In order to be able to perform a measurement of the run time of an electrical impulse in a position sensor through a single slow timed timing generator, while still capable to achieve a high precision of the measurement result, the entire run time is determined, so that the number of the completely performed system timings is counted as a coarse time value, and the fractions thereof are counted as a fine time value, in which the electrical impulse is started at a fixed point in time of the system timing, e.g. at the beginning of the timing, and the difference value is measured between the end of the coarse time interval and the arrival of the wave as a fine time interval, which is then digitized and computed with the coarse time value.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a magnetostrictive position sensor and to a method for its operation.
(2) Description of the Related Art
In a magnetostrictive position sensor a magnetostrictive and electrically conductive wave conductor extends along the measuring range relative to which the position of the position indicator is to be determined. The position indicator is particularly a permanent magnet.
As it is well known, the position is determined through an electrical impulse being imparted into the wave conductor from an input position, which generates a mechanical-elastic wave at the position of the magnetic position indicator through its magnetic field, which propagates from the position of the position indicator along the wave conductor, also in the direction of a measurement location on the wave conductor, typically one end of the wave conductor.
Through the measurement of the time interval between imparting the electrical impulse at the input position—which is typically identical with the measurement location—and the arrival of the mechanical-elastic wave at the measurement location, which is converted into an electrical impulse at this location, from the runtime—thus the sum of the run time of the electrical impulse to the position indicator and the reverse runtime of the mechanical-elastic wave to the measurement location—in consideration of the known propagation speed of the electrical impulse, as well as of the mechanical-elastic wave along the wave conductor, the distance of the position indicator from the measurement location, and thus the position of the position indicator relative to the wave conductor, and thus also relative to the entire positions sensor can be determined, and thus with an accuracy in the single digit the μ-meter range.
It is already known from the basic patent with respect to the magnetostrictive position determination (U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,555A by Tellerman) to determine the time interval through a clock, timed in the MHz range, for example a quartz clock, by counting the number of cycle periods digitally. The more precise the position determination has to be performed, the higher the resolution of the timing of the clock has to be, which is used for time measurement.
The faster the timing of such time measurement unit, the higher is also the energy consumption and the generation of heat, especially when the fast timed time measurement unit is to run for the entire duration to be measured, thus from the start impulse to the stop impulse. Since energy consumption as well as the generation of heat generated thereby in the electronic components is disadvantageous for the measurement result, it is attempted to avoid this effect.
For this purpose, it is suggested in the EP 0885373B by the MTS company to use the so-called SARA-assembly to measure the time interval to be measured through a coarsely timed coarse clock, operating in the MHz range, and to measure the fine time difference resulting from the integer periods of the coarse clock and the time interval to be actually measured, with a fine timing device, timed faster and operating in the GHz range, and to compute the total time from the coarse time value and the fine time value.
Supposedly, this has the advantage that the fine timing device has to run only during the substantially smaller residual time interval and not during the entire measuring time interval, and thus its resultant energy consumption and the generation of heat in the processing electronics is minimized.
In this publication, the coarse counter is only started at the beginning of the time interval to be measured, which is a disadvantage, since the transient response of the coarse counter at start-up induces imprecision's into the measurement result.
From the DE 19703633C patent, it is known to provide a system timing for the purpose of coarse counting, which is already active before the beginning of the time interval to be measured, and which runs in particular for the whole operating duration of a respective position measuring device.
This, however, is causing the disadvantage that at the beginning and also at the end of the entire measuring time interval residual times with a duration below one period of the system timing of the coarse time remain, which need to be determined, which, in this state of the art document, is done through charging capacitors, whose charging state reached during the residual times is determined analogue and converted into a fine time value.
Thereby, a fine time clock, which is timed faster than the relatively coarse system timing, can be completely dispensed with. However, the complexity to determine the total time is relatively high with respect to the computation effort and also with respect to the respective device.


An adhesive system and method of making same includes a package that defines a chamber, a resin component disposed within the chamber, and a hardener component disposed within the chamber. At least one of the resin component and the hardener component includes a photo-curable ingredient and is through cured to thereby prevent chemical reaction between the resin component and the hardener component within the package.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to adhesives and, more particularly, to an adhesive system and a method of making the adhesive system.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to use adhesives for joining parts, for sealing purposes, and for other purposes. Some adhesives, such as epoxy adhesives, typically include a separate resin and a separate hardener that remain fluid until the resin and hardener are mixed together and chemically reacted together. The resin and hardener are mixed in predetermined proportions and, after a relatively short period of time, the resin hardens or cures. Preferably, the mixture is applied where needed before curing occurs.
However, preparing and using an epoxy adhesive can be challenging. For instance, there may be too much resin in proportion to the hardener or vice versa to properly cure the epoxy adhesive. Also, the epoxy adhesive may cure before the user is able to properly apply the adhesive. Further, preparing an epoxy adhesive can be messy and inconvenient. For instance, if the components are mixed in a container with a mixing tool, both the container and mixing tool should be cleaned before the epoxy adhesive cures or else the cured epoxy adhesive will be extremely difficult to remove. Also, too much epoxy adhesive might be prepared, and the excess epoxy adhesive will be wasted.
In partial response to these disadvantages, epoxy adhesive systems were developed in which uncured resin and hardener were encapsulated within a package. Two examples of these epoxy adhesive systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,686,272 and 4,764,579. In these systems, small, discrete deposits of uncured resin are interspersed within a hardener, and the deposits are separated from the hardener by a thin, flexible, collapsible barrier film. To use the epoxy adhesive, a user presses and "kneads" the package to collapse the barrier film, thereby allowing the resin to mix with the hardener and cure. However, the barrier film may be fragile and may inadvertently collapse when the package is handled or when the package is exposed to elevated temperatures.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an improved package of adhesive components that can be mixed and chemically reacted together to form an adhesive within the package. It is also desirable to provide an improved package of adhesive components that are less likely to inadvertently combine and cure. Thus, there is a need in the art to provide an adhesive system that meets these desires.

Adhesive system and method of making same


A method and system for entering Chinese characters into a computer by entering the size and shape of their strokes via a matrix, such as the 3×3 arrangement of the numbers one through nine found on a cell phone.

The present invention relates to entering text into a computer. More particularly to entering Chinese characters using stroke input.
Stroke-input is an approach to entering Chinese characters into a computer that has been widely used on limited keyboard cell phones. The strokes that are used to make characters are grouped into logical categories which are indicated on the keys. For example, all vertical strokes are in a single category. To display a given character, the user presses the proper category keys in the same order in which the strokes that make up that character are written with a pen or pencil. No incomplete character reflecting input is displayed. As each key is pressed, the user is presented with a group of, perhaps, six possible complete characters, ranked according to frequency-of-use statistics. If the user does not see the desired character, he enters another stroke, or can ask for the next most likely group of six complete characters. Although they are the result of the same keypresses, many of these complete characters have a variety of differences, including the look of the first few strokes. This is a natural result of strokes of various locations, sizes, and, in some cases, various shapes being lumped into the same category. This can be especially disconcerting to the beginner, and offers very little reassurance to the experienced user that he has not made an entry error. This further complicates input for the many users who complain that they have forgotten the stroke order or the exact look of the character until they see it. In such cases, the best option for the user is to enter a few strokes then look at the groups of complete characters until they find the desired character. Yet there can be dozens or even hundreds of characters to look through unless the character is one that is frequently used. But, of course, the most frequently used characters are the images least likely to be forgotten by the users. Another, more modest problem, is found among the new users, who must accept and remember the stroke groupings and get accustomed to the location of the keys for the various categories.

Using a matrix input to improve stroke-entry of Chinese characters into a computer


The present invention discloses a gate driving circuit and a display device having the same. The gate driving circuit includes a logic circuit, a plurality of shift register units and enable circuits. The logic circuit is configured to receive a first clock signal, a second clock signal, a third clock signal, and a fourth signal, and output a logic pulse signal for driving the plurality of shift register units and enable circuits. Each of the plurality of enable circuits is connected with one of the plurality of shift register units and configured to receive a first pulse signal outputted by one of the plurality of shift register units and the logic pulse signal outputted by the logic circuit, and output two second pulse signals to drive two respective gate lines.

