This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-276365 filed on Oct. 10, 2006.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a connection member, an electric substrate, an optical scanning device, and an image forming apparatus.
2. Related Art
In an optical scanning device, a laser diode and an electric substrate are connected to each other by passing pins of the laser diode through attachment holes that penetrate the electric substrate and soldering them.
However, when the laser diode and the electric substrate are directly soldered in this manner, the laser diode and the electric substrate cannot be easily separated when defects such as damage to the laser diode or the electric substrate resulting from solder defects occur, and it is difficult to recycle them.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided: a connection member that connects an electric substrate and a light source that emits a light beam, the connection member comprising: a light source terminal insertion portion into which a light source terminal of the light source is inserted from one end portion side and whose other end portion side penetrates the electric substrate.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.
The image forming apparatus 1 is configured as a tandem full-color printer, and disposed inside a body 9 of the image forming apparatus 1 are an optical scanning device 12 and a print head device 14 that is an image forming unit that performs full-color image formation.
The optical scanning device 12 is disposed with an optical box (housing) 24. Disposed inside the optical box 24 are a rotating polygon mirror (rotating reflection mirror, polygon mirror) 26, scanning lenses (fθ lenses) 28, a folding mirror 29, a split polygon mirror, (split mirror, splitting portion) 30, reflection mirrors 32, and cylindrical mirrors (optical elements) 34Y, 34M, 34C and 34K (see
Dustproof windows 24a (see
In this manner, the optical scanning device 12 is configured to perform image exposure processing with respect to the four photosensitive drums 16, 18, 20 and 22.
The print head device 14 is disposed with the four photosensitive drums 16, 18, 20 and 22 serving as image carriers corresponding to the respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K). Each of the photosensitive drums 16, 18, 20 and 22 includes a developing device 23.
The print head device 14 is disposed with plural intermediate transfer bodies 36, 38 and 40. That is, the print head device 14 is disposed with an intermediate transfer body 36 to which toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 16 and 18 are multiply transferred, an intermediate transfer body 38 to which toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 20 and 22 are multiply transferred, and an intermediate transfer body 40 to which the multiple toner images of the intermediate transfer bodies 36 and 38 are further multiply transferred.
A paper supply cassette 25 in which recording paper (sheets) P is stored is disposed in a lower portion of the body 9 of the image forming apparatus 1. A conveyance path K on which the recording paper P is conveyed is formed leading upward from the paper supply cassette 25. The intermediate transfer body 40 of the print head device 14 and a fixing device 27 are disposed in the middle of the conveyance path K. Further, disposed in an upper surface of the body 9 is a discharge tray 11 into which the recording paper P to which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing device 27 is discharged.
In the image forming apparatus 1 configured in this manner, the laser light beams 10Y to 10K (see
Thereafter, the toner images on the intermediate transfer bodies 36 and 38 are finally transferred to the intermediate transfer body 40 and then collectively transferred to the recording paper P supplied from the paper supply cassette 25. Thus, a full-color toner image can be obtained. The full-color toner image that has been transferred to the recording paper P is fixed to the recording paper P by the fixing device 27, and then the recording paper P is discharged into the discharge tray 11 in the upper surface of the body 9.
Next, the optical scanning device 12 will be described in greater detail.
The optical box 24 of the optical scanning device 12 is configured to have a dustproof structure. Additionally, the optical box 24 includes a first case 241 and a second case 242. That is, the space inside the optical box 24 is partitioned by a boundary portion 243, and the first case 241 and the second case 242 that have individual spaces are formed by the boundary portion 243. A window 244 that spatially interconnects the first case 241 and the second case 242 is disposed in the boundary portion 243. Further, the first case 241 includes a side wall 245 (the side wall 245 configures a side surface in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording paper P).
A first optical system 600 is disposed in the first case 241, and a second optical system 500 is disposed in the second case 242. It will be noted that the first optical system 600 and the second optical system 500 can also be called imaging optical systems.
