In relation to a superimposed image obtained by superimposing second image data on first image data in which respective pixels are arranged in a staggered pattern, an image forming apparatus discriminates a region where the second image data is superimposed from a region where the second image data is not superimposed. When forming an image in a region determined as the region where the second image data is not superimposed in the superimposed image, the printing mechanism is controlled based on a first control pattern. When forming an image in a region determined as the region where the second image data is superimposed in the superimposed image, the printing mechanism is controlled based on a second control pattern different from the first control pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing method and an image processing apparatus used for a thermal transfer recording mode of performing thermal transfer recording by using, e.g., a linear thermal head having a plurality of heat generators linearly arranged therein. The present invention also relates to a printed matter crated by using the image processing method and the image processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a method of recording a facial image in an image display unit having a facial image for personal authentication therein, e.g., various kinds of certificates, credit cards, or membership cards, a sublimation type thermal transfer recording method conventionally forms a mainstream. According to this sublimation type thermal transfer recording method, a thermal transfer ribbon obtained by coating a film-like support with a dye having sublimation properties (or heat transient properties) is superimposed on a recording target medium having an accepting layer that accepts the sublimation dye, the thermal transfer ribbon is selectively heated by, e.g., a thermal head based on original image data to be recorded, and a desired image is thereby subjected to sublimation transfer recording on the recording target medium.
In this sublimation type thermal transfer recording method, it is generally widely known that a color image that is rich in gradation properties can be easily recorded. However, in the sublimation type thermal transfer recording method, there is a drawback that materials that can be colored with a sublimation type material is limited and this method can adapt to limited recording target mediums only. Further, in general, the sublimation type dye is poor in image durability, e.g., light-resisting properties or solvent-resisting properties.
On the other hand, according to a fusion type thermal transfer recording method, a thermal transfer ribbon obtained by coating a film-like support with a material having a color pigment or a dye dispersed in a binder, e.g., a resin or a wax is selectively heated, and this ribbon is transferred together with the binder onto a recording target medium, thereby recording a desired image.
In this fusion type thermal transfer recording method, an inorganic or an organic pigment that is said to generally have excellent light-resisting properties can be selected as a color pigment. Further, in the fusion type thermal transfer recording method, an ingenuity can be exercised with respect to a resin or a wax used in a binder. Therefore, in the fusion type thermal transfer recording method, solvent-resisting properties can be improved. Furthermore, in the fusion type thermal transfer recording method, any recording target medium having adhesion properties with respect to a binder can be basically used. This method has an advantage, e.g., extensive selection of recording target mediums as compared with the sublimation type thermal transfer recording method.
However, the fusion type thermal transfer recording method uses a dot area gradation method of varying a size of transferred dots to perform gradation recording. Therefore, in order to accurately control a dot size to perform multi-gradation recording, various ingenuities are required. For example, there is a method of aligning arrays of pixels (dots) to be transferred in a staggered pattern to perform recording (which will be referred to as an alternate driving method hereinafter). When this alternate driving method is used, thermal interference of adjacent heat generators in a thermal head can be reduced, and a dot size can be controlled without being affected by adjacent pixels, thereby performing excellent multi-gradation recording.
Further, on a recording medium, e.g., an ID card is recorded a fluorescent image formed by using a transparent and colorless ink including a fluorescent pigment excited by ultraviolet light or the like in some cases. Furthermore, such a fluorescent image may be printed as continuous images (all pixels are printed) around a region printed by the alternate driving method. Such printing is intended to have an effect of causing a periphery of a fluorescent image (a region where continuous images are printed) to intensively emit light for provision of contrast, thereby improving an appearance. Such a technique is generally widely known.
However, the above-explained conventional technology has the following problems.
As explained above, in the alternate driving method, respective pixels (dots) constituting an image are rearranged into a staggered pattern to form an image. Therefore, pixel information of a part to which dots are not transferred is lost. In a multi-gradation image like a facial image, even if pixel information is lost in a staggered pattern, information as a facial image is not lost. However, in a binary image, e.g., a character or a geometric pattern, when dots are transferred in a staggered pattern, pixel information of a part to which dots are not transferred is lost, and there is a possibility that the image does not function as a character or a geometric pattern.
Moreover, in a printed matter, e.g., an ID card, various images are superimposed and printed to improve appearance in some cases. For example, a different image may be superimposed and printed on a background image, e.g., a fluorescent image. Additionally, a different image may be superimposed and printed on a fluorescent image including a region where all pixels are printed and a region printed by the alternate driving method. In such a case, in the fusion type thermal transfer recording mode, a printing state varies depending on each region where various images are superimposed. That is, when an image state or a recording medium state partially varies, printing the image with a uniform energy results in a problem that a region where a desired image cannot be obtained is present in the image (a printing result) printed on the recording medium.

Image forming method, image forming apparatus, and printer matter


A networked computer system is disclosed comprising database (or other) 5 applications accessible over a network to users via terminals in which at least some users have restricted access (restricted access privileges) to the applications. A security system is incorporated in the network and provides a functional layer between the user""s environment and the database (or other) applications environment. The security system insulates the user""s environment from the environment of applications being accessed so that connection information is not available to the user in a form that would permit the circumvention of access privileges.

