208results about How to "Increase in cost" patented technology

A scalable photobioreactor system for efficient production of photosynthetic microorganisms such as microalgae and cyanobacteria is described. In various embodiments, this system may include the use of extended surface area to reduce light intensity and increase photosynthetic efficiency, an external water basin to provide structure and thermal regulation at low cost, flexible plastic or composite panels that are joined together make triangular or other shapes in cross-section when partially submerged in water, use of positive gas buoyancy and pressure to maintain the structural integrity of the photobioreactor chambers and use of structure to optimize distribution of diffuse light. Other embodiments concern air tubes comprised of plastic film at the bottom of each photobioreactor chamber to provide sparging air bubbles to the chamber. The photobioreactor system design also comprises gas exchange, temperature control, air pumping, liquid pumping, filtration, media recycling and harvesting methods. For biofuels production, the photobioreactor system can comprise a separate growth photobioreactor and secondary stress reactor.

A combined range and tag finder for determining distances to objects in an environment is described. Such a combined range and tag finder includes a system for determining distances to objects on a golf course and for finding golf balls for use with a system for finding golf balls. In the case of one exemplary integrated device, the device has at least two receivers, one to receive an RFID signal from the golf ball, another to receive a signal for positioning of the device location. At least one processor is coupled to both the receivers and can determine at least a direction and/or distance of the device from an object on the golf course. Other embodiments of a combined range and tag finder are also described.

A modular UPS system is provided wherein UPS systems may be constructed using a number of different frame components. In one example, a core UPS frame is provided that can accept different combinations of power and battery modules, and an extension frame is provided that can be combined with the core frame to provide a larger UPS system. According to one example, both the core and extension frame types may be used in either a standalone or rack-mounted configuration. Another aspect relates to packaging of UPS components such that the UPS frame need not include serviceable items. In another aspect, a rail system is provided that allows for easier installation of heavy components into rack-mount systems.

Failure investigation in a SAN providing virtual volumes requires a high degree of knowledge from the SAN administrator, who also evaluates the relative severities of failure events from different devices. The SAN manager obtains information from the management agents in the devices. Using this information, the SAN manager manages the association between the server and the virtual volumes and the real volumes. The SAN manager receives failure messages from multiple devices and uses the association and a failure analysis dictionary table to determine the contents of the failure messages and associations between failure messages. Failures that are causal failure are displayed. The SAN manager is equipped with a conversion table for converting failure messages issued from different storage devices to a common severity. When a failure message is received, a notification is sent to a high-level program and to an administrator based on the common severity defined in the conversion table.

A display apparatus comprises a display unit capable of continuing a display even after the power is shut off, a short range communication unit for receiving display data provided externally and a display control unit for the received data, while an information display apparatus comprises a storage unit for storing display data and a communication unit for transmitting the display data over to the display apparatus, and further the information display apparatus comprises a mechanical quick release mechanism for mounting the display apparatus onto the own apparatus for example, in order to configure a system, which is capable of detachable attachment, between the display apparatus having no power supply and the information display apparatus, such as a wireless terminal, which sends display data and power to the display apparatus.

An Internet based pictorial game allows participants to both contribute and decode pictorial content. The participants' performance, as well as that of artists and their artwork, can be tabulated and presented for community entertainment. Supplemental features can be added according to a desired rule set. Speech recognition can be used in some applications of the invention as well. Advertising can be integrated into game play as part of the picture decoding process.

Display is effected by applying a DC voltage to electrodes 4 and 5 to change distribution states of migration particles 3a and 3b and by applying an AC voltage to electrodes 4 and 5 to move the migration particles 3a and 3b in a strong electric field created in a closed container depending on a relationship of different relative dielectric constants between the migration particles 3a and 3b and a dispersion medium 2. A plurality of display states is switchable without increasing the number of electrodes.

Magnetic component assemblies including moldable magnetic materials including surface mount termination features, as well as manufacturing methods therefor, are disclosed that are advantageously utilized in providing surface mount magnetic components such as inductors and transformers.

