Abstract: A method and apparatus control target deceleration of a vehicle in response to a master cylinder pressure and the like. A controlled braking mode in which the pressure in each wheel cylinder is controlled based on the target deceleration, and a driver braking mode in which the pressure in each wheel cylinder is directly controlled by a master cylinder. When an abnormality in the braking control is detected, the ratio of the wheel braking force to the amount of driver's braking operation is gradually adjusted closer to the ratio set for the driver braking mode.

Abstract: Vehicle motion control devices and methods systematically treat a conditions of each wheel to acquire and maintain the vehicle behavior stability together with anti wheel lock and wheel spin processing, braking forces distribution. Device for controlling a running behavior of a vehicle estimates a road reaction force on each wheel, calculates a yaw moment around a centroid of the vehicle body generated by the road reaction force on each wheel, and controls driving and braking forces on each wheel based upon the yaw moments so as to stabilize a running of the vehicle. Spin and Drift conditions are detected through presently generated yaw moments and critical yaw moments which can be generated by a road reaction force assumed to be maximized. Physical parameters of each wheels, required for detecting and controlling the behavior of the vehicle are estimated with a theoretical tire model.

Abstract: A vehicle has at least one electrical traction motor, at least one additional user of electrical energy, a vehicle control system and a source of electrical energy. The traction motor is effectively connected with the vehicle control system so that in the event of a failure of the source of electrical energy, the vehicle is automatically decelerated in regenerative operation and the user is supplied with electrical energy by the traction motor which is operating in the regenerative mode.

Abstract: An emergency brake assist apparatus amplifies driver braking force upon imminent contact detection. A brake pedal, operated by the driver, exerts a pedal force upon a variable brake booster. A braking system is coupled to the variable brake booster that produces a variable brake booster force causing the braking system to exert a braking force proportional to the pedal force during normal operation. When a forward detection apparatus detects an imminent contact, a controller signals the variable brake booster to increase the variable brake booster force such that the braking system exerts an amplified braking force proportional to the pedal force.

Abstract: A crawler undercarriage mechanism includes a plurality of running rollers, and at least one drive sprocket wheel which is provided with chain teeth, and has a running tread and wheel flanges on both sides. An endless chain with individual chain links which are connected releasably to one another by bolts and a plurality of interengaging outer and inner link plates is driven by the sprocket wheel. Each chain link has two guide webs which have a bearing surface, which interacts with the running treads, and a guide surface, which interacts with respective ones of the wheel flanges. The web guides have a cam-like element which connects the two webs and meshes with the chain teeth of the drive sprocket wheel. The drive sprocket wheel has an involute toothing arrangement which meshes with a rectilinear flank of the cam-like element, and top side of the respective guide web has a concavely curved bearing surface, which interacts with the convexly curved running-tread surface of the drive sprocket wheel.

Abstract: A guard for covering food located with a housing has first and second legs shaped to fit about the housing to resist transverse movement relative to the housing. The guard can be transparent and having openings at first and second positions. A flap is mounted to be movable relative to each opening. The flap covers its openings in a first position and is movable to a second position to allow a hand to extend through the opening to grasp food. The guard can have voids to receive flap lugs to allow the flap to pivot relative thereto. The flap may have a trapezoidal shape, and the sides of the cover may slant inwardly from their bottoms towards their tops. The flap may have a handle section and can be made of flexible material.

Abstract: A cabinet cover construction for a formed sheet metal cabinet includes a front edge with two angled surfaces that are congruent with compatible angled surfaces of the top edge of the cabinet to ensure alignment of a closed cover on the cabinet and to prevent overbite of the cover upon closing thereof.

Abstract: A modular drawer system for mounting a movable drawer within a cabinet having a floor includes a drawer having a bottom and side walls. Rollers are mounted to and extend from the side walls. Two guide rails adapted to receive the rollers to mount and guide movement of the drawer are secured to a base, optionally comprising two or more base components. The guide rails are fixed in a substantially parallel relationship at a fixed spacing substantially equal to the spacing between the rollers. The system includes a member for securing the base to the cabinet floor.