The present invention relates to providing controlled access to data and/or software processes in a distributed environment. It finds particular application in database security.
In the past, users have been able to run software applications from their terminals, for instance by accessing the application software on an applications server. The application itself may be downloaded to the user terminal, or just a suitable front end for the application may be downloaded, such as forms and selection buttons, the application remaining on the remote server. An application accessed by a user may then give the user access to other software processes, or to data stored in a database.
In a distributed environment, the application or database may be installed on a site remote to the user, across one or more networks. To run the application or access the database, the user needs routing (or xe2x80x9cconnectxe2x80x9d) information of some sort, such as a network address. If the user wants to access a database directly, they need connect information for the database. If the user wants to run an application and the application is simply a front end to a database, the connect information the user needs is effectively, again, connect information for the database itself. Where the user can get connect information to a database, there is a potential weakness in access control.
Access control arises where there is a requirement for access restrictions to an application or database, for instance such that it can be used by subscribers only. Alternatively, it may be that some users can use all the functionality available while other users are barred from some functionality, for instance because of rank or job description. This situation would arise where account staff need both read and write access to a company""s accounts databases but staff elsewhere in the company might be limited to read access only, and to accessing data relating only to themselves.
(A user""s terminal will usually these days be a personal computer. However, it could equally have little or no processing capacity of its own, instead having access to processing capacity elsewhere. The use of the word xe2x80x9cterminalxe2x80x9d herein should not be taken as an indication of the capabilities of the user equipment. It is simply used to refer to the piece of equipment the user has access to for making inputs.)
In order to provide a security check, it is known to write an authentication process into an application, or database front end, so that it will only run when a valid identity code (ID) and a password have been entered by the user. The application or front end may also have for instance a stored set of xe2x80x9cuser profilesxe2x80x9d which allow it to tailor the capabilities it offers to a user to a limited set of capabilities for which the user is specifically registered.
As mentioned above, a problem can occur where a user can get connect information for a database, such as a network address. The user might have the connect information legitimately, because they have at least limited rights to access the database directly. Alternatively, the user might have legitimate rights to run an application within their own environment which gives access to a remote database and the application may store the network address for the database within the user""s environment. A technically expert user may then be able to extract the connect information for the database for instance because they know where in their environment the connect information is stored.
However the user gets connect information to a database, the problem is that the user can then potentially bypass the application or front end which would normally restrict the data they can view in the database. For instance, the user could access the database using a different application, or tool, particularly one which does not restrict that user. All the user has to do is give the substitute application or tool the connect information for the database.
According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a security system for controlling access to data and/or one or more software processes, which security system comprises:
i) input means for receiving user identification data from a user station;
ii) means for authenticating received user identification data;
iii) first data storage means for storing access restriction information in relation to the data and/or software process(es);
iv) second data storage means for storing connect information for the data and/or software process(es);
v) input means for receiving an identifier for selected data or software process(es);
vi) translation means for translating a received identifier to connect information for locating the selected data or software process(es), using the second data storage means;
vii) connection setup means for setting up a connection for providing access from the user station to the selected data or software process(es), using a translated identifier; and
viii) disconnect means for disconnecting a link between the security system and the user station once said connection has been set up between the user station and the selected data or software process(es).
The term xe2x80x9cuser stationxe2x80x9d as used herein comprises the user""s local environment; that is at least the user""s terminal and potentially also the user""s local server. In general, the user station will comprise a platform on which the user""s local processes run. This could be for instance a personal computer alone, or a dumb terminal plus other platforms, potentially network-based.
Preferably, the connection setup means comprises means for transmitting connect information (a translated identifier) via the user station to the selected database or software process. Preferably also, the connection setup means comprises encryption means for encrypting the connect information prior to transmission.
A security system according to an embodiment of the present invention constitutes a functional layer between a user station and one or more databases and/or software processes, such as a set of applications. If connect information for the database(s) and/or process(es) is stored at the security system and need only be transmitted through the user station, at runtime, for the purpose of finding a selected database and/or software process, the user cannot get at the connect information except via the security system. Without the connect information, the user cannot simply substitute unrestricted tools for a restricted software application and so gain access to data for which they are not authorised and the security system will block the user from getting the connect information.
In particular, the connect information for a selected database or software process never has to be stored at the user station, even to establish connection to it. This significantly improves security against hacking.
Although the connection information is transmitted through the user station in setting up the connection, it is preferably transmitted in encrypted form.
Once the user station is connected to a selected database or process, the security system can drop out, using the disconnect means, and thus be available. Preferably, the security system will accept a fresh input from a user station which has already established connection to a database or process using the security system. It is possible then for one user station to run multiple applications concurrently, for instance potentially displaying the results of running different tools with the same set of data in different windows on screen, simultaneously.
Preferably, the security system comprises at least two parts, each part being provided with authentication means, a first of said two parts comprising i) and ii) above and further comprising:
ix) substitute login means to disconnect a connection between the first part and a user station and to trigger reconnection of the user station to the second of said two parts; and
x) data storage for identification data for use by the authentication means of the second part,
wherein the substitute login means has access to the data storage for identification data and is arranged to supply identification data from that data storage for use in said reconnection.
The substitute login means provides an additional defence to hacking since the user never has knowledge of the identification data, for instance ID and password, which has given them access to the second part of the security system. Preferably, it is the second of the two parts which comprises iii) to vii) above. Hence the user can only get access to the selected database or software process via the second part of the security system and they never have knowledge of the identification data for that second part.
Preferably, the security system further comprises an access information store and means for outputting to a user station at least one encrypted data file, said encrypted data file comprising access information in respect of a selected database or software process. The access information contained in an encrypted data file may be determined at least in part by the user identification data received at the input means. This allows a selected database or software process to read the access rights relevant to a user at runtime, at the user station, without the security system having to remain involved. It also enhances security as discussed below.
It is known for a user to have a user profile for a database or software process. The user profile is allocated to the user and holds access information (defines the access rights) for that user in respect of a database or software process. User profiles might be stored with the database or software process and the user identification data, which the individual user knew and entered, is used by the database or software process to select and apply the relevant user profile. This suffers from the problem that there has to be a profile for every user. This can take up significant storage space.
In embodiments of the present invention, the access information store holds identifiers for data sets, or selections of functionality. It does not hold user profiles. When a user first enters an ID and password, the substitute login means can substitute, unknown to the user, effectively an identifier for a data set or selection of functionality which is then sent as the encrypted data file to the user station. Several users may share access rights to the same data set or selection of functionality and a representation of those access rights need only be stored once for all such users.
Preferably, selectable databases and software processes reside on platform equipment separate from that of the security system and the security system comprises the means to log the user on with respect to a selected software process by substituting a third set of identification data which is transmitted via the user terminal to the platform equipment but which is never stored at the user terminal. Preferably this third set is encrypted prior to transmission. The use of a third set of identification data, both unknown to the user and never stored at the user station, provides further security.

British Telecommunications Public Limited Company


The present invention provides a pattern forming method comprising bonding a compound to a substrate, the compound having both a polymerization initiating moiety capable of undergoing photocleavage to initiate radical polymerization and a substrate bonding moiety, contacting a radical-polymerizable unsaturated compound with the substrate, and exposing light thereto patternwise, so as to form a region where a graft polymer is generated and a region where a graft polymer is not generated. A conductive pattern forming method applying the pattern forming method, and a conductive pattern material obtained by the conductive film forming method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pattern forming method capable of easily forming a pattern having excellent resolution on the surface of a solid, an arranged fine particle pattern forming method capable of regularly arranging fine particles patternwise on a substrate, a conductive pattern forming method capable of forming a conductive pattern of silver, copper, or the like that has excellent durability on a substrate in a high density and that is excellent for production, and a conductive pattern material useful for electrical wiring material, electromagnetic wave preventive film, magnetic film, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
The modification of the surface of a solid with a polymer has been widely studied in industrial fields since surface properties such as wetting, staining, adhesivity, surface friction, and cytotropism of a solid can be changed. Of these surface modification techniques, surface modification with a surface graft polymer involving the direct covalent bonding of a polymer to the surface of a solid is known to have the following characteristics:
i) This surface modification technique is advantageous in that a firm bond is formed between a surface and the graft polymer; and
ii) Characteristic properties can be exhibited that are attributable to a large difference in affinity for material existing between a graft polymer and a polymer formed by ordinary spreading and crosslinking.
Various techniques have been proposed for the application of surface graft polymers having the aforementioned advantages by making the use of their characteristic properties. For example, these surface graft polymers are used in the arts relating to living organisms such as cell cultures, antithrombotic artificial blood vessels and artificial articulation, and the art of hydrophilic film and hydrophilic supports for printing plates requiring surface hydrophilicity.
Further, when such a graft polymer is formed patternwise, properties characteristic to the graft polymer are reflected in the pattern. Thus, graft polymers are used in various arts including printing plate precursor, divisional culturing, and dye image formation.
It is reported by Matsuda et al. in "Journal of biomedical materials research", 2000, vol. 53, page 584, that a hydrophilic graft pattern formed using a fixed polymerization initiator called "iniferter" fixed to a surface is used as a material for culturing cell divisions. It is also reported by Matsuda et al. in "Langumuir", 1999, vol. 15, page 5,560, that the adsorption of a dye (toluidine blue) to a graft pattern makes it possible to form a pattern of a visible image.
A technique for a graft polymer pattern obtained by patternwise polymerization of a hydrophilic or hydrophobic monomer in the presence of an iniferter polymerization initiator fixed to surface as well as a technique for obtaining a pattern of dye polymer by graftizing a monomer having a dye structure are reported by Metters, A. T. et al. in "Macromolecules", 2003, vol. 36, page 6,739.
A technique which comprises attaching an initiator imagewise to a gold substrate with a microcontact printing method, and then allowing the occurrence of atom transfer polymerization (ATRIP polymerization) in the presence of the initiator to form patternwise, for example, a HEMA (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) or MMA (methyl methacrylate) graft polymer that is then used as a resist is reported by C. J. Hawker et al. in "Macromolecules", 2000, vol. 33, page 597.
A method which comprises anion radical polymerization or cation radical polymerization of a silane compound fixed to a substrate to form a graft pattern is proposed by Ingall et al. in "J. Am. Chem. Soc.", 1999, vol. 121, page 3,607.
However, the aforementioned methods for preparing a graft pattern on the surface of a solid using iniferter method or atom transfer polymerization method of the related art are disadvantageous in that they require too long a reaction time and thus leave something to be desired in terms of production. The methods using anion radical polymerization or cation radical polymerization, too, are disadvantageous in that they require close control over the polymerization reaction and thus leave something to be desired for production.
It has thus been desired to provide a pattern forming method which comprises modifying the surface of a solid with a graft polymer to obtain an effective surface modified material or highly functional material. However, no methods capable of easily forming a graft polymer pattern within a practical production time have as yet been provided.
A technique for arranging fine particles is important for the performance enhancement of aspects such as surface area, resolution, and density of materials such as catalysts, recording materials, sensors, electronic devices and optical devices. Thus, this technique is under extensive study.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 2,828,374 proposes a particle agglomerating method which comprises developing a liquid dispersion medium of fine particles over a substrate to form a thin liquid layer, and then reducing the thickness of the liquid dispersion medium so that it is equal to or smaller than the particle diameter of the particles and thus cause the fine particles to agglomerate by surface tension. In accordance with the invention disclosed in the above cited patent, a layer of fine particles can be regularly agglomerated on a predetermined region to form a uniform particle-integrated layer. However, this technique is disadvantageous in that it is applied with difficulty for the purpose of arranging fine particles patternwise only in a desired region.
As a technique for arranging fine particles patternwise there is disclosed in Japanese patent application laid-open (JP-A) 2002-273209 a method which comprises patternwise exposure of the surface of an oxide substrate such as TiO2 to light to form a hydrophilic and hydrophobic pattern thereon, and then arranging fine particles according to the pattern. The patterned fine particles obtained according to this method are merely physically adhered to the surface of the substrate and are not fixed to the surface of the substrate and thus can easily leave the substrate when stressed. Thus, this method cannot be applied to devices, etc. This method is also disadvantageous in that particles are adhered also to areas other than the predetermined pattern area. It has thus been desired to provide a method capable of forming a fixed particle pattern having high selectivity.
As another method for arranging fine particles patternwise there is known a patterned particle lamination method using a microstamp as disclosed by G. M. Whitesides in "Advanced Materials", vol. 8, page 245, 1996. In accordance with this method, polymer particles having a submicron size can be orderly integrated in a desired region. Further, the resulting pattern has high selectivity. However, this method is disadvantageous in that a difficult operation is required involving control over the rate of evaporation of solvent in the preparation of an orderly-integrated particle laminate structure, malting it difficult to prepare a desired pattern. This method is also disadvantageous in that it is not suitable for the formation of a large area pattern for these reasons. This method has a further disadvantage in that the adhesion between the patternwise laminated particles and the substrate is too weak, It has thus been desired to provide a method for the formation of a particle adhered pattern capable of attaining a practically sufficient adhesion.
Various conductive pattern materials have been heretofore used to form circuit boards. Referring to a typical example of such a technique, JP-A-2004-31588 discloses a method which comprises forming a thin layer of conductive material On an insulating material by a known method such as vacuum deposition, subjecting the thin layer to resist treatment, patternwise exposure of the resist to light to remove part of the resist, and then etching the material to form a desired pattern. This method requires at least four steps. In the case where a wet etching process is carried out, a step of disposing waste liquid is needed, making a complicated process necessary.
As another conductive pattern forming method there is known a conductive pattern material comprising a photoresist. This method comprises subjecting a substrate, that is coated with a photoresist polymer or that has a dry film-like photoresist adhered thereto, to exposure with ultraviolet light through an arbitrary photomask to form a lattice-shaped or otherwise shaped pattern. This method is useful for the formation of an electromagnetic wave shield requiring high electrical conductivity.
However, with the recent development of micromachines and the trend for further reduction in the size of super LSI, there has been a growing demand for the reduction in size of these wiring structures to a level as small as nanometers. The related art of metal etching is limited in its capability to reduce the size of wiring structures. Further, it is likely that fine wiring portions will when being worked.
As conductive patterns there have been noted not only continuous thin metal layers but also metal particle patterns obtained by allowing metal particles to be selectively adsorbed to a specific region.
Recently, with the development of an advanced information society, electronic appliances have seen remarkable development. In particular, the development of computer technology that supports the development of an advanced information society is greatly attributed to enhancement of the recording density of magnetic discs, not to mention enhancement of integration of semiconductor LSI. The enhancement of the recording density of magnetic discs requires the minimization of defects in the magnetic medium layer and the enhancement of smoothness of the magnetic medium layer.
To this end, a layer having magnetic metal particles dispersed in the surface of a substrate is used at present. It is further known that the patterning of metal particles makes it possible to enhance the recording capacity. In other words, patternwise formation of a metal particle adhered region has been more important. However, this method involving the formation of a fine metal particle pattern for the purpose of enhancing recording density has the same disadvantage as the aforementioned method for forming a thin metal layer pattern, making it difficult to form a fine metal particle pattern having high resolution.

