Disclosed are magnetic recording media having excellent running durability and electromagnetic characteristics and comprising a lower layer comprising a magnetic powder or nonmagnetic powder and a binder and one or more upper magnetic layers comprising a ferromagnetic powder and a binder in this order on a nonmagnetic support. In one mode, at least said lower layer comprises a binder comprising polyurethane resin having a glass transition temperature ranging from 100 to 200xc2x0 C., and a magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer among said upper magnetic layers comprises 5 to 1,000 surface protrusions of 10 to 20 nm in height per 100 xcexcm2 on the surface thereof. In another mode, at least a magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer among said upper magnetic layers comprises a binder comprising polyurethane resin having a glass transition temperature ranging from 100 to 200xc2x0 C., and said magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer among the upper magnetic layers comprises 5 to 1,000 surface protrusions of 10 to 20 nm in height per 100 xcexcm2 on the surface thereof.

The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium having excellent running durability and electromagnetic characteristics.
The magnetic recording media are widely employed in recording tapes, video tapes, floppy disks, and the like. In magnetic recording media, a magnetic layer in which ferromagnetic powder is dispersed in binder is laminated on a nonmagnetic support. The magnetic recording media must have a variety of high-level characteristics, such as electromagnetic characteristics, running durability, and running performance. That is, in audio tapes used to record and reproduce music, a greater ability to reproduce sound sources is required. Further, good electromagnetic characteristics such as the ability to reproduce a source image are required of video tapes. In addition to possessing such good electromagnetic characteristics, magnetic recording media must also have good running durability. The binder also plays an important role in improving durability and electromagnetic characteristics. Conventionally employed vinyl chloride resins, cellulose resins, urethane resins, acrylic resins, and the like have problems in that they yield magnetic layers with poor resistance to abrasion and pollute running system members of the magnetic tape.
Pollution of the magnetic head causes deterioration of electromagnetic characteristics. In particular, in equipment employed in high-density recording, the rotational speed of the magnetic heads is high. In digital videotape recorders, since the rotational speed of the magnetic head reaches 9,600 rpm, which is much higher speed than the 1,800 rpms of home-use analog videotape records and the 5,000 rpms of industrial-use products, the magnetic recording medium slides against the magnetic head at higher speed. Further, compact magnetic heads such as thin-film heads are now being employed, and there is a need for reduction in the pollution of magnetic heads by substances generated by the magnetic recording medium.
One way of achieving improvement with regard to this problem is to employ a hard binder to increase the hardness of the magnetic layer. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) Heisei No. 11-96539 describes a magnetic recording medium in which polyurethane resin containing a diol component in the form of a dimer diol is employed as resin. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 2001-134921 employs a binder in the form of polyurethane resin using a polyol with a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 400 to 5,000 having a prescribed polar group as a long-chain polyol component and a diol compound having both a ring structure and a long alkyl chain. When a polyurethane resin with a high glass transition temperature (Tg) is employed as binder, the coating strength increases, particularly at elevated temperature, affording good running durability. However, the Tg is increased by increasing ring-structured and urethane binding components. When ring-structured and urethane binding components are increased, there are problems in that solvent solubility decreases, precluding adequate dispersion and reducing coating smoothness.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic recording medium having excellent running durability, a high degree of coating smoothness, and excellent electromagnetic characteristics.
The present inventors conducted extensive research into achieving the above-stated object. As a result, they discovered that incorporating a binder component in the form of polyurethane resin, the glass transition temperature of which ranged from 100 to 200xc2x0 C., achieved good coating strength, and that specifying that the number of minute protrusions present on the surface of the magnetic layer permitted the achievement of a magnetic recording medium with both good running durability and good magnetic characteristics; the present invention was devised on that basis.
That is, the object of the present invention is achieved by:
(1) A magnetic recording medium comprising a lower layer comprising a magnetic powder or nonmagnetic powder and a binder and one or more upper magnetic layers comprising a ferromagnetic powder and a binder in this order on a nonmagnetic support, wherein
at least said lower layer comprises a binder comprising polyurethane resin having a glass transition temperature ranging from 100 to 200xc2x0 C., and
a magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer among said upper magnetic layers comprises 5 to 1,000 surface protrusions of 10 to 20 nm in height per 100 xcexcm2 on the surface thereof, or
(2) A magnetic recording medium comprising a lower layer comprising a magnetic powder or nonmagnetic powder and a binder and one or more upper magnetic layers comprising a ferromagnetic powder and a binder in this order on a nonmagnetic support, wherein
at least a magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer among said upper magnetic layers comprises a binder comprising polyurethane resin having a glass transition temperature ranging from 100 to 200xc2x0 C., and
said magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer among the upper magnetic layers comprises 5 to 1,000 surface protrusions of 10 to 20 nm in height per 100 xcexcm2 on the surface thereof.
Hereinafter, the magnetic recording medium described in (1) above will be referred to as the xe2x80x9cfirst mode,xe2x80x9d and the magnetic recording medium described in (2) above as the xe2x80x9csecond mode.xe2x80x9d
The magnetic recording medium of the present invention is described in greater detail below.
The magnetic recording medium of the first mode of the present invention has a multilayered structure in which multilayered magnetic layers or nonmagnetic layer and a magnetic layer in this order are provided on a nonmagnetic support, and a binder comprising polyurethane with a glass transition temperature of 100 to 200xc2x0 C. is employed in at least the lower layer (magnetic layer or nonmagnetic layer). The use of a binder comprising polyurethane with a high glass transition temperature in the present invention in at least the lower layer essentially causes the polyurethane-comprising binder of the present invention to also be incorporated into the upper magnetic layer by migration and the like during simultaneous multilayer-coating, inhibiting plastic flowing of the magnetic layer due to frictional heat generated by sliding of the recording and reproduction head against the magnetic layer surface, imparting high coating strength, and achieving good running durability. The effect is particularly marked when the upper magnetic layer is a thin layer.
The magnetic recording medium of the second mode of the present invention has a multilayered structure in which multilayered magnetic layers or nonmagnetic layer and a magnetic layer in this order are provided on a nonmagnetic support, and a binder comprising polyurethane with a glass transition temperature of 100 to 200xc2x0 C. is employed in at least the magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer. This polyurethane is also sometimes incorporated into the upper magnetic layer in other than the topmost layer, but is essentially not incorporated into the lower layer (magnetic layer or nonmagnetic layer). Incorporating a binder comprising polyurethane having a high glass transition temperature of the present invention into the magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer imparts a high modulus of elasticity at high temperature to the magnetic layer, inhibits plastic flowing of the magnetic layer due to frictional heat generated by sliding of the recording and reproduction head against the magnetic layer surface, imparts high coating strength, and achieves good running durability. In particular, since the mechanical strength of the magnetic layer decreases when the magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer is made thin, the effect of the polyurethane of the present invention is marked when the topmost layer magnetic layer is thin.
Electromagnetic characteristics are known to decrease when minute protrusions of 10 to 20 nm in height are present on the surface of the magnetic layer that is the topmost layer coming into contact with the head during recording and reproduction. However, polyurethane of high glass transition temperature contains a large number of structures with low solvent solubility, such as ring structures and urethane bonds. Thus, the use of polyurethane of high glass transition temperature decreases dispersion of the coating liquid and generates minute protrusions on the surface of the magnetic layer. In magnetic recording media of multilayered structure, particularly when the upper magnetic layer is a thin layer, even when polyurethane of high glass transition temperature is employed only in the lower layer, surface protrusions present in the lower layer also appear on the surface of the magnetic layer positioned as the top layer. As a result, there is a problem in that electromagnetic characteristics deteriorate.
Accordingly, in the magnetic recording medium of the present invention, reducing the number of surface protrusions with a height of 10 to 20 nm that are present on the surface of the magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer to 5 to 1,000 per 100 xcexcm2 ensures good electromagnetic characteristics. Further, keeping the number of surface protrusions that are 10 to 20 nm in height to within the above-stated range reduces the coefficient of friction during running. Thus, it is possible to further enhance running durability. That is, in the present invention, good running durability is achieved both by employing a prescribed polyurethane resin and by specifying the number of surface protrusions.
The Polyurethane Resin
In the magnetic recording medium of the first mode of the present invention, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polyurethane resin contained in at least the lower layer (magnetic layer or nonmagnetic layer), and in the magnetic recording medium of the second mode of the present invention, that of the polyurethane resin contained in at least the magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer, ranges from 100 to 200xc2x0 C., preferably from 140 to 180xc2x0 C. When Tg is less than 100xc2x0 C., since the coating strength decreases at high temperature, good running durability is precluded. And when Tg exceeds 200xc2x0 C., since dispersion decreases, electromagnetic characteristics deteriorate and running durability decreases. Since the polyurethane resin of the present invention has a high glass transition temperature, it is possible to obtain a magnetic recording medium that tends not to deteriorate or decompose in high-temperature environments and has good durability.
The polyurethane resin of the present invention desirably has a urethane group concentration ranging from 2.5 to 6.0 mmol/g, preferably ranging from 3.0 to 4.5 mmol/g. When the urethane group concentration is equal to or greater than 2.5 mmol/g, the Tg of the coating is high and good durability is achieved; when equal to or lower than 6.0 mmol/g, solubility in solvent is high, enhancing dispersion. An excessively high urethane group concentration necessarily precludes the incorporation of polyols, making it hard to control the molecular weight and the like, which is undesirable from the perspective of synthesis.
The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the polyurethane resin of the present invention desirably ranges from 30,000 to 200,000, preferably from 50,000 to 100,000. When the molecular weight is equal to or greater than 30,000, coating strength is high and good durability can be achieved; when equal to or less than 200,000, solubility in solvent is high and dispersion is good.
Polar groups that are desirable in the polyurethane resin of the present invention are xe2x80x94SO3M, xe2x80x94OSO3M, xe2x80x94PO3M2, and xe2x80x94COOM, with xe2x80x94SO3M and xe2x80x94OSO3M being particularly desirable. The content of polar groups is desirably 1xc3x9710xe2x88x925 to 2xc3x9710xe2x88x924 eq/g. At equal to or greater than 1xc3x9710xe2x88x925 eq/g, adsorption onto magnetic material and nonmagnetic material is high and dispersion is good. On the other hand, at equal to or less than 2xc3x9710xe2x88x924 eq/g, solubility in solvent is high and dispersion is good.
The OH group content of the polyurethane resin is desirably 2 to 20 groups per molecule, preferably 3 to 15 groups per molecule. When two or more OH groups are contained per molecule, they react well with the isocyanate curing agent, resulting in high coating strength and good durability. On the other hand, when equal to or less than 15 OH groups are contained per molecule, solubility in solvent is high and dispersion is good. Compounds employed to impart OH groups may be compounds comprising three or more functional groups in the form of OH groups; examples are trimethylol ethane, trimethylol propane, trimellitic anhydride, glycerin, pentaerythritol, hexanetriol, and branching polyesters or polyether esters having three or more functional groups in the form of OH groups. Of these, the trifunctional compounds are preferred. Tetrafunctional and greater compounds react too rapidly with the curing agent and have short pot lives.
Examples of polyol components of the polyurethane resin employed in the binder of the present invention are: known polyols such as polyester polyols, polyether polyols, polycarbonate polyols, polyether ester polyols, polyolefin polyols, dimer diols, and other polyol compounds having ring-structures and long alkyl chains.
The molecular weight of the polyol is desirably about 500 to 2,000. When the molecular weight falls within the stated range, it is possible to substantially increase the weight ratio of the diisocyanate, increasing urethane bonds, strengthening the interaction between molecules, and yielding a coating of high glass transition temperature and high mechanical strength.