Abstract: A slide assembly for slidably mounting a computer server unit to a rack. The slide assembly includes a stationary member and at least one slidable member slidably mounted thereto. A front bracket is mounted to a front end of the stationary member and a rear bracket is mounted to a rear end of the stationary member. Both the front and rear brackets include a plurality of dual-diameter mounting pins and a pair of spring elements having different lengths. The mounting pins are positioned within holes in the rack columns and one of the spring elements snaps behind the rack column to hold the slide assembly to the rack. If the holes in the rack columns have one diameter, then the mounting pins extend partially through the holes and contact a shoulder of the pin. In this orientation, the shorter spring element snaps behind the back column. For a larger diameter or square rack column hole, the mounting pins extend completely through the holes where the longer spring element snaps behind the rack column.

Abstract: A compact optical sensing system is used in hardcopy devices for scanning and/or printing images, for instance, using inkjet printing technology in desktop printing or in photographic printers appearing in grocery and variety stores. Several light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) illuminate a sheet of print media, and one or more photodiodes receive light reflected from the sheet. The photodiode generates signals in response to the light received, and the hardcopy device uses these signals to adjust printing parameters for optimal print quality. Using a chip-on-board process, the bare silicon die for each component is wire bonded directly to a printed circuit board assembly, allowing at least four LEDs (blue, green, red and soft-orange) to be grouped closely together in a space smaller than that occupied by a factory-made, single-packaged LED. A calibrating system uses a white target covered for cleanliness by a windowed door which is opened/closed by a printhead carriage.

Abstract: In a franking machine comprising a base and a disposable head provided with ink jet printing means, a method of printing postal indicia is proposed, comprising the following steps: activating said disposable head in response to determined parameters of identification extracted from memory means of this head and recognized as valid by said base, sending towards said disposable head from said base franking data representative of postal indicia to be printed, comprising static data and dynamic data, calculating in said base the number of droplets to be projected in order to print the dynamic data and add this number to that corresponding to the printing of the static data, previously memorized in said memory means, to obtain a total number of droplets to be projected for printing said postal indicia, determining the volume of ink consumed corresponding to that total number of droplets to be projected and memorize this volume of consumed ink in said memory means, and calculating the remaining volume of ink i

Abstract: A table generator generates a mask table for outputting print data corresponding to each of a plurality of scanning operations. A mask processing unit changes the contents of the generated mask table on the basis of a non-discharge orifice among a plurality of orifices. Print data corresponding to the plurality of orifices in each of a plurality of scanning operations is output based on image information about an image to be printed using the generated or changed mask table.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly includes at least one inkjet printhead having nozzles and firing resisters. The inkjet printhead assembly includes fire pulse generator circuitry responsive to a start fire signal to generate fire signals, each having a series of fire pulses. The fire pulse generator circuitry generates the fire signals by controlling the initiation and duration of the fire pulses. The fire pulses control timing and activation of electrical current through the firing resisters to thereby control ejection of ink drops from the nozzles. One embodiment of the inkjet printhead assembly includes multiple printheads disposed on a carrier to form a wide-array inkjet printhead assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the print quality of a print job having black content. The black content is configured to be applied on a predetermined location on a print medium. In the method, the black content is fortified by applying a black dye based ink on the predetermined location and the black content is printed by applying a black pigment based ink on the predetermined location. The apparatus includes a first printhead configured to fire black dye based ink droplets on the print medium, a second printhead configured to fire black pigment based ink droplets on the print medium and a processing system configured to fortify the black content by controlling the first printhead to fire droplets on the predetermined location. The processing system is further configured to print the black content by controlling the second printhead to fire droplets on the predetermined location.

