This application is based on application No. H11-008674 filed in Japan on Jan. 18, 1999, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical system for a projector, and particularly to such an optical system for a projector as incorporates a reflection-type spatial light modulator, such as a digital mirror device(trademark) (or DMD(trademark) for short, manufactured by Texas Instruments Incorporated; hereinafter referred to simply as a digital mirror device or DMD), that is provided with a large number of variable-reflection-angle mirror elements that can vary the reflection angle of the light incident thereon in accordance with a video signal so that only the light corresponding to the video signal will be reflected toward a projection optical system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, as higher and higher resolution is desired in images in general, also in the field of projectors, development of techniques has been sought that achieve a substantial increase in the number of pixels without making the optical system larger. One attempt to meet such needs is the development of a projector employing a DMD.
A DMD is produced by forming a large number of minute rectangular high-reflectance mirror elements, of which the inclination is variable in accordance with a video signal, on a silicon memory chip by a process as used to manufacture a semiconductor device. A projector employing such a DMD, by varying the inclination of those mirror elements, controls the direction in which it reflects the illumination light incident thereon in such a way as to converge only the desired parts of the reflected light on a screen and thereby project a desired image thereon.
In accordance with a video signal, the individual mirror elements of a DMD, when in an on state, reflect light toward a projection optical system and, when in an off state, change their inclination to reflect light in a different direction so that the light will not enter the projection optical system. However, owing to restrictions imposed on the design of a projector, the light reflected from the mirror elements when they are in an off state is shone on a side-wall portion of a prism constituting a prism system disposed between the DMD and the projection optical system, and therefore there is a possibility of this light being further reflected therefrom so as to enter the projection optical system.
In particular, when the prism is surrounded by a medium, such as air, having a small refractive index, most of the above-mentioned light shone on the side-wall portion of the prism is reflected from the inner surface of the side-wall portion of the prism, and this greatly increases the amount of such secondary-reflection light. This secondary-reflection light (unnecessary, or stray, light), when it enters the projection optical system, may cause another image (a ghost) separate from the normal image to appear on the screen.
One way to prevent such entry of secondary-reflection light into the projection optical system is to form the side-wall portion of the prism into a diffusive surface that diffuses the light incident thereon. Another way is to paint the outer surface of the side-wall portion of the prism black, or to vapor-deposit on that surface a light-absorbing dielectric film, or to affix to that surface a member having a bottom surface so shaped as to absorb light so that this bottom surface will absorb light and convert it into heat.
The method of absorbing light and converting it into heat by the use of a member having a bottom surface so shaped as to absorb light is adopted, for example, in the projector-oriented optical system disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application H9-96867. In this optical system, a heat-dissipating member having a comb-tooth-shaped bottom surface is arranged so as to face a side wall of a prism, with a shock-absorbing pad in between, in such a way that this bottom surface is kept in close contact with the shock-absorbing pad. In this optical system, the recessed portions of the comb-tooth-shaped bottom surface absorb light and convert it into heat, and the heat-dissipating member as a whole dissipates the resulting heat.
However, even if light is diffused, it is inevitable that part of the diffused light will enter the projection optical system. It is practically impossible to form a black thin film that completely absorbs the light incident thereon, and therefore, even if a black thin film is applied, some light, left unabsorbed, may enter the projection optical system. It is difficult to produce a member having so intricate a shape as to absorb completely the light incident thereon, and therefore it is inevitable that part of the incident light will be reflected or diffused in the vicinity of the protruding portions of the comb-tooth-shaped bottom surface of this member.
An object of the present invention is to provide a projector-oriented optical system in which entry of unnecessary light into a projection optical system is prevented more strictly than ever.
To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an optical apparatus is provided with: a reflection-type spatial light modulator having a plurality of minute variable-reflection-angle mirrors that individually deflect the light incident thereon in one of two different directions, namely in a first direction or in a second direction, in accordance with a signal fed in; an optical system to which the light deflected in the first direction by the modulator is directed; a prism disposed between the modulator and the optical system so as to direct the light deflected in the first direction by the modulator to the optical system and direct the light deflected in the second direction by the modulator to a side face of the prism; and a light-absorbing member shaped like a plane-parallel plate and disposed with an entrance face thereof kept in close contact with the side face of the prism. The light-absorbing member is so designed that the light deflected in the second direction by the modulator enters the light-absorbing member through the entrance face thereof but does not exit from the light-absorbing member through the entrance face back into the prism.
In this optical apparatus, preferably, the light-absorbing member is so designed that the distance t between the entrance face and a second flat face opposite to the entrance face fulfills the following condition:
txe2x89xa7[1xe2x88x92{(n1/n2)sin xcex11}2]xc2xd/2K
where n1 represents the refractive index of the prism, n2 represents the refractive index of the light-absorbing member, xcex11 represents the minimum angle of incidence of light incident on the entrance face, and K represents the absorption coefficient of the light-absorbing member.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a projector is provided with: an illumination optical system that includes a light source and that emits the illumination light generated by the light source; a reflection-type spatial light modulator having a plurality of minute variable-reflection-angle mirrors that individually deflect the illumination light emitted from the illumination optical system in one of two different directions, namely in a first direction or in a second direction, in accordance with a signal fed in; a projection optical system to which the light deflected in the first direction by the modulator is directed; a prism disposed between the modulator and the optical system so as to direct the illumination light emitted from the illumination optical system to the modulator, direct the light deflected in the first direction by the modulator to the optical system, and direct the light deflected in the second direction by the modulator to a side face of the prism; and a light-absorbing member shaped like a plane-parallel plate and disposed with an entrance face thereof kept in close contact with the side face of the prism. The light-absorbing member is so designed that the light deflected in the second direction by the modulator enters the light-absorbing member through the entrance face thereof but does not exit from the light-absorbing member through the entrance face back into the prism.
In this projector, preferably, the light-absorbing member is so designed that the distance t between the entrance face and a second flat face opposite to the entrance face fulfills the following condition:
txe2x89xa7[1xe2x88x92{(n1/n2)sin xcex11}2]xc2xd/2K
where n1 represents the refractive index of the prism, n2 represents the refractive index of the light-absorbing member, xcex11 represents the minimum angle of incidence of light incident on the entrance face, and K represents the absorption coefficient of the light-absorbing member.
In the optical apparatus and the projector described above, the light shone on the side face of the prism enters the light-absorbing member. The light having entered the member is either absorbed by the member and thereby converted into heat or, if absorbed incompletely, driven out of the member. Here, the light driven out of the member is never driven out of the member through the face that is kept in close contact with the prism. Specifically, for example, the light-absorbing member is so designed that the light having entered the member is completely absorbed within the member before striking again the face that is kept in close contact with the prism. In this way, it is possible to prevent unnecessary light from returning to the prism (and thus entering the (projection) optical system).
Assume that FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the light-absorbing member used in the optical apparatus or projector described above along the plane that is perpendicular to both the first and second faces (what is called respectively the entrance face and the second flat face above) of the member. In FIG. 1, consider, for example, a case where light, coming from inside the prism 22, enters the light-absorbing member 5 through the bottom face 5a thereof (i.e. the first face that is kept in close contact with the prism 22), at a position P1 thereon, is then reflected from the top face (the second face) 5b, at a position P2 thereon, and then travels toward the bottom face 5a, toward a position P3 thereon. Here, assume that the angle of incidence and the angle of emergence at the position P1 are xcex11 and xcex12, respectively, the distance between the bottom and top faces 5a and 5b (i.e. the thickness of the light-absorbing member 5) is t, the absorption coefficient of the light-absorbing member 5 is K, and the distance between P1 and P2, which equals the distance between P2 and P3, is L.
If the light that has entered the light-absorbing member 5 at the position P1 is absorbed before reaching the point P3 (i.e. while traveling an optical path length 2L), then
1xe2x89xa62LKxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
Here, according to the trigonometric function,
xe2x80x83L=t/cos xcex12xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
According to Snell""s law,
n1 sin xcex11=n2 sin xcex12
sin xcex12=(n1/n2)sin xcex11xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(3)
Combining Expressions (2) and (3) gives
L=t/[1xe2x88x92{(n1/n2)sin xcex11}2]xc2xdxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(4)
Substituting Expression (4) in Expression (1) gives
1xe2x89xa62Kt/[1xe2x88x92{(n1/n2)sin xcex11}2]xc2xd
txe2x89xa7[1xe2x88x92{(n1/n2)sin xcex11}2]xc2xd/2Kxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(5)
As described above, for the light that has entered the light-absorbing member 5 at the position P1 to be absorbed before reaching the point P3 (i.e. while traveling an optical path length 2L), Expression (5) needs to be fulfilled. Expression (5) defines the lower limit of the thickness t of the light-absorbing member 5. Expression (5) shows that, the smaller the angle of incidence xcex11, the greater the lower limit of the thickness t. Accordingly, as long as the light-absorbing member 5 is so formed as to have a thickness t that fulfills Expression (5), assuming that the minimum angle of incidence of the light entering the member 5 through the bottom face 5a thereof equals xcex11, light never returns to the prism through the bottom face 5a.