Pattern forming method, arranged fine particle pattern forming method, conductive pattern forming method, and conductive pattern material


A conveyor cart for a mining machine is made from readily available components, including conventional golf cart components, and has a maximum height of 20 inches or less (e.g. about 18 inches) so that it can be effectively utilized with a continuous miner for mining ultra thin coal seams. A chassis has side rails with front and rear ends and cross pieces extending between the side rails. A first coupling mechanism, such as an eye bolt, is mounted adjacent the front end, and a second coupling mechanism, such as a pintle hook, mounted adjacent the rear end. A single axle containing a pair of inflatable golf cart wheels extends between the side rails and may be driven by a conventional golf cart transmission and an AC motor. An endless conveyor belt is mounted so that it has a top portion for conveying mined material from the continuous mining machine to the mine mouth, and a bottom portion beneath the top portion, the conveyor belt powered by an electric motor mounted to the chassis. The cart includes an electrical cord with female and male plugs at opposite ends, and can support a safety cable and an electrical cable that go from the mine mouth to the continuous miner.

A continuous mining machine which is capable of mining ultra thin coal seams (having a thickness of around two feet or less) is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,260 (the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein). According to the present invention a conveyor cart is provided which may be advantageously used with the continuous miner of U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,260, and the invention also relates to a combination of the miner of U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,260 and a conveyor for effectively mining ultra thin coal seams and the like.
In order to effectively convey coal mined by the continuous miner of said co-pending application to the mine mouth the conveyor utilized with the miner should have a maximum height of about 20 inches or less. Also, in order to be cost effective, the conveyor should be constructed from as many off the shelf commercially available components as possible. Such a conveyor must also have high maneuverability and reliability, and must be easy to connect and disconnect from the mining machine, and from other conveyor components, so that a conveyance path of any desired length may be provided.
According to the present invention a conveyor cart is provided as the desired conveyor for use with the continuous miner of said co-pending application. The conveyor cart according to the invention is advantageously constructed from virtually all readily available, off the shelf, components, and is especially cost effective, and is made maneuverable, yet highly functional, by employing components typically used in conventional golf carts, such as the "Club Car".RTM. golf carts available from Club Car Inc. of Augusta, Ga., an Ingersoll-Rand company.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a conveyor cart for a mining machine (such as in said co-pending application) is provided comprising the following components: A chassis comprising first and second side rails, and a plurality of cross pieces extending between the side rails, each side rail having a first end and a second end. A first coupling mechanism mounted adjacent the first ends of the side rails for coupling the cart to a like cart. An axle extending generally perpendicular to the side rails and closer to the second ends of said side rails than the first ends. First and second wheels mounted to the axle on opposite ends thereof. An endless conveyor belt. Means for mounting the conveyor belt to the chassis so that the conveyor belt has a top portion for conveying mined material thereon, and a bottom portion, and so the top portion moves from adjacent the first ends of the side rails toward the second ends of the side rails while the bottom portion moves oppositely. Means for moving the conveyor belt with respect to the chassis so the top portion moves from the first ends of the side rails toward the second ends of said side rails while the bottom portion moves oppositely. And, a second coupling mechanism mounted adjacent the second ends of the rails and beneath the bottom portion of the conveyor and closer to the second ends of the rails than the wheels, for coupling the cart to a like cart, so that when two like carts are coupled together the top surface of the leading cart is above the top portion of the trailing cart.
The means for mounting the conveyor belt preferably comprises a first roller adjacent the first end of the side rails and extending substantially perpendicular thereto; a second roller adjacent the second end of the side rails and extending substantially perpendicular thereto; and top surfaces of the cross pieces disposed between the top and bottom portions of the conveyor belt and engaging a bottom surface of the top portion of the conveyor belt. One of the rollers is driven by the means for moving the conveyor belt, which preferably comprises a conventional, off the shelf, air cooled electric motor, such as a five horsepower TEFC electric motor available from Dodge and known by the trade name Gearmotor No. WG-28A. The conveyor cart has a maximum height of 20 inches or less, preferably about 18 inches.
The conveyor cart further comprises means mounted on the chassis for powering the axle and thereby driving the wheels. The means for powering the axle preferably comprises an air cooled AC motor and a golf cart transmission, both mounted adjacent the axle. The wheels are preferably inflatable golf cart tires, and the axle preferably comprises a golf cart axle. The means for mounting the conveyor belt further comprises directing rollers for causing the bottom portion of the belt to pass over the axle, motor, and transmission in moving from the second roller to the first roller. Also the conveyor cart preferably comprises an electrical wire mounted to the chassis and electrically connected to the A C motor, and having a female plug and a male plug, the female plug adjacent the first ends of the side rails, and the male plug adjacent the second ends of the side rails. Also the axle and the wheels preferably comprise the only axle and wheels of the cart, making the cart highly maneuverable and inexpensive.
The cart may further comprise an electrical cable supporting trough mounted to at least one of the side rails for mounting an electrical cable therein (which electrical cable powers the continuous miner), and a clamping mechanism would be mounted on the chassis for clamping a safety cable to the chassis (the safety cable being connected to the continuous miner and reel at the mine mouth). While the first and second clamping mechanisms may comprise any of a wide variety of conventional ball joints, universal joints, pintle hooks, or the like, preferably the first coupling mechanism comprises an eye bolt while the second coupling mechanism comprises a pintle hook, the coupling mechanisms allowing pivotal movement, about a substantially vertical axis, of a trailing cart with respect to a leading cart when coupled together.
According to another aspect of the present invention a conveyor cart for a mining machine is provided comprising: A chassis comprising first and second side rails, and a plurality of cross pieces extending between the side rails, each side rail having a first end and a second end. An axle extending generally perpendicular to the side rails and closer to the second ends of the side rails than the first ends. First and second wheels mounted to the axle on opposite ends thereof. An endless conveyor belt. Means for mounting the conveyor belt to the chassis so that the conveyor belt has a top portion for conveying mined material thereon, and a bottom portion, and so the top portion moves from adjacent the first ends of the side rails toward the second ends of the side rails while the bottom portion moves oppositely. Means for moving the conveyor belt with respect to the chassis so the top portion moves from the first ends of the side rails toward the second ends of the side rails while the bottom portion moves oppositely. And, wherein the cart has a maximum height of twenty inches [0.5 meters] or less. The details of the components of the cart may be as described above.
According to another aspect of the present invention a continuous mining machine system is provided. The system includes the continuous mining machine, as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,260 and a plurality of wheeled conveyor carts. The mining machine comprises the following components: a chassis supported by crawler tracks, and having a front and a rear and elongated in a first dimension between the front and the rear; a substantially horizontal axis powered cutter head mounted to the front of the chassis; a conveyor mounted to the chassis and including an endless conveyor chain; the chain connected to first and second sprockets, the first sprocket mounted for rotation about a first shaft adjacent the rear of the chassis, and the second sprocket mounted for rotation about a second shaft adjacent the front of the chassis but between the first sprocket and the cutter head; the first and second shafts rotatable about axes generally perpendicular to the first dimension; at least one motor for driving one of the first and second shafts to thereby drive one of the sprockets and the conveyor; a gathering head mounted adjacent the front of the chassis and below the cutter head and at least partly to the rear of the cutter head, for gathering material cut by the cutter head and moving the cut material to the conveyor, the gathering head comprises a pair of counter-rotating discs with upstanding vanes, and an angled deck substantially coplanar with the disc; the second shaft having first and second transmission elements connected thereto, the first and second transmission elements operatively connected to the discs for effecting counter-rotation driving thereof; the angled deck during normal operation making an angle with respect to the dimension of elongation of the chassis, the chassis having a maximum height of about twenty inches, and the cutter head having a maximum diameter of about twenty two inches.
The system further comprises a plurality of wheeled conveyor carts connected to the continuous mining machine, each cart having a self contained driven conveyor belt associated therewith, and a maximum height of twenty inches or less. The wheeled conveyor carts preferably are as described above, and preferably some but not all of the conveyor carts are powered (having means mounted on a chassis thereof for driving the cart wheels). That is approximately one out of every three of the conveyor carts may include means mounted on the chassis for driving the cart wheels. Typically each cart has a maximum width of less than six feet (the wheels being the maximum width portion thereof, and is between about 10-14 feet long (e.g. about 12 feet, or four meters, long). The system may further comprise a safety, retrieval, cable securely connected to the mining machine, the cable supported by the conveyor carts and connected to a take-up drum.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an effective conveyor cart for a continuous mining machine system, and a continuous mining machine system per se, especially for mining ultra thin coal seams or the like. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims.

