A face-up document scanning apparatus stitches views from multiple video cameras together to form a composite image. The document scanning apparatus includes an image acquisition system and a frame merger module. The image acquisition, which is mounted over the surface of a desk on which a hardcopy document is placed, has two video cameras for simultaneously recording two overlapping images of different portions of the hardcopy document. By overlapping a portion of the recorded images, the document scanning apparatus can accommodate hardcopy documents of varying thickness. Once the overlapping images are recorded by the image acquisition system, the frame merger module assembles a composite image by identifying the region of overlap between the overlapping images. The composite image is subsequently transmitted for display on a standalone device or as part of a video conferencing system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an over-the-desk document scanning system, and more particularly to, a method and apparatus for generating a composite image of a hardcopy document using images from multiple video cameras.
2. Description of Related Art
Over-the-desk scanning systems that position a video camera above a desk to capture images of hardcopy document are known. An example of such an over-the-desk scanning system is disclosed by Wellner in U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,148 entitled xe2x80x9cInteractive Copying System.xe2x80x9d In operation, the over-the-desk scanning system captures images of hardcopy documents and digitizes them for further processing. These captured images of hardcopy documents arranged on a desk are subsequently displayed on a computer monitor immediately coupled to the over-the-desk scanning system or remotely coupled via a network that form part of a video conferencing system.
Over-the-desk (i.e., face-up) scanning of hardcopy documents with a video camera has several advantages over traditional face-down scanning techniques. One advantage of face-up scanning is that a hardcopy document can be simultaneously read on a physical desktop and scanned without requiring the hardcopy document to be repositioned in a face down orientation. This advantage provides seamless integration between working hardcopy documents positioned on a physical desktop and the electronic document applications operating on a computer to which the over-the-desk video camera is coupled. Another advantage is that additional elements, such as a pointing finger, can be captured, for example, to annotate the hardcopy document in its corresponding scanned representation during a video conferencing session.
Although the use of video cameras is very effective with video conferencing applications, video cameras do not typically yield images with sufficient quality (i.e., resolution) to enable successful document decoding using OCR (Optical Character Recognition). Never the less, it would be desirable for an over-the-desk document scanning system to record large high resolution images of hardcopy documents. These recorded large high resolution images could then either be broadcast as part of a video conferencing system or be edited for use with or in other electronic documents. Furthermore, in order for such an interactive over-the-desk scanning system to perform effectively, it would be desirable that such a system be adapted to record images of hardcopy documents that have an undetermined thickness. It would therefore be advantageous to provide an over-the-desk document scanning system that is adapted to both efficiently generate large high resolution images using video cameras in a manner that is independent of the thickness of a hardcopy document.
In accordance the invention, there is provided an apparatus and method therefor, for scanning hardcopy documents. The apparatus includes an image acquisition system and a frame merger module. Initially, the image acquisition system simultaneously records parts of a hardcopy document positioned face-up on a work surface. The parts of the hardcopy document are recorded without perspective distortion in a first image and a second image by the image acquisition system. A portion of each of the parts of the hardcopy document recorded in the first image and the second image record an identical segment of the hardcopy document. Subsequently, the frame merger module forms a composite image of the hardcopy document by stitching the first image and the second image together at the portions in each image that record the identical segment of the hardcopy document. The frame merger module identifies the portion in the first image and the portion in the second image by computing correlation values of high gradient images of the first image and the second image for different regions of overlap between the first image and the second image.

Dual video camera system for scanning hardcopy documents


A method and apparatus for a natural gas filling station comprising a dispenser; a structure covering the dispenser and having a canopy top; at least one tank disposed on the canopy top, the tank having at least one gas therein comprising CNG or LNG; and at least one line between the tank and the dispenser for communicating the gas between the tank and the dispenser.

Field of the Invention
U.S. natural gas production is increasing and the price of natural gas is currently lower than the price of gasoline or diesel fuel, leading to increasing interest in natural gas-based fuels for vehicles. The most common type of natural gas vehicle operates on compressed natural gas (CNG), but there is also an interest in liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a vehicle fuel, especially for commercial trucks because LNG, which is natural gas super-cooled to its liquid form, has a much higher energy density than CNG.
Description of the Related Art
At CNG refueling stations, the natural gas is typically taken from the local gas utility's line at low pressure, compressed to around 3,600 pounds per square inch gauge ("psig"), and then stored in a vehicle's storage tanks at high pressure. For example, at a "fast-fill" CNG station, the combination of a relatively large compressor coupled with a high-pressure storage tank system fills the vehicle's storage tanks in about the same amount of time it takes to fuel a comparable petroleum vehicle. A typical fast-fill CNG station is shown in FIG. 1. Some of the major components of the fast-fill CNG station include an inlet gas line 10 (from a utility company); a dryer 15 to reduce the moisture content of the natural gas; and a natural gas compressor 20. One example of a natural gas compressor 20 is an Ingersoll Rand compressor package, which includes a compressor, an electric motor, a motor starter, a cooler, and controls. The compressor package will increase the pressure of the natural gas in the inlet gas line 10 from about 5 pounds per square inch gauge ("psig") up to about 5,000 psig. At least one storage vessel 25 is capable of holding natural gas at about 5,000 psig and supplying the natural gas to a gas dispenser 30 for dispensing to a vehicle's storage tanks.
LNG stations are structurally similar to gasoline/diesel stations, because they both deliver a liquid fuel. FIG. 2 illustrates some typical components of an LNG station, including a storage tank 50, a pump 55 for transmitting the liquid fuel from the storage tank 50, some type of a card reader 60 for charging a customer for the liquid fuel, and a dispenser 65 to carry the liquid fuel to a vehicle 70. In the mobile fueling arrangement shown in FIG. 2, LNG is delivered by a tanker truck that contains metering and dispensing equipment onboard to fill the storage tank 50.
In addition to expenses related to construction ($1 to $4 million, according to the Energy Information Administration), a fueling site like the ones shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 require at least one storage tank as well as pumps/compressors. For this reason, there is interest in converting gasoline/diesel stations to those that can supply CNG/LNG. Current attempts to retro-fit existing stations have envisioned setting aside surface area for the tanks, compressors, pumps, and related equipment or even excavating the gasoline/diesel tanks and replacing them with tanks suitable for natural gas. These solutions are expensive and create a substantial change of the footprint of the filling station.
There is a need therefore, for a simple and efficient arrangement to convert or retro-fit a gasoline/diesel station into one that can also provide CNG and/or LNG.


A Gatling-type gun mechanism has a stationary housing having a camming channel and at least one loading/unloading port. A rotor is mounted inside the housing and can be rotated about a longitudinal axis; the rotor carries a plurality of gun barrels, each fixed to the rotor with a respective barrel axis substantially parallel to the rotor longitudinal axis; a like number of stud assemblies, each having a respective axis aligned with the axis of an associated gun barrel; and a like number of cartridge chambers, each interacting with the housing camming channel, during each rotation of said rotor, for reciprocal motion between a rearward location substantially coaxial about the associated stud assembly and a forward location substantially in abutment with the associated gun barrel and enclosing a volume into which a round of ammunition can be placed and removed by radial movement through the loading/unloading port. Each of the stud assemblies has a mechanism for firing a round of ammunition within the enclosed volume of the associated chamber, when that chamber is at its forward location, and when the rotor moves the associated barrel, chamber and stud assembly to a firing location.

The present invention relates to Gatling type guns and, more particularly, to a high-rate-of-fire gun mechanism having a plurality of barrels firing cased telescoped ammunition.
It is now known to provide high-rate-of-fire gun mechanisms of the Gatling type, such as described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,501, issued Feb. 9, 1982, to the assignee of the present application, and incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. It is highly desirable to utilize such mechanisms for firing cased telescoped ammunition, such as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,978 which is, along with the references cited therein, incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Prior Gatling-type guns are known which fired cased telescoped ammunition and used axial chamber motion, but required relatively complex structures for chamber movement and chamber locking functions. It is also highly desirable to provide a high firing rate mechanism having a minimum of moving parts, for ease of design, production, assembly and maintenance.

Gun mechanism for rapidly firing cased telescoped ammunition


The present invention provides an optical information storage apparatus incorporates in a housing: a medium storing section in which optical storage media are stored; an information access section that makes an information access to the optical storage medium; and a medium moving section that moves the optical storage medium between the medium storing section and the information access section, to increase storage capacity and to reduce the size of the apparatus. The medium moving section executes a supply process of moving the optical storage medium along a supply path from the medium storing section to the information access section and a recovery process of moving the optical storage medium along a recovery path from the information access section to the medium storing section, the optical storage medium on the supply path and another optical storage medium being on the recovery path able to pass each other.