This invention relates to a custom-formable knee immobilizer product, knee immobilizer and method.
The invention has particular application in the orthopedic medical field, where injured or diseased knees are often supported and immobilized with a splint or brace so that the patient can continue to walk, albeit with a stiff leg, while the injury heals. Typical injuries which can sometimes require immobilization may include, but are not limited to, pulled or torn quadriceps muscles and tendons and/or the patellar tendon, chondromalacia patellae, pulled or torn medial or lateral collateral ligaments, and posterior or anterior cruciate ligaments. Certain related degenerative conditions, as well post-operative recovery and therapy following a wide range of orthopedic surgical procedures, may also require immobilization of the knee.
In such cases, it is essential to immobilize the knee in such a way as to prevent articulation., which can strain healing muscles, tendons, ligaments and bone surfaces. In addition, the knee must be stabilized to prevent eversion and inversion.
The invention of the present application takes advantage of polymer chemistry to permit quick and easy molding of an immobilizer to the knee and adjacent thigh and calf portions of the leg. The close, custom fit achieved is in distinct contrast to so-called xe2x80x9cone size fits allxe2x80x9d braces or splints wherein bendable plastic rods or stays provide support, and are held in place by a heavy fabric tube.
The particular embodiment of the immobilizer disclosed in this application will accommodate a wide range of sizes and can be fitted to either the right or left knee. Thus, a much reduced inventory is required. This feature also substantially reduces design and manufacturing costs, and promotes use through ease of fitting. The custom-fit of the immobilizer not only permits easy removal for bathing, dressing or adjustment, but also easy and mistake-proof replacement even by children.
Prior art immobilizers include numerous types of splints and braces which typically include a soft component to place near the skin and a semi-rigid metal or plastic stays which are bent into a shape conforming to the aspect of the knee against which the stay resides. The soft component, for example, fiber padding, foam or an air bladder, is intended not only to provide a cushion, but also to accommodate itself to the varying configurations of differing sized and shaped body parts. For this reason, the cushioned part is substantially greater in thickness than required merely to provide the protection from injury or irritation caused by direct contact with the stays.
Some prior art knee braces include stays which are constructed of thermosetting materials which are heated and then formed to the body while heated. These products require a source of heat, and are susceptible to either over-or-underheating. In addition, body heat itself can soften or increase the flexibility of the stays, thereby decreasing the effectiveness of the protection offered.
The present invention permits quick and easy application of a immobilizer to a knee in such a way as to achieve a true custom fit. The. moisture curable resin system used results in a very rigid splint which holds the shape of the molded splint to a very high degree. No heat is required, and a source of water is the only additional material necessary to achieve a cure. Atmospheric moisture alone will cure the splint into its hardened position in a relatively short period of time, but in practice the resin in or on the splint will typically be activated by dipping the splint in water and then removing the excess water by rolling the splint in a towel immediately before the splint is applied to the knee.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a custom-formable knee immobilizer.
It is another object of the invention to provide a knee immobilizer which can be molded to a knee to stabilize the knee against articulation, eversion and inversion.
It is another object of the invention to provide a knee immobilizer which can be custom-formed to a particular patient.
It is another object of the invention to provide knee immobilizer having a shape which permits it to be used on either the left or the right knee.
It is another object of the invention to provide knee immobilizer which hardens in the presence of moisture to form a very rigid but very lightweight splint portion.
It is another object of the invention to provide a knee immobilizer which is stored in a moisture-proof pouch until ready for being custom-fitted to the knee.
It is another object of the invention to provide a knee immobilizer which is custom-molded to a patient""s knee in such a way that it can be initially held in place with an elongate elastic strip to reduce edema, and thereafter held in place with a strap or straps during later stages of healing.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a custom-formable knee immobilizer product for being custom-formed to the shape of a knee while flexible and upon hardening providing a rigid, knee-supporting custom fit. The knee immobilizer product comprises an outer container formed of moisture-impervious material and a plurality of elongate knee splint segments positioned in the container in substantially moisture-free conditions and sealed therein against entry of moisture until use. Each of the knee splints comprises an elongate substrate, and a reactive system impregnated into or coated onto the substrate. The system remains stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardens upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid, self supporting structure. A flexible protective outer cover is positioned over the substrate along its length to enclose the substrate. The substrate and outer cover thus form a unitary structure for being molded while flexible to an aspect of the knee and adjacent thigh and calf portions of the leg. A bandage is provided for being positioned on and held in a closely-conforming configuration around the knee and adjacent thigh and calf portions of the leg. Splint supports cooperate with the splints and the bandage for maintaining the plurality of splints on the bandage in closely conforming position in vertically spaced-apart relation around the knee for substantially immobilizing the knee in a predetermined recovery position.
According to one preferred embodiment oft he invention, the splint supports include first and second complementary hook-and-loop elements on respective mating surfaces of the bandage and the splints.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the splint supports include a plurality of vertically-extending pockets formed in the bandage for positioning and supporting the vertically-extending splints around the knee.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the container is fabricated of an aluminum foil laminate having an outer tear resistant layer, a central aluminum foil layer and an inner heat sealable plastic layer.
According to yet another preferred embodiment oft he invention, the substrate is formed from a plurality of knitted or woven fabric layers.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the bandage is formed from a foam sheet material.
Preferably, the foam material is chosen from the group consisting of open or closed cell EVA or polyurethane.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the bandage includes a fabric material covering at least one side of the foam sheet material.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the fabric of the outer cover is chosen from the group consisting of woven, knitted or non-woven fabric.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the reactive system comprises a blended polyisocyanate, polyol, catalyst and stabilizer.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the bandage is a tube for being pulled onto the leg over the foot.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the bandage includes a flat sheet having cooperating mechanical fasteners for releasably holding the sheet around the knee.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanical fasteners comprise first and second complementary hook-and-loop elements on mating surfaces of the flat sheet.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, an elongate elastic strip is provided for being wrapped around the knee over the bandage and splints during curing of the moisture-curable resin and thereby holding the bandage and splints in closely conforming position on the knee.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the splints are approximately one inch wide.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one retaining strap is provided for releasably encircling and maintaining the custom-molded bandage and splints in supporting position on the knee.
In accordance with a subcombination of the product, a custom-formable knee immobilizer is provided for being custom-formed to the shape of a knee while flexible and upon hardening providing a rigid, knee-supporting custom fit. The knee immobilizer comprises a plurality of elongate knee splints, each comprising an elongate substrate and a reactive system impregnated into or coated onto the substrate. The system remains stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardens upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid, self supporting structure. A flexible protective outer cover is positioned over the substrate along its length to enclose the substrate. The substrate and outer cover form a unitary structure for being molded while flexible to an aspect of the knee and adjacent thigh and calf portions of the leg. A bandage is positioned on and held in a closely-conforming configuration around the knee and adjacent thigh and calf portions of the leg. Splint supports cooperate with the splints and the bandage for maintaining the plurality of splints on the bandage in closely conforming position in vertically spaced-apart relation around the knee for substantially immobilizing the knee in a predetermined recovery position.
An embodiment of the method of therapeutically immobilizing a knee according to the invention includes the steps of providing a plurality of elongate knee splints, each comprising an elongate substrate and a reactive system impregnated into or coated onto the substrate. The system remains stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardening upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid, self supporting structure. A flexible protective outer cover is positioned over the substrate along its length to enclose the substrate, the substrate and outer cover forming a unitary structure for being molded while flexible to an aspect of the knee and adjacent thigh and calf portions of the leg. A bandage is provided for being positioned on and held in a closely-conforming configuration around the knee and adjacent thigh and calf portions of the leg. Splint supports cooperate with the splints and the bandage for maintaining the plurality of splints on the bandage in closely conforming position in vertically spaced-apart relation around the knee for substantially immobilizing the knee in a predetermined recovery position. The bandage is placed in a closely-conforming configuration around the knee and adjacent thigh and calf portions of the leg. The splints are wetted and placed into engagement with the bandage by cooperation with the splint supports in vertically spaced-apart relation around the knee to thereby substantially immobilize the knee in a predetermined recovery position. The bandage and engaged splints are held in the closely-conforming configuration for a period of time sufficient to allow the resin to harden the splints.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of placing the bandage in a closely-conforming configuration around the knee and adjacent thigh and calf portions of the leg comprises the step of pulling a tubular bandage over the foot and onto the knee portion of the leg.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of placing the bandage in a closely-conforming configuration around the knee and adjacent thigh and calf portions of the leg comprises the step of placing a flat sheet around the knee and releasably securing the sheet around the knee with mechanical fasteners.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of securing the sheet around the knee with mechanical fasteners comprises the step of connecting first and second complementary hook-and-loop elements carried on matable surfaces of the flat sheet.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the method includes the step of maintaining the bandage and engaged splints in the closely-conforming configuration for a period of time sufficient to allow the resin to harden the splints comprises the step of wrapping an elongate elastic strip around the knee. over the bandage and splints during curing of the moisture-curable resin, thereby holding the bandage and splints in closely conforming position on the knee.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of placing the splints into engagement with the bandage comprises the step of inserting the splints into respective vertically-oriented pockets formed in the bandage.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of placing the splints into engagement with the bandage comprises the step of attaching to the bandage with complementary hook-and-loop elements.


