An image forming apparatus has a plurality of image forming devices for forming images in different colors. Each image forming device has an image bearing member, a charging device for charging the image bearing member, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member by a developer containing toner and a carrier, and a detecting device for detecting information corresponding to the permeability of the developer in the developing device. The apparatus also has a control device for controlling the amount of the developer supplied to each developing device according to an output from the detecting device and a corresponding target value. Each charging device has magnetic particles which are brought into contact with the image bearing member. The permeability of the magnetic particles is different from the permeability of the carrier. The apparatus also has a correcting device for correcting each of the target values. The amount of correction by the correcting device is different with respect to the case of correcting a first target value and the case of correcting a second target value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system and, more particularly, to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, printer, or a facsimile machine.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, a two-component developer having toner and carrier particles as main components are used in developing devices provided in image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system. It is preferred from the viewpoint of image hues or tones that a two-component developer should be used, in particular, in a color image forming apparatus for forming a full-color or multicolor image by an electrophotographic system. As is well known, the density of toner (i.e., the proportion of the weight of toner particles to the total weight of carrier and toner particles) of a two-component developer is a particularly important factor in stabilizing image quality. Toner particles in a developer are consumed during development to change the toner density in a developing device (developing container) and there is, therefore, a need to perform toner density control for maintaining the toner density in a suitable range to ensure the desired image quality. For this control, a toner density controller (automatic toner replenisher (ATR)) is used which accurately detects at suitable intervals the density of the developer (toner) provided in the developing device and supplies toner according to a change in the toner density.
Various methods have been proposed and put to practical use as a method for detecting the toner density in a developing device and a method for controlling the developer density for the purpose of correcting a change in toner density due to consumption during development, i.e., for controlling the amount of toner supplied to a developing device.
For example, a method (1) is known which uses a toner density controller having a detection means arranged close to a development sleeve ordinarily used as a developer bearing member or a developer transport path in a developing container to detect an amount of a developer on the development sleeve or light reflected by a developer in the developing container when the developer is irradiated with light. The toner density controller detects and controls the toner density by utilizing a phenomenon in which the intensity of reflected light changes depending on the toner density.
A method (2) is also known which uses an inductance detection type of toner density controller having an inductance head provided on, for example, a side wall portion of a developing container as an inductance sensor for detecting the apparent permeability according to the mixture ratio of a magnetic carrier and a nonmagnetic toner and for converting the apparent permeability into an electrical signal. The actual toner density in the developer in the developing container is detected through the detection signal from the inductance head and is compared with a reference value, and toner is supplied according to the result of this comparison.
Further, a method (3) is known in which the density of a patch image formed on a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member, i.e., a photosensitive drum, ordinarily used as an image bearing member is detected by using a light source provided at such a position opposite to the surface of the photosensitive drum and a sensor for receiving light reflected from the surface. A signal representing the patch image density is converted into a digital signal. by an analog-to-digital converter, and the digital signal is supplied to a central processing unit (CPU) and compared with an initial set value by the CPU. If the density is higher than the initial set value, supply of toner is stopped until the density becomes equal to the initial set value. If the density is lower than the initial set value, forced toner supply is continued until the density becomes equal to the initial set value. The toner density is thus controlled indirectly to be maintained at the desired value.
Methods in which the density of toner is detected from the reflectivity of a developer transported onto a development sleeve or contained in a developing container while the developer is being irradiated with light, as in the above-described method (1), entail a problem that accumulation of a contaminant, e.g., scattered toner on the detection means reduces the accuracy with which the toner density is detected. Methods in which the toner density is indirectly controlled through the density of a patch image, as in the above-described method (3), entails a problem that the difficulty in securing the space for formation of the patch image and the space for placement of the detection means is increased with the reduction in size of image forming apparatuses designed as copying machines or the like.
In contrast, inductance detection methods, typified by the above-described method (2), are considered to be most effective in realizing an image forming apparatus designed as a space-saving type manufactured at a low cost, because the sensor unit is low priced and because they are free from the problem of contamination of a detection means due to scattering of toner and the space problem described above with respect to the methods (1) and (3).
The inductance detection type of toner density controller (inductance detection type of ATR) controls the toner density on the basis of a control method such that, when it is determined as a detection result that the apparent permeability of the developer is large, supply of toner is started because the detection result signifies that the toner density has become lower while the proportion of the volume occupied by carrier particles in a certain volume of the developer has been increased, and that, when the apparent permeability is reduced, supply of toner is stopped because the detection result signifies the toner density has become higher while the proportion of the volume occupied by carrier particles in the certain volume of the developer has been reduced.
On the other hand, corona chargers have generally been used as charging means (charging device) for charging an image bearing member such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member or an electrostatic recording dielectric member in electrophotographic type or electrostatic recording type of image forming apparatuses. In recent years, however, contact-type charging devices, i.e., charging devices based on a method of charging a member to be charged with electricity (hereinafter referred to as a xe2x80x9ccharged memberxe2x80x9d) by bringing a charging member, to which a voltage is applied, into contact with the charged member, have been put to practical use because of their advantage of limiting generation of ozone and power consumption. In particular, charging devices of a roller charging type having a charging roller as a charging member are preferred by considering charging stability and are being advantageously used.
In the charging system using the roller charging type of charging device, however, the electrical resistances of the charging roller and the image bearing member change under the influence of environmental changes since charging is performed by discharge from the charging member to the charged member, resulting in variation in the surface potential of the image bearing member.
A charging method which reduces the influence of environmental changes, e.g., the one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-5748, which is a counterpart of U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,401, has recently been proposed in which a photosensitive member having a charge injection, layer formed in its surface and a conductive powder (SnO2 or the like) for a trap level dispersed in the charge injection layer is charged in a contact charging manner through an electroconductive contact-type charging member (a charging fur brush, a charging electromagnetic brush, a charging roller, or the like) to which a voltage is applied to inject charge into the: photosensitive member with the same polarity as the potential of the same.
This injection charging method does not use discharge and therefore has the advantage of limiting the applied voltage to a level not significantly different from the potential of the photosensitive member and avoiding generation of ozone which reduces the life of the photosensitive member, as well as the advantage of reducing the environment dependence.
In the case of contact charging using discharge, in order to enable the charged member to have the desired charging potential Vs, it is necessary to apply to the charging member a voltage determined by adding a discharge initiation voltage Vth (a voltage applied to the contact-type charging member when a dc voltage is applied to the contact-type charging member to start charging the charged member) to the desired charging potential Vs, i.e., a dc bias Vs+Vth. In contrast, in charge-injection charging, the charging potential Vs can be obtained as substantially the same potential as the dc bias applied to the charging member, so that the charging power source can be provided at a reduced cost.
As a contact-type charging member in such a charge injection system, a magnetic brush type of charging member or a fur brush type of charging member is preferably used by considering charging stability, contact stability, etc.
The magnetic brush type of charging member has a magnetic brush (charging magnetic brush) formed by magnetically binding conductive magnetic particles (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9ccharging carrierxe2x80x9d) on a supporting portion, which is also used as a feeder electrode. The charging magnetic brush is brought into contact with the charged member and a voltage is applied to the supporting portion. More specifically, the magnetic-brush-type charging member is formed in such a manner that charging carrier is magnetically bound directly on a magnet or on a sleeve containing a magnet, provided as a supporting portion, so as to form a magnetic brush in which the charging carrier stands like the ears of rice. The magnetic brush portion of this magnetic-brush-type charging member is brought into contact with the charged member while the charging member is stopped or being rotated, and a voltage is simultaneously applied to the charging member, thereby charging the charged member.
The fur-brush-type charging member has a brush portion (fur brush portion) formed by conductive fibers supported on a supporting portion, which is also used as a feeder electrode. The conductive fiber brush portion is brought into contact with the charged member and a voltage is applied to the supporting portion.
The charging performance of the fur-brush-type charging member becomes poor if its fibers are flattened during long-time use or long-term shelving. Also, the charging uniformity is liable to lower due to a restriction on the brush fiber diameter, etc. In contrast, the magnetic-brush-type charging member is free from the occurrence of the above-described phenomena relating to the fur-brush-type charging member and is capable of uniform and stable charging.
However, image forming apparatuses having a magnetic-brush-type charging device using the above-described magnetic-brush-type charging member have problems described below.
That is, during use of the magnetic-brush-type charging device, there is a possibility of the charging carrier in the magnetic brush portion of the magnetic-brush-type charging member flowing out by being attached to the image bearing member, e.g., a photosensitive drum. In the case of a developing device which controls the toner density with an inductance detection type of toner density controller, if the charging carrier attached to the image bearing member to flow out is collected in the developing device, it is gradually accumulated in the developing device as the image forming operation is repeated, although the amount of the charging carrier attached to the photosensitive drum to flow out may initially be not so large as: to immediately influence the quality of images formed by the image forming apparatus. If magnetic particles (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cdeveloping carrierxe2x80x9d) used in the developing device and the charging carrier differ in permeability, the apparent permeability of the developer as a whole may change to cause an error in toner density control performed by the inductance detection type of toner density controller.
That is, if the permeability of the charging carrier is larger than that of the developing carrier, mixing of the charging carrier into the two-component developer in the developing device causes the inductance sensor to output a detection result indicating an increase in the average permeability of the developer even when the toner density in the developing container is constant. This detection result corresponds to the case where the proportion of the carrier particles in a certain volume of the developer is increased and the toner density is reduced, and supply of toner is then started. In this case, the result of density control is that the toner density is higher than the correct toner density value.
Conversely, if the permeability of the charging carrier is smaller than that of the developing carrier, mixing of the charging carrier into the two-component developer in the developing device causes the inductance sensor to output a detection result indicating a reduction in the average permeability of the developer even when the toner density in the developing container is constant. This detection result corresponds to the case where the proportion of the carrier particles in a certain volume of the developer is reduced and the toner density is increased, and the inductance detection type of ATR stops supply of toner. In this case, the result of density control is that the toner density is lower than the correct toner density value.
In the former case, an excessive supply of toner results in an excessively high image density, and there are other problems stemming therefrom: a problem of the developer increased in total amount with the increase in the amount of toner flowing out of the developing container, and a problem of the possibility of scattering of toner being increased by a reduction in the amount of charge on toner with the increase in the proportion of toner in the developer. In the latter case, a reduction in the amount of toner in the developer results in a deterioration in image quality, a considerable reduction in image density, etc. These problems may become more serious as the image forming process is repeated over many times.
Studies made by the inventor of the present invention have revealed that in the case of an image forming apparatus arranged to form an image by using a plurality of developing devices, the amount of charging carriers attached to photosensitive drums varies depending upon a characteristic of developers respectively used in the developing devices (e.g., the amount of charge per unit toner weight) and upon environmental conditions (temperature, humidity) under which the developing devices are used.
For example, in the case of an image forming apparatus which forms a toner image by using developing devices for processing on a plurality of photosensitive drums, toner remaining on the photosensitive drum without being transferred to a recording member in each transfer section, i.e., transfer residue toner, can mix in a component of the magnetic-brush-type charging member of the charging device. The resistance of the magnetic-brush-type charging member is thereby increased to reduce the efficiency of charge injection from the magnetic-brush-type charging member into the photosensitive drum surface layer. In such a situation, the charging carrier can be easily attached to the photosensitive drum to flow out.
The efficiency of transfer of toner images formed on the photosensitive drums to the recording member varies slightly depending upon the developing devices (the characteristics of the developers (the above-mentioned toner charge amount), etc.) and the transfer device. Consequently, the amount of toners remaining on each photosensitive drum varies, so that the amounts of the charging carriers attached to the photosensitive drums and flowing out is different in each of the image forming sections (developing devices).
Further, the resistances of the charging carrier and the photosensitive drum are also increased under a low-humidity condition to cause a reduction in the efficiency of charge injection from the charging carrier to the photosensitive drum surface layer (the surface layer for injection charging), such that the charging potential of the photosensitive drum surface layer is lower than the bias applied to the charging device. A potential difference is thereby caused between the charging carrier tips and the photosensitive drum surface layer to render the charging carrier liable to be attached to the photosensitive drum. Thus, the amount of the charging carrier attached to the photosensitive drum and flowing out varies depending upon environmental conditions.
In view of the above-described circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of optimizing the amount of a developer supplied to each of a plurality of development means even if magnetic toner particles mixes in a component of the development means.
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention.