In view of the rapid development of information communication industries, an explosive increase in the near future is expected in the amount of data such as transaction information and home page data which are transmitted on a communication network typified by the Internet or the like. Further, more and more virus problems and criminals are occurring on the communication network. Consequently, efforts have been made to make logging on the Internet or the like compulsory. On the basis of these present circumstances and expectations, there is a strong demand for an increase in the capacities of information storage apparatuses. However, a hard disk, a kind of mass information storage apparatus to and from which information can be written and read at high speed, requires high costs for extensions. Accordingly, at present, there is no other way but to dispose of information exceeding the capacity of the hard disk. A magnetic tape storage apparatus, a kind of mass information storage apparatus, enables the inexpensive realization of a large capacity exceeding that of hard disks. However, the magnetic tape is a sequential medium to and from which information is sequentially written or read, and thus offers insufficient information I/O speeds. Consequently, at present, the magnetic tape storage apparatus is used only for applications for the longtime storage of information.
The simple storage of a large amount of data is insufficient to deal with the explosive increase in the amount of data expected to occur in the near future. It is desirable in for example, the following fields to inexpensively enable both the storage of a betabyte-scale amount of information and high-speed accesses within several seconds (what is called near-line accesses) in order to secure advanced retrieval capabilities: the field of data mining in which a consumption trend or the like is found out from a large amount of information such as sale information, the field of experimental data analysis in atomic physics, the field of collation techniques using fingerprints or DNA information, the field of patent information retrieval, the field of banks and securities, the field of electronic clinical charts, and the field of IDC (Internet Data Center).
As a high-speed and mass next-generation storage apparatus, an optical information apparatus which stores information using an optical storage medium typified by MO or DVD is gathering much attention instead of the hard disk and magnetic tape, which have the above disadvantages. The optical information storage apparatus enables information to be read or written at high speed and is expected to offer a drastically increased capacity in the near future as a result of technical renovations such as development of blue laser diodes or surface recording systems. It is also expected to realize a storage capacity comparable to that of the magnetic tape storage apparatus.
A possible next-generation optical information storage apparatus has, for example, a magazine that stores optical storage media, a drive that writes or reads information to or from an optical storage medium, and a changer that moves the optical storage medium between the magazine and the drive, the three components being compactly housed in a housing. If such an optical information storage apparatus is realized, the capacity can be easily increased by increasing the number of optical storage media or arranging optical information storage apparatuses. Moreover, maintenance can be easily carried out by detaching or replacing the multiple magazines and optical storage media arranged in the housing.
For the above next-generation optical information storage apparatus, an optical storage medium on which a read or write operation has been completed needs to be reliably replaced, within a small area, with a new one stored in the magazine. This technique is described, for example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2 in conjunction with a disk auto changer that realizes the precise delivery of disks, in Patent Documents 3 and 4 in conjunction with a disk auto changer having a reduced apparatus size, and in Patent Document 5 in conjunction with a disk changer apparatus having a reduced apparatus size and which realizes the precise delivery of disks.
(Patent Document 1)
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-282770
(Patent Document 2)
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3055247
(Patent Document 3)
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-82010
(Patent Document 4)
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-45164
(Patent Document 5)
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-27408
However, an object of such an optical information storage apparatus as described above is considered to access, at high speed, information dividedly stored in multiple optical storage media as if the information were recorded in a single storage medium. To achieve this object, it is necessary to quickly replace an optical storage medium on which a read or write operation has been completed with one on which the next write or read operation is to be performed. However a technique realizing such replacement is not yet known.

Optical information storage apparatus and optical information storage system


A video camera apparatus having a solid state imager for generating video signals and a black level balance adjusting circuit for automatically adjusting black levels of the video signals. The video camera apparatus comprises an incident light control device, an electronic shutter control circuit, a comparator and a processor. The incident light control device controls the amount of light incident to the solid state imager. The electronic shutter control circuit varies the mode of the solid state imager between at least a first mode and a second mode. The effective accumulating period of the solid state imager in the first mode is different from the corresponding period in the second mode. The comparator compares the voltage level of the video signal obtained in the first mode with that obtained in the second mode. The processor controls the electronic shutter control circuit and the comparator, and activates the black level balance adjusting circuit when the voltage levels of the video signals obtained in the first and the second modes are substantially the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid state imager for use in such video camera apparatuses as the CCD video camera and, more particularly, to an automatic black balance adjusting circuit for adjusting black balances of video signals when incident light to the solid state imager is substantially nil.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Imaging devices utilizing the solid state image detector such as a CCD (charge coupled device) are generally called solid state imagers. Conventional solid state imagers are known sometimes to develop coloring or irregular brightness in black portions of video images that they produce. This phenomenon stems from black imbalance of video signals. The imbalance, leading to image quality deterioration, is attributable to changes in the temperature characteristics of the solid state image detector as well as in the color temperature of incident light to the image detector. One solution to the deterioration in image quality is a black balance adjusting circuit provided in the solid state imager.
FIG. 3 shows a conventional black balance adjusting circuit contained in the solid state imager disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-14554. In FIG. 3, a luminance signal Y fed from a matrix circuit 23 is turned to a control signal by an amplifier circuit 30. The control signal is sent via a resistor 31 and an output terminal 32 to a servo circuit, not shown. Given the control signal, the servo circuit drives an iris motor, not shown, for automatic iris control.
Meanwhile, three primary color signals R, G and B are supplied to the matrix circuit 23 which in turn generates the luminance signal Y and color signals I and Q. The signals R and B are controlled for gain by AGC circuits 21 and 22 so as to reach necessary levels with respect to the signal G. After undergoing gain control, the signals R and B become signals R' and B' that are input to the matrix circuit 23.
The process of gain control takes place as follows: The AGC circuit under control of a memory circuit 26 amplifies the signal R into the signal R' for output to an amplifier 24. The amplifier 24 supplies the memory circuit 26 with an error signal representing the error of the signal R' with respect to the signal G. Based on the information stored in it, the memory circuit 26 outputs to the AGC circuit 21 a gain control signal corresponding to the error signal. Likewise, the AGC circuit 22 under control of a memory circuit 27 amplifies the signal B into the signal B' for output to an amplifier 25. The amplifier 25 supplies the memory circuit 25 with an error signal representing the error of the signal B' with respect to the signal G. Based on the information stored in it, the memory circuit 27 outputs to the AGC circuit 22 a gain control signal corresponding to the error signal. In this manner, the signals R and B are turned respectively into the signals R' and B' at required levels with respect to the signal G for gain control.
Setting a switch 34 to the side of a terminal 34b initiates black balance adjustment and updates gain control information. Specifically, when the switch 34 is set to the terminal 34b side for black balance adjustment, a terminal 34c is connected to ground and the servo circuit is supplied via the output terminal 32 with the control signal clamped substantially to ground voltage by a diode 33. The control signal causes the servo circuit to close the iris in order to shut off incident light. After a predetermined time based on the iris operating time has elapsed, a time constant circuit 35 brings terminals K of the memory circuits 26 and 27 to ground potential. The memory circuits 26 and 27 enter write mode. The gain control information in the memory circuit 26 is updated according to the error signal representing the error of the signal R' with respect to the signal G during incident light shutoff. Similarly, the gain control information in the memory circuit 27 is updated based on the error signal representing the error of the signal B' with respect to the signal G during incident light shutoff.
As described, automatic black balance adjustment is carried out conventionally on the basis of the signal levels of the three primary color signals R, G and B in effect upon complete incident light shutoff. It follows that precise detection of the state of complete incident light shutoff is very important in executing the function.
With three-plate CCD video cameras, optical black level signals derived from the CCD's for the respective colors are timed to set pedestal levels of video signals. Black levels of video signals are set according to the levels (i.e., noise levels) of the three primary color signals R, G and B in effect during complete incident light shutoff. These noise levels vary significantly depending on the difference in characteristics between the CCD's as well as on the temperature characteristics such as dark current. Thus it is difficult to detect the state of complete incident light shutoff through attempts to detect such noise levels. As a result, conventional solid state imagers sometimes start automatic black balance adjustment while the iris is being closed halfway.
In executing automatic black balance adjustment, the above-mentioned prior art solid state imager takes advantage of the fact that it takes the automatic iris about 1.5 seconds going from activation to complete light shutoff. That is, automatic black balance adjustment is arranged to be started about two seconds after operation of the switch 34. In other words, the prior art example substitutes the delayed action of the time constant circuit 35 for the detection of complete incident light shutoff based on signal levels. This means that correct black balance adjustment is not always achieved where the automatic iris works poorly or where a manual iris C-mount lens is utilized.

