Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. A method for enabling a user to perform a decorating session for a space, comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving, at a web server, a request from a remote client computer for access to a decorating web site supported by the web server; and
(b) transmitting, in response to the request, software from the web server to the client computer, wherein, when executed on the client computer, the software enables the user to perform the decorating session for the space.
2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the software enables the user to perform the decorating session for the space without any subsequent communication between the client computer and the web server.
3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the software comprises an applet, which, when executed on the client computer, automatically transmits one or more additional requests to the web server for one or more data files to be downloaded to the client computer.
4. The invention of claim 3, wherein the one or more data files comprise:
(1) a space graphical user interface (GUI) file corresponding to a GUI for the space to be decorated;
(2) a structural object GUI file corresponding to a GUI identifying one or more structural objects that can be added to the space by the user during the decorating session;
(3) a structural object data file for each structural object identified in the structural object GUI; and
(4) a decorative material GUI file corresponding to a GUI identifying one or more decorative materials that can be applied to the one or more structural objects during the decorating session, wherein the software causes the space GUI, the structural object GUI, and the decorative material GUI to be displayed on a display device configured to the client computer.
5. The invention of claim 4, wherein, when the user selects a particular decorative material for a particular structural object, the software applies the decorative material to the structural object in real time to update the display of the space GUI.
6. The invention of claim 5, wherein the software controls the appearance of the decorative material based on location of the structural object in the space GUI.
7. The invention of claim 4, wherein the software provides the user with a plurality of possible locations for a particular structural object represented by a single data file, wherein the software controls the appearance of the structural object based on the location in the space GUI selected by the user for the structural object.
8. The invention of claim 4, wherein at least one structural object data file corresponds to a rectangular image of the corresponding structural object and the software treats any region of the rectangular image outside of the structural object as transparent when displaying the structural object in the space GUI.
9. The invention of claim 4, wherein the software controls the display of a first type of structural object based on relative order in which different structural objects are selected during the decorating session, while controlling the display of a second type of structural object independent of relative order in which different structural objects are selected.
10. The invention of claim 1, wherein the software enables the user to generate a listing documenting results of the decorating session for use in a subsequent decorating session performed by either the user or another user.
11. The invention of claim 1, wherein the software is able to generate a cost associated with results of the decorating system.
12. The invention of claim 1, wherein the software enables the user to make a purchase based on results of the decorating session.
13. The invention of claim 1, wherein:
the software enables the user to select from a plurality of structural objects to be added into the space during the decorating session; and
the software enables the user to select from a plurality of decorative materials to be applied to the selected structural objects during the decorating session.
14. The invention of claim 13, wherein the software is able to identify at least one of the decorative materials to match a sample represented by a user-provided scanned image loaded onto the client computer.
15. The invention of claim 13, wherein the software provides the user with a plurality of possible locations in the space GUI for a particular structural object.
16. The invention of claim 15, wherein the software controls the appearance of the particular structural object based on the location in the space GUI selected by the user.
17. A machine-readable medium, having encoded thereon program code, wherein, when the program code is executed on a machine, the machine implements a method for enabling a user to perform a decorating session for a space, comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving, at a web server, a request from a remote client computer for access to a decorating web site supported by the web server; and
(b) transmitting, in response to the request, software from the web server to the client computer, wherein, when executed on the client computer, the software enables the user to perform the decorating session for the space.
18. An apparatus for enabling a user to perform a decorating session for a space, comprising:
(a) means for receiving, at a web server, a request from a remote client computer for access to a decorating web site supported by the web server; and
(b) means for transmitting, in response to the request, software from the web server to the client computer, wherein, when executed on the client computer, the software enables the user to perform the decorating session for the space.
19. An apparatus for enabling a user to perform a decorating session for a space, comprising a web server configured with a database, wherein:
the web server is configured to receive a request from a remote client computer for access to a decorating web site supported by the web server; and
the web server is configured, in response to the request, to access software from the database and transmit the software to the client computer, wherein, when executed on the client computer, the software enables the user to perform the decorating session for the space.