The above diol component is desirably a diol compound having a ring structure and a long alkyl chain. Here, the term xe2x80x9clong alkyl chainxe2x80x9d refers to an alkyl group with 2 to 18 carbon atoms. When the diol has a ring structure and a long alkyl chain, the curved structure affords good solubility in solvent. Thus, the urethane molecular chains adsorbing to the surface of the magnetic or nonmagnetic material in the coating liquid spread widely, serving to enhance dispersion stability and yielding good electromagnetic characteristics. Further, the ring structure yields polyurethane with a high glass transition temperature.
Particularly desirable diol compounds having a ring structure and long alkyl chains are denoted by the following formula.
Z denotes a ring structure selected from a cyclohexane ring, benzene ring, or naphthalene ring. R1 and R2 denote alkylene groups having 1 to 18 carbon atoms. And R3 and R4 denote alkyl groups having 2 to 18 carbon atoms.
Desirably, 10 to 50 weight percent, and preferably, 15 to 40 weight percent, of the above-described diol component is incorporated into the polyurethane resin. At equal to or greater than 10 weight percent, solvent solubility is high and dispersion is good. At equal to or less than 50 weight percent, Tg is high and a coating with good durability is obtained.
In addition to the above-described diol component, other diol components may also be employed together as a chain extending agent in the polyurethane resin of the present invention. The higher the molecular weight of the diol component, necessarily the lower the content of diisocyanate becomes, and the more urethane bonds in the polyurethane decrease, compromising coating strength. Accordingly, to achieve adequate coating strength, chain extending agents that are employed together are desirably lower molecular weight diols having a molecular weight of less than 500, preferably equal to or less than 300.
Specific examples of compounds suitable for use are: ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, propylene glycol, neopentyl glycol (NPG), 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-ethyl-2-butyl-1,3-propanediol, 2,2-diethyl-1,3-propanediol, other aliphatic glycols, cyclohexane dimethanol (CHDM), cyclohexanediol (CHD), hydrogenated bisphenol A (H-BPA), other alicyclic glycols, ethylene oxide adducts thereof, propylene oxide adducts thereof, bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S, bisphenol P, bisphenol F, other aromatic glycols, ethylene oxide adducts thereof, and propylene oxide adducts thereof. The compound of preference is hydrogenated bisphenol A.
Known diisocyanates may be employed in the polyurethane resin of the present invention. Specific preferred examples are: tolylene diisocyanate (TDI), diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), p-phenylene diisocyanate, o-phenylene diisocyanate, m-phenylene diisocyanate, xylylene diisocyanate, hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate, and isophorone diisocyanate.
A vinyl chloride-based synthetic resin may additionally be employed in the polyurethane resin of the present invention. The degree of polymerization of vinyl chloride-based resins suitable for use is desirably 200 to 600, preferably 250 to 450. For example, the vinyl chloride-based resin obtained by copolymerization of a vinyl monomer such as vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohol, vinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile, or the like may be employed.
In addition to a vinyl chloride-based resin, various other synthetic resins may be employed in the polyurethane resin of the present invention. Examples of compounds suitable for use are: ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, cellulose derivatives such as nitrocellulose resin, acrylic resin, polyvinyl acetal resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, epoxy resin, and phenoxy resin. These may be employed singly or in combination.
When employing additional synthetic resins, the polyurethane resin contained in the magnetic layer is desirably incorporated in a proportion of 10 to 90 weight percent, preferably 20 to 80 weight percent, and more preferably, 25 to 60 weight percent, into the binder. The vinyl chloride-based resin is desirably incorporated into the binder in a proportion of 10 to 80 weight percent, preferably 20 to 70 weight percent, and more preferably, 30 to 60 weight percent, into the binder.
A curing agent such as polyisocyanate compounds may be employed with the binder of the present invention. Examples of polyisocyanate compounds are: the reaction product of three moles of tolylene diisocyanate and one mole of trimethylol propane (for example, Desmodule L-75 (made by Bayer Co.), the reaction product of three moles of a diisocyanate such as xylylene diisocyanate or hexamethylene diisocyanate with one mole of trimethylol propane, biuret addition compounds with three moles of hexanemethylene diisocyanate, isocyanurate compounds of five moles of tolylene diisocyanate, isocyanurate addition compounds of three moles of tolylene diisocyanate with two moles of hexamethylene diisocyanate, and polymers of isophorone diisocyanate and diphenylmethane diisocyanate.
The polyisocyanate compound contained in the magnetic layer is desirably incorporated into the binder in a range of 10 to 50 weight percent, preferably in a range of 20 to 40 weight percent. When curing by electron-beam irradiation, it is possible to employ compounds having reactive double bonds, such as urethane acrylate. The total weight of resin component and curing agent (that is, of binder) normally desirably ranges from 15 to 40 weight parts, preferably 20 to 30 weight parts, per 100 weight parts of ferromagnetic powder.
In the magnetic layer of the first mode, a known binder may be additionally employed in the lower layer, and in the magnetic recording medium of the second mode, in the upper layer. Examples are known polyurethane in which polyester, polycarbonate, polyether, polyolefin, or other polyol is employed, polyvinyl-based one in which vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohol, vinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile, or the like is copolymerized.
Number of Surface Protrusions
There are 5 to 1,000 surface protrusions of 10 to 20 nm in height per 100 xcexcm2 on the surface of the magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer of the magnetic recording medium of the present invention. Preferably, the number of surface protrusions of 10 to 20 nm in height is 5 to 200 per xcexcm2. When there are fewer than five surface protrusions of 10 to 20 nm in height per 100 xcexcm2, the coefficient of friction during running increases and running durability drops. When there are more than 1,000, electromagnetic characteristics decrease.
When there is a large number of surface protrusions exceeding 20 nm in height, the spacing loss with the head increases, causing deterioration of electromagnetic characteristics. Thus, there are desirably few surface protrusions exceeding a height of 20 nm present on the magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer. In addition, to further enhance electromagnetic characteristics, there are desirably few surface protrusions of less than 10 nm in height.
Surface protrusions on the magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer can be controlled through the particle size of the magnetic material, abrasives, and carbon black contained in the topmost layer; through the particle size of the magnetic material or nonmagnetic material, abrasives, and carbon black and other inorganic powders contained in the lower layer; through the type of binder for dispersing them and the type of lubricant; and through the kneading conditions, dispersion conditions, coating layer thickness, coating drying conditions, calendering conditions, and the like during preparation of the upper layer liquid and lower layer liquid.
Specifically, in the first mode, the kneading conditions desirably render the kneaded solid component concentration from 65 to 85 weight percent during preparation of the lower layer coating liquid. Within this range, dispersion is good, there are few minute surface protrusions on the topmost magnetic layer, and high smoothness can be obtained.
In the second mode, the kneading conditions desirably render the kneaded solid component concentration from 75 to 95 weight percent during preparation of the upper layer coating liquid. Within this range, dispersibility is good, there are few minute surface protrusions on the topmost magnetic layer, and high smoothness can be obtained. Further, the kneaded solid component concentration during preparation of the lower layer coating solution is desirably made from 65 to 85 weight percent. Within this range, dispersibility is good, there are few minute protrusions present at the interface between the upper layer and the lower layer, and as a result, the number of minute protrusions present on the topmost magnetic layer can be reduced.
Dispersion may be conducted in a ball mill, sand grinder, atliter, or some other dispersion unit. To the extent to which dispersion is still possible, the viscosity of the coating liquid (solid component concentration) is desirably increased to increase dispersion shear. Increasing dispersion shear increases dispersibility in the coating liquid.
Calendering is desirably conducted at a roll temperature of 60 to 100xc2x0 C., preferably 70 to 90xc2x0 C., with a linear pressure of 980 to 4,900 N/cm, preferably 1,960 to 4,412 N/cm. When calendering is conducted under these conditions, a coating with good surface smoothness is obtained. The processing rolls may be in the form of heat-resistant plastic rolls, such as epoxy, polyimide, polyamide, polyamidoimide rolls described further below, with metal rolls being preferred.
As described above, there are various methods for controlling the number of protrusions on the surface of the magnetic layer at the topmost position. These methods may be suitably combined for use to obtain the surface state defined for the magnetic recording medium of the present invention.
The surface protrusions of the magnetic recording medium of the present invention are measured by atomic force microscope (AFM). Specifically, using Nanoscope III (AFM) from Digital Instruments, the number of minute protrusions is measured in 5 nm increments for heights of 10 to 20 nm over a 10 xcexcm square (100 xcexcm2) with a 70-degree edge, square cone SiN probe.
Ferromagnetic Powder
The ferromagnetic powder employed in the magnetic recording medium of the present invention is cobalt-containing ferromagnetic iron oxide or ferromagnetic alloy powder with a SBET specific surface area of 40 to 80 m2/g, preferably from 50 to 70 m2/g. The crystallite size is 12 to 25 nm, preferably 13 to 22 nm, and more preferably, 14 to 20 nm. The major axis length is 0.05 to 0.25 xcexcm, preferably 0.07 to 0.2 xcexcm, and more preferably, 0.08 to 0.15 xcexcm. Examples of ferromagnetic powders are yttrium-containing Fe, Fexe2x80x94Co, Fexe2x80x94Ni, Coxe2x80x94Nixe2x80x94Fe. The content of yttrium in the ferromagnetic powder, given as the ratio of yttrium atoms to iron atoms, Y/Fe, is desirably 0.5 to 20 atomic percent, preferably 5 to 10 atomic percent. At equal to or greater than 0.5 atomic percent, it is possible to achieve a high "sgr"s in the magnetic powder, enhancing magnetic characteristics and yielding good electromagnetic characteristics. At equal to or less than 20 atomic percent, the content of iron is suitable and magnetic characteristics are good, enhancing electromagnetic characteristics. Further, within a range of equal to or less than 20 atomic percent for 100 atomic percent of the iron, it is also possible to incorporate aluminum, silicon, sulfur, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, copper, zinc, molybdenum, rhodium, palladium, tin, antimony, boron, barium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, aurum, lead, phosphorus, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, tellurium, bismuth, and the like. Further, the ferromagnetic metal powder may also contain a small amount of water, hydroxides, or oxides.
An example of a method of manufacturing ferromagnetic powder incorporating cobalt and yttrium will be given below. In this example, an oxidizing gas is blown into an aqueous suspension obtained by mixing ferrous salt and an alkali to obtain iron oxyhydroxide, which is employed as starting material. The iron oxyhydroxide is desirably xcex1-FeOOH. In the first manufacturing method, ferrous salt is neutralized with an alkali hydroxide to prepare a Fe(OH)2 aqueous suspension. An oxidizing gas is blown into this suspension to obtain acicular xcex1-FeOOH. In the second manufacturing method, ferrous salt is neutralized with an alkaline carbonate to prepare a FeCO3 aqueous suspension. An oxidizing gas is blown into this aqueous suspension to obtain spindle-shaped xcex1-FeOOH. Such an iron oxyhydroxide is desirably obtained by reacting a ferrous salt aqueous solution with an alkali aqueous solution to obtain an aqueous solution comprising ferrous hydroxide, and then oxidizing it with air or the like. In this process, salts of alkaline earth elements such as Ni salt, Ca salt, Ba salt, and Sr salt, as well as Cr salt and Zn salt, may be present together in the ferrous salt aqueous solution. The suitable selection and use of such salts makes it possible to adjust the shape (axial ratio) and the like of the particles.
Desirable forms of ferrous salts are ferrous chloride, ferrous sulfate, and the like. Preferred alkalis are sodium hydroxide, ammonia water, ammonium carbonate, sodium carbonate, and the like. Examples of salts that can also be present are nickel chloride, calcium chloride, barium chloride, strontium chloride, chromium chloride, zinc chloride, and other chlorides. Next, when introducing cobalt into the iron, prior to introducing yttrium, the aqueous solution of a cobalt compound such as cobalt sulfate or cobalt chloride is admixed to the above-described slurry of iron oxyhydroxide. After preparing an iron oxyhydroxide slurry containing cobalt, an aqueous solution containing an yttrium compound is added to the slurry and mixed in by stirring to introduce.
In addition to yttrium, it is possible to introduce neodymium, samarium, praseodymium, and lanthanum to the ferromagnetic powder of the present invention. These can be introduced in the form of chlorides such as neodymium chloride, samarium chloride, praseodymium chloride, and lanthanum chloride, and nitrates such as neodymium nitrate and gadolinium nitrate. Two or more such compounds may also be employed. Although the form of the ferromagnetic powder is not specifically limited, powder that is acicular, granular, cubic, rice particle-shaped, or plate-shaped is normally employed. Acicular ferromagnetic powder is preferably employed.
The above-described resin component, curing agent, and ferromagnetic powder are normally kneaded with and dispersed in a solvent such as methyl ethyl ketone, dioxane, cyclohexanone, or ethyl acetate, which is normally employed for preparing a magnetic coating liquid, to obtain a magnetic coating material. The kneading and dispersion may be conducted by the usual methods. In addition to the above-listed components, the magnetic coating material may also comprise abrasives such as xcex1-Al2O3 and Cr2O3; antistatic agents such as carbon black; lubricants such as fatty acids, fatty esters, and silicone oil; dispersants; and other commonly employed additives and fillers.
