An original reading apparatus which prevents lamp blackening includes a lamp for illuminating the original, and reading circuitry for reading an image formed on the illuminated original. Control circuitry is provided to apply to the lamp a first predetermined voltage after reading the image formed on the original has been completed, if a voltage applied to the lamp at the time of original image reading is lower than a second predetermined voltage. The first predetermined voltage is higher than the voltage applied to the lamp at the time of the original image reading.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for reading an original.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a known original reading apparatus, a transmission type of original such as a negative or positive film is illuminated by a halogen lamp, and light transmitted through the original is projected on a projection surface to form an image thereon. The projection surface is disposed, for example, above a reading means such as a CCD (charge coupled device), thereby enabling the projected image formed on the projection surface to be read. In an arrangement enabling reading of an projected image, there is a possibility of the density of the image varying depending on the type of film used as the transmission original or on the state of exposure when the image is picked up from the film. To minimize reading failures caused thereby, a control operation is carried out, which changes the voltage applied to the halogen lamp that illuminates the transmission original on the basis of a signal corresponding to the density of the original so as to enable the original to be read.
This control is performed in such a manner that, in the case of a negative film formed by over-exposure, the voltage applied to the halogen lamp is heightened to increase the quantity of light emitted from the lamp, or that, in the case of a negative film formed by under-exposure, the voltage applied to the halogen lamp is lowered to reduce the quantity of emitted light. In the case of a positive film, the control is such that the voltage applied to the halogen lamp is lowered since the transmittance of the positive film is larger than that of an ordinary negative film.
However, if, in this conventional method, the voltage applied to the halogen lamp is lowered, the value of calorification from the filament of the halogen lamp is reduced, and the temperature of the lamp wall decreases so that the halogen cycle is not smoothly effected and halogen compounds blacken the inner surface of the lamp wall by attaching thereto, resulting in a reduction in the amount of illumination light or in unevenness of light quantity distribution.

Original reading apparatus applying a lamp voltage to correct lamp blackening


According to some embodiments, an emission tomography scanner may acquire emission scan data. One or more anatomical images may be generated using an anatomical imaging system, and the anatomical images may be processed to obtain an initial attenuation image. An emission image and a corrected attenuation image may be jointly reconstructed from the acquired emission scan data, the corrected attenuation image representing a deformation of the initial attenuation image. A final reconstructed emission image may then be calculated based on the reconstructed emission image and/or the corrected attenuation image. The final reconstructed emission image may then be stored in a data storage system and/or displayed on a display system.

The invention relates generally to tomographic imaging and, more particularly, to methods and systems for correcting for motion-induced attenuation mismatch for use in tomographic imaging.
Tomographic imaging has become an integral part of healthcare services. Examples of tomographic imaging include Positron Emission Tomography ("PET") imaging, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography ("SPECT") imaging, X-ray Computed Tomography ("CT") imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI"). In CT imaging, X-rays are propagated through the body and are detected on the other side of the body. The X-rays are attenuated to different degrees depending on encountered bodily structures, resulting in an image showing the structural features of the body. MRI also creates images of the internal structures of the human body by exploiting the property of nuclear magnetic resonance. MRI provides good contrast resolution by using various optimized radio frequency pulse sequences. Note, however, that CT imaging or MRI is not particularly sensitive to biological processes and functions.
On the other hand, PET or SPECT imaging produces images of various biological processes and functions. In PET imaging, a solution including a tracer is injected into a subject or patient to be scanned. The tracer is a pharmaceutical compound including a radioisotope with a relatively short half-life, such as 18F-Fluoro-2-Deoxyglucose ("FDG"), which is a type of sugar that includes radioactive fluorine. The tracer can be adapted such that it is attracted to sites such as lesions within the subject where specific biological or biochemical processes occur. The tracer moves to and is typically taken up in one or more organs of the subject in which these biological and biochemical processes occur. For example, cancer cells may metabolize the tracer, allowing the PET scanner to create an image illuminating the cancerous region. When the radioisotope decays, it emits a positron, which travels a short distance before annihilating with an electron. The short distance, also referred to as the positron range, is typically of the order of 1 mm for FDG in common subjects. The annihilation produces two high-energy photons propagating in substantially opposite directions.
PET imaging uses a photon detector array arranged around a scanning area, usually in a ring-shaped pattern, in which the subject or at least the part of interest of the subject is arranged. When the detector array detects two photons within a short timing window, a so-called "coincidence" is recorded. The line connecting the two detectors that received the photons is called the Line Of Response ("LOR"). The reconstruction of the image is based on the premise that the decayed radioisotope is located somewhere on the LOR. The relatively short positron range may be neglected or may be compensated for in the reconstruction. Each coincidence may be recorded in a list by three entries: two entries representing the two detectors and one entry representing the time of detection. The coincidences in the list may be grouped in one or more sinograms. A sinogram is typically processed using image reconstruction algorithms to obtain volumetric medical images of the subject. However, PET imaging does not generally provide structural details as well as other types of scanners such as CT and MRI scanners.
A PET-CT scanner includes both a CT scanner and a PET scanner installed around a single patient bore. A PET-CT scanner creates a fused image including a PET image spatially registered to a CT image. PET-CT scanners provide the advantage that the functional and biological features shown by the PET scan may be precisely located with respect to the structure illuminated by the CT scan. In a typical PET-CT scan, the patient first undergoes a CT scan, and then the patient undergoes a PET scan before exiting the scanner. After the CT and PET data have been acquired, the PET-CT scanner processes the data and generates a fused PET-CT image.
Patient motion, such as motion due to respiration, may be a significant factor in degrading the quantitative integrity of PET images. Respiratory motion may result in artifacts and/or contrast dilution of lesions from motion blurring. Respiratory-gated acquisition of PET data can reduce motion blur. In a respiratory-gated acquisition, the data is partitioned during each respiratory cycle to produce independent PET images for each partition or gate. Each of these PET images may have reduced motion blur compared to the un-gated image. However, the reduction in blur may come at the expense of increased image noise because each gate has fewer counts than the un-gated image. A PET image, nearly free of respiratory motion, with an improved signal to noise ratio may be generated by an RRA (Reconstruct, Register and Average) procedure wherein the PET images reconstructed independently for each gate are registered and then averaged.
For accurate PET quantitation, it is important to correct for both photon attenuation and respiratory motion. Although the RRA approach using respiratory gated PET data may address respiratory motion blur, a respiratory phase mismatch may exist between an attenuation image that is used in a PET image reconstruction process and each respiratory gated PET data set since the attenuation image may be obtained from a CT image, which is usually taken while the subject is holding his or her breath. This mismatch may generate undesirable artifacts in reconstructed PET images for each gate or the output PET image of the RRA approach, preventing accurate PET quantitation.
It would therefore be desirable to enhance quantitative accuracy in tomographic imaging by providing both attenuation and motion correction in an accurate manner.

System and method reconstructing a nuclear medicine image using deformed attenuation image


Devices with non-binding linear slides include: (a) a device body and first and second spaced apart linear rails held in the device body; (b) first and second spaced apart (rail) pathways held in cooperating alignment with the rails in the body, a respective one engaged with a respective one of the first and second linear rails that define spaced apart contact points; and (c) a translating actuation (e.g., input) member held by the body in communication with the rails. The actuation (e.g., input) member has a configuration that can generate off-center loads associated with forces applied at different positions of the actuation (e.g., input) member. Only one pathway and rail pair guides linear movement for the first and second force positions to thereby inhibit frictional binding.

Various electric devices including cordless electric power tools are well-known. Examples of such tools include, but are not limited to, drills, drill drivers, impact wrenches, grease guns and the like. Such devices can use releasable, typically rechargeable, battery packs or other inputs such as triggers that can be subject to off-center loads that may undesirably cause frictional binding or locking.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Devices including power tools with non-binding linear slides and associated methods


An expandable filing container which has a front panel, a back panel and an expandable connecting panel connecting the front and back panels. Hinged panels or flaps are positioned inside at each end of the container near the connecting panel. When the connecting panel is expanded to accommodate material in the container, the flaps are folded toward the connecting panel and are positioned between the front and back panels. A plurality of different degrees of expansion of the connecting panel, and flaps may be positioned at various locations inside the container to divide the container into compartments.

The present invention relates to filing products, and in particular relates to filing containers which have expandable sidewalls.
To provide a filing container with expandable or "gussetted" (as they are commonly referred to) sidewalls is well known in the art. The gussets allow the containers to expand easily and accommodate increasing volumes of material, but at the same, the flexible nature of the sidewalls permits the container to maintain a profile only as large as is necessary to accommodate the material there inside. There is, therefore, a corresponding saving in filing space, since the container in generally only slightly thicker than its contents.
These expandable file containers function well when small quantities of material are inserted therein, but as more and more material is inserted, the gussets are ultimately forced outward. This outward bulging quickly presents problems in inserting the container into file drawers, and moreover, important problems arise when these containers are stored in power files. The bulging sidewalls begin to interfere with the electric eye or other sensing mechanisms which control the devices since they cause the container to project further than its general dimensions.
At the present time, these types of file containers enjoy much commercial success, and this inconvenience of the "bulging gussets" must simply be coped with in light of the benefits attained.