This invention relates generally to medical devices and more particularly to hemostatic devices.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art various surgical procedures are now being carried out intravascularly or intralumenally. For example in the treatment of vascular disease, such as atherosclerosis, it is a common practice to invade the artery to insert an instrument, e.g., a balloon or other type of catheter to carry out the procedure within the artery. Such procedures usually involve the percutaneous puncture of the artery so that an introducer sheath can be inserted into the artery and thereafter the instrument, e.g., catheter, itself can be inserted through the sheath to the operative position within the artery. Such procedures unavoidably present the problem of stopping the bleeding at the percutaneous puncture after the procedure has been completed and after the instrument (and any introducer sheaths used therewith) have been removed. At present such bleeding is stopped by the application of direct digital pressure over the puncture site by a trained physician or other suitably trained medical personnel. Such direct pressure has to be applied for a sufficiently long time for hemostasis to occur so that the opening is effectively closed against further bleeding. In the case of punctures into femoral or superficial femoral arteries the pressure may have to be applied for as long as forty-five minutes for hemostasis to occur. Not only is this direct digital pressure application procedure wasteful of time by highly skilled medical professionals, the procedure results in a substantial reduction, if not virtual arrest, of the flow of blood through the vessel. Since thrombosis is one of the major calamities that can occur in the immediate post operative period, any reduction in blood flow, such as caused by the application of digital pressure, is undesirable.
Applicator devices have been disclosed in the patent literature for inserting an absorbent plug or member into the vagina. Such devices basically comprises a tubular element adapted to be inserted into the vagina and having a plug of absorbent material located therein. The device also includes a plunger to push the plug out of the tubular element into the vagina. The plug also includes a thread or string attached to it to enable the plug to be retrieved from the vagina. Examples of such devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,191,736 (Roberson) and 1,794,221 (Washburn et al.).
While such devices are suitable for their intended purposes, there is no suggestion of their use, nor are they suitable for insertion into an opening in the wall of a blood vessel or other bodily lumen or duct to seal that opening.
The patent literature also includes devices for closing an opening in a blood vessel using sutures, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,969 (Gillis). Other means and techniques for closing a wound are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,337 (Zimmermann et al.).
None of the prior art teaches the use of simple means for effecting the closure of an opening, e.g., puncture, in the wall of a blood vessel, duct or lumen, by plugging the opening and without requiring sutures or the application of digital pressure.


1. Field of The Invention
This invention relates to a vacuum vessel having a member cooled to a low temperature in use, for example, to the temperature of liquid helium, and means for cooling the cooled member. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a cryopump for condensing and adsorbing gas molecules on a cryopanel surface cooled to an ultra-low temperature, such as is used in a nuclear fusion reactor, etc.
2. Description of The Prior Art
The article "Cryopumps and cryogenic systems of prototype injector unit for JT-60", by T. Shibata et al., 9th International Cryogenic Engineering Conference, May 1982, describes a large scale cryogenic apparatus. A cryopump unit is used in each of a plurality of neutron beam injection devices disposed around a nuclear fusion apparatus. Each cryopump unit is cooled by liquid helium and liquid nitrogen. The cryopanel of each cryopump which is used for condensing and thus adsorbing gas molecules and exhausting them at a high speed is cooled to about 3.7K by liquid helium. A heat shield plate cooled to a low temperature of about 80K by liquid nitrogen is disposed around the cryopanel of each cryopump unit to avoid the cryopanel being directly heated by radiant heat from normal and high temperature portions outside the pump.
In known arrangements, the liquid helium that cools the cryopanel of each cryopump unit is produced collectively by a common large-sized liquid helium liquefaction refrigerator and is transferred to each cryopump unit through a heat insulated piping. Low temperature helium gas evaporating inside the cryopanel is recovered by the same large-scale liquid helium liquefaction refrigerator through another heat insulated piping. Liquid nitrogen, too, is produced collectively by a common large-sized liquid nitrogen liquefaction machine or is transferred from the same liquid nitrogen storage tank to each cryopump unit through a heat insulated piping, and the low temperature nitrogen gas evaporating inside the heat shield plate is emitted to the atmosphere.
In this known, large-sized cryopump, liquid helium is transferred from the large-scale liquid helium liquefaction refrigerator to each cryopump unit through a long heat insulated piping, and a large quantity of liquid helium evaporates inside the piping. This evaporated low temperature helium gas cannot be utilized for cooling the cryopanel, and moreover, increases the fluidization pressure loss inside the piping. Therefore, the pipe diameter of the heat insulating piping must be increased.
Heat entering the insulated piping is generally about 1 W/m, and when the length of the heat insulated piping reaches 200 m, liquid helium corresponding to heat of 200 W evaporates. Heat entering the helium at the cryopump is generally from several to some dozens of watts, so that most of the liquid helium is consumed merely for cooling the heat insulated piping.
The known large-sized cryopump thus needs a large quantity of liquid helium for cooling the heat insulated piping. For this reason, a large-sized liquid helium liquefaction apparatus having a large power consumption has been required.
If gas leaks into the vacuum region of the vacuum insulated piping, the heat insulating effect is largely destroyed and a large quantity of liquid helium inside the piping evaporates, so that the heat transfer function stops, cooling the piping from ambient temperature cannot be achieved, and the function of the cryopump often stops.
Japanese Utility Model publication no. JP-U-62-167875 discloses cryopanels cooled by a helium circuit including a liquefying refrigerator and a liquid helium tank. A heat shield or baffle of louvers protects a cryopanel from ambient temperature parts.
The prior art technique described above cools a group of cryopumps with liquid helium produced by a concentrated type large-sized liquid helium liquefaction machine and transferred through heat insulated pipings disposed in the ambient atmospheric space. It therefore involves the following problems:
(1) high electric power is necessary for cooling the cryopanels, PA0 (2) an expensive large-sized liquid helium liquefaction apparatus is necessary, PA0 (3) long heat insulated piping having large diameters are necessary, PA0 (4) since the long piping must be first cooled, a long time (several days) is necessary for cooling the cryopanel, PA0 (5) heating the cryopanel needs a long time (several days), likewise. PA0 (6) the reliability of the cooling system is low.


To manage today's tremendous data handling requirements, most enterprises employ some form of a data facility. Typical data facilities house data storage and processing equipment that can perform a variety of data storage and computational tasks. Data facilities may also host web servers, Internet services, and other enterprise-based services. While maintaining a data facility enables an enterprise to manage large quantities of data, the energy costs associated with running a data facility present a significant expenditure. A large percentage of data facility energy costs arise from the environmental controls required to ensure that the environment within the data facility is maintained within suitable parameters for the equipment contained in the facility. Examples of the environmental controls include cooling, air flow, humidity controls, power regulators, and so on. All of these controls work together to attempt to create an environment in which the data facility equipment can operate at maximum efficiency and thus decrease the overall energy costs of the data facility.
Problems can arise in a data facility when environmental conditions fail to remain within acceptable operating parameters. Hot spots can cause equipment to run at less than optimal efficiency and at extremes can result in equipment failure and service interruptions. Excess humidity can allow condensation to form in and around data facility equipment and result in data processing and storage errors and ultimately, equipment failure. To control environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, a data facility administrator needs to be aware of both global and local environmental conditions within the facility.
To enable data facility designers and administrators to determine optimal placement and settings for environmental controls, some form of environmental monitoring is desirable. Most current forms of environmental monitoring are difficult to implement and tend to create an incomplete and inaccurate image of data facility environmental conditions.