Conveyor for ultra thin seam coal mining


The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and regards various polynucleotides, polypeptides and methods that may be employed to enhance yield in transgenic plants. Specifically the transgenic plants may exhibit any one of the traits consisting of increased yield, increased tolerance to abiotic stress, increased cell growth and increased nutrient use efficiency.

The increasing world population and the dwindling supply of arable land available for agriculture fuels the need for research in the area of increasing the efficiency of agriculture. Conventional means for crop and horticultural improvements utilize selective breeding techniques to identify plants having desirable characteristics. However, such selective breeding techniques have several drawbacks, namely that these techniques are often labor intensive and result in plants that often contain heterogeneous genetic components that may not always result in the desirable trait being passed on from parent plants. Advances in molecular biology have allowed mankind to modify the germplasm of animals and plants. Genetic engineering of plants entails the isolation and manipulation of genetic material (typically in the form of DNA or RNA) and the subsequent introduction of that genetic material into a plant's genome. Such technology has the capacity to deliver crops or plants having various improved economic, agronomic or horticultural traits.

Methods of increasing yield and stress tolerance in a plant by decreasing the activity of a trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase


A fuse mounting assembly includes an epoxy-bonded glass-fiber core that is surrounded by a resilient sleeve having a number of radially extending members. Attached to an end of the core is a first mounting bracket and attached to another end of the core is another mounting bracket. Each of the mounting brackets is connected to a fuse which is structured to protect a power circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to fuses and, more particularly, to an outdoor fuse mounting assembly.
2. Background Information
A fuse is a type of overcurrent protection device for installation into a power circuit. A fuse has an element (or a plurality of elements), which is typically a metal wire or conductive strip or other conductor, which will melt, sever, or otherwise open when heated by a predetermined electrical current for a predetermined time. Accordingly, fuses are generally designed to allow the flow of an electrical current up to a certain current-time threshold. Once the current-time threshold is crossed, the element in the fuse opens, thereby protecting the power circuit from the overcurrent condition.
Fuses can be installed in a variety of environments. For example, a fuse can be installed into a power circuit that is located outdoors or, alternatively, the fuse can be installed into a power circuit that is located indoors. A fuse that is installed into an outdoor power circuit is typically mounted onto a mounting assembly which is made from a ceramic material. A ceramic mounting assembly, however, has a number of shortcomings. For instance, an outdoor ceramic mounting assembly is typically exposed to a variety of environmental conditions, such as inclement weather, which can damage (e.g., crack) the ceramic mounting assembly. Moreover, an outdoor ceramic mounting assembly can be damaged during transit to the installation site thereby rendering the outdoor ceramic mounting assembly useless.


A strain sensor is provided having an annular collar. At least one sensor is movably coupled to the collar, the at least one sensor having a body with a plurality of silicon strain gages coupled thereto. A first soldering connector is coupled to the collar, the first soldering connector configured to provide an excitation voltage. A plurality of second soldering connectors are coupled to the collar. A plurality of first conductors electrically are coupled to the first soldering connector on one end, and one of the plurality of silicon strain gages on a second end. A plurality of second conductors electrically are coupled between one of the plurality of second soldering connectors and one of the plurality of silicon strain gages.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a strain gage and in particular to a multidimensional strain gage.
Use of strain gages is a well-established means of measuring strains on surfaces. They are used by fixing or bonding a strain gage to an article, and using the strain gage as one or more legs in a Wheatstone Bridge or equivalent circuit. As stresses on the article cause it to distort or change its physical shape, the attached strain gage changes its physical dimensions and its resistance to electrical current. The bridge circuit permits the sensitive measurement of this change in resistance. The strain gage correlates the change in resistance to strains in the surface. These prior art strain gages are often made of metal foils, but may also be made from other materials such as semiconductor materials like silicon, which offers a superior gage-factor: a ratio of resistance change to strain applied.
While stain gages may be used to determine dimensional changes in a part, their size has limited this application to dimensional changes over relatively large areas and often unidirectional changes in strain per gage. Accordingly, while existing strain gages are suitable for their intended purposes the need for improvement remains, particularly in providing a relatively small sensor that may be used to determine multidirectional variations across an entire surface.


A seat is disclosed. The seat comprises a moveable seat carriage having a seat pan and a seat back supported thereon. The seat also comprises a seat base supporting the moveable seat carriage thereupon and a support member moveable between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, wherein a first end of the support member is coupled to the moveable seat carriage and a second end of the support member is coupled to the seat base. The seat also comprises an actuator to move the moveable seat carriage relative to the seat base to thereby transition the seat between an upright and a reclined position, with the movement of the seat carriage driving the support member between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration, wherein the support member stiffens the seat as the seat transitions away from the upright to the reclined position and while in the reclined position.