Lower Layer
The lower layer (magnetic layer or nonmagnetic layer) of the present invention will be described below.
If the lower layer of the present invention is a nonmagnetic layer, the nonmagnetic powder contained in the lower layer can be selected from inorganic compounds such as metal oxides, metal carbonates, metal sulfates, metal nitrides, metal carbides, metal sulfides and the like. Examples of inorganic compounds are xcex1-alumina having an xcex1-conversion rate of 90 to 100 percent, xcex2-alumina, xcex3-alumina, silicon carbide, chromium oxide, cerium oxide, xcex1-iron oxide, corundum, silicon nitride, titanium carbide, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, tin oxide, magnesium oxide, tungsten oxide, zirconium oxide, boron nitride, zinc oxide, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, and molybdenum disulfide; these may be employed singly or in combination. Particular desirable are titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide and barium sulfate. Even more preferred is titanium dioxide. The mean particle diameter of these nonmagnetic powders preferably ranges from 0.005 to 2 xcexcm, but nonmagnetic powders of differing particle diameter may be combined as needed, or the particle diameter distribution of a single nonmagnetic powder may be broadened to achieve the same effect. What is preferred most is a particle diameter in the nonmagnetic powder ranging from 0.01 to 0.2 xcexcm Particular preferred is the pH of the nonmagnetic powder between 6 and 9. The specific surface area of the nonmagnetic powder ranges from 1 to 100 m2/g, preferably from 5 to 50 m2/g, further preferably from 7 to 40 m2/g. The crystallite size of the nonmagnetic powder preferably ranges from 0.01 to 2 xcexcm. The oil absorption capacity using dibutyl phthalate (DBP) ranges from 5 to 100 ml/100 g, preferably from 10 to 80 ml/g, further preferably from 20 to 60 ml/100 g. The specific gravity ranges from 1 to 12, preferably from 3 to 6. The shape may be any of acicular, spherical, polyhedral, or plate-shaped.
The surface of these nonmagnetic powders is preferably treated with Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, ZrO2, SnO2, Sb2O3 and ZnO. The surface-treating agents of preference with regard to dispersibility are Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, and ZrO2, and Al2O3, SiO2 and ZrO2 are further preferable. These may be used singly or in combination. Depending on the objective, a surface-treatment coating layer with a coprecipitated material may also be employed, the coating structure which comprises a first alumina coating and a second silica coating thereover or the reverse structure thereof may also be adopted. Depending on the objective, the surface-treatment coating layer may be a porous layer, with homogeneity and density being generally desirable.
Carbon black can be added to the lower layer. Mixing carbon black achieves the known effects of lowering surface resistivity Rs, as well as yielding the desired micro Vickers hardness. Examples of types of carbon black that are suitable for use are furnace black for rubber, thermal for rubber, black for coloring and acetylene black. The specific surface area of carbon black ranges from 100 to 500 m2/g, preferably from 150 to 400 m2/g and the DBP oil absorption capacity ranges from 20 to 400 ml/100 g, preferably from 30 to 200 ml/100 g. The particle diameter of carbon black ranges from 5 to 80 nm (mxcexc), preferably from 10 to 50 nm (mxcexc), further preferably from 10 to 40 nm (mxcexc). It is preferable for carbon black that the pH ranges from 2 to 10, the moisture content ranges from 0.1 to 10 percent and the tap density ranges from 0.1 to 1 g/ml. Specific examples of types of carbon black suitable for use in the present invention are: BLACK PEARLS 2000, 1300, 1000, 900, 800, 880, 700 and VULCAN XC-72 from Cabot Corporation; #3050B, 3150B, 3250B, #3750B, #3950B, #950, #650B, #970B, #850B and MA-600; CONDUCTEX SC, RAVEN 8800, 8000, 7000, 5750, 5250, 3500, 2100, 2000, 1800, 1500, 1255 and 1250 from Columbia Carbon Co., Ltd.; and Ketjen Black EC from Lion Akzo Co., Ltd.
When the lower layer of the present invention is a magnetic layer, an alloy comprised chiefly of xcex3-Fe2O3, Co-modified xcex3-Fe2O3, and xcex1-Fe, CrO2, or the like may be employed as the magnetic powder. Co-modified xcex3-Fe2O3 is preferred. The ferromagnetic powder employed in the lower layer of the present invention desirably has the same composition and functions as the ferromagnetic powder employed in the upper magnetic layer. However, it is known that the properties of the upper and lower layers may be varied based on the objective. For example, to improve long wavelength recording characteristics, the Hc of the lower magnetic layer is desirably set lower than that of the upper magnetic layer, and it is effective to make the Br of the lower magnetic layer higher than that of the upper magnetic layer. Additionally, known multilayered structures may be advantageously adopted.
Binders, lubricants, dispersing agents, additives, solvents, dispersion methods, and the like suited to the magnetic layer may be adopted to the lower magnetic or nonmagnetic layer. In particular, known techniques for the quantity and type of binder and the quantity and type of additives and dispersant employed in the magnetic layer may be adopted thereto.
The magnetic or nonmagnetic coating liquid prepared by the above-mentioned materials is coated on the nonmagnetic support to form the lower layer. The nonmagnetic support suitable for use in the present invention can be known films such as biaxially oriented polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamides, polyimides, polyamidoimides, aromatic polyamides, and polybenzooxazoles. Polyethylene naphthalate and aromatic polyamides are preferred. These nonmagnetic supports may be subjected beforehand to corona discharge treatment, plasma treatment, adhesion-enhancing treatment and heat treatment. It is further desirable for a nonmagnetic support suitable for use in the present invention to have a surface with good smoothness in the form of a centerline average surface roughness falling within a range of 0.1 to 20 nm, preferably 1 to 10 nm, at a cutoff value of 0.25 mm. It is further desirable for these nonmagnetic supports to have not only a low centerline average surface roughness, but also to have no rough protrusions of 1 xcexcm or greater.
Layer Structure
The magnetic recording medium of the first mode has a multilayered structure in which a lower layer (nonmagnetic layer or magnetic layer) and at least one magnetic layer are provided on a nonmagnetic support. Simultaneous multilayer-coating of the lower layer and at least the adjacent magnetic layer causes the binder of the present invention that is contained in the lower layer to diffuse by migration or the like into the magnetic layer positions as the upper layer, essentially incorporating the binder of the present invention into the upper magnetic layer, as well. Thus, even when the binder of the present invention is not blended into the upper magnetic layer, the effect based on the binder of the present invention can still be achieved. This effect is particularly marked when a thin magnetic layer is employed as the upper magnetic layer.
Thus, when the upper magnetic layer is a single layer, the thickness of the upper magnetic layer is desirably 0.05 to 1.0 xcexcm, preferably 0.05 to 0.5 xcexcm, more preferably 0.1 to 0.5 xcexcm. At greater than or equal to 0.05 xcexcm, nonuniform coating thickness does not occur, permitting uniform coating of the magnetic layer. At equal to or less than 1.0 xcexcm, the binder of the present invention that is incorporated into the lower layer of the present invention diffuses well into the upper magnetic layer, yielding good durability. That is, when the upper magnetic layer has a thickness within the above-stated range, a magnetic layer with good smoothness and mechanical strength is obtained.
Further, when the upper magnetic layer consists of plural magnetic layers, the thickness of the magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer is 0.05 to 1.0 xcexcm, preferably 0.05 to 0.5 xcexcm, more preferably 0.1 to 0.5 xcexcm, and the total thickness of the upper magnetic layers is 1.0 to 2.5 xcexcm, preferably 1.0 to 1.5 xcexcm. When the layer structure of the magnetic layers falls within the above-stated range, a magnetic layer with good smoothness and mechanical strength is achieved.
The magnetic recording medium of the second mode also has a multilayered structure having a lower layer (nonmagnetic layer or magnetic layer) and at least a single magnetic layer on a nonmagnetic support. Simultaneous multilayer-coating of the topmost magnetic layer and at least the adjacent upper magnetic layer causes the binder of the present invention that is contained in the topmost magnetic layer to diffuse by migration or the like into the upper magnetic layer, essentially incorporating the binder of the present invention into an upper magnetic layers other than the topmost magnetic layer. This effect is particularly marked when a thin layer magnetic layer is employed as the upper magnetic layer.
When the upper magnetic layer is a single layer, the thickness thereof is 0.05 to 1.0 xcexcm, preferably 0.05 to 0.5 xcexcm, more preferably 0.1 to 0.5 xcexcm. When the upper magnetic layer has a thickness within the above-stated range, a magnetic layer with good smoothness and mechanical strength is obtained.
Further, when the upper magnetic layer consists of plural magnetic layers, the thickness of the magnetic layer positioned as the topmost layer is 0.05 to 1.0 xcexcm, preferably 0.05 to 0.5 xcexcm, and the total thickness of the upper magnetic layers is 1.0 to 2.5 xcexcm, preferably 1.0 to 1.5 xcexcm. When the layer structure of the magnetic layers falls within the above-stated range, a magnetic layer with good smoothness and mechanical strength is achieved.
In the method of manufacturing the magnetic recording medium of the present invention, for example, the magnetic layer coating material is coated either following or simultaneously with application of the lower layer coating liquid to the surface of the nonmagnetic support during running to a thickness yielding the above-described preferred magnetic layer thickness once the magnetic layer has dried. In the first mode, coating is conducted to achieve a lower layer dry thickness of 1.0 to 2.0 xcexcm, preferably 1.2 to 1.5 xcexcm. In the second mode, coating is conducted to achieve a lower layer dry thickness of 1.0 to 2.0 xcexcm, preferably 1.0 to 1.5 xcexcm.
Coating machines suitable for use in coating the magnetic coating material mentioned above are air doctor coaters, blade coaters, rod coaters, extrusion coaters, air knife coaters, squeeze coaters, immersion coaters, reverse roll coaters, transfer roll coaters, gravure coaters, kiss coaters, cast coaters, spray coaters, spin coaters, and the like. For example, xe2x80x9cRecent Coating Techniquesxe2x80x9d (May 31, 1983), issued by the Sogo Gijutsu Center (K.K.) may be referred to in this regard.
The followings are examples - of coating devices and methods applicable to the magnetic recording medium of the present invention.
(1) A method in which the lower layer is first applied with a coating device commonly employed to apply magnetic coating materials such as a gravure coating, roll coating, blade coating, or extrusion coating device, and the upper layer is applied while the lower layer is still wet by means of a support pressure extrusion coating device such as is disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication (KOKOKU) Heisei No. 1-46186 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) Showa No. 60-238179 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) Heisei No. 2-265672;
(2) A method in which the upper and lower layers are applied nearly simultaneously by a single coating head having two built-in slits for passing coating liquid, such as is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) Showa No. 63-88080, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) Heisei No. 2-17971, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) Heisei No. 2-265672; and
(3) A method in which the upper and lower layers are applied nearly simultaneously using an extrusion coating apparatus with a backup roller as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) Heisei No. 2-174965.
A backcoat (backing) layer may be provided on the side of the nonmagnetic support employed in the present invention on which the magnetic coating material is not applied. The usual backcoat layer is a layer provided by coating, on the side of the nonmagnetic support on which the magnetic coating material is not applied, a backcoat layer coating material obtained by dispersing granular components such as abrasives and antistatic agents and a binder in an organic solvent. An adhesive layer may be provided on the coating surfaces of the magnetic coating material on the nonmagnetic support and the backcoat layer forming coating material. After the ferromagnetic powder is magnetically orientated, the coating layer coated with the magnetic coating material is dried.
After drying in this manner, the coating layer is preferably processed for surface smoothness. For example, super calender rolls or the like may be employed in the surface smoothness treatment. Processing the surface for smoothness eliminates voids generated by elimination of the solvent during drying and increases the fill rate of ferromagnetic powder in the magnetic layer, yielding a magnetic recording medium with good electromagnetic characteristics. The calendering rolls employed may be heat-resistant plastic rolls of epoxy, polyimide, polyamide, or polyamideimide, and metal rolls. Processing is preferably conducted with metal rolls.
The magnetic recording medium of the present invention desirably has a surface with extremely good smoothness in the form of a centerline average roughness of 0.1 to 4 nm, preferably 1 to 3 nm, at a cutoff value of 0.25 mm on the magnetic layer surface. The method comprises selecting specific ferromagnetic powders and binders such as those set forth above, forming a magnetic layer, and calendering it as set forth above. The magnetic recording medium obtained is cut to the desired size by a cutter or the like for use.
Embodiments
Embodiments and comparative examples are described below to described the present invention in greater detail. The xe2x80x9cpartsxe2x80x9d in the embodiments denote xe2x80x9cweight parts.xe2x80x9d
Example of Polyurethane Synthesis
The diol components shown in Table 1 were dissolved at 60xc2x0 C. under a nitrogen gas flow in a 30 percent solution of cyclohexanone in a vessel previously backfilled with nitrogen gas having a reflux condenser and stirrer. A 60 ppm quantity of dibutyltin dilaurate was then added as catalyst and dissolved for another 15 min. The MDI shown in Table 1 was added and the mixture was reacted with heating for 6 hours at 90xc2x0 C., yielding polyurethane resin solution A.
Polyurethanes B through H were obtained from the starting materials and with the composition ratios indicated in Table 1 by the same method as polyurethane A. The molecular weights and Tg of the polyurethanes obtained are given in Table 1.
First Mode