This invention relates to small electric motors of the type used in axial flow air impeller units commonly found in computers, copy machines etc. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved bearing and seal assembly for use about a central shaft and within a stator or rotor of such a motor. The bearing and seal assembly in a motor of this type must be of a relatively simple and inexpensive construction and yet highly efficient and dependable in use throughout the substantial life span of the unit.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,614,261 entitled BEARING SEAL MEANS FOR AN ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN FAN issued Oct. 19, 1971 to Karl E. Friese et al, a bearing and seal assembly is disclosed with a sleeve bearing disposed within a ferrule or sleeve which provides a capillary sealing function at one end and which is enlarged and closed at an opposite end to provide a lubricant chamber about the bearing. The ferrule or sleeve is, however, of relatively heavy and expensive construction and the capillary sealing function is provided by a cup-shaped projecting end portion of the sleeve and an associated annular felt ring. Close tolerances and precise concentricity or coaxial relationship between the sleeve bearing and the portion of the sleeve providing the capillary seal are of course desired but have been found somewhat difficult to achieve and the construction has also been found deficient in this regard.
It is the general object of the present invention to provide a bearing and seal assembly which includes a bearing and seal confining sleeve and which provides for the necessary close tolerances, precise concentricity or coaxial relationship of elements, and which is yet of a desirably simple and inexpensive construction yielding a high degree of efficiency and dependability in use.
A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an assembly method whereby the sleeve receives the bearing and seal in press fit engagement and precisely centers the elements about an assembly pin with the sleeve press fit or adhesively secured within the bore of a motor stator or rotor.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescence (EL) panel having organic EL elements arranged in a matrix on a substrate, and more particularly to such an organic EL panel which can effectively prevent moisture from entering the organic EL elements.
2. Description of Related Art
Organic EL display panels have conventionally been known as one example of flat display panels. Because, unlike liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, organic EL display panels are self emissive and because organic EL display panels are bright and clear flat display panels, their widespread use is highly expected.
An organic EL display comprises a great number of organic EL elements arranged in a matrix, and employs these organic EL elements as pixels of a display. Such organic EL displays can be driven passively or actively, similar to LCDs, and, also as is the case with LCDS, active matrix displays are more preferable. More specifically, in active matrix displays, switching elements (typically two elements including a switching element and a driving element) are provided for each pixel and display of each pixel is controlled by controlling the switching elements, whereas in passive driving, a switching element is not provided for each pixel. Of these two types of displays, the active matrix is more preferable because much more precise displays can be achieved.
The organic EL element emits light when current flows through an organic emissive layer. In many cases, a hole transport layer and an electron transport layer formed of an organic material are provided adjacent to the organic emissive layer so as to assist light emission. These organic layers are apt to degrade when exposed to moisture.
Accordingly, in organic EL displays, in order to remove moisture from the organic layers, a cathode formed of a metal is provided for covering the upper portion of the organic EL element while a space above the display region (a region where pixels are provided) in which the organic EL element is disposed is made air proof and a drying agent is provided in this space.
However, there remains a demand for more reliable prevention of diffusion of moisture into the organic layers of the organic EL element. Although it is possible to increase the thickness of the cathode as a solution, for example, when the thickness is too large, the cathode would be deformed and peeled due to the resulting stress.


iBiquity Corporation has developed a specification for its “in-band on-channel” (IBOC®) broadcasting system that meets the requirements of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Transmitting a hybrid (both analog and digital) IBOC®-compatible broadcast requires radiating an analog signal with frequency modulation (FM) technology and a digital signal with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology. The OFDM signal occupies the edges of the FM signal's emissions mask and has a total radiated power one hundredth (−20 dB) that of the FM signal. Each hybrid IBOC® signal uses one of the hundred radiotelephone channels for public reception established between television channels 6 and 7 in the very high frequency (VHF) band (88.1 MHz to 107.9 MHz). IBOC® also defines standards for all-digital VHF and for AM-band (535 KHz to 1705 KHz) radio.
A previous IBOC® antenna design disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,084,822 (“the '822 patent”), incorporated herein by reference, includes crossed dipoles for radiation of analog and digital signals. The propagation concept disclosed includes, in at least one embodiment, two pairs of dipoles in each bay, with the dipoles in each pair spaced horizontally by a quarter wavelength, oriented at right angles to each other within parallel planes, and driven with two substantially unrelated signals, where the two signals are fed as traveling waves from opposite ends of a coaxial line and coupled therefrom to drive the dipoles.
A crossed-dipole pair so driven reinforces signal emission at some azimuths and cancels signal emission at other azimuths to produce generally peanut-shaped and overlaid circularly polarized patterns—beams—for the two signals. Each beam has two lobes; the lobes for that beam have the same circular polarization, but are opposite in phase at each instant. The '822 patent discloses a second dipole pair that taps the coaxial line a quarter wavelength from a first dipole pair for impedance cancellation, and that has an azimuthal orientation at right angles to that of the first pair, so that each bay radiates two circularly polarized signals with opposite handedness and oppositely rotating phase. The signals generally fill in at intermediate azimuths to an extent sufficient for the antenna to be termed omnidirectional.
While effective, this embodiment is somewhat constrained by the traveling-wave feed method, and is better suited to tower-top mounting and a small number of bays. A second embodiment in the '822 patent feeds crossed dipole pairs from taps on a traveling wave coaxial line, splitting the tapped signals to drive the pairs. This allows all of the radiating elements to be placed to one side of the coaxial line, but is still further limited in power by halving the number of coupling taps per radiator.
Another previous IBOC® antenna design is disclosed in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/698,065, filed Jan. 26, 2007, titled “Antenna System and Method to Transmit Cross-Polarized Signals from a Common Radiator with Low Mutual Coupling,” incorporated herein by reference. This design includes separate corporate feed from analog and digital transmitters to a plurality of hybrid couplers per bay, each hybrid including unbalanced inputs and balanced outputs, so that multiple crossed-dipole radiators with integral cross-coupling cancellation can be provided in a plurality of bays with low mutual coupling. While highly effective, broad banded (>20% BW for VSWR<1.05:1), and high power capable, this design can be complex, preferably using either a tower-top mounting scheme or a plurality of discrete mountings around a tower or other structure to realize omnidirectional coverage.
Multiple-channel broadcast towers are costly to build and occupy significant amounts of real estate in rare locations (high up and near the center of population regions but low in local population, so transmitters can be clustered around them). Many such broadcast towers are relatively full, that is, they are limited in the number of antennas that can be mounted on them with adequate vertical separation, and desirable positions such as tower tops are typically already taken, leaving small or low positions or replacement of existing antennas as enhancement possibilities. Some IBOC®-compatible antenna designs are not readily adapted to tower-side mounting, because they use highly symmetrical structures to achieve omnidirectional patterns and would require robust, extended—and massive—cantilever brackets for tower side mounting.


As set out in the above referenced applications/patents, the Applicant has spent a substantial amount of time and effort in developing printheads that incorporate micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS)—based components to achieve the ejection of ink necessary for printing.
As a result of the Applicant's research and development, the Applicant has been able to develop printheads having one or more printhead chips that together incorporate up to 84 000 nozzle arrangements. The Applicant has also developed suitable processor technology that is capable of controlling operation of such printheads. In particular, the processor technology and the printheads are capable of cooperating to generate resolutions of 1600 dpi and higher in some cases. Examples of suitable processor technology are provided in the above referenced patent applications/patents.
Common to most of the printhead chips that the Applicant has developed is a component that moves with respect to a substrate to eject ink from a nozzle chamber. This component can be in the form of an ink-ejecting member that is displaceable in a nozzle chamber to eject the ink from the nozzle chamber.
A particular difficulty that the Applicant has been faced with is to achieve a suitable interface between a prime mover in the form of an actuator and the moving component. This interface is required to permit the moving component to be displaced in the nozzle chamber and to inhibit leakage of ink from the nozzle chamber.
As set out in the above referenced patents/patent applications, the printhead chip is manufactured using integrated circuit fabrication techniques. This is the usual manner in which MEMS-based devices are fabricated. Such forms of fabrication are subject to constraints since they involve successive deposition and etching techniques. It follows that MEMS-based devices are usually formed in layers and that components having relatively complex shapes are difficult and expensive to fabricate.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally indicates part of a nozzle arrangement of a printhead chip. The part 10 shown illustrates an actuator 12 and an ink-ejecting member 14. The actuator 12 includes an elongate actuator arm 16 that extends from an anchor 18. The actuator arm 16 is configured so that, when it receives a drive signal, the actuator arm 16 bends towards a substrate 20 as indicated by an arrow 22. A connecting formation 24 is interposed between the actuator arm 16 and the ink-ejecting member 14. Thus, when the actuator arm 16 is bent towards the substrate 20, the ink-ejecting member 14 is displaced in the direction of an arrow 26 to eject ink from the nozzle chamber.
It would be intuitive simply to use the arrangement 10 together with a suitable sealing structure to achieve effective ink ejection and sealing. The reason for this is that it would appear that the actuator arm 16, the connecting formation 24 and the ink-ejecting member 14 could be in the form of a unitary structure. However, the Applicant has found that it is not possible to achieve a working configuration as shown by using MEMS-based fabrication techniques. In particular, it has been found by the Applicant that such a unitary structure does not lend itself to such fabrication techniques.
It follows that the Applicant has been led to conceive the present invention.


1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETs) made on semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrates. In particular, the invention relates to MOSFETs with a recessed channel film in an SOI layer. The recessed channel film forms an abrupt junction.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,538 B2, issued on May 9, 2006 to Ieong et al., describes a high performance CMOS device on an SOI substrate with a gate recessed into an SOI layer and ion implanted source/drain regions with halo and extension implants.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,751 B2 issued on Sep. 6, 2005 to Zhu et al. describes a raised source drain field effect devices with a channel recessed into a silicon germanium film located above a SOI layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,652,332 B2 issued on Jan. 26, 2010 to Cartier et al. describes extremely thin silicon on insulator transistor with raised source/drain, high dielectric constant (high-k) oxide and metal gate.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,429,769 B2 issued on Sep. 30, 2008 to Diaz et al. describes a recessed channel field effect transistor (FET).
In a paper entitled “Extremely Thin SOI (ETSOI) CMOS with Record Low Variability for Low Power System-on-Chip Applications,” by K. Cheng et al. published in 2009 IEEE International Electron Device Meeting, Dec. 7-9, 2009 a method of making CMOS transistors on ETSOI substrates is disclosed.
In a paper entitled “Ultra-thin SOI replacement gate CMOS with ALD TaN/high-k gate stack,” by B. Doris et al. in IEEE VLSI-TSA International Symposium on VLSI Technology, Apr. 25-27, 2005 a device built on an ETSOI substrate using a replacement gate substrate is disclosed.
In a presentation by B. Doris et al., entitled “FD SOI for Low Power CMOS,” 2009, available at http://www.soiconsortium.org/pdf/fullydepletedsoi/FD%20SOI%20for%20Low%20Power%20CMOS.pdf, a summary of device performance challenges and possible solutions are reviewed. Some possible solutions include various devices made using ETSOI substrates.
In a paper entitled “CMOS Transitions to 22 and 15 nm,” by D. Lammers published Jan. 1, 2010, in Semiconductor International describes device structures and possible methods of manufacture for FETs at ground rules less than or equal to 22 nm. Possible devices include planar MOSFETs on ETSOI substrates.
In a paper entitled “Tri-Gate Transistor Architecture with High-k Gate Dielectrics, Metal Gates and Strain Engineering,” by J. Kavalieros et al. available at http://download.intel.com/technology/silicon/tri-gate_paper_VLSI—0606.pdf, the authors describe a non-planar MOSFET on SOI with recessed source and drains.