Currently, a Thin Film Field Effect Transistor display panel includes: an effective display region AA containing a plurality of pixel electrodes, a Vertical Shift Register (VSR) configured to turn on and turn off a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) connected with each of the pixel electrodes in the display region AA, and an integrated circuit (IC) chip configured to provide signals to the VSR. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of the TFT display panel in the prior art.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the structure of a gate driving circuit with the VSR in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 2, the VSR includes a plurality of cascaded Shift Register (SR) units, a signal line providing a start pulse signal STV, a signal line providing a reset signal GRESET, a signal line providing a first clock signal (CLK1) and a signal line providing a second clock signal (CLK2). Each of the stages of the VSR circuit includes one SR unit, and pulses of the first clock signal CLK1 and pulses of the second clock signal CLK2 are alternatively provided to implement the function of the SR unit by an enable circuit, where the first pulse of the first clock signal CLK1 occurs within the time duration of a pulse of the start pulse signal STV. FIG. 3 is a timing diagram showing the operation of SR units of the left VSR, where a phase of the first clock signal CLK1 is inverse to that of the second clock signal CLK2. The operation process of the gate driving circuit is as follows: when STV=1, a high level pulse is outputted to an input end of the shift register unit SR1 connected with a first row of the pixel units, so that the first stage of shift register unit SR1 is turned on to output a high gate level to the TFT display panel, but the other stages of shift register units are turned off, meanwhile, an input end of the next stage of shift register unit SR3 is applied by a high level pulse to turn on the shift register unit SR3. When the shift register unit SR3 outputs a high level signal, the other stages of the shift register units are turned off, meanwhile, an input end of the next stage of shift register unit SR5 is applied by a high level pulse, and so on, until the last stage of shift register unit is applied by a high level pulse. Output signals of the various shift register units SR1 to SR2N−1 are represented by OUT1 to OUT2N−1, as shown in FIG. 3.
In the technical solution described above, each of the shift register units controls only one gate line. Since the shift register units occupy more than 40% of the area of the VSR, it is difficult to achieve a narrow frame design because of the large number of VSR TFTs required.

XIAMEN TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.


A composition and method for its use in treatment of an immune disorder in a mammal. The composition includes, in relative amounts, between 50 and 3000 mg of a purified compound selected from oxidized and unoxidized gamma-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine, gamma-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine-glycine, and any other pharmaceutically active compound which directly enhances the level of gamma-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine in a mammal, and any salt or ester of said compound, between 50 and 3000 mg purified L-glutamine, between 50 and 10,000 mg purified vitamin C, between 50 and 500 mg purified vitamin E, between 10 and 100 mg purified Beta-carotene, and between 1 and 25 mg purified vitamin B.sub.6.

This invention relates to nutritional supplements.
The human diet is the subject of many standard texts. Such a diet may include use of dietary supplements, e.g., in the form of pills or liquids, which may include one or more vitamins, minerals, and essential or non-essential amino acids. In addition, it is common for people to alter their diet to change their input of fats or lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates.
It is recognized that the diet of a person may have some affect on their health. For example, Corman, 69 Med. Clin. North Am., 759, 1985 describes the influence of specific nutrients on specific immune mechanisms; Huang et al., 34 Clin. Chem. 1957, 1987 describe malnutrition in persons infected with the virus HIV, manifested by deficiency in several essential nutrients; Herzlich et al, 33 Am. J. Hematol 177, 1990 describe the effect of treatment of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS, caused by HIV infection) with 3'-azido-3' deo-xythiamidine (AZT), including the depletion of folic acid and vitamin B.sub.12, and is unclear "whether the benefit [of folate or vitamin B.sub.12 supplementation] exceeds the risks . . . ;" Moseson et al., 2 J. Acquired Immune Deficiency Symptoms, 235, 1989 state that "recommendations for dietary supplementation in HIV-infected individuals are premature and possibly hazardous;"0 and Roederer et al., 87 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 4884, 1990, suggest N-acetyl-L-cysteine as "a possible therapeutic agent in AIDS."
Glutathione and related compounds are suggested as therapeutic agents by Tognella et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,528, (to treat tumors); Pilotto et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,399 (to treat pathologic syndromes); Kitahara et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,808 (to treat necrosis and a multitude of related diseases); Asano et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,671 (to treat ischemic heart disease); and Naylor, U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,978 (to lower bodyweight). Reduced glutathione is a free radical scavenger in cells which is usually recycled in vivo from oxidized glutathione with the help of nutrients such as vitamins C, and E, beta-carotene, selenium, and chromium. Some dipeptides, including N-acetyl cysteine are capable of increasing glutathione levels in the plasma (Pilotto et al., supra and Kitahara et al., supra).

Nutrient composition for treatment of immune disorders


Disclosed are a branched poly(arylene sulfide) resin having a melt viscosity measured at a temperature of 310° C. and a shear rate of 1200 sec−1 of 65 to 450 Pa·s, a maximum draft ratio of 6500 or more, and a degree of whiteness of 65 or more; moreover, a branched poly(arylene sulfide) resin preferably having a dependence of melt viscosity on shear rate of 1.4 to 2.6 or a melt stability of 0.85 to 1.30; and a method for producing a branched poly(arylene sulfide) resin, wherein a sulfur source and a dihaloaromatic compound are caused to undergo a polymerization reaction at a temperature of 170 to 290° C. in the organic amide solvent in the presence of a polyhaloaromatic compound in an amount of 0.0001 to 0.01 mol per mol of the fed sulfur source.

Poly(arylene sulfide) (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "PAS") resins including polyphenylene sulfide (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "PPS") resin are resins superior in functional balance of heat resistance, chemical resistance, flame retardancy, mechanical strength, electrical properties such as insulation property, dimensional stability, and the like. The PAS resins have been commonly used as resin materials in a wide variety of fields such as electrical and electronic instruments, automotive instruments and chemical instruments because they can be molded or formed into various kinds of molded products, films, sheets, fibers, etc., by general melt processing processes such as injection molding, extrusion, and compression molding. Since the PAS resin can be used continuously especially under a high temperature environment of 170° C. to 190° C., one of the applications of the PAS resin is a bag filter of a dust collector in which fibers of the PAS resin are used. Since the temperature of the exhaust gas that comes into contact with a bag filter may become a high temperature as high as 140° C. to 250° C., the filter material of a bag filter is required to have heat resistance. Moreover, since exhaust gas may contain acidic gas or moisture, the filter material of a bag filter is also required to have acid resistance and resistance to hydrolysis. The PAS resin has been increasing in use as a high performance fiber suitable for this application. Moreover, it is necessary to prolong the life in use of a bag filter and maintain high capture efficiency by, for example, removing soot and dust attached to the bag filter by the use of mechanical vibration or back gas flow, it has been demanded to stably provide a PAS fiber superior in spinnability.
Heretofore, only PAS resins with a low molecular weight (having a melt viscosity of about 10 Pa·s or less) have been able to be produced by ordinary polymerization methods as PAS resins for forming PAS fibers, there has been used a method in which heat treatment is performed in the presence of oxygen, thereby achieving a melt viscosity needed as a crosslinked type PAS resin or a method in which molecular weight is increased by causing a crosslinking agent to exist during polymerization. Such PAS resins with increased molecular weight are inferior in extrusion processability due to their high degree of crosslinking or branching and it is difficult to form fibers or the like therefrom. A straight-chain PAS resin with high molecular weight has been developed by the use of a polymerization aid or a phase separation agent and PAS fibers made of straight-chain PAS resins are known. In such straight-chain PAS resins, mechanical properties such as heat resistance and strength and moldability such as spinnability are in an opposite relation. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 63-315655 (Patent Literature 1) has disclosed a melt-blown non-woven fabric made of a straight-chain PPS having a weight average molecular weight of 20000 to 70000 in order to eliminate drawbacks of a conventional thermally-crosslinked PAS resin or a PAS resin obtained by performing polymerization in the presence of a crosslinking agent. If the weight average molecular weight exceeds 70000, then spinning conditions including a temperature considerably higher than the melting point are required, resulting in the occurrence of decomposition or gelation of a polymer and consequently lacking in spinning stability due to clogging of a nozzle. Conversely, if the weight average molecular weight is less than 20000, then the melt viscosity becomes extremely low only by using a spinning temperature slightly higher than the melting point, and therefore the range of controlling spinning conditions is narrow and also the strength of a non-woven fabric was low.
As a PAS resin, one having been three-dimensionally crosslinked by copolymerizing a polyhaloaromatic compound such as trichlorobenzene has been known. For example, Japanese Patent No. 2514832 specification (Patent Literature 2; equivalent to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,200,500 and 5,268,451, and EP 0344977 A2) has disclosed a PAS crosslinked polymer in which a polyhaloaromatic compound has been made react. This crosslinked PAS resin can be used as a polymer modifier, such as a flashing inhibitor in injection molding, a weld strength improver, and a crystallinity improver in injection molding, by being added to a PAS resin composition, it has been reported to appear approximately gel-like in a molten state and therefore it has not been able to be melt-molded or spun alone. WO 2006/068159 A1 (Patent Literature 3; equivalent to EP 1837359 A1) has disclosed to obtain a branched PAS resin having a melt viscosity, measured at a temperature of 330° C. and a shear rate of 2 sec−1, of 10.0×104 to 40.0×104 Pa·s and a melt viscoelasticity tanδ, measured at a temperature of 310° C. and an angular velocity of 1 rad/sec, of 0.10 to 0.30 by adding a polyhaloaromatic compound and a phase separation agent to a polymerization reaction mixture at the time when the conversion of a dihaloaromatic compound has become 80% or more. This branched PAS resin can inhibit the occurrence of flashing remarkably and can afford a molded article superior in surface property when being blended as a polymer modifier into a thermoplastic resin such as a straight-chain poly(arylene sulfide) resin, but it is extremely high in melt viscosity and therefore it has not been able to be melt-molded or spun alone.
JP-A No. 2009-270230 (Patent Literature 4) has disclosed a method for producing a PAS fiber in which in performing the melt extrusion of a PAS resin, a measured value of the activation energy of the viscosity of a melt is fed back within an extruder to the rotation speed of the screw of the extruder, thereby adjusting the activation energy; however, this method requires an extremely complicated control and therefore has problems with operativity or productivity. JP-A No. 2009-270219 (Patent Literature 5) has disclosed a PAS fiber having a total value of peak areas, measured by HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) analysis, of less than 1.4×106, which is an index of the amount of low molecular weight matters contained in a polymer; however, a complicated process management has been required, for example, the provision of a vent in a melt-extrusion step.
As described above, the conventional straight-chain PAS resin, branched PAS resin, and crosslinked PAS resin are all difficult to be spun to form a fiber or be melt-molded into a film or the like alone.

