The present invention pertains to a fiducial implant for the human body that is detectable by an imaging system. The invention is comprised of a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is configured to be detected by an imaging system when place beneath the skin. The second portion is configured for fixed attachment to a bone beneath the skin without penetrating entirely through the bone and without penetrating entirely through the bone and without fracturing the bone. The first portion is sufficiently large and comprised of a material for detection by an imaging system, and sufficiently small to avoid the distortion of the skin when placed at an interface between the skin and the bone. The first portion also has at least a portion which is spherical and defines a surface for cooperating with a tool for securing the second portion to the bone. Additionally, the placement of n fiducial implants, where n.gtoreq.4 and an integer, into a portion of anatomy of the human body allows for the recreation of a particular image slice of the portion of the anatomy taken by an imaging system with respect to a first time period, at subsequent imaging sessions and also with different scan modalities. This provides a doctor with the ability to accurately follow the progress of the portion of the anatomy of interest. Moreover, the existence of an fiducial implants allows a target to be identified within the portion of anatomy relative to an external coordinate system. The portion of anatomy with the target may then be operated on, for instance, robotically, or precisely irradiated.

Diagnostic techniques that allow the practicing clinician to obtain high fidelity views of the anatomical structure of a human body have proved helpful to both the patient and the doctor. Imaging systems providing cross-sectional views such as computed tomographic (CT) x-ray imagers or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) machines have provided the ability to improve visualization of the anatomical structure of the human body without surgery or other invasive techniques. The patient can be subjected to scanning techniques of such imaging systems, and the patient's anatomical structure can be reproduced in a form for evaluation by a trained doctor.
The doctor sufficiently experienced in these techniques can evaluate the images of the patient's anatomy and determine if there are any abnormalities present. An abnormality in the form of a tumor appears on the image as a shape that has a discernible contrast with the surrounding area. The difference in contrast is due to the tumor having different imaging properties than the surrounding body tissue. Moreover, the contrasting shape that represents the tumor appears at a location on the image where such a shape would not normally appear with regard to a similar image of a healthy person.
Once a tumor has been identified, several methods of treatment are utilized to remove or destroy the tumor including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. When chemotherapy is chosen drugs are introduced into the patient's body to destroy the tumor. During the course of treatment, imagers are commonly used to follow the progress of treatment by subjecting the patient to periodic scans and comparing the images taken over the course of the treatment to ascertain any changes in the tumor configurations.
In radiation therapy, the images of the tumor generated by the imager are used by a radiologist to adjust the irradiating device and to direct radiation solely at the tumor while minimizing or eliminating adverse effects to surrounding healthy tissue. During the course of the radiation treatment, the imaging system is also used to follow the progress of the patient in the same manner described above with respect to chemotherapy.
When surgery is used to remove a tumor, the images of the tumor in the patient can guide the surgeon during the operation. By reviewing the images prior to surgery, the surgeon can decide the best strategy for reaching and excising the tumor. After surgery has been performed, further scanning is utilized to evaluate the success of the surgery and the subsequent progress of the patient.
A problem associated with the scanning techniques mentioned above is the inability to select and compare accurately the cross section of the same anatomical area in images that have been obtained by imagers at different times or by images obtained essentially at the same time using different image modalities, e.g., CT and MRI. The inaccuracy in image comparison can be better appreciated from an explanation of the scanning techniques and how the imaging systems generate the images within a cross-sectional "slice" of the patient's anatomy. A slice depicts elemental volumes within the cross-section of the patient's anatomy that is exposed or excited by a radiation beam or a magnetic field and the information is recorded on a film or other tangible medium. Since the images are created from slices defined by the relative position of the patient with respect to the imager, a change of the orientation of the patient results in different elemental volumes being introduced into the slice. Thus, for comparison purposes two sets of approximately the same anatomical mass taken atdifferent times, do not provide comparable information that can be accurately used to determine the changes that occurred between two images selected from the respective sets share common views.
The adverse effects on the medical practice of such errors is exemplified by diagnostic techniques utilized by the surgeon or others in diagnosing a tumor within a patient. If a patient has a tumor, its size density and location can be determined with the help of images generated by a scanning device. For the clinician to make an assessment of the patient's treatment, two scanning examinations are required. The patient is subjected to an initial scan that generates a number of slices through the portion of the anatomy, for instance the brain, to be diagnosed. During scanning, the patient is held in a substantially fixed position with respect to the imager. Each slice of a particular scan is taken at a predetermined distance from the previous slice and parallel thereto. Using the images of the slices, the doctor can evaluate the tumor. If, however, the doctor wants to assess changes in the configuration of the tumor over a given period of time, a second or "follow-up" scan has to be taken.
The scanning procedure is repeated, but since the patient may be in a position different from that in the original scan, comparison of the scans is hampered. Slices obtained at the follow-up examination may be inadvertently taken at an angle when compared to the original slices. Accordingly the image created may depict a larger volume than that which was actually depicted before. Consequently, the surgeon may get a false impression of the size of the tumor when comparing scans taken at different periods. Because of this, slice-by-slice comparison cannot be performed satisfactorily.
Similarly for certain surgical techniques it is desirable to have accurate and reliable periodic scans of identical segments of the tumor within the cranial cavity. If the scans before and after surgery are inaccurate, the doctor may not get the correct picture of the result of surgery. These same inaccuracies apply to other treatments such as chemotherapy discussed above.
Additionally, with regard to imaging systems and the integral part they play in surgical and other tumor treatment procedures, there is a dearth of methods currently existing that allow a determination of a desired location within the body a given time. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,538 to Onik, et al. discloses a localization device that is placed on a patient's skin which can be identified in a slice of a CT scan. A reference point is chosen from a position on the device which exactly correlates to a point on the CT scan. Measurements of the localization device on the CT scan is then correlated to the device on the patient.
Exterior devices have been utilized in an attempt to solve some of these problems with accuracy such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,220 to Perry which discloses a frame that fits over the skull of a patient. The frame has three plates, each defining a plurality of slots on three of four sides. The slots are of varying lengths and are sequentially ordered with respect to length. Frame coordinates defined and found on the frame correspond to the varying heights of the slots. When slices of the skull and brain are taken by an imaging device, the plane formed by the slice intersects the three plates. The number of full slots in the slice are counted with respect to each plate to determine the coordinate of a target site with the brain. Accordingly, only one CT scan is needed to pinpoint the coordinates of the target.
Other attempts have included the use of catheters for insertion into the anatomy. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,198 to Codington discloses a catheter with a coil winding in its tip to excite or weaken the magnetic field. The weak magnetic field is detectable by an NMR device thus pinpointing the location of the catheter tip with respect to the NMR device.

