Author: claimsbot

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:
a casing which includes a first casing portion having a first thickness and a second casing portion having a second thickness;
a fan case which are provided in the first casing portion and the second casing portion, and which includes a first fan case portion having a first extent and a second fan case portion having a second extent; and
a fan which includes a first blade portion having a first size and a second blade portion having a second size so that at least a part of the second blade portion is provided in the second fan case portion.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan case is provided to surround at least a part of the fan.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second thickness of the casing is smaller than the first thickness thereof.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan case is provided inside each of the first casing portion and the second casing portion.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second extent of the fan case is narrower than the first extent thereof.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second size of the fan is smaller than the first size thereof.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second casing portion is provided in at least a part of a peripheral portion of the electronic apparatus.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a part of the second fan case is provided in the second casing portion, and wherein the second blade portion is provided in a part of the second fan case.
9. An electronic apparatus comprising:
a casing which includes a first casing portion having a first thickness and a second casing portion having a second thickness;
which are provided in the first casing portion and the second casing portion, and which includes a first fan case portion having a first extent and a second fan case portion having a second extent; and
a fan which includes a blade portion so that at least a part of the blade portion is provided in the second fan case portion.

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

What is claimed is:

1. An optical current transducer configured to sense current in a conductor, comprising:
a light source;
a polarizer configured to generate linearly polarized light received from the light source;
a magneto-optic garnet comprising Bismuth (Bi), Iron (Fe), and Oxygen (O), configured to be coupled to the conductor and in optical communication with the polarizer, the magneto-optic garnet configured to rotate the polarization of the linearly polarized light received from the polarizer; and
an analyzer in optical communication with the magneto-optic garnet, the analyzer configured to detect the rotation of the linearly polarized light caused by the magneto-optic garnet.
2. The optical current transducer of claim 1, wherein the magneto-optic garnet includes a gadolinium (Gd) gallium (Ga) garnet (GGG) substrate.
3. The optical current transducer of claim 1, wherein the magneto-optic garnet further comprises an element selected from the group consisting of Yttrium (Y) and Lutetium (Lu).
4. The optical current transducer of claim 1, wherein the magneto-optic garnet further comprises an element selected from the group consisting essentially of Yttrium (Y) and Lutetium (Lu), to provide a magneto-optic garnet having a Verdet Constant in the range of at least 80 degcmG.
5. The optical current transducer of claim 1, wherein the magneto-optic garnet further comprises a substrate.
6. The optical current transducer of claim 5, wherein the magneto-optic garnet is a thin-film disposed on the substrate.
7. The optical sensor of claim 1, wherein the magneto-optic garnet has a chemical composition that may be represented as (BixLu1-x)3Fe5O12.
8. The optical sensor of claim 1, wherein the magneto-optic garnet has a chemical composition that may be represented as (BixY1-x)3Fe5O12.
9. The optical sensor of claim 1, further comprising a lens for communicating light between the magneto-optic garnet and the light source.
10. The optical sensor of claim 1, further comprising an input optical cable transmitting light from the light source to the polarizer.
11. The optical sensor of claim 10, further comprising an output optical cable transmitting light from the analyzer to at least one beam splitter.
12. The optical sensor claim 11, wherein the optical cable comprises multi-mode optical fiber.
13. The optical sensor of claim 2, wherein the light source provides at least two distinct wavelengths of light.
14. The optical sensor of claim 13, wherein the light source comprises at least two LEDs.
15. The optical sensor of claim 13, wherein the light source comprises a halogen lamp.
16. The optical sensor of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one photodetector, receiving light from the analyzer.
17. The optical sensor of claim 16, further comprising:
a data collection apparatus, receiving an electrical signal from the at least one photodetector.
18. The optical sensor of claim 1, wherein the magneto-optic garnet rotates the direction of polarization by an angle substantially represented by the relationship V(,T)Hd, where V is the temperature and wavelength dependent Verdet Constant, H is the component of the magnetic field that is perpendicular to the plane of the magneto-optic garnet, and d is the thickness of the active material.
19. A method of measuring current in a conductor, comprising:
providing a light source;
communicating light from the light source to a polarizer configured to generate linearly polarized light;
communicating the linearly polarized light from the polarizer to a magneto-optic garnet comprising Bismuth (Bi), Iron (Fe), and Oxygen (O), the magneto-optic garnet configured adjacent the conductor so that the magnetic field vector, caused by the conductor current, is perpendicular to the garnet film surface, the magneto-optic garnet configured to rotate the polarization of the linearly polarized light received from the polarizer; and
communicating the rotated light from the magneto-optic garnet to an analyzer in optical communication with the magneto-optic garnet, the analyzer configured to detect the rotation of the linearly polarized light caused by the magneto-optic garnet.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:
providing light from the analyzer to a first beam splitter.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:
providing at least some of the light from the first beam splitter to a second beam splitter.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising;
receiving, by a detector a first light component from the first beam splitter and a second light component from the second beam splitter.
23. An optical current transducer configured to sense current in a conductor, comprising:
a light source; and
a sensor head, the sensor head including,
a polarizer configured to generate linearly polarized light received from the light source;
a magneto-optic garnet comprising Bismuth (Bi), Iron (Fe), and Oxygen (O), configured to be coupled to the conductor and in optical communication with the polarizer, the magneto-optic garnet configured to rotate the polarization of the linearly polarized light received from the polarizer; and
an analyzer in optical communication with the magneto-optic garnet, the analyzer configured to detect the rotation of the linearly polarized light caused by the magneto-optic garnet.
24. The optical current transducer of claim 23, wherein the sensor head is attached to the conductor.
25. The optical current transducer of claim 24, wherein the sensor head is attached to the conductor at a location on the conductor where the cross section of the conductor has the substantially smallest overall radius of curvature.
26. The optical current transducer of claim 24, wherein the magneto-optic garnet is a thin-film having a film-plane and the film-plane is substantially oriented parallel to the direction of current flow through the conductor.
27. The optical current transducer of claim 24, wherein the magneto-optic garnet has a crystallographic direction and the polarizer polarizes light substantially parallel to the crystallographic direction.
28. A method of temperature compensation, for a current sensor, comprising:
providing a light source including more than one wavelength to a sensor head;
measuring the light intensity of more than one wavelength 6 of light;
determining the temperature of the current sensor based on at least one ratio of light intensity of one wavelength of light to another wavelength of light;
determining a Verdet Constant based on the temperature;
determining light intensity based on the temperature and the Verdet Constant; and
determining the current detected by the current sensor based on the temperature and Verdet Constant.
29. A method of determining the temperature of a current sensor, comprising:
providing a light source having a first wavelength and a second wavelength;
providing a current sensor head for receiving light from the light source;
detecting light intensity at the first wavelength and at the second wavelength from the current sensor head; and
determining temperature of the sensor head based on a ratio of light intensity in the first wavelength to light intensity of the second wavelength.
30. A method of sensor drift for a current sensor, comprising:
providing a light source having a first wavelength, a second wavelength, and third wavelength;
providing a current sensor head for receiving light from the light source;
detecting light intensity at the first wavelength, at the second wavelength, and at the third wavelength, the light coming from the sensor head
determining a first intensity ratio of the first intensity and the third intensity, and a second intensity ratio of the second intensity and the third intensity; and
determining sensor drift over time based on the first intensity ratio and the second intensity ratio.