Video camera apparatus having solid state imager


In the present invention, with respect to a convex-concave structure necessary for respective functions of a servo area in a perpendicular magnetic recording medium, a specification of configuration and magnetic property of a convex-concave magnetic layer of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium is set so as to overcome a demagnetizing field that accelerates thermal fluctuation. Therefore, in a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus using the perpendicular magnetic recording medium having servo tracking signals at convex portions of the magnetic layer formed in a convex-concave pattern, it is possible to suppress degradation of the servo signals caused by the thermal fluctuation to thereby ensure a stable servo function over the long term.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus including a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic recording layer formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern on a substrate and thus having so-called servo areas and information data areas (a magnetic recording medium of a discrete type) and a magnetic head for detecting servo signals on the magnetic recording medium and recording and reproducing information data on and from the medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Improvement in areal recording density of magnetic recording mediums such as hard disks has conventionally been achieved by techniques of both (1) improving the linear recording density and (2) improving the track density. In order to achieve further and higher densification in future, it is necessary to improve the areal recording density based on the foregoing both techniques.
With respect to improving the track density, there have been raised problems of processing limitation about magnetic heads, side-fringe or crosstalk caused by expansion of magnetic fields of magnetic heads, and so forth, and therefore, it can be said that the improvement in areal recording density by progressing the track-density increasing technique for magnetic heads, which is merely an extension of the conventional improvement technique, has reached the limit.
On the other hand, as a technique of improving the linear recording density, reduction in layer thickness and higher coercive forces have been achieved in conventional longitudinal magnetic mediums. However, in terms of further and higher densification of the mediums and stability of recording magnetization against thermal fluctuation, attention has been paid to perpendicular magnetic recording mediums.
Under these circumstances, as a technique of improving the areal recording density and supplementing the higher track densification of the magnetic heads, there have been proposed magnetic recording mediums of a discrete track disk type in which a recording layer is formed in a predetermined convex-concave pattern. For example, JP-A-H11-328662 discloses a magnetic recording medium in which predetermined convex and concave portions are formed on a substrate and a perpendicular magnetic layer in the form of a single layer is formed along the convex and concave portions.
A reduction in spacing is necessary for accomplishing an increase in recording density. However, there is a possibility that the convex-concave shape of the recording layer may impede the stable flying characteristic of a magnetic head and thus cause a problem of head crash or the like. From this point of view, JP-A-H10-222944 discloses a recording medium in which the convex-concave shape changes in a track width direction for the purpose of achieving the flying stability of a magnetic head.
Further, JP-A-2000-195042 proposes a discrete type magnetic recording medium in which concave portions in the convex-concave shape are filled with a nonmagnetic material or another material for ensuring the stability in flying characteristic of a magnetic head.
On the other hand, JP-A-H06-111502 discloses a technique that defines a relationship among the width of each of rectangular tracking servo burst patterns formed by a convex-concave structure on a longitudinal recording medium, the track pitch, and the read width of a reproducing head.
In general, on a magnetic recording medium used in a magnetic disk drive, servo areas necessary for a magnetic head to perform tracking are recorded by a servo track writer.
The servo area generally includes an ISG (Initial Signal Gain) portion, an SVAM (SerVo Address Mark) portion, a Gray code portion, a burst portion, and a pad portion which are in the form of various magnetic patterns for exhibiting predetermined functions, respectively.
The magnetic patterns of the burst portion are each recorded with a width equal to that of one track in a radial direction of the magnetic recording medium. On the other hand, the ISG portion, the SVAM portion, the Gray portion, and the pad portion are each recorded continuously in the disk radial direction over several tracks or entirely.
The recent increase in recording density of magnetic recording apparatuses has been remarkable and, following it, the sizes of recording bits recorded on magnetic recording mediums have been reduced. Consequently, a reduction in size of magnetic grains is also required for ensuring high S/N ratios. In this regard, it is said that, in connection with the longitudinal magnetic mediums which have been widely used, when a value of KuV/kT, i.e. a ratio between a magnetic grain magnetization energy KuV (Ku: magnetic anisotropy constant, V: magnetic grain volume) and an ambient temperature thermal energy kT (k: Boltzmann's constant, T: absolute temperature), becomes smaller than about 60 as a general standard, the so-called phenomenon of thermal fluctuation occurs wherein the magnetization fluctuates with certain probability due to disturbance of the thermal energy and decreases with the passage of time.
In view of this, in order to increase the magnetization energy of the magnetic grains, attention has been paid to the perpendicular magnetic recording mediums that can increase the thickness thereof even at high density.
The perpendicular magnetic recording medium becomes more stable in its magnetization and thus becomes stronger against the thermal fluctuation as the density increases, while, since a diamagnetic field serving to reduce the magnitude of the magnetization increases at low recording density, i.e. in an area where the bit length is large, the influence of the thermal fluctuation tends to be accelerated to reduce the recording magnetization.
Therefore, the area that is most affected by the thermal fluctuation is the servo area where servo signals are recorded at relatively low recording density.
Once recorded, the servo signal is normally not recorded again by the magnetic head, and therefore, it is susceptible to the influence of thermal fluctuation over the long term so that there may arise a problem that the servo signal is degraded due to a reduction in recording magnetization, resulting in reduction of the tracking servo signal quality.
In view of such a problem, JP-A-H11-25402 discloses a technique wherein, in recording magnetization of tracking servo signals in a perpendicular magnetic recording medium having no convex-concave structure, the bit lengths of the servo signals are set such that a maximum demagnetization field at the time of magnetization saturation in recording bits becomes smaller than a coercive force of a recording layer, and wherein relational expressions for the setting are derived.
In this proposed technique, the servo signals are continuously arranged while perpendicular magnetizations M of rectangular bits are alternately inverted as shown in figures of this publication, and therefore, a diamagnetic field Hd generated at a certain bit is reduced in its diamagnetic field due to magnetic fields H from the most adjacent bits. Particularly, the diamagnetic field theoretically becomes zero in a boundary between the bits and it is thus considered that the value approximate to the saturation magnetization is ensured in the vicinity of ideal magnetization transition.
However, as shown in JP-A-H06-111502, in case of the discrete track disk having the convex-concave structure, rectangular recording bits are normally arranged at intervals of one bit in a burst portion which is in the convex-concave shape of a magnetic recording layer corresponding to the servo patterns. Further, rectangular bits each elongate in the disk radial direction are arranged at intervals of one bit in an ISG portion, an SVAM portion, and a Gray code portion.
In the discrete track disk where the magnetic recording layer is processed into the convex-concave structure as described above, as is different from the system in which the inverted magnetizations are continuously recorded on the perpendicular magnetic medium as described in JP-A-H11-25402, convex portions, where servo signals are recorded, of the magnetic recording layer are completely isolated from each other so that there exist no such most adjacent bits that are inversely magnetized and serve to weaken a diamagnetic field. Further, those bits distanced from each other by one bit length are magnetized in the same direction so that the effect of reducing the diamagnetic field is hardly expected and they rather serve to increase the diamagnetic field.
Therefore, there is a demand for design guidelines for the magnetic recording layer convex portions for the servo signals that are formed completely isolated from each other.
On the other hand, when forming the convex-concave structure of a perpendicular magnetic recording layer (magnetic layer), it is possible to shorten the operation time and reduce the production cost as the depth of a concave portion is set smaller. Therefore, it can be said that the manner of forming a convex-concave magnetic layer without completely removing the magnetic layer in the depth direction and of filling concave portions with a nonmagnetic material is a desirable way in terms of simplifying the process and reducing the operation cost.
However, if the convex-concave shape of the magnetic layer is determined without taking a scheme into consideration, there may arise a problem that the servo signal output decreases in relation to the magnitude of the depth of the concave portion of the magnetic layer. Particularly, there is a possibility that various degradation modes may be caused by parameters of the convex-concave structure of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer (magnetic layer), the depth of the concave portion thereof, and further, magnetic properties, applied herein, of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer (magnetic layer) in the servo area. Therefore, with respect to servo tracking signals at the convex portions of the magnetic layer formed in the convex-concave pattern, it has been difficult to ensure a sufficient long-term reliability against thermal fluctuation.
The present invention has been made under these circumstances and has an object to provide a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus including a perpendicular magnetic recording medium having servo tracking signals at convex portions of a magnetic layer formed in a convex-concave pattern, wherein the magnetic recording medium can suppress degradation of the servo signals caused by thermal fluctuation to thereby ensure a stable servo function over the long term.

Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus with recording layer having predetermined convex-concave pattern


A screw conveyor in which mixing and flow-directing paddles are selectively adjustable for use on a wide variety of materials having dissimilar flow characteristics. The adjustable paddles are advantageously applied to a screw, or auger, conveyor of an asphalt paving machine to convey a sufficient amount of unsegregated paving material beneath a center drive case or other problem distribution area.