Rotatable discs combined with turbine blades in engines must be tested for critical life analysis. Thus, consideration must be made as to life expectancy for such components as a result of tensile circumferential hoops as generated by the weight of blades under rotation as well as compressive axial stress as a result of thermal gradients during initial warm up. Previous testing arrangements have considered tensile circumferential hoop stress but not compressive axial stress combinations such as “Von Mises” stress. By provision of bend structures 13, 223 a bending moment is created about a base 2, 22 formed in a test component 1, 21 such that a bending moment force 4, 24 creates a bending moment in the test component 1, 21. This bending moment results in a compressive axial stress reminiscent of that in a practical turbine engine disc as a result of initial thermal gradients. In such circumstances a more realistic testing of the component 1, 21 representative of a practical disc/blade combination is achieved.

Clearly, it is necessary to ensure that components, and in particular critical components within safety and reliability driven technologies such as aircraft engines, meet necessary performance standards. Particular components within an aircraft engine which must be tested in order to determine their life expectancy within the operational environment of an engine are the turbine discs and in particular the high temperature turbine discs within a gas turbine engine. It will be understood that if such turbine discs failed in use there may be catastrophic consequences.
Unfortunately, modern turbine discs are of relatively large size with a large bore section. In such circumstances, during transient operation of an engine incorporating such turbine discs, the speed and attached blade weight to these discs can cause high (circumferential hoop) stressing to the disc upon which the blades are secured. In such circumstances it is necessary to test turbine discs and in particular the materials from which such discs are formed in order to determine expected life in an engine.
Previously, testing of turbine discs has been achieved by simple spin testing of an actual or slightly modified real engine turbine disc component. However, such an approach is undermined by the nature of large bore discs in that in operation, that is to say within an engine, the bore section takes time to heat up as a result of external heating within an operating engine. During this time the bore surface heats first whilst the centre of the bore remains relatively cool. This thermal gradient imparts a compressive axial stress on the bore that may result in erroneous test results. Generally, the compressive axial stress when added to high hoop stress due to rotation leads to a combined (Von-Mises) stress which is often far higher than the simple circumferential hoop stresses tested. In such circumstances, it is believed that the stress level tested using existing hoop stress testing techniques will give unrepresentative detected or projected operational lives compared to testing that covers the actual combination of compressive axial as well as tensile hoop stresses.