A method for controlling a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having electronically controlled airflow comprising limiting a currently available maximum engine torque below maximum torque based on a limited torque output condition, the limited torque output condition not being based on current ambient temperature or pressure conditions. The method also includes determining a driver demanded torque based on a current throttle position. The method further includes controlling the engine to deliver the driver demand torque if the internal engine condition does not indicate the limited torque output condition or to deliver a calibratable percentage of the currently available maximum torque if the internal engine condition indicates a limited torque output condition.

The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having electronically controlled airflow to provide a similar output torque characteristic under varying engine conditions.
Various engine control strategies have been developed to compensate for changes in available engine power or torque due to ambient conditions, such as temperature and barometric pressure. When driving a vehicle at high altitude, for example, conventional mechanical throttle control systems would seem sluggish or underpowered compared to sea level or lower altitudes across the entire range of accelerator pedal positions. This also created challenges in calibrating shift points for automatic transmissions, which were often based on accelerator pedal position, because the same pedal position resulted in a different output torque depending upon the ambient operating conditions.

Acceleration pedal interpretation when engine torque is limited


Methods of forming planar carbon nanotube (“CNT”) resistivity-switching materials for use in memory cells are provided, that include depositing first dielectric material, patterning the first dielectric material, etching the first dielectric material to form a feature within the first dielectric material, depositing CNT resistivity-switching material over the first dielectric material to fill the feature at least partially with the CNT resistivity-switching material, depositing second dielectric material over the CNT resistivity-switching material, and planarizing the second dielectric material and the CNT resistivity-switching material so as to expose at least a portion of the CNT resistivity-switching material within the feature. Other aspects are also provided.

The present invention relates to non-volatile memories and more particularly to a memory cell that includes a carbon nano-tube reversible resistance-switching element and methods of forming the same.
Non-volatile memories formed from carbon nano-tube ("CNT") materials are known. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11,968,156, filed Dec. 31, 2007 and titled "Memory Cell That Employs A Selectively Fabricated Carbon Nano-Tube Reversible Resistance-Switching Element Formed Over A Bottom Conductor And Methods Of Forming The Same" (the "'156 Application"), which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes, describes a rewriteable non-volatile memory cell that includes a diode coupled in series with a reversible resistivity-switching element formed from CNT material.
However, fabricating memory devices from CNT materials is technically challenging, and improved methods of forming memory devices that employ CNT materials are desirable.

Memory cell that includes a carbon nano-tube reversible resistance-switching element and methods of forming the same


A parallel spherical mechanism with two degrees of freedom for connecting a body to a fixed base in such a manner as to enable it to be oriented in three dimensions by turning about a first axis that is fixed relative to said fixed base, and about a second axis that is fixed relative to said body for orienting, these two axes intersecting at a center of spherical motion situated in said body for orienting, wherein: it comprises at least four links, each of said links being connected to said fixed base via a first connection point and to said body for orienting via a second connection point, and each link belonging to a first type or a second type, there being at least one link of each type, in which: in the link(s) of the first type, the first connection point is at any point of said fixed base, and the second connection point coincides with said center of spherical motion situated in said body for orienting: and in the link(s) of the second type, the first connection point lies on said first axis and the second connection point lies on said second axis, but does not coincide with said center of spherical motion; each connection point of said links lying on said first and/or second axis presents at least one degree of freedom in rotation about said axis.

Numerous mechanisms known in the prior art enable a body (commonly referred to as a "platform") to be oriented in three dimensions by being turned about two or three axes. When the body for orienting presents an axis of symmetry, turning the body about its own axis of symmetry is generally not useful (it suffices to think of the reflector of a parabolic antenna or a telescope): under such circumstances, which occur frequently in practice, it suffices to use an orienting mechanism having two degrees of freedom.
A "wrist" is an orienting mechanism presenting motion of spherical type: when such a mechanism is used, each point of the body for orienting moves over a spherical surface. The center of spherical motion may be situated inside or outside the body for orienting.
In an orienting mechanism, it is not always necessary to allow for the possibility of the body for orienting to be able to perform complete revolutions about its movement axes. Under such circumstances, it is advantageous to use a parallel mechanism, i.e. a mechanism comprising a plurality of independent kinematic linkages connecting said body for orienting to the fixed base. Parallel mechanisms are small in terms of size and mass, while simultaneously presenting a high degree of stiffness. These characteristics are particularly appreciated in the aerospace industry, for example.
Very few parallel mechanisms with two degrees of freedom presenting spherical motion (wrist) are known in the prior art. Those mechanisms belong to two classes:                so-called "spherical architecture" wrists that comprise only revolute joints whose axes intersect in the center of spherical motion; and        wrists of non-spherical architecture, that do not satisfy that condition.
Two examples of spherical architecture wrists are given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,991 (a so-called "agile eye" mechanism) and in the article by J. M. Wiitala and M. M. Stanisic entitled "Design of an overconstrained dextrous spherical wrist", Journal of Mechanical Design, Vol. 122, pp. 374-353, 2000.
Those mechanisms are overconstrained and they obtain spherical motion of the platform by using the common constraints of the spherical mechanisms. The main drawbacks of those architectures are the fact that the spherical motion axes are not predetermined, i.e. they are not fixed, neither relative to the base nor relative to the platform, and the movements in rotation about said axes cannot be decoupled. In addition, the fact that they are intrinsically overconstrained leads to high levels of internal mechanical stress and a major risk of jamming.
Wrists of non-spherical architecture are described in particular in the following articles:
G. R. Dunlop, T. P. Johnes, "Position analysis of a two DOF parallel mechanism—the Canterbury tracker", Mechanism and Machine Theory, Vol. 34, pp. 599-614, 1999;
R. Baumann, W. Maeder, D. Glauser, and R. Clavel, "The PantoScope: a spherical remote-center-of-motion parallel manipulator for force reflexion", Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. Robotics and Automation, pp. 718-723, 1997;
M. Carricato, V. Parenti Castelli, "A novel fully-decoupled two degrees-of-freedom parallel wrist", The International Journal of Robotics Research, Vol. 23, pp. 661-667, 2004;
J. R. Bauer, "Kinematics and dynamics of a double-Gimbaled control moment gyroscope", Mechanism and Machine Theory, Vol. 37, pp. 1513-1529, 2002; and
G. Gogu, "Fully-isotropic overconstrained parallel wrists with two degrees of freedom", Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. Robotics and Automation, pp. 4025-4030, 2005.
The first two above-mentioned mechanisms present two axes of motion that are not predetermined, and consequently motions in rotation that are not decoupled. In addition, they are bulky.
The other three mechanisms present predetermined axes and enable motion in rotation to be decoupled, but they are nevertheless penalized by their size. In addition, the mechanism of M. Carricato and V. Parenti Castelli, and the mechanism of G. Gogu contain prismatic joints that can affect their operation negatively, in particular in space applications (lubrication problems) and in micromechanical applications (high levels of friction).

Parallel spherical mechanism with two degrees of freedom


A blanket assembly for forming a composite charge onto a forming mandrel includes upper and lower heating blankets configured to have a composite charge slidable therebetween during translation along the forming mandrel. The blanket assembly has a pair of wedge elements with tapered sections that are each positionable between the lower heating blanket and the mandrel side surfaces. The wedge element top sides are inclined from the tapered section forward end to the tapered section aft end. The upper heating blanket exerts a blanket forming pressure for progressively forming the composite charge into the cross-sectional shape of the forming mandrel collectively defined by the mandrel side surfaces and wedge element top sides as the composite charge passes over the tapered sections of the blanket assembly. The wedge element top sides maintain the laterally outboard portions of the composite charge in approximately parallel relation to a level tangent to the mandrel top portion.

Composite structures are used in a wide variety of applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, improved corrosion resistance, and other favorable properties. In aircraft construction, composites are used in increasing quantities to form the fuselage, wings, and other components. For example, a wing panel may be produced by co-curing or co-bonding a plurality of elongated composite stringers to a composite wing skin. The process of fabricating each composite stringer may include forming a stack or charge of uncured composite plies over an elongated forming mandrel so that the composite charge assumes the shape of the forming mandrel, after which the composite charge is cured. Each composite ply may be comprised of reinforcing fibers (e.g., carbon fibers) impregnated with polymer matrix material (e.g., epoxy resin).
Conventional methods of forming an uncured composite charge over a forming mandrel may result in the occurrence of wrinkling or buckling of the reinforcing fibers. Such wrinkles may occur in the innermost composite plies at locations along inside corners formed in the composite charge. Localized wrinkling or buckling along inside corners of the composite charge may occur as a result of the buildup of compressive forces in the composite plies located nearest the forming mandrel. The buildup of compressive forces is due to the inability of adjacent composite plies to slip relative to one another as the composite charge is conformed to the cross-sectional shape of the forming mandrel. Wrinkles may also occur in any one or more of the composite plies of a partially-cured composite charge when formed into a contour that results in some areas of the composite charge being put into a compressive state. Areas of wrinkling in a composite structure may represent locally bent or kinked reinforcing fibers, and which reduces the strength and/or stiffness of the cured composite structure.
As can be seen, there exists a need in the art for a system and method for forming a composite charge over a forming mandrel without the occurrence of localized wrinkling or buckling of composite plies.

Heat blanket assembly for forming a composite charge


In a vehicle seat including an upper rail, a lower rails, a lock mechanism for normally locking the upper rail relative to the lower rail, and a lock release member for selectively unlocking the upper rail relative to the lower rail, a deformation restraining member is fixedly attached to the lower rail, and extends toward a part of the lower rail so as to define a small gap relative to the lower rail.