Conveyors consisting of a continuous or broken-blade helix or screw fastened to a shaft and rotatably driven so that the revolving screw advances material in a predetermined direction are well known. More recently, a portion of the helix or screw in such conveyors has been replaced by individual paddles. The paddles are useful for mixing the conveyed material and for moving the material in a desired direction which may be different than the direction of movement determined by the revolving screw section of the conveyor.
In particular, screw conveyors, or augers, have been advantageously used on paving machines to convey road building materials transversely across the roadbed prior to being leveled and at least partially compacted by a trailing screed assembly. For example, the BG-200B Series Asphalt Pavers manufactured by the assignee of the present invention have hydrostatically driven dual left and right side screw conveyors which operate independently of each other to distribute asphalt paving material across the roadbed, transverse to the direction of travel of the paving machine.
Aggregate mixes such as asphalt paving materials are subject to segregation during movement Transverse segregation of the material is a problem that frequently occurs during lateral distribution of the paving material onto a roadway surface. This problem, more commonly known as "center streak" occurs when a disproportionate amount of coarse aggregate is deposited at the center of the mat being formed. Typically, asphalt material is transferred from a surge bin, or hopper, to the roadway surface, including an area at the transverse center of the machine which lies under a centrally disposed chain drive case for the lateral distribution screw. If not properly mixed, or otherwise inhibited from segregation, coarse aggregate in the asphalt mix tends to roll under the central drive case, fill the underlying region, and inhibit the entrance of smaller aggregate and fines. This produces an area, or strip, of coarse aggregates with few fines to fill voids and bind the mix together. Without the necessary binding materials, the coarse aggregate breaks loose from the road surface, producing a condition commonly known as "ravelling."
In response to this problem, the screw conveyors may have individual paddles disposed near their inboard ends to mix and direct a portion of the paving material inwardly toward the transverse center of the paving machine. This solution works well for some paving materials, but less desirably for others. For example, if the orientation of the paddles is designed to provide the optimum pitch angle for mixing and conveying a selected hot asphalt mix, it will be less effective in distributing other mixes, such as a cold mix or an in-place recycled mix. As a result, it is often necessary to compromise the designed pitch angle of the paddles to provide generally acceptable, but not optimum, mixing and distribution of the more commonly used material mixtures.
The present invention is directed to overcoming the problems set forth above. It is desirable to have a screw conveyor that can be selectively adjusted for changes in the flow characteristics of the conveyed material. Furthermore, it is desirable to have a screw conveyor in which mixing and flow-directing paddles are selectively adjustable for use on a wide variety of materials having dissimilar flow characteristics.


A focus adjustment apparatus that displays an in-focus state in a display region in association with control of a focus lens position. The apparatus includes a signal generation unit configured to output a pair of image signals from a focus detection region having a plurality of corresponding display regions, the image signals being generated by photoelectrically converting light having passed through an imaging optical system, and a control unit configured to detect a phase difference of the pair of image signals output from the focus detection region, and to control a position of the focus lens based on the phase difference detection result. The control unit detects the phase difference corresponding to divided regions formed by dividing the focus detection region, and displays an in-focus state in the display region in accordance with the control of the focus lens position control based on the phase difference detection result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a focus adjustment apparatus used for image capturing apparatuses, such as still cameras, video cameras, or various observation apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, for performing automatic focus (AF) in a camera, a focus detection apparatus with a so-called phase difference detection method is known. In the phase difference detection method, a light flux from an object, having passed through different exit pupil regions of a photographic lens, is caused to form an optical image on each of a pair of line sensors, and photoelectrically converted into a pair of object images. Thereafter, based on the object images, an amount of displacement between relative positions of the pair of object images is calculated (hereinafter, referred to as phase difference calculation). To perform autofocus, the photographic lens is driven based on the defocus amount obtained by the phase difference calculation. In the focus detection apparatus of this type, line sensors are arranged at positions corresponding to each of a plurality of AF frames (focus points). An example of this technique is discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-232544.
In recent years, for the purpose of an enhancement of AF performance, the number of AF frames has been increased. When the number of AF frames is increased, owing to restriction of an optical layout, a plurality of AF frames may be arranged in high density with respect to a pair of line sensors. In this case, a plurality of AF frames corresponding to the line sensors with which the focus control has been performed will be displayed. However, the focusing result for an object is obtained in which an AF frame, among the plurality of AF frames, cannot be displayed to inform the user of the AF state. As a result, whether optimum focus is achieved on a user's intended target may not be known by display.

Focus adjustment apparatus and control method therefor


There is provided a method of manufacturing a photomask for forming a semiconductor pattern. The method may include forming a plurality of dies including a main pattern, and forming a pseudo pattern to an area adjacent to the main pattern between the plurality of dies. A multi developing process of sequentially and repeatedly supplying a developer on the mask, supplying DI water on the mask, and drying the mask may be performed in manufacturing the mask.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a method of manufacturing a photomask for forming a semiconductor pattern.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the minimum dimension of a semiconductor pattern decreases according to the design rule of micromachining, the uniformity of a critical dimension (CD) of a photomask becomes more and more important. Non-uniformity of the CD results from accuracy limits of photomask manufacturing equipments and variation of the density distribution in the semiconductor pattern. The non-uniformity of the CD resulting from the density distribution in the semiconductor pattern may be controlled by an electron beam through a fogging effect correction and proximity effect correction of an electron beam.
FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a conventional photomask.
Referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of dies is formed on a photomask 1. Each of the plurality of dies includes a main pattern. Meanwhile, an area without a pattern is between the plurality of dies, and, hereinafter, is referred to as a dividing area for convenience. For example, a dividing area 12 without a pattern is between a first die 11a and a second die 11b, and each of the first and second dies 11a, 11b on the photomask includes a main pattern.
FIG. 2 is a graph showing variations of width of CD in forming a main pattern of two dies adjacent to a dividing area.
In FIG. 2, the horizontal axis denotes a direction along a row of dies in a photomask, and the vertical axis denotes the width of a CD value of a main pattern formed on a die. "A" represents an area of the main pattern formed in the first die 11a adjacent to the dividing area 12, "B" represents the area of dividing area 12, and "C" represents an area of the main pattern formed in the second die 11b adjacent to the dividing area 12. The selected patterns of the two dies are within 1000 μm from the dividing area 12. Referring to FIG. 2, as the main pattern is close to the dividing area 12, variation of the width of the CD of the main pattern formed in dies, in a same batch of photomask developing, is relatively large.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a develop loading error of two adjacent dies on a conventional photamask
FIG. 3 illustrates a CD of a main pattern, for example, a space pattern formed in the first die 11a and the second die 11b adjacent to the dividing area 12 after a development. The horizontal axis denotes a direction along a row of dies in a photomask, and the vertical axis denotes the width of the CD values of a main pattern formed on a die. As a distance from the dividing area 12 decreases, the CD of the space pattern formed in the first die 11a and the second die 11b increases. This is because the dividing area 12 does not have a space pattern, the equivalent average density of the space pattern in an area close to the dividing area 12 is lower than that of an area near the center of a die. Accordingly, a supplied developer may be consumed locally in a different rate near the dividing area 12 from that near the center of the die. The space pattern may be enlarged quicker near the dividing area 12 than the center of the die during a photomask development, resulting in a develop loading error of the space pattern. Such develop loading error increases sharply when the space pattern is within a first characteristic width W1 from the interface between the dividing area 12 and the die. Conventionally, W1 may be several hundreds of μm, and a develop loading error that increases at several hundreds μm away from the dividing area is referred to as a mid-local develop loading error.


The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 45-101 RZ, which may exhibit a combination of traits including resistance to downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) races Bl:1 to Bl:31 and CA-I to CA-VIII, currant lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) biotype Nr:0, lettuce mosaic virus (LMV), as well as having a medium head size, large outer leaves, and dull to moderately glossy leaves. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 45-101 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 45-101 RZ.

