Aspects described herein generally relate to a material that is the reaction product of:                a binder;        a curing agent; and        a zinc pyrithione represented by the formula:

Aerospace vehicles that traverse, exit, and enter the atmosphere of the Earth travel at high velocities, and as a result, their exterior aerosurfaces, and to some degree their substructure, experience extreme thermal conditions. Heatshield materials are materials having high thermal conductivity to ensure that heat is quickly conducted away from potential hot spots on the heatshield. Heatshield materials also have high specific heat capacity so that the temperature increase of the material after absorbing heat is lower than that of many other materials. When applied to surfaces of an aerospace vehicle, heatshield materials form a heatshield that protects and insulates the structure subjected to thermal stress by the extreme thermal conditions.
The thermal stress management technique using heatshield materials that ablate under high temperatures has been used for a variety of applications since the early 1930s. Heatshield materials were used in early rocket systems for nose cap protection and have also been used as re-entry heatshields on the Gemini and Apollo space vehicles, and further on many modern rocket nozzles.
Common cork based heatshield materials include cork epoxy, cork phenolic and cork silicone. The combustion of cork and phenolic resin to form weakened char is an important failure mode of cork phenolic heatshield materials. When the material is exposed to high heat flux and oxygen from ambient atmosphere, the cork-based heatshields quickly char and begin burning. Once ignited, the heatshield materials will continue to burn even after the external heat source is turned off. As the cork phenolic heatshield ablates, the surface of the heatshield will form char with cracks, the size of which increases with time. Eventually the remaining material will break and erode away due to the mechanical load or aerodynamic shear.
Many of these materials, although suitable for use in the aforementioned applications, have handling and longevity (shelf life) issues that preclude application on a system that is subjected to frequent handling and that may be stored for extended periods of time prior to use. A typical launch vehicle may sit on the launch pad for days prior to flight (or stored somewhere for years), and often the heatshield materials can absorb a significant amount of moisture if left unprotected. Mildew and fungus (mold) can accumulate in and on the cork material of the heatshield, which may affect mechanical and thermal properties of the heatshield. Attempts have been made to coat the cork-based resin with an antibiotic such as para-nitrophenol (NO2-Ph-OH). However, this compound is highly water soluble (16 g/L) which correlates with its high toxicity, and is not permitted for use in aircraft in both the United States and the European Union.
Aerospace vehicles may also be protected from moisture (and mold) by coating heatshield surfaces with one or more sealant layers. These additional layers increase the weight and cost of the vehicle components and aerospace vehicles as a whole. These additional layers also increase the amount of time to manufacture such components and vehicles as a whole.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for new and improved heatshields and heatshield materials.

Abstract: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 is independently hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyl, hydroxyl, aryl, or heterocyclyl, uses thereof as a heatshield material, and heatshields.


A delay line device for delaying signal transmission, comprising a dielectric layer, a grounding electrode layer disposed on one surface of the dielectric layer, a strip line conductor layer disposed on the other surface of the dielectric layer, an input terminal and an output terminal respectively connected to the strip line conductor layer at two positions, and a delay time adjusting electrode connected to at least one of the input and output terminals, a capacitance of which influences a delay time being obtained between the delay time adjusting electrode and the grounding electrode layer. The capacitance of the delay time adjusting electrode is adjustable, thereby permitting adjustment of the delay time.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a delay line device used to delay signal transmission in a computer, an instrumentation or the like and more particularly to a delay line device capable of adjusting a delay time.
2) Description of the Prior Art
As an example of a delay line device, there is one using a distributed constant circuit. FIG. 1 shows a delay line device of the so-called microstrip type in the above category. This delay line device comprises a meandering strip line conductor 31 formed on a main surface of a dielectric substrate 30 and a grounding electrode layer (not shown) formed on an opposite surface thereof. The length of the strip line conductor 31 determines a delay time obtained between an input lead terminal 32 and an output lead terminal 33. In order to change the delay time in this delay line device after manufacturing, an intermediate tap lead terminal 34 is connected to the strip line conductor 31 between the input and output lead terminals 32 and 33 and is used as an output terminal. The delay time can be adjusted by varying the position at which the intermediate tap lead terminal 34 is connected to the strip line conductor 31.
However, in the above delay line device, it is impossible to adjust the delay time after it is mounted on a printed circuit board since the positions of the input and output terminals are determined by the delay time. In addition, since one of the three lead terminals 32, 33 and 34 is not used after mounting, it has an undesired capacitance or acts as a stub which causes reflection of a signal. Further, when the strip line conductor 31 is meandering as shown in FIG. 1 , the position at which the intermediate tap lead terminal 34 is to be connected to the strip line conductor 31 is limited to the portions indicated by A. This prevents fine adjustment of the delay time.

Delay line device with adjustable time delay


A telecine uses a flying-spot scanner to derive video images from a film. A scan control circuit is used to control the scan of the flying-spot to introduce special effects. Pairs of successive images may be misaligned and a motion vector estimator is used to detect the amount of misalignment. This produces a shift vector for an image stabilizer to shift one of the images of a pair. The motion vector estimator also receives data from the scan control circuit relating to any special effect in the images and corrects the shift vector in dependence on this.