Method and apparatus for imaging the anatomy


In a chain conveyor having a plurality of side-by-side endless chains which support articles being conveyed and are driven by engagement with sprocket wheels on common driving shafts, the chains are rendered individually and independently removable and replaceable by mounting them on a cassette. The cassette comprises a frame which provides a track for the rollers of the chain and supports the sprocket wheels in bearings. Thus the sprocket wheels are not supported by the drive shafts, which are axially withdrawn to allow removal of a cassette.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to conveyors having a plurality of endless chains arranged side-by-side and driven around parallel paths having upper and lower runs, the upper runs providing the support for articles being conveyed. The invention also relates to a composite conveyor composed of at least two such conveyors arranged end-to-end.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In conveyors of the above type conventionally the chains are composed of elements having rollers which run along a roller track at the upper run. At the turning points at the ends of the upper run, sprocket wheels engage the chain elements. The sprocket wheels of the several chains are arranged coaxially at each end of the conveyor and conventionally are mounted on a common shaft.
Such conveyors are frequently used in many fields, e.g. the steel industry. Carrier plates may be mounted across the chains. The rollers are often hardened because of the loads which occur. Short conveyors are usually driven by electric motors through reduction gearing and the sprocket wheels. Rotary drive naturally provides the advantage of smoothness, but this is limited, in dependence on the load, the speed and the number of teeth on the drive wheel, by the so-called polygon effect. This effect arises out of the polygonal construction of the sprocket wheel: as a link of the chain runs in and out of the wheel, the chain is accelerated and retarded, thus causing the speed to fluctuate. This uneven running brings about jerky speed variations, which in practice are at least to some extent cancelled out both by the elasticity of the chains and wheels and by angular speed fluctuations. Stretching in the whole of the chain caused by the forces produced and play can be considerable and is often taken up by means of a tensioning device.
Play occurs in the drive linkage between the electric motor and the load to be transported and, over the course of time, increases as a result of wear and of the plastic deformation of components. If no additional measures are taken the electric motor will first overcome any play in the drive linkage when the chain conveyor is started before the load begins to move. During this starting phase, the motor speed may become considerable, together with the associated kinetic energy. As soon as all the play has been taken up, this kinetic energy is converted into a shock on the load, which is undesirable when the load consists of a stack of tinplates or of other material which would be adversely affected by this shock.
Components such as rails, chain wheels, etc. which are prone to wear should desirably be fitted in such a way that they are easily changed, but this has not generally been a consideration in design. In some conventional designs, the chain wheels are made up of segments which can be changed without dismantling the chain.
Transferring the load between chain conveyors which are in line with one another is not simple, and for this reason, a long continuous conveyor, with associated problems, is often preferred.
Illustrative of the prior art are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,769,522, 3,024,888, 3,116,824 and 3,918,574 and U.K. Pat. specification No. 214,173. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,769,522 and 3,918,574 and U.K. Pat. No. 214,173 need not be discussed. U.S. Pat. No. 3,024,888 shows the two sets of sprocket wheels at the junction of two chain conveyors mounted on a common drive shaft, one set being keyed to the shaft so as to be driven while the other set is idling on the shaft. The shafts are supported in a frame, and carry the chains. Odd and even numbers of chains alternate along the composite conveyor. U.S. Pat. No. 3,116,824 illustrates a similar arrangement, though here each conveyor section has two chains. Adjacent frame portions carrying shafts supporting the chains are rigidly linked by plates carrying the drive shafts.