All cultivated forms of lettuce belong to the highly polymorphic species, Lactuca sativa, which is grown for its edible head and leaves. As a crop, lettuces are grown commercially wherever environmental conditions permit the production of an economically viable yield.
Lactuca sativa is in the Cichoreae tribe of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. Lettuce is related to chicory, sunflower, aster, scorzonera, dandelion, artichoke and chrysanthemum. Sativa is one of about 300 species in the genus Lactuca.
Lettuce cultivars are susceptible to a number of pests and diseases such as downy mildew (Bremia lactucae). Every year this disease leads to millions of dollars of lost lettuce crop throughout the world. Downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) is highly destructive on lettuce grown at relatively low temperature and high humidity. Downy mildew is caused by a fungus, Bremia lactucae, which can be one of the following strains: NL1, NL2, NL4, NL5, NL6, NL7, NL10, NL12, NL13, NL14, NL15, NL16, Bl:17, Bl:18, Bl:20, Bl:21, Bl:22, Bl:23, Bl:24, Bl:25, Bl:26, Bl:27, Bl:28, Bl:29, Bl:30, Bl:31 (Van Ettekoven, K. et al., "Identification and denomination of 'new' races of Bremia lactucae," In: Lebeda, A. and Kristkova, E (eds.), Eucarpia Leafy Vegetables, 1999, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic, pp. 171-175; Van der Arend et al. "Identification and denomination of "new" races of Bremia lactucae in Europe by IBEB until 2002." In: Van Hintum, Th et al. (eds.), Eucarpia Leafy Vegetables Conference 2003, Centre for Genetic Resources, Wageningen, The Netherlands, p. 151; Plantum NL (Dutch association for breeding, tissue culture, production and trade of seeds and young plants), Van der Arend et al. "Identification and denomination of "new" races of Bremia lactucae in Europe by IBEB until 2002." In: Van Hintum, Th et al. (eds.), Eucarpia Leafy Vegetables Conference 2003, Centre for Genetic Resources, Wageningen, The Netherlands, p. 151; Plantum NL (Dutch association for breeding, tissue culture, production and trade of seeds and young plants); IBEB press release "New race of Bremia lactucae Bl:27 identified and nominated", May 2010; Plantum NL (Dutch association for breeding, tissue culture, production and trade of seeds and young plants), "New race of Bremia lactucae Bl:28 identified and nominated", March 2011; Plantum NL (Dutch association for breeding, tissue culture, production and trade of seeds and young plants), IBEB press release, "New races of Bremia lactucae, Bl:29, Bl:30 and Bl:31 identified and nominated", August 2013), Ca-I, Ca-IIA, Ca-IIB, Ca-III, Ca-IV (Schettini, T. M., Legg, E. J., Michelmore, R. W., 1991. Insensitivity to metalaxyl in California populations of Bremia lactucae and resistance of California lettuce cultivars to downy mildew. Phytopathology 81(1). p. 64-70), and Ca-V, Ca-VI, Ca-VII, Ca-VIII (Michelmore R. & Ochoa. O. "Breeding Crisphead Lettuce." In: California Lettuce Research Board, Annual Report 2005-2006, 2006, Salinas, Calif., pp. 55-68).
Downy mildew causes pale, angular, yellow areas bounded by veins on the upper leaf surfaces. Sporulation occurs on the opposite surface of the leaves. The lesions eventually turn brown, and they may enlarge and coalesce. These symptoms typically occur first on the lower leaves of the lettuce, but under ideal conditions may move into the upper leaves of the head. When the fungus progresses to this degree, the head cannot be harvested. Less severe damage requires the removal of more leaves than usual, especially when the lettuce reaches its final destination.
Of the various species of aphids that feed on lettuce, the currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) is the most destructive species because it feeds both on the leaves of the lettuce as well as the heart of the lettuce, making it difficult to control with conventional insecticides. The lettuce aphid feeds by sucking sap from the lettuce leaves. Although direct damage to the lettuce may be limited, its infestation has serious consequences because the presence of aphids makes lettuce unacceptable to consumers.
Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) mainly infects lettuce seeds, which is the primary way that the virus is introduced to lettuce in the fields, but also can infect numerous crops and weeds, thereby creating reservoirs of the virus. LMV also can be vectored by aphids, which spread the virus within a lettuce field and introduce it into lettuce fields from infected weeds and crops outside the field.
Symptoms of LMV vary greatly. Leaves of plants that are infected at a young stage are stunted, deformed and (in some varieties) show a mosaic or mottling pattern. Such plants rarely grow to full size; head lettuce varieties infected early fail to form heads. Plants that are infected later in the growth cycle show a different set of symptoms. These plants may reach full size, but the older outer leaves turn yellow, twisted, and otherwise are deformed. On head lettuce, the wrapper leaves often will curve back away from the head and developing heads may be deformed. In some cases, brown necrotic flecks occur on the wrapper leaves.
The head size of iceberg lettuce is a measure of yield. This is especially true in the production of iceberg lettuce heads to be used in processing, where yield is a very important trait. An iceberg lettuce variety used in processing should have at least a medium head size.
The outer leaves, although not harvested, are considered important by iceberg lettuce growers because of their photosynthesis potential, and their ability to protect the final product, the iceberg head, from environmental damage such as extreme sunshine exposure, frost, or hail, and other potentially damaging external factors. The protective and production potential of large outer leaves are thus preferred over small outer leaves.
Vegetables are generally considered healthy foods. Both consumers as well as producers benefit from an increase of vegetable consumption. Higher vegetable consumption can be promoted by education, marketing, and improvement of certain product traits, such as taste, aroma, and visual attractiveness. Visual attractiveness of iceberg lettuce heads is promoted by the absence of leaf damage and related discolorations, and a fresh, shiny green color. Amongst iceberg varieties there exists genetic variability in the glossiness of the head leaves. With respect to visual attractiveness of iceberg lettuce heads, moderately glossy green head leaves are desirable over dull green head leaves.
Citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention.


A terminal is disclosed that includes a receiver that receives downlink control information using search space including a plurality of subsets to which precoding is applied and a processor that controls to perform transmission or reception of a shared channel based on the downlink control information. In other aspects, a radio communication method for a terminal is also disclosed.

In UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) networks, for purposes of higher data rates, lower delay and the like, Long Term Evolution (LTE) has been specified (Non-Patent Document 1). Further, for purposes of wider bands and higher speed than LTE (also referred to as LTE Rel.8 or 9), LTE-A (also referred to as LTE Advanced or LTE Rel.10, 11 or 12) has been specified, and a successor system of LTE (also referred to as, for example, FRA (Future Radio Access), 5G (5th generation mobile communication system), or LTE Rel.13/14/15 and subsequent versions) has also been studied.
According to LTE Rel.10/11, for a purpose of a wider band, Carrier Aggregation (CA) of integrating a plurality of Component Carriers (CCs) has been introduced. Each CC is comprised of a system band according to LTE Rel. 8 as one unit. Further, according to the CA, a plurality of CCs of an identical radio base station (eNB: eNodeB) is configured to a user terminal (UE: User Equipment).
Meanwhile, according to LTE Rel.12, Dual Connectivity (DC) of configuring a plurality of Cell Groups (CG) of different radio base stations to a UE has also been introduced. Each cell group is comprised of at least one cell (CC). The DC integrates a plurality of CCs of the different radio base stations, and therefore the DC is also referred to as Inter-base station CA (Inter-eNB CA).
Further, according to LTE Rel.8 to 12, Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) of performing Downlink (DL) transmission and Uplink (UL) transmission at different frequency bands, and Time Division Duplex (TDD) of temporally switching downlink transmission and uplink transmission at the same frequency band have been introduced.


An actuator and movement linkage system for moving a load, such as a control surface of aircraft, in relation to a carrying structure includes an electric motor system, an actuator device connectable or connected to the load to move the load, the actuator device connected to the electric motor system to be driven thereby, and transfer units provided for mechanically connecting the actuator device to move the load. Fault tolerant and release devices are provided both in the electrical motor system and in the actuator device to make the actuator and movement linkage system fault tolerant to at least single faults in the actuator and movement linkage system,