DIW in an excessively cooled state is supplied as a solidification liquid to a substrate W, and a solidified material of the DIW is formed by a landing impact on the substrate W. This makes the use of a gaseous refrigerant necessary to form a solidified material unnecessary, eliminates the need for a facility to generate the gaseous refrigerant, shortens a processing time and further enables running cost and the like to be suppressed.

Computer system, method and program for estimating an increase in software license cost for executing a computer program with a first processor(s) instead of a second, less powerful processor(s). An identification is made of a plurality of computers in which the computer program is currently installed. The total processor power of the plurality of computers is determined. The existing license cost(s) for executing the computer program in the plurality of computers is determined. The existing license cost(s) is divided by the total processor power of the plurality of computers to determine license cost per unit of processor power. The difference of processor power between the first processor(s) and the second processor(s) is multiplied times the license cost per unit of processor power to estimate the increase in software license cost. Alternatives to paying the upgrade license fee are also considered. For example, a determination is made whether the computer program should be deleted from another computer to provide available processor power under an existing software license for the computer program to be executed with the first processor(s).

When a developer cartridge is mounted together with a drum unit in a main body casing, a detection gear is rotated by driving of a motor, and an abutment projection of the detection gear is brought into abutment against a lever of a drum subunit to move the lever. The movement of the lever is detected by an optical sensor. A CPU judges information on the developer cartridge on the basis of the results of the detection by the optical sensor. Therefore, the information on the developer cartridge can be judged with a simple construction at reduced costs. Further, the developer cartridge can be mounted in the main body casing in spaced relation, so that the design flexibility is increased.

A switching power supply apparatus having a highly accurate overvoltage protection function which is free of erroneous operation is provided. A regulating circuit connected to an auxiliary winding generates an AC voltage proportional to a voltage component in which the ringing component has been removed from the AC voltage induced in the auxiliary winding by the switching operation of a switching element. If the peak value of the AC voltage generated by the regulating circuit is equal to or greater than a prescribed value, an overvoltage detection circuit controls the switching operation of the switching element so as to reduce the output DC voltage.

A product and method for producing a string of individual sealed, filled packages separated by perforations. A string of separate packages optionally may be enclosed in a cardboard or other container designed to sit in a pantry or other location for dispensing of individual units. Perforations in the packaging film between separate packages provide a tear point to aid in separating one package from the next. There are several advantages to this format including easy placement of the string of packages into a carton for shipping or dispensing, and the ability to hang a string of packages in locations without the need to attach the packages to a backing strip. The perforations between packages facilitate the packaging and transportation of the entire string or bandolier, and facilitate the removal and use of a separate package.

A beverage bottling plant with a beverage bottle filling machine for filling beverage bottles, as well as the filling elements for the beverage bottle filling machine. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Soft pack of cigarettes having simultaneous opening structure to be removed by a single manipulation of removal of the tear tape and thereby providing direct access to the contents of the package, said opening structure being comprised of outer wrapper, tear tape, inner wrapper having dividing part, and adhesive being provided between said dividing part of the inner wrapper and the outer wrapper and providing firm bond therebetween. Web of outer wrapper having a plurality of outer wrapper for cigarette packs, each of said outer wrapper having extending means connected to the tear tape such that the outer wrapper and dividing part of the inner wrapper of a soft pack of cigarettes can simultaneously be removed by only removing the tear tape. Hard pack of cigarettes having simultaneous opening structure to be opened by a single manipulation of opening of the lid and thereby providing direct access to the contents of the package, said opening structure being comprised of inner frame having opening means and some part of the inner foil wrapper which are adhesively bonded to the inner surface of the front portion of the lid.