This invention relates to systems for stabilizing video images and in particular to systems for use in telecines.
Telecines suffer from image stability problems. A film is transported through the telecine's optical system by a complicated series of mechanical devices which use the sprocket holes in the film to guide it through a predetermined path of travel. As a film is used the sprocket holes will be subjected to wear and tear thus making it impossible to use them accurately to position every frame of the film in the telecine.
Furthermore, if the film passing through the telecine is a print from an original a variable error in the position of the actual image relative to the film edges will be present as a result of the process by which copies of the film are made. The sprocket holes in the original would be subject to wear and tear and the error in positioning the original when making a copy will contribute to this variable error. In such a case a telecine which had error correction to produce 100% image stability would still produce an unsteady video image.
Motion vector estimation techniques are well known in video systems and are used to identify the motion of a whole video frame or a portion thereof relative to its immediate predecessor. In a telecine this information can be used to correct the position of the current frame of the video signal relative to its predecessor thereby producing a stable output image. Preferably a motion vector estimator is used which has sub-pixel accuracy since even very small positional errors can be noticed by the human eye in certain situations, for example, when electronically generated titles are overlaid on a transferred sequence these are completely steady with respect to the image edges.
It is sometimes desired to change the shape and size of the images in a sequence in situations such as when two pieces of film material are to be joined by a matte process. The alteration to the shape and size can be achieved by use of a digital image processor after scanning of the film by the telecine. However, the effectiveness of this is limited by the resolution of the original sampled images. This can cause problems with image rotation and image zooming and resultant images are likely to be either very "soft" or "pixellated".
The Rank Cintel URSA telecine incorporates a scanning mechanism which allows special effects such as image rotation and image zooming to be carried out before a digital representation of the image is produced, thereby maintaining image resolution. This is achieved by altering the shape of the flying spot scan to that of the desired effect. For example, an image zoom is accomplished by scanning the same number of lines in a reduced area of the film. Image pans, rotations, and other effects such as image stretching can also be performed in this way.
Using the known technique of Producing motion vectors between successive frames of the image to correct for film instability does not work when such a zoom, pan, or other special effect has been included and has altered the shape of the flying spot scan. This is because the motion vector estimation technique tracks the global motion of the image from frame to frame and would be unable to separate out motion due to scanning effects from motion due to film instability.


During operation, a system iteratively captures MR signals of one or more types of nuclei in one or more portions of a biological lifeform based on scanning instructions that correspond to a dynamic scan plan. The MR signals in a given iteration may be associated with voxels having associated sizes at three-dimensional (3D) positions in at least a corresponding portion of the biological lifeform. If the system detects a potential anomaly when analyzing the MR signals from the given iteration, the system dynamically modifies the scan plan based on the detected potential anomaly, a medical history and/or an MR-scan history. Subsequent measurements of MR signals may be associated with the same or different: types of nuclei, portions of the biological lifeform, voxels sizes and/or 3D positions.

Field
The described embodiments relate generally magnetic resonance (MR), more specifically to performing MR scans based on longitudinal MR histories of one or more individuals and/or medical histories of the individuals. More generally, the described embodiments relate to performing non-invasive medical imaging (such as computed tomography, ultrasound or MR imaging) based on longitudinal imaging histories of the one or more individuals and/or the medical histories of the individuals.
Related Art
Magnetic resonance or MR (which is often referred to as 'nuclear magnetic resonance' or NMR) is a physical phenomenon in which nuclei in a magnetic field absorb and re-emit electromagnetic radiation. For example, magnetic nuclear spins may be partially aligned (or polarized) in an applied external magnetic field. These nuclear spins may precess or rotate around the direction of the external magnetic field at an angular frequency (which is sometimes referred to as the 'Larmor frequency') given by the product of a gyromagnetic ratio of a type of nuclei and the magnitude or strength of the external magnetic field. By applying a perturbation to the polarized nuclear spins, such as one or more radio-frequency (RF) pulses (and, more generally, electromagnetic pulses) having pulse widths corresponding to the angular frequency and at a right-angle or perpendicular to the direction of the external magnetic field, the polarization of the nuclear spins can be transiently changed. The resulting dynamic response of the nuclear spins (such as the time-varying total magnetization) can provide a wealth of information about the physical and material properties of a sample.
In medicine, MR has been widely used to non-invasively determine anatomical structure and/or the chemical composition of different types of tissue. For example, in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the dependence of the angular frequency of precession of nuclear spins (such as protons or the isotope 1H) on the magnitude of the external magnetic field is used to determine images of anatomical structure. In particular, by applying a non-uniform or spatially varying magnetic field to a patient, the resulting variation in the angular frequency of precession of 1H spins is typically used to spatially localize the measured dynamic response of the 1H spins to voxels, which can be used to generate images of the internal anatomy of the patient.
However, existing approaches to MRI are typically time-consuming. For example, acquiring MR images with high-spatial resolution (i.e., small voxels sizes) often involves a large number of measurements (which are sometimes referred to as 'scans') to be performed. Moreover, in order to achieve high-spatial resolution, a large homogenous external magnetic field is usually used during MRI. The external magnetic field is typically generated using a superconducting magnetic having a toroidal shape with a narrow bore, which can feel confining to many patients.
The combination of long scan times and the confining environment of the magnet bore can degrade the user experience during MRI. Indeed, some patients feel profoundly claustrophobic in MR scanners. In addition, long scan times reduce throughput, thereby increasing the cost of performing MM.

Fast scanning based on magnetic resonance history


A bearing structure has a crankshaft rotatably supported by a crankshaft bearing part, formed of a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine and a first bearing cap, through a bearing metal, a second shaft rotatably supported by a second shaft bearing part formed of the first bearing cap and a second bearing cap, wherein the bearing metal has a bearing metal planar portion for rotatably supporting the crankshaft with an entire inner peripheral surface of the bearing metal, the inner peripheral surface at which the bearing metal planar portion is formed, a bearing metal oil groove portion formed with an oil groove formed to extend circumferentially in an inner peripheral surface of the bearing metal, the inner peripheral surface at which the bearing metal oil groove portion is formed, a first oil hole opening at the oil groove, and a second oil hole opening at the oil groove.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a bearing structure and, for example, to a bearing structure for a crankshaft in a multi-link-type piston crank mechanism.
Related Art
For example, in a patent document 1, as a piston crank mechanism in an internal combustion engine, there is disclosed a multi-link-type piston crank mechanism having a lower link supported by the crank pin of a crankshaft, an upper link connecting the one end portion of the lower link to a piston pin, and a control link connecting the other end portion of the lower link to the eccentric shaft part of a control shaft.
In such a multi-link-type piston crank mechanism, a crankshaft and a control shaft are required to be rotatably supported individually. The patent document 1 discloses a bearing structure where the crankshaft is supported between the bulkhead of a cylinder block and a main bearing cap, and a control shaft bearing cap is attached to the underside of the main bearing cap, and the control shaft is supported between the main bearing cap and the control shaft bearing cap.
In addition, the control shaft bearing cap has a bearing beam structure in which a plurality of bearing caps are connected in a ladder form by a beam part extending in an engine longitudinal direction, and is configured to supply lubricating oil to the control shaft bearing part from an oil gallery formed in the beam part.
However, for the configuration as in patent document 1 in which the lubricating oil is supplied to the control shaft bearing part through the inside of the beam part, it may be necessary to form the control shaft bearing cap in the bearing beam structure, thereby leading to a low flexibility of design.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication 2004-116434