There has for a long time been an interest to make "more electric aircraft" as electric actuators are assumed to permit a lower total mass, less frequent maintenance, easier connections, i.e. cables should be used in place of hydraulic tubes, and possibly the total elimination of the infrastructure required for hydraulics.
One problem identified with electromechanical actuators is the possibility of "jamming". An electromechanical actuator like that disclosed in the published International patent application No. WO 2004/034550 for Stridsberg Innovation AB/Lennart Stridsberg has a roller screw and nut and an electric motor connected to the roller nut. Certain types of catastrophic failures such as a broken roller nut roller may cause the roller screw to lock in the nut, making rotation impossible. If this happens to occur when the control surface is in an extreme position, the aircraft can become uncontrollable.
A related problem might occur if the electric motor would be completely disabled, i.e. incapable of creating torque but mechanically free to rotate. If this happens to occur when the control surface is in an extreme position, a large force will act on the roller screw. Roller screws are not self-retaining. Therefore, this force should translate into a torque acting on the roller nut to cause the roller nut and its associated motor to rotate, thereby moving the control surface towards a more neutral position. To ensure this, it is preferable to have a large lead angle roller screw as the efficiency from a linear motion of the screw to torque on the nut varies from some 0.9 on large lead angle screws to some 0.7 for fine lead angle screws. However, to reduce the mass of the electric motor acting on the roller nut, it is preferable to have a small lead angle roller screw.
Jamming is less likely to occur in a hydraulic actuator. If an actuator ceases to operate due to faults in pumps, valves or other energizing or control parts, a release valve can be opened that connects the two chambers on each side of the piston, thereby permitting oil to pass from one side to the other. However, hydraulic actuators may jam due to problems caused by deformations of the cylinder caused by enemy weapons or accidental collisions with external parts like the one that crashed a Concorde in Paris in July, 2000.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,923 for Hommel discloses a conventional fault-tolerant actuator control system having two parallel systems, each with a power supply, a process computer, motor power electronic circuits and a servo motor. The process computer in one of the parallel systems can only control the motor power electronic circuits in the same system, etc. The servo motors act on a common rack and there is one rack position sensor. One of the two systems are active and the other is shut down. The patented invention is to use the not active servo motor as an additional source of position information.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,856 for Le and Huggett discloses a fault tolerant system intended for aircraft control surfaces. The system has a common control computer, a common power supply and a common end actuator, for example a rack or a hydraulic cylinder, and three parallel systems each having one controller, one inverter (motor power electronic circuits), and one motor. The controller in one of the parallel systems can only control the motor power electronic circuits in the same system, etc. During a no fault condition, all three controllers, inverters and motors are active.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,259 for Corio discloses a wheel brake having redundant control and power supply. As shown in FIG. 6 of that patent, the system has three main power systems, two redundant BSCU computers that handle common tasks like anti-skidding control and four wheel brakes each including four servo motors. There are four redundant EMACs, each controlling two of four inner wheel servo motors and two of four outer wheel servo motors. As shown in FIG. 7, each EMAC contains four servo motor amplifiers, each of them connected to one motor that has an own tachometer, brake, gear train, actuator and position sensor. There is little risk of stability conflicts between the servo systems as the motors have no common mechanical stiff part. The closest mechanical connection is that their actuators press against the same brake disc.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,376 for Collins discloses an actuator system having two electro-mechanical actuators of equal size acting on a common control surface over a summing lever. The position of the control surface will be the average of the position of the two actuators. In the case where one actuator jams in for example a position 90% to the left, the control surface can be brought back to a neutral position by moving the other actuator to a position 90% to the right. The design will have the complexity of two actuators and a link arm. In case of jamming, the still operational actuator might be useless for any purpose but balancing the jammed actuator.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,433 for Rodrigues discloses an actuator having a roller nut that moves along an axially static roller screw. The roller nut is connected to an arm that is movable in parallel with the roller screw. A rather complex device including an extra motor, a gear box, a splined shaft longer that the total stroke of the actuator, an extra gear set, 18 rollers and a large diameter device similar to a roller nut permits the roller nut to be disconnected from the arm that is movable in parallel with the roller nut, thus permitting the control surface to move freely even if the roller nut/screw system has jammed. No damping system is disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,027 for Cronin discloses a rotational actuator that can rotate over a limited angle and that controls a control surface over a link arm. The stator of the actuator is assembled to the fuselage over bearings. A locking pin between the fuselage and the actuator stator will prevent the actuator stator to move relative to the fuselage. A solenoid can release the locking pin, thus permitting the control surface to move itself by turning the whole actuator. No damping system is disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,271 for Cronin discloses an actuator system including an electro-mechanical actuator connected to a control surface through a hydraulic device that basically is an electrohydraulic actuator without a pump. The intermediate device has the same stroke as the electromechanical actuator and transfers the same force as the electromechanical actuator. The arrangement is therefore almost as heavy as the combination of one electromechanical and one electrohydraulic actuator.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,944 for Conner discloses an actuator having two motors, one giving torque for ingoing and the other for outgoing movements. If the motors are commanded to give torque in the other direction, the motor rotors will slide along a tapped common shaft, approaching each other. This will release pins that normally connect the tapped shaft to a ball or roller nut. Release can be tested and then reversed. The design presupposes two actuators, one active and one passive, and therefore requires four motors for each controlled axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,491 discloses an actuator having two motors and a mechanical differentiating device that releases locking pins when the two motors move out of synchronization with each other.


An image processor includes an image processing section, an enlargement processing section, and a controller. When image data including a second predetermined number of pixels to be output from an image output section, is generated on the basis of image data including a first predetermined number of pixels smaller than the second predetermined number input to an image data input unit, the controller controls the enlargement processing section to generate image data including a third predetermined number of pixels larger than the first predetermined number and smaller than the second predetermined number. The controller controls the image processing section to apply image processing to the image data including the third predetermined number of pixels. The controller also controls the enlargement processing section to generate the image data including the second predetermined number of pixels on the basis of the image data including the third predetermined number of pixels.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processor and an image processing method for applying image processing to image data.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, photo processors in which so-called digital exposure methods are adopted, are coming to be widely used. In such a digital exposure method, an image can be formed by exposing a photographic printing paper to light that has been modulated on the basis of digital image data. By adopting the digital exposure method, various kinds of image processes, such as color correction, density correction, and sharpness processing, can be performed in a high degree of freedom. In addition, rapid reprint processing becomes possible. Further, a high-quality print superior in color reproducibility, density reproducibility, and resolution, can be obtained.
In a photo processor, there is a case wherein a large-sized image is formed on the basis of small-sized image data including therein pixels less than the large-sized image. Generally in this case, after image processing is applied to the small-sized image data, the small-sized image data is enlarged so that the number of pixels included in the small-sized image data is increased so as to correspond to the number of pixels of the image of the final print size, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-2002-199208.
Image processing to be applied to such image data may include cross filter processing for blurring light of each portion of the image high in brightness into a cross shape. By applying cross filter processing to the image data, high artistry and a special visual effect can be obtained, and realistic sensation and impact can be given to the photographic image.
However, in the case that the number of pixels included in small-sized image data as the original image data for enlargement processing, considerably differs from the number of pixels included in enlarged large-sized image data, a problem arises wherein the effect of cross filter processing applied to the small-sized image data before enlargement processing is performed, may reduce in an image formed on the basis of the enlarged large-sized image data. That is, in the case that the magnification of enlargement is too high, there is required a large number of additional pixels to be interpolated to compensate the difference between the number of pixels of the large-sized image data and the number of pixels of the small-sized image data. As a result, cross filter processing brings about conspicuous edges, and this reduces the effect of cross filter processing. To solve the problem, a measure is thinkable wherein the order of image processing and enlargement processing is changed so that cross filter processing is applied to the large-sized image data after the small-sized image data is enlarged into the large-sized image data. In this case, however, the rate of cross filter processing remarkably lowers though the effect of cross filter processing scarcely reduces.

Image processor and image processing method


An automated fulfillment system enables gift cards to be embedded or sent along with personalized greeting cards. The present invention, a method, system and apparatus enables a person to 1) purchase a gift card from either a Internet Website, Catalog, and/or retail kiosk, 2) choose a retail quality greeting card, 3) personalize the greeting card, and 4) send the personalized greeting cards as a gift with a gift card embedded inside the greeting card. The reverse is also possible, i.e. a user can purchase a greeting card, personalize the greeting card, and then assign that greeting card to have a gift card inserted inside therein.

The World Wide Web and Internet, in general, have created a completely new venue in which to obtain information, purchase goods and services, and interact with other network users. Accordingly, many sources of products and services have established web sites containing information about products, services and available information. A number of commercially available software applications, e.g. web browsers, executable on a conventional computer architecture enable users to connect to the Internet and provide a graphic user interface and appropriate functionality for locating and exploring "websites". Examples of such commercially available browsers include Netscape Navigator, commercially available from America On Line, Inc., or Internet Explorer, commercially available from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash. Websites typically comprise a server operatively coupled to the Internet, the server having one or more "pages" which may be explored by a user using the web browser application.
Using a web browser, computer shoppers have the ability to access and purchase products and services from far reaching locations, including international locations. In order to purchase a product, the shopper accesses the web site server of a vendor, selects a product, provides payment, typically in the form of credit card information, and provides delivery instructions to the vendor.
The purchase of goods and services over the Internet, referred to hereafter as, "eCommerce", has become very popular recently. In many instances, eCommerce vendors try to emulate normal retail commerce with varying degrees of success. For example, gift-buying via eCommerce has failed to emulate normal retail commerce as a result of its inherent lack of personalization. In the real world, when giving a gift, a person typically purchases a product as a gift. In addition, the person may purchase a card to help express his or her thoughts about the gift or the occasion. Such cards usually contain personal, handwritten messages and are packaged along with the gift for simultaneous presentation to the recipient.
It is possible to purchase products or services as gifts from the websites of eCommerce vendors and have them sent to a recipient's address. It is also possible to purchase electronic cards over the Internet to be delivered either to the recipient's e-mail address or printed in hard copy form and delivered to the recipient's postal address. However, no known service or facility exists which enables an eCommerce shopper to purchase a gift over the Internet and concurrently select and personalize a greeting card to be packaged or shipped along with the gift. Some companies do provide a limited selection hard copy cards that maybe shipped with a gift, similar to the note cards which accompany floral deliveries.
In addition, current on-line electronic greeting card services, such as those offered by Hallmark, Inc., City, State, or American Greetings Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, enable users to select a card and customize the card by entering text into a dialog box via the webserver graphic user interface. Such services do not enable the user to add handwritten notes, graphics, photographs, or other customizations to the card. These services do not allow the user to decide where the text should go, what font, color, size, etc. should be used for the text.
Systems which enable the on-line creation of greeting cards and distribution of the greeting cards with gifts are disclosed in published PCT Patent application Serial No. PCT/US00/41272, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF GREETING CARDS WITH ELECTRONIC COMMERCE TRANSACTION.
There is also a current lack of personalization associated with gift cards, e.g. credit card-sized cards made of plastic with a magnetic strip on the back of the card, but not limited to such design. Such gift cards or stored value cards, as sometimes called, may be physically purchased at many retail establishments. People shopping through the Internet, through catalogs, and through retail kiosks can also purchase a gift card, however, they do not have the ability to match the gift card with a personalized greeting card.
Current systems either cause a computer to print a gift card, read the magnetic strip, which then cause the printing of a laser printed message on a folded thin sheet of paper. The gift card and printed documented are then attached together. In order to match the speed of the gift card generation, the cards require a fast single color laser printer to print the piece of paper. The second method of combining a laser printed message on thin paper with a gift card is for the computer that causes the gift card to print will simultaneously cause the laser printer to print a message that will print on a thin sheet of paper and match up with the gift card. These methods are not possible with the printing of greeting cards as there are no printers that can print four color retail quality cards on-demand fast enough to match the necessary efficiency of the printing of gift cards.
A need exists, therefore, for technology so that a person can purchase a gift card from either a Internet website, catalog, and/or retail kiosk, then choose a retail quality greeting card, personalize the greeting card, and send it as a gift with a gift card embedded inside the greeting card.
A further need exists for technology so that a person can purchase any greeting card, personalize the greeting card, and then assign that greeting card to have a gift card inserted inside it.