Branched poly(arylene sulfide) resin and method for producing same


Embodiments are directed towards configuring a distributed storage system over a network. Master computers and Subordinate computers may separate components of the distributed storage system. Each subordinate computer may perform actions when connected to the network. When the network provides for site-level multicasting, the subordinate computer broadcasts site-level multicast request(s) for a network address of master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer. When the network supports a local domain name system (DNS) server, the subordinate computer provides a DNS query to the local DNS server to obtain from an external server the network address for the master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer. When then network supports a master computer as a DNS server, the subordinate computer provides the DNS query to the master computer DNS server to obtain from the external server the network address of the master computer(s) assigned to that subordinate computer.

The use of distributed storage systems has grown in abundance over the past few years. Modern enterprises continue to increase the amount of data generated and retained for long periods of time. This explosion in data has led to larger and larger data storage systems. In some cases, these data storage systems may include thousands of storage devices. These storage devices may be distributed throughout an enterprise's network. Unfortunately, as the number of storage devices in a distributed storage system increases so does the time and resources used to configure and reconfigure the system as storage devices are added and/or removed from the system. Similarly, some networks may not support a fully automated configuration process, which can further increase the complexity and time consuming task of manually configuring a distributed storage system. Thus, it is with respect to these considerations and others that the invention has been made.

Network bootstrapping for a distributed storage system


The present disclosure is directed to a reusable artificial nail. In one embodiment, the reusable artificial nail includes a first side having a decorative design and a second side that is opposite the first side, wherein the second side comprises a plurality of micro suction cups coupled to the second side.

Individuals use a variety of different accessories to decorate themselves. The different accessories can be used for a variety of different reasons. For example, the accessories can be used for fun to improve appearance or may be used for medical reasons. The different accessories may include wigs, hair extensions, false eyelashes, artificial fingernails, and the like.
Artificial fingernails are a popular decorative item. The artificial fingernails may be used to enhance the appearance of one's fingernails. The artificial fingernails may form an extension of the existing fingernail. The artificial fingernails allow different and complicated designs to be applied to a user's own fingernail.
Currently, artificial nails are glued onto a user's existing fingernails. The artificial nails are disposed of once the artificial nails are removed. In addition, the feeling of removing an artificial nail that is glued onto a user's existing fingernail may feel unpleasant. Furthermore, additional chemicals need to be purchased to remove the glue such as adhesive removers.


A venturi driven differential injector for fluid mixing having a constricting primary fluid inlet, a throat section and a diverging discharge outlet. A secondary fluid is pulled into the forward portion of the discharge outlet, through at least two annular recessed grooves, by suction action produced by the primary fluid of the venturi. A plurality of channels feed the secondary fluid into the recessed annular grooves. The venturi ports are connected to a secondary fluid injection port via an injection annulus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a fluid mixing apparatus. More specifically, the invention is a venturi driven fluid mixing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of fluid mixing devices have been devised wherein a venturi is adapted with different types of mechanical injectors. Fluid flow through pipes and other flow devices have associated losses inherent to the device, depending on the type of material the flow channel or device is composed of, and the manufacturing method used to produce the fluid flow device. Also, depending on the physical features of the channels (i.e. surface texture, roughness, etc.) or the surfaces on which a fluid traverses, head losses in the flow results.
These losses within a flow device such as a venturi driven flow system vary from device to device, depending on the mechanical element adapted thereto. For example, losses associated with mechanical elements such as check valves, mechanical injectors, blowers, compressors, pumps, etc. during the injection of liquid, air or other elements within the primary flow of liquids through the flow device serve to minimize fluid flow the pressure differential.
Generally, the principal goal for maintaining fluid flow within a network of interconnected flow channels or elements, according to first principles in mechanics of fluids, is to minimize total head losses associated with the respective mechanical elements. Most of the conventional fluid flow devices have failed to reduce the total head losses as herein described by the instant invention. Without significantly reducing the head losses associated with the mechanical elements as recited above, a significant drop in the volume flow rate or pressure occurs within most flow devices. This directly affects the mixing of multiple fluids within the primary fluid channel or stream of typical fluid flow devices.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,361,150 issued Petroe discloses a method and apparatus for admitting chlorine to a stream of pulp stock via a plurality of injectors or nozzles during the effluent stage. The mechanical injectors are peripherally disposed within the flow stream or path having a direct contribution to the total head loss unlike the differential injector as herein described.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,424,654 issued to Gamble discloses a fluid mixing device which also suffers from head losses as recited above. A venturi flow device having an adjustable throat section includes baffles disposed directly in the flow path or throat (i.e. in-line injectors) of the device which contributes to the total head loss as similarly taught by the patent of Gamble. Other varieties of in-line injectors are those taught by King (U.S. Pat. No. 3,257,180), Van Horn (U.S. Pat. No. 3,507,626), Baranowski, Jr. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,962) and Longley et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,833).
U.S. Patents issued to Secor (U.S. Pat. No. 398,456) and Mazzei (U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,800) disclose a venturi flow device comprising a mixer injector disposed at the throat section of the device. The patent of Mazzei in particular comprises a plurality of port means which are angularly spaced-apart around the throat section and interconnect an annular chamber disposed within an inside wall of the throat portion. This particular design is similar to that of the instant invention in that, it attempts to minimize a pressure drop within the channel. The injector of Mazzei, however, fails to reduce losses at the throat section unlike that of the instant invention as herein described.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,226 issued to Kool discloses an apparatus for demonstrating a residential point of use water treatment system wherein an injection port or suction branch injects a contaminate material in a direction perpendicular to the flow stream via hoses adapted thereto. The differential injector according to the instant invention is different in that the injections are made in a direction parallel to the flow stream which significantly reduces head losses attributed to the differential injector as herein described.
U.S. and Foreign Patents by Monroe (U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,373), Luft et al. (AU 203339), Gretton-Lowe (GB 802,691), Hollins (GB 870,525) and Evans (GB 132074) disclose flow devices generally relevant to that of the instant invention.
The difference between the instant invention and the related art is that the differential injector according to the instant invention provides a means for mixing without the additional need of mechanical injectors which increase the number of head losses in the primary flow stream. Mixing occurs by injection parallel to the flow stream with virtually zero losses compared to conventional flow devices.
In this regard, none of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a differential injector solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


Provided is a video encoding device having an AFF-mode-determining unit (140) for determining the AFF mode when an input image is an interlaced image, and a video encoding unit (110) for encoding the input image depending on a result of the mode determination obtained from the AFF-mode-determining unit (140). The AFF-mode-determining unit (140) makes a determination combining: a mode determination result based on each of a texture value when an image is treated as a field and a frame, or based on an equivalent object; and a mode determination result based on the ease of predicting a motion vector in both encodings estimated with reference to a previously obtained movement vector, or based on the cost.

