit rate and increases performance. However by increasing table size, the access time of the structure is increased and performance is degraded.
The branch prediction mechanism used by a processor exhibits these properties. For example, a larger branch history table has a higher branch prediction rate, and performance increases. However, a larger branch history table requires more time for each access. Increasing the access time of a BHT increases branch error penalties and performance is lost. Thus, it is desirable for the BHT to have a fast access time (characteristic of a small table) and still have a very high branch prediction rate (characteristic of a large table).
One aspect of the present invention to provide both of these features necessary for increased performance, for example, a branch prediction mechanism that delivers a fast access time while still achieving a very high branch prediction rate characteristic of a large table.

International Business Machines Corporation


An adjustment and calibration system for post-fabrication treatment of a phase locked loop input receiver is provided. The adjustment and calibration system includes at least one adjustment circuit, to which the phase locked loop input receiver is responsive, and a storage device that selectively stores control information (1) associated with a state of the adjustment circuit and/or (2) from a tester that writes such control information to the storage device, where the control information stored in the storage device is subsequently selectively read out in order to adjust the adjustment circuit to a state corresponding to the control information.

As shown in FIG. 1, a typical computer system 10 has, among other components, a microprocessor 12, one or more forms of memory 14, integrated circuits 16 having specific functionalities, and peripheral computer resources (not shown), e.g., monitor, keyboard, software programs, etc. These components communicate with one another via communication paths 19, e.g., wires, buses, etc., to accomplish the various tasks of the computer system 10.
In order to properly accomplish such tasks, the computer system 10 relies on the basis of time to coordinate its various operations. To that end, a crystal oscillator 18 generates a system clock signal (referred to and known in the art as "reference clock" and shown in FIG. 1 as SYS_CLK) to various parts of the computer system 10. Modem microprocessors and other integrated circuits, however, are typically capable of operating at frequencies significantly higher than the system clock, and thus, it becomes important to ensure that operations involving the microprocessor 12 and the other components of the computer system 10 use a proper and accurate reference of time.
One component used within the computer system 10 to ensure a proper reference of time among a system clock and a microprocessor clock, i.e., "chip clock," is a type of clock generator known as a phase locked loop, or "PLL" 20. The PLL 20 is an electronic circuit that controls an oscillator such that the oscillator maintains a constant phase relative to a reference signal. Referring to FIG. 1, the PLL 20 has as its input the system clock, which is its reference signal, and outputs a chip clock signal (shown in FIG. 1 as CHIP_CLK) to the microprocessor 12. The system clock and chip clock have a specific phase and frequency relationship controlled by the PLL 20. This relationship between the phases and frequencies of the system clock and chip clock ensures that the various components within the microprocessor 12 use a controlled and accounted for reference of time. When this relationship is not maintained by the PLL 20, however, the operations within the computer system 10 become non-deterministic.
FIG. 2 shows a PLL 20 in more detail. The PLL 20 comprises a feedback loop that aligns the transition edge and frequency of the system clock 41 and a feedback loop signal 40. The PLL 20 adjusts the output frequency in order to zero any phase and frequency difference between the system clock 41 and the feedback loop signal 40. The addition of a divide-by-N circuit 39 in the feedback loop enables the PLL 20 to generate an output that has a frequency of N times the system clock 41 frequency. Multiplying the system clock is useful when the chip clock 42 must have a higher frequency than the system clock 41. The PLL core 36 adjusts the output frequency in order to zero any phase and frequency difference between the system clock 41 and the feedback loop signal 40. By adding the divide by N block 39, the chip clock 42 must be N times faster to allow the phase and frequency difference between the system clock 41 and the feedback loop signal 40 to zero. The PLL 20 may also have buffers 37 and 38 to drive a larger resistive and/or capacitive load. The buffers 37 and 38 are in the feedback loop so that any phase shift created by the buffers 37 and 38 is zeroed by the PLL core 36.
One common performance measure for a PLL is jitter. Jitter is the time domain error from poor spectral purity of an output. In other words, in a repeated output pattern, such as a clock signal, a transition that occurs from one state to another does not happen at the same time relative to other transitions. Jitter represents the perturbations that result in the intermittent shortening or lengthening of signal elements of an output. The system clock may have jitter that may need to be filtered by the PLL. The PLL may need to follow and compensate for jitter at the PLL output.
Phase locked loops are basically second order feedback control systems. As such, the phase locked loop can be described in the frequency domain as having a damping factor and natural frequency. The damping factor and natural frequency are fixed by the selection of the PLL circuit parameters. The loop bandwidth is defined as the PLL input frequency at which the PLL output magnitude is 3 dB lower than the PLL output magnitude when the PLL input frequency is zero (DC). The loop bandwidth determines to a large degree the speed at which the phase locked loop can react to a disturbance. The PLL should have a low loop bandwidth so that input clock jitter is filtered. Power supply noise will, however, have a certain noise-versus-frequency characteristic. The PLL loop bandwidth may need to be increased to recover from the generation of output jitter caused by power supply noise.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Adjustment and calibration system for post-fabrication treatment of phase locked loop input receiver