An image processing apparatus includes a storage to store an original image, a processor to change a tone of a reduced image of the original image, a display to display a tone-changed reduced image, a connection determination unit to determine whether the image processing apparatus is connected to a network, a transmitter to transmit the original image to the server via the network together with data indicating a tone when the image processing apparatus is connected to the network, a controller to cause the processor to change the tone of the original image when the image processing apparatus is not connected to the network, and a receiver to receive the original image whose tone is changed by the server when the image processing apparatus is connected to the network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing system which changes a tone of an image.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, with the widespread use of digital cameras, storing photos as digital image data is now quite common. Photos can be browsed in a digital camera used for capturing an image or in a personal computer storing captured image data and thus, there have been changes in how to enjoy photos. First, such technology and the evolution of a photo culture will briefly be described with reference to patent documents.
In the environment described above, so-called digital photo frames have been realized and popularized to be able to enjoy image data in the same manner as printed photos (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2009-141678).
In such a digital photo frame, photos may be reproduced and enjoyed at a time when one chooses, shown as a slideshow. The digital photo frame can be used as an album terminal to save image data.
Moreover, a digital photo frame capable of connecting to a network and transmitting/receiving mail is proposed (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2010-61246).
Also, a digital photo frame that allows plural persons to browse so that the display is changed depending on the browsing person by registering information about the number of persons is proposed (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2010-86194).
Further, a technology (photo-to-painting conversion technology) that enables generation and display of a tone of an image of a different taste (for example, a painting tone), though based on an original photo, by performing image processing thereon is proposed (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 08-44867, U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,868).
Further development of the technology of Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 08-44867 leads to a technology to convert a photo into an artwork of high artistic quality by extracting features such as color information and brush touch information from an image of a painting actually painted by a painter and adding extracted features to a captured photo (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-213598).
Also, a technology to change a quality of image data whose tone such as a painting tone has been converted is proposed (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKOKU Publication No. 01-46905).
Further, a technology capable of, when plural images are sequentially switched and displayed like a slideshow, effectively preventing an image inappropriate for display from being inadvertently displayed is proposed (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2009-288507).
On the other hand, because a memory card has increasingly more capacities and lower prices, a case when a family takes photos in plural memory cards by plural digital cameras and piles up photos so that the memory cards are not sorted out is increasing. If it is unknown who took what photo in which memory card, it becomes necessary to check each memory card by reproducing the memory card in a camera or digital photo frame and then to sort out photos for separate folders for storage in a personal computer or the like.
Thus, a technology to automatically sort out photos for each folder according to preset conditions to efficiently sort out photos according to the sorting content when a large amount of images is stored in a personal computer is proposed (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2009-87099).
Such a conventional digital photo frame has an issue of missing something because only images contained the digital photo frame or recorded in a memory card are simply displayed.
Thus, a proposal is made to connect a digital photo frame to the Internet to deliver various content images for a charge or free of charge (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-91675).
According to the technology of Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-91675, delivery of plural genres of free or charged content such as news and advertisements can be received by the digital photo frame.
A kind of content delivery delivers live video of remote live cameras. If the content delivery technology and the above photo-to-painting conversion technology are combined, live video can also be converted into pictorial video. Live video includes image data of real-time dynamic images or still images switched at fixed intervals uploaded to the server and video of a predetermined period, for example, five minutes, displayed repeatedly to provide a sense of dynamism.
In the foregoing, the evolution of a photo culture and the technical background of digital photo frames have been described. In the trend thereof recently, instead of standalone products, products that can be connected to a network are increasing (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication Nos. 2010-61246 and 2003-91675).
Also, a printer that, in addition to viewing in a screen, prints photo-to-painting converted images is proposed (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 10-84520).
Thus, doing photo-to-painting conversion and printing as illustrated by Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication Nos. 08-44867, 2004-213598, 01-46905, and 10-84520 by using a network can be considered.
However, photo-to-painting conversion has a problem that a longer time is needed for conversion processing with a higher level of algorithm.
Also, a standalone personal printer has a problem that it is difficult for the printer to express a photo-to-painting converted image beautifully, and takes a long time to print.

