Author: claimsbot

1. A flat panel display, comprising:
one or more pixel areas, each pixel area including one or more subpixel areas;
in each subpixel area, a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode that engage with each other and enclose a gap such that their outer boundary has a substantially rectangular shape,
wherein the first pixel electrode includes a pair of right-angled triangular shaped portions facing one or more oblique edges of the second pixel electrode and further includes a longitudinal portion facing a side edge of the second pixel electrode,
wherein the second pixel electrode has a shape that approximates an equilateral trapezoid.
2. The flat panel display of claim 1, wherein the second pixel electrode has an edge thereof disposed proximate a first storage electrode and another edge disposed proximate a second storage electrode.
3. The flat panel display of claim 1, further comprising a common electrode disposed above the subpixel areas, the common electrode formed of a transparent conductive material and having at least one cutout therein.
4. The flat panel display of claim 1, wherein the gap is disposed between at least one cutout formed in the common electrode and an opening that separates a pixel area from another of the one or more pixel areas.
5. The flat panel display of claim 3, further comprising:
a liquid crystal (LC) layer disposed between the common electrode and the one or more subpixel areas, the LC layer including a plurality of LC molecules.
6. The flat panel display of claim 1, further comprising:
a coupling capacitor electrode capacitively coupled to the second pixel electrode to form a coupling capacitor.
7. The flat panel display of claim 6, wherein:
the coupling capacitor electrode is electrically connected to the first pixel electrode using a thin film transistor, and
the coupling capacitor alters a magnitude of an applied data voltage such that a magnitude of a voltage applied to the first pixel electrode is less than the applied data voltage, and a magnitude of a voltage applied to the second pixel electrode is higher than the applied data voltage.
8. The flat panel display of claim 7, wherein the difference in the voltages applied to the first and second pixel electrodes reduces distortion of gamma curves and improves picture quality.
9. The flat panel display of claim 1, wherein the second pixel electrode includes a cutout that bisects the second pixel electrode into a lower portion and an upper portion.
10. The flat panel display of claim 2, wherein a ratio of a surface area of the first pixel electrode to a surface area of the second pixel electrode is approximately in the range of about 50:50 to about 80:20.
11. The flat panel display of claim 2, wherein the gap has a width in the range of approximately 2\u20135 microns.
12. A flat panel display, comprising:
one or more pixel areas, each pixel area including one or more subpixel areas;
in each subpixel area, a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode that engage with each other and enclose a gap such that their outer boundary has a substantially rectangular shape; and
a coupling capacitor electrode capacitively coupled to the second pixel electrode to form a coupling capacitor;
wherein the coupling capacitor electrode is electrically connected to the first pixel electrode using a thin film transistor, and
wherein the coupling capacitor alters a magnitude of an applied data voltage such that a magnitude of a voltage applied to the first pixel electrode is less than the applied data voltage, and a magnitude of a voltage applied to the second pixel electrode is higher than the applied data voltage.
13. The flat panel display of claim 12, wherein the first pixel electrode includes a pair of right-angled triangular shaped portions facing one or more oblique edges of the second pixel electrode and further includes a longitudinal portion facing a side edge of the second pixel electrode.
14. The flat panel display of claim 12, wherein the second pixel electrode has a shape that approximates an equilateral trapezoid.
15. The flat panel display of claim 12, wherein a ratio of a surface area of the first pixel electrode to a surface area of the second pixel electrode is approximately in the range of about 50:50 to about 80:20.
16. The flat panel display of claim 12, wherein a tilt direction of liquid crystal (LC) molecules disposed above the first pixel electrode differs from a tilt direction of LC molecules disposed above the second pixel electrode.
17. The flat panel display of claim 12, wherein the gap has a width in the range of approximately 2\u20135 microns.
18. A flat panel display, comprising:
a common electrode formed of a transparent conductive material and having at least one cutout therein;
one or more pixel areas positioned under the common electrode, each pixel area including one or more subpixel areas;
a liquid crystal (LC) layer disposed between the common electrode and the one or more subpixel areas, the LC layer including a plurality of LC molecules
in each subpixel area, a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode that engage with each other and enclose a gap such that their outer boundary has a substantially rectangular shape,
wherein the first pixel electrode includes a pair of right-angled triangular shaped portions facing one or more oblique edges of the second pixel electrode and further includes a longitudinal portion facing a side edge of the second pixel electrode,
wherein the second pixel electrode has a shape that approximates an equilateral trapezoid, and has an edge thereof disposed proximate a first storage electrode and another edge disposed proximate a second storage electrode, and
wherein the gap is disposed between the at least one cutout formed in the common electrode and an opening that separates a pixel area from another of the one or more pixel areas.