Method and test component for rotatable disc parts


An image processing system includes a profile generating section, a designating section, a calculating section and a correcting section. The profile generating section generates a color conversion profile based on first colorimetric values obtained from a first color chart output from a target device and second colorimetric values obtained from a second color chart from an output device other than the target device. The calculating section calculates difference information between a first data value obtained by converting a designated color into a device-independent color space and a second data value obtained by converting the designated color using the color conversion profile into a second color and converting the second color using the device-independent color space. The correcting section corrects the first colorimetric values based on the difference information. The profile generating section generates the color conversion profile again based on the corrected first colorimetric values.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to an image processing system, an image processing method, a computer readable medium storing an image processing program, and a data signal, which can make color conversion of a color image. Particularly, it relates to an image processing system programmed on a computer-readable medium, an image processing program and an image processing method suitable for use in a color proof system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A so-called color proof system in which a trial proof obtained by simulating a print color with using a simplified color printer (such as an electrophotographic printer or an ink-jet printer) is output so that color proofreading is performed on the basis of the trial proof in a process before a printed matter is formed by a press (such as a rotary press for forming a final printed matter) has been used in the color printing trade in recent years.
To perform color proofreading by using such a color proof system, a color reproducible by a press needs to be reproduced by a color printer. Incidentally, the printing press and the color printer are print output devices different from each other, so that the printing press and the color printer are different from each other in device-dependent color characteristic. Therefore, a combination of colorimetric data obtained by measuring a color chart of color patches output from the printing press and CMYK data corresponding to the colorimetric data and a combination of colorimetric data obtained by measuring a color chart output from the color printer and CMYK data corresponding to the colorimetric data are used in the color proof system when color proofreading is performed. A printing press color profile is generated from the combination of colorimetric data and CMYK data with respect to the printing press whereas a printer profile is generated from the combination of colorimetric data and CMYK data with respect to the color printer. The printing press color-dependent CMYK data used for color proofreading are converted into a device-independent color space, such as an XYZ color space or an L*a*b* color space defined by CIE (Commission International de l'Eclairage), by the printing press color profile and then further converted into color printer-dependent CMYK data by the printer profile. In this manner, a color proof sample approximate to the printing press color generated by the printing press can be obtained by the color printer. Accordingly, the printing press color generated by the printing press can be simulated by the color printer, so that simple color proofreading can be performed before pressing is made by the printing press.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer readable medium and data signal


A composite membrane suitable for use in an electrochemical cell, comprises layers of a hydrophilic material and of a second material having relatively high conductivity and which is also relatively susceptible to dehydration.

Many ionic polymer membranes used in electrochemical cells are an electrolyte comprising only one active material, having homogeneous properties throughout. The properties of the membrane will have an effect on the performance of the electrochemical cell, such as cross-over coefficient, conductivity, mechanical strength, softness, water content and hydration control. Optimisation of one property may lead to a reduction in performance, due to effects on other properties.
Nafion is a fluorinated polymer with side-chains containing strongly ionic groups. It is a thermoplastic material which shows high conductivity and low cross-over, but suffers from dehydration when used in a fuel cell unless gases and their associated hydration levels are carefully managed. In addition, contact between this material and a catalyst in a MEA requires hot-pressing, and this contact often suffers delamination when the MEA is re-hydrated in or before use.
WO2006/131758 describes graft copolymers that can be used as membrane materials. They are obtained by forming a polymer film, and reacting the film with a material having strongly ionic groups, to form a polymer film having the ionic groups grafted thereon.
WO03/023890 discloses hydrophilic materials including a strongly ionic group, suitable for use in electrochemical cells. They comprise a polymer, optionally cross-linked, obtainable by copolymerisation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers, a monomer including a strongly ionic group, and water.
WO2005/124893 and PCT/GB2007/000949 describe composite membranes utilising hydrophilic cross-linked polymers of the type described in WO03/023890.
WO2006/032887 describes a method of performing an electrochemical reaction in an electrochemical cell comprising electrodes separated by a membrane capable of taking up an electrolyte. The method comprises introducing into the cell an oxidisable component and an electrolyte, and oxidising the fuel in the presence of an acid or alkali.

Composite membranes having a hydrophilic material and a conductive material susceptible to dehydration and their use in electrochemical cells


A digital phase locked loop includes a phase acquisition unit for producing a digital representation of the phase of a reference signal, a digital phase detector having a first input receiving a digital signal from, or derived from, the output of the phase acquisition unit, digital loop filter filtering the output of the digital phase detector, and a digital controlled oscillator generating an output signal under the control of the digital loop filter. A digital feedback loop provides a second input to the digital phase detector from the output of the digital controlled oscillator.

In the design of a PLL a critical issue is the design of the phase detector as it includes a number of factors that limit performance of the PLL. A conventional analog PLL typically is constructed as shown in FIG. 1. In this Figure a phase detector determines the difference between two phase signals, one being the feedback signal and the other being the reference signal. The output of the phase detector is fed to a filter section, which may for instance be P type only (Proportional) but typically will be PI type (Proportional-Integral), providing a so-called type II PLL. The filter feeds to a controlled oscillator, which in FIG. 1 is a voltage or current controlled oscillator. The frequency generated by the controlled oscillator is divided and fed back to the input of the phase
The analysis of such a Phase Locked Loop or PLL is typically done using Black's formula to analyze bandwidth of the closed loop, overshoot, peaking and the like.
Analog PLL's have several limitations for which digital PLLs have a much better performance. This results from the different nature of digital PLL. In a digital PLL the phase signal is sampled and used to control a digitally controlled oscillator or DCO. Digital PLLs have several advantages including simple and accurate holdover. If there is no reference signal available a digital PLL can use its current or an historic DCO setting to maintain the same output frequency without any error in the digital control value. A digital PLL will typically rely on stability of its clock signal to achieve this, which mostly will come from a crystal oscillator. Analog PLLs will have other, less stable elements in their structure to rely upon.
A digital PLL will have no difficulty providing extreme bandwidths in the order of 10 MHz, which is very difficult for analog PLLs. A digital PLL relies on the stability of its clock.
A digital PLL can handle extremely low input frequencies such as 1 Hz. An analog PLL will introduce a lot of noise of the phase detector, charge pump and the like, as all noise of the analog elements will be folded back into a small frequency band. The noise of the crystal of a digital PLL will also be folded back, but remain much lower in absolute size. A typical digital PLL looks a lot like an analog PLL and is shown in FIG. 2. A sampling unit supplies the input to the phase detector which in turn supplies the signal to the digital filter, the DCO and frequency synthesizer. However, digital PLLs are susceptible to the additional of noise that is added to the feedback signal during the re-sampling process.
Examples of typical prior art circuits are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,602,884; 7,006,590; and 5,905,388.