Image processing apparatus to perform photo-to-painting conversion processing


An apparatus for carrying out learning operation of a neural network which has an input layer, an intermediate layer and an output layer. Plural nodes of the input layer are related to plural nodes of the intermediate layer with plural connection weights, while the plural nodes of the intermediate layer are also related to plural nodes of the output layer with plural connection weights. Although input data composed of plural components and teaching data composed of plural components are used in learning operation, some of the components are ineffective for the purpose of learning operation. During error calculation between output data from the neural network and the teaching data, the apparatus judges whether each of the components of the teaching data is effective or ineffective, and output errors corresponding to the ineffective components are regarded as zero. The connection weights are thereafter corrected based upon the calculated errors. The apparatus further comprises means for adding new input data and teaching data into a data base, and means for calculating a degree of heterogeneousness of the new teaching data. The new input data and teaching data are added to the data base only when the degree of heterogeneousness is smaller than a predetermined value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for learning operation of a neural network.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A neural network has been known as a network which memorizes a sequence of cause and effect, and which is optimized by changing connection weights thereof through learning operation. For example, such neural network is composed of an input layer, an intermediate layer and an output layer, each of layers having plural nodes. Each of the nodes of the input layers is related to the respective nodes of the intermediate layers with respective connection weights or connection strengths, while each of the nodes of the intermediate layers is related to the respective nodes of the output layers with respective connection weights. During learning operation, dispersed plural input data are given to the neural network so as to correct or modify the connection weights so that reasonable output data are always obtained when any input data are given.
Namely, one pair of input data and teaching data are firstly used to correct the connection weights so that the output data from the neural network approach to the teaching data, which represent optimum values corresponding to the input data. This learning operation is repeated using a different pair of input and teaching data, and the teaching operation is stopped when all the pairs of input and teaching data are used for the learning operation. After the learning operation, the neural network exhibits a desirable input-output characteristic.
The above-mentioned neural network is recently used in machine tools for calculating optimum machining data based upon input and fixed condition data so as to properly carry out required machining operations.
In a neural network system used in the machine tools, each of the input data is composed of plural components or plural data items, such as material of a workpiece to be machined surface roughness, dimensional accuracy and the like, while each of the output data is composed of plural components or plural data items representing machining conditions such as rotational speed of the workpiece, infeed speed of a tool and the like.
However, all of the components of the input data and all of the components of the output data are not necessarily used all the time. There is a case in which a particular component or data item is used in a particular pair of input and teaching data, but not used in other pairs of input and teaching data.
For example, in grinding machines, several types of grinding cycles are carried out, and each of the grinding cycles uses different data items as machining data. In a pair of input and teaching data for the cylindrical grinding, data for shoulder grinding and corner grinding are omitted. In a pair of input and teaching data for shoulder grinding, data for corner grinding are omitted. Even in such event, the number of the input nodes of the neural network, namely the number of the nodes in the input layer of the neural network is set to be equal to the number of all the input data items or components of the input data, while the number of the output nodes of the neural network, namely the number of the nodes in the output layer of the neural network is set to be equal to the number of all of the output data items or components of the output data. In such system, predetermined constant values are given to the input nodes as data for omitted input data items, while some components output from the output nodes corresponding to the omitted data items are ignored, because the ignored components take meaningless values.
Such system therefore has a problem in that the connection weights of the neural network are corrected based upon the meaningless values of the ignored components, whereby the input-output characteristic of the neural network is modified in a wrong direction. This problem becomes more serious when the number of the omitted data items increases.
Further, a problem sometimes occurs in the conventional neural network system in that outputs data from the neural network take inappropriate values.
In such case, the input-output characteristic of the neural network must be corrected, and a pair of new input data and new teaching data are further added to the data base to carry out a renewal learning and thereby to correct the input-output characteristic thereof.
However, the addition of the new input data and new teaching data may sometime cause a drastic change of the input-output characteristic, whereby a part of the input-output characteristic which is to be maintained is also drastically changed.
Therefore, an operator experimentally judges whether or not the new input data and new teaching data can be used, namely, whether or not these data match with the tendency of the past learning process of the neural network. The operator then adds the new input data and new teaching data into the data base for the renewal learning of the neural network, only when the new input data and new teaching data match with the tendency of the past learning process.
As described above, in the conventional system, new input data and new teaching data must be evaluated by the operator with his experiment and sixth sense. Therefore, the renewal learning operation has been time consuming and very difficult work. Further, the neural network may sometime be renewed undesirably, whereby the input-output characteristic of the neural network is inappropriately changed to have an undesirable characteristic.