A digital camera body to which a lens unit having an image taking optical system is attachable. The camera body has a shake detector detecting a camera shake on the digital camera and outputting a shake detection signal, a blur compensator compensates for a blur, due to the camera shake, of a subject light image projected onto an image capturing surface of an image sensor provided in the camera body, based on an inputted blur compensation amount, a focal length deriver obtaining an overall focal length of the image taking optical system, by use of the information on the focal length obtained from the lens unit, and a blur compensation controller deriving the blur compensation amount for compensating for the blur based on the overall focal length of the image taking optical system and the shake detection signal, and outputting the blur compensation amount to the blur compensator.

An ultra wide angle imaging optical system includes, in order from an object side, a first lens group, an aperture stop, and a second lens group. The first lens group includes, in order from the position closest to the object side, a negative meniscus lens element convex to the object side, a negative lens element, and a negative lens element. The second lens group includes a plurality of positive lens elements. The first lens group and the second lens group each includes at least one anamorphic surface having different optical powers with respect to a first section extending in a first direction on a flat plane substantially orthogonal to an optical axis, and with respect to a second section extending in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The first lens group includes the lens element satisfying the following conditional formula (1):

−0.6<(Ph−Pv)*(fh+fv)<−0.1  (1)

where Ph: an optical power in the first direction where a viewing angle is large; Pv: an optical power in the second direction where the viewing angle is small; fh: a focal length in the first direction with respect to the entirety of the optical system; and fv: a focal length in the second direction with respect to the entirety of the optical system.

In one embodiment, a continuous electroless deposition method and a system to form a solar cell buffer layer with a varying composition through its thickness are provided. The composition of the buffer layer is varied by varying the composition of a chemical bath deposition solution applied onto an absorber surface on which the buffer layer with varying composition is formed. In one example, the buffer layer with varying composition includes a first section containing CdS, a second section containing CdZnS formed on top of the already deposited CdS, and a third section containing ZnS is formed on the second section All the process steps are applied in a roll-to-roll fashion. In another embodiment, a transparent conductive layer including a first transparent conductive film such as aluminum doped zinc oxide and a second transparent conductive film such as indium tin oxide is deposited over the buffer layer with the varying composition.

To provide a motor-driven valve without requirement that a check valve is separately connected through piping in parallel and without a built-in check valve. A motor-driven valve 1 according to the present invention having a valve body 7 linearly moving by rotation of a rotor 15 of an electric motor and controlling a valve opening between the valve body 7 and a valve seat 6, and the motor-driven valve 1 is characterized in that: in a first valve opening range, the valve opening and flow rate of fluid have a predetermined correlation, and in a second valve opening range, flow rate more or equal to four time as much as controllable maximum flow rate in the first valve opening range can pass the valve 1. It is possible to use the motor-driven valve 1 for cooling/heating systems and to control flow rate of refrigerant in cooling in the first valve opening range and allow a large amount of the refrigerant to pass the valve in heating, so that only one electronic valve can satisfy performance of conventional valves.

A method of content adaptive encoding video is disclosed. The method comprises segmenting video content into segments based on predefined classifications or models. Examples of such classifications include action scenes, slow scenes, low or high detail scenes, and brightness of the scenes. Based on the segment classifications, each segment is encoded with a different encoder chosen from a plurality of encoders. Each encoder is associated with a model. The chosen encoder is particularly suited to encoding the unique subject matter of the segment. The coded bit-stream for each segment includes information regarding which encoder was used to encode that segment. A matching decoder of a plurality of decoders is chosen using the information in the coded bitstream to decode each segment using a decoder suited for the classification or model of the segment. If scenes exist which do not fall in a predefined classification, or where classification is more difficult based on the scene content, these scenes are segmented, coded and decoded using a generic coder and decoder.

An object of the present invention is to prevent degradation of image contrast arising from deformation of a liquid crystal display panel caused by deformation of the upper surface of the middle frame on which the liquid crystal display panel is mounted.

A liquid crystal display panel is disposed on the upper surface of a middle frame with cushion tape. The middle frame has its upper surface folded back to form a double-layer structure to enhance the strength. Its side surfaces are of a single-layer structure. As the upper surface of the middle frame is planarized and its strength is enhanced, deformation of the liquid crystal display panel can be prevented. This in turn prevents occurrence of optical leakage during black display, thereby preventing the contrast from being degraded.