Conveyors having a plurality of driven endless chains


A semiconductor device package is comprised of a metal base for receiving a semiconductor device, a metal frame joined at its lower face to the metal base, a seal ring joined at its lower face to an upper face of the metal frame, and a metal lid joined to an upper face of the seal ring. The upper face of the seal ring is formed, at its at least two sides facing each other, into a concavely warped shape as viewed in vertical cross section, and the maximum warpage of the upper face of the seal ring is not more than 0.2% of the length of the side of the upper face.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device package, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device package capable of reducing occurrences of faulty welding of a package base to a lid or a seal ring to be joined thereto.
2. Related Art
A semiconductor device is sealed within a package, so as to be available for use. Typically, a semiconductor device package is comprised of a metal base having a placement section on which a semiconductor device is placed, a metal frame joined to the base, a seal ring joined to an open upper face of the frame, and a metal lid joined to the seal ring. The package is formed into a box-like shape as a whole. To hermetically seal a semiconductor device within such a package, the metal lid is seam-welded to the seal ring after the semiconductor device is received in a package housing formed by the metal base, metal frame and seal ring which are silver-brazed with one another.
In the seam welding, two roller electrodes are positioned individually at one ends of two facing sides of the metal lid, with the metal frame held on the seal ring of the package housing, and the roller electrodes are pressed against the metal lid. Thereafter, the roller electrodes and the package are moved relative to one another until the roller electrodes reach the other ends of the two sides of the metal lid, while a welding current is supplied between the electrodes, whereby the lid is seam-welded at the two sides to the seal ring. Then, the remaining two sides of the lid are seam-welded to the seal ring, thereby sealing the semiconductor device within the package. As for a package not provided with a seal ring, the metal lid is seam-welded to the metal frame.
As described above, a semiconductor device package is formed into a box-like shape as a whole. In other words, the package has four corners. Seam welding of the seal ring or the metal lid to the metal frame is carried out in such a manner that only a plated layer formed in advance on a surface of the seal ring or the metal lid is caused to melt, with a constituent material of the seal ring or the lid unmelted. Therefore, seam welding is advantageous in that it can reduce influences of welding heat upon a semiconductor device received in a package. On the other hand, unstable welding conditions are liable to occur at corners of a package, and in this case, faulty welding may be caused at the corners.
Although occurrences of such faulty welding can be reduced by increasing an amount of power supply to roller electrodes, welding heat increases with increase in the amount of power supply, so that a semiconductor device accommodated in a package may receive thermal affection, causing a misalignment in the semiconductor device. As for an optical semiconductor device and an optical component that are especially required of a high alignment accuracy, a misalignment can occur for such a simple reason that a creep deformation is caused in a silver alloy, with which various portions of an optical semiconductor device are joined to one another. Thus, an increased amount of power supply in seam welding for an optical semiconductor device package may cause a misalignment in an optical semiconductor device or an optical component received therein. This indicates that it is unpractical to increase the power supply amount to eliminate welding failure. Since seam welding for a semiconductor device package is carried out in a final stage of production of semiconductor modules, welding failure entails great damage, and therefore, a reduction of occurrences of faulty welding has been strongly demanded.
An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device package capable of reducing occurrences of faulty welding, without the need of increasing an amount of power supply for seam welding of a metal base to a metal lid or a seal ring of the package.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device package comprised of a metal base having a placement section on which a semiconductor device is placed; a metal frame having a rectangular shape in transverse cross section and having a first face thereof joined to the metal base; and a metal lid joined to a second face of the metal frame. In the semiconductor device package, the second face of the metal frame is shaped, at its at least two sides facing each other out of four sides thereof, so as to be warped concavely toward the metal lid as viewed in vertical cross section, and the maximum warpage of the second face of the metal frame at each of the at least two sides is equal to or less than 0.2% of the length of the side of the second face.
Unlike a conventional package including a metal frame whose face (second face) on the metal-lid side is completely flat, the metal frame of the package of this invention has the second face thereof formed into a concave shape at its at least two facing sides. In other words, out of four wall portions that form the metal frame, at least two facing wall portions have metal-lid side faces that are formed into a concave shape. When the metal lid is brought in close contact with the metal frame, peripheral edge portions of the metal lid are slightly curved along the concave face of the metal frame. Hence, such a restoration force is generated in the peripheral edge portions of the metal lid as to restore the edge portions into an original straight shape, so that corner portions of the metal lid act to press the metal frame. In other words, at each corner of the package, the degree of close contact between the metal frame and the metal lid is enhanced. On the other hand, at the middle of adjacent corners of the metal lid (i.e., a central portion of a respective side (i.e., a respective peripheral edge) of the metal lid), the restoration force causes the metal lid to separate away from the concave face of the metal frame, incurring a possibility that the degree of close contact therebetween is lowered. In this invention, the maximum warpage of the concave face of the metal frame is limited to be equal to or less than 0.2% of the length of the concave side (i.e., concave face) of the metal frame, thereby preventing a reduction in the degree of contact between the metal lid and the metal frame at respective corners of the package. This makes it possible to enhance the degree of close contact between the metal lid and the metal frame at respective corners, while maintaining the metal lid and the metal frame in close contact with each other at the middle of adjacent corners of the package. Thus, welding conditions are stabilized along the entire periphery of the metal lid and the metal frame, whereby faulty welding can be reduced without the need of increasing an amount of power supply in seam welding.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device package comprised of a metal base having a placement section on which a semiconductor device is placed; a metal frame having a rectangular shape in transverse cross section and having a first face thereof joined to the metal base; a seal ring having a first face thereof joined to a second face of the metal frame; and a metal lid joined to a second face of the seal ring. In the semiconductor device package, the second face of the seal ring is shaped, at its at least two sides facing each other out of four sides thereof, so as to be warped concavely toward the metal lid as viewed in vertical cross section, and the maximum warpage of the second face of the seal ring at each of the at least two sides is equal to or less than 0.2% of the length of the side of the second face.
In this semiconductor device package, when the metal lid is brought in close contact with the seal ring, peripheral edge portions of the metal lid are slightly curved along the concave face of the seal ring, so that corner portions of the metal lid act to press the seal ring. Further, the maximum warpage at a respective side of the concave face of the seal ring is limited to a value not more than 0.2% of the length of the side, so that the metal lid and the seal ring are brought in close contact with each other over the entire periphery thereof, to thereby enhance the degree of close contact therebetween at respective corners of the package. As a result, welding conditions are stabilized along the entire periphery of the metal lid and the seal ring, whereby faulty welding can be reduced without the need of increasing an amount of power supply in seam welding.


A vehicle is provided with a dump bed which can be pivoted from a horizontal orientation to a fully upright position to facilitate loading of material onto the dump bed and unloading material therefrom. A hydraulic or other type cylinder is used to raise and lower the dump bed. The cylinder is oriented at an acute angle from the horizontal and is attached at one end to a rear portion of the dump bed. The other end of the cylinder is attached to a crossbeam at a forward location. The dump bed includes downward extending arms and extensions that carry pivot pins about which the dump bed rotates. The location of the pivot axis in this manner creates a crank arm that provides the cylinder with the leverage necessary to raise the dump bed.

This invention relates in general to vehicles, and, more particularly, to trucks having a dump bed which can be elevated at a forward end to dump material which is loaded on the bed.
A variety of trucks utilize a dump bed which is pivotally mounted at the trailing end and is connected to an extensible cylinder at a forward end. Extension .of the cylinder raises the forward end of the dump bed to cause the material carried on the bed to slide rearwardly off of the bed. When the dump bed is to be returned to its normal horizontal position, the cylinder actuating force is simply released and the weight of the dump bed causes retraction of the cylinder and lowering of the bed.
While the dump beds of the type described are suitable for dumping loads of free-flowing particulate material such as sand and gravel, other materials such as mud and asphalt can be difficult to remove because they have a tendency to stick together in a single mass and adhere to the bed surface. Removal of such materials often requires the truck operator to move the vehicle forwardly in a lurching motion which separates the material from the bed but also subjects the various components of the dumping mechanism to large stresses which can cause twisting and eventual fracturing of one or more components.
Certain types of dump beds are designed so that the bed can be elevated to an angle greater than 45 degrees to facilitate removal of material from the bed. Because the cylinder which causes elevation of the bed is normally connected to the forward end of the bed, the cylinder must have an exceedingly long stroke in order to move the bed through an angle of 45 degrees or more. Although multi-stage cylinders can be used to provide the desired stroke, they tend to be much more expensive than single-stage, single acting cylinders.
In addition to the increased costs associated with the types of cylinders required to move the bed through a large angle of movement, such dump beds tend to be very unstable when the bed is fully raised because the pivot axis is usually located immediately below the undersurface of the bed. This location of the pivot axis creates a large moment arm when the bed is fully raised and if the load being carried should be imbalanced or if it should suddenly shift, the bed may sway violently from side to side and damage the suspension or dumping components. In some instances, the swaying may be severe enough to place the vehicle at risk of tipping over sideways.
When small utility trucks are equipped with dump beds, they can be used to transport and unload a variety of bulk items ranging from large hay bales to tractor wheels to vehicle engines. Such dumps beds, however, are usually not self-loading. As a result, items which because of their size or bulk cannot be hand loaded onto the bed require the assistance of a forklift, tractor or similar mechanism. Often, however, such assistance is unavailable or inconvenient and the usefulness of the vehicle is limited accordingly. A need has thus developed for a dump bed which is more stable and less expensive than those currently available and which can be more easily loaded. These features would be particularly desirable in a dump bed which could be used with small utility vehicles such as pickup trucks.