A method to connect a lifting assembly to a bore of a downhole tubular includes providing a communication tool to a distal end of the lifting assembly, the communication tool comprising a body assembly, an engagement assembly, a valve assembly and a seal assembly, sealingly engaging a first portion of the seal assembly in the bore of the downhole tubular, selectively permitting fluid to flow between the lifting assembly and the downhole tubular with the valve assembly, and disengaging the first portion of the seal assembly from the bore of the downhole tubular.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure generally relates to a connector establishing a fluid-tight connection to a downhole tubular. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a connector establishing a fluid-tight connection between a downhole tubular and a lifting assembly. Alternatively, the present disclosure relates to a connector establishing a fluid-tight connection between a downhole tubular and another tubular.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known in the industry to use a top-drive assembly to apply rotational torque to a series of inter-connected tubulars (commonly referred to as a drillstring comprised of drill pipe) to drill subterranean and subsea oil and gas wells. In other operations, a top-drive assembly may be used to install casing strings to already drilled wellbores. The top-drive assembly may include a motor, either hydraulic, electric, or other, to provide the torque to rotate the drillstring, which in turn rotates a drill bit at the bottom of the well.
Typically, the drillstring comprises a series of threadably-connected tubulars (drill pipes) of varying length, typically about 30 ft (9.14 m) in length. Typically, each section, or "joint" of drill pipe includes a male-type "pin" threaded connection at a first end and a corresponding female-type "box" threaded connection at the second end. As such, when making-up a connection between two joints of drill pipe, a pin connection of the upper piece of drill pipe (i.e., the new joint of drill pipe) is aligned with, threaded, and torqued within a box connection of a lower piece of drill pipe (i.e., the former joint of drill pipe). In a top-drive system, the top-drive motor may also be attached to the top joint of the drillstring via a threaded connection.
During drilling operations, a substance commonly referred to as drilling mud is pumped through the connection between the top-drive and the drillstring. The drilling mud travels through a bore of the drillstring and exits through nozzles or ports of the drill bit or other drilling tools downhole. The drilling mud performs various functions, including, but not limited to, lubricating and cooling the cutting surfaces of the drill bit. Additionally, as the drilling mud returns to the surface through the annular space formed between the outer diameter of the drillstring and the inner diameter of the borehole, the mud carries cuttings away from the bottom of the hole to the surface. Once at the surface, the drill cuttings are filtered out from the drilling mud and the drilling mud may be reused and the cuttings examined to determine geological properties of the borehole.
Additionally, the drilling mud is useful in maintaining a desired amount of head pressure upon the downhole formation. As the specific gravity of the drilling mud may be varied, an appropriate "weight" may be used to maintain balance in the subterranean formation. If the mud weight is too low, formation pressure may push back on the column of mud and result in a blow out at the surface. However, if the mud weight is too high, the excess pressure downhole may fracture the formation and cause the mud to invade the formation, resulting in damage to the formation and loss of drilling mud.
As such, there are times (e.g., to replace a drill bit) where it is necessary to remove (i.e., "trip out") the drillstring from the well and it becomes necessary to pump additional drilling mud (or increase the supply pressure) through the drillstring to displace and support the volume of the drillstring retreating from the wellbore to maintain the well's hydraulic balance. By pumping additional fluids as the drillstring is tripped out of the hole, a localized region of low pressure near or below the retreating drill bit and drill pipe (i.e., suction) may be reduced and any force required to remove the drillstring may be minimized. In a conventional arrangement, the excess supply drilling mud may be pumped through the same connection, between the top-drive and drillstring, as used when drilling.
As the drillstring is removed from the well, successive sections of the retrieved drillstring are disconnected from the remaining drillstring (and the top-drive assembly) and stored for use when the drillstring is tripped back into the wellbore. Following the removal of each joint (or series of joints) from the drillstring, a new connection must be established between the top-drive and the remaining drillstring. However, breaking and re-making these threaded connections, two for every section of drillstring removed, is very time consuming and may slow down the process of tripping out the drillstring.
Previous attempts have been made at speeding up the process of tripping-out. GB2156402A discloses methods for controlling the rate of withdrawal and the drilling mud pressure to maximize the speed of tripping-out the drillstring. However, the amount of time spent connecting and disconnecting each section of the drillstring to and from the top-drive is not addressed.
Another mechanism by which the tripping out process may be sped up is to remove several joints at a time (e.g., remove several joints together as a "stand"), as discussed in GB2156402A. By removing several joints at once in a stand (and not breaking connections between the individual joints in each stand), the total number of threaded connections that are required to be broken may be reduced by 50-67%. However, the number of joints in each stand is limited by the height of the derrick and the pipe rack of the drilling rig, and the method using stands still does not address the time spent breaking the threaded connections that must still be broken.
In addition to the above, there may be applications where it is desirable to displace fluid from the borehole, particularly, for example, when lowering the drillstring (or a casing-string) in deepwater drilling applications. In such deepwater applications, the seabed accommodates equipment to support the construction of the well and the casing used to line the wellbore may be hung and placed from the seabed. In such a configuration, a drillstring (from the surface vessel) may be used as the mechanism to convey and land the casing string into position. As the drillstring is lowered, successive sections of drillstring would need to be added to lower the drillstring (and attached casing string) further. However, as the bore of the typical drillstring is much smaller than the bore of a typical string of casing, fluid displaced by the casing string will flow up and exit through the smaller-bore drillstring, at increased pressure and flow rates. Designs such as those disclosed in GB2435059A would not allow reverse flow of drilling mud (or seawater) as would be required in such a casing installation operation.
Embodiments of the present disclosure seek to address these and other issues of the prior art.

Hydraulic connector apparatuses and methods of use with downhole tubulars


A laser-decomposable resin composition, includes: (A) a polymer compound containing a structure represented by formula (0) as a repeating unit in a main chain of the polymer compound:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laser-decomposable resin composition, more specifically, a composition which can be engraved by a laser and satisfies both high decomposability and high stability, and a pattern-forming material using the composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
The decomposable resin and decomposable resin composition are a material such that the resin decomposes in response to an external factor such as thermal factor, mechanical factor, photochemical factor, radiation chemical factor and chemical factor, and are widely known. Changes caused by decomposition of the resin, that is, changes in the form (liquefaction, vaporization) between before and after decomposition of the resin or composition and changes in the nature or property such as molecular weight, hardness, viscoelasticity, glass transition temperature (Tg), solubility and adhesive property, are utilized and these resins or compositions are being used in various fields.
Examples of the decomposable resin and decomposable resin composition include a biodegradable plastic (e.g., polylactic acid) for decreasing the environmental effect of plastic materials, and a sustained-release material for gradually releasing a preparation, a fragrance or the like, which is used, for example, in the fields of medical treatments, cosmetics and life science. These are, however, a material which gradually decomposes in oxygen, light, enzyme, living body, soil or the like under a natural environment, but are not a material which stably maintains the initial state and abruptly brings about a great change in the nature by the effect of external stimulation.
In order to ensure a recycling property or simplify the waste treatment, there have been developed, for example, a resin which decomposes, or an adhesive which decreases in the adhesive property, by the effect of light or heat. It is also known to form a porous material by mixing a decomposable resin with ceramic, carbon fiber or the like and removing the decomposable resin through firing. However, these are a technique of treating and processing the material as a whole but not a technique of forming a necessary pattern only in a necessary portion. Furthermore, the decomposition treatment requires a large energy.
As for utilization in the image formation, there is known, for example, a technique of satisfying both storage stability as a toner and image fixing property by using a toner containing a thermally decomposable resin and utilizing changes in the nature due to heat at the fixing under heating. Here, however, the resin itself is not satisfactorily responsive to pattern-like stimulation.
As regards the pattern-forming material, for example, a photoresist of which pattern formation is performed by subjecting a composition containing a photoacid generator and an acid-decomposable resin to pattern-like exposure and, if desired, heat treatment to cause pattern-like decomposition of the resin and developing the resist film, is widely known as a so-called chemical amplification-type resist. Both storage stability and pattern-forming property of this composition are satisfied in a practical level, but a development process under satisfactorily controlled processing conditions is indispensable for the pattern formation and although applicable to a thin film, this composition can be hardly applied to pattern formation of a thick film, for example, in several tens of μm or more.
Furthermore, a method of forming an image by utilizing a step of imagewise irradiating laser light to partially remove (ablate) a thin film is known (see, JP-A-10-119436 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application")). However, examples described for the compound employed as a thermally decomposable resin are merely a normal general-purpose resin such as polyester, polycarbonate and polyurethane, and the film thickness is approximately from 1 to 2 μm at most. There is also known a case using a compound of which thermal decomposability is specified (see, JP-A-10-244751). However, even in this case, the film thickness is approximately from 1 to 2 μm at most.
As regards the mask material for use in paste printing or the like on a printed wiring board, a mask for forming a pattern of approximately from 100 to 200 μm by utilizing a photodecomposable sheet, and a production method thereof are disclosed (see, JP-A-8-258442). However, this patent publication is silent on specific compounds, and a controlled development processing is indispensable, because the pattern is formed by adjusting the degree of exposure and development.
On the other hand, as regards the technique of forming a pattern in a thick film by a simple processing, for example, pattern formation by laser processing is known, where a substrate itself is removed, deformed or discolored by the imagewise irradiation of laser light. For example, a laser marker is utilized for entering information such as lot number in products (e.g., videotape, home electric appliance) comprising various substrates. In this case, however, a normal resin or the like is directly used as the substrate itself.
In the pattern formation by laser processing, it is demanded that a laser-engraved part (trough) is swiftly formed. For this purpose, a laser-decomposable pattern-forming material having high sensitivity is necessary.
Particularly, in the case of a flexographic printing plate precursor of laser direct-drawing type (a so-called laser engravable flexographic printing plate), easy engravability by laser light (engraving sensitivity) governs the plate-making speed and therefore, a laser-engravable flexographic printing plate using a laser-decomposable resin composition having high sensitivity is demanded.
On the other hand, an imine bond is easily hydrolyzed in the presence of an acid catalyst. It is known that by utilizing this property, a polymer containing an imine bond is hydrolyzed by an acid and reduced in the molecular weight (see, JP-A-2003-73470 and H. Kanazawa, et al., Macromolecules, 39, 138-144 (2006)). Also, as for the composition of which depolymerization reaction proceeds under the action of a catalytic active species generated due to heat, there are known a depolymerization reaction by an acid generated from an acid generator (see, Y. Konno, et al., Polymer J., 36, 531-537 (2004) and JP-A-2003-119281), and depolymerization using a photoacid generator of polyphthalaldehyde (see, H. Ito et al., J. Photopolym. Sci. Technol., 3, 219-233 (1990)). In these publications, a depolymerization reaction or a resist composition is disclosed, but in a high-sensitivity system, occurrence of a decomposition reaction during production or storage of the composition can be hardly suppressed. Accordingly, a highly sensitive, highly stable composition is demanded.