Method and apparatus for performing learning in a neural network


A hinge assembly for pivotably connecting the display portion and the body portion of a portable computer includes a first fastening portion for attaching to the display portion, a second fastening portion for attaching to the body portion and a pivot portion for pivotably connecting the first fastening portion with the second fastening portion. The second fastening portion also has a first support arm for horizontally inserting into an insertion hole. Cables for transmitting signals and power extending from the display portion, are electrically connected through connectors to a cable connection region. The cable connection region is formed on the rear wall or bottom wall of the body portion. The hinge assembly of the invention greatly reduces the extraordinary sound resulting from the rotation of the display portion. Also, some covering components can be eliminated to make the assembly much easier.

This application incorporates by reference Taiwanese application Serial No. 90125604, Filed Oct. 16, 2001.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to the assembly of the display portion and the body portion in a portable computer, and more particularly to a method for easily assembling a well-constructed portable computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
The computer has become one of the indispensable tools for modern people. A portable computer, such as a notebook computer (or called a lap-top computer), is much lighter and smaller than a desktop computer, and therefore is used increasingly as more and more people require mobility in performing work duties, surfing the Internet, and sending/receiving e-mails. Additionally, the falling price of the portable computer gradually wins the favor of the consumers. Because of the reasonable selling price and the portability, the portable computer has a great potential for replacing the bulky desktop computer.
Generally, the display portion of a portable computer is mounted on the top of a main body housing by the hinges. Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows a partial exploded perspective view of a conventional portable computer. The portable computer 100 includes a display portion 110 and a body portion 120. The display portion 110 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) 112 and a display housing 114. The body portion 120 includes an upper case 122, a lower case 124 integrated with the upper case 122, and a keyboard 126 coupled to the upper case 122. Also, a main board 130 (partially shown in FIG. 1) is situated inside the body portion 120. A pair of hinge assemblies 116a and 116b is respectively provided at the bottom-left and bottom-right of the display portion 110.
Each of the hinge assemblies includes a first fastening portion (not show, embedded in the display portion 110 in this example), a second fastening portion 1161a, 1161b, and a pivot portion 1162a, 1162b for pivotably connecting the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion. Also, the support holes 128a, 128b and the threaded bolt holes 129a, 129b are formed in the body portion 120 at a predetermined depth. During assembling, the second fastening portions 1161a, 1161b are inserted into the support holes 128a, 128b, respectively. Then, the second fastening portions 1161a, 1161b are fixed to the body portion 120 by means of bolting, such as the bolts 1163a, 1163b respective through the threaded bolt holes 129a, 129b. Thereby, the display portion 110 can pivot between an open position and a closed position relative to the body portion 120 by the hinge assemblies 116a and 116b. Additionally, to transmit signals and supply with power, a cable 118 electrically couples the liquid crystal display (LCD) 112 to the main board 130.
However, there is a drawback in such assembling design for the conventional portable computer. An elongated region formed on the body portion 120, which is close to the keyboard 126, exposes part of the main board 130 and the hinge assemblies 116a, 116b. Typically, a couple of covering plates, made of the same material as the upper case, are required to cover this exposed region. In FIG. 1, the exposed region is covered by a middle cover 250 and two hinge covers 240a, 240b for hiding the cable 118, the main board 130, and the hinge assemblies 116a, 116b. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable computer 100, which has been completely assembled.
According to the illustration above, because the hinge assemblies on the display portion are mounted on the top of the body portion, the partial area of the body portion has to be exposed for connecting with display portion (i.e. a couple of holes for bolting to the hinge assemblies). For the manufactures, mounting additional cover assemblies for hiding the exposed region is not only time-consuming but also raises the production cost. Moreover, it makes the upper case subject to undue stresses while the display portion is mounted on the top surface of the body portion. Consequently, as the display portion is being rotated, an extraordinary sound is easily produced and distortion may occur. The yield of product is also decreased.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an assembly of the liquid crystal display (LCD) and the body portion of the portable computer, in which the extraordinary noises resulting from the rotation of the LCD is greatly reduced and some covering components can be eliminated to make the assembly more easy.
According to the objective of the invention, the portable computer of the invention comprises a body portion, a display portion, a cable, and a hinge assembly. The body portion comprises a housing and a main board provided inside the housing. An insertion hole is formed on the rear wall of the housing, and a cable connection region is formed on the rear wall or bottom wall of the housing. A first connector is provided on the main board at a position corresponding to the cable connection region. One end of the cable is electrically connected to the display portion, and the other end of the cable is provided with a second connector corresponding to the first connector for electrically connecting to the body portion.
The hinge assembly, provided for pivotably connecting the display portion to the body portion, comprises a first fastening portion for attaching to the display portion, a second fastening portion for attaching to the body portion, and a pivot portion for pivotably connecting the first fastening portion with the second fastening portion. The second fastening portion further has a first support arm for horizontally inserting into an insertion hole formed on the rear side of the body portion.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Portable computer and method for assembling the same


An undersea optical repeater is provided. The repeater includes a pressure vessel for use in an undersea environment. The pressure vessel includes a pressure housing and at least two cable reeving elements disposed on opposing ends of the pressure housing for respectively receiving ends of optical cables that each include an electrical conductor therein. The cable receiving elements are adapted to be in electrical contact with the respective electrical conductors in the optical cables. At least one optical amplifier is located in the pressure vessel. The optical amplifier includes at least one electrical component adapted to receive electrical power from the electrical conductors in the optical cables. The pressure housing includes a dielectric layer having sufficient dielectric properties for electrically isolating the cable receiving elements from one another to provide a voltage thereacross.

Undersea optical communication systems include land-based terminals containing transmitters and receivers connected by a cabled-fiber-transmission medium that includes periodically spaced repeaters, which contain optical amplifiers whose purpose is to compensate for the optical attenuation in the cabled fiber. In a bidirectional transmission system each repeater will generally contain two or more optical amplifiers, one for each of the oppositely-directed transmission paths. As the repeaters are usually placed undersea and away from power sources, power must be supplied remotely to the repeaters. The cabled fiber therefore usually contains a cooper conductor to carry electrical power to the repeaters from the terminals. These undersea systems serve to carry optical communication signals (i.e., traffic) between the terminals. The traffic on these systems can consist of voice, data, television, Internet traffic, international telephone traffic, etc. Consequently, the revenue lost when the system is down can be significant. Therefore, these systems must have high reliability and availability.
Recently, ultra-small form factor optical repeaters for undersea use have been developed which have dimensions that are substantially smaller than that of conventional undersea optical repeaters. One example of such a repeater is disclosed in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/687,547 and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/715,330, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. One example of the repeater shown in these references has dimensions of only about 7.5 cm×15 cm.
FIG. 1 shows a side view of such an ultra-small form factor repeater. The repeater 100 includes a pressure vessel comprising a cylindrical metallic housing 110 and metallic end caps 1201 and 1202 that are secured to opposing ends of the cylindrical housing 110. The cylindrical housing 110 must withstand high undersea hydrostatic pressures and remain hermetic for at least 25 years. The pressure vessel must also be corrosion resistant or at least capable of being coated with an anticorrosion component. Suitable materials that are often employed include a high-strength grade of copper-beryllium and steel.
Optical cables 1301 and 1302 enter the repeater 100 through the end caps 1201 and 1202, respectively. Optical cables 1301 and 1302 include an electrical conductor for supplying electrical power to the electrical components located in the repeater 100. The electrical conductors in the optical cables are in electrical communication with the respective end caps 1201 and 1202. In order to drop power to the electrical components a voltage must be established between the end caps 1201 and 1202. To accomplish the necessary voltage drop, electrical continuity must be interrupted between the end caps 120. Accordingly, some provision for interrupting electrical continuity needs to be provided since the housing 110 is generally formed from a metallic material.
Unfortunately, changing the material from which the housing 110 is formed from a conductive to a dielectric material is problematic because of the substantial structural and thermal demands placed on it. Not only must be the housing 110 be formed from a material strong enough to withstand the hydrostatic pressures of the undersea environment, but it must also be sufficiently thermally conductive to dissipate the waste heat generated by the electrical components within it. Very few available materials can provide the strength needed in such a small volume with the required thermal conductivity. Moreover, most materials that can provide the required strength and thermal conductivity are also good electrical conductors since thermal and electrical conductivity usually go hand in hand because they both arise from the mobility of electrons within the material).
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a pressure vessel for an undersea optical repeater that meets the stringent structural, thermal and electrical properties that such a pressure vessel requires.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dielectric coating for an optical repeater pressure vessel


In one embodiment, a selection of plural testflows is first obtained. Each testflow specifies how automated test equipment (ATE) should test at least one device. Calibration information is then identified for each of the testflows, and redundancies in the identified calibration information are eliminated to compile a set of non-redundant information for performing a focused calibration over the ATE and selected testflows.