Methods and systems for offloading health-checking policy in a distributed management environment are provided. A failure policy is received at a node of a cloud from a cloud health monitor. The node transmits a notification to a health monitor of the node that the node has failed when the failure policy is satisfied. The node reports at least one fault based on the satisfied failure policy to the cloud health monitor.

Cloud computing is the provision of dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources as a service over the Internet on a utility basis. Users need not have any knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure in the "cloud" that supports them. Cloud computing services often provide common business applications online that are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on servers.
Cloud computing customers do not generally own the physical infrastructure serving as host to the software platform in question. They typically consume resources as a service and pay only for resources that they use. The majority of cloud computing infrastructures typically include services delivered through data centers and built on servers with different levels of virtualization technologies. The services are accessible from various locations that provide access to networking infrastructure. Clouds often appear as single points of access for all consumers' computing needs.
Cloud computing is quickly becoming the platform of choice for businesses that want to reduce operating expenses and be able to scale resources rapidly. Eased automation, flexibility, mobility, resiliency, and redundancy are several other advantages of moving resources to the cloud. On-premise private clouds permit businesses to take advantage of cloud technologies while remaining on a private network. Public clouds permit businesses to make use of resources provided by third party vendors. Hybrid clouds permit the best of both public and private cloud computing models. Many organizations are being introduced to cloud computing by building an on-premise Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) cloud, which delivers computing, storage, and networking resources to users. Some organizations utilize cloud computing technology in an evolutionary way that leverages and extends their existing infrastructure and maintains portability across different technology stacks and providers.
One or more physical host machines or virtual machines (VMs) may be employed in a cloud (hereinafter referred to as "nodes"). For VMs, each VM may function as a self-contained platform, running its own operating system (OS) and software applications (processes). Typically, a virtual machine monitor (VMM) manages allocation and virtualization of computer resources and performs context switching, as may be necessary, to cycle between various VMs. Virtualization systems provide a potential means to access computing resources in a confidential and anonymous way.
High availability, when applied to computer systems in general and cloud computing systems in particular, refers to the application of well-known techniques to improve availability (A) as defined by the equation A=MTBF/(MTTR+MTBF), where MTTR refers to mean time to recovery and MTBF refers to mean time between failures. MTBF is the predicted elapsed time between inherent failures of a system during operation. MTTR is the average time that a device may take to recover from any failure. Reducing MTTR may include the automation of manual operations of activities such as, but not limited to, fault detection, fault isolation, fault recovery, and administrative repair.
For software, increasing MTBF may include, but is not limited to, technical source code reviews, high quality automated validation, minimizing complexity, and employing software engineers having a mixture of levels of experience. For hardware, increasing MTBF may include, but is not limited to, using higher quality components, preemptively replacing hardware components prior to predicted wear out, and employing a sufficient burn in period to remove infant mortalities from a product delivery stream.
In current cloud computing systems, a management component of the cloud computing system typically polls for data concerning the health of managed components from one centralized location. These managed components may be nodes which may include one or more virtual machines in a network infrastructure. The centralized management component may periodically poll a node for state information, such as how much memory is consumed, how much disk space is consumed, the system load, or other details over the network. The management component then applies a policy to detect if a node is faulty, (e.g., the memory consumed is greater then 98%) based on data returned by the node.
Periodically polling nodes for state information and having a node transmit back to the management component state results may consume significant network resources and slow the time required to detect a failure. The slower detection time results in a higher MTTR and results in lower availability.


A transition channel between a first turbine section and a second turbine section for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The channel includes a first radially external annular wall including ring sector elements housed inside an annular ring and orifices for injecting a fluid into the channel in order to re-energize the boundary layer thereof, a second radially internal annular wall, and a fluid supply device arranged between the space outside the ring and the injection orifices.

A multiple-bodied gas turbine engine comprises assemblies rotating independently of one another usually about one and the same axis. For example, a double-bodied engine comprises two assemblies, one called high pressure and the other low pressure. The high pressure body consists of a compressor and a turbine mounted on one and the same shaft. The high pressure compressor supplies the combustion chamber with air which itself delivers the combustion gases to the high pressure turbine. The low pressure body comprises a low pressure turbine receiving, through a channel called the transition channel and where necessary a distributor, the gases that have undergone a first expansion in the high pressure turbine.
One of the means of increasing the output of the low pressure turbine consists in reducing the aerodynamic load via an increase in the average radius of the latter. The radius of the high pressure turbine remaining unchanged, it follows that the geometry of the transition channel between the high pressure, HP, turbine and the low pressure BP, turbine is therefore to be adapted between its section for the inlet of the gases originating from the high pressure turbine and its outlet section emerging into the distributor for supplying the low pressure turbine. For aero engines, because of space and weight constraints, it is not opportune to lengthen the transition channel; it follows that the walls of the latter must have steep slopes and arrange a considerable diffusion. A limit is however imposed by the quality of flow that is to be retained at the walls; the thickening and even the detachment of the boundary layer must be avoided.
If the limits of slope and diffusion in the swan neck formed by the transition channel are exceeded, detachments of the boundary layer occur that are an unfavorable factor for the performance of the turbine. That would cancel out the gain provided by the increase in the average radius of the low pressure turbine.
To remedy this problem, a solution consists in re-energizing the boundary layer at the walls in order to prevent detachments of the boundary layer, by injecting a flow of fluid into the boundary layer.
Such a solution therefore allows the adoption of a transition channel from the HP turbine to the BP turbine:                with a steep slope in order to increase the average radius of the turbine and hence the output,        with high diffusion in order to reduce the losses generated by the distributor of the low pressure turbine and hence increase the output of the BP turbine.
This solution is appropriate for any transition channel between two turbine sections, not only between the HP section and the BP section immediately downstream.