The first optical system 600 is disposed with the laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K. The laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K are attached to an attachment portion 245a formed on the side wall 245 of the first case 241. The attachment portion 245a of the side wall 245 extends so as to intersect the side wall 245 at a predetermined angle. That is, the attachment portion 245a is formed in a stepped shape such that the laser light beams 10Y, 10M, 10C and 10K generated by the laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K progress in a diagonal direction with respect to the side wall 245 and such that the four laser light beams 10Y to 10K progress parallel to each other.
The laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K are respectively driven by yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) image signals and emit the laser light beams 10Y to 10K that become divergent light beams.
It will be noted that the laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K are connected to a single electric substrate (LD substrate) 48 via sockets 100Y, 100M, 100C and 100K (see
As shown in
The collimator lenses, the slits 43Y, 43M, 43C and 43K, and the first reflection mirror portions 44Y, 44M, 44C and 44K correspond to the respective colors.
The collimator lenses substantially collimate the laser light beams 10Y to 10K from the laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K. The slits 43Y, 43M, 43C and 43K are for regulating the focused state of the laser light beams 10Y to 10K on the photosensitive drums 16, 18, 20 and 22. The first reflection mirror portions 44Y, 44M, 44C and 44K are for reflecting, toward the second reflection mirror 46 shared by the respective colors, the four laser light beams 10Y to 10K from the laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K.
As shown in
The four laser light beams 10Y to 10K made incident on the rotating polygon mirror 26 are reflectively deflected by reflective deflection surfaces, pass through the group of two scanning lenses 28, and are made incident on the folding mirror 29. The scanning lenses 28 correct the scanning speed of the four laser light beams 10Y to 10K deflectively scanned by the rotating polygon mirror 26 and cause the laser light beams 10Y to 10K to be imaged in the vicinity of the photosensitive drums 16, 18, 20 and 22 (see
As shown in
As shown in
In this manner, in the present exemplary embodiment, an overfilled optical system is employed. In an overfilled optical system, the diameter of the rotating polygon mirror can be made smaller than in an underfilled optical system, so an increase in the diameter size of the rotating polygon mirror can be avoided even when the number of surfaces is increased, and accommodation of high-speed rotation becomes possible because of weight reduction and a reduction in the inertia moment. That is, an overfilled optical system more easily accommodates, and is suited for, instances where the process speed of the image forming apparatus 1 is fast.
As shown in
Next, the sockets 100Y, 100M, 100C and 100K that connect the laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K to the electric substrate 48 will be described. Because the sockets 100Y, 100M, 100C and 100K all have the same configuration, they will be described without distinguishing between Y, M, C and K.
As shown in
The through holes 104A, 104B and 104C are equidistant from each other (see
Moreover, cut portions 106A, 106B and 106C that connect to the through holes 104A, 104B and 104C in the direction of arrow Y1 are formed in the head portion 102. The cut portions 106A, 106B and 106C are parallel to each other. Further, the head portion 102 has an insulating property.
Connection pins 108A, 108B and 108C are inserted into the through holes 104A, 104B and 104C in the head portion 102. The cross sections of the connection pins 108A, 108B and 108C are semicircular (see also
Additionally, as shown in
As shown in
Further, as shown in
The attachment portion 245a for attaching the laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K (sometimes these will be referred to below as “the laser light sources 41” without distinguishing between Y, M, C and K) is disposed on the side wall 245 of the optical box 24 shown in
Further, the electric substrate 48 is attached to an outer wall surface 245c (hereinafter called “the attachment surface 245c”) (see
In this manner, in the optical box 24, the attachment surface 245c of the ide wall 245 to which the electric substrate 48 is attached and the attachment portion 245a (reference surface) to which the laser light sources 41 are attached are not mutually parallel but configured to form a predetermined angle α. In other words, the attachment portion 245a extends such that the laser light beams 10 emitted from the laser light sources 41 intersect the normal direction of the electric substrate 48.