20. A method for enabling a user to perform a decorating session for a space, comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving, at a web server, a request from a remote client computer for access to a decorating web site supported by the web server; and
(b) executing, in response to the request, software to enable the user to perform the decorating session for the space, wherein, during the decorating session, the user is able to:
(i) select one or more structural objects from a plurality of available structural objects for display in the space; and
(ii) select a decorative material from a plurality of available decorative materials to be applied to each selected structural object independent of the decorative materials selected for any other structural object.
21. The invention of claim 20, wherein the software is executed at the client computer.
22. The invention of claim 20, wherein the software accesses:
(1) a space graphical user interface (GUI) data file corresponding to a GUI for the space to be decorated;
(2) a structural object GUI data file corresponding to a GUI identifying the plurality of available structural objects that can be added to the space by the user during the decorating session;
(3) a structural object data file for each structural object identified in the structural object GUI; and
(4) a decorative material GUI file corresponding to a GUI identifying the plurality of available decorative materials that can be applied to the available structural objects during the decorating session, wherein, during the decorating session, the software causes the space GUI, the structural object GUI, and the decorative material GUI to be displayed on a display device configured to the client computer.
23. The invention of claim 20, wherein, when the user selects a particular decorative material for a particular structural object, the software applies the decorative material to the structural object in real time to update the display of the space.
24. The invention of claim 20, wherein the software controls the appearance of the decorative material based on location of the structural object in the space.
25. The invention of claim 20, wherein the software provides the user with a plurality of possible locations for a particular structural object represented by a single data file, wherein the software controls the appearance of the structural object based on the location in the space selected by the user.
26. The invention of claim 20, wherein at least one structural object is represented by a rectangular image of the structural object and the software treats any region of the rectangular image outside of the structural object as transparent when displaying the structural object in the space.
27. The invention of claim 20, wherein the software controls the display of a first type of structural object based on relative order in which different structural objects are selected during the decorating session, while controlling the display of a second type of structural object independent of relative order in which different structural objects are selected during the decorating session.
28. The invention of claim 20, wherein the software enables the user to generate a listing documenting results of the decorating session for use in a subsequent decorating session performed by either the user or another user.
29. The invention of claim 20, wherein the software is able to generate a cost associated with results of the decorating system.
30. The invention of claim 20, wherein the software enables the user to make a purchase based on results of the decorating session.
31. The invention of claim 20, wherein the software is able to identify at least one of the decorative materials to match a sample represented by a user-provided scanned image loaded onto the client computer.
32. The invention of claim 20, wherein the software provides the user with a plurality of possible locations in the space for a particular structural object.
33. The invention of claim 32, wherein the software controls the appearance of the particular structural object based on the location in the space selected by the user.
34. The invention of claim 20, wherein the decorating web site enables the user to select the space from a plurality of different space types, wherein the available structural objects for the space is a function of the space type.
35. A machine-readable medium, having encoded thereon program code, wherein, when the program code is executed on a machine, the machine implements a method for enabling a user to perform a decorating session for a space, comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving, at a web server, a request from a remote client computer for access to a decorating web site supported by the web server; and
(b) executing, in response to the request, software to enable the user to perform the decorating session for the space, wherein, during the decorating session, the user is able to:
(i) select one or more structural objects from a plurality of available structural objects for display in the space; and
(ii) select a decorative material from a plurality of available decorative materials to be applied to each selected structural object independent of the decorative materials selected for any other structural object.
36. An apparatus for enabling a user to perform a decorating session for a space, comprising:
(a) means for receiving a request from a remote client computer for access to a decorating web site supported by the web server; and
(b) means for executing software to enable the user to perform the decorating session for the space, wherein, during the decorating session, the user is able to:
(i) select one or more structural objects from a plurality of available structural objects for display in the space; and
(ii) select a decorative material from a plurality of available decorative materials to be applied to each selected structural object independent of the decorative materials selected for any other structural object.