Laser-decomposable resin composition and pattern-forming material using the same

Abstract: wherein R1 represents H or a hydrocarbyl group which may have a substituent; and (B) a photo-latent or heat-latent catalyst, and a pattern-forming material, includes: a layer containing the laser-decomposable resin composition.


A pipe-fitting device capable of easily connecting pipes having different diameters includes a fitting body and a pair of fixing nuts. The fitting body includes a first channel portion having a first inner diameter formed in a first inner side of the fitting body, a second channel portion having a second inner diameter formed in a second inner side of the fitting body, the second inner diameter being smaller than the first inner diameter such that a step is formed inside the fitting body at the boundary between the first channel portion and the second channel portion. Each fixing nut is rotatably coupled to a corresponding open end of the fitting body and configured to fix the corresponding one of the first pipe and the second pipe through rotational tightening.

Commonly, in order to connect tubes, the tubes are expanded for another tube to be inserted and are connected through welding. However, the connection of the tubes through welding requires a specialized skill of an expert and a working tool for welding. In addition, welding can cause fire hazards and require a long working time.
In order to overcome such disadvantages, a fitting device has been developed to allow tubes to be coupled by a nut. The fitting device does not require a specialized skill and various working tools. In addition, the fitting device does not need any welding, so does not cause fire hazards. Above all, the fitting device requires a short working time.
However, although the fitting device for connecting pipes can quickly connect pipes, there is a problem in that airtightness between the pipes have to be maintained after the pipes are connected.
Also, in a pipe connection, it is difficult to connect pipes that have different diameters. Also, when there is a gap between pipes or pipes overlap with each other, it is difficult to connect the pipes.

Pipe-fitting device for connecting pipes having different diameters


A control supervision system incorporates a digital serial communication and modules that are mutually communicable to this and operate with CAN-protocol. A control desk can be wirelessly connected to one or more modules operating with a signal protocol which does not take into account arbitration and/or confirmation functions appearing in the CAN-system. A particular receiving communication part executes the conversion of the signal protocol to the signal protocol of the CAN-system. A device for controlling a function in a first module in a CAN-system via a wireless connection to a second module in the system is provided. A system of mutually separate units, where each unit operates with a CAN-signalling protocol, intercommunicating with an identification system in which a key allocation between the units is based upon identities that are assigned by a module in the unit or a master system is also provided.

The present invention relates to a device in a machine-control system and/or process-supervision system operating with the Controller Area Network" ("CAN")-protocol according to standard ISO 11898. CAN-systems of this type comprise modules which are intercommunicable via a digital serial communication and in which a control and/or supervisory function can be realized from a first module or from a unit, which is communicable with the CAN-system, belonging to one or more second module(s).
The present invention relates to a device in a machine-control system or process-control system. The said system has in the present case been referred to as a CAN-system, since the systems in question are required to use the signal protocol according to CAN (Controller Area Network, corresponding to standard ISO 11898). The invention in this case relates to those types of CAN-system comprising modules which are connectable via a digital serial communication and in which a function in a first module is intended to be able to be observed, stimulated or registered at a location for the placement of the first module. Reference is also made to Swedish patent application "Device in a system operating with CAN-protocol", which was submitted on the same day by the same applicant and inventor.
It is previously known to be able to control machinery and equipment at control desks which are connected via fixed connections or wireless connections. These proposals make use of the general control and supervision principles. With reference to control desk arrangements proposed with CAN-protocol, the arrangements in question are primarily those with wire connections. Reference is also made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,454.
With machine-control and process-control systems of this category, it is previously known that it is necessary to supervise the aggregates served by the modules such that in fault-searching, system design, etc., it is possible to establish whether the equipment controlled by a particular module is behaving as expected. It can be stated in this context that it may be necessary to monitor the functions at valves, thermometers, etc., so that in certain functional states it can be seen or registered whether the components in question are actually performing their expected function. It is also known to utilize machine-control systems and process-control systems in which the equipment parts are connected via relatively long digital serial communications. The connection can also be established at locations and sites where accessibility is limited.
In the radio-controlling of machines operating with CAN-protocol, problems arise from the fact that the protocol calls for arbitration and confirmation functions which are extremely time-critical. In order to ensure that the modules do not misinterpret a particular message in question, in certain cases the receipt of a one over the connection must result, for example, in a zero being immediately presented to prevent disturbances occurring within the system. This calls for sending and receiving to be effected simultaneously by one and the same module, which, in turn, calls for a full duplex connection and time synchronization between the sending and receiving channel in each module and predetermined maximum wave propagation time within the system. This is difficult to achieve in a radio system when such a system is often chosen to enable the distance between the modules within a system which are connected by radio link to be easily varied. Radiocommunication is therefore less suitable for systems using the CAN-protocol. The object of the present invention is to solve these problems.
In certain contexts, it is vital to be able to make use of repetition functions linked to machines or machinery stocks operating with CAN-protocol. At places which are difficult to survey or difficult to access, there is a need to build up an existing CAN-system and introduce a repetition function over difficult stretches or to create on a temporary or longer term basis two separately working CAN-systems instead of one. In this context, there is a need to be able to facilitate system developments and system applications. The object of the invention is to solve these problems also.
There is also a need to achieve effective coordination of machine-controls in machinery stocks, e.g. in weaving sheds in which weaving machines have hitherto been controlled individually and provided with their own man-machine interface such as control desks. There is a wish to be able to introduce CAN-protocol into the control of machines of this category, this having been hindered by the above-specified problems. The object of the present invention is to solve these problems also and it is proposed, in respect of this category of machinery-stock control, that the controls be effected via radiocommunication from and to a common man-machine interface, such as a control unit or control desk. The control equipment, is thereby simplified and a coordinated, effective control is able to be established in terms of service and production via or in the machinery stock.
Radiocommunication is often utilized between an operator's control unit and the control system of the machine which he controls. Examples of such systems are radio-controlled airplanes, radio-controlled contracting machinery, radio-controlled hoisting cranes, etc. of various types. One problem is here to set up a radio channel which is exclusively between control unit and machine, such that the connection is not disturbed by other operator/machine connections. The object of the present invention is to solve this problem also.
The invention also allows reduced susceptibility to theft and offers high security within the system per se.
There is a great need to be able to carry out fault searches and tests on modules which are situated at a distance apart and in which a functional effect upon a first module is wanted to be able to be followed at a second module, and vice versa. For instance, there is a desire in certain situations to initiate controls at a master in the CAN-system in order to obtain manifestations at one or more slave modules. There is here a need to see whether the function is being correctly performed by the components or aggregates controlled by the module in question.
There is also a need to be able to stimulate a component or aggregate at a module and to discover what repercussions this has.
There is also a need to be able to carry out registration operations in a fault-searching and testing context for a certain period, as well as to acquire direct visual and signal information at the site for the module subjected to testing or fault-searching.
The above must be practicable even if the modules are far apart and hidden from each other. Preferably, the above will be able to be effected via an already existing switching function, i.e. connections and disconnections do not need to be made in each separate case/in respect of each module.