Abstract: A print area is divided into pixel blocks, each consisting of a plurality of pixels. Tone reproduction is performed with different density inks for cyan and magenta by a method in which the pixels in each pixel block are correlated on a one-on-one basis with the ejection positions of a plurality of different density inks, and different density dots are formed at each pixel position. Large dots extending across a plurality of pixels are formed with yellow and black inks.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a print control method which detect a defective printing element in operation failure status while reciprocate-scanning a printhead, and perform appropriate print control such as complementary printing on an unprinted portion by the defective printing element, without reducing the printing speed. An apparatus, to which the method is applied, has a photosensor 8, to detect ink discharge statuses of a plurality of nozzles of a printhead 5, which is provided between a home position of the printhead and the outside of an effective printing area where image printing is to be made. While the printhead 5 is scanned, test ink discharge is performed at the position of the photosensor 8, and the ink discharge statuses of the nozzles are detected by the photosensor 8. A corrector 123 analyzes the operation statuses of the nozzles of the printhead 5 based on the results of detection in a real time manner. A CPU 25 performs print control based on the results of analysis.

Abstract: Absorbent pads are provided at various positions on a substrate of a service station. The substrate may be in the form of a device intended to be implemented during a capping operation of ink ejection elements, e.g., printheads, pens, etc. Ink accumulated in the absorbent pads may be substantially removed and stored in a receptacle to thereby enable to absorbent pads to be capable of absorbing additional amounts of ink. The transfer of ink from the absorbent pads to the receptacle may be facilitated by a transfer member connecting the two components. The absorbent pads may selectively contact and disengage from the transfer member at various moments during, for example, a servicing routine. The receptacle may be a spittoon that may also be implemented to receive spit ink from the ink ejection element.

Abstract: A system for servicing a non-scanning printhead includes a servicing plate, a servicing component mounted on the servicing plate and adapted to service the non-scanning printhead, and a drive system adapted to move the servicing plate between a storage position and a service position such that the servicing component is spaced from the non-scanning printhead when the servicing plate is in the storage position and the servicing component is adapted to service the non-scanning printhead when the servicing plate is in the service position.

Abstract: A waste fluid collection container, which includes a tray having a floor defined by a periphery, where the floor has a plurality of raised flow enhancing areas and a fluid absorbing member that sits inside the tray. In embodiments, the raised areas are elongated ridges extending outwardly from a central area. In other embodiments, the raised areas are a plurality of studs.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head having plural liquid paths and plural discharge openings is formed by joining an adhesion face of an orifice plate with an adhesion face of a head main body—The liquid paths are formed upon joining an element substrate and a ceiling substrate which comprise the head main body. Apertures of the liquid paths are provided in the adhesion face of the head main body, and a protruding portion is provided in the adhesion face of the orifice plate. The protruding portion has a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of one of the liquid paths, and one of the discharge openings is provided in the protruding portion. The protruding portion or a part thereof fits into one of the liquid paths, and is inserted into the liquid path for joining the adhesion face of the orifice plate with the adhesion face of the head main body.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for producing efficient ink drop overlap filled with a pseudo hexagonal grid pattern. In general, the present invention can include an inkjet printhead assembly that incorporates a preprogrammed correction scheme or schemes [1-n] (herein correction scheme will refer to all applications), for correcting systematic ink drop placement errors of the inkjet printhead. The printing system of the present invention uses a unique ink dot pattern, called a pseudo-hexagonal close pack system. The present invention optimizes the addressable grid for dot placement, pseudo hexagonal close pack system, with an efficient geometry for packing circles to fill an area, similar to the hexagonal close pack system. However, the present invention in creating dots on a non-symmetric grid is supported by available software and is not computationally complex.