A vehicle seat is typically provided with a pair of lower rails supported on a floor of a vehicle body so as to extend in the fore and aft direction in parallel to each other, a pair of upper rails engaged by the respective lower rails for slide motion in the lengthwise direction thereof, a seat cushion attached to the upper rails, a seat back connected to a rear end part of the seat cushion, a lock mechanism for normally securing the upper rails relative to the lower rails at desired positions of the seat cushion, and a lock release lever for manually and selectively releasing the locked state of the lock mechanism. See JP2005-225386A and JP2008-265695A, for instance.
As the lower rails support the seat, it is important that the lower rails are able to withstand the loading caused by a vehicle crash in order to ensure the safety of the vehicle occupant at the time of the vehicle crash. However, using thicker and more massive material for the lower rails leads to an excessive increase in the weight thereof, and this is detrimental to the fuel economy of the vehicle.


A transfer molded plastic package having a cavity for accommodating a semiconductor chip is disclosed. A leadframe assembly process is shown wherein the leadframe finger pattern is provided with a resilient or elastic O-ring bead. Top and bottom housing plates which have dimensions that are larger than the bead form the upper and lower surfaces of the package. These plates can be formed of any suitably rigid material. They may be composed of ceramic in low power devices. For high power operation at least one metal plate can be employed. The chip or chips are connected to the lead frame and, along with the top and bottom plates, is located in a transfer mold. The plates are in registy and located so that their outer edges extend beyond the O-ring bead. The mold cavities include faces which press against the plates which are held apart by the O-ring bead so that the bead is compressed by the mold closure. A plastic encapsulant is molded around the periphery of the plates so that the leadframe fingers are secured therein to become package pins.

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 610,640, filed Nov. 8, 1990, (now abandoned).
The invention relates generally to the field of semiconductor device packaging and specifically relates to the transfer molding of plastic encapsulated devices. Ceramic hermetic semiconductor packaging is the preferred way of high reliability packaging because it offers several desired advantages Mainly, once sealed, the package is substantially impervious to its environment. The final seal can be accomplished in an environment that is not stressful to the semiconductor device and this environment will be maintained throughout the life of the device. However, such packages have proven to be expensive. In many cases the cost of the package greatly exceeds the cost of producing the chip that it houses. On the other hand, the well known plastic molded semiconductor devices can be produced cheaply. Typically, the chip being housed costs more to produce than the package and this is a desirable economic condition. Plastic encapsulation, while cheap and easy to accomplish, has several disadvantages. For most of these is the problem that such encapsulation is not hermetic. Such packaging allows the long term entry of environmental elements which can adversely affect a semiconductor chip. While this is a difficult problem, the producers of chips have advanced their use of protective seal coatings to a point where hermetic sealing is not necessary. The reliability of plastic encapsulated semiconductor chips in the presence of adverse environments has advanced to a level where hermetic packaging is not always attractive. Certainly the cost/benefit relationship now militates against hermetic packaging. This leaves the device designer with the other problems associated with transfer molding. These include the problems of stress which develops when the plastic encapsulant comes into contact with the semiconductor chip face. Such stress, in the extreme, can result in chip fracture during temperature cycling. Also, some semiconductor chips are sensitive to stress and their operating characteristics will change during encapsulation. Finally, many semiconductor chips require post assembly characterization such as PAL (programmed array logic) devices. In one such heirarchy, fuses are blown to disconnect crossbar switch arrays to produce a desired pattern. With plastic encapsulation, fuse blowing is difficult because the metal vapors thus produced have nowhere to go. Consequently, such programming is done only on cavity-type ceramic packaged devices. It would be desirable to have a cavity type plastic encapsulated package.
In the transfer molding of plastic encapsulated devices, it is common to employ a dambar on the leadframe to control mold flash. The dambar structure is designed to mate with the edge of the cavity in the molding die which creates the final plastic block. After the molding is completed the dambar segments that join the leads together are removed so that the leads are functionally separate. This requires a separate fabrication step and, with the high lead count packages now being favored, can be a difficult task. In fact, when the device dimensions reduce the lead spacing to about 12 mils (0.3 mm) mechanical punches become impractical. At this point, it has become standard practice to use a narrow focussed laser beam to do the cutting. In the square packages, now becoming popular, high lead count packages having 150 to 200 pins result in spacings that make dambar removal very difficult. Accordingly, a modification in the dambar system would be desirable.


Techniques for encrypting the data in the memory of a computing device are provided. An example method for protecting data in a memory according to the disclosure includes encrypting data associated with a store request using a memory encryption device of the processor to produce encrypted data. Encrypting the data includes: obtaining a challenge value, providing the challenge value to a physically unclonable function module to obtain a response value, and encrypting the data associated with the store request using the response value as an encryption key to generate the encrypted data. The method also includes storing the encrypted data and the challenge value associated with the encrypted data in the memory.

The contents of memory of computing devices are susceptible to attacks from malicious parties that may attempt to obtain unauthorized access to the contents of the memory of the computing device and/or to gain control of the computing device by assuming control of the flow of program code being executed by a processor of the computing device. Some attempts to encrypt the data stored in the memory of the computing device have been developed that rely on one or more encryption keys that are stored or built in to the processor of the computing device, but such approaches are susceptible to attack and/or reverse engineering in which an attacker can obtain the built-in keys and defeat the encryption provided.

Physically unclonable function assisted memory encryption device techniques


A printing plate is prepared by the process comprising: (a) providing a substrate; and (b) applying by ink jetting to the substrate a fluid composition comprising a cationic polymer and an anionic polymer, in non-aqueous solvent. The ionic polymers interact and adhere to the substrate, so that after drying a durable printing plate is formed, without chemical development. The printing plate of this invention is capable of extended press run length and advantageously avoids the need of chemical development.