In recent years, video encoding technology has become essential technology due to an increase in video streaming content with the development of broadband networks, the use of large-screen video display equipment and high-capacity storage media such as a DVD, or the like. Further, along with a high resolution image pickup device or a high resolution display device, a technique for encoding at high resolution in the moving picture encoding technology has become essential.
An encoding process is a process of converting an original image that is inputted to a video encoding device into a stream with less amount of data. However, as one of video encoding techniques capable of achieving encoding with high image quality and high resolution, there is H.264/AVC (Advanced Video Coding) that is an international standard. In the H.264/AVC encoding scheme, encoding is performed using prediction techniques such as intra-frame prediction and inter-frame prediction. Further, in the H.264/AVC encoding process, generally, processing is performed on the basis of a macroblock (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as "MB") consisting of 16×16 pixels for the original image.
As a prediction scheme used in H.264/AVC encoding, mainly, there are two prediction schemes of intra-frame prediction and inter-frame prediction. In the intra-frame prediction, there are provided a plurality of prediction schemes in accordance with the size of a block serving as a unit of prediction or to a combination of prediction directions. Also in the inter-frame prediction, there are provided a plurality of prediction schemes in accordance with the size of a block serving as a unit of prediction. In H.264/AVC, the prediction scheme is selected dynamically in accordance with the code amount or target image quality, thereby realizing an encoding scheme with high image quality and high compression.
Hereinafter, an outline of H.264/AVC encoding will be described with reference to FIG. 18. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional video encoding device for performing a H.264/AVC encoding process.
In an encoding process using intra-frame prediction, a mode selection unit 930 selects an intra-frame prediction unit 910. Then, a stream 91 is obtained from an original image 90 through the intra-frame prediction unit 910, an orthogonal transformation unit 940, a quantization unit 950 and a variable length encoding unit 980. Further, in an encoding process using inter-frame prediction, the mode selection unit 930 selects an inter-frame prediction unit 920. Then, the stream 91 is obtained from the original image 90 through the inter-frame prediction unit 920, the orthogonal transformation unit 940, the quantization unit 950 and the variable length encoding unit 980.
The original image 90 and a reconstructed image 92 are inputted to the intra-frame prediction unit 910. The reconstructed image 92 is an image configured by combining a restored difference image 97 outputted from an inverse orthogonal transformation unit 970 and a prediction image 95 outputted from the mode selection unit 930.
Further, an appropriate intra-frame prediction mode is selected from the original image 90 and the reconstructed image 92 by an intra-frame prediction process to generate intra-frame prediction information D81 representing mode information of the intra-frame prediction mode, an intra-frame prediction image 93 that is a prediction result, and an intra-frame prediction error D82 representing a difference between the original image 90 and the intra-frame prediction image 93. Further, the intra-frame prediction information D81 includes intra-frame prediction mode information representing the direction of the intra-frame prediction, and an intra-frame prediction block type representing the block size when the intra-frame prediction is performed.
The inter-frame prediction unit 920 receives the original image 90 and the reconstructed image 92 generated from an original image before or after the original image 90 (in the past or future), and generates inter-frame prediction information D83, an inter-frame prediction image 94, and an inter-frame prediction error D84 representing a difference between the original image 90 and the inter-frame prediction image 94. The inter-frame prediction information D83 includes motion vector information as a result of performing motion compensation, and an inter-frame prediction block type representing the block size when the inter-frame prediction is performed.
An encoding controller 990 determines an encoding mode of one of intra-frame prediction and inter-frame prediction in accordance with an encoding mode selection algorithm based on the intra-frame prediction error D82 inputted from the intra-frame prediction unit 910, the inter-frame prediction error D84 inputted from the inter-frame prediction unit 920, and code amount information D86 (which will be described later) inputted from the variable length encoding unit 980. Then, the encoding controller 990 outputs, to the mode selection unit 930, encoding mode selection information D87 indicating the determined encoding mode. Also the encoding controller 990 determines a quantization coefficient D88 in accordance with a rate control algorithm, and outputs the quantization coefficient D88 to the quantization unit 950.
Since the encoding mode selection algorithm and the rate control algorithm have a great influence on the code amount of the stream 91 and image quality, there are various ways depending on the content of the original image 90 to be encoded or the application of video coding.
In accordance with the encoding mode selection information D87 inputted from the encoding controller 990, the mode selection unit 930 outputs the intra-frame prediction image 93 as a prediction image 95 if the intra-frame prediction unit 910 has been selected, and outputs the inter-frame prediction image 94 as the prediction image 95 if the inter-frame prediction unit 920 has been selected.
The orthogonal transformation unit 940 generates frequency components D89 from a difference image 96 corresponding to a difference between the original image 90 and the prediction image 95 by using an orthogonal transform process.
The quantization unit 950 performs a quantization process on the frequency components D89 inputted from the orthogonal transformation unit 940 based on the quantization coefficient D88 inputted from the encoding controller 990, and outputs quantization values D90 with a reduced amount of information.
An inverse quantization unit 960 performs an inverse quantization process on the quantization values D90 to generate restored frequency components D91.
The inverse orthogonal transformation unit 970 performs an inverse orthogonal transform process on the restored frequency components D91 to generate the restored difference image 97. Then, the generated restored difference image 97 and the prediction image 95 outputted from the mode selection unit 930 may be combined and stored as the reconstructed image 92.
The variable length encoding unit 980 encodes the quantization values D90 and the intra-frame prediction information D81 or inter-frame prediction information D83 into a data string having a smaller amount of data, and outputs the data string as a stream 91. Also, the variable length encoding unit 980 outputs the code amount information D86 to the encoding controller 990. The code amount information D86 indicates the code amount of the stream 11 after variable length encoding.
In the conventional video encoding device shown in FIG. 18, as the original image 90 to be inputted, there are two types, i.e., an interlaced image and a progressive image. FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams illustrating an interlaced image and a progressive image.
As shown in FIG. 19A, the interlaced image is configured by extracting ½ of the progressive image in a vertical direction, and the whole image is obtained by alternately arranging a top field obtained by extracting only odd-numbered lines and a bottom field obtained by extracting only even-numbered lines from the top of the screen.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 19B, the progressive image is a full-size image that is not subjected to an extraction process.
However, in H.264/AVC, when the original image 90 is the interlaced image, there is provided an encoding tool called adaptive field/frame coding (hereinafter, referred to as "AFF") which is capable of improving the encoding efficiency (see, e.g., Patent Document 1).
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating adaptive field/frame coding (AFF) of conventional H.264/AVC. In the case where the input image is the interlaced image, the AFF is an encoding process method in which encoding is performed while switching, on a frame-by-frame basis, between frame coding for encoding the top field and bottom field as one frame as shown in (a) of FIG. 20, and field coding for encoding the top field and bottom field as separate pictures as shown in (b) of FIG. 20.
For example, if there is no change in the brightness or if the motion of the image is small, i.e., if the difference is small between the top field and the bottom field, the pixel density in the vertical direction in frame coding becomes two times as large as that in field coding, and thus pixel correlation in the image increases in frame coding. Accordingly, it can be expected that the accuracy of the intra-frame prediction is improved, and the encoding efficiency is improved. Also in the inter-frame prediction, in frame coding compared to field coding, prediction efficiency in a pixel block is improved due to an increase in the pixel density. Accordingly, a larger prediction block can be easily selected, and thus the encoding efficiency may be improved.
On the other hand, if a change in brightness or motion in the image is large, and a change occurs between images of the top field and bottom field, pixel correlation in the image decreases in frame coding. Thus, in both of the intra-frame prediction and the inter-frame prediction, the encoding efficiency is lowered when performing frame coding than performing field coding.
Therefore, in the case of using the AFF of H.264/AVC, in order to improve the encoding efficiency, it is important to appropriately perform switching between field coding and frame coding depending on the status of the image.
Further, FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an outline of an encoding mode determination method of the conventional AFF. In reference software JM in conventional H.264/AVC, a multi-pass technique has been used to determine the encoding mode of the AFF.
Specifically, the original image 90 is encoded by both a video encoding unit 810 for frame coding and a video encoding unit 820 for field coding. Then, an output stream of either one is selected by an AFF mode selection unit 830, and it is outputted finally as the stream 91.
Further, in the AFF, there are a method of performing switching between field coding and frame coding for each picture, and a method of performing switching between field coding and frame coding for each macroblock. The former is called picture adaptive field/frame coding (PAFF), and the latter is called macroblock adaptive field/frame coding (MBAFF).
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an outline of an encoding mode determination method in conventional PAFF and MBAFF. In the H.264/AVC standard, the PAFF and MBAFF may be nested in each other, and the MBAFF can be used only when frame coding is selected in the PAFF. In the case of using the PAFF, two units, i.e., a video encoding unit 860 and a video encoding unit 870 are used for frames so that frame coding is performed by the video encoding unit 860 and field coding is performed by the video encoding unit 870. Then, a PAFF mode selection unit 880 determines which one of AFF modes is advantageous in encoding efficiency based on the encoding results for each frame, and selects the encoding result with higher efficiency.
If frame coding is selected in the PAFF, the MBAFF can be also used. Similarly, in the case of using the MBAFF, two units, i.e., video encoding units 861 and 862 are used so that frame coding is performed by one video encoding unit 861 and field coding is performed by the other video encoding unit 862. Then, a MBAFF mode selection unit 863 determines which one of AFF modes is advantageous in encoding efficiency from the encoding results for each super MB of 16×32 pixels (the number of horizontal pixels×the number of vertical pixels, the same applies to the following), and selects the encoding result with higher efficiency.
Then, each of the MBAFF mode selection unit 863 and the PAFF mode selection unit 880 selects an output stream of one of modes in each frame for each super MB of 16×32 pixels, and finally outputs the selected output stream as the stream 91.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-283595
However, in the conventional encoding method, it is necessary to perform different types of encoding processes, i.e., frame coding and field coding, multiple times on a frame basis or on a pixel block basis of 16×32 pixels for one input image. Accordingly, in the case of using the AFF, the processing amount may increase two or more times as compared to when the AFF is not used.