A callback to a data manager is carried out from an index manager in a query processing system for an index-data fetch to enable an index page held stabilized by an index manager to remain stabilized during predicate checking or data consumption operations. The index manager locates a data identifier in an index and calls back to a data manager to access the data indicated by the data identifier. The data manager may carry out a predicate check or a data consuming operation on the data and if this is the case the index manager may access the next data identifier in the index when the data manager callback is complete. The index page need not be destabilized in such a case.

In database systems such as relational database management systems (RDBMSs), data is stored in tables. Most database systems such as RDBMS systems have one or more indexes relating to the data tables to allow efficient access to the data. In database systems, queries written in a language such as SQL are executed by the system fetching or retrieving the data specified by the query. In an RDBMS, the query is executed against a table of data and rows in the table are accessed to return some or all of the column values for the rows accessed, as required by the query being executed.
Indexes in RDBMS systems are typically smaller than their related data tables and are used to improve the performance of queries on the table data. The use of an index can reduce the amount of table data which is accessed in order to satisfy a given query.
A typical implementation of an index on a table in an RDBMS stores ordered key values and associated RIDs (row identifiers) which uniquely identify a row in the table being indexed.
A typical configuration of an RDBMS, such as the DB2™ relational database, includes a data manager (DMS) which is a component that handles retrieval of data from pages in a table, given a specific request for data. Such a request may specify a data record (or row) to be returned, based on an RID, or based on a query predicate which defines characteristics of the data being sought. Also typical in an RDBMS is an index manager component which is used to retrieve key values and RIDs from the index based on query key values or index predicates defined by the query.
Typically the data manager sends a request to the index manager to return the first or next RID in the index which matches the query (including range and/or index predicates). When the index manager returns a matching RID, the key and RID values are copied from the index leaf node.
For certain database queries, a data manager may repeatedly make calls to an index manager, seeking to have sequentially ordered key valued RIDs returned to the data manager. In such a case, the code path followed in executing the query may be significant, and a substantial portion of this code path may relate to data manager calls to the index manager and to the related returns from the index manager.
It is therefore desirable to have a query processing system which is able to execute queries in a manner which has increased efficiency by reducing the frequency of calls from the data manager to the index manager.

Efficient index-data fetch via callback for table data


A system for displaying a 3D thermal image by using two thermal imaging cameras and extracting distance/depth data in the thermal images. The system includes two thermal imaging cameras where one thermal imaging camera is used as a master camera serving as a reference and the other is used as a slave camera to correct gain and offset of the thermal images and ensure uniformity. In addition, provided is an apparatus and method for correcting gain and offset of the thermal images to be identical to each other and ensuring uniformity by using a process module separately from two thermal imaging cameras.