This invention relates to a printing plate, a method of making a printing plate, and a method of printing using a printing plate to form a desired image on a medium. More particularly, the printing plate of this invention employs a substrate and a fluid composition comprising a cationic polymer and an anionic polymer, in which the ionic polymers interact and adhere to the substrate. The fluid composition is applied by ink jetting to the substrate, providing a printing plate that is ready-to-use on a press without having to develop it.
The offset lithographic printing process has long used a developed planographic printing plate having oleophilic image areas and hydrophilic non-image areas. The plate is commonly dampened before or during inking with an oil-based ink composition. The dampening process utilizes a fountain solution such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,877,372, 4,278,467 and 4,854,969. When water is applied to the plate, the water will form a film on the non-image hydrophilic areas, but will contract into tiny droplets on the oleophilic image areas. When a roller carrying an oil-based ink composition is passed over the dampened plate, it will not ink the non-image areas that are covered by the aqueous film, but will emulsify the water droplets on the water repellant image areas, which will then take up ink. The resulting ink image is transferred, or xe2x80x9coffset,xe2x80x9d onto a rubber blanket, which is then used to print onto a medium such as paper.
It has been proposed to apply xe2x80x9cdirectxe2x80x9d ink jet printing techniques to lithographic printing. For example, European Patent Publication No. 503,621 discloses a direct method to make lithographic plates by jetting a photocurable ink onto the plate substrate, and then exposing the plate to ultraviolet radiation to harden the image area. An oil-based ink may then be transferred to the image area for printing onto a printing medium. But, neither the resolution of ink drops jetted onto the substrate, nor the durability of the lithographic printing plate with respect to printing runlength was disclosed.
It has also been proposed to apply the direct ink jet printing techniques without the additional steps of chemical development of the plate. This approach advantageously results in lower production costs and a more environmentally acceptable printing process. However, in such techniques it is difficult to control the spreading of the droplets of ink-jetted fluid that forms the oleophilic ink-accepting regions on the printing plate substrate. Such droplet xe2x80x9cdot spreadingxe2x80x9d causes lower resolution of printed images and reduced image quality. For example, European Patent Application No. 591,916 A2 discloses a water-based ink having a polymer containing anhydride groups which are thermally cross-linked on the substrate with a hydroxy-functional polymer. This formulation is applied by jetting the formulation, which is at room temperature, onto a room temperature substrate. However, this formulation does not achieve good control of dot spreading.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,486 discloses the apparatus and process for imaging a plate with a xe2x80x9chot meltxe2x80x9d type of ink jet printer. The image is produced by jetting at high temperature a xe2x80x9cphase changexe2x80x9d type of ink which solidifies when it hits the cooler substrate. The ink becomes instantaneously solid rather than remaining a liquid or gel which is thereafter cured to form a solid. However, such an ink does not provide good resistance to press run due to the wax-type nature of the ink formulation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,335 discloses the use of a polymer containing a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, namely a polymer of 4-vinyl pyridine, in the formulation of an ink receiving layer of an ink jet recording sheet. However, the use of such a compound in a fluid composition applied directly to a printing plate substrate to form an imaged, ink-receptive layer is not disclosed.
Thus, it would be advantageous to employ a printing plate capable of extended press run length which does not require chemical development.
It is one object of this invention to provide such a printing plate. It is another object of this invention to provide a method of preparing such a printing plate. It is yet another object of this invention to provide a method of using such a printing plate. The printing plate of this invention may advantageously be prepared without a chemical development step typically required. The printing plate of this invention is also capable of extended press run length.
The fluid composition of this invention is suitable for ink jetting upon a substrate and comprises a cationic product polymer and an anionic product polymer, in non-aqueous solvent. The ionic product polymers interact and adhere to the substrate, so that after drying, a durable printing plate is formed without chemical development.
The printing plate of this invention is prepared by: (a) providing a substrate; and (b) applying by ink jetting to the substrate a fluid composition as described below. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is pretreated with a surfactant to provide a printing plate precursor.
In preferred embodiments, the cationic product polymer is prepared from a basic polymeric compound which is selected from the group consisting of polymers and copolymers of 2-vinylpyridine, polymers and copolymers of 4-vinylpyridine, polymers and copolymers of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, and mixtures or derivatives thereof. The basic polymeric compounds prepared from these monomers are made cationic by at least partially neutralizing with an acid, preferably formic acid, to create cationic conjugate acid groups from the base groups of the basic polymeric compounds.
In preferred embodiments, the anionic product polymer is prepared from an acidic polymeric compound which is selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid)s, poly(methacrylic acid)s, poly(maleic acid)s, poly(maleic anhydride)s, poly(fumaric acid)s, poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid)s, poly(styrene-co-maleic acid)s, poly(styrene-co-fumaric acid)s, and mixtures or derivatives thereof. These acidic polymeric compounds are made anionic by at least partially neutralizing with base, preferably ammonia, to create anionic conjugate base groups from the acid groups of the acidic polymeric compounds.
The printing plate of this invention is capable of extended press run length and advantageously avoids the need of chemical development.
To achieve extended printing runs with lithographic plates the oleophilic material must adhere well to the substrate. Adhesion of the oleophilic material may be controlled in at least two ways. First, the oleophilic material should have a chemical interaction with the substrate that provides a type of chemical binding and promotes adhesion. For example, the chemical composition of the oleophilic material can be varied to promote its adhesion to the substrate. Also, the composition of the substrate can be varied to increase binding of the oleophilic material. Further, high cohesive strength of the oleophilic material helps to bind it to itself on the substrate, thus improving its adhesion. Cohesive strength of the oleophilic material is enhanced by providing a means for chemical interaction between the molecules of the oleophilic material, preferably by crosslinking.
The second way that adhesion of the oleophilic material may be controlled is by providing a substrate in which microscopic topology allows the oleophilic material to interlock mechanically with the substrate when dry or hardened. Mechanical interlocking can be affected by roughening the surface of the substrate. Thus, by controlling these variables, a printing plate can be made with increased adhesion of the oleophilic material, and correspondingly longer printing run operation.
In the invention described here, the oleophilic material is placed on the substrate by ink jetting a fluid composition comprising the oleophilic material. Optionally, by pretreating the substrate surface with a surfactant to lower its surface tension, the spreading of droplets of fluid composition is reduced. Thus, by these and other features inherent in the composition and method described here, excellent printing resolution can be obtained, as well as long-lasting adhesion of the dried oleophilic material to the substrate.
The printing plate of this invention encompasses lithographic printing plates, flexographic printing plates, and gravure printing plates.
Conventional printing plate substrates such as aluminum, polymeric film, and paper may be used as the printing plate substrate of this invention. The printing plate substrate may be subjected to treatments such as electrograining, anodization, and silication to enhance its surface characteristics. The surface characteristics that are modified by such treatments are roughness, topology, and the nature and quantity of surface chemical sites.
Substrates that can be employed are given in Table 1. Substrates chosen for use in this invention are preferably based on aluminum oxide, and may be subjected to various conventional surface treatments as are well known to those skilled in the art, and give a surface that has either acidic or basic character in the Bronsted acid-base view. These treatments also result in different surface roughness, topology, and surface chemical sites, as summarized in Table 1.
xe2x80x9cAAxe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9cas anodized.xe2x80x9d The aluminum surface is first quartz grained and then anodized using DC current of about 8 A/cm2 for 30 seconds in a H2SO4 solution (280 g/liter) at 30xc2x0 C.
xe2x80x9cEGxe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9celectrolytic graining.xe2x80x9d The aluminum surface is first degreased, etched and subjected to a desmut step (removal of reaction products of aluminum and the etchant). The plate is then electrolytically grained using an AC current 30-60 A/cm2 in a hydrochloric acid solution (10 g/liter) for 30 seconds at 25xc2x0 C., followed by a post-etching alkaline wash and a desmut step. The grained plate is then anodized using DC current of about 8 A/cm2 for 30 seconds in a H2SO4 solution (280 g/liter) at 30xc2x0 C.
xe2x80x9cPVPAxe2x80x9d is a polyvinylphosphonic acid. The plate is immersed in a PVPA solution and then washed with deionized water and dried at room temperature.
xe2x80x9cDSxe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9cdouble sided smooth.xe2x80x9d The aluminum oxide plate is first degreased, etched or chemically grained, and subjected to a desmut step. The smooth plate is then anodized.
xe2x80x9cSilxe2x80x9d means the anodized plate is immersed in a sodium silicate solution to coat it with an interlayer. The coated plate is then rinsed with deionized water and dried at room temperature.
xe2x80x9cPGxe2x80x9d means xe2x80x9cpumice grained.xe2x80x9d The aluminum surface is first degreased, etched and subjected to a desmut step. The plate is then mechanically grained by subjecting it to a 30% pumice slurry at 30xc2x0 C., followed by a post-etching step and a desmut step. The grained plate is then anodized using DC current of about 8 A/cm2 for 30 seconds in an H2SO4 solution (280 g/liter) at 30xc2x0 C. The anodized plate is then coated with an interlayer.
xe2x80x9cG2Oxe2x80x9d is a printing plate substrate which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,974, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