An automatic vehicle identification (AVI) unit includes a transponder to communicate with an interrogator regarding at least an identification of a vehicle in which the AVI unit is located, and an audio speaker to broadcast verbal announcements based on information received from the interrogator. A highway monitoring and broadcast system includes means to collect and analyze activity on the highway and to determine when such activity requires sending information to vehicles on the highway, and an interrogator to communicate with AVI transponders installed in the vehicles.

Automatic vehicle identification (AVI) is known in the art.
A common use for AVI is to electronically monitor and charge vehicles entering or moving on toll highways by means of an interrogator and transponder. The interrogator is a transmitter/receiver device owned by the highway operator that communicates with transponders that are installed within the vehicles. One or more of such interrogators are installed at the entrance or at specific locations along sections of the highway. Upon receipt of a valid interrogation signal, the vehicle transponder responds by transmitting the identity of the car (or any other unique signal enabling the identification of the car) to the interrogator. Upon receipt and processing of the transponder signal, the highway operator can charge the car owner for using the highway.
The interrogators and transponders usually operate by means of electromagnetic signals, but other types of communication means, for example, optical, ultrasonic, etc may also be used. Most commonly, the interrogators and transponders operate by means of RF signals, and therefore the transponder is sometimes referred to as "RF ID". Furthermore, specific protocol standards, as well as proprietary protocols, have been developed for such interrogator-transponders communication, for example ASTM V6 and CALTRANS Title 21.
FIG. 1, to which reference is now made, shows a typical AVI transponder 1 together with an optional hanging device 2. Transponder 1 is generally attached to the internal surface of the front vehicle window (windshield), or to a location close to the window by means of some attachment device. For example, the device may be attached to the window by means of hanging device 2. Hanging device 2 typically has a double sided adhesive (not shown) at its rear surface, and hangers 3a and 3b at the front. Hanging device 2 is generally attached to the windshield at a location which at most minimally obstructs a driver's view; for example, behind the front mirror.
Typically, transponder 1 is an electronic card or a small circuit which is mounted within a closed, sometimes molded casing. Transponder 1 typically comprises means to provide an electronic beep which may be used to occasionally alert the driver as the car passes an interrogator at the beginning/end of a section of the highway.
Such transponders and interrogators are also commonly used in other applications. For example, transponders 1 can also be used as is, or with minimal modification, to facilitate weigh in motion (WIM) applications, access control and management, traffic management probes and other location based services.

AVI transponder with audio announcements means


The invention relates to a method of controlling a temporal variation of light emitted by an illumination system. The light emitted by the illumination system varies from light having a start color point (14) to light having a target color point (12). The start and target color point are defined in a first color space (XYZ, RGBvid, RGBill), which is perceptually non-uniform. The method according to the invention converts the start and target color point from the first color space to a second color space (Lab, Lch), which is more uniform to the human visual system than the first color space. The method further comprises a step of generating an intermediate color point (34, I1, I2) located on a transition-path (p, p′) within the second color space, an intermediate distance (d) between the start color point in the second color space and the intermediate color point in the second color space not being larger than a threshold distance (26). The method further comprises converting the intermediate color point from the second color space back to the first color space, and subsequently altering the light emitted by the illumination system (65) from the start color point to the intermediate color point. The invention further relates to an illumination system and a display device.

A recent development in display technology is the adding of ambient lighting effects (further also referred to as ambilight effects) using an ambient illumination system to enhance the visual experience, for example, when watching content displayed on the display device, or, for example, for creating a certain atmosphere in an environment. This ambilight effect illuminates the surroundings of the display device, such as a television, with light associated with the content of the image currently displayed on the display device. For example, the ambilight effect is generated using an illumination system, which is part of the display device. The illumination system may illuminate a wall behind the display device with light associated with the content of the image. Alternatively, the display device may be connected to a remotely located illumination system for remotely generating the light associated with the content of the image. When the display device displays a sequence of images, for example, a sequence of video frames being part of video content, the content of the images shown in the sequence generally change over time which results in a need for the light associated with the sequence of images to also change over time.
When watching content displayed on the display device ambilight may, next to an enhancement of the visual experience, also be applied to reduce eyestrain. A variation in color and/or intensity from one image to another in video content may be relatively large. Using the ambilight system to illuminate the surroundings of the display device reduces the perceived large color and/or intensity variation from one image displayed on the display device to another, which reduces eyestrain.
An ambient lighting device is, for example, disclosed in PCT patent application WO 2006/003624A1, in which perceptual rules are applied to extract information from video content to enable an intelligent dominant color selection. The selected dominant color is subsequently used to drive the ambilight system such that the light emitted from the ambient lighting system is associated with the light emitted from the video content. A disadvantage of the known ambilight system is that a variation in the emission of the ambient lighting system from one color point associated with the first image to another color point associated with a second image still results in eyestrain.

Method for color transition for general illumination system


Computer-implemented systems and methods for networks that transmit credit, non-credit or identity related alert messages or other identity related messages relating to a secondary person, minor, or other person to a primary person's device. According to certain embodiments, two or more consenting adults, such as, for example, spouses, can have identity related messages relating to their credit status, and in some cases minors' credit status, transmitted to the device of the other person or persons as well as their own device. Each individual's device is able to communicate with the system in order to control what identity related messages the system transmits to their devices, as well as to devices of the other adult. In some embodiments, the system automatically terminates transmitting messages if a fraud event occurs. Each individual's device is also able to terminate transmission of such messages to devices of the other adult.