Transition channel between two turbine stages


A system includes a digital to analog converter, a power amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter, a filter, and a pre-distortion module. The digital to analog converter generates analog data based on digital data. The power amplifier generates output data based on the analog data. The analog-to-digital converter generates samples based on the output data at a sampling rate less than a Nyquist sampling rate. The filter filters the digital data and generates filtered data. The pre-distortion module distorts the digital data based on the samples and the filtered data to compensate for distortion generated by the power amplifier.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) systems are used in Radio Frequency (RF) transmitters to cancel distortions in a power amplifier (PA) stage. The DPD typically uses an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) in an observation loop. In DPD systems, the ADC conversion rate has to follow Nyquist sampling requirements for the bandwidth of the transmit signal multiplied by the order of the DPD. In modern communication systems, the ADC in the observation loop may have to capture up to 1 GHz of bandwidth. This requirement pushes the limits of current technology and increases the cost of the DPD systems.

Digital pre-distortion system for radio frequency transmitters with reduced sampling rate in observation loop


Methods and systems for tracking objects are provided. A method includes: accessing, by a tracking server, a secure database that stores data about an object of personal property; determining, by the tracking server and from the data about the object, that a tracking state of the object is set to ON; obtaining, by the tracking server and in response to the determining, altitude data from an altitude sensor of an Internet of Things (IoT) device associated with the object; comparing, by the tracking server, the altitude data to a predefined criteria; and repeating, by the tracking server, the obtaining and the comparing until one of: the altitude data satisfies the predefined criteria, or the tracking state of the object is set to OFF.

The present invention generally relates to securing property and, more particularly, to methods and systems for preventing anonymous theft of property by drones.
Drones (also referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs) have become increasingly available to the public. A drone provides a mechanism for a user to perform certain tasks remotely, i.e., without the user being physical present at the location of the task being performed. Concurrently with the rise of popularity and accessibility of drones, online shopping and associated package delivery to residences and places of business has gained immense popularity in recent times.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A skateboard truck assembly comprising a base plate, a hanger, and at least one tensional and/or compressible member interposed therebetween that utilizes rotation of the hanger to at least partially and temporarily deform the tensional and/or compressible member, thereby creating zones of tension and/or compression within the tensional and/or compressible member and facilitating smooth, near frictionless, and efficient motion of the skateboard.

In addition to securing the wheels of a skateboard to its deck, the skateboard truck assembly plays an important role in the overall maneuverability of the skateboard, including, in particular, the rider's ability to control the direction of the board's travel. Several types of skateboard trucks exist and its ultimate design is subject to significant variation. However, in general, most truck assemblies tend to operate on the basic principle that a change in the rider's position on the board (e.g., through a shift in weight or "pumping" one's legs) can be at least partially translated to a change in the direction of the skateboard's motion. Many conventional truck assemblies, however, exhibit a variety of drawbacks that can adversely impact the operation of the skateboard—both in terms of rider flexibility and performance and, in some cases, rider safety. For example, conventional trucks place an extreme amount of stress on the reverse kingpin, which can oftentimes result in failed or broken parts. This creates a hazardous situation for the rider. In addition, many traditionally-designed skateboard trucks geometrically limit the skateboard's turning ability, which is the method used to slow the skateboard down when riding on uneven or sloped (e.g., mountainous) terrain. Conventional trucks can only exhibit a tighter turning radius when the truck is loosened, which consequently reduces stability, especially at high speeds. This is extremely dangerous, as it can cause "speed wobble," which can result in severe injury or even death. Thus, a need exists for a robust, yet versatile, skateboard truck design that maximizes the turning ability and performance of the skateboard, while retaining a suitable degree of stability and, ultimately, enhancing both rider control and safety.


An orally ingested composition for prevention, stabilization, reversal and treatment of cancer. Most notably, a nutrient compositions for the treatment of cancer containing omega 3 fatty acids, polysaccharide dietary fibers and coenzyme Q10.

This application relates to a composition for the prevention, stabilization, reversal and treatment of cancer. An orally ingested composition is provided which contains effective amounts of nutrients which have been demonstrated to provide unique health benefits. The formulation significantly increases immune function thus allowing immune cells to kill cancer cells. The formulation also prevents metastases which is the main reason people die from cancer.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a unique formulation which stops these cancer cells from harming individuals.
The key to the unique formulation is a combination of specific nutrients that help to prevent, protect and neutralize cancer cells which appear in the body. These nutrients, namely Omega 3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid, or docosahexaenoic acid, and optionally, Vitamin E restore immunodeficiency and prolong survival for severely ill patients with general malignancy. Polysaccharide dietary fiber from rice bran(hemicellulose B) with the enzymatic extract of Shiitake mushroom and Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) help regress metastases. The three essential components work together to synergistically prevent and fight malignancy by boosting the body""s immune system.