Thus, the laser light beams 10 are emitted at the angle α (diagonally) with respect to the electric substrate 48.
Further, projecting positioning portions 245b are disposed on the attachment portion 245a. The holder 62 includes recessed portions 63 that position the holder 62 with respect to the attachment portion 245a by engaging with the positioning portions 245b.
It will be noted that the plural laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K are fixed after the light axes of the laser light beams 10 have been adjusted.
Next, the method of interconnecting the sockets 100 (the electric substrate 48) and the laser light sources 41 will be described.
First, as shown in
The electric substrate 48 is slid in the direction of arrow Y2 such that the pins 61a, 61b and 61c are inserted from the cut portions 106A, 106B and 106C (see
As shown in
It will be noted that although
Then, the electric substrate 48 is fixed to the attachment surface 245c, and the solder H is applied from the other end portions of the connection pins 108A, 108B and 108C such that the connection pins 108A, 108B and 108C and the pins 61a, 61b and 61c are fixed to each other by the solder H. It will be noted that the solder H enters gaps between the connection pins 108A, 108 and 108C and the pins 61a, 61b and 61c by the capillary phenomenon.
Each of the three pins 61a, 61b and 61c has one bending point B, and when the pins 61a, 61b and 61c are bent in the same direction at the bending points B, portions D further toward the distal ends than the bending points B of the pins 61a, 61b and 61c become mutually parallel, and the portions D that are adjacent to each other become substantially equidistant from each other.
Further, a light source device 155 comprises the laser light sources 41 connected to the sockets 100 of the electric substrate 48.
Next, the action of the present exemplary embodiment will be described.
The plural laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K can easily be connected to the single electric substrate 48 via the sockets 100. For this reason, it is easy to closely dispose the laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K.
Further, because the laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K and the electric substrate 48 are not directly soldered, it is possible to easily replace just the laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K.
Further, the electric substrate 48 is slid such that the pins 61a, 61b and 61c of the laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K are inserted into the connection pins 108A, 108B and 108C of the sockets 100, whereby the pins 61a, 61b and 61c advance along the connection pins 108A, 108B and 108C and become bent. Thus, the plural laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K, where the light axes of the laser light beams 10 have been adjusted beforehand and fixed, can be easily connected to the single electric substrate 48 such that the light beams 10 have the angle α with respect to the electric substrate 48.
Each of the three pins 61a, 61b and 61c has one bending point B. When the pins 61a, 61b and 61c are bent in the same direction at the bending points B in this manner, the portions D further toward the distal ends than the bending points B of the pins 61a, 61b and 61c become mutually parallel, and the portions D that are adjacent to each other become substantially equidistant from each other. Consequently, the pins can be safely connected without contact between terminals. Further, disposing the soldered portions of the electric substrate can be done easily.
Further, the attachment surface 245c to which the electric substrate 48 is attached and the attachment portion 245a (reference surface) to which the laser light sources 41 are attached are not mutually parallel but configured to form the predetermined angle α (in other words, the attachment portion 245a extends such that the laser light beams 10 emitted from the laser light sources 41 intersect the normal direction of the electric substrate 48). Thus, because the angle between the attachment surface 245c and the attachment portion 245a can be arbitrarily set, it becomes possible to use the electric substrate 48 also in an optical scanning device where the laser light beams 10 have different angles and its versatility can be improved.
Moreover, the laser light sources 41 can be connected to the single electric substrate 48 even when the laser light beams 10Y, 10M, 10C and 10K emitted from the plural laser light sources 41Y, 41M, 41C and 41K are given respectively different angles.
Further, the electric substrate 48 can be disposed parallel to the side wall (outer peripheral surface, outer peripheral wall) 245 of the optical box 24 and the projected area can be reduced, no the widths of the optical scanning device 12 and the image forming apparatus 1 can be reduced.
Next, modifications of the sockets 100 will be described.