An impact energy absorbing structure of a frame member of a vehicle, which includes: a first bead formed on the frame member, which promotes bending deformation of the frame member when an impact load is inputted in an axial direction thereof; a second bead formed on the frame member, which promotes axial deformation of the frame member when the impact load is inputted in the axial direction thereof; and a reinforcement panel attached to the frame member. The frame member is configured to accommodate the reinforcement panel both in a first position beside the first bead and on the side from which the impact load is inputted, and in a second position where the first bead is reinforced with the reinforcement panel.

In one aspect, a controller for an HVAC system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive feedback data from operating units of the HVAC system and transmit control data to the operating units, (2) an operation verifier configured to determine an individual operating status for each one of the operating units based on the feedback data and (3) a mode setter configured to distinctly operate each one in a predetermined operating procedure based on the determined operating status for each one.

An image processing apparatus capable of performing chromatic aberration of magnification and noise reduction without decrease in processing performance and increase in the cost is provided. A format conversion circuit in the image processing apparatus converts first image data including an array of color components of red (R), green (G1 and G2), and blue (B) into second image data including the color components of R and B and a luminance component by performing false color suppression processing on the first image data separately using the color components of G1 and G2, and stores the data in an image buffer region. A circuit for correcting chromatic aberration of magnification reads the second data stored in the image buffer region and performs the correction of chromatic aberration of magnification.

An exposure apparatus illuminates a pattern on a first object with an illuminating beam to expose an area to be exposed on a second object with a pattern image. The exposure apparatus includes a scanning apparatus that scans the first object in a prescribed scanning direction with the illuminating beam, and an optical guiding device that guides the illuminating beam which has scanned the first object onto the area to be exposed on the second object.

An electronic component comprises an element body, an external electrode, and an insulating resin coating layer. The element body has a pair of end faces opposed to each other, a pair of principal faces extending so as to connect the pair of end faces and opposed to each other, and a pair of side faces extending so as to connect the pair of principal faces and opposed to each other. The external electrode is formed so as to cover at least a partial region of the principal face and/or a partial region of the side face and has a plating layer comprised of Sn or an Sn alloy. The insulating resin coating layer covers at least the portion of the external electrode formed so as to cover the side face.

A catalyst for promoting growth of carbon fiber, which is capable of growing satisfactorily at a low temperature without needing complex process and applicable to such as electron emitting device.

The catalyst used for growth of carbon fiber contains Pd and at least one element selected in the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Y, Rh, Pt, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Lu, in which 20˜80 atm % (atomic percentage) of the selected at least one element is contained to Pd.

An information processing apparatus is provided with a reception unit that receives, via a network, compressed difference files corresponding to respective regions of firmware that are to undergo an update process, a selection unit that selects a difference file of a size expandable in a second area, from the difference files received by the reception unit, a transition unit that transitions to a state where no jobs are received except for the update process, an expansion unit that expands the difference file selected by the selection unit in the second area, and an execution unit that executes the update process on the firmware after the transition to the state by the transition unit, by compressing the difference file expanded by the expansion unit and storing the compressed difference file in a first area.

Process for the production of methionine or its derivatives by culturing a microorganism in an appropriate culture medium comprising a source of carbon and a source of sulfur. The microorganism and/or the culture medium are modified in such way that the methionine/carbon source yield is increased. The isolation of methionine or its derivates from the fermentation medium is also described.

An apparatus for cleaning, disinfection and deparasitation of animals, namely domestic pets, comprising a cabin, of a suitable size for the animal, having a means for cleaning, disinfection and deparasitation of the animal, with a programming and control means and including a circuit means for recirculation of the cleaning water and for mixing said water with clean lukewarm water, in addition to a circuit for discharging liquids to drainage, as well as glass panels which allow the animal to see outside the cabin.