Identity related information systems (sometimes, "systems") currently deliver credit, bank account or other non-credit and/or identity related alerts or other messages ("identity related messages") to computers, smartphones, or other devices ("devices") of individuals who have established a monitoring account on the system for the purpose of monitoring their credit, non-credit or identity related information ("identity related information"). Identity related messages can include, for instance, messages or alerts that a credit rating has changed, an account balance has changed, or that the person's identity is being misappropriated. Sometimes an identity related message can advise the individual to review their account on the system to learn the nature of the identity related information that gave rise to generation of the identity related message. Accordingly, such identity related messages are transmitted to the device of the individual that owns the account ("primary person"). Systems and methods would be desirable that could generate and transmit identity related messages relating to a primary person's spouse or other family member or a third party ("secondary person") or children or other minor persons ("minor"), to the device of the primary person. Particularly desirable would be such systems and methods in which the secondary person, using his or her device, could communicate with the system to terminate at will the transmission of identity related messages to the primary person's device that are related to the secondary person's identity information on the system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Networked transmission of reciprocal identity related data messages


A handle assembly for a network protector where the network protector includes a circuit breaker and a housing assembly, the circuit breaker having a trip bar structured to move between a first position and a second position corresponding to an open and closed position of the circuit breaker, respectively, the housing assembly having a sidewall with an opening. The handle assembly includes a linkage assembly, a shaft assembly, a handle member and locking assembly. The shaft assembly has a shaft, where the shaft rotatably is disposed in the opening and structured to move between a first and second position. The handle member has an elongated body and an elongated grip extending generally perpendicular to the handle body. The handle body is coupled to, and structured to rotate, the shaft. The locking assembly has an elongated release grip. The locking assembly is coupled to the handle member and structured to selectively lock the shaft in at least the first position, and the release grip is structured to unlock the locking assembly. The release grip extends generally adjacent and parallel to the handle grip. The linkage assembly is coupled to the shaft and structured to engage the trip bar so that when the shaft is in the first position, the trip bar is in the first position and when the shaft is in the second position, the trip bar is in the second position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to network protectors and, more specifically, to an external operating handle that may be used by an operator wearing thick gloves.
2. Background Information
Secondary power distribution networks consist of interlaced grids which are supplied by two or more sources of power so that the loss of a single source of power will not result in an interruption of service. Such networks provide the highest level of reliability possible with conventional power distribution and are normally used to supply high-density load areas such as a section of a city, a large building, or an industrial site. Between the power sources and the network is a transformer and a network protector. The network protector consists of a circuit breaker and a control relay. The circuit breaker includes at least one set of main contacts that move between an open position and a closed position. When the main contacts are closed, electricity may flow through the network protector. The contacts are coupled to an operating mechanism structured to move the contacts between the first and second positions. The operating mechanism may be actuated by a trip device structured to sense an over-current condition or by a mechanical trip assembly that is manually operated. The control relay senses the transformer and network voltages and line currents and executes algorithms to initiate breaker tripping or closing action. Trip determination is based on detecting an overcurrent condition or reverse power flow, that is, power flow from the network to the energy source.
Network protectors are often found in dust-proof or moisture-proof housings, or vaults, which are disposed in subterranean passageways in large metropolitan areas. Given their urban, subterranean location, increasing the size of the vault to accommodate larger network protectors is costly and difficult. As such, it is more efficient to reduce the space occupied by certain network protector components so as to allow space for other newer/larger components. That is, by reducing the size of one component or sub-component, another component may be added or an existing component's size may be increased.
The network protector components, the circuit breaker, the relay and other associated devices, are located within a housing assembly within the vault. For safety, the circuit breaker should be tripped before the circuit breaker can be removed from the enclosure. To accomplish this, network protectors include a mechanical trip assembly which is structured to interact with a trip bar coupled to the operating mechanism. The trip bar is structured to move between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the trip bar prevents the main contacts of the network protector circuit breaker from moving into the closed position. Thus, when the trip bar is in the first position, the contacts are open. In the second position, the trip bar allows the main contacts to be moved into the closed position. The trip bar could also be moved into a reset position corresponding to a reset position for the circuit breaker.
To safely remove, or install, the circuit breaker from the enclosure, the main contacts must be in the first, open position. To trip the circuit breaker, the trip bar was moved into the first position by the mechanical trip assembly. The mechanical trip assembly included an external handle coupled to a shaft that extended from outside the housing assembly to within the housing assembly and a coupling device that extended between the shaft and the trip bar. Typically, the shaft extended laterally within the network protector housing and extended beyond either the left or right housing sidewall. The handle was coupled to the shaft and extended radially, that is, perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. As such the handle extended generally parallel to the plane of the housing sidewall. If there was sufficient space within the vault, the handle may also have a perpendicular rod, or grip, extending laterally. When the shaft was rotated, the coupling device moved thereby actuating the trip bar. A typical mechanical trip assembly is structured to be actuated prior to opening the door to the enclosure.
Accordingly, the mechanical trip device included an external handle that could be actuated prior to opening the door to the housing assembly. Actuating the external operating handle moved the mechanical trip assembly, and therefore the trip bar, into the first position. Thus, before the housing assembly is opened, the circuit breaker was tripped. If required, however, it was possible to open the housing assembly with the trip bar in the second position, leaving the circuit breaker in the closed position. After maintenance and/or repairs are performed on the circuit breaker or the relay, and after the circuit breaker is installed in the vault, the mechanical trip assembly, and therefore the trip bar, is moved, if required, into the reset position, and then into the second position so that the main contacts could again be closed.
To prevent the accidental actuation of the external handle, the typical handle included a locking device. The locking device included a guide plate fixed to the outer side of, and extending generally parallel to, the housing assembly sidewall, and a pin. The guide plate and the handle are disposed adjacent to each other and included openings sized to allow the pin to pass therethrough. The openings on the guide plate were positioned to align with the handle opening when the handle was in either the first or second position. Thus, the handle, and therefore the mechanical trip assembly, could be locked in either the first or second position by inserting the pin through the handle and into the guide plate. The locking pin was actuated, for example, by a push lever. That is a lever actuated by a user was structured to move the pin between the locked and unlocked positions.
The disadvantage to the prior art handle locking devices is that the actuating means for locking and unlocking the handle were relatively small. That is, formerly, users were not required to utilize safety gloves, or the gloves that were required were not as bulky, and other protective measures when actuating the handle. Thus, the release mechanism for the handle assembly was sized for an ungloved hand. Today, users utilize thicker protective clothing that makes gripping the former type of release device difficult. Additionally, the prior art locking devices were often difficult to access due to the confined nature of the vault. These confined spaces are prone to cause damage to the newer, thicker protective clothing as a user may catch and tear the clothing.
There is, therefore, a need for an external handle that is easy to grip by a user wearing thick gloves.
There is a further need for a handle locking device that is easy to access by a user wearing thick gloves.