Over the duration of a flight passengers may be seeking an opportunity to work, sleep, eat, or simply relax. These increasing demands from passengers cannot compromise the safety of an aircraft seat or the strict guidelines set down by aviation bodies to ensure that the structural integrity of a seat is not compromised on take-off or landing.
A further consideration when designing aircraft seats is the restrictive weight and volume requirements that must be met. Excessive weight will ultimately compromise an aircraft's range and excessive volume will restrict the number of passengers an aircraft can transport, with a potential negative impact on competitive pricing.
Further factors influencing seating on aircrafts is a passenger's ability to interact with adjacent passengers or conversely to avoid interaction with adjacent passengers.
All of the above considerations must be tempered with the ergonomic demand for comfort in a single seat design that will cater for passengers from 4 ft to 7 ft and over a weight range of 20 kg to 150 kg.
The current invention was conceived with these competing factors in mind.


A microfabricated valve with no moving parts. In one embodiment, the valve includes a reservoir of a liquid that is in fluid communication with an outlet channel having a throat that is less than 100 microns wide. Preferably, the channel is an elongated slit. The configuration of channel is adapted and configured such that surface tension of the liquid prevents flow out of the channel. A heater increases the temperature of the meniscus of the fluid, until a portion of the fluid is ejected from the channel. The ejection of the fluid creates both a thrusting effect and a cooling effect.

This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a better understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, these statements are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is or is not prior art.
In many applications, there is a need for a minute amount of fluid to pass through a valve. At micro-scales, ensuring the desired release volume is difficult to impractical with current technologies. Various technologies exists. For example, a peristaltic pump not only separates small amounts of fluid from a reservoir, but also pumps the fluid downstream. However, such a pump includes a complex motor assembly and control. Ink jet technologies is another area where small amounts of fluid are jetted out. In this class of technology, a plurality of small chambers, generally formed by a photolithography process are used to propel a droplet of ink out of the printer an on to a medium. Each chamber contains a heater that is configured to heat liquid surrounding it causing a rapid vaporization. In operation, an electrical current pulse is provided to each heater, which then vaporizes liquid ink in immediate vicinity, causing a sudden rise in pressure near the tip of the chamber forming a bubble which then causes a droplet of ink to be ejected. The chamber is then refilled by the next payload by surface tension and a negative pressure caused by contraction of the vapor bubble once the heater has cooled. However, the inkjet technology is not practical in various applications where continuous release of fluid is desired over a short period of time at high release velocity. In other words, the basic tenant of heating and vaporizing liquid at immediate vicinity of the heater to propel a droplet of ink in the chamber, including cycling of the next payload by cooling the heater does not provide a mechanism for continuous release for a short period of time.
There is, therefore an unmet need for a novel valve arrangement that can be used to release fluid from a reservoir at micro-scale volumes in a continuous manner for specific periods of time.


A tool for working a workpiece has a slot provided between a pair of extremities at its distal end. The extremities have cutting blades mounted thereon. The slot is configured to receive a plate. The tool has a conduit running along its axis for communication of pressurized fluid to the slot and plate. The plate directs flow of the pressurized fluid outward toward the extremities. The resulting outward force causes the extremities to bend outward, thereby urging the cutting blades outward for cutting, reaming, or other working of the workpiece. The resilience of the tool causes the extremities to return back inward when the fluid pressure is reduced. A plate may be configured to receive a wafer for transferring force from the pressurized fluid to the extremities.

The present invention relates generally to boring and reaming tools, and is particularly directed to a radially-adjustable tool that may form or ream a bore having a relatively high length-to-diameter ratio.
In some conventional machining center rotating tools, lubricant is supplied to the vicinity of the cutting blade through the rotating shaft. An example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,853 issued on Jul. 7, 1998, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. Another example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,295 issued on Aug. 7, 2001, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. Yet another example is shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/654,328 filed on Sep. 3, 2003, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
In many machine tool operations, including boring and reaming, the friction between the tool and workpiece may generate tremendous amounts of heat energy, which may reach temperatures of 2000° F. (1100° C.) and above. If left uncontrolled, such heat may severely damage (e.g., crack or otherwise fracture) the tool, thus reducing the tool life, making machine tool operations more dangerous and expensive, and reducing the quality and precision of the workmanship. In addition, heat-generated friction may discolor the workpiece, and may damage or remove temper or heat treatments. It is commonly known in the industry that coolant and/or lubricant may be introduced to the machining area, such as by spraying, to reduce friction between the tool and workpiece by providing such fluid between the cutting tool and the workpiece (e.g., at the tool-workpiece interface), to thereby help remove heat energy generated in machine tool operations.
Although coolant/lubricant fluid may be supplied to the machining area, it is often difficult to ensure that such fluid actually makes its way to the interface between the tool and all of the workpiece surfaces being machined. Additionally, fluid may evaporate quickly due to the high temperatures involved in machining operations. Thus, large volumes of coolant/lubricant fluid must generally be continuously supplied to the machining area for the tool to operate effectively. This need to keep coolant/lubricant fluid between the tool and wall of the bore hole may become even more problematic in operations where coolant/lubricant fluids cannot be introduced in close proximity to the machining areas while the tool is engaged with the interior surface of the workpiece. This problem may arise in the context of producing any type of bore, including a bore having a relatively high length-to-diameter ratio.
During use, the work engaging surface of the tool (e.g., a cutting blade or a support member opposing a blade) may also become loaded with particles or recently cut chips from the interior surface of the workpiece, which in turn, may reduce the accuracy and effectiveness of the tool through deteriorating machining ability, and/or clogging of conventional coolant/lubricant fluid supply openings. It may be preferred that the potential for this loading of particles be reduced, and that any loaded particles be removed from the tool as quickly as possible. Nozzle arrangements, such as an external cleaning jet, may be provided independent of the tool, for injecting coolant/lubricant fluid at increased velocities toward the work engaging surface and the work surfaces of the workpiece to wash away particles, to remove particles already loaded on the work surface, and to cool the tool and the workpiece. As mentioned before, it may be very difficult to ensure that the fluid sprayed in this way actually reaches the most critical areas of the tool/workpiece interface.
Other attempts to deliver coolant/lubricant fluid to the machining area have included air or other pneumatic carriers. As with externally applied liquid coolants/lubricants, when pneumatic carriers are used, resulting turbulence may hinder the machining operations, and often fluid cannot infiltrate into the actual machining area. Previously, attempts to address these two requirements of cooling and cleaning the tool and workpiece have tended to reduce the accuracy and utility of the tool.
As can be seen, many conventional tools have a number of shortcomings that may greatly reduce the accuracy of the tool, the tool's life, or its ability to be used with automatic tool changing systems. Many conventional structures and assemblies provide a tool having working surfaces that cannot expand to accommodate varying and different uses and needs. Such assemblies may result in uneven machining, and may reduce the assembly's usable life. A need currently exists in the machinery industry for a tool with a work engaging assembly having accurately controlled machining diameters so that bores of different sizes may be cut or reamed by the same tool, so that the tool should not become oversized as a result of excessive strokes of the tool, and so that the tool may expand in a radial direction uniformly and selectively.
In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the variety of challenges associated with forming bores of high length-to-diameter ratios, such as a length-to-diameter ratio of 5:1 or higher, for example. These challenges may be even greater when high precision of the bore diameter is desired, and particularly when it is desired that many bores be produced by the same tool in a relatively short period of time. As a practical matter, many conventional tools used for larger bores cannot be feasibly scaled down for use in the production of smaller-diameter bores, particularly small-diameter bores having a relatively great length. Meanwhile, conventional small-bore-producing tools may be susceptible to chatter and tool deflection that may adversely affect bore size or finish. Thus, a need exists for a boring tool with sufficient rigidity to form bores having a high length-to-diameter ratio with great precision.
Another challenge that may be encountered during the use of conventional boring tools in the production of a bore having a relatively great length is the torque encountered by such tools while boring. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the production of a bore having a relatively great length may require the use of a tool that also has a relatively great length. Such tool length may provide a corresponding relatively great torque arm length, which would be a factor in the calculation of the amount of torque experienced by the tool. When a cutting member is engaged with the bore surface of a workpiece, normal forces exerted by the workpiece (e.g., in reaction to forces exerted by the tool) against the distal or cutting end of the tool may be the source of such torque. Such torque may be further increased if the tool is urged in a direction transverse its axis at its proximal end during cutting. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the adverse effects that such torque may produce (e.g. wear of tool, bending of tool, weakening of material or mechanisms at or near the torque pivot point, etc.). Accordingly, there exists a need for a tool that may be used to produce bores of relatively great length without the problems associated torque on the tool.
Conventional boring devices may also require time consuming adjustments to be retracted from a bore. For example, the tool retraction process may entail stopping tool spindle rotation, repositioning the tool, then finally retracting the tool from the bore. If another bore is to be produced, rotation of the tool must be initiated again, which also takes time. Of course, such a time consuming retraction routine may be undesirable when time is of the essence, such as in a mass production context. Thus, there exists a need for a tool that may be rapidly retracted from a bore, particularly without the need to stop rotation of the tool or reposition its axis of rotation.
Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.