xe2x80x9cCHBxe2x80x9d means chemical graining in a basic solution. After an aluminum substrate is subjected to a matte finishing process, a solution of 50 to 100 g/liter NaOH is used during graining at 50 to 70xc2x0 C. for 1 minute. The grained plate is then anodized using DC current of about 8 A/cm2 for 30 seconds in an H2SO4 solution (280 g/liter) at 30xc2x0 C. The anodized plate is then coated with a silicated interlayer.
xe2x80x9cPFxe2x80x9d substrate has a phosphate fluoride interlayer. The process solution contains sodium dihydrogen phosphate and sodium fluoride. The anodized substrate is treated in the solution at 70xc2x0 C. for a dwell time of 60 seconds, followed by a water rinse, and drying. The deposited dihydrogen phosphate is about 500 mg/m2.
A xe2x80x9cbasicxe2x80x9d surface will have a plurality of basic sites and acidic sites present, with the basic sites predominating to some degree. Similarly, an xe2x80x9cacidicxe2x80x9d surface will have a plurality of acidic sites and basic sites present, with the acidic sites predominating to some degree. It is known by one of ordinary skill in the art that the PG-Sil printing plate substrate appears to have a higher silicate site density than the DS-Sil printing plate substrate, and is more basic. It is also known that the G20 printing plate substrate exhibits less acidic character than AA printing plate substrates.
The oleophilic polymeric material of the fluid composition of the present invention that forms the ink-receiving layer is prepared from a mixture of cationic and anionic product polymers prepared from basic and acidic polymeric compounds, respectively. The cationic product polymer is prepared by partially or fully neutralizing the base groups of the basic polymeric compound with acid to give a product polymer that comprises the base groups and their cationic conjugate acid groups, or comprises solely the cationic conjugate acid groups. The anionic product polymer is prepared by partially or fully neutralizing the acid groups of the acidic polymeric compound with base to give a product polymer that comprises the acid groups and their anionic conjugate base groups, or comprises solely the anionic conjugate base groups.
A mixture of the cationic and anionic product polymers is used in the fluid composition to make long-lasting printing plates. The mixture enhances the adhesion of the polymeric material to the substrate. The cationic conjugate acid groups of one product polymer interact with the anionic conjugate base groups of the other product polymer of the mixture to enhance the binding of the polymers to the substrate. Without intending to be bound by any one particular theory, the ionic polymeric compounds undergo ionic crosslinking which increases the cohesive strength of the oleophilic layer on the substrate and increases the printing press run length. Thus, the chemical binding of the product polymers to each other provides strong adhesion of the ink-receiving layer, a more durable printing plate, and longer printing press runs. The conjugate acid and base groups of the product polymers can also react with the acid and basic sites of the substrate in ionic double exchange to bind the polymers to the substrate. These modes of chemical binding of the product polymers work in combination with the physico-chemical adsorption of the product polymers to the roughened substrate to provide strong adhesion of the ink-receiving layer.
Acids suitable for neutralizing the base groups of a basic polymeric compound conform to one of the formulae in the group consisting of H(CH2)nCOOH, and HOCHRCOOH, where R is xe2x80x94H, xe2x80x94CH3, or xe2x80x94CH2CH3, and n is from zero to six. Acids used in preferred embodiments are formic, acetic, lactic, and glycolic, while formic acid is especially preferred.
Bases suitable for neutralizing the acid groups of an acidic polymeric compound are selected from the group consisting of amines, ethanolamines, and the like. Bases used in preferred embodiments are ammonia and dimethylethanolamine, while ammonia is especially preferred.
Either the acidic or basic polymeric compounds can be a homopolymer, copolymer, terpolymer, and the like. The basic compound may also be a monomeric compound. By xe2x80x9ccopolymerxe2x80x9d we mean any polymer comprised of more than one type of monomer, prepared in a copolymerization. By xe2x80x9cterpolymerxe2x80x9d we mean a polymer consisting essentially of three types of monomers, prepared in a copolymerization. Thus, a copolymer can include a terpolymer.
In preferred embodiments, the basic polymeric compound is preferably selected from the group consisting of polymers and copolymers of 2-vinylpyridines, polymers and copolymers of 4-vinylpyridines, polymers and copolymers of diaminoethyl methacrylates, and mixtures thereof. These polymeric compounds comprise an amine moiety that can react with formic acid to produce conjugate acid groups attached to a polymer chain, to react with the substrate.
In preferred embodiments, the basic polymeric compound is a copolymer comprising a monomer having the following formula:
Rxe2x80x2Rxe2x80x3Nxe2x80x94Xxe2x80x94(CRxe2x80x2xe2x80x3)=CH2,
wherein
Rxe2x80x2 is hydrogen or C1-5 branched or unbranched alkyl;
Rxe2x80x3 is C1-5 branched or unbranched alkyl;
Rxe2x80x2xe2x80x3 is hydrogen or methyl;
xe2x80x94Xxe2x80x94 is xe2x80x94C6H4xe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94(CH2)nxe2x80x94Qxe2x80x94(Cxe2x95x90O)xe2x80x94;
wherein
n is 2 to 6; and
Q is oxygen or NH.
In preferred embodiments, the acidic polymeric compound is prepared from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acids, methacrylic acids, maleic acids, fumaric acids, and mixtures thereof. Acidic polymeric compounds prepared from these monomers include poly(acrylic acid)s, poly(methacrylic acid)s, poly(maleic acid)s, poly(fumaric acid)s, poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid)s, poly(styrene-co-maleic acid)s, poly(styrene-co-fumaric acid)s, and mixtures thereof. Further, but not limiting examples include polymers of ethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acids, polymers of sulfonated styrene, and copolymers thereof. These acidic polymeric compounds are made anionic by at least partially neutralizing with base, preferably ammonia, to create anionic groups from the acid groups of the polymeric compounds.
In a preferred embodiment, the acidic polymeric compound is polyacrylic acid and the basic polymeric compound is poly-4-vinylpyridine-co-butylmethacrylate. In an especially preferred embodiment, the acidic polymeric compound is polyacrylic acid, the basic polymeric compound is poly-2-vinylpyridine, the substrate is AA, and the precursor surfactant is FC-129.
The ink-receptive layer produced with the mixture of cationic and anionic product polymers has excellent adhesion to the substrate surface, and as set forth in further detail below, the resulting printing plate exhibits extended press run length. Advantageously, chemical development of the printing plate is not required.
The fluid composition comprising the oleophilic polymeric mixture is preferably applied by ink jetting to the substrate surface, typically by an ink jet printer using equipment and techniques which are well known to those skilled in the art. In this manner, the substrate is imaged so that after the fluid composition dries, an ink receptive layer is formed in the desired image on the surface of the substrate.
The fluid composition may comprise about 0.1 to 25 weight percent, preferably about 0.1 to 8 weight percent, and most preferably about 0.1 to 4 weight percent of the acidic polymeric compound, based upon the total weight of the fluid composition.
The fluid composition may comprise about 0.1 to 25 weight percent, preferably about 0.1 to 8 weight percent, and most preferably about 0.1 to 4 weight percent of the basic polymeric compound, based upon the total weight of the fluid composition.
Adsorbing a surfactant to a conventional printing plate substrate, prior to application of an ink receptive layer, can improve the image resolution achieved. Such a surfactant-pretreated substrate will be termed a xe2x80x9cprinting plate precursorxe2x80x9d herein. A printing plate may be prepared from the printing plate precursor by image-wise applying a fluid composition as described above to the substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid composition is applied by means of an ink jet printer, and then dried to form an ink receptive layer in the form of the desired image. Advantageously, chemical development of the printing plate is not required.
Adhesion of the polymer from the fluid composition to the substrate after drying is not diminished substantially by the presence of the precursor plate surfactant, which tends only to slow the spreading of the droplet deposited by the ink jet nozzle. Thus, the precursor plate surfactant can increase resolution without reducing press run length. Surfactants that can be used for the precursor include alkyl tail surfactants, fluorosurfactants and siliconated surfactants.
Illustrative examples of alkyl tail surfactants include sodium dodecylsulfate, isopropylamine salts of an alkylarylsulfonate, sodium dioctyl succinate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, dodecylbenzene sulfonate, alkyl ether phosphoric acid, N-dodecylamine, dicocoamine, 1-aminoethyl-2-alkylimidazoline, 1-hydroxyethyl-2-alkylimidazoline, and cocoalkyl trimethyl quaternary ammonium chloride, polyethylene tridecyl ether phosphate, and the like.
Illustrative examples of fluorosurfactants useful in preferred embodiments of the present invention and their commercial trade names are set forth in Table 2.
ZONYL surfactants are commercially available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. and have a distribution of perfluoroalkyl chain length. FLUORAD surfactants are commercially available from 3M Company and have a narrow distribution of the hydrophobic chain length.
Illustrative siliconated surfactants include the following non-exhaustive listing: polyether modified poly-dimethyl-siloxane, silicone glycol, polyether modified dimethyl-polysiloxane copolymer, and polyether-polyester modified hydroxy functional polydimethyl-siloxane.
The precursor plate surfactant may be adsorbed onto the substrate by any conventional method, preferably by immersion of the substrate in an aqueous solution of the surfactant for a time, typically one minute, which is effective to permit adsorption of the surfactant upon the substrate. In a particularly preferred embodiment, any non-absorbed surfactant is then removed from the printing plate substrate surface. Preferably, the substrate is rinsed with water to remove non-adsorbed surfactant, then dried. The resulting printing plate precursor has a surfactant on at least one surface, in an amount effective to improve the resolution of printing.
An imaged substrate prepared by imagewise applying a fluid composition to a substrate could also be used, for example, as a precursor for a printed circuit board in which conductive metals are deposited onto the imaged substrate.
The following examples are given to illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. Numerous modifications can be made by one skilled in the art having the benefits of the teachings given here. Such modifications should be taken as being encompassed within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Printing plate and method to prepare a printing plate


