Abstract: A fluorophor comprising, as a main component, an ?-type sialon crystal which contains at least an A element (wherein A represents one or more elements selected from among Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Er, Tm and Yb), an M element (wherein M represents one or more elements selected from among Li, Na, Mg, Ca, Y, La, Gd and Lu), Si, Al, oxygen and nitrogen, and is represented by the general formula: (Mx, Ay)(Si12?(m+n)Alm+n)(OnN16?n) (1) m=?M×x+?A×y (2) 0.2?x?2.4 (3) 0.001?y?0.4 (4) and 0.5×m<n?4 (5). The fluorophor is reduced in the lowering of brightness, and is useful for a white color LED and the like.

Abstract: A green phosphor that exhibits a green luminance higher than those of conventional rare-earth-activated sialon phosphors, having durability higher than those of conventional oxide phosphors, and that emits light by ultraviolet or visible light. There is provide a phosphor comprising a crystal of oxynitride or nitride with ?-type Si3N4 crystal structure and, solid dissolved therein, Eu, which phosphor emits a fluorescence having a peak at a wavelength falling within the wavelength region of 500 to 600 nm upon excitation source irradiation. The luminous intensity within the wavelength region of 500 to 600 nm is high, so that the phosphor is excellent as a green phosphor.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a picture book production system accompanied with a server and a recording medium for creating a picture book, in order to reduce a user's energy and to help create a picture book containing images and sentences which are mutually consistent despite a very small amount of stored data. When a user operates a mobile phone 40 to select three keywords, which are transmitted via a wireless base station 30 and a network 20 to a server 10, where a CPU 11 of the server 10 converts the arrangement of the three keywords, reads sentence data along with image data corresponding to the keywords from a memory 12, and produces three scenarios (picture book constituent parts) by synthesizing the sentence data and the image data, so that the picture book is produced by combining the scenarios.

Abstract: An imaging system includes image processors, storage devices, one or more print drivers, and one or more image makers. The image processors generate image data representing an image. The storage devices store the image data. The print driver(s) generate instructions corresponding to the image data. The image maker(s) generate a representation of the image in accordance with the instructions. A first communications network interconnects the image processors and the print driver(s). A second communications network interconnects the image processors, the print driver(s), and the storage devices.

Abstract: A filtration system, includes a filtration unit and processor. The filtration unit operates to filter ablative particles generated by thermal imaging of media and transmits a signal corresponding to a parameter, such as a pressure or pressure differential, representing a current state of the operation of the filtration unit, such as the state of the filters, during the filtering of the ablative particles. The processor receives the transmitted signals and generates, responsive to the receipt of the transmitted signal, a signal representing operator information associated with the current state operation, such as a warning or instructions for correcting a deficiency, and/or a signal to stop the imaging of the media.

Abstract: A technique is provided for paying bills electronically using data generated by any of multiple accounting software packages. The data generated by each accounting software package has a different structure. Respective rules associated with each accounting software package are stored. Structured data including data corresponding to a payee name, a payee address, an invoice number and an invoice amount generated by one of the accounting software packages is received. The data corresponding to the payee name, the payee address, the invoice number and the invoice amount is extracted from the received structured data by applying only the respective rules associated with the applicable accounting software package.

Abstract: A method is provided for centrally tracking transactions in an electronic billing system. The system includes multiple different billing entities, multiple different financial institute entities and multiple different user entities. Each of the multiple different billing entities is associated with a respective portion of the multiple different user entities and each of the multiple different financial institute entities is associated with a respective portion of the multiple different user entities. A message is received from any of the multiple different financial institute entities indicating a request from any of the multiple different user entities associated with the applicable financial institute entity to view billing information. The receipt of the request to view the billing information is logged in a database as first event information.

Abstract: A remittance payment method and system which receives a payor's account number with a payee, transforming it into an altered account number according to alteration rules previously stored in a merchant's database.

Abstract: A method of electronically presenting billing information, includes receiving billing information associated with a plurality of different billers, different portions of which represent bills for different payors. Requests are received from respective payors for current billing information, responsive to which bill presentment information corresponding to the applicable portion of the billing information is transmitted to the requesting payor.

Abstract: The invention involves an internal drum thermal imaging apparatus comprising a support for supporting a receiver material and a donor material in a superimposed relationship. The support includes a cylindrical drum having an inner circumference on which the receiver material is supported against in a bottom layer of the superimposed relationship and the donor material in a top layer of the superimposed relationship. An imaging unit thermally transfers an image from the donor material to the receiver material. An applicator automatically loads and unloads the receiver material and the donor material onto the cylindrical drum comprising an applicator carriage, an attachment device for attaching the receiver material to the applicator and an applicator transport device for transporting the applicator carriage along the inner circumference of the cylindrical drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a multicomponent working fluid includes a circulating fluidized bed configured to combust a collection of solid particles producing flue gases carrying particulate matter. Heat from the flue gases is transferred to a multicomponent working fluid contained within a plurality of first fluid tubes forming an enclosure for containing and directing a flow of the flue gases. The enclosure may also contain additional tubes forming a superheater. A separator receives the flue gases from the enclosure and separates the particulate matter therefrom expelling a first portion of the flue gases substantially without the separated particulate matter and a second portion of the flue gases containing the particulate matter. A heat exchanger receives the second portion of the flue gases provided as an output from the separator. An adjustable flow controller regulates the flow from the separator of the second portion of the flue gases to the heat exchanger and to the enclosure.