The present invention relates to powered vehicles (e.g., lawn mowers) and, more particularly, to a velocity control system for use with such a vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a power source such as an internal combustion engine and one or more drive control levers incrementally movable between a neutral position and a maximum velocity position. The system may also include a velocity adjustment member and associated mechanism that permits changing of a ratio between control lever movement and velocity of associated drive members or wheels. Thus, the system may limit a maximum ground velocity of the vehicle while the drive control lever(s) are positioned in the maximum velocity position and while an output level of the power source is maintained at a constant level.

Power vehicles for carrying out diverse tasks are known. For instance, power lawn mowers are well known for use in turf and lawn maintenance. Such mowers may range from small, walk-behind mowers such as those used by homeowners, to professional grade riding mowers adept at mowing correspondingly larger areas. Between these two categories lies what are commonly referred to as "mid-size" mowers.
Generally speaking, mid-size mowers are self-propelled units having a cutting width of approximately 36-60 inches and are typically configured as either riding (e.g., ride-on or stand-on) or walk-behind units. While the present invention is directed to a velocity control system for use with a wide variety of riding or walk-behind vehicles, it will, for the sake of brevity, be described with respect to mid-size mowers.
Modern mid-size mowers incorporate a prime mover (e.g., internal combustion engine) and a hydraulic drive system. The drive system may include left and right hydraulic motors coupled to left and right drive wheels, respectively. Power may be transmitted from the prime mover to the left and right hydraulic motors, e.g., via one or more pumps, to drive the left and right drive wheels independently. The rotational speed and direction of each drive wheel may then be controlled by associated drive control levers under the control of an operator. By manipulating the control levers independently, each drive wheel can be separately driven forward or backwards at varying speeds. Thus, the mower may be propelled forwardly or in reverse. By powering one wheel in the forward direction and slowing, stopping, or powering the opposite wheel in the reverse direction, the mower can execute a turn.
Each drive control lever may generally be positioned between a neutral and a full forward (and possibly a full reverse) position. The levers are generally sized and configured so that the operator may manipulate the levers over their normal range of motion (e.g., from neutral to full forward) without relocating his or her hands. In the full forward position, the levers may be configured to rest against stationary bars. Such a configuration permits the operator to hold the levers against a fixed stop during normal operation, reducing potential fatigue in the hands, wrists, and arms. The fixed stop may also provide a degree of lever stability, minimizing inadvertent lever movement as a result of vehicle motion.
While effective, this fall forward position may result in a vehicle speed in excess of what is desired for some mowing tasks. To reduce the speed, the operator may back the control levers off from the full forward position. Unfortunately, this technique denies the operator the ability to rest the levers against the fixed stops. Alternatively, the engine throttle may be reduced. While throttle reduction is effective at reducing maximum vehicle speed, it also reduces the power level or rotational speed of any implements, e.g., the mower blades. As a result, cutting efficiently of the mower may be reduced.
To address this issue, some mowers may provide a control lever travel limiter. The limiter may selectively restrict travel of each drive control lever by interposing an intermediate rest or stop that limits lever movement to a position that is less than the normal full forward position of the lever. For example, a typical mower may have a maximum forward velocity of four mph and the control levers may have a corresponding normal maximum travel of four inches. As a result, movement of the levers from the initial ("zero") position to the full forward ("four inch") position results in a change in velocity between zero and four mph. The travel limiter may selectively interpose a stop positioned at, for example, three inches of lever travel, such that the vehicle velocity is now effectively limited to a range of zero to three mph. While such a configuration may contribute to ease of operation (the levers may still be held against a stop element at the lower three mph speed), it does not alter lever sensitivity (the ratio of control lever travel to vehicle ground velocity). Moreover, such devices may be time consuming, complicated to operate, and/or difficult (or even unable) to engage while the mower is moving.

Power vehicle incorporating velocity control system


A method of processing image information is disclosed, for recognizing the position and attitude of an object with a high speed treatment and improved recognition accuracy. The method comprised of the steps of entry of a stereoscopic image of an object, extraction of edges of the object, and dividing it into segments based on the local feature of the image, adding the apex information to the segments to produce the recognition data, verifying the recognition data with reference to an object model based on local geometric features to detect a corresponding candidate; finely adjusting each of corresponding candidates based on an entire geometric features; and detecting the position and attitude of the object on the basis of recognition including the initial verification and the fine adjustment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of processing image information for verifying an applied image with an object model to determine the position and attitude of the object.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, in recognizing the position and attitude of an object, a passive image pickup device is used as the sensor to obtain the image of the object. Then, the two-dimensional features are extracted from the received image, and, by verifying it with the object model, the position and attitude are determined.
In the conventional method of image processing, in which the position and attitude of the object is determined from the received image, the searching space was inevitably enlarged, requiring the large system scheme, and accordingly the high speed processing was impossible.
In other words, in order to define the position and attitude of an object on the basis of an intermediate two-dimensional picture image, it is necessary to correlate at least three characteristic points of the object model. For the purpose, in the case of handling a complicated scene, there is possibility of enlarging the searching space which is provided for verification.

Method of processing image information based on object model

Jiro Hiraishi, President of Kogyogijutsuin Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.