First, a first modification will be described.
As shown in
One end portion of each of the connection pins 208A, 208B and 208C is inserted as far as substantially the same plane as the upper surface of a head portion 202. Additionally, the other end portions of the connection pins 208A, 208B and 208C project from the undersurface of the head portion 202. Further, the connection pins 208A, 208B and 208C are configured to not escape after they have been inserted into the head portion 202. Further, the connection pins 208A, 208B and 208C comprise a conductive material such as metal.
Moreover, as shown in
It will be noted that the pins 61 may also be held by holding members other than the plate springs 210. For example, as shown in
The socket 200 of the first modification also exhibits the same action, but the pins 61 are reliably held in the connection pins 208 by the plate springs 210. Further, because the cut portions 206A, 206B and 206C have V shapes whose open sides are wide, workability is good when sliding the electric substrate 48 such that the pins 61 are inserted into the connection pins 208A, 208B and 208C.
Next, a second modification will be described
As shown in
Specifically, one end portion side of each of the connection pins 308A, 308B and 308C (the sides into which the pins 61 are inserted) is in the same direction as the laser light beam 10, but the other end portion sides (the sides inserted into the substrate) from bent portions 309A, 309B and 309C are bent in the same direction as the direction orthogonal to the electric substrate 48.
Next, a third modification will be described.
As shown in
In this configuration also, the solder H is applied from the other end portion sides of the connection pins 408 penetrating the electric substrate 48, so that the pins 61 of the laser light source 41 and the connection pins 408 can be soldered to each other. Further, because the laser light source 41 and the electric substrate 48 are not directly soldered, it is possible to easily replace just the laser light source 41 even after the laser light source 41 and the electric substrate 48 have been connected.
An example of the method of bending the pins 61 of the light source 41 beforehand will be described below.
As shown in
As shown in
Then, as shown in
Thereafter, as shown in
It will be noted that in the state shown in
Then, as shown in
It is an object of the present invention to facilitate the work of connecting a light source to an electric substrate.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection member that connects an electric substrate and a light source that emits a light beam, the connection member comprising: a light source terminal insertion portion into which a light source terminal of the light source is inserted from one end portion side and having another end portion side that penetrates the electric substrate.
In the connection member of the first aspect, the other end portion of the light source terminal insertion portion is passed through the electric substrate and soldered, whereby the connection member connects to the electric substrate. Further, the light source terminal of the light source is inserted from the one end portion side of the light source terminal insertion portion. Thus, solder is applied from the other end portion side penetrating the electric substrate, and the light source terminal and the light source terminal insertion portion can be soldered to each other. Consequently, the work of connecting the light source to the electric substrate is easy.
Further, because the light source and the electric substrate are not directly soldered, just the light source can be easily replaced even after the light source and the electric substrate have been connected to each other.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric substrate comprising: a connection member that connects an electric substrate and a light source that emits a light beam, the connection member including a light source terminal insertion portion into which a light source terminal of the light source is inserted from one end portion side and having another end portion side that penetrates the electric substrate; and a drive circuit that drives the light source.
Because the electric substrate of the second aspect is disposed with the connection member, the light source can be easily connected to the electric substrate.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the electric substrate is provided with plural connection members.
In the electric substrate of the third aspect, plural light sources can be easily connected to the electric substrate. Further, because plural light sources can be connected to the same electric substrate, it is easy to closely dispose the light sources.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source device comprising: any electric substrate of the second or the third aspect; and the light source having the light source terminal inserted into the light source terminal insertion portion of the connection member and which is connected to the electric substrate.
In the light source device of the fourth aspect, the ease with which the light source device can be assembled is good because the light source can be easily connected to the electric substrate.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the light source device of the fourth aspect, the light source terminal is bent before being inserted into the light source terminal insertion portion of the connection member.