37. An apparatus for enabling a user to perform a decorating session for a space, comprising a web server configured with a database, wherein:
the web server is configured to receive a request from a remote client computer for access to a decorating web site supported by the web server; and
the web server is configured, in response to the request, to access software from the database, wherein, when the software is executed, the software enables the user to perform the decorating session for the space, wherein, during the decorating session, the user is able to:
(i) select one or more structural objects from a plurality of available structural objects for display in the space; and
(ii) select a decorative material from a plurality of available decorative materials to be applied to each selected structural object independent of the decorative materials selected for any other structural object.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A zoom lens system having a plurality of lens units each composed of at least one lens element and,
in order from an object side to an image side, comprising:
a first lens unit having negative optical power and composed of two lens elements;
a second lens unit having positive optical power; and
a third lens unit having positive optical power, wherein
in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit during image taking, the individual lens units are moved along an optical axis such that an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit should decrease and that an interval between the second lens unit and the third lens unit should increase, so that magnification change is achieved, and wherein
the following condition is satisfied:
4.0<(DG2+(DG2A))(DG2A)<20.0\u2003\u2003(22)
where,
DG2 is an axial interval from the most object side to the most image side of the second lens unit, and
DG2A is an axial interval from the most image side of the second lens unit to the aperture diaphragm.
2. The zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the first lens unit, in order from the object side to the image side, comprises:
a lens element having negative optical power; and
a meniscus lens element having positive optical power with the convex surface facing the object side.
3. The zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first lens unit includes at least one lens element having an aspheric surface.
4. The zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first lens unit includes at least two aspheric surfaces.
5. The zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third lens unit is composed of one lens element.
6. The zoom lens system as claimed in claim 5, wherein one lens element of the third lens unit includes an aspheric surface.
7. The zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second lens unit is composed of three lens elements.
8. The zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second lens unit is composed of four lens elements.
9. The zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second lens unit moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.
10. The zoom lens system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the entire system satisfies the following conditions:
YT>Y\u2003\u2003(2)
0.05<(YYT)(fTf)<0.60\u2003\u2003(3)
Z=fTfW>4.0
\u03c9W>35

where,
f is a focal length of the entire system,
fT is a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit,
Y is an amount of movement in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis at the time of maximum blur compensation in the second lens unit with a focal length f of the entire system,
YT is an amount of movement in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis at the time of maximum blur compensation in the second lens unit with a focal length fT of the entire system at a telephoto limit,
fW is a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit, and
\u03c9W is a half value (\xb0) of the maximum view angle at a wide-angle limit.
11. The zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the following conditions are satisfied:
2.00<(D2T\u2212D2W)fW<6.00\u2003\u2003(12)
fTfW>4.0
\u03c9W>35

where,
D2T is an axial interval from the most image side of the second lens unit to the most object side of the third lens unit at a telephoto limit,
D2W is an axial interval from the most image side of the second lens unit to the most object side of the third lens unit at a wide-angle limit,
fT is a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit,
fW is a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit, and
\u03c9W is a half value (\xb0) of the maximum view angle at a wide-angle limit.
12. The zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the following conditions are satisfied:
0.65<(D2T\u2212D2W)fT<0.95\u2003\u2003(13)
fTfW>4.0
\u03c9W>35

where,
D2T is an axial interval from the most image side of the second lens unit to the most object side of the third lens unit at a telephoto limit,
D2W is an axial interval from the most image side of the second lens unit to the most object side of the third lens unit at a wide-angle limit,
fT is a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit,
fW is a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit, and
\u03c9W is a half value (\xb0) of the maximum view angle at a wide-angle limit.
13. The zoom lens system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the following conditions are satisfied:
0.00<D1TIr<0.10\u2003\u2003(14)
fTfW>4.0
\u03c9W>35

where,
D1T is an axial interval from the most image side of the first lens unit to the most object side of the second lens unit at a telephoto limit,
Ir is a maximum image height (Ir=fT\xd7tan(\u03c9T)),
fT is a focal length of the entire system at a telephoto limit,
fW is a focal length of the entire system at a wide-angle limit,
\u03c9W is a half value (\xb0) of the maximum view angle at a wide-angle limit, and
\u03c9T is a half value (\xb0) of a maximum view angle at a telephoto limit.