Abstract: A printhead assembly for an ink jet printer that has an elongate support member (1) that attaches to the printer and a printhead (2) that mounts to the support member (1). The printhead has an array of ink ejection nozzles formed in a substrate material. The support member (1) is formed from a number of materials (3, 4) having different coefficients of thermal expansion. The support member materials (3, 4) are selected and structurally configured so that the effective coefficient of thermal expansion of the support member as a whole substantially matches that of the nozzle substrate material. The support member (1) is also structurally configured so that it does not bow with temperature change.

Abstract: A method for producing an ink jet recording head having a plurality of recording element substrates each including a recording element for generating energy to be used for ink discharge and an electrode portion connected to the recording element, a wiring substrate provided with an electrode terminal to be electrically connected with the electrode portion of the plural recording element substrates and adapted to transmit an electrical pulse for ink discharge to the recording element, and an element substrate support member for supporting the plural recording element substrates, comprises a step of causing the plural recording element substrates to be supported on the element substrate support member, and a step of thereafter executing metal—metal bonding between the electrode portion of the plural recording element substrates and the electrode terminal of the wiring substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus incorporating multiple electrical interconnects extending through a substrate (e.g., a silicon wafer), and a method of forming the same. The electrical interconnects convey electrical signals through the substrate to structures mounted on the front side of the substrate. A conductive layer can be used to selectively distribute the electrical signals to the structures. Accordingly, it is not necessary to route electrical signals to the front side of the substrate in order to convey the signals to the structures. A structure can be coupled to multiple electrical interconnects in order to convey electrical signals along redundant paths through the substrate to the structure, improving reliability should one of the electrical interconnects fail.

Abstract: A paddle (5) for a liquid ejection device (1) is located in a chamber (2) and is moveable in a forward direction between a rest state and an ejection state, for ejecting fluid from the chamber through an outlet port (11) as it moves from the rest state to the ejection state. The paddle (5) is positioned to substantially close an inlet port (3) when in the rest state and the paddle (5) and the inlet port (3) define an aperture (16) between themselves. The paddles (5) includes means (12) to reduce fluid flow through the aperture (16) toward the inlet port (3) as the paddle (5) moves from the rest state to the ejection state.

Abstract: In an inkjet recording head having a plurality of ink ejecting ports and a plurality of energy generating elements respectively positioned in confrontation with the ink ejecting ports for generating energy utilized to eject ink from the ink ejecting ports, the plurality of ink ejecting ports and the plurality of energy generating elements being divided into a plurality of blocks, and the ejecting ports and the energy generating elements being timeshapred driven in a sequence of the blocks in a common driving period, the plurality of energy generating elements are disposed in an approximate sraight line, and the respective ink ejecting ports are off-set with respect to the energy generating elements in a projecting relationship in correspondence to the sequence of the timeshapred drive.

Abstract: A recording element substrate has a plurality of recording elements are provided, a wiring sheet is provided at a position to surround a periphery of the recording element substrate to transmit a recording signal to the recording element substrate, a wiring substrate is electrically connected to one end portion of the wiring sheet to input a recording signal from an exterior, and a flow path forming member supplies recording liquid to the recording element substrate. When the flow path forming member is joined to a frame body having a common liquid chamber, in a state in which the an end of the wiring substrate is supported by the flow path forming member, a liquid jet recording head is held due to opposing both end portions of another end portion of the wiring substrate being respectively inserted and engaged with a set of engaging grooves provided at the frame body.