Prior to the manufacture and/or distribution of an electrical device (including a system or component such as a circuit board, integrated circuit, or system-on-a-chip (SOC)), the device is typically tested to determine whether it is built or functions as designed. Often, this testing is performed by automated test equipment (ATE, also called "testers").
For the results of ATE to be meaningful, ATE needs to be calibrated. That is, the intrinsic system errors that ATE may introduce during testing under different conditions and test setups must be quantified. The data which quantifies ATE's intrinsic system errors is often referred to as "calibration data" and may comprise one or more "calibration factors". Once generated, calibration data is used to remove ATE's intrinsic system errors from raw test data.
One way to characterize ATE's intrinsic system errors is to measure them directly. Often, this sort of calibration involves the coupling of various ATE probes to one or more known-good "calibration standards", taking a measurement, and then comparing the measurement result to an expected measurement result.
Another way to characterize ATE's intrinsic system errors is to model them via a mathematic model. Calibration data may then be calculated from the model (although it may still be necessary to acquire certain measurements using one or more calibration standards).
Calibration data generally falls into two categories: 1) "system calibration data", which characterizes the core structure of ATE (e.g., the instruments and base structures of ATE—typically those parts of the ATE that are re-used when testing different devices), and 2) "focused calibration data", which characterizes the ATE under different test setups. Test setups may specify, for example, both the physical and electrical parameters under which testing will occur, including, for example, indications of the ATE test paths that will be used during testing, as well as their configuration (including, e.g., identifications of stimulus and/or measurement paths, and indications of which ATE pins will be coupled to which pins of a device); indications of testing frequencies (including, e.g., a test frequency range); indications of modulation formats; indications of measurement bandwidths; or indications of power or voltage levels.

Compilation of calibration information for plural testflows


The present disclosure is directed, in part, to a cutting apparatus comprising a drive shaft having a longitudinal axis, a drum configured to orbit the longitudinal axis when driven by the drive shaft, a first actuator, and a cutting assembly joined to the drum and configured to orbit the longitudinal axis with the drum. The cutting assembly comprises a second actuator operably engaged with a portion of the cutting assembly, and a cutting device driven by the second actuator. The second actuator is configured to rotate the cutting device at least 1,500 revolutions per minute during cutting of an article. The first actuator is operably engaged with a portion of the cutting assembly and is configured to reciprocate the cutting device in directions substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis as the cutting assembly orbits the longitudinal axis.

Cutting apparatuses are used in the manufacture of many products, such as consumer products. Different materials used in consumer products require various cutting equipment and cutting methods. The cutting equipment and methods are, at times, tailored to specific cutting operations for various materials.
Various cleaning articles, or portions thereof, are one type of consumer product that may require one or more cutting operations during their manufacture. These cleaning articles may be used for dusting and light cleaning, for example, or for other purposes. Cleaning articles, such as disposable dusters, have been developed which have limited re-usability. These disposable dusters may comprise brush portions made of synthetic fiber bundles, called tow fibers, attached to one or more layers of material, such as one or more layers of a nonwoven material. In other instances, the tow fibers may be attached to a rigid material or plate. The disposable cleaning article may be used for one job (e.g., several square meters of surface) and discarded, or may be restored and re-used for more jobs and then discarded.
It is desired in a disposable cleaning article to have tow fibers that are fluffy and somewhat separated from each other on their distal fiber ends or free fiber ends. Current cutting technologies, however, tend to "weld" or join together free fibers ends of the tow fibers leading to an aesthetically unpleasing look and feel and also may somewhat limit cleaning ability. Furthermore, such welding of the free fibers ends of the tow fibers may somewhat reduce the effectiveness of the tow fibers in picking up dust and dirt. What is needed are cutting devices for consumer products, such as disposable dusters, and other products, that produce a cleaner and sharper cut and reduce welding of fibers at their free fiber ends. Also needed are methods of cutting materials, such as tow fibers, that reduce welding of the fibers at their free fiber ends.


Direct contact to shallow junctions in integrated circuits and interconnection between these contacts is achievable by utilizing a specific aluminum CVD process. In this process the aluminum is deposited utilizing a triisobutyl aluminum precursor onto a substrate having a nucleation layer, e.g. a titanium nitride layer. By appropriate choice of this nucleation layer to control the nucleation of the depositing aluminum, suitable contact is made while avoiding void defects present in the absence of such layer.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to integrated circuit manufacture and, in particular, manufacture of integrated circuits having shallow junctions.
2. Art Background
In the manufacture of integrated circuits, electrical contact to junctions such as the source and drain of field effect transistors is required. For these devices desirable electrical properties include a junction contact resistance less than 10 ohms and a junction leakage current less than 10.sup.-7 amps/cm.sup.2. Complexities inherent in strict design rules make satisfaction of these requirements significantly more difficult. (The device design rule is the smallest lateral dimension for all features within the device circuit.) For example, since the source and drain junctions are typically no deeper than 0.25 .mu.m at submicron design rules, any undesirable chemical reaction with the junction induced by the fabrication process quickly destroys it. Additionally, electrical contact is made through an opening in an overlying electrical insulator material, also known as a dielectric, to the underlying junction region, e.g., drain or source junction region (an electrical insulator material is defined in C. Kittel, "Introduction to Solid State Physics, 3rd Ed." p. 252 and p. 266 (1967)). Typically, as a consequence of strict design rules, this opening (window) has a high aspect ratio, i.e., greater than 1.1. (Aspect ratio is defined as the thickness of the dielectric at the junction divided by the effective diameter of the window at the junction, i.e., the diameter of a circle having the same area as the window at the junction.) To contact the junction through a high aspect ratio opening requires deposition of a conductive material that conforms to or fills the opening so that the conducting cross-section in the window is adequate to maintain an acceptably low current density. Additionally, the same deposition that produces the contact through the window is employed to form a surface metallic layer on the dielectric, and this surface layer is ultimately patterned to form electrical interconnects between contacts. The surface layer, as a result, should not have defects that unacceptably degrade the electrical characteristic of the interconnect. Thus, in summary, to ensure a suitable contact and attendant interconnect, undesirable chemical reaction with the junction should be avoided while a coating that conforms to or fills the window should be produced and while an adequate surface deposition is obtained.
Generally, it is desirable to utilize aluminum as the electrically conductive contact and interconnect material because of its high conductivity, etchability, excellent adhesion to silicon oxide, and nominal cost. However, direct deposition of aluminum to produce a suitable coating in a window that has an aspect ratio greater than 1.1 has been an elusive goal. One relatively recent procedure involving the chemical vapor deposition using a triisobutyl aluminum precursor (see H. W. Piekaar, et al., Sixth International IEEE VLSI Multilevel Interconnect Conference, p. 122 (1989), L. F. Kwakman, et. al. Tungsten and Other Refractory Metals for VLSI Applications IV, p. 315, MRS (1989)) for depositing an aluminum contact in these demanding applications shows promise and is undergoing further investigation. However, since triisobutyl aluminum does not dissociate spontaneously on a dielectric material a chlorine compound, titanium tetrachloride, is used to initiate growth of the aluminum film. This procedure leaves chlorine residue at the aluminum-dielectric interface which tends to diffuse into the aluminum interconnect conductors and to cause corrosion of the conductor lines, with the resulting failure of the electronic circuit. Thus, approaches for aluminum contacts are either totally unacceptable or have some reliability considerations.
Other contact materials have been investigated. For example, the deposition of tungsten by a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) technique has been reported. (See, for example, N. E. Miller and I. Beinglass, Solid State Technol., 25(12), 85 (1982), E. K. Broadbent and C. L. Ramiller, J. Electrochem. Soc., 131, 1427 (1984), and E. K. Broadbent and W. T. Stacy, Solid State Technol., 49(12), 51 (1985).) This technique has the advantage of allowing deposition into windows that have aspect ratios greater than 1.1. However, there is a substantial undesirable interaction between the junction (including a silicide overlying the silicon) and chemical entities introduced during deposition of the tungsten. (See, for example, M. L. Green and R. A. Levy, Semicon East 1985 Technical Proceedings, 57 (1985), M. L. Green and R. A. Levy, J. Electrochem. Soc., 132, 1243 (1985), G. E. Georgiou, et al., Tungsten and Other Refractory Metals for VLSI Applications II, E. K. Broadbent, Editor, page 225, MRS, Pittsburgh, PA, 1987, and N. Lifshitz, et al. Tungsten and Other Refractory Metals for VLSI Applications III, V. A. Wells, Editor, page 225, MRS. Pittsburgh PA, 1988.) Under certain conditions this interaction is self-limiting. That is, the amount of junction silicon consumed during the deposition reaches a maximum value that depends on the reaction conditions. Despite this self-limiting effect, the damage produced is still too extensive for junctions, such as source and drain junctions, shallower than 0.25 .mu.m. Additionally, the adhesion between the deposited tungsten material and the dielectric material, e.g., silicon dioxide, is not entirely desirable. One proposal involving tungsten deposition (N. Lifshitz and R. Shultz, U.S patent application Ser. No. 07/226,917, filed Aug. 1, 1988) has produced a suitable contact and interconnect deposition. This procedure is quite suitable for demanding applications but involves somewhat complicated processing. Thus direct, acceptable deposition of aluminum is still an alluring possibility.

Process for fabricating integrated circuits having shallow junctions


A brush for applying mascara to the eyelashes is formed by a central core formed from a twisted metal wire 1 the twists of which trap between them the bristles 2 of the brush, the said bristles 2 being disposed in a substantially uniform manner between the twists, characterised in that the bristles 2 have a substantially solid circular cross section the diameter of which is between 0.12 and 0.25 mm, the number of bristles 2 per turn being between 5 and 9, the said bristles substantially forming a single spiral layer in which each bristle is disposed substantially radially, the angle between two adjacent bristles of the layer being substantially constant to within approximately 20%.