14. An imaging device capable of outputting an optical image of an object as an electric image signal, comprising:
a zoom lens system that forms the optical image of the object; and
an image sensor that converts the optical image formed by the zoom lens system into the electric image signal, wherein
the zoom lens system has a plurality of lens units each composed of at least one lens element and,
in order from an object side to an image side, comprises:
a first lens unit having negative optical power and composed of two lens elements;
a second lens unit having positive optical power; and
a third lens unit having positive optical power, wherein
in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit during image taking, the individual lens units are moved along an optical axis such that an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit should decrease and that an interval between the second lens unit and the third lens unit should increase, so that magnification change is achieved, and wherein
the following condition is satisfied:
4.0<(DG2+(DG2A))(DG2A)<20.0\u2003\u2003(22)
where,
DG2 is an axial interval from the most object side to the most image side of the second lens unit, and
DG2A is an axial interval from the most image side of the second lens unit to the aperture diaphragm.
15. A camera for converting an optical image of an object into an electric image signal and then performing at least one of displaying and storing of the converted image signal, comprising
an imaging device including a zoom lens system that forms the optical image of the object and an image sensor that converts the optical image formed by the zoom lens system into the electric image signal, wherein
the zoom lens system has a plurality of lens units each composed of at least one lens element and,
in order from an object side to an image side, comprises:
a first lens unit having negative optical power and composed of two lens elements;
a second lens unit having positive optical power; and
a third lens unit having positive optical power, wherein
in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit during image taking, the individual lens units are moved along an optical axis such that an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit should decrease and that an interval between the second lens unit and the third lens unit should increase, so that magnification change is achieved, and wherein
the following condition is satisfied:
4.0<(DG2+(DG2A))(DG2A)<20.0\u2003\u2003(22)
where,
DG2 is an axial interval from the most object side to the most image side of the second lens unit, and
DG2A is an axial interval from the most image side of the second lens unit to the aperture diaphragm.

1. An angle sensor, comprising:
a reduction mechanism that reduces a rotation transmitted from a rotation axis;
a variable inductance mechanism that changes an inductance according to a rotation angle of a reduced axis of said reduction mechanism;
a detection coil that detects the change of inductance; and
a circuit that detects the angle of said rotation axis from the output of said detection coil.
2. The angle sensor according to claim 1, wherein:
the change of inductance in said variable inductance mechanism is maximum near a rotation angle of zero in the reduced axis.
3. The angle sensor according to claim 1, wherein:
said reduction mechanism is a planetary gear unit including a sun gear, a planet gear and a ring gear.
4. The angle sensor according to claim 1, wherein:
said reduction mechanism has a reduction ratio of 14 to 110.
5. An angle-torque sensor, comprising:
a torque detection coil that detects a change in state quantity in a mechanism to detect a relative angle made between input axis and output axis of a torsion bar to be twisted by a torque;
an angle detection coil that detects a change in state quantity in a mechanism to detect a rotation angle of a reduction axis which rotates with a rotation being transmitted from said input axis or output axis and being reduced by a reduction mechanism;
a torque detection circuit that detects the relative angle from the output of said torque detection coil; and
an angle detection circuit that detects the rotation angle from the output of said angle detection coil.
6. The angle-torque sensor according to claim 5, wherein:
said reduction mechanism is a planetary gear unit including a sun gear, a planet gear and a ring gear.
7. The angle-torque sensor according to claim 5, wherein:
said reduction mechanism has a reduction ratio of 14 to 110.
8. The angle-torque sensor according to claim 5, wherein:
said torque detection coil and said angle detection coil have the same shape.
9. The angle-torque sensor according to claim 5, wherein:
said torque detection coil includes first and second detection coils,
said angle detection coil includes third and fourth detection coils,
said torque detection circuit detects the torque by detecting the relative angle from a difference between the outputs of said first and second detection coils,
said angle detection circuit detects the rotation angle from a difference between the outputs of said third and fourth detection coils, and
said first to fourth detection coils are disposed on the same axis.