19. The flat panel display of claim 18, wherein a voltage applied to the first pixel electrode is lower than a voltage applied to the second pixel electrode, such that a tilt direction of LC molecules disposed above the first pixel electrode differs from a tilt direction of LC molecules disposed above the second pixel electrode.
20. The flat panel display of claim 19, wherein the gap includes a pair of oblique lower and upper portions, each portion having a substantially uniform width and making an angle of about 45 degrees relative to one or more gate lines.
21. The flat panel display of claim 20, wherein the gap further includes a longitudinal portion having a substantially uniform width.
22. The flat panel display of claim 21, wherein the oblique portions are each longer than the longitudinal portion.
23. The flat panel display of claim 19, wherein the second pixel electrode includes a cutout that bisects the second pixel electrode into a lower portion and an upper portion.
24. The flat panel display of claim 23, wherein the cutout has an inlet from an outer edge of the second pixel electrode, and a pair of inclined edges substantially parallel a lower oblique portion and upper oblique portion of the gap.
25. The flat panel display of claim 19, further comprising:
a light blocking member formed on a transparent insulating substrate disposed above the common electrode, wherein the light blocking member includes a plurality of openings that face the first and second pixel electrodes.
26. The flat panel display of claim 25, further comprising:
a plurality of color filters formed on the transparent insulating substrate and disposed substantially in the plurality of openings formed in the light blocking member.
27. The flat panel display of claim 26, wherein the plurality of color filters extend substantially along a longitudinal direction of the first and second pixel electrodes, and a color of each of the plurality of color filters represents one of a primary color such as red, green, or blue.
28. The flat panel display of claim 18, further comprising:
a coupling capacitor electrode capacitively coupled to the second pixel electrode to form a coupling capacitor.
29. The flat panel display of claim 28, wherein:
the coupling capacitor electrode is electrically connected to the first pixel electrode using a thin film transistor, and
the coupling capacitor alters a magnitude of an applied data voltage such that a magnitude of a voltage applied to the first pixel electrode is less than the applied data voltage, and a magnitude of a voltage applied to the second pixel electrode is higher than the applied data voltage.
30. The flat panel display of claim 29, wherein the difference in the voltages applied to the first and second pixel electrodes reduces distortion of gamma curves and improves picture quality.
31. The flat panel display of claim 29, wherein the data voltage is approximately equal to about 2.0 V, and the voltage difference between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode is approximately equal to about 0.59 V.
32. The flat panel display of claim 29, wherein the data voltage is approximately equal to about 5.0 V, and a voltage drop of the first pixel electrode is approximately equal to about 0.55V, and a voltage raise of the second pixel electrode is approximately equal to about 0.64V.
33. The flat panel display of claim 29, wherein a ratio of a surface area of the first pixel electrode to a surface area of the second pixel electrode is approximately in the range of about 50:50 to about 80:20.