Digital-to-analog converters (DACs) are used to convert digital signals to analog signals. DAC""s are typically made of transistors, linked in one of several ways, to quickly convert large amounts of digital information to useful analog signals. Sample applications may include compact disc players and DVD players. DACs with transistors having more uniform outputs result from better control of the source-to-gate voltage. This control may be achieved by using a current source for the gate voltages, or in other embodiments, by designing and manufacturing the bus bar for the source voltage and the gate voltage so as to achieve uniform source-to-source and gate-to-source voltages. With this control, uniform voltage drops, linear within 0.1%, may be achieved in transistors used in 5-bit to 15-bit DACs, leading to better conversion.

There are a number of recognized ways to convert digital data to an analog signal. Included are the well-known R-2R networks using a binary scale of voltages and currents. Binary weighted currents flowing in a given position may be routed to ground or to the summing input of an operational amplifier. The positions of switches reproduce the code of the digital information to be converted. A series of MOS transistors may be used as the switches, but as currents increase, the design becomes complicated in order to keep voltage drops constant. In addition, a series of resistors may be needed to keep the emitters (or sources) of the series of transistors at the same potential. The accuracy of R-2R circuits is based on the tracking of the resistances. It may be difficult to achieve 10 or 12 bit conversion.
Switched capacitors are also used to perform digital-to-analog conversion. Capacitors may be integrated and have less dependence on temperature than resistive circuits, especially thin-film resistors. Capacitors suffer other drawbacks, however, and require special care in order to provide reasonable speed and good tracking. Integrated capacitors are sandwiches of metal-oxide-silicon (MOS technology) or polysilicon-oxide-polysilicon (double poly technology). These latter exhibit a highly linear behavior and extremely small temperature coefficients of performance, typically 10 to 20 ppm per degree Celsius. In order to improve geometrical tracking, capacitors must represent a combination of xe2x80x9cunitxe2x80x9d capacitance, where a unit capacitance represents the minimum-sized element available, typically 100 fF. MOS capacitors have relatively large stray capacitances to the substrate through their inversion layer, typically 10 to 30% of their nominal capacitance value, depending on the oxide thickness. Double poly capacitors offer better performance, but the manufacturing process is far more complicated and expensive, with greater chances for errors. Digital-to-analog converters using capacitor integration must also be designed to tolerate stray capacitance.
Another widely used technique to transform digital data to an analog signal is to parallel many identical transistors, controlled by a single base-to-emitter or gate-to-source voltage source. The output terminals are tied together to implement banks of binary weighted current sources. This requires 2N transistors to make an N-bit converter. For example, an 8-bit converter requires a series of 28, or 256 transistors. However, in MOS technology, transistors are the smallest on-chip devices available, and the technique is an accepted one. In addition, MOS manufacturing techniques tend to be robust, and it is far easier to attain 10-bit accuracy, for example, than with capacitance MOS or double poly techniques. Also this technique is preferred for high speed digital to analog conversion since it uses an open loop structure i.e no feedback is used which might limit the operation speed significantly.
Some of the disadvantages of these techniques may include the need for trimming of resistors to insure that each transistor is kept at the same potential. Trimming requires more processing and even laser trimming in some cases. Better performance is achieved by keeping the gate-to-source potential for each transistor the same, that is, keeping the gate-to-source potential constant. What is needed is a better way to keep the gate-to-source potential of each transistor the same and thus to better perform digital to analog conversion.
The present invention meets this need by providing a current source for the gates in a series of transistors in a digital-to-analog converter. In one embodiment, a current source is provided for a digital-to-analog converter cell row. The circuit includes a power source, a series of MOS transistors, and a path to ground. The source of a first power transistor in the series is connected to its own gate and to the gate of the next transistor. Thereafter, the gate of each transistor is connected to the gate of the next transistor in the series. All sources of the transistors are connected are connected to the power source. The gate-to-source voltage of each transistor in the circuit is the same, constant, because the resistor in each circuit has the same value, and the current flowing in the circuit is the same. Thus, the constant drop from transistor to transistor is the same, and each transistor has a constant gate-to-source value.
In another embodiment, the resistors are eliminated, and the gate of each transistor is connected directly to a constant potential. The sources in a series of transistors are connected to a busbar at a potential, and the busbar is tapered. The busbar supplies both voltage and current, frequently 10-20 mA or more, and is tapered from wide at a near end near the source voltage source, to narrow at an end away from the source voltage. Therefore, the current flow in the first transistors at the near end does not affect the voltage available to the transistors at the far end. Without this taper, the current draw from the first transistors may cause an IR drop through the busbar, resulting in a lower potential at the far end, and thus a lower source voltage available to the transistors.
In another embodiment, the busbar for the sources is not tapered, but the busbar for the gates has an inverse taper, that is, it is narrowest at an end near the gate voltage source and has an increasing taper at a far end, away from the gate voltage source. In this manner, the potential at each source is slightly less than the previous source; and the potential at each gate is slightly less than the previous gate. Thus, the source-to-gate voltage is constant. When the digital-to-analog (DAC) switches are activated, the source-to-gate voltages are also constant; that is, they are the same from transistor to transistor in the DAC.

Digital-to-analog converter with constant bias voltage

Infineon Technologies North America Corp.


A sheet-cleaning apparatus for cleaning a sheet (6) that is to be printed, before it runs into the printing mechanism (2) of a sheet-fed printing press. A backing cloth (20), which is contacted with the sheet (6) that is to be printed with the help of the positioning means, is used to clean the sheet (6) that is to be printed. A transporting apparatus (26, 24, 28) transports the backing cloth (20), so that other moist sections (32) of the backing cloth (20) are consecutively brought into contact with the sheet (6) that is to be printed.

Prior to actual printing of sheet material, dust and other dirt particles deposit on the sheet to be printed, particularly if the sheet is electrostatically charged by friction or other influences. The sheet is typically paper, but may also include other materials or be coated with aluminum or plastic, for example. Such dirt particles impair the quality of the printing and decrease the life expectancy of the backing cloths (rubber cloths) and the printing mechanism as well.
Known apparatuses for cleaning the sheet before it is printed in the printing mechanism consist of suction nozzles, which vacuum the dirt particles from both sides of the sheet. It is also possible to use brushes for brushing off the sheet. Both known possibilities have the disadvantage of scratching the surface of the sheet, and causing the fibers of the sheets to be upright. These upright fibers are then torn off in the printing mechanism and adversely affect the backing cloth and the quality of the printing.