An objective lens moving actuator comprises a movable member for supporting an objective lens, a resilient supporting member for resiliently supporting the movable member together with the objective lens such that the movable member having the objective lens can be moved in a first direction parallel to the optical axis of the objective lens and in a second direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens, a fixing member to which the base end of the resilient supporting member is fixed, an electromagnetic drive device for moving the resilient supporting member in the first and second directions together with the objective lens, and an adjusting member for rotating the resilient supporting member such that the optical axis of the objective lens has a predetermined skew angle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to objective lens driving apparatus and, more particularly, to an objective lens moving actuator for use with an optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus, such as an optical disc player or the like for reading or writing an information signal by radiating a light beam on an optical disc in which there is recorded an information signal such as an audio signal, a video signal or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional optical pickup used in an optical disc player, in order for a light beam emitted from a laser light source such as a semiconductor laser or the like to accurately track a recording track of an optical disc rotating at high speed, an objective lens for converging the light beam is displaced in perpendicular bi-axial directions such as the tracking direction and the focusing direction of the recording track by an objective lens driving apparatus known as a "bi-axial actuator". Further, an optical axis of the objective lens must constantly be held at an angle falling in a range of 90.degree. .+-. about 0.1.degree. relative to the signal recording surface of the optical disc. Considering a lens aberration of the objective lens itself, an aberration of other optical parts such as a collimator lens, beam splitter or the like, an inaccuracy of assembly parts such as an optical pickup device or the like, the bi-axial actuator needs to have an angle adjusting mechanism for adjusting two directions of the radial direction (known as a rolling direction) and the tangential direction (known as a pitching direction) in order to hold the objective lens at the above-mentioned angle relative to the optical disc.
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows an exploded perspective view of a conventional optical pickup device in which a bi-axial actuator is separated. The ordinary arrangement of the bi-axial actuator and the conventional angle adjusting mechanism will be described below (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,583).
The bi-axial actuator is generally depicted by reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1, and an objective lens 2 for converging a light beam emitted from a semiconductor laser (not shown) on a signal recording surface of an optical disc (not shown) is supported by a movable member 3 that is molded by a resin molding process. The movable member 3 is resiliently supported to an attaching mount 4 disposed at the rear side of the objective lens 2 by means of a suspension arm 5. The suspension arm 5 is formed of a pair of parallel flat, resin-molded members made of resins excellent in bending fatigue, such as polypropyrene, polyester elastomer or the like, and housed in a concaved recess 3a of the movable member 3 on its side opposite to the objective lens 2.
The suspension arm (only the upper supporting arm member is shown in FIG. 1) 5, the movable member 3 and the attaching mount 4 are coupled with one another by means of thin resilient displacing portions 6 and 7 so that they can be moved in the left and right direction at their central positions. The suspension arm 5 is composed of thin vertical resilient displacing portions 8 and 9 formed near the respective resilient displacing portions 6 and 7 and recess holes 8a and 9a for adjusting a resilient displacing force are formed through resilient displacing portions 8 and 9, respectively.
The attaching mount 4 is secured to a fixed chassis 10 by self-locking pins 11, 11. Rectangular bobbins 12, 12, each having a focusing drive coil 12a and a tracking drive coil 12b mounted on each surface thereof, are unitarily embedded in the left and right sides of the movable member 3. Yokes 13, 13 vertically implanted on the fixed chassis 10 are respectively inserted into the centers of the bobbins 12, 12 and magnets 14, 14 opposed to these yokes 13, 13 are respectively bonded to support members 15, 15 vertically implanted on the fixed chassis 10 in an opposing relation to the focusing drive coil 12a and the tracking drive coil 12b. A rear plate 16 unitarily formed with the chassis 10 is attached to the rear surface of the attaching mount 4 and a flexible printed circuit board (not shown) for connecting the coils is attached to the rear plate 16.
The bi-axial actuator 1 constructed as above moves the movable member 3 in the upper and lower direction by a magnetic action based on the direction of a current flowing through the focusing drive coil 12a and the direction of a magnetic flux of the magnet 14 when a focusing drive current based on a focusing error signal is supplied to the focusing drive coil 12a. Consequently, the movable member 3 resiliently displaces the resilient displacing portions 8 and 9 of the suspension arm 5 to move the objective lens 2 along the optical axis direction thereof, thereby effecting the focusing control.
Further, when a tracking drive current based on a tracking error signal is supplied to the tracking drive coils 12b, a left and right direction drive force occurs in the bobbins 12 due to a magnetic action caused in the direction of the current flowing through the coils 12b and the magnetic flux direction of the magnets 14. Consequently, the movable member 3 with the bobbins 12 resiliently displaces the resilient displacing portion 6 of the suspension arm 5 to move the objective lens 2 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, thereby effecting the tracking control.
The bi-axial actuator 1 thus constructed is mounted on an angle adjusting mount 17 by the chassis 10. That is, screws (not shown) are screwed into tapped-holes 17a of the angle adjusting mount 17 through two through-holes 10a (only one through-hole 10a is shown in FIG. 1) bored through the chassis 10 to thereby fix the chassis 10 to the mount 17. The angle adjusting mount 17 has an opening portion 18 formed therethrough at its position corresponding to the objective lens 2 of the bi-axial actuator 1 so as to introduce the laser beam from the objective lens 2 and an escape opening 18a communicated with the opening portion 18 so as to escape the printed circuit board (not shown) coupled to the coils. The periphery of the opening portion 18 projects to the rear surface side to form a spherical portion 19 of a convexed configuration.
The angle adjusting mount 17 having the bi-axial actuator 1 attached thereto is assembled onto a slide base 20 that is formed by a resin mold member. The slide base 20 has a concaved spherical socket 22 of arm configuration having an opening portion 21 formed therethrough at its center and a rack 23 formed on its one side portion that is used to move the slide base 20 along the radius direction of the optical disc in cooperation with a drive motor, not shown. The concaved spherical portion 19 of the angle adjusting mount 17 on which the bi-axial actuator 1 is supported is fitted into the concaved spherical socket 22 of the thus constructed slide base 20. The angle adjusting mount 17 is coupled to the slide base 20 by fastening a hole 17b of the mount 17 and a hole 20a of the slide base 20 with a pin p.sub.1 and by fitting screws w.sub.1, w.sub.2 into two tapped holes 17c, 17d independently formed through the angle adjusting mount 17 by way of holes 20b, 20c from the rear surface of the slide base 20.
The angle adjustment of the angle adjustment mount 17 relative to the slide base 20 will be adjusted as follows, i.e., the adjusting operation of the angle of the objective lens 2 will be described as follows.
When screws W.sub.1 and W.sub.2 are driven in the positive or reverse direction and unscrewed by a tool such as a screw driver or the like from the rear wall of the slide base 20, the angle adjustment mount 17 is brought in slidable contact at its convex spherical portion 19 with the concave spherical cradle 22 about a pin P.sub.1. In addition, the angle of the angle adjustment mount 17 can be adjusted relative to the slide base 20 while the mount 17 is being flexed. Consequently, the objective lens 2 of the bi-axial actuator 1 supported to the angle adjustment mount 17 can be held on the signal recording surface of the optical disc within a range of a set angle.
Since the above-mentioned conventional angle adjustment mechanism for the bi-axial actuator 1 has a laminated structure such that the chassis 10 of the bi-axial actuator 1 is mounted on the angle adjustment mount 17 and this angle adjustment mount 17 is assembled into the slide base 20, the entirety of the optical pickup is unavoidably increased in thickness in the height direction and accordingly, the optical disc player cannot be reduced in thickness satisfactorily. Further, since the conventional optical pickup needs the angle adjustment mount 17, the number of assembly parts is increased. Also, since the convex spherical portion 19 of the angle adjustment mount 17 is worked and the concave spherical socket 22, which is engaged with the convex spherical portion 19, is machined on the slide base 20, the metal molds for molding the angle adjusting mount 17 and the slide base 20 become complicated in structure and made expensive. There is then the problem such that the manufacturing cost of the optical pickup is increased.
Furthermore, since the angle of the angle adjustment mount 17 of the conventional angle adjustment mechanism is adjusted while the convex spherical portion 19 is slid against the concave spherical socket 22 with friction, the angle adjustment motion of the conventional angle adjustment mechanism becomes non-linear so that the angle of the objective lens is difficult to be adjusted with accuracy. In addition, the angle of the objective lens is adjusted by rotating the two screws W.sub.1 and W.sub.2, which becomes cumbersome.


The present application generally relates to methods and systems for facilitating the return and exchange processes of unwanted retail products, and it more specifically relates to coordinating the pickup, drop-off, and delivery of unwanted products from the customer to the retailer. The methods and systems of the present application being designed to facilitate the product return and exchange processes without the need for the customer's credit card or other payment information. The methods and systems of the present application being designed to facilitate earlier confirmation to the retailer that the product has been picked up from the customer.

Product return and exchange systems are used by retailers in both electronic commerce ("e-commerce") and physical "brick and mortar" commerce.
Historically, retail return policy was that if a consumer buys a product the consumer then owns the product. Returns, if accepted, were exchanged for store credit and the amount was often reduced by a restocking fee of up to 20%. Later, return policies adapted to allow consumers the option of exchanging the product (e.g., for a different size or color) or receiving store credit for the full value of the product.
The introduction of the World Wide Web enabled a great shift in the economy and the boom of e-commerce. Presently, there are two typical retail product return options in e-commerce. One is offered by e-commerce retailers, wherein the consumer has the opportunity to exchange a product, receive a refund, or receive store credit. The consumer must then return the product by either shipping the product to a designated e-commerce retailer physical location or personally dropping the product off at a designated drop-off location, such as a "locker," or some other retail partner in partnership with the e-commerce retailer. If the consumer drops off a product elected to be exchanged at a designated e-commerce retailer physical location or at a retail partner, the retailer will only send the replacement once the retailer verifies that the product has been received. Product exchanges are not typically available if the product is dropped off at a "locker." The standard return process accrues a number of transaction fees from the credit card companies for the retailer. When a customer initiates a return there is a transaction fee, and if the consumer decides to rebuy the correct item there is an additional transaction fee.
The second typical retail product return and product exchange option is offered by third-party companies, where the third-party company purchases the replacement product for the consumer and the consumer is then responsible for sending the product they no longer desire to the retailer. The third-party return service is then refunded the fronted dollars and some change from the retailer when the consumer sends the item back. Up until that point the third-party return service is responsible for both items if nothing is returned.
Vying for retail business in today's extremely competitive market requires a virtual "no questions asked" return policy, and in the world of e-commerce this often includes offering return shipping at no cost to the consumer. In virtually all cases, the retailer accepts the return request and refunds the consumer the full purchase price. Often, the retailer will provide a prepaid return shipping label to cover the shipping cost of the return or, alternatively, ask the consumer to keep the item. Often, these returned items are unwanted by the retailer, but the retailer also does not want the returned items re-entering the marketplace as this would put returned items in competition with their new items. Acceptance of unwanted returned items results in extra cost to the retailer and a large amount of waste and attendant negative environmental impact.
Existing product return and/or exchange systems require consumers to ship or transport the unwanted product themselves and/or the third-party company requires the consumer or retailer to provide credit card information. Further, any damage caused to the product in shipping via a shipping service or postal service may be attributed to the consumer and triggers a time-consuming and costly process of either rejecting the return/exchange when the product is received by the retailer or potentially requiring the retailer to issue only a partial refund. This leads to confusion and lower consumer satisfaction.
A need exists in the retail industry for improved systems and methods that addresses the deficiencies of the existing retail product return and exchange systems while continuing to allow consumers to return unwanted products. The advantages of an improved retail product return system may include one or more of the following: reducing the cost of processing items being returned to retailers, earlier detection of quality issues with the product being returned, expediting the timeline for retailers to send exchange products, repurposing the unwanted items in a sustainable fashion, keeping these items out of a "secondary" market, and dramatically reducing the amount of waste resulting from returned product's disposal.