Many factors make hemodialysis inefficient, difficult, and expensive. These factors include the complexity of hemodialysis, the safety concerns related to hemodialysis, and the very large amount of dialysate needed for hemodialysis. Moreover, hemodialysis is typically performed in a dialysis center requiring skilled technicians. Therefore any increase in the ease and efficiency of the dialysis process could have an impact on treatment cost or patient outcome.
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a hemodialysis system. The system 5 includes two flow paths, a blood flow path 10 and a dialysate flow path 20. Blood is drawn from a patient. A blood flow pump 13 causes the blood to flow around blood flow path 10, drawing the blood from the patient, causing the blood to pass through the dialyzer 14, and returning the blood to the patient. Optionally, the blood may pass through other components, such as a filter and/or an air trap 19, before returning to the patient. In addition, in some cases, anticoagulant may be supplied from an anticoagulant supply 11 via an anticoagulant valve 12.
A dialysate pump 15 draws dialysate from a dialysate supply 16 and causes the dialysate to pass through the dialyzer 14, after which the dialysate can pass through a waste valve 18 and/or return to the dialysate feed via dialysate pump 15. A dialysate valve 17 controls the flow of dialysate from the dialysate supply 16. The dialyzer is constructed such that the blood from the blood flow circuit flows through tiny tubes and the dialysate solution circulates around the outside of the tubes. Therapy is achieved by the passing of waste molecules (e.g., urea, creatinine, etc.) and water from the blood through the walls of the tubes and into the dialysate solution. At the end of treatment, the dialysate solution is discarded.


The invention relates to a process for the study of chemical reactions in the presence of potentially catalytic substances, in which the reactions are carried out in parallel in reactors. The invention further relates to an apparatus, in particular for carrying out this process, the apparatus having a plurality of parallel-connected reactors which are provided with feedlines and discharge lines.
Processes and apparatuses of said type are known and are used, inter alia, in the search for catalysts for the heterogeneous or homogeneous catalysis of industrial chemical processes.
However, most recently, novel techniques have made it posible to prepare substances in a great number, which could be potential catalysts for a multiplicity of chemical processes (P. G. Schultz et al., Science 1995, 1738). The study of this multiplicity of potential catalysts is scarcely possible any longer using the conventional series screening processes, since these screening processes are limited with respect to throughput and analytical resolution, as well as in reproducibility. Frequently, for pure activity screening, integral effects such as heating of the catalyst etc. are used completely inadequately without direct product mixture analysis or efficiency analysis. Furthermore, optimizing the conditions of catalyst activation and process procedure make special requirements of quantitative analytical processes and of the reproducibility of the reaction conditions.
The object underlying the invention was therefore to develop an inexpensive process or an inexpensive apparatus by which a multiplicity of chemical reactions can be studied in a short time and thus reproducible, qualitative and quantitative data can be obtained with respect to the composition of the different reaction mixtures and reaction products.
This object is achieved by a process of the type mentioned at the outset, which is characterized in that the reactions are carried out in miniaturized reactors and the reaction mixture or the reaction products are analyzed with respect to nature and amount during the reaction period.
The object is further achieved by an apparatus of said type, which is characterized in that the reactors are miniaturized, at a volume from the range from 0.001 cm3 to 1 cm3.
The invention thus relates to a process for the study of chemical reactions in the presence of potentially catalytic substances, in which the reactions are carried out in parallel in reactors, characterized in that the reactions are carried out in miniaturized reactors and the reaction mixture is analyzed with respect to nature and amount during the reaction period.
The invention further relates to an apparatus, in particular for carrying out this process, the apparatus having a plurality of parallel-connected reactors which are provided with feedlines and discharge lines, characterized in that the reactors are miniaturized, at a volume from the range from 0.001 cm3 to 1 cm3.
Particular embodiments or developments of the invention result from the corresponding subclaims. Individual or a plurality of individual features mentioned in the claims can also each themselves represent solutions of the invention, and the features within the claim categories can also be combined as desired.
A particular embodiment of the process according to the invention is characterized in that the reaction starting materials are fed continuously to the reactors and the reaction products are discharged continuously from the reactors. However, the batch mode of operation is equally possible.
A further particular embodiment is characterized in that use is made of starting materials which are at least in part labeled with isotopes, preferably with deuterium (2H) or heavy oxygen (18O) or heavy carbon (13C) or mixtures thereof. These generate characteristic spectral shifts in rotation-vibration spectra, which, in addition to labeling the reaction pathway, owing to starting material mixed variants, can lead to novel interesting reactions or reaction products and relatively small by-product contents can be contrasted systematically.
Individual reactors or reactors combined to form groups can also be fed with different starting material mixtures, in order to reveal or detect any synergies present in this manner using the methods of combinatory chemistry.
The starting material mixtures, reaction mixtures or product mixtures can be analyzed with respect to nature and amount of the substances present at any time points of the course of the reaction by spectroscopic analysis, preferably by infrared spectroscopy (IR), particularly preferably by Fourier IR spectroscopy. Other spectroscopic methods, such as laser spectroscopy or UV spectroscopy, are equally suitable for the study. The process can be carried out at differing temperatures and pressures, at temperatures of the range from xe2x88x9250xc2x0 C. up to and including 600xc2x0 C., preferably from room temperature to 500xc2x0 C., or at various pressures, at absolute pressures from 10xe2x88x923 to 103 bar, preferably from 10xe2x88x922 to 200 bar. The data obtained can then be supplied to a comprehensive parametric and data analysis.
The invention is further characterized in that the reactions can be carried out in the presence of a heterogeneous or homogeneous catalyst and in that it is possible to screen the catalytic activity (ie. product detection) and selectivity (main product distribution) of catalyst amounts less than 10 mg, preferably less than 1 mg, in a reactor.
In a particular embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, a plurality of miniaturized reactors separated from one another can be disposed in a block. The volume of these reactors can be in the range from 0.001 cm3 to 1 cm3, preferably from 0.01 cm3 to 0.5 cm3, particularly preferably from 0.05 cm3 to 0.2 cm3. In a further preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the reactors are disposed as a square or rectangular pattern in a metal block, which can be parallelepipedal or cubic. The metal block can be provided with heating block elements or cooling elements and can be fitted with a temperature sensor in the vicinity of each reactor. This makes monitored and reproducible temperature control possible. For example, by this means, a defined temperature gradient can be set over the metal block. The reactors are advantageously disposed in a plane which is parallel to a surface of the parallelepiped. Advantageously, at least some of the feedlines and discharge lines of the individual reactors are perpendicular to this plane. They can be designed as through-holes in the metal block. The reactors can be designed as boreholes. The number of reactors in one block can be greater than 20, preferably greater than 40, particularly preferably greater than 100, very particularly preferably greater than 200. Using these reactors, under defined reaction conditions, a small amount of potential catalysts (also termed samples below) can be brought into contact and reacted in parallel, ie. simultaneously, with starting material or starting material mixtures in liquid and/or gaseous form batchwise or continuously. Automation of the apparatus according to the invention is possible, in particular charging the reactors with catalysts can proceed automatically, preferably by a laboratory robot or a pipetting machine.
In a further preferred embodiment, the miniaturized reactors are designed in the metal block as 4 mm bore holes and disposed in such a manner that differing starting material and inert gases can flow through them through 2.5 mm capillary bore holes. The gases then pass into a spacer, preferably a distancing plate, which is mounted on the metal block and in which the bore holes of the metal block continue. The arrangement of metal block and spacer is provided with a customary cuvette bore hole in which the gases can be analyzed by spectroscopy. For this purpose, the bore hole is sealed at both ends with a transparent window. If infrared spectroscopy is to be used for analysis, use is preferably made of windows of 1-1-1 silicon, NaCl, KBr, Ge, ZnSe or KSR5. For the analysis, a collimated analytical beam, in the case of IR spectroscopy an infrared beam, is decoupled from an interferometer, preferably without a mirror, and directed through a dry-gas-flushed space through the cuvette bore hole onto a detector situated behind. The cuvette bore hole can be, for example, 5 mm thick. By choosing a suitable thick spacer, the length of the cuvette bore hole can be chosen between a few cm (1-10) and several 10 s of cm (10-50), depending on the reaction conditions and reaction type. To record the spectra, the analytical beam can be directed through all cuvette bore holes successively by a deflection apparatus. However, a plurality of beams or a plurality of analyzers can also be used, so that simultaneous recording of spectra is possible with a plurality of reactors. However, equally, the block containing the reactors can be moved by motion devices, for example stepper motors, in such a manner that all cuvette bore holes are brought successively into the beam path of the spectrometer. Suitable materials for block and spacer are preferably the customary corrosion-resistant metallic materials familiar to those skilled in the art, particularly aluminum or steel, preferably stable to rust and/or acid and/or high temperature.
A further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention which is particularly suitable for homogeneous catalysis is characterized in that, in the case of at least one reactor having a volume which is preferably less than 200 xcexcl, an ATR crystal (attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, preferably conically pointed, preferably made of ZnSe or KSR5 or diamond) makes possible spectroscopic contact with the reaction mixture for differing solvents and reaction conditions and pressures up to 200 bar. In this case, the analytical beam is focused onto the ATR crystal.
The advantages of the process according to the invention and the apparatus according to the invention are essentially that a multiplicity of reactions can be carried out rapidly, inexpensively and reproducibly under virtually identical conditions and with comparatively small amounts of substance and sample and, in the course of this, can simultaneously be studied spectroscopically. It thus offers the opportunity of using the opportunities discussed in connection with combinatorial chemistry (K. Burgess et al., Ang. Chem. 1996, 108, 2, 192, incorporated by reference into the application) for industrial catalyst screening. By choosing identical samples and differing other reaction conditions such as temperature, pressure, starting material composition, a parallel reaction optimization can be carded out.
To analyze the data obtained, advantageously, a data matrix is prepared in such a manner that all selectable and documentable reaction conditions (starting material partial pressures, starting material composition, temperature, flow or flow rate, total pressure, sample composition, sample lattice parameters and all base points of the spectra) are given according to reaction conditions, ie. for each reactor, as columns of the matrix. This matrix can be subjected to a factor analysis (E. R. Malinowski et al., Factor Analysis in Chemistry, Wiley, New York, 1980, incorporated by reference into the application), by calculating the covariance matrix, the eigenvalues, the abstract eigenvectors, the loadings and the coefficients of the multidimensional regression, and preferably outputing them as files. A (pre)normalization of the data can also be selected by the mean xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d and standard deviations xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d, which can avoid base line effects or absolute effects. This permits the prediction of differing variables from calibration data sets (eg. quantitative CO2 contents at different temperatures), determination of the dependence of parameters in spectral ranges to optimization of the analysis, generation of different distance matrices from the output data (for example the similarity of catalysts with respect to selected variables and properties) and direct feedback of the catalyst composition to a laboratory robot synthesizer which mixes a set of new catalyst samples and synthesizes them xe2x80x9cautomaticallyxe2x80x9d by sintering or calcining on a robot line.
An embodiment of the process according to the invention and a development of the apparatus according to the invention are described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, without the intention of restricting the invention in any manner.