The rubber modified polystyrene resin composition with high gloss and impact resistance according to the present invention is prepared by (i) polymerizing a solution consisting of about 80 to 95% by weight of styrene (A) and about 5 to 20% by weight of polybutadiene rubber (B) with a clay material at a temperature of about 90 to 150° C. in a first reactor so as to disperse at least two different sizes of polybutadiene rubber particles in the matrix of polystyrene, and (ii) inputting the resulting solution of the step (i) to a second reactor being kept at about 130 to 180° C. to terminate the polymerization.

High impact polystyrene (HIPS) resins are conventionally prepared by heat-polymerizing a styrene-polybutadiene rubber solution at a high temperature of about 100 to 150° C. or graft-polymerizing using an initiator. Such rubber modified HIPS is a phase that rubber particles are dispersed in the matrix of polystyrene, the rubber particles having the sizes of about 1.5 to 6.0 μm. When an external impact is applied to the HIPS resin, the rubber particles function to absorb the impact. Accordingly, the dispersion, sizes, and size distribution of the rubber particles affect the mechanical properties of the resin such as impact strength, toughness, surface gloss, and heat resistance.
Although conventional rubber modified HIPS resins are widely used in electrical household goods and office equipments housing, they are inferior to the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin in appearance of the molded articles such as gloss and color. As the molded articles with high gloss are needed in various products including sheets for packing containers, the weakness of the appearance character of HIPS has been an obstacle for expanding the use of the resin.
In general, the smaller the sizes of the rubber particles dispersed in polystyrene are, the better the toughness and surface gloss are, but the worse the impact strength is. However, the larger the sizes of the rubber particles dispersed in polystyrene are, the better the impact strength is, but the worse the toughness and surface gloss are.
Therefore, there has been intensive research to obtain preferable rubber modified HIPS resins. Japanese Patent Laid-open No 4-100810 teaches a method to control the sizes of rubber particles using a rubber polymer having two different cis-contents. The resin of the Japanese patent application shows good impact strength but poor surface gloss.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,418 to Schwaben et al discloses a thermoplastic molding material consisting of a hard polystyrene matrix and a soft phase which is distributed in the hard phase and has a particle diameter of less than 0.8 μm. Although the molding material has good gloss, it shows a shortcoming of decreasing impact strength.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,589 to Dupre discloses a method for preparing improved monoalkenyl aromatic polyblends having a dispersed rubber phase as rubber particles having a bimodal particle size distribution and compositions thereof. In the patent, two different rubber polymers with different shapes and particle size distributions were used to improve the gloss and impact strength. However, the gloss and impact strength were not satisfactory.
European Patent Publication No. 0 337 569 A1 discloses a high gloss, impact resistant rubber-modified polystyrene composition consisting of a polystyrene and dispersed particles of elastomeric polymers, and optionally polydimethylsiloxane and at least one member selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, metallic salts and amides of higher fatty acids based on the total weight of the composition.
The present inventor has developed a rubber modified polystyrene resin composition with high gloss and impact resistance, which is prepared by polymerizing styrene, polybutadiene rubber and a clay material so as to disperse at least two different sizes of polybutadiene rubber particles in the matrix of polystyrene.

Method of preparing rubber modified polystyrene resin composition with high gloss and impact resistance


A dual refrigerant refrigerating system provides a refrigeration cycle in which a primary refrigerant cools a secondary refrigerant in a primary evaporator into a partially frozen state, in which a fusion portion thereof is frozen. The primary refrigerant thus absorbs a secondary latent heat from secondary refrigerant, including a latent heat of fusion required for freezing the fusion portion. Secondary refrigerant is subsequently at least partially thawed, in a secondary evaporator, by re-absorption thereby of secondary latent heat from material proximal to secondary evaporator. Evaporation in secondary evaporator requires at least partial thawing of fusion portion, and thus latent heat of fusion is at least partially re-absorbed by secondary refrigerant, thus increasing secondary heat absorbed from material and facilitating refrigeration thereof. The system also provides defrost and heat reclaim capabilities.

Refrigeration systems are commonly used in supermarkets to refrigerate or to maintain in frozen state perishable products, such as foodstuff.
Conventionally, refrigeration systems include a network of refrigeration compressors and evaporators. Refrigeration compressors mechanically compress refrigerant vapor, which is circulated from the evaporators, to increase its temperature and pressure. The resulting high-temperature refrigerant vapor, under high-pressure, is circulated to a refrigerant condenser where the latent heat from the vapor is absorbed. As a result, the refrigerant vapor liquefies into refrigerant liquid. The refrigerant liquid is circulated through refrigerant expansion valves, thereby reducing the temperature and pressure, to the evaporators wherein the refrigerant liquid evaporates by absorbing heat from the surrounding foodstuff.
Refrigeration systems as described above which use a single refrigerant typically require a significant amount of such refrigerant. Thus, should leaks occur in such a system, there is a risk of substantial amounts of refrigerant being leaked into the environment or into foodstuffs. Since leaked refrigerant may be damaging to the environment and to foodstuffs, such a situation is highly undesirable.
Use of dual refrigerant systems, i.e. having a primary and a secondary refrigerant, may, to a certain extent attenuate this problem, as only a secondary refrigerant, cooled by a primary refrigerant, is circulated in secondary evaporators near the foodstuffs. Thus, even if a leak develops in these secondary evaporators, only secondary refrigerant will be affected. However, since it is secondary refrigerant which actually cools the foodstuffs, this is only a partial solution since leaks of secondary refrigerant will eventually lead to deterioration of refrigeration capacity of the system, as well as possibly to damage of the foodstuffs. Further, such dual refrigerant systems often require circulation, i.e. flow, of large amounts of secondary refrigerant through the evaporators for cooling foodstuffs at any given moment. Obviously, use of large amounts of secondary refrigerant continues to leave the system vulnerable to leaks and is also costly due to the amount of secondary refrigerant that must be supplied.
Accordingly, it would be useful to have a dual refrigerant system in which flow of secondary refrigerant flow is reduced for increasing efficiency and decreasing vulnerability to leaks.

Dual refrigerant refrigeration system and method


A collapsible, stackable, display tray with single-ply side walls and multi-ply end walls that each include a pair of outer flaps, an outer panel, a pair of inner flaps, an inner panel, and a pair of hollow corner posts connected to the inner panel and positioned between the inner flaps panel and the inner panel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to display trays of the type used hold merchandise for display in a store, and more particularly to collapsible, paperboard trays adapted to be stacked with similar trays, one atop the other.
2. Description of the Background Art
A background art search directed to the subject matter of this invention conducted in the United States Patent and Trademark Office disclosed the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 205,531; 708,445; 1,124,088; 2,105,953; 2,228,377; 2,331,551; 2,395,542; 2,462,693; 2,464,904; 2,505,034; 2,608,340; 2,663,487; 2,783,915; 2,973,802; 2,878,983; 3,010,635; 3,059,829; 3,373,923; 3,520,409; 3,568,877; 3,669,341; 3,722,735; 3,895,715; 4,111,306; 4,165,003; 4,295,599; 4,317,536; 4,323,188;
None of the patents uncovered in the search discloses a one-piece, collapsible, stackable, display tray with single-ply side walls and end walls that each include a pair of outer flaps, an outer panel, a pair of inner flaps, an inner panel, and a pair hollow corner posts connected to the inner panel and interposed between the inner panel and the inner flaps.


We describe and claim an adaptive color burst phase correction system and method. The adaptive color burst phase correction system includes a signal detector to extract a color burst from a video signal, the color burst including a phase and an amplitude, an adaptive phase corrector to adjust the color burst phase responsive to corruption in the color burst, a Y/C separator to separate luminance and chrominance data from the video signal, responsive to the adjusted color burst phase, and a panel to display the luminance and chrominance data. The adaptive phase corrector includes a corruption detector to detect corruption in a color burst, a selector to select a phase correction value responsive to the detected corruption, and a phase adjuster to adjust a color burst phase responsive to the phase correction value.