System and method for managing retail product returns


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device whereby a layer (12) containing Co or Ni is deposited on a surface (2) of a semiconductor body (1) bounded by silicon regions (3, 4, 5, 6) and regions of insulating material (8, 9), after which the semiconductor body (1) is heated during a heat treatment to a temperature at which the Co or Ni forms a metal silicide with the silicon (3, 4, 5, 6), but not with the insulating material (8, 9). On the surface (2) of the layer (12) containing the Co or Ni, according to the invention, a layer of an amorphous alloy of this metal with a metal from a group comprising Ti, Zr, Ta, Mo, Nb, Hf and W is deposited, while furthermore the temperature is so adjusted during the heat treatment that the layer (12) of the amorphous alloy remains amorphous during the heat treatment. In this way a metal silicide is formed on the silicon regions (3, 4, 5, 6) only and not on the regions of insulating material ( 8, 9) directly adjoining them; in other words, the method yields a self-aligned metal silicide.

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device whereby a layer comprising Co or Ni is deposited on a surface of a semiconductor body which is bounded by regions of silicon and regions of an insulating material, after which the semiconductor body is heated during a heat treatment to a temperature at which the Co or Ni forming a metal silicide with the silicon, but not with the insulating material.
The silicon regions may be regions of monocrystalline as well as polycrystalline silicon, such as source and drain zones or gate electrodes of field effect transistors. The regions of insulating material may be used for insulating field effect transistors from one another or for lateral insulation of gate electrodes. They may be made of silicon oxide, nitride, or oxynitride.
After the heat treatment, any remaining Co or Ni may be selectively etched away relative to the insulating material and the silicide formed. The silicide then remains as a top layer on the silicon. The silicon has thus been provided with a highly conductive top layer in a self-registering manner.
Co and Ni silicides have the advantage that they possess the same crystal structure with practically the same dimensions as silicon, so that few mechanical stresses will arise in monocrystalline silicon upon the formation of the metal silicide. In addition, these metal silicides have a great resistance to etchants with which silicon oxide can be etched. As a result, silicon regions having a top layer of these metal silicides may be readily provided with an insulating layer of silicon oxide which has contact holes for local contacting of these regions.
A method of the kind mentioned in above is known from "Self-aligned CoSi.sub.2 and TiW(N) local interconnect in a sub-micron CMOS process", R. D. J. Verhaar et al., Appl. Surf. Sci., 38 (1989), pp. 458-466, whereby a layer of Co is provided on a semiconductor body having a surface bounded by regions of monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and silicon oxide. The semiconductor body is brought to a temperature of between 500.degree. and 900.degree. C. within a few seconds after the Co layer has been provided, and kept at this temperature for 30 seconds. Then Co is etched away from the surface and a second heat treatment at a temperature of 700.degree. C. is carried out for 30 seconds.
It was found to be practically impossible to provide a layer of CoSi.sub.2 by the known process described without "overgrowth" occurring, by which is meant that the growth of the metal silicide is not limited to the silicon regions, but that it also extends to on the silicon oxide regions situated immediately next to the silicon regions. Such an overgrowth may give rise to short-circuits in the semiconductor device.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device whereby a self-aligned cobalt or nickel silicide is formed


An electrical switching circuit comprising an electromagnetic relay and a bye directively controlled contactless switch. The electrical switching circuit being able to make and break a capacitive, inductive or pure resistive electrical loads without forming arcs and without substantial heat loss. A control voltage as applied through a phase detecting opticoel coupler to a bye directively controlled contactless switch, such as a triac. The same control voltage is also connected to a time delay circuit wherein the time delay circuit after being charged energizes an electromagnetic relay connecting the load circuit. Upon disconnecting the load the sequence of operation is reversed. The electromagnetic relay is deenergized while the time delay circuit retains the opticoel coupler connection which in turn retains the energization of the contactless switch until the phase of the load energy source to be precisely at the zero voltage crossing at which time the contactless switch is also deenergized. The delay built into the time delay circuit is at least one half of the period of the load energy source so that the disconnection will be made at the zero voltage crossover point to prevent any arc from occurring.

Electrical switching devices are known in various embodiments, commonly known by the term "relay". Electromagnetic relays have been available for years, but they demand a lot of space, energy, and they generate electrical noise when the contacts make and break. Such devices also require a relatively high control power, and are thus precluded from use in a number of tasks, e.g. where the controlling power is being provided by a computer.
Other kinds of electrical switching circuits are based only upon electronics, i.e. making and breaking is being performed without mechanical contacts. Semiconductor technology is utilized for this purpose. These so-called "SSR-relays" ("Solid State Relay") have great heat losses with high loads, especially with inductive loads. They thus need to be cooled and for this reason they are precluded for a number of tasks. In particular they are precluded for use over a long period of time.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,333 (Murakami, at al.) discloses a device in which these detrimental features are eliminated. Said device operates by means of first energizing the load using an electronic coupling means and a bidirectionally controlled, contactless switch, whereupon a mechanical relay connects and holds the load circuit and the contactless switch opens. The order of making and breaking is controlled by a dedicated sequence controller. Means is provided for controlling the triac (contactless switch), responsive to signals from the sequence controller through a phase detector. The phase detector is provided to ensure making and breaking at the point in time where the phase angle in the load circuit equals zero (zero-voltage crossing). A signal is fed back from the triac-controller to the sequence controller, which, through the energizing means, provide closing of the electromagnetic relay.
An advantage of the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,333 compared to directly using an electromechanical relay, lies in the fact that arcs are avoided in making and breaking the load circuit. The said load circuit is first energized by the contactless switch. This implies utilizing the advantages from both kinds of switches, the "SSR"-technology provides a non-arc making, and the electromagnetic relay provides a permanent connection without substantial heat losses.
A disadvantage with the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,333 is that it comprises a relatively complex circuit including a plurality of circuit complex circuit elements. If this circuit should be designed according to the description, using existing circuit elements, it would become unreasonably expensive. Furthermore, the device would require a relatively great amount of space, so that the device would have to be large and expensive, and thus of less commercial interest.


Disclosed is an imaging system which includes an imaging device to be used by multiple users, allows each user to perform imaging at an appropriate timing, and is capable of efficiently using the imaging device. An imaging system includes an imaging device, a plurality of terminal devices, and an authorization unit which gives the terminal devices the authority to specify controllable functions of the imaging device. The authorization unit switches between a first state where the terminal devices are given a first authority to exclusively occupy a part of functions of the imaging device with a controllable state and a second state where one terminal device is given a second authority to exclusively occupy and control the part of functions and to release the occupation, and the terminal devices other than one terminal device are given a third authority with the restriction of the control of the part of functions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging system including an imaging device which photoelectrically reads fluorescence or chemiluminescence emitted from an object to image the object, and a plurality of terminal devices which output control information for controlling the imaging device to the imaging device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, imaging devices in which an object is arranged in a housing and irradiates the object with light using a light source provided in the housing to image the object have been used in various fields. Among such imaging devices, an imaging device which selectively uses an imaging method primarily according to the type of object, and images chemiluminescence, fluorescence, or reflected light from an object, or transmitted light transmitted through the object by an imaging element to generate an image has been disclosed.
Since such an imaging device is expensive, in many cases, such an imaging device is thus installed as common equipment in a research facility, and is shared and used by multiple users. For example, JP2014-010136A discloses a system in which an imaging device is used by multiple users, and suggests that, when there are use requests for the imaging device from multiple users, imaging processing or image analysis processing is performed according to the use request of each user according to a priority set in advance.