Interrupting structures which have been utilized in conventional starter or contractor equipment, such as suitable for 400 amperes, 5 KV interrupting equipment, are well known in the art. Generally, such equipment is utilized in connection with fuse structures, and under certain (severe) conditions it is desirable to maintain the contactor contacts closed, so that the fuse equipment will fuse or "blow" first. It is usual in such starter equipment to provide a quick-opening and quick-closing with adequate contact pressure existing in the closed-circuit position of the equipment.
It is also desirable, in such starter equipment, to provide optional equipment which will enable the customer to specify either an air-break-type of interrupter or a vacuum-type interrupter. However, the latter type of equipment involves particular requirements, with which the present invention is concerned. U.S. Pat. No. 3,264,433 issued Aug. 2, 1966 to Russell D. Clark, Jr. and Charles J. Mahlar entitled "Switching Apparatus Employing Fuse As Movable Contacts and Having Safety Features" involves equipment related to the subject matter of the present invention. Also U.S. Pat. No. 3,264,431, issued Aug. 2, 1966, to Alfred W. Hodgson, entitled "Compact Switching Apparatus Employing Fuse As Movable Contacts", and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention relates to similar type equipment. Also U.S. Pat. No. 3,290,468, issued Dec. 6, 1966 to Russell D. Clark, Jr., and Charles J. Mahlar, entitled "Clip For Fuse Employed As Movable Member Switch" relates to the present equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,264,431, issued Aug. 2, 1966 to Alfred W. Hodgson is concerned with the equipment of the type utilized in practicing the invention. Finally, reference may be had to U.S. Pat. No. 3,264,432, issued Aug. 2, 1966 to Alfred W. Hodgson and Russell D. Clark, Jr., as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,898,407 and 3,921,109 to Alfred W. Hodgson, which related to similar-type equipment, all of the foregoing patents being assigned to the assignee of the instant invention, and all of the aforesaid patents relating to air-break equipment.


The field of the present invention is the field of Leading Zero Anticipators (LZA) that predict the number of leading zeros or leading ones in a sum of mantissas generated by an adding device used to add two floating point numbers.
Leading Zero Anticipators (“LZAs”) are typically used to predict the number of leading zeros in a sum of mantissas during floating point addition. Prediction of the number of leading zeroes is used to normalize the result of the addition and is performed at the same time as (in parallel with) mantissa addition, which increases the speed of the normalization process that is performed after mantissa addition has been completed.
In a traditional LZA design shown in FIG. 1, mantissaA and mantissaB (labeled as 10) both enter the adder 13 and the LZA 12 simultaneously. A normalization shift is performed by the shifter 15 after addition is performed. LZAs 12 are commonly used in devices performing fast addition that try to reduce the number and length of clock cycles required to do the addition and in devices that implement a single instruction which performs multiplication followed by addition. The use of redundant formats such as the carry-save format during addition does not require the use of the LZA during the addition. But the use of redundant formats does require placement of an LZA in parallel with a second adder which adds the sum and carry bit streams generated by the carry-save addition process. The sum and carry bit streams are added before the final normalization stage is completed. In such circuits, the carry and sum become the input operands (mantissaA and mantissaB) that are transmitted to the adder in FIG. 1. The nature of addition in redundant formats invalidates the use of several LZAs in the final add operation. For instance, in the carry-save format, the carry term is shifted left by 1 bit position (equivalent to multiplying the carry value by 2) before addition is performed. If there is a negative carry term and a positive sum term, the left shift that is performed after carry save addition might shift out the leading one of the carry term, making it a positive number (the leading bit indicates sign). The addition of two seemingly positive numbers (sum and carry) may then produce a valid negative number. This seemingly contradictory result is valid in carry-save addition but invalidates the assumptions made in the designs of many LZAs. For example, consider a carry (value −6) and a sum (value 7) with expected final result −6×2+7=−5. The corresponding 4 bit binary vectors in 2's complement are carry 1010 and sum 0111. When the carry is shifted left 1 bit, it becomes 0100. Adding 0100 (which is now seemingly a positive number) to 0111 (also a positive number) gives 1011 which is a negative number (−5) and is the correct expected final result.
Another drawback of conventional LZAs occurs if the operation is a subtraction. Traditional application of LZAs during subtraction requires that the mantissa of the smaller operand must be subtracted from the mantissa of the larger operand so that a positive result is generated. To insure that the operand of smaller magnitude is subtracted from the greater one, a comparator is used to determine which mantissa is larger. This is expensive because of the need to use extra logic gates. Another traditional method of leading zero anticipation does not require comparison but uses 2 LZAs together which are implemented so that they make opposite assumptions about the sign of the generated result when anticipating the number of leading zeroes or ones. The correct LZA output is then chosen depending on the sign of the result of the addition. This is also expensive.
Yet another conventional implementation of LZAs does not require comparison of mantissas and uses just one LZA. However logic designers implementing this form of LZA must assume that the “normal” rules of addition apply when the operands are added. Consequently, this implementation cannot be used when the input operands are expressed in redundant formats, such as the carry save format. This is the case because addition in redundant format does not follow all the conventions of normal addition as explained above.
Therefore, what is required is a novel LZA that may be implemented with a single LZA and that is implemented in a way that does not make assumptions regarding rules of addition that preclude the use of redundant formats such as the carry save format. Also, an LZA that does not require comparison of the magnitude of the input operands or knowledge of the sign of the result in order to anticipate the number of leading zeroes or leading ones is needed.