Composite video signals, commonly used in video broadcasts or transmissions, contain a brightness signal (luminance, luma or Y) and a color signal (chrominance, chroma or C), where the color signal is modulated into a color sub-carrier and added to the brightness signal prior to transmission. To effectuate demodulation of the color sub-carrier upon reception, the composite video signal provides a color burst during each horizontal blanking period, where each color burst is several cycles of the unmodulated color sub-carrier comprising frequency, amplitude, and phase reference information.
Since color picture quality depends upon the color burst, any corruption in the color burst can cause undesirable results when the video signal is displayed. Traditional methods of detecting the color burst corruption heavily rely on the overall amplitude of the color burst. The situation exists, however, where the color burst is within a predetermined amplitude range, but the color burst phase is corrupted. Thus the traditional methods allow the corrupted color burst to go undetected, and the color picture quality deteriorates as a result.
Accordingly, a need remains for a system and method for adaptive filtering of color burst phase information that results in an improved color picture produced under all signal conditions.

System and method for adaptive color burst phase correction


A system and method of digital video editing simultaneously displays a plurality of source video windows on a screen, each window showing a digital source video stream. The user may select among the source video windows at any time while they are being shown. The selected digital source video stream appears in a record video window, and continues to run in real-time in both the selected source video window and the record video window. All windows continuously display real-time video streams. The user may continue to make selections among the source video windows as often as desired, and may also select transformations, or special effects, from an on-screen list. The video stream playing in the record window thus forms a digital user-arranged version of selected portions of the source video streams, plus transformations, as selected by the user. The user's selections are stored to permit subsequent playback of the digital user-arranged video stream in a playback window. A single digital audio stream, or selectable multiple digital audio streams, may accompany the source and user-arranged video streams.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of digital video and audio editing, and, more particularly, to a system and method of selecting among simultaneously accessible on-screen digital source video streams in real-time to form a digital user-arranged video stream.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, music videos are produced by professional video production companies in association with musical artists. A music video usually contains a series of video images accompanying a musical soundtrack such as a song. The video images may portray the artist or artists performing the song, as well as other scenes, representations, animated sequences, and special effects. It is typical to repeatedly switch among, or inter-cut, these various images throughout the music video, as well as to inter-cut among several camera angles for a particular scene. Additionally, special effects consisting of various video and audio transformations are often performed on selected portions of the images and soundtrack.
When viewing a completed music video, either from a broadcast or cable source, or from another pre-recorded video source, the viewer/consumer is not given the opportunity to interact with the product at all. In particular, he or she is not able to control, adjust, or modify the camera angles, choice of scenes, inter-cut points, or transformations selected by the producer of the music video. The viewer is merely a passive observer of the finished product.
In contrast, in the field of video games, consumer interaction with the product is considerable. The consumer does not merely view the product; he or she plays it, responding to the images and sounds produced by the game and providing input to the game. The game in turn responds to the consumer's input, altering its sequence of images and sounds accordingly. The interaction and responsiveness found in video games provides a continual and interesting challenge to the consumer, as new variations of the basic elements of the game are always possible.

System and method of displaying a plurality of digital video images


A coaxial resonator includes a first outer conductor connected to a reference potential; a dielectric block which is provided with a through hole formed so as to pass therethrough from a first side surface to a second side surface opposed to the first side surface, and is so disposed that a first main surface abuts on the first outer conductor; an inner conductor disposed in an inside of the through hole; and a second outer conductor which is shaped like a rectangular box having its one face which is opened toward the first outer conductor, the second outer conductor having an inside dimension such that the dielectric block can be housed therein so as to be spaced from its second main surface, third side surface, and fourth side surface, and being connected to the reference potential.

As a resonator in which resonance occurs at a predetermined frequency, there is known a coaxial resonator composed of an inner conductor disposed in the inside of a through hole formed in a dielectric block, and an outer conductor disposed on the outside of the dielectric block (refer to Patent Literature 1, for example).

Coaxial resonator, and dielectric filter, wireless communication module, and wireless communication device employing the coaxial resonator


Stable acidic milk drinks characterized by composed of an acidic milk drink base together with collagen peptides obtained by hydrolyzing collagen and stabilizers. Thus, it becomes possible to add a collagen substance to the existing drinks containing various stabilizers without worsening the stability of the drinks achieved by the stabilizer.

Collagen is a major protein component forming connective tissues of animals. Collagen has conventionally been used in various cosmetics with an objective of providing the skin with tension and elasticity. More recently, collagen is attracting attention as a material for foods and the like due to the discovery of various physiological effects such as promotion of bone calcium absorption, activation of neurotransmission, and the like.
Various drinks into which collagen or collagen substance, such as gelatin (a collagen hydrolysate) or collagen peptide obtained by further hydrolyzing gelatin, is incorporated with an objective of reinforcing collagen are commercially available.
Fermented milk drinks obtained by acidifying milk by fermenting with lactic acid bacteria, Bifidobacterium group bacteria, yeasts, and the like and acidic milk drinks obtained by directly acidifying milk with an acidifier are excellent drink shaving a flavor characteristic to milk. However, if these drinks are stored for a long period of time, casein proteins in milk components are condensed and precipitated, impairing both the appearance and flavor. Milk proteins are stabilized by the addition of a stabilizer such as pectin, carboxymethylcellulose, propylene glycol arginate, water-soluble soybean polysaccharide, and the like. Many acidic milk drinks containing these stabilizers are commercially available.
However, if a collagen substance is added to fermented drinks or acidic milk drinks (hereinafter collectively referred to as "acidic milk drinks"), stabilization by the addition of the stabilizer is impaired. As a result, long-term storage stability becomes insufficient.
Although such a decrease in stability can be improved to a certain extent by adding a large amount of stabilizer, the addition of a large amount of stabilizer makes an unfavorable taste of the stabilizer predominant. Beverages easy to drink and having a good flavor cannot be obtained. In addition, the drinks become viscous and difficult to swallow. The long-term storage stability can be improved also by decreasing the amount of collagen substance added to the acidic milk drinks. The amount of collagen substance that improves the storage stability, however, is too small for the acidic milk drinks to exhibit the anticipated effect of the addition of collagen substance.
In this manner, it is difficult for acidic milk drinks containing various stabilizers to maintain their stability if collagen substance are added. Development of an acidic milk drink reinforced with collagen substance without impairing stability of milk proteins due to stabilizers has been desired.

Stable acidic milk drinks, process for producing the same, and additive for acidic milk drinks to be used therein


A steering system for a water vehicle includes a housing having a substantially cylindrical member, at least one case member extending through the substantially cylindrical member, a column shaft extending through the pair of case members, including at least one elongated hole disposed on opposed side of the column shaft, and being arranged to move relative to the pair of case members and the housing in an axial direction of the column shaft, and a telescoping mechanism partially disposed in the column shaft. One of the pair of case members includes a plurality of detents provided on an inner surface thereof. The telescoping mechanism includes at least one elongated hole disposed at one end portion of the telescoping mechanism, a locking pin extending through the at least one elongated hole in the telescoping mechanism and the at least one elongated hole in the column shaft, and a lever disposed at an opposite end portion from the one end portion of the telescoping mechanism. The lever is movable to move the locking pin into and out of engagement with respective ones of the plurality of detents to enable the column shaft to be selectively moved relative to the pair of case members and the housing and fixed at a desired location relative to the pair of case members and the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steering column, and more particularly, to a telescoping steering system for a personal watercraft (PWC).
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to provide for adjustment of a steering mechanism in a PWC, various types of adjustable steering systems have been used.
JP 2-34397 U discloses a steering mechanism for a PWC which includes a tilting mechanism that enables the tilt of the handle bars to be variably adjusted. However, the tilting mechanism changes the orientation of the handle bars with respect to a rider, which adversely affects the drivability of the PWC.
JP 1-122390 U discloses a steering mechanism for a PWC which includes a telescoping mechanism that enables the height of the handle bars to be changed. However, the telescoping mechanism requires a hydraulic cylinder to perform the height adjustment of the handle bars. Thus, the telescoping mechanism has a complicated configuration and is expensive, which increases the overall cost of the PWC.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,348 discloses a steering mechanism for a PWC which includes a simplified telescoping mechanism. Particularly, the telescoping mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,348 includes two components that are moveable relative to one another. One of the two components includes the handle bars attached thereto. Each of the two components includes engagement teeth that correspond to each other. A threaded fastening member is arranged to clamp the two components together with the engagement teeth engaged with one another so as to set the height of the handle bars. When adjusting the height of the handle bars, the fastening member is rotated to loosen the clamping force of the fastening member and enable disengagement of the engagement teeth of the two components.
Although the telescoping mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,348 is simplified, it is extremely difficult to adjust the height of the handle bars while traveling on the PWC because of the arrangement of the fastening member.
JP 61-181797 B2 discloses another steering mechanism for a PWC which includes a telescoping mechanism. However, the telescoping mechanism disclosed in JP 61-181797 B2 does not include any locking devices. Thus, it not possible to lock the handle bars at a plurality of desired heights.

