Author: claimsbot

1. A method of decoding video data, the method comprising:
splitting an image into one or more coding units of depths;
determining one or more transformation units in a current coding unit;
obtaining, from a received bitstream, a quantization mode indicating which depth of coding unit contains a quantization parameter delta;
determining the depth of coding unit containing the quantization parameter delta based on the quantization mode;
when a depth of the current coding unit corresponds to the determined depth of coding unit, obtaining the quantization parameter delta for the current coding unit from the bitstream and determining a quantization parameter of the one or more transformation units using the quantization parameter delta; and,
performing inverse-quantization and inverse transformation on the one or more transformation units using the quantization parameter,
wherein:
the image is split into a plurality of maximum coding units,
a maximum coding unit, among the plurality of maximum coding units, is hierarchically split into the one or more coding units of depths including at least one of a current depth and a lower depth according to the split information,
when the split information indicates a split for the current depth, the coding unit of a current depth is split into four coding units of the lower depth, independently from neighboring coding units, and
when the split information indicates a non-split for the current depth, the transformation units are obtained from the coding unit of the current depth.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein a size of the coding unit varies according to the depth of the coding unit.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the quantization mode is obtained from a header for one of a current picture, a current slice and a current sequence.
4. An apparatus for decoding video data, the apparatus comprising:
a parser which splits an image into one or more coding units of depths, determines one or more transformation units in a current coding unit, obtains, from the bitstream, a quantization mode indicating which depth of coding unit contains a quantization parameter delta, determines the depth of coding unit containing the quantization parameter delta based on the quantization mode, and, when a depth of the current coding unit corresponds to the determined depth of coding unit, obtains the quantization parameter delta for the current coding unit from the bitstream; and,
a decoder which determines a quantization parameter of the one or more transformation units using the quantization parameter delta and performs inverse-quantization and inverse transformation on the one or more transformation units using the quantization parameter,
wherein:
the image is split into a plurality of maximum coding units,
a maximum coding unit, among the plurality of maximum coding units, is hierarchically split into the one or more coding units of depths including at least one of a current depth and a lower depth according to the split information,
when the split information indicates a split for the current depth, the coding unit of a current depth is split into four coding units of the lower depth, independently from neighboring coding units, and
when the split information indicates a non-split for the current depth, the transformation units are obtained from the coding unit of the current depth.

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 apparatus for applying dry ingredients to an outer surface of meat product, the apparatus comprising:
a meat supply device including a pressure source for pressurizing the meat product;
an elongated meat flow channel having an upstream, intake end and a downstream, exit end with the intake end receiving the pressurized meat product which flows downstream through the flow channel for being discharged from the exit end thereof;
an airflow device including a pressure source for generating a flow of air;
dry ingredient entrainment mechanism connected to the air flow device for supplying dry ingredients thereto to be entrained in the flow of air; and
an elongate air flow channel adjacent the meat flow channel having an upstream, intake end and downstream, exit end adjacent the exit end of the meat flow channel with the intake end receiving the flow of air which flows downstream through the air flow channel with the dry ingredients entrained therein for being discharged from the exit end and deposited on an outer surface of the meat product as the meat product is discharged from the adjacent meat flow channel exit end.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the exit ends are configured to permit the meat product to depressurize after the dry ingredients are discharged from the air flow channel.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein exit ends are configured to permit the meat product to depressurize before application of the dry ingredients to the outer surface of the meat product and the elongated air flow channel includes a diffuser approximate the exit ends.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an asymmetrical exit at the downstream, exit end of the elongated meat flow channel.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the asymmetrical exit of the elongated meat flow channel comprises an extension piece that extends from the elongated meat flow channel.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the asymmetrical exit of the elongated meat flow channel comprises a slanted tip configured to terminate the elongated meat flow channel at an angle.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an expanding diameter portion at the downstream exit end of the elongated meat flow channel.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to have casings disposed at least around the meat product as it is discharged from the meat flow channel exit end.