34. The flat panel display of claim 33, wherein the ratio is approximately 70:30.
35. The flat panel display of claim 18, wherein the gap has a width in the range of approximately 2\u20135 microns.

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. An ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a recording medium having a glossiness, said recording medium being one wherein, upon formation of a printed image on the recording medium with an ink consisting of an alkali-soluble colorant, a cationic water-soluble polymer and water, the formed image exhibits an uneven gloss, said recording medium being selected from the group consisting of a gloss paper and a gloss film;
(b) providing an ink composition comprising the alkali-soluble colorant, the cationic water-soluble polymer, water and an inorganic salt; said alkali-soluble colorant being in a state of dissolution in the ink composition, said inorganic salt being a salt of an alkali metal, said alkali-soluble colorant, cationic water-soluble polymer, water and inorganic salt being present in the ink composition in respective amounts effective to enable formation on the recording medium, upon deposition of the ink composition, of a printed image that exhibits an even gloss on the whole image, with the caveat that the inorganic salt cannot be present in an amount outside of a range of 0.5 to 5% by weight; and
(c) ejecting droplets of the ink composition onto the recording medium to print an image thereon that has an even gloss.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic salt is contained in an ionized state in the ink composition.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic salt is formed with an inorganic salt-forming cation that is added as a hydroxide of an alkali metal to the ink composition.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic salt is formed with an anion, which forms the inorganic salt, that is a chloride ion derived from the cationic water-soluble polymer that has been added as a hydrochloride.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the colorant is an organic dye or pigment.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the colorant is contained in an amount in the range of 0.5 to 20% by weight.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cationic water-soluble polymer is formed by polymerizing at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of ethyleneimine, allylamine, diallylamine, and dimethylallylamine.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cationic water-soluble polymer is contained in an amount in the range of 0.1 to 20% by weight.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ink composition further comprises a water-soluble organic solvent andlor a saccharide having a lower vapor pressure than pure water as a humectant.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ink composition further comprises at least one penetrant selected from the group consisting of lower alcohols, cellosolves, carbitols, and nonionic surfactants.
11. A record printed by the method according to claim 1.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alkali-soluble colorant, the cationic water-soluble polymer, the inorganic salt and the water are present in the ink composition in respective amounts such that, when the ink composition is stored in a glass bottle at 60\xb0 C. for one week and at \u221230\xb0 C. for one week and is then passed through a filter having a diameter of 1 mm and a pore diameter of 10 \u03bcm, there are fewer than 50 residues on the filter when observed under a microscope at a magnification of 50 times.
13. An ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a recording medium having a glossiness, said recording medium being one wherein, upon formation of a printed image on the recording medium with an ink consisting of an alkali-soluble colorant, a cationic water-soluble polymer and water, the formed image exhibits an uneven gloss, said recording medium being selected from the group consisting of a gloss paper and a gloss film;
(b) providing an ink composition comprising the alkali-soluble colorant, the cationic water-soluble polymer, water and an inorganic salt; said alkali-soluble colorant being in a state of dissolution in the ink composition, said inorganic salt being a salt of an alkali metal, wherein the inorganic salt is formed (i) with an inorganic salt-forming cation that is added as a hydroxide of an alkali metal to the ink composition or (ii) with an anion that is a chloride ion derived from the cationic water-soluble polymer that has been added as a hydrochloride, said alkali-soluble colorant, cationic water-soluble polymer, water and inorganic salt being present in the ink composition in respective amounts effective to enable formation on the recording medium, upon deposition of the ink composition, of a printed image that exhibits an even gloss on the whole image,
(c) ejecting droplets of the ink composition onto the recording medium to print an image thereon that has an even gloss.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the alkali-soluble colorant, the cationic water-soluble polymer, the inorganic salt and the water are present in the ink composition in respective amounts such that, when the ink composition is stored in a glass bottle at 60\xb0 C. for one week and at \u221230\xb0 C. for one week and is then passed through a filter having a diameter of 1 mm and a pore diameter of 10 \u03bcm, there are fewer than 50 residues on the filter when observed under a microscope at a magnification of 50 times.

We claim:

1. A method of inserting an optical system into optical fibers in bulk, comprising:
fixing the position of a portion of optical fibers in a bundle of optical fibers;
slicing the bundle of optical fibers at the portion to form a first and second bundle of optical fibers; and
positioning an optical system between the first and second bundles of optical fibers.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixing step includes embedding the portion of the optical fibers in a solid.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the slicing step cuts through the solid.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixing step fixes the portion of the optical fibers in an array.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixing step uses mechanical means on either end of the portion of the optical fibers to fix the position of the portion of the optical fibers.