Nowadays, with advancements in technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality and so forth, users of specialized devices are able to experience digitally simulated environments (namely, virtual worlds). Specifically, such simulated environments enhance a user's perception of reality around him/her by providing the user with a feeling of complete involvement in the simulated environments using contemporary techniques such as stereoscopy. Moreover, such simulated environments relate to fully virtual environments (namely, virtual reality) as well as real-world environments including virtual objects therein (namely, augmented reality).
Typically, the user may utilize specialized devices, such as an augmented reality device, for experiencing such simulated environments. For example, the augmented reality device may be a binocular augmented reality device (for example, such as augmented reality glasses) having one display per eye, and cameras to capture a real-world environment of a user. In other words, the displays of the binocular augmented reality device show different two-dimensional images of virtual objects to the left and right eyes of the user for making the virtual objects appear realistic from a perspective of the user. Examples of such augmented reality devices include near-eye displays such as augmented reality headsets, augmented reality lenses, and so forth.
However, conventional augmented reality devices have certain limitations. For example, the size of displays suitable for closely imitating visual acuity of the human eyes is too large to be accommodated within the conventionally available augmented reality devices that aim to be moderately small. Specifically, displays with field of view comparable to the human eyes are dimensionally very large, and therefore, not suitable for use in such augmented reality devices.
Moreover, presently available augmented reality devices are unable to achieve optimum trade-off between the field of view and angular resolution, thereby, compromising on either the field of view, or on the angular resolution. Furthermore, the presently available augmented reality devices, namely see-through augmented reality devices, are operable to render the simulated environments in a limited field of view and/or a limited angular resolution. Consequently, the presently available augmented reality devices are limited in their capability to render realistic and/or highly detailed virtual objects in a large field of view.
Furthermore, conventional augmented reality devices are unable to resolve vergence-accommodation conflict, thereby causing strain in the eyes of the user. The cause is typically two-fold: 1. Inability to cover convergence of eye needed to focus at close-by objects (as displays are too small to cover enough horizontal field of view to cater for both focus at long and short distance) and 2. Inability to change optical focus distance to reflect the actual real world distance. Therefore, the conventional augmented reality devices are limited in their ability to mimic the human visual system.
Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks associated with conventional augmented reality devices.


1. Technical Field
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.: 2013-039456, filed Feb. 28, 2013 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a technique that is related to cartridges for storing a liquid.
2. Related Art
There is a conventionally known technique of employing an ink cartridge for storing ink (also simply called a “cartridge”) as a technique for supplying ink to a printer, which is one example of a liquid ejection device. This cartridge includes a liquid storage portion for storing ink serving as the liquid, and a liquid supply portion for supplying the ink in the liquid storage portion to a printer.
There is also known to be a cartridge that includes a circuit substrate for exchanging information with a printer (e.g., see JP-A-2008-074100). This circuit substrate stores information regarding the cartridge, such as information indicating the manufacturing date of the cartridge and the color of stored ink. When the cartridge is mounted to the cartridge mounting portion of the printer, terminals of the circuit substrate come into contact with conductive contact members arranged on the cartridge mounting portion. The circuit substrate and the printer are thus electrically connected, making it possible for various types of information to be exchanged between the circuit substrate and the printer.
When the cartridge is in the mounted state, it is subjected to various external forces. One example of an external force is force that the conductive contact members exert on the cartridge (biasing force). Another example of an external force is the force exerted on the cartridge when the printer performs a printing operation or the like. If the printer is of the type in which the cartridge mounting portion is installed on the carriage that is provided with the head (i.e., the “on-carriage type”), another example of an external force is the force exerted on the cartridge due to the cartridge moving along the main scanning direction of the carriage (inertial force).
When the cartridge is subjected to various external forces, the state of contact between the contact members and the terminals becomes unstable, and there are cases where the electrical connection between the cartridge and the printer cannot be maintained in a favorable state.
In the technique described in JP-A-2008-074100, a positioning portion is provided on the bottom plane of the cartridge in order to suppress positional shift caused by force applied to the cartridge by the conductive contact members. The positioning portion of the cartridge is shaped as a projection, and engaging it with a positioning portion provided on the cartridge mounting portion suppresses positional shift of the cartridge caused by force applied by the contact members.
However, with the technique described in JP-A-2008-074100, there have been cases where it is difficult to suppress positional shift of the terminals provided on the cartridge relative to the contact members caused by external force applied to the cartridge. For example, there have been cases where the reliability of contact between the contact members and the terminals decreases due to the terminals and the positioning portions being arranged at separated positions. In this way, in technology that employs cartridges provided with terminals, there is desire for a technique for raising the reliability of contact between the terminals provided on the cartridge and the contact members provided in the printer. Also, with cartridges provided with terminals, with liquid ejection devices, and with systems that include a cartridge and a liquid ejection device, there is desire for size reduction, cost reduction, resource saving, structure simplification, improvement in usability, lifetime extension, improvement in safety during use, and the like.


One of the fundamental problems which exist in long haul high rate optical communications is chromatic dispersion of light pulses passing through fiber optic lines. This dispersion causes different wavelengths to travel through the optical waveguide at different speeds. An optical communications light pulse which is part of a bit stream is created by a transmission laser operating at a predetermined carrier optical frequency or wavelength (the words frequency, represented by f, and wavelength in vacuum, represented by l, will be used interchangeably, as is currently done in the art, with l related to f by the equation l=c/f, where c is the speed of light, viz. 299 792 458 m/s).
The pulse has a given intensity and duration which can be detected at a receiver located at an opposite end of the communications waveguide (typically the optic fiber) some distance away from the transmitter, perhaps a few to tens of kilometers away. The light pulse comprises spectral components covering a certain bandwidth Df, which is generally in the range 10-60 GHz in modern optical communications systems operating in the bit rate range of 2.5-10 Gb/s. In optical fibers used for communications, the group velocity associated with each spectral component varies with its optical frequency (or wavelength). This means that the lowfrequency spectral components of a light pulse do not travel at the same velocity as its high frequency components. This causes a light pulse initially injected into a fiber with duration Dt to broaden out (in others words to become "dispersed") to a duration Dt' after propagating through a certain length of optical fiber. As an example, in conventional fibers deployed over land, the dispersion is typically 17 ps/nm/km. This means that two spectral components separated by say 10 GHz at a carrier frequency of 193 000 GHz (l=1553.329 nm), corresponding therefore to a wavelength separation of 0.0804 nm, would undergo a differential delay (or dispersion) of 17 ps/nm/km times 0.0804 nm, i.e. 1.37 ps/km, or 137 ps after 100 km of fiber (the sign of the dispersion in conventional fibers is such that low frequency light travels at a lower group velocity than highfrequency light). Light pulses that may be initially 25 ps in duration in a 10 Gb/s optical communication system have spectral components that cover several tens of GHz. The time dispersion between the low- and the high-frequency spectral components of such a light pulse are therefore more than 137 ps after a 100-km stretch of fiber. Such a large amount amount of dispersion is intolerable since, the pulses being 100 ps apart, dispersion will make subsequent pulses start overlapping to a considerable degree and increase the bit error rate.
Therefore, dispersion causes a spreading of laser pulses over great distances (even in the most non-dispersive optic fibers) such that the pulse energy is spread out and lower-frequency spectral components trail behind higher-frequency components of the laser pulse.
When the bit time slot in an optical communication system is large enough, dispersion causes a small portion of the pulse energy to spill over into adjacent bit time slots. The pulse height at the receiver will be marginally lower, but still detectable as a bit, and empty bit slots (e.g. representing zeros) will contain small amounts of spill over light, which will be below the predetermined detection threshold. However, as the bit time slots are made smaller so as to increase the bit rate and increase transmission capacity, dispersion of a very short light pulse may significantly reduce the light intensity in the bit time slot and even cause enough spill over into adjacent empty bit time slots so as to cause difficulty in the detection of zeroes.
Dispersion thus produces the spreading of short optical pulses, and thus affects negatively the quality of a communication link. If the dispersion of a light pulse is great enough, the communication link utilizing the light pulses becomes unstable, and eventually, unusable.
In addition to problems in optical communications, dispersion is also a major problem in the generation of very short, high power optical laser pulses. The spreading of the pulses reduces the achieved peak power, and thus reduces the efficiency of the laser pulses.
Various attempts have been made to address the problem of dispersion in optical signals. Three basic approaches have been developed. The first approach is to pass the optical signal transmitted, which has suffered dispersion due to the optical transmission waveguide, through a length of waveguide having an opposite sign of dispersion at the communications wavelength before feeding the signal to the receiver. U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,710 to Tick et al. is an example of such a method. The second approach has been to use optical devices to separate the light pulse into its wavelength components, then to suject the separated components to different delays before recombining the components into a single dispersion compensated optic signal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,719 to Stone is an example of this approach. The third approach has been to use chirped in-fiber Bragg gratings to reflect each wavelength component at different points such that the reflected optical signal has been dispersion compensated. This approach is disclosed in a paper by Franqois Ouellette, titled "Dispersion cancellation using linearly chirped Bragg grating filters in optical waveguides", Optics Letters, vol. 12, pp. 847-849, October 1987. Experimental results have been reported in the paper by W. H. Loh, R. I. Laming, N. Robinson, A. Cavaciuti, F. Vaninetti, C. J. Anderson, M. N. Zervas, and M. J. Cole, titled "Dispersion compensation over distances in excess of 500 km for 10-Gb/s systems using chirped fiber gratings", IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 8, pp.944-946, July 1996.
Other known prior art attempts to resolve these problems arm disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,439 to Ido et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,583 to Akasaka et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,920 to Chraplyvy et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,778 to Rast; U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,829 to Evans et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,674 to Vengsarkar et al.
Known dispersion compensators are bulky, generally limited to a single channel wavelength and/or have significant losses. The advantage of the dispersion management device proposed here is that it could me manufactured using integrated optic techniques so that it could be very compact and low-cost. In addition the taper lends itself very naturally to tayloring the dispersion as a function of wavelength in a way to match (and compensate) that of an optical fiber. In 10 Gb/s and higher bit rate system the variation of the dispersion with wavelength (from 16 ps/nm/km at 1530 nm to 17 ps/nm/km at 1580 nm, for example, in certain optical fibers) is a factor that is now considered. Our device can offer this wavelength taylored dispersion profile and can do so over very broad wavelength bands.