Recently, the techniques for providing 3D stereo images on a screen rapidly increase in various fields such as movies, broadcasting, game or the like. Generally, the terms "3D image" and "3D stereo image" are confusedly used, but strictly speaking, these terms are entirely different from each other. The term "3D image" represents a planar image showing all of x, y and z axes on a general 2D display, and the term "3D stereo image" represents an image implemented on a display to allow a user to feel a depth and a stereoscopic space sense.
Regarding cameras for stereo images to make a 3D stereo image, an image is photographed by two cameras simultaneously and then displayed so that a user may feel perspective and recognize stereo. In this regard, FIG. 1 schematically shows a conventional 3D stereo camera system 2. In order to photograph a stereo image by using cameras, a target 1 is photographed by using two cameras 3a, 3b by using the same principle as both eyes which comprehend prospective of an object. After two right and left cameras 3a, 3b are mounted to a rig (a device for arranging cameras vertically and horizontally and fixing them) and photograph a target 1, images photographed by the right and left cameras 3a, 3b are overlaid to make a stereoscopic image. At this time, two cameras should be synchronized for their exposure, focusing, shutter speed or the like, and for this, the cameras 3a, 3b are respectively controlled by a controller 4.
A thermal imaging camera is a device for imaging infrared rays present in the natural world and having a very long wavelength of 1 μm to 14 μm in comparison to visible rays. Since the thermal imaging camera displays a thermal image, it displays image in a gray level using black and white as well known in the art according to high or low of the thermal energy. Therefore, the thermal image may be misunderstood as a black-and-white image but it contains information for thermal energy. Until now, all kinds of thermal imaging cameras have drawn the thermal image and have been simply used for measuring the presence or movement of a target or measuring temperature or heat distribution.
If the thermal imaging data is displayed as a 3D stereo image, it is possible to obtain more accurate and abundant information about the target. However, there has been no attempt to couple thermal imaging data with 3D stereo image data so far. In order to couple 3D stereo image data and thermal imaging data, various problems should be solved, and the most important problem is that a target should be photographed simultaneously and accurately by using two thermal image cameras with the identical performance. The thermal imaging camera includes a lot of temperature sensor elements, which are also called detectors. However, since individual temperature sensor elements respond to a surrounding temperature and a target temperature in different ways, non-uniformity phenomenon occurs and so images photographed by two cameras may be different. In other words, since detectors of a camera have different gain and offset in the temperature sensor array, thermal images obtained by two cameras become different, and so it is impossible to implement a proper 3D stereo thermal image.
The present disclosure is directed to providing a 3D stereo thermal imaging camera system which may provide a 3D stereo thermal image and distance/depth data by solving problems caused by different element performance of detectors of two thermal imaging cameras.
The present disclosure is also directed to providing a software processing method which allows high-speed frame processing by processing only an image area of interest for the purpose of high-speed data processing.
In one general aspect, the present disclosure provides a 3D stereo image camera system for generating a 3-dimensional (3D) stereo image, which includes: first and second thermal imaging cameras 100a,100b horizontally spaced apart by a predetermined distance to photograph a subject; and a stereo & disparity engine 300 for providing a control signal and a clock signal to the first and second thermal imaging cameras, receiving thermal imaging data from each of the thermal imaging cameras, and calculating disparity data, distance/depth data, and temperature data of the subject from the thermal imaging data.
In addition, in the 3D stereo image camera system, the first thermal imaging camera may operate as a master camera, the second thermal imaging camera may operate as a slave camera, and the reference value relating to the performance of at least one property may be a reference value relating to the master camera.
In the present disclosure described above, since one of right and left thermal imaging cameras has a master function and the other thermal imaging camera has a slave function, a master thermal imaging camera plays a role of providing various references, and the slave camera is adjusted with reference to the reference data of the master camera so that both thermal imaging cameras resultantly have the same performance. Accordingly, since both cameras may ensure the matched performance by based on matched functioning, it is possible to provide a 3D stereo thermal image and distance/depth data. In addition, since a separate camera having a master function may plays a role of various references, two thermal imaging cameras may ensure matched performance and provide a 3D stereo thermal image and distance/depth data.

Camera system for three-dimensional thermal imaging


Reconfigurable antennas in an ad-hoc network are provided where all nodes employ MIMO/SIMO/MISO communication techniques. Three types of reconfigurable antennas: Reconfigurable Printed Dipole Array (RPDA), Reconfigurable Circular Patch Antenna (RCPA) and Two-Port Reconfigurable CRLH Leaky Wave Antennas are used. The RPDA, RCPA and the CRLH Leaky Wave antennas have a different number of configurations as well as different degrees of pattern diversity between possible configurations. To effectively use these antennas in a network, the performance of centralized and decentralized antenna configuration selection schemes are quantified for reconfiguration at one or both link ends. The sum capacity of the network is used as a metric to quantify the performance of these antennas in measured and simulated network channels.