Device in a system operating with CAN-protocol and in a control and/or supervision system


An electrical circuit that provides accurate, regulated output voltage over a wide range of input voltages, while exhibiting each of three desired characteristics: accuracy across different supply/process/temperature; stability and linearity yielding phase/gain margins; and high (good) power supply rejection ratio (PSRR). The circuit comprises an output node having a load current and an amplifier having a first input coupled to a reference voltage and receiving a bias input current that is a pre-established proportionate size of the load current across the output node, such that a change in the load current results in a proportionate change in the bias input current. The electrical circuit represents a voltage regulator that provides accurate, linear output voltage that is a predictable portion of the reference voltage.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to electrical circuit and in particular to voltage regulators and designs thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, output impedance and thus output voltage of load regulator devices fluctuate due to one or more of a plurality of factors, including changes in temperature or other operating environmental conditions, and/or changes in current, etc. experienced by the circuit. Voltage (or load) regulation, which measures and counters variations in regulator output voltage due to changes in loading is conventionally dependent on output impedance. Those skilled in the art of electrical circuits and circuit design appreciate the need/desire for accurate, linear output characteristics of load/voltage regulator circuits/devices.
In integrated circuit (IC) chip design, for example, the circuit devices that make up the IC chip typically require a pre-set amount of input voltage (falling within some definable range of acceptable voltage) for proper operation of the devices. To reduce the effects of various nonlinearities which otherwise adversely impact the accuracy of the output voltage, most conventional voltage regulator circuits implement negative feedback to set the output voltage. The negative feedback utilizes open loop gain to lower the output impedance and improve load regulation, increasing accuracy of the output voltage. In addition to increased accuracy, negative feedback also lowers other nonlinear effects and improves line regulation, a measurement of the variation in regulator output voltage due to changes in input voltage.
With conventional voltage regulators, certain tradeoffs must be made when implementing negative feedback. Among these tradeoffs are: (1) accuracy of output voltage versus non-linear environmental/circuit factors (e.g., supply/process/temperature); (2) unconditional stability of the feedback loop which yields acceptable Phase/Gain margin and prevents oscillation; and (3) low PSRR (Power Supply Rejection Ratio), a measurement which tracks how much the output moves due to movements in the input supply (observed effects of an AC supply source and/or noise on the input)
With conventional voltage regulator circuits, it is difficult to satisfy all three tradeoffs simultaneously, particularly over a wide input voltage range. However, such a circuit would be extremely desirable.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method includes monitoring, at a base station of a wireless network, channel quality information corresponding to a wireless channel used by the base station to stream media content to a communication device. The media content is streamed to the communication device at a particular effective transfer rate via data bursts. The method includes selecting, at the base station, a size of a data burst to send to the communication device and a download rate for the data burst. The size and the data rate are based on the channel quality information. The method also includes sending the data burst to the communication device at a first time from the base station.

A user of a communication device may choose to view media content (e.g., video content) on a display of the communication device. The media content may be streamed to the communication device via a wireless network. A base station or multiple base stations may stream the media content to the communication device. Streaming content indicates that the user may begin playback of the media content before all of the media content is delivered to the communication device. Delivery of the media content to the communication device may be paced by transmitting data in bursts to the communication device. However, pacing transmission of the data may limit the base station's ability to use resources (e.g., radio resources) of the base station efficiently.

Adaptive pacing of media content delivery over a wireless network


A hand held motor powered device for percutaneous thrombolysis and evacuation of a clot from a clotted arterio-venous fistula is disclosed. The percutaneous thrombectomy device is provided with a plurality of nested coaxial lubricious catheters. The multi-functional thrombectomy device can simultaneously and sequentially degrade and evacuate a blood clot from a blood vessel by multiple modalities that combines to degrade the clot by mechanical agitation, fragmentation and disruption, by peri-thrombus delivery of enzymatic fluids, by irrigation with biocompatible fluids, and by balloon displacement. The thrombectomy device further provides for balloon containment and isolation of clot debris from the general circulation, thereby minimizing the risks to a patient of embolic sequelae. There is also provided an optional steering mechanism for controlled deflection of the working end of the device.

Patients with end-stage renal disease, regardless of etiology, require hemodialysis several times a week as an absolute medical necessity. Furthermore, such dialysis-dependent patients have chronic pulmonary compromise due to ventilation perfusion mismatching. Consequently, end stage renal patients have an increased susceptibility to further pulmonary insults, which may include the accumulated micro-thrombi that can shower the pulmonary microvasculature as micro-emboli during relatively uncontrolled thrombolytic and thrombectomy interventions.
Hemodialysis necessarily, inherently requires a reliable vascular access supplied with a robust blood flow that can support the associated large fluid and blood volume shifts. In order to provide adequate vascular access, an AV fistula is surgically created by anastamosing a peripheral artery and vein, typically in an arm or leg. The turbulent blood flow within an AV fistula creates areas of relative blood stasis which thereby predispose to thrombus formation and clot growth that often further leads to occlusion of the vascular lumen. Clotted AV fistulae are relatively common, and necessitate surgical clot removal, or synonymously, thrombectomy to salvage the AV fistula vascular access; if the clot is too extensive, it becomes necessary to tie off, which is to say, ligate, the clotted AV fistula and create a new one at another anatomic site.
Furthermore, AV fistula thrombectomies are done in an Operating Room since currently available techniques involve either open dissection with arteriotomy access to the clot, or closed techniques with the associated increased risks of uncontrolled hemorrhage, both situations requiring the concentrated resources available in an operating room.
It is a goal of the present invention to provide a medical thrombectomy device that can safely be used outside the operating room, whether in a facility x-ray suite or dialysis unit, in a procedure room or bedside.
It is also a goal of the subject invention to provide for optimal thrombectomy by the combined effects of mechanical agitation and shearing and balloon displacement with peri-thrombus delivery of pharmacologic agents.
It is an important objective of the present invention to minimize the size of the access puncture into the blood vessel in order to insert the thrombectomy devices' nested coaxial catheters.


In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the via comprises one or more stacks, each stack comprising a seed layer of a first electrically conducting material formed on a smooth surface; a trace of a second electrically material that is electroplated on the seed layer; a column in electrical contact with the trace, the column comprising a third electrically conducting material that is electroplated on the trace; and an insulating material on the substrate and trace, the insulating material having a smooth upper surface in which the column is exposed. Additional vias may be stacked in tiers one on top of the other with the seed layer of one via making non-rectifying electrical contact with the exposed column of the via below it. Methods for forming the via structure are also disclosed.