Cancer immune composition for prevention and treatment of individuals


A magnetic tape cartridge, particularly for use in a digital audio tape player, which includes a lock mechanism for avoiding an arbitrary motion of any one of the reels within the cartridge so as to avoid an undesirable loosening of a length of the magnetic tape extending between the reels, The lock mechanism including a lock member normally biased to a lock position and having lock pawls normally engaged with toothed lock wheels integral with the respective reels, at least one stopper rod protruding from one end of the lock member and terminating in alignment with a free end of a corresponding one of hinge arms integral with a front cover used to selectively open and close a front opening of the cartridge such that so long as the front cover is in position to close the front opening, the free end of the stopper rod is positioned in close proximity to the corresponding hinge arm to keep the lock member immovable even when a drastic impact acts on the tape cartridge tending the lock member to move from the locked position towards an unlocked position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tape cartridge accommodating a rolled length of magnetic recording tape and, more particularly, to a tape cartridge having a reel lock mechanism to keep reels immovable when the tape cartridge is not in use.
2. Description of the Related Art
DAT tape cartridges, that is, tape cartridges specifically designed for use with a digital audio tape (DAT) player, are generally provided with a reel lock mechanism to keep reels immovable when the tape cartridge is not in use. This type of reel lock mechanism is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-open Utility Model Publication No. 63-191483, published in 1988, and this known reel lock mechanism will now be discussed with the aid of FIGS. 20a and 20b of the drawings annexed hereto.
As is well known, the tape cartridge of the type to which the present invention pertains is generally standardized in size and configuration so that it can be used with the commercially available digital audio tape player. This tape cartridge comprises a generally rectangular box-like casing 1 including rectangular top and bottom walls and a peripheral wall disposed between the top and bottom walls to keep the top and bottom walls spaced apart a distance enough to accommodate a length of magnetic recording tape within the casing, the peripheral wall including a hingedly supported front wall section or front cover 6, a rear wall section opposite to the front cover and a pair of side wall sections, all assembled together with the top and bottom walls to render the cartridge to represent a generally rectangular, generally flattened box-like configuration.
In practice, the casing 1 is divided into two casing halves along a plane generally intermediate of the thickness of the peripheral wall.
Within the casing 1, there is disposed a pair of freely rotatable reels 3, each generally in the form of a cylindrical hub, to which opposite ends of the length of magnetic recording tape 2 are anchored respectively, and a pair of guide rollers 5 rotatably disposed within the casing 1 at respective corner areas adjacent the front cover 6 so as to permit a portion of the length of magnetic recording tape 2 between the guide rollers 5 to extend generally parallel to the front cover 6.
As shown in FIGS. 20a and 20b, the reel lock mechanism employed in the prior art DAT tape cartridge is housed within the casing 1 and is cooperable with any one of toothed lock wheels 8 each formed integrally with one end of the associated reel 3. This reel lock mechanism includes a generally elongated, thin-walled lock member 9 extending widthwise of the casing 1 and between the opposite side wall sections of the casing 1 for movement between unlocked and locked positions in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the lock member 9. The lock member 9 has lock pawls 11 formed integrally therewith so as to protrude outwardly therefrom for engagement with the corresponding toothed lock wheels 8 integral with the respective reels 3.
The lock member 9 is normally biased towards the lock position by a wire spring 10 and has its opposite ends connected or integrally formed with respective traction arms 12 extending perpendicular to the lock member 9. Respective free ends of the traction arms 12 are operatively associated with the front cover 6 so that, when the front cover 6 is opened to allow that portion of the length of magnetic recording tape 2 to be exposed to the outside, the lock member 9 can be retraced against the resiliency of the wire spring 10 towards the unlock position with the lock pawls 11 consequently disengaging from the associated toothed lock wheels 8, but when the front cover 6 is closed to conceal that portion of the length of magnetic recording tape 2, the lock member 9 can be urged by the wire spring 10 to the lock position with the lock pawls 11 consequently engaged with the toothed lock wheels 8.
To operatively couple the free ends of the front cover 6, respective hinge arms 6b protruding transversely from opposite ends of the front cover 6 have their inner surfaces formed with associated operating ribs 16. So long as the lock member 9 is held in the lock position, the lock pawls 11 are engaged with the associated toothed lock wheels 8 integral with the reels 3 and, therefore, the reels 3 are held immovable to avoid any possible loosening of the length of magnetic recording tape 2.
With the reel lock mechanism wherein the biasing force of the wire spring 10 is utilized to keep the lock member 9 in the lock position, the lock pawls 11 integral with the lock member 9 will not disengage from the associated toothed lock wheels 8 so long as the tape cartridge is handled normally. However, when an excessive external force such as an impact on the tape cartridge as a result of, for example, an accidental fall of the tape cartridge onto an indoor or outdoor ground surface, the reels 3 may be instantaneously rattled enough to cause the lock member 9 to be undesirably displaced against the resiliency of the wire spring 10. Once this occur, the lock pawls 11 are disengaged from the associated toothed lock wheels 8, permitting the reels 3 to rotate idle, resulting in a loosening of the length of magnetic recording tape 2 that is turned around those reels 3.
When the tape cartridge in which the length of magnetic recording tape 2 has been loosened in the manner described above is loaded into a digital audio tape player, the length of magnetic recording tape may be undesirably bent and/or caught by loading pins employed in the digital audio tape player to pull that portion of the length of magnetic recording tape outwardly from the casing, eventually resulting in a detrimental problem in that the tape cartridge may be no longer usable and/or a tape loading mechanism in the digital audio tape player may be impaired.


A connection system implantable within a living body having an exterior skin includes a male connector and a female connector. The male connector includes a shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft having an exterior surface surrounding the axis, at least one shaft contact carried on the shaft and exposed at the exterior surface, and a retaining element mounted to the shaft. The female connector includes a structure defining a bore extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end, at least one bore contact mounted to the structure and exposed within the bore and a catch element mounted to the structure. The catch and retaining elements allow the shaft to be inserted into the bore to align the contacts. A locking element rotatably locks the shaft in the bore. A method of implanting the system is also provided.

In certain disease states, the heart lacks sufficient pumping capacity to maintain adequate blood flow to the body's organs and tissues. For example, conditions such as ischemic heart disease and hypertension may leave the heart unable to fill and pump efficiently. This condition, also called congestive heart failure, may lead to serious health complications and even death. In fact, congestive heart failure is one of the major causes of death in the Western world.
This inadequacy of the heart can be alleviated by providing a mechanical pump also referred to as a ventricular assist device ("VAD") to supplement the pumping action of the heart. VADs may be used to assist the right ventricle, the left ventricle, or both. For example, a VAD may assist the left ventricle by mechanically pumping oxygenated blood from the left ventricle into the aorta. In this case, the pump is implanted within the body of the patient so that an inflow opening of the pump communicates with the left ventricle, and an outflow opening of the pump communicates with the aorta. The pump receives blood from the left ventricle and then pushes it into the aorta for distribution throughout the body. This reduces the strain on the heart by reducing the volume of blood that the heart is responsible for moving. A VAD having an inflow opening communicating with the right ventricle and an outflow opening communicating with a pulmonary artery may be used to assist the right ventricle.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,575,423, 7,976,271, 8,007,254, and 8,419,609, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference, disclose certain rotary blood pumps which can be used as ventricular assist devices. These pumps are electrically powered. Typically, these and other electrically powered implantable pumps are connected through a cable, commonly referred to as a "driveline," to a control device which supplies electric power to the pump and controls its operation. The control device is often external to the patient's body, in which case the driveline must extend out of the body via a skin opening. The control device must usually provide continuous electric power over the driveline. This power must be provided at relatively high current (0.5-2.0 Amps) and moderate voltage (3-40 Volts) for extended periods of time, such as years or decades, without losing electrical continuity and creating heat losses due to resistance that would cause physiological complications.
The driveline must withstand movement of the surrounding body tissues and contamination by body fluids. Separable connectors generally have been regarded as not providing the requisite combination of current carrying capacity, reliability and durability in this demanding environment. The drivelines used heretofore typically have been made as continuous cables, without any separable connections at least in that portion of the driveline that extends within the body of the patient.
Because any skin opening provides a natural means for bacteria or other contaminants to enter the body, infections can occur at the skin opening. If such an infection occurs, then it may become necessary to remove or replace the driveline from the skin opening to permit proper treatment of the infection. Where the driveline is a continuous element, there is presently no way to effect these treatments without subjecting the patient to a major surgery. Typically, a surgeon must remove the entirety of the existing driveline, including the portion adjacent the VAD, in order to route the new driveline through a new skin opening that is remote from the infection.
It has also been proposed to use implanted control devices that receive power from an external source by means of an implanted induction coil, without a permanent skin-penetrating connection. In such an arrangement, the control device and the entire driveline are disposed within the body. It would be desirable to provide a separable connector at one or both ends of such a driveline to facilitate threading of the driveline through the body during installation.
Therefore, further need exists for improvements in drivelines and connection systems.