Research in the area of ad-hoc networks has yielded important advances, notably in the field of physical layer techniques. In particular, a lot of effort has been spent in: i.) applying smart antennas and antenna diversity techniques to ad-hoc networks as explained in "Smart antenna system analysis, integration and performance for mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs)," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 50, no. 5, pp. 571-581, 2002 by S. Bellofiore, J. Foutz, R. Govindarajula, I. Bahceci, C. Balanis, A. Spanias, J. Capone, and T. Duman; in "Ad hoc networking with directional antennas: a complete system solution," IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 496-506, 2005, by R. Ramanathan, J. Redi, C. Santivanez, D. Wiggins, and S. Polit; and in "Emerging adaptive antenna techniques for wireless ad-hoc networks," ISCAS 2001. The 2001 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, vol. 4, pp. 858-861, 2001, by T. Ohira, ii.) developing medium access control protocols suitable for Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) ad hoc networks as explained in "MIMO ad hoc networks with spatial diversity: medium access control and saturation throughput," vol. 3, 2004, pp. 3301-3306, 2004 43rd IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC), by M. Hu and J. Zhang; in "Improving throughput and fairness for MIMO ad hoc networks using antenna selection diversity," GLOBECOM '04. IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference, vol. 5, pp. 3363-3367, 2004, by M. Park, J. Heath, R. W., and S. Nettles; and in "A MAC protocol for mobile ad hoc networks using directional antennas," 2000 IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference, vol. 3, pp. 1214-1219, 2000, by A. Nasipuri, S. Ye, J. You, and R. Hiromoto, and iii.) adaptive algorithms for antenna beamforming in ad hoc networks as described in "Noncooperative iterative MMSE beamforming algorithms for ad hoc networks," IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 54, no. 4, pp. 748-759, 2006, by R. Iltis, S. Kim, and D. Hoang; in "Smart-antenna system for mobile communication networks part 2: Beamforming and network throughput," IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 106-114, 2002, by S. Bellofiore, J. Foutz, C. Balanis, and A. Spanias, and in "On the performance of ad hoc networks with beamforming antennas," Proceedings of the 2001 ACM International Symposium on Mobile Ad Hoc Networking and Computing, pp. 95-105, 2001, by R. Ramanathan. Directional antennas, like phased arrays and switchable parasitic elements antennas, have been proposed as a solution to reduce the interference of adjacent nodes, maximizing overall network throughput in articles such as "Smart antenna system analysis, integration and performance for mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs)," (citation above) "Emerging adaptive antenna techniques for wireless ad-hoc networks," (citation above) and "Multicast communication in ad hoc networks with directional antennas," Proceedings 12th International Conference on Computer Communications and Networks, pp. 385-390, 2003, by C. Jaikaeo and C. C. Shen. In order to further increase the network spectral efficiency, MIMO spatial multiplexing (SM) techniques and diversity techniques have been adopted. However, directional arrays and MIMO SM/diversity techniques cannot be integrated on compact portable devices, where the limited space available makes mounting multiple directional antennas difficult.
In order to overcome practical space limitations and merge the benefits of MIMO SM/diversity techniques with those of directional antennas, the inventors propose to adopt electrically reconfigurable antennas as a key element of MIMO/single-input-multiple-output (SIMO)/multiple-input-single-output (MISO) transceivers in ad-hoc networks. These antennas have been demonstrated to increase channel capacity while reducing the space occupation of the antenna on the communication device. While this previous work has focused on the performance of reconfigurable antennas in single link communications, there has been no published work on implementing and field testing a system that employs reconfigurable antennas in multi-link MIMO/SIMO/MISO ad hoc networks.