The present invention is directed to a dielectric ceramic composition exhibiting a high unloaded quality factor and a small variation thereof. The dielectric ceramic composition of the invention containing Ba, Zn, and Ta, contains 100 parts by weight of a predominant component represented by xBaOxe2x80x94yZnOxe2x80x94(xc2xd)zTa2O5 (x, y, and z represent compositional proportions by mol and satisfy x+y+z=1), wherein x, y, and z fall within a quadrilateral region formed by connecting points A (x=0.503, y=0.152, z=0.345), B (x=0.497, y=0.158, z=0.345), C (x=0.503, y=0.162, z=0.335), and D (x=0.497, y=0.168, z=0.335) (sides AB, BD, DC, and CA being included) as shown in FIG. 1; 0.2-1.6 parts by weight K as reduced to K2O; and 0.7-8 parts by weight Ta as reduced to Ta2O5, wherein the ratio by weight of K to Ta falls within the range of 0.185-0.4. The dielectric resonator of the present invention is formed of the dielectric ceramic composition.

This application is a 371 of PCT/JP01/00636 filed Jan. 31, 2001.
The present invention relates to a dielectric ceramic composition of excellent dielectric characteristics in a high-frequency region, particularly such a composition exhibiting a high unloaded quality factor (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cQuxe2x80x9d) and a small variation thereof, and to a dielectric resonator formed of the composition. The dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention can be used in dielectric filters, multilayer circuit boards, etc. for use in a high-frequency region.
Compositions represented by BaOxe2x80x94ZnOxe2x80x94Ta2O5 are known to be dielectric ceramic compositions which can be used in a high-frequency region. Such dielectric ceramic compositions for use in a high-frequency region must satisfy the following requirements:
(1) a high dielectric constant (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9c∈rxe2x80x9d)
(2) a small absolute value of the temperature coefficient (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cxcfx84fxe2x80x9d) of resonance frequency (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cf0xe2x80x9d); and
(3) a high Qu in a high-frequency region.
The BaOxe2x80x94ZnOxe2x80x94Ta2O5 dielectric ceramic compositions are oxides represented by the compositional formula of Ba(Zn⅓Ta⅔)O3 and have a complex perovskite-type crystal structure. These oxides are generally referred to as BZT. The BZT dielectric ceramic compositions exhibit excellent dielectric characteristics, such as a high Qu. However, in recent years, there is a demand for a dielectric ceramic composition having a higher Qu, since the frequency region where such dielectric ceramic compositions are used has become higher; i.e., from the microwave region to the sub-millimeter region.
Publication of Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 11-71173 discloses that a dielectric ceramic composition of more excellent dielectric characteristics can be obtained by incorporating a K component and a Ta component into an oxide represented by the compositional formula of Ba(Zn⅓Ta⅔)O3. Although incorporation of these specific components attains enhancement of dielectric characteristics, uniform Qu cannot always be attained, and variation in Qu may occur. Thus, provision of a dielectric ceramic composition exhibiting a smaller variation in dielectric characteristics is desired.
The present invention has been accomplished in order to solve the aforementioned problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a dielectric ceramic composition capable of attaining a high Qu without variation, by means of employing specific proportions by amount of elements in the predominant component formed of an oxide containing Ba, Zn, and Ta and by limiting the ratio by amount of K component to Ta component other than the predominant component and the ratio by weight of K to Ta. Another object of the invention is to provide a dielectric resonator formed of the dielectric ceramic composition.
The dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention contains Ba, Zn, and Ta, and is characterized by comprising 100 parts by weight of a predominant component represented by xBaOxe2x80x94yZnOxe2x80x94(xc2xd)zTa2O5 (x, y, and z represent compositional proportions by mol and satisfy x+y+z=1), wherein x, y, and z fall within a quadrilateral region formed by connecting points A (x=0.503, y=0.152, z=0.345), B (x=0.497, y=0.158, z=0.345), C (x=0.503, y=0.162, z=0.335), and D (x=0.497, y=0.168, z=0.335) (sides AB, BD, DC, and CA being included) as shown in FIG. 1; 0.2-1.6 parts by weight K as reduced to K2O; and 0.7-8 parts by weight Ta as reduced to Ta2O5, wherein the ratio by weight of K to Ta falls within the range of 0.185-0.4.
The dielectric resonator of the present invention is characterized by being formed of the above-described dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention.
In the dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention, the aforementioned xe2x80x9cxBaOxe2x80x94yZnOxe2x80x94(xc2xd)zTa2O5xe2x80x9d serving as the predominant component is an oxide having a complex perovskite-type crystal structure. Some portion of Ba atoms are substituted by K, and the perovskite-type crystal structure is thought to be maintained.
In the predominant component, when any of x, y, and z is in excess of the upper limit or less than the lower limit, variation in Qu becomes large, even though excellent ∈r and xcfx84f and a high average Qu are obtained. Thus, a dielectric ceramic composition of dielectric characteristics with small variations cannot be produced. When at least two of x, y, and z are in excess of the upper limits or less than the lower limits, the average Qu is prone to decrease and variation in Qu becomes large, even through ∈r and xcfx84f do not decrease. Preferably, by controlling x, y, and z so as to fall within a quadrilateral region formed by connecting points Axe2x80x2 (x=0.503, y=0.154, z=0.343), Bxe2x80x2 (x=0.497, y=0.160, z=0.343), Cxe2x80x2 (x=0.503, y=0.161, z=0.336), and Dxe2x80x2 (x=0.497, y=0.167, z=0.336) (sides Axe2x80x2Bxe2x80x2, Bxe2x80x2Dxe2x80x2, Dxe2x80x2Cxe2x80x2, and Cxe2x80x2Axe2x80x2 being included), excellent ∈r and xcfx84f can be maintained, and the average Qu can be further increased with further decreased variation, to thereby provide a dielectric ceramic composition of dielectric characteristics with small variations.
When the amounts of xe2x80x9cKxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cTaxe2x80x9d incorporated in addition to the predominant component are less than the above-described lower limits as reduced to K2O and Ta2O5, respectively, particularly when the amount of K is less than the lower limit, based on 100 parts by weight of the aforementioned predominant component, the resultant composition is difficult to sinter, and in some cases, sintered products cannot be yielded. When the amounts of K and Ta are in excess of the upper limits, Qu greatly decreases, and variation in Qu increases.
When the ratio by weight of K to Ta is in excess of the upper limit or less than the lower limit, Qu greatly decreases, and variation in Qu further increases. By controlling the ratio by weight of K to Ta preferably to 0.25-0.35, more preferably 0.25-0.30, excellent ∈r and xcfx84f can be maintained, and the average Qu can be further increased with further decreased variation, to thereby provide a dielectric ceramic composition of dielectric characteristics with small variations.
K and Ta other than Ta contained in the predominant component form an oxide having a perovskite-mixture-type crystal structure represented by KpTaOq. In KpTaOq, K is considered to occupy the Ba site of the predominant component, and Ta is considered to occupy the Zn site or Ta site of the predominant component. The dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention has a perovskite-type crystal structure formed from the predominant component and the perovskite-type structure of KpTaOq partially occupying the predominant component, and the entire perovskite-type crystal structure is considered to be a complex perovskite-type crystal structure. In the predominant component, atoms of at least one of Zn and Ta may be substituted to some extent by an element such as Mg, Zr, Ga, Ni, Nb, Sn, or a rare earth metal element; e.g., Y. These elements are readily substituted by Zn or Ta, maintain the perovskite-type crystal structure, and do not impair excellent dielectric characteristics. In the case in which some portion of Ba atoms are substituted by Sr, xcfx84f can be modified while the Qu value is maintained.
The dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention can be produced by mixing together oxides of Ba, Zn, Ta, and K or compounds other than the oxides of Ba, Zn, Ta, and K, which compounds yield corresponding oxides by heating; shaping the resultant mixture; and firing at 1300-1700xc2x0 C. In addition to the aforementioned oxides of essential metallic elements, there may be incorporated oxides of at least one element such as Mg, Zr, Ga, Ni, Nb, Sn, or a rare earth.metal element; e.g., Y. Through this incorporation, there can be obtained a dielectric ceramic composition in which atoms of at least one of Zn and Ta constituting the predominant component are substituted to some extent by at least one element of the aforementioned elements.
When the firing temperature is less than 1300xc2x0 C., a sintered product of sufficient density cannot be obtained, resulting in insufficiently increased Qu in some cases, whereas when the firing temperature is in excess of 1700xc2x0 C., potassium ions are readily eliminated through volatilization, and the surface of the sintered product becomes porous, resulting in a tendency of failure to attain sufficient improvement in Qu. The firing temperature is preferably 1350-1650xc2x0 C., particularly preferably 1400-1650xc2x0 C. In order to attain densification, the firing temperature is preferably controlled to 1500xc2x0 C. or higher, particularly preferably 1550xc2x0 C. or higher. No particular limitation is imposed on the firing time, and a firing time of 1 to 8 hours, particularly 2 to 6 hours, can be employed. Firing can be performed in an oxidizing atmosphere such as the natural atmosphere or a reducing atmosphere containing a small amount of hydrogen.
After completion of firing, the fired product may further be heated at a temperature lower than the firing temperature by approximately 50-250xc2x0 C. in an oxidizing atmosphere for 12 hours or longer, to thereby produce a dielectric ceramic composition of excellent dielectric characteristics with further lower variation. When the temperature of this heat treatment is excessively high, coarse grains are readily formed during grain growth, to thereby fail to provide a sintered product of uniform quality in some cases, whereas when the temperature of the heat treatment is considerably low, the crystal structure does not assume a superlattice structure of a long period, resulting in a tendency of failure to attain sufficient improvement in Qu. The heat treatment temperature is lower than the firing temperature preferably by 70-200xc2x0 C., particularly preferably by 70-170xc2x0 C., more preferably by 80-150xc2x0 C. For example, by controlling the heat treatment temperature to a temperature lower than the firing temperature by about 100xc2x0 C., a dielectric ceramic composition having a superlattice structure can be produced easily.
The atmosphere of the heat treatment may be an oxidizing atmosphere such as the natural atmosphere. The natural atmosphere is preferred in that no special operation or apparatus are needed. However, by elevating the partial pressure of oxygen in the oxidizing atmosphere to a pressure higher than that in the natural atmosphere, a dielectric ceramic composition having a more excellent Qu can be obtained. Thus, from the viewpoint of dielectric characteristics, an oxidizing atmosphere of an increased partial pressure of oxygen is preferred. The heat treatment is preferably performed for 12-20 hours. When the heat treatment time is excessively short, formation of a superlattice structure is difficult, resulting in insufficiently improved Qu in some cases. A heat treatment time of 15 hours or longer, particularly 18 hours or longer, will successfully attain intended effects. Heating for 24 hours suffices for the heat treatment, and no longer heat treatment is necessary.
The dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention is endowed with excellent dielectric characteristics; i.e., there can be attained a xcfx84f of xe2x88x9215 to +15 ppm/xc2x0 C., particularly xe2x88x9210 to +10 ppm/xc2x0 C., further xe2x88x925 to +5 ppm/xc2x0 C. When a test piece having a diameter of 16 mm and a height of 8 mm is formed from the composition, the test piece can be endowed with a product of the measured frequency and Qu of 25000-30000 GHz, wherein Qu is measured at a frequency of 4-6 GHz through a parallel plate dielectric cylindrical resonator method (TE011 mode). In addition, variation in Quxc3x97f0 (measured frequency) is very small, and there can be attained a standard deviation "sgr"nxe2x88x921, calculated by the below-mentioned equations, of 700 or lower, particularly 500 or lower, further 300 or lower.
The dielectric resonator of the present invention is characterized by being formed of the dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention, and is endowed with excellent dielectric characteristics. Specifically, a Qu, as measured through a reflection method at a resonance frequency of 1900 MHz, of 40000 or higher can be attained.
In the dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention, no clear reason for enhancement in Qu through substitution of Ba by K is elucidated. However, it is considered that one possible reason is that KpTaOq having a perovskite-type crystal structure forms a solid solution with the predominant component having a complex-perovskite-type crystal structure, to thereby provide a superlattice structure of a long period in the crystal structure of the dielectric ceramic composition. When KpTaOq of an unspecified composition is present, vacancies are regularly arrayed, to thereby form a superlattice structure. In addition, it is also considered that the presence of vacancies facilitates transfer of ions, elements, and the like during a firing step, to thereby promote densification. Thus, although conventional dielectric ceramic compositions of this type require long-term firing, firing by ultra-high-speed temperature elevation technique, etc. so as to attain densification, the dielectric ceramic composition of the present invention can be readily densified.