Method and apparatus for creation, personalization, and fulfillment of greeting cards with gift cards


A 3-channel encoder and corresponding decoder is disclosed for encoding a 3-channel signal into a transmission signal which is backwards compatible, so that prior art one channel decoders are capable of decoding the transmission signal into a mono signal and 2-channel decoders are capable of decoding the transmission signal into a compatible stereo signal. Further, a 3-channel decoder is disclosed for decoding the transmission signal into a 3-channel signal. Also a 4-channel encoder is disclosed for encoding the 4-channel signal into a transmission signal which is backwards compatible, so that prior art one channel decoders are capable of decoding the transmission signal into a mono signal and 2-channel decoders are capable of decoding the transmission signal into a compatible stereo signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an encoder apparatus for encoding a plurality of digital information signals into a transmission signal, to a method for encoding the plurality of digital information signals, and to a decoder apparatus for decoding the transmission signal so as to regenerate replicas of the plurality of digital information signals. An encoder apparatus in accordance with the opening paragraph is known from European Patent Application EP 678,226-A1, corresponding the U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,247, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/651,016, filed May 21, 1996, which is Document (8) in the List of References at the end of this Description.
2. Description of the Related Art
Matrixing can be carried out when transmitting a first main signal component (the left hand signal component L of a stereo signal), a second main signal component (the right hand signal component R) and an auxiliary component (a central signal component C), such that a first composite signal component L.sub.0 is obtained which equals L+a.C and a second composite signal R.sub.0 is obtained which equals R+b.C, and where the signals L.sub.0, R.sub.0 and C are transmitted. Upon reception by a standard receiver not being provided with a corresponding dematrixing circuit, the signal components L.sub.0 and R.sub.0 are used for supplying via two stereo loudspeakers to a listener. The listener is thus able to perceive the C component transmitted as well, although he has a standard receiver.
Such matrixing schemes are discussed in J.A.E.S., Vol. 40, No. 5, May 1992, pp. 376-382, as well as in the publication `Matrixing of bitrate reduced audio signals` by W.R.Th. ten Kate et al, in Proc. of the ICASSP, 1992, March 23-26, San Francisco, Vol.2, pp. 11-205 to II-208, Documents (1a) and (1b) in the List of References, as well as Document (8).
Compression means for bit rate reducing a signal has been described in published European Patent Applications EP 457,390A1, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,608 (PHN 13.328) and 457,391A1 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,553 (PHN 13.329), Documents (7a) and (7b) respectively in the List of References. Further, reference is made to two ISO/IEC Standard Documents, Documents (9) and (10) in the List of References, referred to as MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 documents.

N-channel transmission, compatible with 2-channel transmission and 1-channel transmission


A printed circuit board having right-angled trace and a method for making the right-angled trace is to apply semi-conductor material and form an interface with a P-type semi-conductive layer and a N-type semi-conductive layer. The semi-conductive right-angled interface does not reflect signals transmitting from the first line portion to the second line portion and via the right-angled portion so as to reduce signal reflection interference. The right-angled line arrangement also shortens the connection distance and reduces the circuit board dimensions.

In accompany with developments in electronic industries, kinds of electronic products generate economic benefits and improve our daily lives. Currently, electronic products are getting shorter, smaller, lighter and thinner. In order to miniaturize the circuit boards of electronic products, the connection line between elements should be shortened. Though straight lines are the shortest, it is impossible to keep all the connection lines simply straight since the considerations of component locations, heat dissipation and signal interference problems. An easier way is to connect the components with straight lines and right-angled lines.
However, traces in right angles cause three effects: capacitor effect, electromagnetic interference and signal reflection. Signal reflection is especially evident when the electronic circuit is applied for high frequency signal transmission. As shown in FIG. 1A, an explanatory view of signal reflection in a right-angled portion, when signal 11 passes through the right-angled portion 10a of a circuit 10, the discontinuous impedance in the circuit 10 causes reflective noise signal 11. The reflective signal interferes the signal transmission and may even cause mistake or malfunction of the integrated circuit.
Conventional circuit layout for a right-angled portion 10a of a circuit 10 is arranged as shown in FIGS. 1B to 1D. In FIG. 1B, one side of the right-angled portion 10a is slant, while the other side is rectangular. Therefore, the slant portion in 45 degrees turns the signal path 90 degrees to reduce signal reflection. However, it relatively increases the path length and area of the circuit 10. In FIG. 1C, both sides of the right-angled portion are slants of 45 degrees to turn the signal path 90 degrees. The reflection reduction of FIG. 1C is better than that of FIG. 1B. However, it still increases the path length and area of the circuit 10. In FIG. 1D, both sides of the turning portion 10a are arcs to turn the signal path 90 degrees. The performance of reflection reduction is the best. However, the fabrication of the line is much difficult.
Therefore, to provide a trace method that can prevent signal reflection interference and reduce printed circuit board dimensions is a demand of manufacturers and technicians.

Printed circuit board with right-angled trace and method for making the same


A system for transferring ambient air from an interior of a house to a pet enclosure external of the house, thus allowing for the pet enclosure to receive cooled or heated air approximating the temperature of the house. An electric fan housed in a preformed enclosure is installable in, or on, the house exterior wall. An air conduit between the fan and pet enclosure is preferably provided by a flexible rubber transfer duct which may vary in length. Conduit connections at the house and at the pet enclosure use a gasket/flange sealing system. A damper to avoid backflow of air is provided near the fan. And a protective cover at the pet enclosure limits access from the pet enclosure to the conduit. An end cap to protect the house when the duct is not in use is also shown.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to providing a system for thermal control of an outdoor pet enclosure. More particularly, this invention concerns a system for transferring ambient air from a house to an external pet enclosure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically, in those households that have pets, the pet owners may prefer the pet to remain outside or to remain outside the house during certain times of the day, such as night time. In these cases, pet owners often provide the pet with some type of enclosure into which the pet may enter at will. For those pets that are not naturally equipped to handle extreme weather conditions such as very high or low temperatures, the pet owners must either shave the pet if the temperature is very warm and the pet has an abundance of fur, or provide some type of garment for the pet if the temperature is low and the pet lacks sufficient fur. In those cases where the pet owners fails to provide the above-mentioned aids, the pet must endure the adverse weather conditions with a possible result that the pet will suffer sickness or even death.
Thus, pet owners who have outside pet enclosures for pets who normally live outside the house, as for "outside" dogs and the like, must be careful of injury to such pets from extreme summer heat or from extreme winter cold. Even if such pet owners look into existing means for thermal control of such pet enclosures, such pet owners are typically faced with expensive and/or cumbersome devices, such as air conditioning units or heating units expressly designed for pet enclosures. Further, even such expensive and/or cumbersome systems may expose the pet to danger or hot or moving parts--or may expose the thermal devices to harm from the action of the pet.
In order to overcome these difficulties, the prior art has disclosed various means by which pet owners may attempt to maintain a comfortable environment for the pet. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,872 issued to William R. Sommers discloses an outside animal shelter in which an inner cavity of the shelter is equipped with an electric heating unit and temperature sensing controllers. But systems such as that one are impracticable and expensive for many pet owners, require outside electricity, which may be inefficient, and deal with only either heat or chill, but not both, etc.
Thus it would be a boon to owners of "outside" pets having outside pet enclosures, especially in very warm summer or very cold winter locations, to be able to have a low-cost and efficient system for thermal control, heating or cooling, of pet enclosures which system is not harmful to the pet or exposed to harm from the pet.