Reconfigurable antennas and configuration selection methods for AD-HOC networks


A circuit arrangement in which the temperature dependency of the short-circuit current and/or the influence of the output signal by the load current are at least partially avoided has first and second input connections, first and second output connections, a supply voltage connection as well as with a voltage-controlled voltage source, an output stage and a short-circuit protective circuit, whereby the output signal from an input voltage applied to input connections is generated via voltage-controlled voltage source and output stage. The circuit arrangement is characterized in that a voltage sequencing circuit and a shunting resistor connected in parallel to voltage sequencing circuit are part of the short-circuit protective circuit and in that a parallel circuit formed of the voltage sequencing circuit and a shunting resistor is connected to the second output connection and second input connection.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement with a first input connection and a second input connection, with a first output connection and a second output connection, with a supply voltage connection as well as with a voltage-controlled voltage source, an output stage and a short-circuit protective circuit, whereby the output signal from an input voltage applied to the input connections is generated via the voltage-controlled voltage source and the output stage.
2. Description of Related Art
Circuit arrangements of the type being discussed here have been known for a long time in various embodiments and are used universally in circuit engineering, where an input voltage is to be converted into an output signal, whereby the circuit arrangement normally can have available a higher power on the output side than the power that is necessary on the input side to control the circuit arrangement. Such circuit arrangements are typically found in, e.g., isolation amplifiers, signal converters and power modules. A more common application for such circuits is in, for example, the conversion of a voltage of a first voltage range into a voltage of a second voltage range for adapting the first voltage to a standardized voltage interface, which operates with, e.g., voltage values in the range of 0 V to 10 V.
In principle, in the design of circuit arrangements of the type being discussed here, operating safety, but also certifiability under relevant standards, should be considered for the sake of practical handling, as the circuit behaves in the case of an output-side short circuit, i.e., if the output connections are connected to one another in a very low-ohmic manner. If no special circuit-engineering measures are taken, the danger exists in the case of short circuiting that the output-side behavior of the circuit arrangement can no longer be controlled on the input side, a high loss of power is converted in the circuit arrangement or the output stage of the circuit arrangement, and electrical devices connected to the circuit arrangement and/or on the output side are even destroyed.
For these reasons, circuit arrangements of the type at issue here are often provided, on the output side, with electronic current limiters that, in the case of a short circuit, at least prevent destruction of the circuit arrangement. If the output stage is controlled, for example, via current driven by the voltage-controlled voltage source, it is known from experience and relevant literature to measure the load or short-circuit current flowing via the—short-circuited—output connections and to direct the current controlling the output stage based on the level of the load current to an equal extent past the output stage. Such a short circuit protective circuit can be implemented by, for example, a bipolar transistor, which is controlled as a function of the voltage decreasing on a "sensor" resistor arranged in a load circuit and which directs the current controlling the output stage to the input of the output stage and thus prevents a further increase of the load current and thus limits the short-circuit current (Tietze, U.; Schenk, Ch.: "Halbleiter-Schaltungstechnik [Semiconductor Circuit Engineering]," 12th Edition, Springer-Verlag, 2002, pages 909-910).
It is disadvantageous in such short-circuit protective circuits, which detect the level of the load current via a "sensor" resistor in the load current path and ultimately also the short-circuit current, that the load current-dependent drop in voltage influences the output signal via this resistor—thus, for example, a voltage that is applied to the output connections, in normal operation—and causes a constant power loss. It is also disadvantageous when, using simple, unregulated semiconductor components, such as, e.g., bipolar transistors in the short-circuit protective circuit, that the level of the short-circuit current that triggers the protective circuit is temperature-dependent based on the temperature dependency of the semiconductor components. In the case of the above-mentioned bipolar transistors, this is, e.g., the temperature dependency of the flow voltage of the diodes, operated in the forward direction, within the bipolar transistors. When using a bipolar silicon transistor controlled via the base-emitter segment, the temperature dependency of the flow voltage of the base-emitter diode is, for example, −2 mV/K.
The problem underlying the teaching of this invention is therefore to configure and to develop a circuit arrangement with a voltage-controlled voltage source, with an output stage and with a short-circuit protective circuit such that the above-mentioned drawbacks, especially the temperature dependency of the short-circuit current and/or the influence of the output signal by the load current are—at least partially—avoided.