Abstract: An ink-jet printhead is provided having a thin film substrate comprising a plurality of thin film layers; a plurality of ink firing heater resistors defined in said plurality of thin film layers; a polymer fluid barrier layer; and a carbon rich layer disposed on said plurality of thin film layers, for bonding said polymer fluid barrier layer to said thin film substrate.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head has an element base plate provided with a plurality of heat generating members and electrode wiring formed by thin-filmed electrode and common thick-filmed electrode for applying driving signals to the heat generating members, and with the structure arranged to form a flow path structural member to constitute discharge ports and liquid flow paths corresponding to each of the heat generating members, the common thick-filmed electrode is covered and sealed by the flow path structural member, and then, the driving IC assembled on an IC assembling and others are sealed by use of sealant, hence making it possible to secure the sealing capability, while making the distance between the common thick-filmed electrode and the driving IC smaller for the effective utilization of the area of the base plate. Thus, the element base plate can be made smaller.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispersing a first plurality of conductive elongated nano-elements distributed within a carrier-fluid to assemble a conductive device made of a first charge-receptive area of a support surface to which at least one nano-element has attached, including: a nozzle through which the elongated nano-elements are directed such that the nano-elements pass through an electromagnetic field for imparting a preselected charge thereto, and toward at least the first charge-receptive area. The charge-receptive area is given a charge such that it attracts a first end-portion of one of the nano-elements. Also, a method of assembling a conductive device.

Abstract: An ink tank cartridge has a housing with a bottom wall and first and a divider that separates a housing cavity into second chambers. An ink supply port with an opening extends through and projects from the bottom wall. A porous member is accommodated in one of the chambers and abuts the opening in the ink supply port. The other chamber is partially filled with ink to a pre-determined level. The predetermined level is approximately 2 millimeters above the opening in the bottom wall in a preferred arrangement. The predetermined level is used to prevent excessive flow of ink through the opening in the bottom wall. A groove is formed in the bottom wall to direct and transfer ink from the porous member to the ink supply port.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inkjet recording head cartridge and an inkjet recording apparatus that have a simple structure and high reliability. Since individual flow passages in which ink emission orifices are formed are communicated directly with a rectangular ink supply chamber, it is prevented that a bubble of such a size as to cause printing defects rises through an ink supply chamber and blocks the individual flow passages. Also, since ink heated within the ink supply chamber is moved upward to the ink tank chamber by convection and grows an air lump sealed beforehand, it is prevented that a bubble will grow in the ink supply chamber. Furthermore, by allocating a large cross-sectional area to the ink supply chamber, it is prevented that meniscus oscillation of the ink emission orifices is amplified by pressure oscillation caused by ink emission and causes a printing defect. Therefore, reliable printing can be performed with a simple construction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for allowing a high quality image to be recorded with good coloring, wherein M, D, Ka, tw and t satisfy the relation of t ⪯ ( 10 / 7 × M ⁢   ⁢ D / K ⁢   ⁢ a ) 2 + t ⁢   ⁢ w wherein M (pg/&mgr;m2) is the amount of the water based ink supplied to the recording medium per unit area, D (%) is the concentration of the coloring material of the water based ink, Ka (&mgr;m/msec1/2) is the absorption coefficient of the ink in the recording medium, tw (msec) is