10. The angle-torque sensor according to claim 5, further comprising:
a compensation means for compensating one or both of the output of said torque detection coil and the output of said angle detection coil.
11. The angle-torque sensor according to claim 10, wherein:
said torque detection coil includes first and second detection coils,
said torque detection circuit detects the torque from a difference between the outputs of said first and second detection coils, and
said compensation means is a compensation circuit that generates a compensation signal from an average of the outputs of said first and second detection coils to compensate the output of said angle detection coil.
12. The angle-torque sensor according to claim 11, wherein:
said first and second detection coils detect a change in inductance that changes according to a relative angle between a detection ring disposed on said input axis and a detection ring disposed on said output axis, and
said angle detection coil detects a change in inductance that changes according to a relative angle between a reduction axis detection ring being disposed on said reduction axis and a fixed ring.
13. The angle-torque sensor according to claim 10, wherein:
said compensation means includes a compensation coil that detects a state quantity determined by a mechanism which gives a compensation signal to compensate the output of said torque detection coil and said angle detection coil, and a compensation circuit that generates the compensating signal from the output of said compensation coil.
14. The angle-torque sensor according to claim 13, wherein:
said torque detection coil detects a change in inductance that changes according to a relative angle between a detection ring disposed on said input axis and a detection ring disposed on said output axis,
said compensation coil detects an inductance determined by a compensating ring being fixed and the detection ring of said input axis or said output axis, and
said angle detection coil detects a change in inductance that changes according to a relative angle between a reduction axis detection ring being disposed on said reduction axis and said compensation ring.
15. The angle-torque sensor according to claim 13, wherein:
said torque detection coil detects a change in inductance that changes according to a relative angle between a detection ring disposed on said input axis and a detection ring disposed on said output axis,
said compensation coil detects an inductance determined by a compensating ring, and
said angle detection coil detects a change in inductance that changes according to a relative angle between a reduction axis detection ring being disposed on said reduction axis and a fixed ring.
16. An electric power steering unit, comprising:
a motor that drives a steering rotation axis;
a steering sensor that includes: a torque detection coil that is disposed on said rotation axis and detects a change in state quantity in a mechanism to detect a steering angle from a relative angle made between input axis and output axis of a torsion bar to be twisted by the steering torque; an
angle detection coil that detects a change in state quantity in a mechanism to detect a steering angle from a rotation being transmitted from said input axis or output axis and being reduced by a reduction mechanism; a torque detection circuit that detects the steering torque by detecting the relative angle from the output of said torque detection coil; and an angle detection circuit that detects the steering angle from the output of said angle detection coil; and
a controller that controls said motor based on the steering torque and steering angle to be detected by said steering sensor.
17. The electric power steering unit according to claim 16, wherein:
said torque detection coil includes first and second detection coils,
said angle detection coil includes third and fourth detection coils,
said torque detection circuit detects the steering torque by detecting the relative angle from a difference between the outputs of said first and second detection coils,
said angle detection circuit detects the steering angle from a difference between the outputs of said third and fourth detection coils, and
said first to fourth detection coils are disposed on the same axis.
18. The electric power steering unit according to claim 16, wherein:
said steering sensor further includes a compensation means that compensates one or both of the output of said torque detection coil and the output of said angle detection coil.
19. The electric power steering unit according to claim 18, wherein:
said compensation means includes a compensation coil that detects a state quantity determined by a mechanism which gives a compensation signal to compensate the output of said torque detection coil and said angle detection coil, and a compensation circuit that generates the compensating signal from the output of said compensation coil, and
said controller controls said motor based on the steering torque and steering angle to be corrected by said compensation means.