In the light source device of the fifth aspect, it becomes possible for the light beam emitted from the light source to be emitted diagonally with respect to the electric substrate because the light source terminal is bent before being inserted into the light source terminal insertion portion of the connection member.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the light source device of the fifth aspect, the light source is provided with a plurality of the light source terminals, and the plural light source terminals are bent in the same direction such that they are aligned in parallel and, of the bent portions of the light source terminals, the portions that are adjacent to each other are substantially equidistant from each other.
In the light source device of the sixth aspect, the plural light source terminals are bent in the same direction such that they are mutually parallel and, of the bent portions of the light source terminals, the portions that are adjacent to each other are substantially equidistant from each other. Thus, the light source terminals can be safely connected without contact between terminals. Further, disposing the soldered portions of the electric substrate can be done easily.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection member that connects an electric substrate and a light source that emits a light beam, the connection member comprising: a light source terminal insertion portion into which a light source terminal of the light source is inserted and which bends the light source terminal when the light source terminal is inserted therein.
In the connection member of the seventh aspect, the light source can be easily connected to the electric substrate such that the light beam is emitted diagonally with respect to the electric substrate because the connection member bends the light source terminal when the light source terminal of the light source is inserted into the light source terminal insertion portion.
Further, because the light source and the electric substrate are not directly soldered, just the light source can be easily replaced even after the light source and the electric substrate have been connected to each other.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the connection member of the seventh aspect is configured such that the light source terminal of the light source is capable of being inserted into the light source terminal insertion portion when the electric substrate is slid in a diagonal direction with respect to the light beam, and the connection member bends the light source terminal along the light source terminal insertion portion when the electric substrate is slid in the diagonal direction with respect to the light beam and the light source terminal is inserted into the light source terminal insertion portion.
In the connection member of the eighth aspect, when the electric substrate is slid in a diagonal direction with respect to the light beam and the light source terminal of the light source is inserted into the light source terminal insertion portion, the connection member bends the light source terminal along the light source terminal insertion portion. Thus, the light source can be easily connected to the electric substrate such that the light beam is emitted diagonally with respect to the electric substrate.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in any connection member of the seventh or the eighth aspect, the cross section of the light source terminal insertion portion is V-shaped.
In the connection member of the ninth aspect, the light source terminal is guided by its V-shaped distal end portion, progresses along the light source terminal insertion portion, and bends.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in any connection member of the seventh or the eighth aspect, the cross section of the light source terminal insertion portion is semicircular.
In the connection member of the tenth aspect, the light source terminal is guided by its semicircular top portion, progresses along the light source terminal insertion portion, and bends.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric substrate comprising: a connection member that connects an electric substrate and a light source that emits a light beam, the connection member including a light source terminal insertion portion into which a light source terminal of the light source is inserted and which bends the light source terminal when the light source terminal is inserted therein; and a drive circuit that drives the light source.
Because the electric substrate of the eleventh aspect is disposed with the connection member, the light source can be easily connected to the electric substrate.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the electric substrate of the eleventh aspect is disposed with plural connection members.
In the electric substrate of the twelfth aspect, plural light sources can be easily connected to the electric substrate. Further, because plural light sources can be connected to the same electric substrate, it is easy to closely dispose the light sources.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source device comprising: any electric substrate of the eleventh or the twelfth aspect; and the light source having the light source terminal inserted into the light source terminal insertion portion of the connection member and which is connected to the electric substrate.
In the light source device of the thirteenth aspect, the ease with which the light source device can be assembled is good because the light source can be easily connected to the electric substrate.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the light source device of the thirteenth aspect, the light source is provided with a plurality of the light source terminals, and the light source terminal insertion portion of the connection member bends the plural light source terminals in one direction such that they are aligned in parallel and, of the bent portions of the light source terminals, the portions that are adjacent to each other are substantially equidistant from each other.