The back-end structures of integrated circuits typically comprise multiple layers of patterned metal layers that are interconnected by vias. The metal layers are formed by alternately depositing insulating layers and metal layers on a semiconductor substrate and patterning each metal layer to define electrical traces that interconnect the devices formed in the semiconductor substrate. The layers are interconnected by etching or drilling holes in the insulating layers between the metal layers and filling the holes with an electrically conducting material such as copper or tungsten.
The process of etching or drilling holes in the insulating material uses a relatively large amount of the space available in the various back-end layers and the need to allow for a certain amount of additional space around the via for pads and/or for isolation consumes even more space.

Via structure and method for its fabrication


Compounds are provided having the following structure which are HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and thus are active in inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis, modulating blood serum lipids, for example, lowering LDL cholesterol and/or increasing HDL cholesterol, and treating hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, hormone replacement therapy, hypercholsterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and atherosclerosis as well as Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis

U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,440 and Reissue 37314 disclose rosuvastatin which has the structure

Rosuvastatin is also disclosed in Masamichi Watanabe et al. (Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry (1997), 5(2), 437-444).
Japanese Patent Application 06256318-A (corresponding to Japanese Patent 3197971 granted Aug. 1, 2001) discloses 5-carboalkoxy pyrimidine derivatives of the structure
where R1, R2 and R3 can be independently H, alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, and A can be NR7R8 where R7 and R8 can be independently H, alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl among others. It is disclosed that these compounds are intermediates for preparing HMG CoA reductase inhibitors.
Beck et al., Synthesis and Biological Activity of New HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors. 1. Lactones of Pyridine—and Pyrimidine-Substituted 3,5-Dihydroxy-6-heptenoic (-heptanoic) Acids, J. Med. Chem. 1990, 33, 52-60 (mentioned in Japanese Patent Application 06256318-A) discloses compounds of the structure
where Y can be CH or N;                A-B may be —CH═CH—;        R1 may be an alkyl including i-CH3H7;        R2 may be an aryl incluing 4-FC6H4; and        R3 may be an alkyl or an aryl;which compounds may be prepared from intermediates of the structure

EP367895 (mentioned in Japanese Patent Application 06256318-A) discloses pyrimidinyl-substituted hydroxyacids, lactones and esters which are inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis and have the structure
where R1 can be alkyl;                Q can be aryl;        X can be —CH2CH2— or —CH═CH—;        Y can be
or a lactone thereof;and R2 can be —N(R8)2 where each R8 is independently C1-C4 alkyl or both R8 together with the nitrogen atom form part of a 5-,6- or 7-membered optionally substituted ring, which may contain a further oxygen heteroatom, preferably 4-morpholinyl. These compounds may be prepared using intermediates of the structure

Abstract: wherein X is N or CR5;and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,

Abstract: wherein R1 to R7 are as defined herein.

Abstract: A method for treating the above diseases employing the above compounds is also provided.


A parallax image generation device includes: a depth value correction unit which performs correction processing on a depth value, from among a plurality of depth values which define a depth image, to shift a position corresponding to the depth value to be closer to a display screen as the depth value is located closer to an end of the depth image, the display screen being for displaying a parallax image; and a parallax image generation unit which generates a first parallax image and a second parallax image having mutual parallax, using a two-dimensional image and the depth image corrected through the correction processing.

In recent years, a variety of techniques are being developed for depicting a three-dimensional image using a plurality of images having parallax therebetween. When a three-dimensional image is depicted using images having parallax therebetween, there is a problem that an object in an end portion of the three-dimensional image suddenly loses the stereoscopic effect in the end portion, which makes the three-dimensional image look very unnatural.
In Patent Literature (PTL) 1, a technique is disclosed for solving such unnatural look of the three-dimensional image in the end portion (hereinafter refereed to as a conventional technique A).

Parallax image generation device, parallax image generation method, program, and integrated circuit

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A DC-DC switching converter device (101), in particular a quarter-brick or eighth-brick device having an industry standard pin out, comprises a pulse-width modulation circuit (132) for driving a power converting switch, a trim connector (109) for adjusting an output voltage of the device, where the device (101) is designed such that the pulse-width modulation circuit (132) is synchronizable to an external oscillator by an external synchronization signal applied to the trim connector. A DC-DC converting circuit comprises a plurality of DC-DC switching converters (101) featuring trim connectors (109) for adjusting output voltages of the converters (101), whereby the converters (101) are connected such that they share a common input bus. It further features a system EMI (electromagnetic interference) filter common to all the DC-DC switching converters (101) and an external oscillator delivering an external synchronization signal to the plurality of DC-DC switching converters (101). The external oscillator is designed such that a frequency of the external synchronization signal is higher than a free running frequency of each of the plurality of DC-DC switching converters (101). The external oscillator is connected to the trim connectors (109) of the DC-DC switching converters (101).

DC-DC switching converters, i.e. devices that accept a DC input voltage and produce a DC output voltage, in particular on another voltage level, have a wide range of applications in today's power electronics. DC-DC Switching converters are used e.g. for power supplies, DC motor control or battery management. Apart from converting the input DC voltage they provide noise isolation, power bus isolation etc. The switching regulators allow for step-up operation or voltage inversion and offer a higher efficiency compared to linear regulators. Using a transformer as the energy-storage element also allows the output voltage to be electrically isolated from the input voltage.
However, the switching operation of the converter creates noise that has to be suppressed in order to avoid electromagnetic interference (EMI) affecting other devices connected to the power converter. To achieve this, an EMI filter, i.e. a suitable low-pass filter, is commonly arranged on the input side of the converter. The EMI filter rejects the fixed frequency current ripple generated by the switching converter.
In cases where more power has to be delivered into different loads or where different output voltages have to be provided it is known to parallel a plurality of DC-DC converters. The converters share the same input bus and use one common EMI filter. However, this arrangement leads to frequency beating phenomena between different converters sharing the same line input as well as to additional low frequency interferences. Altogether, the peak to peak amplitude of the interference may be about five times higher than those of just the input current ripple created by a single converter. This greatly increases the performance demand for the system EMI filter. In principle, most of the additional interference due to the parallel arrangement of the converters might be avoided by externally synchronizing the converter's switching frequencies.
However, synchronization is not easily possible with basic types of switching converters that are widely used for output voltages of several volts and output currents of about 10-60 A, namely the so-called "quarter-brick" or "eighth-brick" converters. These types have predefined mechanical dimensions and feature an industry-standard pin out, including two input and two output connectors, an On/Off connector for remotely controlling the device, two output sensing connectors for line drop compensation as well as a trim connector (called sometimes the "trim pin" or "trim terminal") for adjusting the output voltage of the device.
However, the industry standard quarter and eighth-brick formats do not allow for an extra pin available for external frequency synchronization. Therefore, a sophisticated EMI filter device has to be employed with prior art quarter or eighth-brick converters, or the DC-DC converting circuit has to be completely redesigned in order to utilize specific DC-DC converters that provide extra pins for synchronization. Both possibilities are costly and cumbersome.


A disk clutch or brake, with inner and outer disk carriers that respectively carry inner and outer disks. The inner and outer disks are arranged axially in alternation next to one another. At least one of the inner and outer disk carriers have radial openings through which coolant flows toward the disks. The inner and/or outer disk carrier have a toothed component, which is fixed to and at least partially axially and radially encompasses a basic component. The inner or outer disks are fixed toothed component to prevent relative rotation while allowing axial displacement. Radial openings are formed in the basic and toothed components to enable a flow of coolant.