The usual brushes of this type generally comprise relatively long bristles disposed in a spiral layer around a core formed by a twisted iron wire. The number of bristles of the brush is measured by the number of bristles forming one turn of the spiral layer having an angular aperture equal to 360.degree..
Relatively flexible bristles were used in the prior art so as to give the brush the general property of appropriate flexibility. Given that the brush was to be used to make up a support as delicate as the eyelashes, the maximum diameter of the bristles was generally approximately 0.08 mm. The bristles used were generally made of polyamide. In this case, given that the bristles of small diameter referred to hereinabove have in themselves very low rigidity, it was ensured that a sufficient quantity of mascara was taken up and that the eyelashes were brushed correctly at the time of application by always using more than 50 bristles per turn so that the spiral layer was sufficiently thick to obtain the desired result. The spiral layer of bristles generally had a pitch of approximately 2 mm and the bristles were substantially parallel in the thickness of the layer.
However, it became clear that brushes of this kind did not ensure good distribution of the make-up product over the eyelashes upon use, as, in practice, the mascara is often placed over the eyelashes in blobs with no homogeneity, so that the user has to effect repeated brushing operations until an approximately uniform coating of the eyelashes is obtained. This disadvantage results firstly from the fact that these brushes comprise a large number of bristles packed closely together in the spiral layer, so that, at the time of application, the eyelashes, the diameter of which is generally between 0.08 and 0.12 mm, cannot traverse the layer of bristles and can only move into the gaps between the successive turns of the spiral layer of bristles. The eyelashes therefore cannot be separated from one another at the time of application, as would be desirable. However, the said disadvantage results moreover secondly from the fact that when a brush of this kind of the prior art takes up the mascara, the latter is distributed poorly over the brush, as a mascara applicator generally comprises a mascara container and a removable cap which is adapted to close the container and which forms a handle for the manipulation of a make-up brush carried by the end of a stem integral with the said cap. In the closed position of the container, the stem and the brush associated therewith penetrate into the container. When the stem is removed from the container, a certain quantity of mascara is taken up on the brush and this can then be applied to the eyelashes. The brush penetrates into the interior of the container via a substantially circular orifice surrounded by a flexible lip, the function of which is to exert a wiping action on the bristles of the brush in order to eliminate excess make-up product taken up on the brush inside the container. The diameter of this circular orifice is smaller than the diameter of the brush measured at the tip of the bristles, so that the flexible lip which surrounds the orifice can exert its wiping action when the brush is removed from the container. As the bristles of the brush are relatively flexible and are disposed with a relatively high density in the spiral layer of bristles, they bend over in the direction of the core when the layer passes through the wiper lip and, by virtue of this deformation, they cause the bristles of the adjacent turn to "bend over", resulting in the fact that the make-up product tends to accumulate in the region of the brush situated just around the core. Under these conditions, at the time of application, the user will have difficulty obtaining a completely uniform and homogeneous coating of the eyelashes by the make-up product in one single passage of the brush, the make-up product gradually migrating towards the ends of the bristles initially not heavily loaded with product. Migration of this kind is moreover effected in a random manner. This results in heterogeneous and generally light make up.
An improved make-up brush obviating the aforesaid disadvantages was already proposed in French Patent No. 2 607 373. It was proposed to use bristles of a larger diameter and to ensure that these bristles had a greater spacing from one another by using a small number of bristles per turn. The brush proposed in this manner thus consists of more thinned out and harder bristles. It is harder to the touch, but nevertheless does not give the impression of hardness during making up. The reduction in the number of bristles per turn means that it is possible for the bristles of the spiral layer situated substantially in one single radial plane of the brush to adopt at random, starting from the zone in which they are gripped between the turns, an angular spacing from the iron wire which forms the core relative to the mean spiral surface of the spiral layer of bristles. In other words, the edge of the spiral layer of bristles becomes all the wider the more the number of bristles per turn is reduced. It has been noted that it was possible in this manner to obtain brushes the spiral layer of which became virtually invisible, the bristles of one turn of the spiral layer being able to come into the vicinity of the bristles of the adjacent turn of the same spiral layer as a result of the random angular spacing adopted by the bristles in their gripped zone. This particular result is obtained when the bristles have a diameter of between 0.10 and 0.25 mm and when the number of bristles per turn is between 10 and 40. It has been noted that these improved brushes improve the uniformity of the loading with make-up product of the bristles of the brush from their base to their tip and moreover improve the combing of the eyelashes during making up, as a result, on the one hand, of the greater firmness of the bristles, the diameter of which was increased and, on the other hand, of their spacing as a result of the disappearance of the spiral effect.
According to this invention, it was acknowledged that it was not possible to reduce the number of bristles of the brush to below 10 bristles per turn as a result of the fact that the "hedgehog" formed by a brush of this kind would not have been sufficient to allow for satisfactory making up, as the eyelashes could then traverse the brush virtually without touching a bristle loaded with product. This lower limit for the number of bristles of a brush was moreover generally acknowledged as a result of the fact that the person skilled in that art felt that the reduction in the number of bristles of a brush of the type defined hereinabove would always lead to the disappearance of the spiral effect and the emergence of a "hedgehog" type brush as a result of random angular spacing of the bristles relative to the mean spiral surface of the layer of bristles. It became clear, moreover, that this effect increased as the number of bristles per turn was reduced for a given bristle diameter.

Brush with few bristles for applying mascara to the eyelashes


A multifunctional sun shielding device for use in automobiles and other vehicles is described. It is a flat flexible and resilient lightweight plate having a surface which may be placed against the vehicle's windshield to block the suns rays. The device is thick enough to contain a pocket for holding accessories and is held in place by either wedging between the windshield and the rear view mirror, or by a separate suction device.

The current application is a substitute application for U.S. application Ser. No. 07/838,491, which is hereby explicitly abandoned.
Conventional automotive sun visors are typically mounted near the top portion of a windshield directly in front of both the driver and passenger seat in the passenger compartment. Such visors are pivoted so as to be positioned in an upward position near or up against the roof of the compartment, or so as to be positioned in a downward shielding position for shielding sunlight or other glare from a driver's or passenger's eyes.
Such visors are of a shape and length so as not to interfere with a rear view mirror that is typically situated between the visors in the approximate center of the windshield. As such, conventional visors leave a considerable space open above and around the rear view mirror, through which sun and other glare often passes, rendering the conventional visors essentially useless.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,620,222 to Beauchamp on Dec. 2, 1952, teaches a sun visor device for attachment to or near a rear view mirror assembly for blocking or reducing light from entering the vehicle around the periphery of the rear view mirror. Such a device, while well-suited for blocking such light has several considerable drawbacks which explain its scant acceptance in the marketplace. Such a device is relatively complicated to manufacture, and consists of several separate pieces that must be assembled. As such, this type of device is relatively expensive. Further, such a device has a metal clip for attaching to a centerpost of the windshield. Such centerposts are no longer widely used in vehicles, and therefore this type of attaching means is not useful in most modern day vehicles.
Clearly, then, there is a need for a sun shade device for spanning the distance between the ends of the conventional vehicle visors, and that is easily attached to a wide variety of vehicle mirror assemblies or windshields. Such a needed device would not interfere with the use of the rear view mirror, and in fact would facilitate the use of the rear view mirror by preventing surrounding glare and sunlight from interfering with its use. Further, such a needed device could be made with various pockets for retaining sunglasses, writing implements, or the like. Still further, such a needed device would have an attractive appearance, and would not require tools for installation thereof. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages.


An in-vehicle instrument control device, that controls a power source of a plurality of in-vehicle instruments operated by power from the power source provided in a vehicle, includes a plurality of operation units to operate the respective in-vehicle instruments; and a plurality of power source control units that are each provided between the operation unit and the power source, and the in-vehicle instrument, and each supply the power from the power source to the in-vehicle instrument when a predetermined operation signal is inputted from the operation unit.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an in-vehicle instrument control device, and particularly to an in-vehicle instrument control device that controls a power source of a plurality of in-vehicle instruments.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, control of a power source of in-vehicle instruments provided in a vehicle has been performed by operating an ignition switch or a power switch that collectively switches a state of the power source of the respective in-vehicle instruments. For example, when the ignition switch is set to OFF, the power source of almost all the in-vehicle instruments is turned off, and when the ignition switch is set to ACC, the power source of a part of the in-vehicle instruments is turned on, and when the ignition switch is set to ON, the power source of almost all the in-vehicle instruments is turned on.
Accordingly, for example, when a car stereo device, a car navigation device, or the like is used, in order to supply power to those in-vehicle instruments, the ignition switch needs to be set to ACC or ON. As a result, the power source of the in-vehicle instruments that are not used is also turned on, thereby causing wasteful power consumption.
Moreover, conventionally, there has been proposed a technique in which a connection switch is interposed between a navigation ECU and an air-bag ECU, and a battery, and when code verification by an ID code sent from an electronic key succeeds, the relevant connection switch is turned on to supply the power to the navigation ECU and the air-bag ECU (e.g., refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-25938).
Accordingly, even though the ignition switch or the power switch is not operated, the supply of the power to the navigation ECU and the air-bag ECU is started almost at the same time as unlocking of a door lock of the vehicle using the electronic key, which can bring about a usable state.
However, in this case, after the code authentication has succeeded, the power continues to be constantly supplied to the navigation ECU and the air-bag ECU. This will cause power consumption even when a user does not use the navigation ECU.