An antiskid pressure reducing device for a vehicle which lowers braking pressure to prevent wheels of the vehicle from coming into a locked state during brake application to the vehicle. A plunger, which moves back and forth as differential pressure between a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber increases or decreases, is arranged to slide to some extent within a cylinder during brake application which is frequently performed so that the plunger can be prevented from being stuck to the cylinder by rust to keep it unfailingly slidable for antiskid pressure reducing operations.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an antiskid pressure reducing device which lowers braking pressure to prevent wheels of a vehicle from coming into a locked state during brake application to the vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, an antiskid pressure reducing device of the above stated type is provided with a power piston of a differential pressure motor, the power piston being arranged to move back and forth according as differential pressure between a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber increases or decreases; a plunger which is arranged to have one end thereof pressed to engage with the power piston by a hydraulic action of a pressure reducing chamber inserted in a braking hydraulic pressure transmission line, the plunger thus being arranged to follow the forward and backward movement of the power piston; and a valve mechanism which is arranged to open and close the braking hydraulic pressure transmission line according as the plunger moves following the power piston. When an antiskid control circuit detects a skidding state of a wheel during a braking operation on a vehicle, the differential pressure between the high and low pressure chambers of the differential pressure motor is increased to have the power piston move forward and, since there has thus taken place a hydraulic action in the pressure reducing chamber then, the plunger follows the forward movement of the power piston to cause the valve mechanism to shut off the braking hydraulic flow line. Then, the volume of the pressure reducing chamber is increased to lower the braking hydraulic pressure. Following that, when the wheel is released from the locked state, the differential pressure between the higher and lower pressure chambers of the differential pressure motor is lowered to allow the braking hydraulic pressure again to increase by an action opposite to the action performed for reduction in the braking hydraulic pressure; and then the valve mechanism is caused again to open the flow line.
In such arrangement, in order to ensure a satisfactory operation, it is necessary to keep the plunger slidable following the power piston without fail. The antiskid pressure reducing device of this type is generally arranged to operate when a vehicle is on a road surface having low frictional resistance. In reality, the use of the device is seldom required with the exception of a winter season during which road surfaces are frozen. Accordingly, the plunger which is made of metal is usually left unused over a long period of time and thus tends to rust and stick to the cylinder with which it is arranged to slidably engage. The probability of such sticking of the plunger has been presenting a threat of malfunction of the antiskid device. Further, the conventional antiskid pressure reducing devices have been provided with operation check mechanisms. However, most of these check mechanisms have been arranged to check up the operation of a power cylinder. They are not arranged to perform a check-up action under a condition in which braking hydraulic pressure is actually applied and, in effect, have not been performing any check-up for the sliding movability of the plunger.


The present invention relates to a novel coextrusion coating for paper or paperboard substrates. The coextrusion includes a nonpolar polymer layer and a thin exterior skin layer made up of a nonpolar polymer and a polar copolymer. The addition of the polar polymer improves long term treatment level retention which improves long term wettability for printing and gluing adhesion during package or carton formation.

This invention relates to the use of polar copolymer/nonpolar polymer blends as thermoplastic outer surface coating layers for paper and paperboard products. The novel coatings function to: maintain acceptable treatment levels over a long period of time; have normal heat-sealing properties; and have good gluing and printing characteristics.
Exterior coatings which have been applied to paper and/or paperboard layers function to provide surfaces for heat-sealing with interior laminate layers during package formation steps. They also function as an exterior moisture barrier. Additionally, these exterior coating layers are surfaces which must be printable and receptive to gluing operations.
Typically, the outer or exterior coating layer for a paper or paperboard substrate has consisted of a nonpolar thermoplastic polyolefin polymer. Common polymers utilized for these coating layers are polymers such as low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, linear medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, as well as blends thereof. These commonly used polymers, all nonpolar in nature, are economically desirable and heat-seal well with like nonpolar polymers, which are often utilized either alone or coextruded with barrier polymers for an interior layer of a laminate packaging, or container structure.
These commonly used nonpolar polymers cause problems during carton printing especially when water based polar inks are used. These water based polar inks do not adhere well to the commonly used nonpolar polymer coating layer. Additionally, significant problems occur during gluing, due to the nonpolar nature of the coating layer. These water based materials will "bead-up" on the surface of the nonpolar polymer coatings. As a result, poor coverage and adhesion occurs.
In the past, corona discharge treatment or flame treatment of the coating layer has been employed to improve the wettability of the nonpolar polymer layer. The surface characteristics of these nonpolar polymer coatings can be modified by corona discharge or direct flame treatment to make the surface more polar, and therefore, more wettable by water based inks and glues. This treatment is required for good ink adhesion in printing, and for good glue adhesion for package sealing. Corona discharge treatment levels and, to a lesser degree, direct flame treatment levels, which are directly proportional to wettability, decline proportionally over time. Extrusion coaters frequently treat production to very high levels with the intention that the customer receive an acceptable treatment level after the normal delays of shipping and storage. However, corona discharge treating of nonpolar polymers to very high levels often results in the production of numerous polymer pinholes. These pinholes are formed by burning through the web due to treater arcing. Such pinholes compromise package integrity. Treatment loss is a particular problem on material stored for long periods of time, or shipped overseas, due to the long transit time. Transit time can result in delays of several months to a year from the time of production to the time of printing and converting. Consequently, pretreated coatings must be retreated to raise the dissipated treatment levels. Such pretreatment is time-consuming and expensive.
The use of direct flame treatment produces a more permanent treatment level, but often results in streaks, loss of gloss, or other imperfections in high-gloss polyethylene or polypropylene surfaces.
The need for water-wettable printing surfaces on nonpolar polymers has increased. In the past, printers and converters could use solvent based inks and glues to get satisfactory adhesion to untreated nonpolar polymer surfaces. These solvent based inks and glues cause environmental problems due to solvent emissions into the air resulting from ink and glue drying and waste water stream pollution from press clean up. As a result, most printing and converting operations have changed to water based inks and glues, rather than installing expansive and expensive solvent recovery and clean up systems.
It is an objective of the present invention to economically produce thermoplastic type polymer coated paper or paperboard products that maintain treatment levels over a long period of time.
It is a further object of the present invention to economically produce thermoplastic type polymer coated paper or paperboard products that have normal heat sealing, gluing, and printing characteristics.
Applicant is owner of numerous patents which relate to paper or paperboard coated products such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,698,246; 4,701,360; 4,789,575; 4,802,943; 4,806,399; 4,859,513; 4,861,526; 4,880,701; 4,888,222; 4,921,733; and 4,929,476. These laminate structures use polyethylene, polypropylene, and other nonpolar polymers as an exterior coating layer.