Abstract: An apparatus is operable to print both sides of a web using two sets of ink-jet printers. A first set of printers are aligned horizontally, and so are the second set, with a vertical spacing between the first set and the second set. Paid out from its roll, the web is first fed forwardly past the first set of ink-jet printers so as to be printed on one side thereof, then reversely past the second set to be printed on the other side. The web can be guided solely by parallel rollers without the use of turning bars.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus, which records with deposition of ink droplets onto a recording medium by use of an ink jet recording head, includes a platen for supporting a recording medium in a position facing the ink jet recording head, a plurality of carrier roller pairs for nipping and carrying the recording medium to the position of ink deposition by the ink jet recording head and extrusions extended in the carrying direction of the recording medium with respect to the platen and arranged in the direction intersecting the carrying direction of the recording medium to support the reverse side of recording medium. The carrier roller pairs are positioned on each of the extended lines of the extrusions on the upstream side relative to carrying direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method having the steps of: A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element having a support having thereon an image-receiving layer of porous polymeric particles in a polymeric binder, the polymeric binder being poly(vinyl alcohol) having a degree of hydrolysis of at least about 95% and having a number average molecular weight of at least about 45,000; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition; and D) printing on the ink jet recording element using the inkjet ink composition in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: Clip-on type sunglasses are constituted by a pair of sunglass lenses and a bridge member connecting these lenses. The two lenses respectively have a mounting clip member for mounting to the front endpiece or the rim end portion of spectacles; in order to mount on the bridge of spectacles, the mounting clip members are formed integrally with the bridge member. For mounting on spectacles of the rimless or wire frame type, light weight and neat external appearance are realized.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus establishes alignment of an eyeglass hinge assembly. The eyeglass hinge assembly includes an attachment member attachable to an eyeglass frame, a first hinge element secured to a temple member, a second hinge element secured to the attachment member, and a hinge spring disposed between the temple member and the first hinge element to permit flexion of the temple member. The hinge spring movably attaches a single, central hinge ring to the temple member. The alignment apparatus secures a temple member in a clamp having opposing first and second clamp elements. Adjustable extending means on a rotating arm secured to the second clamp element extends to engage and displace the single, central hinge ring to deform the hinge spring establishing alignment with a pair of spaced-apart, opposing hinge rings on the second hinge element. An associated method is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a contact lens including an optical zone having a substantially circular shape; an peripheral zone having an annular shape and located around the optical zone; and an intermediate zone having an annular shape and located between the optical and peripheral zones. The intermediate zone including a convex portion formed in at least one radial position of a back surface thereof so as to extend in a circumferential direction thereof with an outwardly curved surface as seen in a diametrical cross-section of the lens.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polarization optical article comprising a polarizer incorporated therein which provides views through sunglasses, goggles, lenses, or the like with colors close to natural colors by correcting a color hue with substantially grayish coloring. A polarization optical article according to the present invention has a multilayer structure including one polarizer sheet layer, and a colorant correcting the color hue specific to the polarizer sheet is blended or added into at least one of the layers in the structure, so that the optical article is rendered substantially grayish.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining spectacle lens centering data, comprising a housing (18) that is height-adjustable by means of a lifting column (10), said housing having a digital video camera, whose lens (20) are mounted together with a mirror (22) and a light source (24) in the area of the front surface (26) of the housing (18). Said device also has a digital computer (32) that is connected to the digital video camera, wherein the customer (40) can take position in a marked place (42), preferably at a distance of approximately 3 m, and an attachable clip (50) equipped with a sighting device (66) can be attached to the frame of the spectacles (41), whereby the required centering data can be quickly and precisely determined by means of a substantially automated computer program.

Abstract: A corneal endothelium analysis service method which provides an analysis service of corneal endothelium image data to a client through a network, includes a receiving step for receiving the corneal endothelium image data which is transmitted from a terminal owned by a client. The received corneal endothelium image data is analyzed and the analysis result is transmitted to the client terminal.

Abstract: A system and method for eye gaze tracking without calibrated cameras, direct measurements of specific users' eye geometries, or requiring the user to visually track a cursor traversing a known trajectory. The preferred embodiment includes two uncalibrated cameras imaging the user's eye and haying on-axis lighting. The cameras capture images of a test pattern in real space as reflected from the user's cornea, which is essentially a convex spherical mirror. The invention then extracts parameters required to define a mathematical mapping between real space and image space, including spherical and perspective transformations. The invention processes subsequent images of objects reflected from the user's eye through the inverse of the mathematical mapping to determine a gaze vector and a point of regard. Alternately, a single calibrated camera may be employed with means for estimating the eye-to-camera distance. A head-mounted embodiment that may include a laser pointer is also described.