20. The electric power steering unit according to claim 18, wherein:
said torque detection coil includes first and second detection coils,
said torque detection circuit detects the steering torque from a difference between the outputs of said first and second detection coils,
said compensation means is a compensation circuit that generates a compensation signal from an average of the outputs of said first and second detection coils to compensate the output of said angle detection coil, and
said controller controls said motor based on the steering torque and the steering angle to be corrected by said compensation means.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A heat exchanger of an air conditioner comprising:
at least one refrigerant inlet for connecting a compressor for compressing refrigerant to an expansion device for expanding condensed refrigerant via a piping and for receiving high temperaturepressure refrigerant coming from the expansion device during a cooling mode; and
a plurality of refrigerant outlets for discharging the refrigerant to the compressor,
wherein the number of the refrigerant outlets is greater than that of the at least one refrigerant inlet.
2. The heat exchanger as defined in claim 1, further comprising:
an inlet heat exchanging part having the at least one refrigerant inlet;
at least one branch pipe each connected to the at least one refrigerant inlet of the inlet heat exchanging parts for distributing the refrigerant during a cooling operation mode and for concentrating the refrigerant during a heating operation mode; and
a plurality of branched heat exchanging parts, each one end thereof connected to one end of the at least one branch pipe and each other end thereof formed with the refrigerant outlet.
3. The heat exchanger as defined in claim 2, wherein the branch pipe is a T-shaped three-way pipe, one end of which is connected to the inlet heat exchanging part and remaining two ends of which are connected to two branched heat exchanging parts.
4. The heat exchanger as defined in claim 2, wherein the at least one refrigerant inlet is connected to the expansion device and the refrigerant outlets are connected to the compressor.
5. The heat exchanger as defined in claim 3, wherein the at least one refrigerant inlet is connected to the expansion device and the refrigerant outlets are connected to the compressor.
6. The heat exchanger as defined in claim 2, comprising:
a first heat exchanging part; and
a second heat exchanging part, each part further comprising: a singular inlet heat exchanging part, a singular branch pipe and two branched heat exchanging parts, wherein a refrigerant inlet of the first heat exchanging part and a refrigerant inlet of the second heat exchanging part are connected to the expansion device, and a refrigerant outlet of the first heat exchanging part and a refrigerant outlet of the second heat exchanging part are connected to the compressor.
7. The heat exchanger as defined in claim 3, comprising:
a first heat exchanging part; and
a second heat exchanging part, each part further comprising: a singular inlet heat exchanging part, a singular branch pipe and two branched heat exchanging parts, wherein a refrigerant inlet of the first heat exchanging part and a refrigerant inlet of the second heat exchanging part are connected to the expansion device, and a refrigerant outlet of the first heat exchanging part and a refrigerant outlet of the second heat exchanging part are connected to the compressor.
8. The heat exchanger as defined in claim 2, comprising:
a first heat exchanging part; and
a second heat exchanging part, each part further comprising: a singular inlet heat exchanging part, a singular branch pipe and two branched heat exchanging parts, wherein a refrigerant inlet of the first heat exchanging part is connected to the expansion device, the refrigerant outlet of the first heat exchanging part is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the second heat exchanging part, and the refrigerant outlet of the second heat exchanging part is connected to the compressor.
9. The heat exchanger as defined in claim 8, further comprising an expansion valve disposed on a connection passage for connecting the refrigerant outlet of the first heat exchanging part and the refrigerant inlet of the second heat exchanging part, and for adjusting an openness so that condensation heat of the first heat exchanging part and evaporation heat of the second heat exchanging part can match during a constant temperature dehumidifying operation.
10. The heat exchanger as defined in claim 2, comprising:
a first heat exchanging part; and
a second heat exchanging part, each part further comprising: a singular inlet heat exchanging part, a singular branch pipe and two branched heat exchanging parts, wherein a refrigerant inlet of the first heat exchanging part is connected to the expansion device, the refrigerant outlet of the first heat exchanging part is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the second heat exchanging part, and the refrigerant outlet of the second heat exchanging part is connected to the compressor.
11. The heat exchanger as defined in claim 10, further comprising an expansion valve disposed on a connection passage for connecting the refrigerant outlet of the first heat exchanging part and the refrigerant inlet of the second heat exchanging part, and for adjusting an openness so that condensation heat of the first heat exchanging part and evaporation heat of the second heat exchanging part can match during a constant temperature dehumidifying operation.