In the light source device of the fourteenth aspect, the light source terminal insertion portion of the connection member bends the plural light source terminals in one direction such that they become mutually parallel and, of the bent portions of the light source terminals, the portions that are adjacent to each other are substantially equidistant from each other. Thus, the light source terminals can be safely connected without contact between terminals. Further, disposing the soldered portions of the electric substrate can be done easily.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical scanning device comprising: any light source device of the fourth to the sixth aspects; and an optical box that houses the light source device, wherein the optical box includes an attachment surface to which the electric substrate of the light source device is attached and a reference surface to which the light source of the light source device is attached, and the reference surface extends in a direction intersecting the attachment surface.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical scanning device comprising: any light source device of the thirteenth or the fourteenth aspect; and an optical box that houses the light source device, wherein the optical box includes an attachment surface to which the electric substrate of the light source device is attached and a reference surface to which the light source of the light source device is attached, and the reference surface extends in a direction intersecting the attachment surface.
In the optical scanning devices of the fifteenth and the sixteenth aspects, the attachment surface of the optical box to which the electric substrate configuring the light source device is attached extends in a direction intersecting the reference surface to which the light source configuring the light source device is attached.
Thus, because the angle between the reference surface and the attachment surface can be arbitrarily set, it becomes possible to use the substrate also in an optical scanning device where the light beams have different angles and its versatility can be improved. Further, a single electric substrate can be shared even when light beams emitted from plural light sources are given respectively different angles.
Moreover, the electric substrate can be disposed parallel to the side wall of the optical box and the projected area can be reduced, so the width of the optical scanning device can be reduced.
Further, because the connection member is configured to bend the light source terminal when the light source terminal of the light source is inserted into the light source terminal insertion portion, the optical scanning device can be easily assembled without having to bend the light source terminal of the light source beforehand.
According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus that forms an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier, the image forming apparatus comprising: any light source device of the fourth to the sixth aspects; and an optical box that houses the light source device, wherein the optical box includes a reference surface to which the light source of the light source device is attached, and the reference surface extends such that the light beam emitted from the light source intersects a normal direction of the electric substrate of the light source device.
According to a eighteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus that forms an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier, the image forming apparatus comprising: any light source device of the thirteenth or the fourteenth aspect; and an optical box that houses the light source device, wherein the optical box includes a reference surface to which the light source of the light source device is attached, and the reference surface extends such that the light beam emitted from the light source intersects a normal direction of the electric substrate of the light source device.
In the image forming apparatuses of the seventeenth and the eighteenth aspects, the reference surface to which the light source configuring the light source device is attached extends such that the light beam emitted from the light source intersects a normal direction of the electric substrate configuring the light source device.
Thus, because the angle between the reference surface and the electric substrate can be arbitrarily set, it becomes possible to use the substrate also in an optical scanning device where the light beams have different angles and its versatility can be improved. Further, a single electric substrate can be shared even when light beams emitted from plural light sources are given respectively different angles.
Moreover, the electric substrate can be disposed parallel to the side wall of the optical box and the projected area can be reduced, so the width of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.
Further, because the connection member is configured to bend the light source terminal when the light source terminal of the light source is inserted into the light source terminal insertion portion, the image forming apparatus can be easily assembled without having to bend the light source terminal of the light source beforehand.
As described above, according to the present invention, the work of connecting a light source to an electric substrate becomes easier.
It will be noted that the present invention is not limited to the preceding exemplary embodiment.
For example, in the exemplary embodiment and the first modification, the socket is configured such that the pins of the laser light source are inserted into one end side of each of the connection pins, and the other end sides of the connection pins penetrate the electric substrate and are soldered. However, the socket may also be configured such that the portions into which the pins of the laser light source are inserted and the portions that penetrate the electric substrate and are soldered are separate members. In this configuration also, the pins bend when the pins of the laser light source are inserted into the socket, so the laser light source and the electric substrate can be easily connected.
The foregoing descriptions of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2006-276365 | Oct 2006 | JP | national |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11822505 | Jul 2007 | US |
Child | 13098574 | US |