Circuit arrangement with a short-circuit protective circuit


A multi-layer substrate of the invention for a low noise block down converter includes an antenna pattern conveying electric wave signals that have been carried along a waveguide, and three ground conductive layers stacked on the antenna pattern with dielectric layers therebetween. In at least one ground conductive layer of the three ground conductive layers, conductor is absent in at least part of the region that is closer to the waveguide than the antenna pattern. This provides a multi-layer substrate for a low noise block down converter where deterioration in the passage property of electric wave signals can be restrained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a low noise block down converter (hereinafter referred to as an LNB) in use for satellite broadcasting, satellite communications and the like, or an LNB substrate unit incorporated therein.
2. Description of the Background Art
An LNB is a device that performs low noise amplification on received broadband signals having a plurality of channels, while converting them to a lower frequency band in batches.
Presently, to deal with an increased diversity in services such as multi-channel satellite broadcasting, one LNB receives a plurality of microwaves or one LNB is connected to a tuner via a plurality of signal input terminals. Such an LNB may have a complicated circuit structure, causing difficulties in structuring the circuit on one double-sided substrate (double-layer substrate). In a conventional LNB, therefore, signal and power supply lines are tied by joint pins and the like, enabling the use of more than one double-sided substrate. However, the use of more than one double-sided substrate results in a structure with signal and power supply lines that are tied by joint pins, resulting in a bigger, heavier LNB and a more complicated manufacturing process.
One of the solutions to this is to structure an LNB using a multi-layer substrate. A multi-layer substrate is manufactured by stacking double layer substrates and bonding them with an adhesive that serves as a dielectric layer.
Referring to FIG. 31, an LNB four-layer substrate 100 is placed on a chassis 111. LNB four-layer substrate 100 is constructed of a waveguide aperture 113, a probe 114, an antenna pattern 115, first to third ground conductive layers 116–118 and dielectric layers 131–133. Chassis 111 is connected to a waveguide 121, and waveguide aperture 113 communicating with waveguide 121 is formed in LNB four-layer substrate 100. Probe 114 protrudes from LNB four-layer substrate 100 and is located in waveguide aperture 113.
In LNB four-layer substrate 100, antenna pattern 115 is formed of the topmost conductive layer. First to third ground conductive layers 116–118 are formed of the second, third and bottommost conductive layers, respectively, when counted from top to bottom. Dielectric layers 131–133 are provided in between, sandwiched by antenna pattern 115 and first to third ground conductive layers 116–118.
First to third ground conductive layers 116–118 are electrically connected with each other via a connecting hole (not shown). Thus, first to third ground conductive layers 116–118 are at the same electric potential as chassis 111 that is at ground potential. The levels in which first to third ground conductive layers 116–118 are provided are entirely or partially constructed of conductor.
In a conventional LNB four-layer substrate 100 with the above structure, electric wave signals that have been carried along waveguide 121 are introduced into waveguide aperture 113, transmitted through probe 114 to be input into antenna pattern 115.
However, in a conventional LNB multi-layer substrate, the ground conductive layers located within are electrically separated from the housing that steadies the substrate. This tends to effect a loss of wave energy during the passage of the waves, especially when operating at high frequencies. Such deterioration in the passage property presents a problem when a multi-layer substrate is employed instead of a double-sided substrate.
Specifically, in LNB four-layer substrate 100, first ground conductive layer 116 is electrically connected to chassis 111 (ground potential) via second and third ground conductive layers 117, 118. Thus, first ground conductive layer 116 electrically interacts with second and third ground conductive layers 117, 118 and thus cannot easily be maintained at ground potential. Similarly, second ground conductive layer 117 may not easily be maintained at ground potential. This results in a problem of deterioration in the passage property of electric wave signals.

Multi-layer substrate for low noise block down converter


A lubricant composition comprising (a) an oil of lubricating viscosity; (b) at least two nitrogen-containing materials, comprising (i) at least one amide of the formula R3C(O)NR1R2 and (ii) at least one tertiary amine being represented by the formula R4R5NR6 where R4 and R5 are alkyl groups of at least 6 carbon atoms and R6 is a polyhydroxyl-containing alkyl group or a polyhydroxyl-containing alkoxyalkyl group; (c) a functionalized dispersant component, and (d) at least one diallyl phosphite, provides good lubricant performance for a continuously variable transmission.