Telescoping steering system and water vehicle including the same

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America


A method and system for printing bi-directionally with a thermal print head movable back and forth along a print path adjacent a ribbon to transfer ink therefrom onto a substrate. The ribbon being drawn from an unwind reel and adjacent the print path, and the ribbon being clamped to maintain tension on the ribbon at least when the print head moves in the same direction as ribbon is drawn along the print path. A rotary drive member is rotatable in a first direction to actuate a brake member that clamps the ribbon against a fixed ribbon guide, and the rotary drive member is rotatable in a second opposing direction to rotate the rewind reel to draw ribbon from the unwind reel.

The invention relates generally to product coding and marking operations, and more particularly to systems and methods for transferring print from a ribbon onto a substrate with a bi-directionally movable print head, and for advancing the ribbon and for braking advancement thereof with a bi-directional rotary drive member.
Thermal printing systems are employed widely for printing variable information on products and packaging in coding and marking operations. Many thermal printing systems include, for example, an inked ribbon or foil supplied from an unwind reel, between a thermal print head and a substrate, and then to a rewind reel. The ribbon is usually drawn intermittently under tension from the unwind reel by the rewind reel or by a ribbon feed roller, and the thermal print head is swept along a backside of the ribbon to transfer ink therefrom onto a target area of the substrate. More particularly, the thermal print head generally sweeps laterally, starting from a home position, along the backside of the ribbon in a direction opposite the ribbon feed direction so that the ribbon is held taut by the rewind reel or the feed roller during printing. After printing, the print head is sometimes moved away from the ribbon and is generally swept laterally back to the home position for the next print sweep.
In high production coding and marking operations, it is desirable generally to feed product or packaging to a print position opposite the print head as quickly as possible. In many such operations, however, the product or packaging can be fed to the print position more quickly than the print head can be moved back to the home position for the next print sweep. In these operations it is desirable to program the print head to print bi-directionally, thereby eliminating any delay associated with repositioning the print head. But when printing in the same direction as the ribbon feed direction, as will occur when printing bi-directionally, the ribbon has a tendency to form slack, which will prevent proper ink transfer, likely waste ribbon, and possibly jam the printer.
Also, many coding and marking printer systems are operated pneumatically, including, among other operational aspects, actuation of the thermal print head as disclosed in European Patent Publication No. EP 0,683,055 entitled "Economic Use of Impression Transfer Material Printing Method" published Nov. 22, 1995 in the name of Prestek Limited. Recently, however, there has been a trend in the manufacturing and packaging industries to eliminate from their facilities compressed air supply systems, which increases infrastructure, operational and maintenance costs. Also, usage of compressed air is very often a source of product contamination, particularly in the food processing and packaging industries. It is thus desirable to replace pneumatically operated coding and marking systems with all electrical systems, which are less costly and less problematic.
The present invention is drawn toward advancements in the art of transferring ink from a ribbon onto a substrate with a bi-directional thermal print head, and for advancing ribbon and braking advancement thereof with a bi-directional rotary drive member.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide novel methods and systems for transferring print from a ribbon onto a substrate with a system that overcomes problems in the prior art.
It is a more particular object of the invention to provide novel methods and systems for printing bi-directionally with a thermal print head movable back and forth along a print path adjacent a ribbon to transfer ink therefrom onto a substrate. The ribbon being drawn from an unwind reel and adjacent the print path in the first direction of the print head, and the ribbon being clamped against a fixed ribbon guide to maintain tension on the ribbon at least when the print head moves in the same direction as ribbon is drawn along the print path. It is a related object of the invention to maintain tension on the ribbon with a rewind reel, which is rotatable in only one direction to draw ribbon from the unwind reel, when the print head moves in the second direction along the print path.
It is more particular related object of the invention to provide novel methods and systems for rotating a bi-directionally rotatable rotary drive member in a first direction to actuate a brake member that clamps the ribbon against a fixed ribbon guide, and rotating the rotary drive member in a second opposing direction to rotate the rewind reel to draw ribbon from the unwind reel.
These and other objects, aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent upon careful consideration of the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the accompanying Drawings, which may be disproportionate for ease of understanding, wherein like structure and steps are referenced generally by corresponding numerals and indicators.

Bi-directional thermal printer and method therefor


A method and system for protecting a memory having a plurality of blocks from modification is disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of one time programmable (OTP) cells and OTP cell logic coupled with the OTP cells. An OTP cell of the plurality of OTP cells corresponds to a portion of a block of the plurality of blocks. The OTP cell allows modification of the portion of the block when the OTP cell is in a first state and permanently prevents modification of the portion of the block when the OTP cell is in a second state. The OTP cell logic uses the plurality of OTP cells to select the portion of the block as corresponding to the OTP cell. This portion of the block is write protected when the OTP cell is placed in the second state.

Memories, such as flash memories, are used for storing a variety of data. Often, it is desirable to protect a portion of the memory from being changed. Typically, the portion of the memory is protected from being modified using conventional software protection or conventional hardware protection. If conventional software protection is used, then protect, unprotect, and lock-down commands are provided. The protect commands allows the portion of the memory to be protected from any modificatrion. The unprotect command allows the portion of the memory to be modified. The lock-down command precludes changing the portion of the memory. If conventional hardware protection is provided, then a dedicated pad is typically provided. In most such conventional systems, when the dedicated pad is tied to ground, the portion of the memory is protected. In some conventional memories, a particular portion of the memory is pre-selected for protection.
Although the conventional software and hardware protection systems function, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that each has drawbacks. Although conventional software protection allows the protection of the portion of the memory to be dynamically changed, the protection is volatile. Consequently, once power to the memory is shut off, the protection is lost. Conventional hardware protection is nonvolatile. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that tying the dedicated pad to ground precludes any modification of the device. Conventional systems do exist which allow a particular block of the memory to be protected from programming in a nonvolatile fashion. However, such conventional mechanisms for providing nonvolatile protection against programming still have drawbacks such as the inability to configure the size of the portion of the memory being protected or the inability to choose the address position of the portion of the memory to be protected.
Accordingly, what is needed is an improved nonvolatile method and system for protecting memories form being modified. The present invention addresses such a need.

Flexible OTP sector protection architecture for flash memories


A neck massager for mounting in the sidewall of a spa. The neck massager is enclosed in a housing which holds an electric motor with a drive shaft. The drive shaft is connected through gears to a pair of massage arms each of which have offset knobs at the end thereof. The knobs are covered by a flexible diaphragm and the device is mounted in the sidewall of a spa in such a way that it may be contacted by a user's neck.

The field of the invention is muscle massagers and the invention relates more particularly to neck and shoulder massagers of the type which tend to be used with spas, hot tubs or whirlpool baths.
A hydro-massage unit for a spa is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,930. This device provides a flow of water against the inner surface of a diaphragm which provides a massage for a user's neck. A waterproof vibrating cushion is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,972. It is waterproof and may be used in a spa or a bath tub. It utilizes a vibrator element within a cushion.
While both of these devices provide a degree of neck and shoulder massage, neither is positioned in a spot to utilize the comfortable shape of the spa.


A fiber coupling device (100) includes the following components: a wedge plate (102) for receiving light and refracting the light in a predetermined direction, a condenser lens (104) for collecting the light refracted by the wedge plate (102); and an optical fiber (107) having an incident surface for receiving the light collected by the condenser lens (104). The wedge plate (102) is held rotatable around the optical axis (200) of the light incident on the wedge plate (102). The light refracted by the wedge plate (102) and collected by the condenser lens (104) is incident on a different point on the incident surface depending on the rotation angle of the wedge plate (102).

There has been a known technique for performing various kinds of processing using the same power source by propagating high-power laser light to an optical fiber and by changing properties of the light emitted from the optical fiber (e.g., Patent Literature 1).
Patent literature 1 shows a technique for changing the propagation conditions of laser light in an optical fiber by using a plurality of condenser lenses with different focal lengths. To be more specific, the condenser lens placed in the optical path of the laser light is made replaceable. This makes the focal length of the condenser lens in the optical path variable, thereby making the numerical aperture (NA) of the light incident on the optical fiber variable. Thus, switching between the different condenser lenses can change the beam quality of the laser light emitted from the optical fiber.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.