Such disk clutches or disk brakes are known in various design embodiments. For example, they are used as shift elements in automatic transmissions of motor vehicles. When made as a wet-running disk clutch this is arranged as the starting clutch in a motor vehicle transmission or even outside it. Wet-running starting clutches are usually cooled by cooling oil radially on the inside, since due to the rotation of the input or outlet side of the clutch, this cooling oil is driven centrifugally outward, providing a transporting action for the cooling oil heated in the clutch.
In the case of a wet-running multiple-disk brake used as a shift member in a variable-speed automatic transmission, this radial transport of the cooling oil is not possible or only very ineffectively so since, when the brake is engaged a rotating brake component is brought to rest against a static brake component with uptake of energy. Accordingly, such brakes are usually either operated completely immersed in the cooling oil or supplied with cooling oil in a controlled manner by way of a pressure gradient.
A conventional wet-running disk clutch is known from DE 41 36 040 C1 in which the cooling oil is delivered to the clutch disks radially from the inside outward. For this, radial openings are formed in an inner disk carrier in an area under the friction linings of the clutch disks, through which the cooling oil can pass to the latter. To achieve an optimum cooling action relatively many radial openings or bores are provided in the disk carrier, which entails comparatively high production costs and can have an adverse effect on the mechanical stability of the disk carrier.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,814 B1 discloses a multiple-disk brake in an automatic transmission in which cooling oil can pass to the disks from the outside inward through an annular channel formed radially above the disk set. This cooling oil delivery takes place under pressure and is controllable by a separate valve. In this disk brake, the one-piece disk carrier, fixed on the housing, has radial bores through which the cooling oil can pass from the annular channel to the disks.
To sufficiently cool the disks, a technical solution, illustrated in FIG. 2, has also become known. In this case an inner disk carrier 1 of a disk clutch is formed as a hub 2 on the radially outer side of which driving teeth 3 for holding the inner disks (not shown here), rotationally fixed, are arranged in the usual manner. Through an axial oil delivery duct 4, a cooling oil can be delivered to the inner disk carrier 1, which then continues on through a plurality of radial bores 5, 6, 7, 8 toward the driving teeth 3 and the clutch disks.
To obtain a particularly effective cooling action and to reduce the number of radial bores while also achieving greater mechanical integrity of the inner disk carrier 1, the bores 5, 6, 7 and 8 are formed more or less radially obliquely in the inner disk carrier 1. However, this is not particularly advantageous in relation to production costs, since these openings 5, 6, 7 and 8 in the inner disk carrier 1 cannot be made by more inexpensive stamping methods.
The purpose of the present invention is to further develop a wet-running disk clutch or disk brake so that a good cooling action is obtained and so that it can be produced more inexpensively than known disk clutches or disk brakes while having comparable cooling properties.

Disk clutch or multiple disk brake comprising a multi-part disk carrier


An exterior framing projector is adapted for use in all weather conditions and includes a hermetically sealed housing with the clear cover over one end through which the light image is projected. The components of the projector are mounted and sealed within the housing and may be positioned on a base carried in the housing with the various components mounted in a manner to be adjusted relative to one another to control focus and image size. A lamp positioning system is provided for assuring accurate alignment of the lamp with the ellipsoidal reflector of the projector.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to framing projectors and is specifically directed to a framing projector adapted for outdoor use.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Framing projectors are well known. Typically, they are lighting fixtures used in stage productions for framing a specific object or area on a stage or for projecting an image on a flat surface behind the stage, such as a skyline or the like to provide a backdrop for a stage play. Such projectors have been almost exclusively limited to indoor use. This is primarily because these projectors are designed to permit heated air created by the lamp to escape from the housing of the projector, which, while desirable, permits the external elements into the housing, possibly damaging the projector components and potentially creating an electrical shortage if the projector were used for extended period of times in uncontrolled conditions such as exterior applications.
However, it remains desirable to use framing type projectors in external environments to, for example, project a specific image on the exterior surface of the building or a billboard or the like or to frame an object to be illuminated without spillover of light to undesired areas. Use of a framing projector eliminates light trespass by precisely controlling the cut out and shape of the light pattern to eliminate light or glare in unwanted areas. Rooftops, flags or details around windows could be illuminated without undesirable spill. Entrances, statues or sidewalks could be illuminated without glare on pedestrians or motorists or other objects. Sculptures, statues, tables or showroom merchandise could be illuminated by projecting precise outlines of the object as seen from the proper location.
Such a projector would provide good illumination of other normally inaccessible areas such as hazardous areas, high temperature areas, smoke stacks or other distant objects. However, framing projectors of the prior art must be mounted in a controlled environmental setting, precluding such uses. Therefore, there remains a need for a framing projector adapted for external installation and use.


An exemplary system has circuitry that receives a first signal, the first signal being generated responsive to a user control for a play speed of a film. The system also includes circuitry that receives a second signal, the second signal being synchronized with a video camera that generates television signals. Circuitry processes the first signal with the second signal, to generate a third signal. Responsive to the third signal, the exemplary system moves a relative position of the film with respect to the video camera, to generate a video signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to television and, more particularly, to converting light signals from a film reel into a standard video signal format.
2. Description of Related Art
Cinema projectors for certain film formats, particularly 8 millimeter film, have not been manufactured since the 1980s. To date, the only options for replaying 8 millimeter film were to use projectors that had had more than 20 years pass since their manufacture or to pay a fee to a video conversion service to convert the film to a video or DVD format. Cinema projectors that are more than 20 years old tend to be aged and decrepit, most are likely to suffer from some malfunction and official support from the most manufacturers is no longer available. In short, even if a member of the general public possesses the film, they do not have any means of projecting the film when their projector breaks down.
Moreover, only high-priced commercial telecine equipment is available for converting the film into the video signal format, making it difficult to obtain substitute equipment for the film projectors.
Furthermore, none of the recording frame rates for film—there are various formats at 16, 18 or 24 frames per second—correspond to the frame rates for video signals (the NTSC format is 30 frames per second, the PAL and SECAM are 25 frames per second), making it useless to simply replace one film frame with one or two video signal frames.
Many formats that interpolate the difference between the film recording frame rate and video signal frame rates, many conversion formats and many telecine devices have been invented, but most of them are of a format that advances the film at fixed speeds and interpolates at the conversion to the video signal stage, and are made for commercial films that are larger in size than the 16 millimeter film recorded at 24 frames per second. For example, Japanese patent applications 2002-359775, 2002-77832 and 2001-103373 all use these methods. The 8 millimeter Film-Video Conversion Device filed under Japanese patent application 2005-252418 by the inventor of the current application provides for a telecine device that is smaller and cheaper than the commercial telecine devices, but it advances the film at a fixed speed and is no different from the devices that interpolate at the conversion to video signal stage. Thus, the processes that interpolate at the stage when the images are converted to a video signal cannot use standard video camera circuits without modification, making it necessary to develop specialized circuits and low-cost production is therefore limited.
Methods of converting the film images to video signals by controlling the film frame advancement have been proposed in such patent applications as Japanese patents Heisei-11-32255 and Heisei-10-126685, and they propose to raise image quality by synchronizing the film frame advancement with the video signal creation, but they do not play the film in real time and do not automatically interpolate the difference between the film recording frame rate and the video signal frame rate. Namely, they are not intended to create video signals from movie and other film in real time. To date, there has been no telecine device using the method of interpolating the difference between recording frame rates and video signal frame rates at the film frame advancement stage, and using standard video camera circuits without modification to convert to a video signal.

Systems and methods of transforming a film signal into a video signal