9. A stuffing horn apparatus comprising:
a first elongated flow channel;
a second elongated flow channel disposed adjacent the first elongated flow channel; and
a first inlet disposed at an upstream portion of the first elongated flow channel, the first inlet configured to introduce at least one meat into the first elongated flow channel;
a second inlet disposed at an upstream portion of the second elongated flow channel, the second inlet configured to introduce at least one dry ingredient into the second elongated flow channels, the at least one dry ingredient being moved through the second elongated flow channel in an air stream; and
an end portion of the stuffing horn configured to create a void space around the meat wherein the at least one dry ingredient is deposited onto an outside surface of the meat at the void space.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the end portion of the stuffing horn are configured to permit the at least one meat stream to depressurize prior to application of the at least one dry ingredient.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the at least one dry ingredient is entrained in an air stream in the second elongated flow channel to move the dry spice from the second inlet to the end portion of the stuffing horn.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an exit of the first elongated flow channel, the exit comprising at least one of:
an asymmetrical exit of the first elongated flow channel; and
an exit of the first elongated flow channel having an expanding diameter.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the asymmetrical exit of the first elongated flow channel is configured to permit the at least one dry ingredient to be deposited on less than about 360\xb0 of a circumference of the at least one meat exiting the first elongated flow channel.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the asymmetrical exit of the first elongated flow channel is configured to permit the at least one dry ingredient to be deposited on less than about 180\xb0 of a circumference of the at least one meat exiting the first elongated flow channel.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the asymmetrical exit of the first elongated flow channel further comprises at least one of:
a guard piece that extends from an end of the first elongated flow channel around a portion of the circumference; and
a slanted tip such that the first elongated flow channel terminates at an angle.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first and second elongated flow channels are tubular shaped, have substantially constant diameters along a length of the first and second elongated flow channels, and are coaxially arranged with the first elongated flow channel disposed substantially within the second elongated flow channel.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the exit of the first elongated flow channel having an expanding diameter is positioned downstream of a portion of the first elongated flow channel having the substantially constant diameter along the length, the expanding diameter having a diameter increasingly larger than the substantially constant diameter along the length of the first elongated flow channel.
18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a distance between the first and second elongated channels at the exit of the expanding diameter is approximately 0.2-inch.
19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a distance between the first and second elongated channels at the exit of the expanding diameter is approximately 0.25-inch.
20. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising at least one dry ingredient hose configured to deliver the at least one dry ingredient through the second elongated flow channel.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the at least one dry ingredient hose comprises a hose with an inside diameter of approximately 0.375-inch and having an air flow of approximately 45-standard-cubic-feet-per-hour.
22. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a plurality of dry ingredient hoses configured to deliver the at least one dry ingredient through the second elongated flow channel.
23. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a diffuser approximate the exits of the first and second elongated flow channels.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the diffuser is positioned at an end of the at least one dry ingredient hose.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the diffuser comprises at least one of:
at least one channel opening at the end of the at least one dry ingredient hose configured to permit the at least one dry ingredient to advance therethrough;
a diffuser nozzle; and
an oval configuration at the end of the at least one dry ingredient hose.
26. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first elongated flow channel has a first end and the second flow channel has a second end located a distance downstream of the first end such that the first elongated flow channel terminates at a distance upstream of the second elongated flow channel thereby creating the void space at the end portion of the stuffing horn.
27. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first elongated flow channel has a first end and the outer flow channel has a second end located a distance upstream of the first end such that the first elongated flow channel terminates at a distance downstream of the second elongated flow channel thereby creating the void space at the end portion of the stuffing horn.
28. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a dry ingredient hopper and a dry ingredient screw feed.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising a venturi pump configured to receive the at least one dry ingredient from the dry ingredient screw feed and to advance the at least one dry ingredient through the second inlet to the second elongated flow channel to move the at least one dry ingredient downstream by entraining the at least one dry ingredient in a moving air stream.
30. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a dry ingredient pump configured to advance the at least one dry ingredient through the second elongated flow channel.
31. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a pump system configured to advance the at least one meat through the first elongated flow channel.
32. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the apparatus is configured to have casings disposed at least at the end portion of the stuffing horn.
33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the casings lack any stuck holes therethrough.
34. A method for applying dry ingredients to a meat log, the method comprising:
introducing a meat stream into an inner inlet connected to an inner elongated flow channel at an upstream end of a stuffing horn;
introducing at least one dry ingredient into a dry ingredient hopper, the dry ingredient hopper connected to a screw feed for delivering the at least one dry ingredient to an outer inlet, the outer inlet connected to an outer elongated flow channel at the upstream end of the stuffing horn, the inner elongated flow channel disposed substantially within the outer elongated flow channel such that the outer inlet delivers the at least one the dry ingredient to an intermediate conduit located between the inner and outer elongated flow channels;
advancing the at least one dry ingredient downstream of the outer inlet and directing the at least one dry ingredient to an application area;
pumping the meat stream downstream of the inner inlet and depressurizing the meat stream prior to exposure to a substantial portion of the at least one dry ingredient;
depositing the at least one dry ingredient onto an outside surface of the meat stream at a downstream end of the stuffing horn wherein a void space is created at the application area, the void space positioned at least partially around the outside surface of the meat stream where the at least one dry ingredient is permitted to contact the outside surface of the meat stream; and
stuffing the meat stream with the applied at least one dry ingredient into a casing.
35. The method of claim 34 further comprising diffusing the at least one dry ingredient prior to depositing the dry ingredient onto the outside surface of the meat stream.
36. The method of claim 34 wherein introducing the at least one dry ingredient further comprises entraining the at least one dry ingredient in an air stream.
37. The method of claim 34 wherein advancing the at least one dry ingredient downstream of the outer inlet employs a plurality of tubes, each of the plurality of tubes delivering approximately 0.1 to 0.2-ounces-per-second of the at least one dry ingredient.
38. The method of claim 37 wherein a plurality of tubes comprise four tubes that together deliver approximately 0.4 to 0.8-ounces-per-second of the at least one dry ingredient to the outside surface of the meat stream.
39. The method of claim 34 wherein advancing the at least one dry ingredient downstream of the outer inlet employs a plurality of tubes, the plurality of tubes delivering approximately three ounces of the at least one dry ingredient in five seconds.
40. The method of claim 34 wherein advancing the at least one dry ingredient downstream of the outer inlet further comprising advancing a volume of the at least one dry ingredient wherein the volume is approximately 0.5 to 12.0 ft3hour.
41. The method of claim 34 wherein entraining the at least one dry ingredient in an air stream employs a venturi pump positioned at an exit of the screw feeder to introduce the dry ingredient into the intermediate conduit.
42. The method of claim 34 wherein introducing the at least one dry ingredient further comprises pumping the at least one dry ingredient into the stuffing horn.
43. The method of claim 34 wherein entraining the at least one dry ingredient in an air stream comprises having an air flow of approximately 15 to 25-Whour.
44. The method of claim 34 wherein the meat stream comprises at least one of:
a whole muscle meat mixture;
a meat batter; and
a meat analog.
45. The method of claim 34 further comprising cooking the casing having the meat stream stuffed therein and minimizing yield loss of the meat log.

1. An image forming apparatus for electrophotographically forming an image, comprising:
an image forming section for printing the toner image on a recording medium to form an image, the image forming section including a photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, and a developing device including a developing roller for supplying a toner to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor to form a toner image, and a developer tank for storing a two-component developer containing a toner;
a toner concentration detecting section for detecting a toner concentration in the developer tank;
a printing speed switching section for switching a speed of printing an image formed by the image forming section;
a toner concentration calculating section for calculating a toner concentration in the developer tank from a detection result by the toner concentration detecting section, according to the speed of printing an image;
a toner replenishment control section for replenishing the toner into the developer tank according to a calculation result by the toner concentration calculating section; and
a sensitivity switching section for switching a detecting sensitivity of the toner concentration detecting section depending on the print speed of an image.
2. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image forming section forms a monochrome image or a color image.
3. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printing speed switching section carries out switching of speed of printing among speed of printing a monochrome image, speed of printing a color image and speed of printing on cardboard.
4. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a toner concentration correcting section for correcting the calculation result by the toner concentration calculating section.
5. The image forming apparatus of claim 4, wherein the toner concentration correcting section corrects the calculation result by the toner concentration calculating section, based on a data table showing a relationship between detecting sensitivities of the toner concentration detecting section and correction amounts in a correction parameter.
6. The image forming apparatus of claim 5, wherein the correction parameter is based on one or two selected from a decreasing amount of a photosensitive layer on a photoreceptor, a relative humidity inside the image forming apparatus and a correction value of toner concentration obtained by process control.
7. The image forming apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:
a rotation distance accumulating section for accumulating a total rotation distance since the developing roller has been started to be used; and
a layer decreasing amount calculating section for calculating a decreasing amount of a photosensitive layer on a photoreceptor, according to an accumulation result by the rotation distance accumulating section,
wherein the toner concentration correcting section corrects the detection result by the toner concentration detecting section according to a calculation result by the layer decreasing amount calculating section.
8. The image forming apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a humidity detecting section for detecting a relative humidity therein,
wherein the toner concentration correcting section corrects the detection result by the toner concentration detecting section according to a detection result by the humidity detecting section.
9. The image forming apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:
a patch forming section for controlling the image forming section so as to form a plurality of toner patches on the photoreceptor of which the toner concentrations are continuously changing; and
a patch concentration detecting section for detecting patch concentrations which are toner concentrations of the plurality of toner patches formed on the photoreceptor,
wherein the toner concentration correcting section corrects the detection result by the toner concentration detecting section according to a detection result by the patch concentration detecting section.

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 method of forming side spacers upwardly extending from a substrate, comprising:
providing a template constituted by a photoresist formed on and in contact with an etch-selective layer laminated on a substrate, said photoresist having footing at a base of the photoresist, said etch-selective layer having a substantially lower etch rate than that of the photoresist;
anisotropically etching the template in a thickness direction with an oxygen-containing plasma to remove the footing of the photoresist and an exposed portion of the underlying layer;
depositing a spacer film on the template by atomic layer deposition (ALD); and
forming side spacers using the spacer film by etching.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the side spacers are for spacer-defined double patterning (SDDP).
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the etch-selective layer has a substantially higher etch rate than that of the side spacers.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the etch-selective layer is constituted by an organic bottom antireflective coating (BARC) formed from a carbonsilicon-containing compound having a ratio of (number of C, H, and O atoms in total)(number of C atoms-number of O atoms) which is no more than 5.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the etch-selective layer is constituted by an organic bottom antireflective coating (BARC) having an etch selectivity substantially equivalent to that of a SiN film.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the etch-selective layer is constituted by an inorganic silicon- or carbon-containing layer as an antireflective coating (ARC) and a nitrogen-free oxide layer laminated on the inorganic silicon- or carbon-containing layer.
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising etching the photoresist of the template to trim the photoresist prior to the anisotropical etching, wherein the etch-selective layer has a substantial resistance to the trimming, and substantially no footing of the photoresist remains.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the anisotropical etching and the deposition of the spacer film are conducted continuously in the same reactor.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the spacer film is constituted by SiO2 or TiO.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein an underlying layer formed underneath the etch-selective layer is constituted by amorphous carbon.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the etch-selective layer is constituted by a Si-rich organic bottom antireflective coating (BARC), and the anisotropical etching comprises trimming the photoresist and removing the footing by an oxygen-containing plasma, and then etching the Si-rich BARC by a fluorine-containing oxygen plasma.