Abstract: An application-based circuit steering apparatus and method for redirecting cells within a cell-based network. The circuit steering apparatus includes a data input port configured to receive a packet including one or more cells containing data for an application to be communicated via the network, a monitor configured to sample one or more initial cells of the packet to determine application information relating to the application, and a redirection unit for diverting cells of the packet from a predetermined path within the network to an alternate path within the network based on the application information.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided for imaging media of while supported at an imaging position on a support surfaces. The system includes a loading device configured to move the medium to be imaged along the support surface to the imaging position. During loading, the leading edge of the medium, which extends across the medium width and substantially perpendicular to a direction of movement of the medium, moves in a direction towards a registration device. A registration device is contacted by the leading edge of the medium during loading so as to position the medium in the imaging position on the support surface. A medium securing device secures the medium to the support surface and a perforation mechanism subsequently punches or notches the medium prior to imaging. A drive mechanism is provided to move the perforation mechanism and the registration device, typically prior to loading of the medium, to a position which corresponds to the particular width of the medium to be imaged.

Abstract: The invention involves a thermal imaging apparatus comprising a support for supporting a receiver material and a donor material in a superimposed relationship. The support includes a cylindrical drum having an inner circumference on which the receiver material is supported against in a bottom layer of the superimposed relationship and the donor material in a top layer of the superimposed relationship. An imaging unit thermally transfers an image from the donor material to the receiver material. The imaging unit is configured to thermally transfer an image by scanning energy beams across the donor material.

Abstract: An article of manufacture includes a medium having a plurality of checkerboard patches recorded thereon. Each of the patches is of equal nominal tint and formed of dots. The dots of each of the patches are of equal nominal size with the size being different from that of the dots forming all other patches. One of the patches is arranged adjacent to all other patches.

Abstract: A system for changing the temperature of a working fluid, including amonia, includes a working fluid source and a steel tube. The working fluid source is configured to direct a flow of the working fluid. The working fluid from the source is at a temperature. The steel tube has a treated inner surface layer defining a flow passage. The surface may comprise a mill finish surface, an oxidizing surface and/or a chromized surface. The tube is configured to receive the working fluid from the source and to direct the flow of the received working fluid along a path to change the temperature of the received working fluid.

Abstract: A correction element assembly for correcting misalignment of a beam of radiation with respect to a location on a target includes a correction element housing, and first and second piezo elements. The correction element is fixedly mounted in the housing and moveable therewith. The piezo elements are supported by a member having a first portion and a second portion. The first piezo element is mounted to the first portion of the member and to said housing, and moves the housing in a first direction. The second piezo element is mounted to the second portion of the member and to a base, and moves the housing in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A beam scanning system for scanning an imaging surface includes a phase shifter for issuing phase signals, a radiation emitter for emitting a beam of radiation and a deflection element, such as an acousto-optic modulator or translating lens, for deflecting the radiation beam. Depending on the implementation, the emitter can be configured to phase shift the radiation beam and/or the deflection element can be configured to deflect the radiation beam in accordance with the issued phase signals. By emitting and/or deflecting the radiation beam in accordance with the phase signals, the length of the scan line formed on the imaging surface can be controlled. A deflector, such as a spin mirror or rotatable prism, is provided to direct the radiation beam to form a scan line on the imaging surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compression of data using a technique for quantization and encoding referred to as Mapping through Interval Refinement (MIR). The method uses the size of the original data set together with a target compression ratio to determine the size of a compressed representative of the original data. The data elements after de-correlation are effectively sorted in decreasing order of significance and then written to an output data set using an efficient encoding method which incrementally refines the precision of elements already output. The output process continues until the target compressed file size is reached. Decompression of the compressed data is accomplished by reading in the sorted elements and restoring them to their locations in the data set, and to the precisions saved in the compression process.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process image-wise exposes an imaging element with a high intensity short time scanning exposure. The imaging element comprises on a support in the order given a silver halide emulsion layer and a layer containing physical development nuclei. A thus obtained image-wise exposed imaging element is subsequently developed in the presence of a developing agent and silver halide solvent. The image-wise exposure is focused substantially within the silver halide emulsion layer of the imaging element. The present invention further provides an apparatus for carrying out the above method.