Positive locking, trigger grip, external operating handle assembly for network protector enclosures


The liquid crystal material of the disclosure includes liquid crystal molecules, polymerizable monomers and a vertical alignment agent, wherein the polymerizable monomers and the vertical alignment agent can be polymerized under ultraviolet irradiation to form a polymer, while the polymer deposits on a substrate to form a polymer film capable of replacing the PI alignment film; so that an alignment process of the liquid crystal is simplified, and a cost is economized. The method of fabricating the liquid crystal display panel of the disclosure eliminates the fabricating process of the alignment film.

With the development of the display technology, due that flat display devices of liquid crystal displays (LCD) and the like have advantages of high definition, power saving, thin body, wide range application etc., the flat display devices are widely applied to various consumer electronic products of mobile phones, televisions, personal digital assistants, notebook computers, desktop computers and the like, so as to be the mainstream of the display devices.
Most of the liquid crystal devices in current market are backlight type liquid crystal display, which includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight module. The working principle of the liquid crystal display panel is: placing liquid crystal molecules in two parallel glass substrates, which have many vertical and horizontal fine wires between the two glass substrates; controlling the liquid crystal molecules to change direction by energizing or not energizing; and refracting light of the backlight module to produce frames.
Generally, the liquid crystal display panel is consisting of a color filter (CF) substrate, a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate, liquid crystal interposed between the CF substrate and the TFT substrate, and a sealant.
A thin film material is respectively formed on the CF substrate and the TFT substrate in the liquid crystal display, a main action of the thin film material is to arrange for the liquid crystal molecules according to a certain direction, the thin film material, we call an alignment film, usually is polyimide (PI) material. A main composition of this type alignment film is a rubbing alignment type PI material or an optical alignment type PI material; however, no matter what the type of alignment material is, it has its own shortcoming. Firstly, the rubbing alignment type PI material easily causes problems of dust particles, residual electrostatic, and brush mark etc.; thereby reducing process yield. Although the optical alignment PI material can obviate such problems, it has limited material characteristics, poor heat resistance, poor aging resistance, and weaker ability of anchoring liquid crystal molecules; thereby affecting panel quality. Secondly, the PI material itself has high polarity and high water absorption, storage and transport easily cause deterioration that results in uneven alignment, and the price of PI material is expensive, the process of forming a film on the TFT-LCD is complex; thereby increasing panel cost. In the fabrication of liquid crystal display panel, if the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules is made by omitting the PI film, the cost of fabricating panels will be greatly reduced.

Liquid crystal materials, methods of fabricating liquid crystal display panels and liquid crystal display panels

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A foldable garment hanger capable of being attached to and folded with a garment and then boxed, if necessary, and shipped with the garment in a minimum of space so that the hanger needs merely to be unfolded with the garment and hung upon arrival at the retail store. The hanger is comprised of a hanger body, a suspension member and two arms, each with garment retaining means at its end. The arms are connected by a living hinge that enables the arms to be folded toward each other. The suspension member possesses latching means and is connected to the body by a hinge that enables the suspension member to be folded along the hinge and latched to the body arms for support in hanging of the hanger.

This invention relates to garment hangers which are primarily used to ship clothing from the manufacturer to the retailer. More particularly, this invention relates to garment hangers for garments of the type that could be folded or boxed and shipped unhung to retail stores.
Garments that are to be displayed hanging at the retail store may be shipped folded and boxed from the manufacturer to the retailer. This process usually involves the extra time and labor of applying hangers to the garments at the retail store prior to display. It is desirable to provide garment hangers that allow the garments to be prehung by the manufacturer so that the garments may be immediately hung and displayed upon arrival at the retail store, thereby avoiding the extra time and labor of applying hangers to the garments.
One prior method for shipping prehung garments, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,309, involves first draping the garment over the lower of two jaw-like horizontal bars joined at one end by a hinge and then clamping the upper horizontal bar down over the garment onto the lower bar by means of a clamp at the opposite end. Another method, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,265, involves first draping the garment over a lower horizontal bar and then clamping the garment to the parallel upper horizontal bar by folding the lower bar up and latching it at both ends to the upper bar. In both of these cases, a hanger hook is rigidly connected to the upper of the two horizontal bars to allow hanging of the prehung garments immediately after shipping.
Although these prior devices allow the garment to be shipped prehung and allow the hanger and garment to be hung immediately after shipping, the width of the hanger body and the protrusion of the hook occupy valuable shipping space. It is desirable to provide a garment hanger that would allow the garment to be shipped prehung, while itself occupying only a minimum of space during shipping.
The hangers disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,870,206 and 4,932,571 avoid the problem caused by the hook's protrusion by providing hooks that fold down when the hanger is not in hanging use. The hanger disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,206 allows the hinged hook to fold down and fit within the hanger body. U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,571 allows the hook and other parts of the hanger frame to fold inside an outer frame for storage of the hanger when not in use. These hanger devices are also not suitable for shipping because, even though their hooks no longer protrude, their width and, in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,571, height still occupy valuable shipping space. Moreover, neither of these hangers provides any means for securing a garment during shipping.
Additionally, none of these prior devices works for garments that are not simply draped over a horizontal bar but require additional folding or boxing as well. Because these devices provide, at most, horizontal bars which are clamped to each other, any garment that is not simply draped over a horizontal bar, but requires folding or boxing rather than hanging or in addition to hanging, may not be shipped using these prior devices.
It is desirable to provide a foldable garment hanger that could be attached to the garment, folded along with the garment and, if necessary, boxed for shipping along with the garment. Alternatively, it is desirable to provide a garment hanger that could be attached to the pre-folded garment and then, if necessary, boxed for shipping along with the garment. The advantage of this foldable hanger is that the hanger would need only to be unfolded with the garment and then hung in order to be displayed. This would save the time and labor ordinarily spent in applying hangers to the garments.