1. An apparatus for extending the operating reach of systems that have conventionally communicated narrow broadband electrical signals only over electrically conductive media, comprising:
means for converting first said electrical signals to optical signals that retain at least one parameter of said electrical signals;
means for transmitting said optical signals, said means for transmitting in operable communication with said means for converting said first electrical signals;
at least one optical fiber in operable communication with at least said means for transmitting said optical signals;
means for receiving said converted optical signals, said means for receiving in operable communication with said optical fiber;
means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals that retain at least one parameter of said first electrical signals, and
means for transmitting said second electrical signals, said means for transmitting said second electrical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said optical signals;
wherein said apparatus permits system operation at a distance greater than conventional systems incorporating only electrically conductive media.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said system is a sensor system.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said sensor system incorporates circuitry implementing time domain reflectometry (TDR).
4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said electrical signals are radio frequency (RF) signals.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said RF signals are pulses.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said RF signals are FM-CW step signals.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said electrically conductive media is coaxial cable.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for converting said electrical signals to optical signals is at least one electrical-to-optical convertertransceiver.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which said means for transmitting said optical signals is at least one said electrical-to-optical convertertransceiver.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals is at least one optical-to-electrical convertertransceiver.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said means for transmitting said second electrical signals is at least one said optical-to-electrical convertertransceiver.
12. A method for extending the operating reach of systems that have conventionally communicated narrow broadband electrical signals entirely over electrically conductive media, comprising:
providing means for converting first said electrical signals to optical signals that retain at least one parameter of said electrical signals;
converting said first electrical signals to said optical signals;
providing means for transmitting said optical signals, said means for transmitting said optical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said first electrical signals;
providing at least one optical fiber, said optical fiber in operable communication with said means for transmitting said optical signals;
transmitting said optical signals over said optical fiber;
providing means for receiving said optical signals, said means for receiving said optical signals in operable communication with said optical fiber;
receiving said optical signals;
providing means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals that retain at least one parameter of said first electrical signals, said means for converting said optical signals in operable communication with said means for receiving said optical signals;
converting said optical signals to said second electrical signals;
providing means for transmitting said second electrical signals, said means for transmitting said second electrical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said optical signals; and
transmitting said second electrical signals,
wherein said method permits said electrical signals to be transmitted at a distance greater than conventional methods employing only electrically conductive media.
13. The method of claim 12 providing said system as a sensor system.
14. The method of claim 13 implementing time domain reflectometry (TDR) in said sensor system.
15. The method of claim 12 providing said electrical signals as radio frequency (RF) signals.
16. The method of claim 15 providing said RF signals as pulses.
17. The method of claim 15 providing said RF signals as FM-CW step signals.
18. The method of claim 12 providing said electrically conductive media as coaxial cable.
19. The method of claim 12 providing said means for converting said electrical signals to optical signals as at least one electrical-to-optical convertertransceiver.
20. The method of claim 19 providing said means for transmitting said optical signals as at least one said electrical-to-optical convertertransceiver.
21. The method of claim 12 providing said means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals as at least one optical-to-electrical convertertransceiver.
22. The method of claim 21 providing said means for transmitting said second electrical signals as at least one said optical-to-electrical convertertransceiver.
23. A method for retaining the characteristics of narrow broadband electrical signals that have been conventionally communicated entirely over electrically conductive media, comprising:
providing means for converting first said electrical signals to optical signals that retain at least one parameter of said electrical signals;
converting said first electrical signals to said optical signals;
providing means for transmitting said optical signals, said means for transmitting said optical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said first electrical signals;
providing at least one optical fiber, said optical fiber in operable communication with said means for transmitting said optical signals;
transmitting said optical signals over said optical fiber;
providing means for receiving said optical signals, said means for receiving said optical signals in operable communication with said optical fiber;
receiving said optical signals;
providing means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals that retain at least one parameter of said first electrical signals, said means for converting said optical signals in operable communication with said means for receiving said optical signals;
converting said optical signals to said second electrical signals;
providing means for transmitting said second electrical signals, said means for transmitting said second electrical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said optical signals; and
transmitting said second electrical signals,
wherein said method preserves characteristics of said electrical signals better than conventional methods employing only electrically conductive media.
24. An apparatus for retaining characteristics of electrical signals that have been conventionally communicated entirely over electrically conductive media in a system, comprising:
means for converting first said electrical signals to optical signals that retain at least one parameter of said electrical signals;
means for transmitting said optical signals, said means for transmitting in operable communication with said means for converting said first electrical signals;
at least one optical fiber in operable communication with at least said means for transmitting said optical signals;
means for receiving said converted optical signals, said means for receiving in operable communication with said optical fiber;