Dielectric porcelain composition and dielectric resonator using the same


A free-flowing dunnage packaging material formed from individual dunnage elements which are individually constructed from small sheets of paper, such as small paper squares, with the sheets being preformed into cup-like configurations so that such material, when used to fill a space or region between an article and a surrounding confinement, possesses sufficient strength to permit safe but cushioned support of the article.

Numerous dunnage packaging materials have been developed for providing protective and cushioned packing of articles within confining boxes or containers. One of the more commonly utilized dunnage packaging materials is the polystyrene "peanut" or bead. These foamed plastic packaging elements have been extensively utilized to provide protective cushioning of articles within outer containers to withstand the abuses encountered in transport. These plastic packaging elements, however, are undesirable due to handling and disposal difficulties. More specifically, the plastic packaging elements do not readily degrade so that disposal is a significant environmental problem.
Other known packaging materials which are commonly utilized include plastic bubble wrap, plastic foam sheets having embedded air cells, and padded paper packaging involving thick and layered fluff paper having air pockets therein. These latter packaging materials are all more limited in their usability, however, since they are generally created in sheet form and do not readily adapt to the shapes and contours of either the article or the container. Further, the plastic sheets also create an environmental disposal problem.
Shredded paper has also been used as a dunnage packaging material, although such material has met with dislike in many industries due tO the difficulties associated with handling of the material both during packaging and unpackaging, and the dust problem is created when using such material.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved free-flowing dunnage packaging material which is believed to improve upon and specifically overcome many of the disadvantages associated with known dunnage materials of the types discussed above.
More specifically, this invention relates to an improved free-flowing dunnage packaging material formed from individual dunnage elements which are individually constructed from small sheets of paper, such as small paper squares, with the sheets being preformed into a cup-like configurations so that such material, when used to fill a space or region between an article and a surrounding confinement, possesses sufficient strength to permit safe but cushioned support of the article, particularly during transport. This improved packaging material is particularly desirable with respect to ultimate disposal thereof since the paper readily degrades, and can be compacted or compressed into a small lightweight mass. This improved dunnage material can also be economically produced, can utilize recycled paper, and can be readily and conveniently handled without creating dust or other environmental problems, and is lightweight so as to not significantly increase overall shipping weight.
In the improved dunnage packaging material, as aforesaid, the paper cup-shaped dunnage element in one embodiment includes a generally flat base integrally and monolithically connected to a surrounding skirt which projects outwardly from one side of the base. This skirt is defined by a plurality of side panels which join to and extend around the base, with each side panel preferably being of a generally grooved or concaved horizontal cross section, with the edges of adjacent side panels being joined by convex rounded corner portions. The side panels preferably terminate in an outer pointed corner at an outer free end thereof so that the side panel is of greater length substantially along the center thereof than at the rounded edges. The resulting dunnage element hence possesses sufficient strength and durability, particularly when a large number of such elements are used to fill an open space or region between an article and a container, to provide protective yet cushioned support of the article. The skirt on the elements, and particularly the creation of the skirt by a plurality of deformed or concaved side panels, and the manner in which the elements randomly interfit and interlock when disposed within a container, provide the strength and durability necessary to support the article, but at the same time the randomly oriented collection of dunnage elements is able to provide resilient cushioning of the article due to the air spaces created by the skirts and resilient deformation of the skirts.
In the improved dunnage packaging material, as aforesaid, the individual elements are preferably initially formed from small paper squares so that the resulting skirt of the element is defined by four serially connected side panels, with each side panel being provided with a concave groove extending centrally through the longitudinal extent thereof and terminating at a corner as defined by one of the original corners of the paper square. The dunnage element, however, can also be defined by a paper sheet having three sides and corners, such as a sheet formed as a equilateral triangle, since the resulting dunnage element thus functions in generally the same manner except that the skirt is defined by three side panels, rather than four.
In the improved dunnage packaging material, as aforesaid, the paper cup-shaped dunnage element in a preferred embodiment includes a generally flat base integrally and monolithically connected to a surrounding skirt which projects outwardly from one side of the base. This skirt is defined by a plurality of side panels which join to and extend around the base. Each side panel includes an outer sidewall part which is circumferentially elongated and spirals outwardly partway around the base, and at its edge is folded inwardly to define an inner sidewall part which projects circumferentially reversely so as to partially overlap the outer sidewall part. This inner sidewall part terminates at a reverse fold line which joins to the edge of the outer sidewall part of the next adjacent side panel. The plurality of side panels extend circumferentially around the base and create a pinwheel-shaped cross section which, depending upon the tightness thereof, approaches a cylindrical configuration.
In the improved dunnage packaging material of the preferred embodiment, as aforesaid, the individual elements are preferably initially formed from small paper squares so that the resulting skirt of the element is defined by four serially connected side panels, and the resulting element when deformed into the pinwheel shape has the free outer edge of the skirt, at the open end thereof, defined by the edge of the paper square so that the free edge of the element has a sawtooth shaped configuration, and each side panel at the free edge thereof is pointed as defined by one of the corners of the paper square. This configuration of the dunnage element provides significant strength and durability in that each element traps or defines a significant open air space, and yet the element possesses sufficient strength as to enable resilient and cushioned support for objects packed within a collection of such elements, which elements are capable of being randomly oriented to provide the desired resilient cushioning of the object due to the resilient spaces created by the skirts and the resilient deformation of the skirts.
The present invention also relates to an improved process for making a dunnage packaging material, and specifically an apparatus for making a dunnage element of the type described above. In the process and apparatus, the paper square is positioned on an extruder which defines an interior channel, and a punch engages the paper square and forces it downwardly into the channel to form the sheet into the cup-shaped dunnage element.
The structure and function of the present invention, together with other objects and purposed thereof, will be apparent to persons familiar with dunnage packaging materials upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.


A surgical retractor assembly includes a support post having a lower portion and an upper portion, with the lower portion having an adjustable clamp for attaching the post to a rail provided on a surgical operating table. This clamp is capable of attachment to the rail over a flexible surgical drape. A screw mechanism is associated with the clamp so that the clamp can be attached and adjusted by the operator in an area above the rail on the surgical table. An extension rod is adjustably connected to the post and is adapted to extend in a direction generally over a patient on the operating table. A rigid ring member is connected to the extension rod for positioning a plurality of retractor blades for use on a patient. At least one retractor blade is mounted on the ring member.

The present invention relates to a surgical retractor assembly, and more particularly, concerns a surgical retractor useful in abdominal surgery and which is attached directly to the operating room table rail over either paper or linen drapes in order to maintain sterility at all times.
In surgical operations on the chest or abdomen, it is customary to employ a retraction apparatus. Most, if not all, versions of the retraction apparatus are attached directly to the operating room table by means of affixation to a rail which is provided along each side of the table. Whether by connection to one or both rails, the retraction apparatus generally provides a framework extending over the region of the patient in which the operation is to be performed. One or more retractor blades are attached to the apparatus framework, and these blades are positioned in the incision and serve to hold back tissue, organs, and the like so that the surgeon may operate on the intended area. These retractors, known as self-retaining surgical retractors, contribute to the efficiency of the surgeon, and are generally sufficiently adjustable to be useful in a variety of such surgical operations. Typical variations of this type of retractor are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,572,326; 2,594,086; and 2,586,488. Although the known and available self-retaining surgical retractors offer many advantages in the operating room, some deficiencies are evident as well.
Most, if not all, of the known self-retaining retractors are attached to the operating room table rail directly, and then the surgical drape over the patient extends, as best as possible, over both the rail and the attachment portion of the surgical retractor. It is most desirable to cover the rail of the operating room table inasmuch as the rail generally establishes the line between sterile and non-sterile planes in the operating rome, i.e., above the rail is considered sterile, while below the rail is considered non-sterile. Therefore, at the attachment point where most surgical retractors are directly affixed to the rail, contamination and non-sterility are generally presumed to occur. A surgeon or sterile assistant attaching anything to the rail or elsewhere in this lower region would have to wear a double set of gloves, the outer set being discarded before proceeding with the operation. Moreover, any attempt during surgery to move the retractor by an adjustment at its attachment point on the rail would also involve the problem of invading the non-sterile lower plane of the operating room, below the line established by the attachment rail.
Merely placing the surgical drape over the rail first, and then attaching the surgical retractor to the rail over the drape will not solve this invasion of the non-sterile area if the clamp tightening mechanism is at or near the rail, as is the case with known self-retaining surgical retractors. Whereas the drape may serve to cover the non-sterile rail and some of the region below, the surgeon or assistant may still have to drop his hands near or into the non-sterile region in order to tighten the retractor clamp to the rail. This means that there may be an exposure to the non-sterile region below the rail, with the attendant risks of contamination. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that improvements are needed, particularly in the manner of attaching self-retaining surgical retractors to the operating room table while not invading the non-sterile region. It is particularly to the solution of that problem, and others as well, that the present invention is directed.