A structural element, for use as a furniture support, includes a pair of support members, one of which defines an upwardly facing recess and the other of which defines a downwardly facing recess. Each support member is engaged within the recess of the other support member, for providing ease of disassembly. Each support member includes a pair of outwardly extending lower legs, which engage a supporting surface. Each support member further includes an upper support arm and an intermediate support arm located below the upper support arm and the legs. The upper support arms of the support members engage and support a first use surface, and the intermediate support arms engage and support a second use surface at an elevation between the first use surface and the legs. The structional element also contemplates a stabilizing structure for an assembled support post of the type described. The stabilizing structure is in the form of abutment surfaces which engage each other when the support members are assembled together. The abutment surfaces are non-parallel to a longitudinal plane along which each support member extends, and are also non-parallel to a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

The present invention relates to an arrangement in a structural element, for example in connection with furniture, especially sitting furniture or relief furniture, comprising at least a first and a second supporting means, each of which comprising an area having a recess, said recess being adapted such that said supporting means can be detachably engaged for mutual assemblage.

Arrangement in a structural element for example for use in a furniture, more specially a sitting furniture or relief furniture


A pressure sensor has a sensor chip with a diaphragm formed therein and bumps formed thereon, and a stem with leads extending from a surface thereof to the sensor chip. The bumps and the leads are electrically connected by face down bonding so that a surface of the sensor chip faces the surface of the stem. In this manner, bonding wires are unnecessary. Therefore, an area for disposing the bonding wires in the stem can be cut down, so that the pressure sensor can be miniaturized.

This application is based upon Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2000-199443 filed on Jun. 30, 2000, and 2001-10682 filed on Jan. 18, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a sensor, and more particularly, to a structure of a pressure sensor assembly having a base with a lead and a sensor chip connected to the base through the lead so that the sensor chip is held by the base.
2. Description of the Related Art
A pressure sensor held by a base having external leads is disclosed in JP-A-7-209115, or in JP-A-7-243926, and is shown in FIG. 15 as a prior art.
The pressure sensor has a sensor chip 44 with one side on which a diaphragm 55 is formed as a sensing portion. The sensor chip 44 is fixed to a pedestal 66, and is mounted on a stem 111 as a base plate having leads 22. The sensor chip 44 is electrically connected to the leads 22 through wirings J1.
Recently, the pressure sensor is, however, required to be miniaturized. In case of the pressure sensor shown in FIG. 15, the stem 111 must have a predetermined area above which the wirings J1 are disposed as well as an area for mounting the sensor chip 44, so that a miniaturization of the sensor must depend on a miniaturization of the sensor chip 44.
This invention has been conceived in view of the background as described above and an object of the invention is to provide a pressure sensor held by a base with a lead, capable of miniaturizing a size thereof.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a sensor chip is electrically fixed to leads through electrodes formed on a surface thereof so that a surface of the sensor chip faces a surface of a base directly. As a result, a predetermined area of a base for disposing a wiring thereon can be cut down.
Preferably, the sensor chip is fixed to the base by a face down bonding.
Preferably, the leads are disposed within an area corresponding to the sensor chip when the sensor chip is fixed to the leads.
Preferably, a difference in a liner expansion coefficient between the base and the sensor chip is 10 ppm/xc2x0 C. or less. More preferably, the difference is 6 ppm/xc2x0 C. or less. Furthermore preferably, the difference is 2 ppm/xc2x0 C. or less. As a result, influence to the sensor chip caused by the difference in the liner expansion coefficient between the base and the sensor chip is restrained. In other words, an output from the sensor chip is prevented from varying by the difference.
Preferably, the electrodes disposed on the sensor chip are ball-shaped bumps formed by a wire bonding method. The ball-shaped bumps can absorb variation in height of the leads by deforming themselves. Moreover, the ball-shaped bumps can absorb shock occurring in connecting the bumps to the leads.
Preferably, the electrodes are formed by a metal plating method. By this method, electrodes can be formed before the sensor chip is diced from a wafer, and can be changed in size easily.
Preferably, the ball-shaped bumps are formed on the metal electrodes.
Preferably, the electrodes are connected to the leads through an intermediate. The intermediate can absorb variation in height of the leads. The intermediate is, for example, conductive paste, conductive resin film or the like.
Preferably, a region of the sensor chip including portion where the electrodes are formed is covered with a protection member. In this case, Yong""s modulus is preferably 1 GPa or less to decrease stress applied to the sensor chip, which is caused by the protection member, so that the output of the sensor chip is not varied by the stress of the protection member so much. More preferably, the protection is gelatinized resin (gel) because it is soft.
Preferably, the protection member is a membrane, so that the output of the sensor chip is not varied by the membrane so much since it is thin.
Preferably, the protection member coats sides of the sensor chip, which are exposed by dicing the sensor chip from the wafer.
Preferably, the electrodes are arranged so that the electrodes do not surround a diaphragm formed in the sensor chip, so that stress caused by the base is prevented from transmitting to the diaphragm.
Preferably, a stress relaxation member is disposed between one of the electrodes and one of the leads.
For example, the stress relaxation member is a lead capable of elastic deformation. The lead has a weak portion, or an hourglass portion.
The sensor chip may be fixed to the leads through the electrodes formed on the surface thereof so that an extending direction of the leads is in parallel with the surface of the sensor chip.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings.