means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals that retain at least one parameter of said first electrical signals, and
means for transmitting said second electrical signals, said means for transmitting said second electrical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said optical signals;
wherein said apparatus preserves the characteristics of said electrical signals better than systems not incorporating said apparatus.
25. A time domain reflectometry (TDR) sensor system that communicates narrow broadband RF signals partially over electrically conductive media and partially over optical fiber, comprising:
means for initiating at least one signal on said electrically conductive media;
means for facilitating simultaneous transmission of said signals and receipt of reflections of said signals, said means for facilitating in operable communication with said electrically conductive media;
means for conditioning said signals and said reflections, said means for conditioning in operable communication with said means for facilitating simultaneous transmission;
means for impedance matching said signals and said reflections, said means for impedance matching in operable communication with at least one said means for facilitating simultaneous transmission;
at least one sensor in operable communication with said means for impedance matching;
means for converting first said electrical signals to optical signals that retain at least one parameter of said electrical signals, said means for converting first said electrical signals in operable communication with said means for conditioning;
means for transmitting said optical signals, said means for transmitting said optical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said first electrical signals;
at least one optical fiber in operable communication with at least said means for transmitting said optical signals;
means for receiving said converted optical signals, said means for receiving said optical signals in operable communication with said optical fiber;
means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals that retain at least one parameter of said first electrical signals, said means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals in operable communication with said means for receiving said optical signals, and
means for transmitting said second electrical signals, said means for transmitting said second electrical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said optical signals,
wherein said system is able to operate at a distance greater than conventional systems incorporating only electrically conductive media.
26. The system of claim 25 in which said means for initiating at least one signal is a TDR instrument.
27. The system of claim 25 in which said means for initiating at least one signal is a signal generator.
28. The system of claim 25 in which said means for facilitating simultaneous transmission is a microwave circulator.
29. The system of claim 25 in which said means for conditioning said signals and said reflections is at least one amplifier.
30. The system of claim 25 in which said means for impedance matching said signals and said reflections is at least one impedance matching transformer.
31. The system of claim 25 in which said RF signals are pulses.
32. The system of claim 25 in which said RF signals are FM-CW step signals.
33. The system of claim 25 in which said electrically conductive media is coaxial cable.
34. The system of claim 25 in which said means for converting said electrical signals to optical signals is at least one electrical-to-optical convertertransceiver.
35. The system of claim 34 in which said means for transmitting said optical signals is at least one said electrical-to-optical convertertransceiver.
36. The system of claim 25 in which said means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals is at least one optical-to-electrical convertertransceiver.
37. The system of claim 36 in which said means for transmitting said second electrical signals is at least one said optical-to-electrical convertertransceiver.
38. The system of claim 25 further comprising at least one data storage and display means.
39. The system of claim 38 in which said data storage and display means is at least one TDR instrument.
40. The system of claim 38 in which said data storage and display means is at least one oscilloscope.
41. The system of claim 25 further comprising at least one multiplexer for multiplexing said RF signals and reflections thereof from multiple sensors.
42. The system of claim 25 further comprising at least one length of coaxial cable, each said length connecting one said microwave circulator to a corresponding said impedance matching transformer.
43. A method for operating a time domain reflectometry (TDR) sensor system communicating narrow broadband RF signals partially over electrically conductive media and partially over optical fiber, comprising:
providing means for initiating at least one said RF signal on said electrically conductive media;
transmitting said RF signal on said electrically conductive media;
providing means for facilitating simultaneous transmission of said signals and receipt of reflections of said signals, said means for facilitating in operable communication with said electrically conductive media;
providing means for conditioning said signals and said reflections, said means for conditioning in operable communication with at least said means for facilitating simultaneous transmission;
providing means for impedance matching said signals and said reflections, said means for impedance matching in operable communication with at least one said means for facilitating simultaneous transmission;
providing at least one sensor in operable communication with said means for impedance matching;
providing means for converting first said electrical signals to optical signals that retain at least one parameter of said electrical signals, said means for converting first said electrical signals in operable communication with said means for conditioning;
providing means for transmitting said optical signals, said means for transmitting said optical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said first electrical signals;
providing at least one optical fiber in operable communication with at least said means for transmitting said optical signals;
providing means for receiving said optical signals, said means for receiving said optical signals in operable communication with at least said optical fiber;
providing means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals that retain at least one parameter of said first electrical signals, said means for converting said optical signals to second said electrical signals in operable communication with said means for receiving said optical signals, and
providing means for transmitting said second electrical signals, said means for transmitting said second electrical signals in operable communication with said means for converting said optical signals,
wherein said method facilitates operation at a distance greater than that available to conventional TDR sensor systems incorporating only electrically conductive media.
44. The method of claim 43 further providing at least one data storage and display means.
45. The method of claim 43 further providing said data storage and display means as at least one TDR instrument.
46. The method of claim 43 further providing said display and storage means as at least one oscilloscope.
47. The method of claim 43 further providing multiple sensors and at least one multiplexer for multiplexing said RF signals and reflections thereof from said multiple sensors.