Passwords may be used in many situations where a user needs to be authenticated. Situations requiring authentication may include the ability to access or use a computer, mobile phone, PDA, or any other device; they may also enable access to a physical location, or allow use of a credit/debit card or similar instrument. Passwords are typically alpha-numeric strings or sequences entered on a keyboard.
Like reference numerals are used in the drawings to denote like elements and features.


Mobile communication devices, especially mobile phones, have become a convenient means for information exchange. Recently, their function has been extended from a mere communicational tool to an information collection tool as well. One example is the mobile phone with a built-in digital camera. The pictures taken by the camera can be transmitted in real time via a wireless communication system and shared among a group of people.
More functions can be built into a mobile communication device by utilizing its information transmission capability.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,947,571 to Rhoads et al (hereinafter merely Rhoads), describes a cell phone equipped with a 2D optical sensor, which enables a variety of applications. For example, such a phone may also be provided with a digital watermark decoder, permitting decoding of steganographic data on imaged objects. Movement of a phone may be inferred by sensing movement of an imaged pattern across the optical sensor's field of view, allowing use of the phone as a gestural input device through which a user can signal instructions to a computer-based process. A variety of other arrangements by which electronic devices can interact with the physical world are also detailed, e.g., involving sensing and responding to digital watermarks, bar codes, RFIDs, etc.
In U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0187742 to Junichi Yamagishi, (hereinafter merely Yamagishi), describes a program for personal authentication using a mobile phone that enables the mobile phone user to buy a commodity without cash and a card, and without entering a password. A personal authentication system includes a mobile phone, a reading adapter and an authentication server. The mobile phone can download a program for personal authentication from a web server. The mobile phone can, according to the downloaded program, output a train of serial optical pulses that represents personal information. The reading adapter can receive and read the output pulse train. The authentication server registers the personal information and performs personal authentication based on the read pulse train. In particular, Yamagishi describes a personal authentication system, in which a mobile phone is employed to download a personal authentication program and output a train of optical pulses according to the program to represent personal information.
In U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0136837 to Amon et al (hereinafter merely Amon) describes a method and a system for the local or remote authentication of an item, in particular a security document, with the help of a authenticating device, comprised in, connected to, or linked to mobile communication equipment. Said item carries a marking exhibiting a characteristic physical behavior in response to interrogating energy, such as electromagnetic radiation and/or electric or magnetic fields. Said marking may comprise physical and logical security elements, e.g. a barcode, or a characteristic particle or flake pattern, exhibiting a characteristic physical response. In other words, a method is disclosed to use a mobile communication device for item authentication. The items, in particular security documents are authenticated through the methods of imaging, spectroscopy, barcode, radio-frequency resonance, etc. As can be seen, among various embodiments of the Amon patent application, only the imaging method utilizes a camera that integrated in the mobile phone. In other embodiments, the authentication devices are accessories that are linked to the mobile phone through wired or wireless connections.
In U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0111723 to Hannigan et al, digital watermarking methods and systems are described. In one embodiment, a handheld device displays a digitally watermarked image at an event center. An optical scanner captures optical scan data representing the device display. A watermark decoder analyzes the captured optical scan data to obtain the watermark. The watermark is used to determine authorized entry. The handheld device may include a cell phone or other portable computing device. In other words, a handheld device, such as a cell phone, is used to display a digitally watermarked image for authorized entry.
In U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0082760 to Lin describes an optical sensing module, an optical sensing and image capturing architecture, and a method for optically scanning fingerprints with a portable communications system associated with a mobile phone to capture a group of images of a fingerprint on a finger of the user of the mobile phone. The optical sensing module has a light permeable device, at least one light source, and a sensing device. The sensing device has a plurality of sensors that form a line array of sensors. The optical sensing and image capturing architecture has the above optical sensing module and an image output unit. The volume of the optical sensing module is reduced for facilitating installation in the portable communications system, for fragmentally capturing a group of images of the fingerprint, and for processing of identification of the fingerprint. In other words, an optical sensing and image capturing architecture is applied to a mobile phone to capture a group of images of a fingerprint for personal identification.
None of the above mentioned references disclosed a method of integrating an optical spectroscopic sensor with a mobile communication device and the numerous applications engendered thereof, which will be the main topic of the present invention.


In modern equipment used for information processing, rapid printers in which printing of the characters is accomplished without causing relief-printing type to strike a sheet of receptive paper are being used more and more. These printing machines, known as non-impact printers, generally include a recording medium, most frequently comprising a rotating drum or an endless belt, which is provided with a recording surface on which sensitized zones corresponding to characters to be printed can be created by electrostatic or magnetic means, these zones being capable of attracting the solid particles of a powdered developer product.
Various applicator devices can be used for applying the solid developer particles to the recording carrier of a printing machine of this type. For example, the device which is described and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,161,544 may be utilized. However, despite all the care taken in realizing this device, it is difficult to prevent the developer particles from being deposited not only to excess on the sensitized zones of the recording medium but also, although in very slight quantity, outside these zones. This phenomenon has been attributed to the fact that if the particles are charged with humidity or static electricity, or if they undergo melting, which, however slight, makes them more or less sticky, they adhere to the surface with which they have been placed in contact. An excessive deposit of developer particles on the sensitized zones of the recording medium is undesirable because when this developer is transferred to the sheet of receptive paper, there is a risk that the developer that has been deposited in accordance with the configuration of the image formed by these sensitized zones may smudge and blur the image. On the other hand, the deposit of particles outside the sensitized zones of the recording medium is also undesirable, because when these particles are transferred to the paper they form a base which reduces the contrast between the transferred image and the original base of the paper.
In the prior art, various retouching devices have been used to eliminate excess developer on the surface of the recording medium. One example of a device of this kind has been particularly described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,816,799, in which a mass of developer particles, placed in contact with the surface of the recording medium and downstream of a device for applying the particles, discharges the particles which adhere to the recording medium outside the sensitized zones, such that these discharged particles become detached from the recording medium and clump together with this mass. In any event a retouching device of this kind is not completely satisfactory in use, because it does not always assure a complete electrical discharge of the particles and as a consequence does not enable the reliable elimination of the developer particles which remain on the recording medium outside the sensitized zones.
Another known retouching device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,629 and includes a magnetic assembly rotating in the interior of a fixed cylindrical sleeve. The assembly itself is embodied by a plurality of magnetic elements, in the form of a sector, disposed side by side about a rotating shaft. These elements are magnetized in such a way as to have peripheral magnetized zones on their peripheral surface, the magnetic polarity of which remains constant along a direction parallel to the shaft, but alternating in passing from one peripheral zone to the next. Nevertheless, with this retouching device in which the magnetic element accommodated in the interior of the fixed sleeve rotated past the recording medium in the opposite direction from that in which the medium is displaced, uniform removal of the excess particles is not obtained, because in certain parts of the medium the removal is too pronounced and in other parts it is insufficient.
This disadvantage can be overcome by using the retouching device described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,018, which enables the elimination of the excess developer particles on an endless magnetic tape on which a latent magnetic image has been produced. This retouching device includes a guide roller of radius R, over which the endless magnetic tape travels. When this tape is driven at a constant speed V, the developer particles located on this tape are subjected as they travel past the guide roller to the action of a centrifugal force, the value of which, for each particle of mass M, is equal to MV.sup.2 /R. Under these conditions, the intensity of this centrifugal force can be adjusted by suitably selecting the speed at which the tape is driven and the radius of the guide roller such that the value of the centrifugal force is greater than that of the forces retaining the particles on the zones at the base of the tape, yet is not so great as to be able to detach all the particles located on the magnetized zones of this tape. The excess developer particles which have thus been detached from the tape are then eliminated by means of an aspirator disposed near the guide roller.
It has been found that to remove the excess developer particles on this magnetic tape the acceleration imparted by this centrifugal force must be at least equal to 10 g, g being the value of the acceleration of gravity. As a result, in the case where the guide roller used in this retouching device has a diameter of twenty millimeters, the endless magnetic tape must be driven at a speed of at least one meter per second. A displacement speed on this order, however, means that this retouching device cannot be used in modern magnetic printing machines, in which the drive speed of the recording medium in practice does not exceed 30 cm/s. To enable the use of this retouching device in a printing machine of this kind, the diameter of the guide roller must accordingly be reduced, but to do so means that a guide roller must be selected the diameter of which must not exceed two millimeters. A guide roller of that size would necessarily be fragile, and its use in a magnetic printing machine would not offer all the security that is desired.