System for thermal control of outdoor pet enclosure


A fluorine-containing elastomer comprising vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene having a high fluorine content (e.g. at least 68% by weight) can be vulcanized with a polyol-based cross-linking agent by further copolymerizing 2H-pentafluoropropylene into the elastomer, whereby the resulting vulcanization products having improved characteristics such as rheological properties, normal state physical properties and compression set can be obtained. Vulcanization products obtained by vulcanization with a polyol-based cross-linking agent and a quaternary onium salt compound have a good permeation resistance to fuel oil as a result of a permeation test with a mixed solvent of gasoline/methanol in a volume ratio of 85/15.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluorine-containing elastomer composition, and more particularly to a fluorine-containing elastomer composition capable of giving vulcanization products having a distinguished permeation resistance to fuel oil.
2. Related Prior Art
JP-A-8-12840 discloses a fluorine-containing elastomer composition having a good processability and for use as vulcanization molding materials for fuel hoses, injector O-rings, etc. The fluorine-containing elastomer composition comprises, as essential components, a fluorine-containing elastomer being a vinylidene fluoride-based copolymer or terpolymer containing at least 67% by weight of fluorine and comprising 30 to 50% by weight of vinylidene fluoride and 20 to 60% by weight of hexafluoropropylene, and an adduct of a polyhydroxy or polythiol compound curing agent and a quater-nary phosphonium salt compound promoter in a ratio of the curing agent to the promoter of 2 to 5 by mole.
It is further recommended that an aminophosphonium compound is preferable as a quaternary phosphonium salt compound as a promoter component. However, such an amino-phosphonium compound is very hard to obtain and also very expensive, giving a serious obstacle to the industrial utilization. Furthermore, it is not desirable to use an amine compound having a carcinogenic fear, and there is also a fear of generation of unpreferable nitroso compounds from the amine compound when used in the heat vulcanization.
It is known that a fluorine-containing elastomer having a high fluorine content generally has low in the gasoline permeability, and thus it is a highly desirable material in light of total discharge control of gasoline from automobiles (Carifornia SHED regulations, USA). Above all, a fluorine-containing elastomer having a fluorine content of 68% by weight, has a good balance between the permeation resistance to gasoline and the low temperature resistance. However, when a vinylidene fluoride-based copolymer or terpolymer containing vinylidene fluoride (VdF) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP) is cross-linked with a polyhydroxy compound, its cross-linking mechanism seems to be an addition reaction of phenolate anions onto the double bonds formed by dehydrofluorination reaction of VdF-HFP chains. The VdF-HFP-based copolymer or terpolymer having a high fluorine content has less VdF-HFP chains, and thus the cross-linking reaction by a polyhydroxy compound proceeds very slowly. Such tendency is remarkable particularly in case of fluorine-containing elastomer having a fluorine content of 68% by weight or more. Slow cross-linking reaction will lower a cross-linking density, further resulting in decrease in physical properties such as compression set, etc.


Content preparation systems and methods are disclosed that generate scenes used by an interactive role performance system for inserting a user image as a character in the scene. Original media content from a variety of sources, such as movies, television, and commercials, can provide participants with a wide variety of scenes and roles. In some examples, the content preparation system removes an original character from the selected media content and recreates the background to enable an image of a user to be inserted therein. By recreating the background after removing the character, the user is given greater freedom to perform, as the image of the user can perform anywhere within the scene. Moreover, systems and methods can generate and store metadata associated with the modified media content that facilitates the combining of the modified media content and the user image to replace the removed character image.

1. Field
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to interactive systems and methods for performing video compositing in an entertainment environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Interactive entertainment is a popular leisure activity for people across the globe. One favorite activity for many is karaoke, which temporarily turns lay persons into "stars" as they sing the lyrics to a favorite song. Karaoke machines play the music of a selected song while simultaneously displaying the song lyrics to a user.
Another favorite leisure activity for millions is watching movies. Billions of dollars are spent each year on movie purchases and rentals for home use. Home movie watching, however, has predominantly been a passive activity, wherein there is little if any viewer interaction. Furthermore, although one may watch the same movie repeatedly, each time the same characters appear and recite the same lines and perform the same actions.

Content preparation systems and methods for interactive video systems


The present application describes embodiments of an interface for coupling flash memory and dynamic random access memory (DRAM) in a processing system. Some embodiments include a dedicated interface between a flash memory and DRAM. The dedicated interface is to provide access to the flash memory in response to instructions received over a DRAM interface between the DRAM and a processing device. Some embodiments of a method include accessing a flash memory via a dedicated interface between the flash memory and a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) in response to an instruction received over a DRAM interface between the DRAM and a processing device.

Field of the Disclosure
This application relates generally to processing systems, and, more particularly, to an interface for coupling flash memory and dynamic random access memory in processing systems.
Description of the Related Art
Processing systems use memory to store data or instructions for later use. For example, processing devices such as central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), and accelerated processing units (APUs) can read instructions or data from memory, perform operations using the instructions or data, and then write the results back into the memory. Processing systems can implement different types of memory to store information. For example, non-volatile memory can be used for long-term storage of information because non-volatile memory retains information even when power is not supplied to the memory elements. In contrast, volatile memory requires a constant supply of power to retain information. Different types of memory are also distinguished on the basis of their memory storage density, which is equal to the memory capacity of the medium divided by the length, area, or volume of the memory element. Different types of memory may also have different bandwidths or speeds for read or write access and different latencies for memory accesses.
Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is a form of volatile memory that requires periodic re-writing to retain information stored in the memory elements. For example, the memory elements in a conventional DRAM are formed of capacitors that need to be periodically refreshed in order to retain the information stored in the memory elements. The data transfer rate for read and write operations to DRAM is typically larger than non-volatile memories such as flash memory. Moreover, the data transfer rate for DRAM can be increased using double pumping wherein data is transferred on both the rising and falling edges of the DRAM clock signal. This type of DRAM may be referred to as double data rate (DDR) DRAM because the data transfer rate is approximately double the rate that can be achieved by transferring data only on the rising or falling edge of the DRAM clock signal.
Flash memory is a form of non-volatile memory that stores information in a floating gate of a transistor. Once the floating gate has been charged, electrons remain trapped in the floating gate and do not discharge for many years. Flash memory comes in two varieties: NOR flash memory and NAND flash memory. A NOR flash memory cell has one end of its transistor connected directly to ground and the other and connected directly to a bit line. The word line of a NOR flash memory cell is connected to the control gate. The sources and drains of floating gate transistors in NAND memory cells are connected in series with the bit lines of the NAND flash memory and word lines are connected to the control gates of the floating gate transistors.

Dedicated interface for coupling flash memory and dynamic random access memory


A thumbnail distribution system includes a client device and a server communicatable with each other by using a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP). A client device includes a request generating unit, a request transmitting unit, a response receiving unit, and a data processing unit. The request generating unit generates an HTTP request having a request line storing a file name of a file store in a storing unit. The request transmitting unit transmits the HTTP request. The response receiving unit receives an HTTP response having a response body storing a thumbnail corresponding to the file having the file name stored in the request line. The data processing unit performs a data processing based on the thumbnail stored in the response body. The request receiving unit receives the HTTP request transmitted from the request transmitting unit. The response generating unit generates the HTTP response based on the HTTP request. The response transmitting unit transmits the HTTP response to the response receiving unit.

Japanese Patent Application Publication 2003-37700A proposes a system which includes a server and clients, each able to communicate with the server by utilizing HTTP, and in which any thumbnail (small image) that the server provides can be displayed on each client.
In the system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication 2003-37700A, when a text linked on the web browser of any client is selected, the server transmits an HTML file to the client. Thereafter, the server transmits the thumbnails (bit-map files) linked by the HTML file to the client.
The HTML file and the thumbnails linked by the HTML file are displayed by the web browser of the client. A list of the thumbnails received from the server is thereby displayed. (refer to, e.g., paragraphs [0079], [0083] and of Japanese Patent Application Publication 2003-37700A.)

Thumbnail distribution system, server, client and program


There is provided an imaging device including an imaging element that acquires a captured image of a subject, a light emission unit that emits light to the subject, and a control unit that is capable of controlling a timing of exposure performed by the imaging element and a timing of light emission performed by the light emission unit. In a mode in which imaging is performed with a plurality of times of consecutive light emission by the light emission unit, the control unit controls at least one of a timing of the exposure and a timing of the light emission so that light amounts effective for exposure in each imaging are substantially the same.

The present disclosure relates to an imaging device and a control method.
Strobe light emitting devices have been installed in imaging devices called single lens reflex cameras, lens exchange type cameras, and the like as auxiliary light for imaging. Most light emitting sources of such strobe light emitting devices use xenon tubes. In strobe light emitting devices using such xenon tubes, a high voltage is repeatedly applied thereto due to consecutive light emission synchronous with consecutive imaging. For this reason, it is necessary to provide a structure which enables prevention of burning damage caused by ultraviolet rays heating a condensing lens and a resin of a supporting member and enables dissipation of high heat, and thus an increase in size of the devices is unavoidable. For this reason, strobe light emitting devices built in imaging devices as imaging auxiliary light have failed to respond to consecutive light emission synchronous with consecutive imaging. Thus, an imaging device using LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) as a light emitting source has been proposed. LEDs have a characteristic in that the light emission level (luminance) thereof decreases according to consecutive light emission. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-142625 discloses a technique for compensating for a decrease in the light emission level of LEDs by lengthening a light emission period of the LEDs.