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

what is claimed is:

1. A document processing method for extracting a text block from a document in a document processing system, wherein characters are laid out using blank characters, tabs or any other spaces, comprising the steps of:
generating an object including characters, marks, blank characters and other symbols from the document;
generating a connection candidate between the objects; and
evaluating validity of connection of the connection candidate using a language model.
2. The document processing method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
determining if a connection of the connection candidate is valid; and
combining the objects corresponding to a source and destination of the connection candidate, if it is determined that the connection of the conection candidate is valid.
3. The document processing method according to claim 1, wherein the object generated is associated with a coordinate indicating a spatial position of the document.
4. The document processing method according to claim 3, wherein the text block is generated by combining the objects, wherein the text block is defined as a rectangular region with a minimum area that includes the objects, wherein the position of the text block is specified by the coordinates of opposing corners of the rectangular region in the document.
5. The document processing method according to claim 1, wherein the connection candidate between the objects is a connection with an object that adjoins the source object on the right side or a connection with an object that is located in the next line and on the left side of the source object.
6. The document processing method according to claim 11 wherein the language model is an N-gram model.
7. The document processing method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating an object further comprises the steps of:
acquiring a symbol at every spatial coordinate, and associating it with the coordinate in the document;
determining a type of the symbol in a line of the document and generating a token composed of one or consecutive letters, symbols or other characters or a space composed of one or consecutive blank characters; determining an adjacency relation of the space in the vertical direction and generating a stream composed of spaces that extend over a plurality of lines; and
determining a positional relation between the token and the stream and generating an initial text block that includes the token and blank characters.
8. The document processing method according to claim 7, wherein the step of generating a token or space comprises the steps of:
recording the symbols as a token composed of consecutive characters, if it is determined that the type of symbol is not a blank character and the type of an adjoining symbol in the line is the same;
recording the symbol as one or consecutive spaces if it is determined that the type of symbol is a blank character; and
wherein the step of generating a stream comprises the steps of:
recording the spaces as a stream if it is determined that the spaces are adjoining over different lines in the vertical direction; and
wherein the step of generating an object comprising the steps of:

combining the two tokens and the space between them as an initial text block if a space interposed between two tokens in a line is not a stream.
9. The document processing method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:
generating all the initial text blocks and their connection candidates;
extracting initial text blocks of a single element and connection candidates from all the initial text blocks and connection candidates;
determining validity of connection of the initial text blocks of a single element and connection candidates using a language model; and
combining the initial text blocks of a single element if it is determined that the validity of connection is valid.
10. The document processing method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
if there is only a single connection candidate between the objects, the initial text blocks, or the text blocks combined thereof, combining them without determining validity of connection using a language model.
11. A document processing system for extracting a text block from a document, wherein characters are laid out using blank characters, tabs or any other spaces, comprising:
means for generating an object including characters, marks, blank characters and other symbols from the document;
means for generating a connection candidate between the objects; and
means for evaluating validity of connection of the connection candidate using a language model.
12. The document processing system according to claim 11, further comprising:
means for combining the objects corresponding to a source and destination of the connection candidate if it is determined that the connection of the connection candidate is valid.
13. The document processing system according to claim 11, further comprising means for associating a generated object with a coordinate indicating a spatial position of the document.
14. The document processing system according to claim 13, further comprising:
means for generating the text block by combining the objects, wherein the text block is defined as a rectangular region with a minimum area that includes the objects, wherein the position of the text block is specified by the coordinates of opposing corners of the rectangular region in the document.
15. The document processing system according to claim 11, wherein the connection candidate between the objects is a connection with an object that adjoins the source object on the right side or a connection with an object that is located in the next line and on the left side of the source object.
16. The document processing system according to claim 11, wherein the language model is an N-gram model.
17. The document processing system according to claim 11, wherein the means for generating an object further comprises:
means for acquiring a symbol at every spatial coordinate, and associating the symbol with the coordinate in the document;
means for determining a type of the symbol in a line of the document and generating a token composed of one or consecutive letters, symbols or other characters or a space composed of one or consecutive blank characters;
means for determining an adjacency relation of the space in the vertical direction and generating a stream composed of spaces that extend over a plurality of lines; and
means for determining a positional relation between the token and the stream and generating an initial text block that includes the token and blank characters.
18. The document processing system according to claim 17, wherein the means for generating a token or space comprises:
means for recording the symbols as a token composed of consecutive characters, if it is determined that the type of the symbol is not a blank character and the type of an adjoining symbol in the line is the same, or for recording the symbol as one or consecutive spaces if it is determined that the type of the symbol is a blank character; and
wherein the means for generating a stream comprises:
means for recording the spaces as a stream if it is determined that the spaces are adjoining over different lines in the vertical direction; and
wherein the means for generating an object comprises:
means for combining the two tokens and the space between them as an initial text block if a space interposed between two tokens in a line is not a stream.
19. The document processing system according to claim 17, further comprising:
means for generating all the initial text blocks and their connection candidates;
means for extracting initial text blocks of a single element and connection candidates from all the initial text blocks and connection candidates;
means for determining validity of connection of the initial text blocks of a single element and connection candidates using a language model; and
means for combining the initial text blocks of a single element if it is determined that the validity of connection is valid.
20. The document processing system according to claim 11, further comprising:
if there is only a single connection candidate between the objects, the initial text blocks, or the text blocks combined thereof, means for combining them without determining validity of connection using a language model.
21. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to extract a text block from a document, wherein characters are laid out using blank characters, tabs or any other spaces, the program comprising computer code for causing the computer to perform the steps of:
generating an object composed of characters, marks, blank characters and other symbols from the document;
generating a connection candidate between the objects;
evaluating validity of connection of the connection candidate using a language model; and
if it is determined that the connection of the connection candidate is valid, combining the objects corresponding to a source and destination of the connection candidate.