A first positioning rule is oriented for mounting overlying edge portions of associated plaster drywall sheets. A second rule slidably mounted to the first rule includes a series of slots for receiving a cutting tool therewithin to effect scoring and cutting of the associated drywall sheet. The slots include overlying plate members of metallic construction received within recesses of the drywall rule to avoid damage to the rule in use of a cutting tool.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to drywall tools, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved drywall T-square wherein the same utilizes a series elongate slots equally spaced and formed within a slidable rule portion to effect scoring and cutting of associated drywall panels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
T-squares of various types have been utilized in the prior art to gauge and position measurements for subsequent procedures. The drywall tools of the prior art, however, have failed to provide a rapid and efficient manner of effecting scoring and cutting of an associated drywall panel with the attendant simplicity and effectiveness of the organization of the instant invention. Examples of the prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,805 to Padilla setting forth the use of a first rule slidably mounted at a second rule for effecting measuring operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 965,945 to Roman provides a drafting implement provided with openings for receiving a marking instrument such as a pencil therethrough.
U.S. Pat. No. 557,804 to Hammers sets forth a T-square utilizing a plurality of scales in the body and head of the T-square member.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,226,302 to Aswad provides a gauge for use with stone work, wherein the gauge includes a T-square member with a further member slidably mounted overlying the body of the T-square member to position the stone work portions relative to one another.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,081 to Wing provides a T-square utilizing retractable pins within the body of the T-square for attachment of the T-square to drywall products.
As such, it may be appreciated that there is a continuing need for a new and improved drywall T-square wherein the same addresses both the problems of ease of use and effectiveness in construction and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


An air conditioning control device of a vehicle in which an air conditioner for adjusting a temperature in a cabin is mounted is provided. The air conditioning control device includes a setting portion, a detector, and an electronic control unit. The setting portion is configured to set an execution schedule of pre-air conditioning that the air conditioner is actuated before a user gets in a vehicle. The detector is configured to detect boarding on the vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to actuate the air conditioner in accordance with the set execution schedule of the pre-air conditioning, and is also configured to notify the user about execution of the pre-air conditioning when the boarding of the user on the vehicle is detected after the air conditioner is actuated in accordance with the set execution schedule of the pre-air conditioning.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air conditioning control device of a vehicle, and in particular to an air conditioning control device of a vehicle capable of so-called pre-air conditioning, that is, an air conditioner is actuated before a user gets in a vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
A vehicle with a pre-air conditioning function has conventionally been known. For example, a vehicle described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-298134 (JP 2006-298134 A) includes a pre-air conditioning main switch. When a user turns on the pre-air conditioning switch, execution of pre-air conditioning is permitted.
However, in a case where a vehicle has a function to execute the pre-air conditioning at predetermined time intervals, such as a function of weekly pre-air conditioning, a problem arises that the user forgets she/he has set the weekly pre-air conditioning and the pre-air conditioning is executed even when the user does not get in the vehicle.

Air conditioning control device of vehicle


A method for producing a secure personal card and its working process using an intelligent card, the card has electric contacts, a CPU with at least data memory of the user and a biometric data receptor of the user. The biometric data stored in the card is used to make a comparison with biometric data received at the moment of use. Once the card is activated, generating an absolute identification of the biometric data of the authorized user, said biometric data being stored in an unreadable memory, generating and storing the personal data of the user and his/her access code, said biometric data being compared with the current read data of the actual user, in order to verify the identity of the user, then verification and identification of said personal data and access code being allowed in order to continue regular working operation.

At present, intelligent cards or Smart-Cards or microchip cards are known and are in use that are capable of performing a very large number of functions, both for identification as well as for payments and collections, or for a plurality of other services.
The most advanced smart cards contain a microprocessor or chip to control and identify the user name and its code in order to allow various functions. Identification data and a respective password are stored in the smart card in order to allow the verification of whether the user is a genuine user, otherwise the smart card cannot be used.
New smart cards are conceived in new technology marketing, namely the insertion into the smart card also of a biometric feature(s) of the user, e.g. thumb reader.

Method for making a secure personal card and its working process


A very small pitch sensor which accurately measures angular rotation about he pitch axis while being substantially insensitive to angular rotations about the roll or yaw axes. The pitch sensor comprises a spherical cavity that is fluid filled. The fluid fill further comprises one half conductive fluid and one half dielectric fluid. The fluids are selected to be immiscible and of different densities. The inside of the spherical cavity is segmented into three surface areas for connection to an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit measures voltage differentials between the segmented surface areas which vary with the conductive fluid surface in contact with the respective segmented areas. The conductive fluid surface contact area varies with the angular rotation of the cavity and about the pitch axis.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pitch sensor system and more particularly to a very small sensor that, in combination with a sensing circuit, measures angular rotation about the pitch axis while remaining insensitive to angular rotations about the yaw or roll axis.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
It is well known that there are commercially available sensors which use a mass on the end of a pendulum, the rotating shaft at the upper end of the pendulum being geared to a resistance potentiometer which then varies resistance in proportion to roll induced pendulum motion. Vertical gyros and inertial platforms have also been used to sense motion about a vertical axis. Also, electrolytic switches have been used to sense tilt. Both the pendulum devices and the gyros and inertial platforms devices are very large. In addition, the pendulum is undesirable in that it responds to cross axis motion while the gyros and inertial platforms are very complicated and expensive devices. The electrolytic switch devices sense only discrete tilt values, typically providing a constant signal when tilted from a preset state through any angle.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


Implementations of the present invention comprise lighting fixture assemblies that minimize the visibility of hardware and shadows. In particular, the lighting fixture assemblies may include no supporting hardware extending through an internal space defined, in whole or in part, by the lighting fixture assembly. In addition, the lighting fixture assemblies may include a gap between a bottom/top panel and a side panel of the lighting fixture assembly. Accordingly, lighting fixture assemblies of one or more implementations of the present invention can reduce or eliminate the visibility of internal supporting hardware and shadows on the exterior surfaces of the lighting fixture assemblies.

1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to lighting fixture assemblies that define, in whole or in part, an internal space that is configured to house light bulbs and/or other electrical circuitry.
2. Background and Relevant Art
Some conventional lighting fixtures, such as drum lighting fixtures, include outer panels that define an internal space that houses light bulbs and/or other electrical circuitry. These lighting fixtures may combine both lighting with aesthetic functions. Recent trends in building design involve the use of decorative resin materials for the outer shades of some lighting fixtures. Lighting fixtures that include outer shades, which are made in whole or in part of a resin material, are particularly popular where certain structural, optical, and aesthetic characteristics are desired. These products also tend to be less expensive, in most applications, than products that use materials such as glass and the like.
Resin materials also tend to be more flexible in terms of manufacture and assembly because they can be relatively easily bent, molded, colored, shaped, cut, and otherwise modified in a variety of different ways. Decorative resins can also provide more flexibility in color, degree of texture, gauge, and impact resistance when compared with glass and other conventional materials. Additionally, decorative resins have a fairly wide utility since they may be formed to include a large variety of colors, images, interlayers, and shapes.
Unfortunately, some conventional lighting fixtures suffer from a number of drawbacks. For example, supporting hardware in some conventional lighting fixtures is often too noticeable, unsightly, and/or does not provide an appropriate aesthetic for desired design environments. The unpleasant aesthetic of conventional mounting hardware is often magnified when used with translucent, transparent, or other outer panels that magnify texture, light, color, and form. For instance, the supporting hardware of some conventional lighting fixtures may be visible within or through the exterior surfaces of the conventional lighting fixtures. Such visible hardware can compromise the desired aesthetic effects of the lighting fixture.
Because the exterior panels of some conventional lighting fixtures include translucent materials, supporting hardware that is within the lighting fixture may cast shadows that are visible through the outer panels. These shadows may detract from the aesthetic qualities of the lighting fixture. This internal supporting hardware may show through gaps between adjacent exterior panels. Alternatively, this hardware may attach to, and extend through, a bottom panel of a light fixture, creating an undesirable look.
Similarly, joints between two or more external panels in conventional lighting fixtures may create shadows. These shadows may be especially noticeable between panels that are adjoined at different angles. For example, seams between a bottom panel and a side panel in a conventional lighting fixture shadows may create undesirable shadows. These shadows may further detract from the aesthetic qualities of the lighting fixture.
Consequently, improvements can be made over conventional lighting fixture assemblies.


Head covering with heat generating means comprised of an insulated adjustable head covering, a rigid cross brace attached to the upper inside surface of the head covering, a plurality of heat generating packets removably attached to the cross brace, the heat generating packets comprised of a combination of iron powder, water, salt, activated charcoal and vermiculite, and the heat generating packets packed in an air tight package and which activate when removed from the air tight package. A preferred embodiment includes wherein the heat generating packets produce heat of approximately 126 degrees farenheight lasting for up to three hours.

This invention relates generally to the field of head coverings, and more particularly to a head covering with heat generating means.
Hair conditioning products are known. Recently a category of hair conditioning product has been introduced into the market place that requires the user to introduce heat to properly activate the conditioning qualities of the hair conditioning product. One manufacturer of such a product is Helene Curtis who makes a heat activated conditioner named Thermasilk. To help with the activation of the product, the manufacturer suggests that the user either use a hair dryer to heat the hair or to wrap the head with a plastic material to help retain the heat generated from the scalp area. Both these suggestions have their limitations. The hair dryer solution requires the user to hold his or her arm up in the air for extended periods and precludes the user from doing any other activity at the time of hair heating. The plastic head wrap solution works with the heat generated from the users head. Since body temperature is nintey eight degrees, the heat within the wrap can not exceed that temperature. Most of the heat activated conditioners work best at temperatures higher than body temperature.