The disclosed technology relates to a lubricant and lubricant additive for a continuously variable transmission, providing anti-shudder durability while maintaining acceptable high metal friction coefficient.
Continuously variable transmissions (CVT) represent a radical departure from conventional automatic transmissions. Since the introduction of the push belt version of the CVT, many cars have been equipped with the push belt CVT system. A more detailed description of such transmissions and belts and lubricants employed therein is found in European Patent Application 753 564, published Jan. 15, 1997. In brief, a belt and pulley system is central to the operation of this type of transmission. The pulley system comprises a pair of pulleys with a V-shaped cross-section, each consisting of a moveable sheave, a fixed sheave, and a hydraulic cylinder. Between the pulleys runs a belt, which consists of a set of metal elements held together by metal bands. In operation, the driving pulley pushes the belt to the driven pulley, thereby transferring power from the input to the output. The transmission drive ratio is controlled by opening or closing the moveable sheaves so that the belt rides lower or higher on the pulley faces. This manner of operation permits continuous adjustment of gear ratio between the input and output shafts. Other variations of CVTs employ a chain in place of the belt.
Various friction modifiers are known for use in transmissions. Published U.S. application US-2009-0312207-A, Dec. 17, 2009, Bartley et al., discloses a product of amines with hydroxy acid as friction modifiers suitable for automatic transmission fluids. An amide is disclosed represented by the formula R1R2N—C(O)R3 wherein R1 and R2 are hydrocarbyl groups of at least 6 carbon atoms and R3 is a hydroxyalkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a group formed by the condensation of said hydroxyalkyl group.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,618,929, Nov. 17, 2009, Tipton et al., discloses secondary and tertiary amines as friction modifiers for automatic transmission fluids. A tertiary amine is disclosed, represented by the formula R1R2NR3 wherein R1 and R2 are each independently an alkyl group of at least 6 carbon atoms and R3 is a polyol-containing alkyl group. In one embodiment the amine is represented by R1R2N—CH2—CHOH—CH2OH.
Published U.S. application US-2005-0041395, Feb. 24, 2005, Tipton et al., discloses a multifunctional dispersant prepared by heating together (a) a dispersant and (b) 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole or a hydrocarbyl-substituted 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole which is substantially insoluble in a hydrocarbon oil of lubricating viscosity at 25° C., and further either (c) a borating agent or (d) an inorganic phosphorus compound, or both (c) and (d).
It has become clear from commercial use of CVTs that the fluids used in a CVT are just as important as the mechanical design for satisfactory operation. The lubricant must fulfill one or more of several functions: to lubricate the metal belt or chain in its contacts with the pulley assembly, the planetary and other gears, the wet-plate clutches, and the bearings; to cool the transmission; and to carry hydraulic signals and power. The lubricant must provide the appropriate degree of friction between the belt and pulley assembly, to avoid the problem of slippage on one hand, and binding on the other, all the while providing protection to the metal surfaces from pitting, scuffing, scratching, flaking, polishing, and other forms of wear. Accordingly, the fluid should maintain a relatively high coefficient of friction for metal/metal (typically, steel-steel) contact, as well as exhibiting a suitable degree of shear stability.
Thus, CVTs require fluids to provide a high metal-on-metal coefficient of friction in order to maintain acceptable clamping force between the pulley and the belt or chain. However, since CVTs typically also have either a torque converter clutch or a wet start clutch, a lower coefficient of friction is typically required in such elements in order to prevent shudder from occurring after high kilometer service (high mileage) accumulation in the field. A significant challenge is that high metal friction for the belt/pulley assembly and low wet clutch friction are opposing requirements. Prior art CVT fluids have typically been designed to provide good high metal friction, while sacrificing the wet clutch performance.
The present inventors have found a balanced combination of friction modifiers and multifunctional dispersants which maintains or improves the metal friction performance compared to current commercial CVT fluids, while showing improvement in anti-shudder durability.

Continuously variable transmission fluid with extended anti-shudder durability