6. The method of claim 1, after the slicing step, further comprising:
polishing exposed ends of at least one of the first and second bundles of optical fibers.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning step positions the optical system and the first and second bundles of optical fibers such that the second bundle of optical fibers is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the first bundle of optical fibers along an optical axis of the optical system, and the optical system inverts an image output by the first bundle of optical fibers.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical system includes a first lens system including at least one lens, a beam splitter and a second lens system including at least one lens.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the beam splitter splits off about 1% of an incident beam.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the optical system further includes a detector positioned to receive a beam split off by the beam splitter.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein
the fixing step includes embedding the portion of the optical fibers in a solid;
the slicing step cuts through the solid; and
the positioning system positions the optical system and the first and second bundles of optical fibers such that the second bundle of optical fibers is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the second bundle of optical fibers along and optical axis of the optical system, and the optical system inverts an image output by the first bundle of optical fibers.
12. A bulk optical fiber structure, comprising:
a first bundle of optical fibers having first ends fixed in a first position;
a second bundle of optical fibers having second ends fixed in a second position associated with the first position; and
an optical system disposed between the first and second bundles of optical fibers.
13. The structure of claim 12, wherein the first and second ends are embedded in first and second solids, respectively.
14. The structure of claim 12, wherein the first and second positions are first and second arrays, respectively.
15. The structure of claim 12, further comprising:
first mechanical means fixing the first ends in the first position; and
second mechanical means fixing the second ends in the second position.
16. The structure of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second ends are polished.
17. The structure of claim 12, wherein the optical system and the first and second bundles of optical fibers are positioned such that the second bundle of optical fibers is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the first bundle of optical fibers along an optical axis of the optical system, and the optical system inverts an image output by the first bundle of optical fibers.
18. The structure of claim 12, wherein the optical system includes a first lens system including at least one lens, a beam splitter and a second lens system including at least one lens.
19. The structure of claim 18, wherein the beam splitter splits off about 1% of an incident beam.
20. The structure of claim 18, wherein the optical system further includes a detector positioned to receive a beam split off by the beam splitter.
21. The structure of claim 12, wherein
the first and second ends are embedded in first and second solids, respectively.
the optical system and the first and second bundles of optical fibers are positioned such that the second bundle of optical fibers is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the first bundle of optical fibers along an optical axis of the optical system, and the optical system inverts an image output by the first bundle of optical fibers.
22. The structure of claim 12, wherein the second position is an inverse of the first position.
23. A method of tapping optical fibers in a telecommunication system, comprising:
fixing the position of a portion of optical fibers in a bundle of optical fibers;
slicing the bundle of optical fibers at the portion to form a first and second bundle of optical fibers; and
positioning a tap optical system that preserves fiber relationship integrity between the first and second bundles of optical fibers.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the positioning step positions a tap optical system that preserves fiber signal purity.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein the tap optical system is a tap-in optical system.
26. The method of claim 23, wherein the tap optical system is a tap-out optical system.
27. A bulk optical fiber tap structure, comprising:
a first bundle of optical fibers having first ends fixed in a first position;
a second bundle of optical fibers having second ends fixed in a second position associated with the first position; and
a tap optical system disposed between the first and second bundles of optical fibers, the tap optical system preserving fiber relationship integrity from the first bundle to the second bundle.
28. The structure of claim 27, wherein the tap optical system preserves fiber signal purity.
29. The structure of claim 27, wherein the tap optical system is a tap-in optical system.
30. The structure of claim 23, wherein the tap optical system is a tap-out optical system.

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 system for controlling the flow of a substance comprising:
a valve coupled to an intake and an outtake for the substance;
a rotatable portion coupled to the valve that selectively places the valve into an open position that allows flow of the substance from the intake to the outtake or a closed position that blocks flow of the substance from the intake to the outtake;
at least one sensor located remotely from the valve that can detect the presence of the substance;
a control unit configured to receive signals from the sensor;
an actuator coupled to the control unit by at least a pair of wires that are coupled to each the actuator and the control unit according to a predetermined polarity allowing the control unit to determine if the valve is in an opened or closed position, wherein the actuator will selectively control the valve to an open position or a closed position in response to at least one signal from the control unit placed upon at least one wire of the pair of wires;
a motor operatively coupled to the actuator; and
a valve control mechanism within the control unit configured to respond to an instruction to place the valve in either the open position or the closed position and place the signal on the pair of wires to control the valve to the open position or the closed position as dictated by the instruction;
wherein upon reception from the sensor that the substance has been detected, the valve control mechanism will generate the instruction to place the valve into the closed position; wherein the control unit further comprises an error detection mechanism for determining if the pair of wires are attached incorrectly.