There is disclosed an ink-jet recording material which comprises a support in which both surfaces of a base paper are covered by a polyolefin resin, and an ink-receptive layer containing inorganic fine particles and a hydrophilic binder provided on the support, wherein a surface of the support opposite to the surface at which the ink-receptive layer is provided has a ten-point mean roughness Rz measured according to JIS-B-0601 of boarding is 12 to 40 xcexcm under the condition of a reference length of 8 mm, and preferably a ratio of a total length X of a mean line across the mountain part to a total length Y of a mean line across a valley part, X/Y is 1/10 to 3/1.

1. Field of the invention
This invention relates to an ink-jet recording material having an ink-receptive layer, more specifically to an ink-jet recording material particularly excellent in feeding and conveying characteristics in a printer, and the surface of which is difficultly damaged by rubbing between the front and the back surfaces at preparation, processing and printing, having high anti-blocking property and having high glossiness and ink-absorption property.
2. Prior Art
As a recording material to be used for an ink-jet recording system, a recording material which comprises a porous ink-receptive layer comprising a pigment such as amorphous silica, etc., and a water-soluble binder such as polyvinyl alcohol, etc., being provided on a support such as a usual paper or the so-called ink-jet recording sheet has generally been known.
There have been proposed recording sheets obtained by coating a silicon-containing pigment such as silica, etc., with an aqueous binder onto a paper support as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Provisional Patent Publications No. 51583/1980, No. 157/1981, No. 107879/1982, No. 107880/1982, No. 230787/1984, No. 160277/1987, No. 184879/1987, No. 183382/1987, No. 11877/1989, and the like.
Also, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 56552/1991, Japanese Provisional Patent Publications No. 188287/1990, No. 81064/1998 No. 119423/1998, No. 175365/1998, No. 203006/1998, No. 217601/1998, No. 20300/1999, No. 20306/1999 and No. 34481/1999, U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,281, and EP 0 813 978 A, and the like, there have been disclosed ink-jet recording materials using synthetic silica fine particles prepared by a gas phase process (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cfumed silicaxe2x80x9d). The fumed silica is ultrafine particles having a mean particle size of a primary particle of several nm to several tens nm, and has characteristics of giving high glossiness and high ink-absorption properties. However, since it is untrafine particles, the surface of the ink-receptive layer is easily damaged and there is a problem that a plural number of sheets is conveyed at once (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cdouble-feedingxe2x80x9d) when printing is carried out by a printer.
Also, in Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. 55830/1994, a recording paper has been proposed to improve feeding and conveying characteristics by adding a specific lubricant to the opposed surface of the ink-receptive coating layer, but there are problems of causing blocking during preservation and causing flaws on the surface of the ink-receptive layer. Also, in Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. 179025/1995, a recording sheet has been proposed in which spherical fine particle polymer is added to a back-coating layer of a support but there are problems that the surface of the ink-receptive layer is easily damaged at the preparation or processing thereof, and particularly when ultrafine particulate silica prepared by a gas phase process is used, smoothness or glossiness of the surface is high so that flaws are conspicuous.
On the other hand, as a support for an ink-jet recording material, paper has conventionally and generally been used, and the paper itself has a role of an ink-absorption layer. In recent years, a photo-like recording sheet has earnestly been desired, and in a recording sheet using a paper support, there are problems of poor glossiness, feeling in quality, water-resistance, cockling after printing (wrinkle or waving), etc. Thus, a water-proof paper support such as a resin laminated paper in which a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene, etc., is coated on the both surfaces of paper (a polyolefin resin-coated paper), a plastic film, etc., has been used. However, these water-proof supports have high smoothness on the surface at which an ink-receptive layer is provided so that they are, different from paper supports, easily damaged by rubbing themselves to cause flaws on the surface of the ink-receptive layer when these materials are laminated and the problem of xe2x80x9cdouble-feedingxe2x80x9d is likely caused when feeding paper in a printer at printing. In particular, there is no ink-absorption property in the support itself so that the ink-receptive layer is provided with thick and glossiness is high whereby damages are likely caused and are conspicuous.
Also, to obtain higher ink-absorption property, it is necessary to reduce an amount of a binder relative to the fumed silica, but by reducing an amount of the binder, damages are further increased.
Also, in a recording sheet in which an ink-receptive layer using a relatively large amount of pigment and a hydrophilic binder is provided on a polyolefin resin-coated paper support, a problem of curl newly occurred. In general, a polyolefin resin-coated paper is covered by a thermoplastic resin such as polyolefin, etc., on the both surfaces thereof and in spite of curl balance of the resin-coated paper itself by resin coated amounts on the front and back surfaces thereof, when an ink-receptive layer as mentioned above is coated on one surface thereof, the curl balance therebetween is lost and a problem that the recording sheet curls to the front surface side or the back surface side due to outer environments is generated. These curls occur failure of feeding papers or paper is inclined when it is fed to a printer for printing when the curl is remarkable.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink-jet recording material which has photo-like high gloss and high ink-absorption capacity, and is improved in high anti-blocking, high flaw resistance, and high feeding and conveying properties.
The above-mentioned objects of the present invention can be accomplished by the following means. That is, in an ink-jet recording material comprising a support in which both surfaces of a base paper are covered by a polyolefin resin, and an ink-receptive layer containing inorganic fine particles and a hydrophilic binder provided on the support, a surface of the support opposite to the surface at which the ink-receptive layer is provided has a ten-point mean roughness Rz measured according to JIS-B-0601 of boarding is 12 to 40 xcexcm under the condition of a reference length of 8 mm. Preferably, an opposed surface of the support to the surface on which the ink-receptive layer is provided has 10 or more mountains in a sectional surface curve measured by the conditions of a reference length of 8 mm according to JIS-B-0601, and a ratio of a total length X of a mean line across the mountain part to a total length Y of a mean line across a valley part, X/Y is 1/10 to 3/1.