Paperboard laminates having polar copolymer/nonpolar polymer blend surface coatings


Carbamates are prepared from organic cabonates and aromatic amines in the presence of zinc or tin salts of monovalent organic compounds having a pKa value of at least 2.8 such as zinc naphthenate and which are soluble at the reaction conditions.

Lewis acids have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,217 as being suitable catalysts for reacting an organic carbonate with an aromatic amine to prepare carbamates.
It has been unexpectedly discovered that zinc and divalent tin salts provide the desired carbamates in higher yields and/or selectivity than the particular Lewis acids disclosed by Brill in U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,217.

Preparation of carbamates from aromatic amines and organic carbonates


A compact disc package made of double paneled paper board and including a base panel assembly and a cover panel assembly that are joined by an edge panel and will fold to overlie each other and to open by hinging at the edge panel. The base panel assembly formed such that the double walls of the base panel assembly are unattached in corner portions of such panel assembly and slots are provided to permit access to a space between the double walls. An insert, which is slightly smaller than the base panel assembly, is flexible such that its corner portions can be inserted through the slots into the spaces between the walls of the inner and outer base panels. The insert includes retainers for holding a compact disc in position on the base panel assembly while the cover panel assembly is hinged over the insert and a compact disc on the insert.

The present invention relates to a separable holder for a compact disc and a paper board package which is made of recyclable materials that encloses, supports, and protects the compact disc.
Compact discs are used for a wide variety of different applications, including storing digitally recorded music, and for read only memory (ROM) devices for computers. Traditionally the discs are packaged in an all plastic boxes, known as a "jewel boxes", which are fragile and not easily shipped, and require special efforts to recycle.
A recent development for packaging is a flexible clear plastic adapter insert that holds a compact disc supported on a center hub and at the disc. The adapter insert mounts in a recyclable paper board package in the present invention.
Compact discs have been packaged in paper board jackets, but generally the jackets form a sleeve or chamber which has one open edge through which a compact disc can be slid into the interior chamber. Paper board jackets have the advantages of being recyclable, inexpensive, light weight, and easily mailable, as well as being easily printed. A paper board compact disc jacket is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,032. A compact disc holder and a package for the disc holder are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,405. A substantial number of panels are used for forming the jacket.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A flattable seat structure of an automobile includes: a slide rail fixed to a floor of the automobile; a seat cushion having a front roller which is engaged with the slide rail in a front-and-rear direction slidably; a first lock mechanism for maintaining the seat cushion in a seated state; a seat back having a lower-end roller which is engaged with the slide rail in the front-and-rear direction slidably; a second lock mechanism for maintaining the seat back in a seated state; a cushion link connected with a middle fulcrum of the seat cushion and connected with a middle portion of the slide rail; and a back link whose one end is connected with a middle fulcrum of the seat back positioned in an upper side further than the lower-end roller, the other end of the back link being connected with the middle portion of the slide rail. In the construction, after the first and second lock mechanism are released, a back surface of the seat cushion and a rear surface of the seat back are facing and in a same horizontal level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flattable seat structure of an automobile.
2. Description of Relevant Art
In general, some seats of an automobile have a flat structure which enables a seat cushion and a seat back to be substantially level with each other horizontally for a rest and a good sleep and for wide utilization of a space in an automobile.
As known in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 7-27239, in such a flat structure, a seat cushion pivots on its front-end fulcrum to a front side so as to be in a horizontally inverted state, and a seat back pivots on the lower-end fulcrum to the front side so as to be in a horizontally front-folded state. As a result, a rear surface of the seat cushion and a back surface of the seat back are substantially level with each other to form a flat surface.
However, in such a conventional art, since the seat cushion is constituted so as to be inverted to the front side on its front-end fulcrum, the flat seat is projected front by a whole length of the seat cushion. Therefore, it is difficult to apply this conventional structure to an automobile which does not have an enough space in a front side of the seat.


The water-based recording ink according to the present invention comprises water, a pigment, a water-soluble homopolymer and a copolymer having both a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion.. The ink according to the present invention can provide a print having excellent density, light fastness and water resistance. Furthermore, the water-based recording ink has such various properties necessary for use as an ink jet recording ink that it does not clog a fine ejection nozzle, has excellent rubbing resistance and setting to dry in the print, is free from aggregation or settlement of solid matter, such as a pigment particle, and exhibits no change in the properties of the ink even when stored at a high temperature or a low temperature for a long period of time and can be redispersed by stirring or further addition of a solvent even when the pigment once aggregated.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a water-based ink containing a pigment as a coloring material and used for an ink jet printer wherein recording is conducted with a liquid ink.
2. Background Art
In the prior art, an ink comprising water, an organic solvent, a wax or other substance and, dissolved therein, a dye as a coloring agent has been mainly used as an ink for ink jet recording. Such an ink has poor light fastness and water resistance derived from properties of the dye. In order to solve this problem, a proposal has been made on an ink wherein a pigment, such as carbon black or aniline black, was used as the coloring agent. For example, an ink containing a water-soluble polymer in addition to the pigment is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 15542/1989 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 63766/1983, 255875/1990 and 276874/1990.
An ink of a water dispersion system can improve printing density, light fastness and water resistance, etc. as compared with an ink of a dye system. The ink for ink jet recording, however, should have properties such that it does not clog a fine ejection nozzle, has excellent rubbing resistance and setting to dry in the print, is free from aggregation or settlement of solid matter, such as a pigment particle, and exhibits no change in the properties of the ink even when stored at a high temperature or a low temperature for a long period of time and can be redispersed by stirring or further addition of a solvent even when the pigment once aggregated.
The above conventional inks have not yet satisfied all the property requirements of an ink jet printer.