Abstract: An eyesight tester for possibly finding short-sightedness, long-sightedness, etc. In the apparatus are included a number of lenses (34, 34a), differing with respect to lens power, embedded in at least one rotationally arranged wheel (24, 26) and located and distributed along an imaginary circle passing through an ocular (36, 38). The power value (for example −3) of each lens (for example 34a) is indicated on the side surface of the respective wheel (24) in such positions relative to the associated lens (34, 34a) that the power value (−3) of each single lens (for example 34a) will appear in a visible position (40, 41) when the associated lens (34a) is in the ocular (36, 38).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media relating the display of scattering and/or absorption characteristics of an optical medium. For scattering measurements, a Hartmann-Shack calibration image of a measurement system is acquired to define a first plurality of point spread functions. A Hartmann-Shack test image of the medium is acquired to define a second plurality of point spread functions. A shift is determined between the test image and the calibration image. A point spread of each of the second plurality of point spread functions is measured, each of the second plurality of point spread functions including a component due to optical aberration of the medium and a component due to scatter. The component due to optical aberration is determined using the shift. The component due to optical aberration is deconvolved to determine the component due to scatter. A display of the local scattering characteristics is generated using the component due to scatter.

Abstract: An optical signal, which is to become the subject of dispersion compensation, is split by optical combining/splitting unit 2, and each frequency component of the optical signal that is split is reflected by each reflective surface of reflective mirror 40 of reflective means 4 to apply a predetermined phase shift to the respective frequency components. Each reflected frequency component is then combined using optical combining/splitting unit 2, to give dispersion compensated optical signal. Furthermore, in regards to reflective means 4, which is used to apply phase shift to each frequency component of an optical signal, reflective mirror 40 is made a variable movable mirror by reflection position at each reflective surface, which reflects the frequency components, deforming the entire reflective surface. This allows dispersion that is created in an optical signal to be compensated with favorable controllability and high accuracy.

Abstract: A light pipe has a transparent resin plate having an average in-plane retardation of not larger than 20 nm, a transparent film having an average in-plane retardation of not larger than 20 nm, and an adhesive layer having a refractive index different by 0.1 or less from that of the transparent film. The transparent film is bonded to the transparent resin plate through the adhesive layer and wherein in the transparent film includes a repetitive prismatic structure constituted by optical path control slopes which are disposed on an outer surface of the transparent film and which are aligned in a substantially predetermined direction so that each of the optical path control slopes is inclined at an inclination angle in a range of from 35 to 48 degrees with respect to a film plane.

Abstract: A lighting structure is removably attached to the pole of a patio umbrella. The lighting structure has a battery housing, a hollow support having a first end attached to the battery housing, a light bulb removably attached to the second end of the hollow support, wiring extending through the hollow support and having a first end positioned in the battery housing and a second end coupled to the light bulb, and a collar for removably attaching the battery housing to the pole.

Abstract: An article of jewelery (10; 110) for generating an attractive composite optical effect, is described. The article (10; 110) comprises a compound jewel (12; 112), such as a “Precious Jewel set within a Silver Sea”, having a first and a second portion (14, 16; 114, 116) with different optical properties and a light source, such as a coloured LEDs package (30; 122), incorporated in the article of jewellery (10; 110) for at least illuminating the first portion (14; 114) of the compound jewel (12; 112). The compound jewel (12; 112) and the light source (30; 122) are arranged to generate the composite optical effect from the artificially illuminated first portion (14; 114) and from the second portion (16; 116) when the same is naturally or artificially illuminated. Artificial illumination of the second portion (16; 116) can be provided by a further coloured LEDs package (32) incorporated in the article of jewellery (10; 110).

Abstract: Lighted headgear is provided to enable clear vision in poorly lit locations. The lighted headgear has lights, such as LEDs that generate narrow light beam cones. The headgear is preferably a baseball-type hat with the LEDs secured in small notches in the forward edge of the brim, or in light modules attached toward the brim forward edge. The lights can be similarly provided with a variety of other headgear types including rigid safety hats and rigid fire fighters helmets to name a few. In one form, the lights are positioned so that their respective light beam cones overlap to provide high brightness light in a conical overlap area that can be in the range of normal reading distances or at other distances depending on the intended use of the hat.