2. The leak detection system of claim 1 further comprising an activating mechanism on the control unit that selectively generates the instruction to place the valve in either the open position or the closed position and a timing mechanism to stop the actuator within a predetermined time period after generating the instruction.
3. The leak detection system of claim 1 further comprising an attachment mechanism that is fixedly attached to both the actuator and the valve, the attachment mechanism holding the actuator and the valve in an aligned configuration with respect to each other.
4. The leak detection system of claim 3 wherein the attachment mechanism is removable such that the rotatable exterior portion is exposed once the attachment mechanism is removed allowing for manual control of the rotatable exterior portion of the valve.
5. The leak detection system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is coupled to the control unit via a wireless interface.
6. The leak detection system of claim 5 wherein the control unit further comprises at least one wired input for the sensor, the wired input providing a bidirectional interface between the control unit and the sensor.
7. The leak detection system of claim 6, wherein the sensor is programmed by the control unit over the bidirectional interface to function only with the control unit via the wireless interface to the exclusion of any other control units.
8. The leak detection system of claim 5, wherein the sensor provides to the control unit via the wireless interface a status of the sensor to the control unit through wireless communication, wherein the status is for at least one of: wet or dry condition; normal functioning; or battery voltage status.
9. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein the valve is a low torque valve.
10. The leak detection system of claim 9 wherein the actuator has a high gear ratio.
11. The leak detection system of claim 10 wherein the motor is operatively coupled to the actuator to provide a force required by the actuator to open and close the low torque valve and further wherein the motor is configured to provide the force required using power supplied solely from a set of 4 AA batteries.
12. The leak detection system of claim 1, further comprising a flow monitor interface on the control unit capable of accepting an input from a flow monitor and determining if a summarized use of the substance through a conduit exceeds at least one predetermined parameter.
13. A water leak detection system comprising:
at least one sensor that can detect the presence of a substance;
a wireless transmitter coupled to the sensor to transmit detection of the substance by the sensor;
a central control unit coupled to a receiver configured to receive signals from the wireless transmitter;
a low torque ball valve;
a valve actuator configured to control the low torque ball valve to an open position and a closed position in response to at least one signal from the control unit, the valve actuator being coupled to the control unit by at least a pair of wires that are coupled to each the valve actuator and the control unit according to polarity allowing the control unit to determine if the valve is ion an open or closed position, wherein the valve actuator will selectively control the valve to an open position or a closed position in response to at least one signal from the control unit placed upon at least one wire of the pair of wires; and
a leak response mechanism within the control unit that is configured to respond to the reception from the wireless transmitter that water has been detected by controlling the valve actuator to close the low torque ball valve; and
a motor coupled to valve actuator; wherein the control unit further comprises an error detection mechanism to provide an alert if the pair of wires are attached incorrectly.
14. The leak detection system of claim 13 further comprising an attachment mechanism that is fixedly attached to both the actuator and the valve, the attachment mechanism holding the actuator and the valve in an aligned configuration with respect to each other, wherein the attachment mechanism is removable such that the rotatable exterior portion is exposed once the attachment mechanism is removed allowing for manual control of the rotatable exterior portion of the valve.
15. The leak detection system of claim 13 further comprising an activating mechanism on the control unit that selectively generates the instruction to place the valve in either the open position or the closed position and a timing mechanism to stop the actuator within a predetermined time period after generating the instruction.
16. The leak detection system of claim 13, wherein the sensor provides to the control unit via the wireless interface a status of the sensor to the control unit through wireless communication, wherein the status is for at least one of: wet or dry condition; normal functioning; or battery voltage status.
17. The leak detection system of claim 13 wherein the motor is operatively coupled to the actuator to provide a force required by the actuator to open and close the low torque ball valve and further wherein the motor is configured to provide the force required using power supplied solely from a set of 4 AA batteries.
18. The leak detection system of claim 1, further comprising a flow monitor interface on the control unit capable of accepting an input from a flow monitor and determining if a summarized use of the substance through a conduit exceeds at least one predetermined parameter.