In the following, the embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail.
A polyolefin resin-coated paper support (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9ca resin-coated paperxe2x80x9d) to be used in the present invention is explained in detail. In the resin-coated paper to be used in the present invention, its water content is not particularly limited, and preferably from curling property in the range of 5.0 to 9.0%, more preferably in the range of 6.0 to 9.0%. The water content of the resin-coated paper can be measured by using any kinds of water-content measuring method. For example, an infrared water content meter, an absolute dry weight method, a permittivity method, a Curl Fisher method, etc., may be used.
A base paper constituting the resin-coated paper to be preferably used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and any paper generally used may be employed. More preferably a smooth base paper such as that used as paper for a photographic support may be used. As pulp for constituting the base paper, natural pulp, regenerated pulp, synthetic pulp, etc. may be used singly or in combination of two or more. In the base paper, various additives conventionally used in the papermaking industry such as a sizing agent, a strengthening additive of paper, a loading material, an antistatic agent, a fluorescent brightener, a dye, etc. may be formulated.
Moreover, a surface sizing agent, a surface strengthening additive of paper, a fluorescent brightener, an antistatic agent, a dye, an anchoring agent, etc. may be coated on the surface of the sheet.
A thickness of the base paper is not particularly limited, and preferably that having a good surface smoothness prepared by compressing paper during paper-making or after paper-making by applying pressure using a calender, etc. A basis weight thereof is preferably 30 to 250 g/m2.
As a resin of the resin-coated paper, a polyolefin resin or a resin which cures by irradiation of electronic rays may be used. The polyolefin resin may include a homopolymer of an olefin such as low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polypentene, etc.; a copolymer comprising two or more olefins such as an ethylene-propylene copolymer, etc.; or a mixture thereof, and these polymers having various densities and melt viscosity indexes (melt index) may be used singly or in combination of two or more.
Also, to the resin of the resin-coated paper, various kinds of additives including a white pigment such as titanium oxide, zinc oxide, talc, calcium carbonate, etc.; an aliphatic amide such as stearic amide, arachidamide, etc.; an aliphatic acid metal salt such as zinc stearate, calcium stearate, aluminum stearate, magnesium stearate, etc.; an antioxidant such as Irganox 1010, Irganox 1076 (both trade names, available from Ciba Geigy AG), etc.; a blue-color pigment or dye such as cobalt blue, ultramarine blue, cecilian blue, phthalocyanine blue, etc,; a magenta-color pigment or dye such as cobalt violet, fast violet, manganese violet, etc.; a fluorescent brightener, an UV absorber, etc. may be preferably added optionally combining two or more.
The resin-coated paper to be preferably used in the present invention can be prepared, in the case of using a polyolefin resin, by casting a melted resin under heating on a running base paper, which is so-called the extrusion coating method, whereby the both surfaces of the base paper are coated by the resin. In the case of using a resin which cures by irradiation of electronic rays, the resin is coated on a base paper by means of a coater conventionally used such as a gravure coater, a blade coater, etc., then, electronic rays are irradiated to the resin whereby coating the base paper with the resin. Also, it is preferred to subject an activation treatment to a base paper before coating the resin to the base paper, such as a corona discharge treatment, a flame treatment, etc. The surface (the front surface) on which an ink-receptive layer is to be coated of the support is a gloss surface or a matte surface depending on the purposes, and particularly, a gloss surface is predominantly used. It is not necessarily subjected to resin coating at the back surface of the base paper, but in view of preventing curl, it is preferred to coat the surface of the base paper with the resin. The back surface is usually a non-gloss surface, and if necessary, the activation treatment such as the corona discharge treatment, the flame treatment, etc. may be applied to the front surface or to the both surfaces of the front and back surfaces. Also, a thickness of the resin layer is not particularly limited, and is generally in the range of about 5 to about 50 xcexcm on the front surface or both of the front and back surfaces.
A surface on which an ink-receptive layer is to be formed by coating of a resin-coated paper of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cthe front surface of the resin-coated paperxe2x80x9d) can be prepared by heating and melting a polyolefin resin mainly on one surface of a base paper by an extruder, extruding the material between the base paper and cooling roll in a film state, adhering by compression and cooling. At this time, the cooling roll is used for formation of a front surface shape of the coating layer made of the polyolefin resin. The surface of the resin layer can be subjected to embossing treatment such as a mirror surface, slightly rough surface, or patterned surface such as silk state or matte state, etc. depending on the shape of the surface of the cooling roll.
An opposed surface to the surface on which an ink-receptive layer is to be formed by coating of a resin-coated paper of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cthe back surface of the resin-coated paperxe2x80x9d) can be prepared by heating and melting a polyolefin resin mainly on the back surface of a base paper by an extruder, extruding the material between the base paper and cooling roll in a film state, adhering by compression and cooling. At this time, the cooling roll is used for formation of a back surface shape of the coating layer made of the polyolefin resin. The surface of the resin layer can be subjected to embossing treatment such as a slightly rough surface, or patterned such as silk state or matte state, etc. depending on the shape of the surface of the cooling roll so that it has Rz regulated by JIS-B-0601 of 12 to 40 xcexcm
If the Rz at the back surface of the resin-coated paper is less than 12 xcexcm, a contact surface with the surface of the ink-receptive layer becomes large and adhesiveness is increased by deformation of the polyolefin resin due to a load so that it is not preferred in the points of blocking during storage, flaw resistance or feeding and conveying characteristics. On the other hand, if it exceeds 40 xcexcm, it is necessary to thicken the resin coating layer at the back surface so that the recording material finally becomes a thicker material and handling of the material is troublesome, and also, hand feeling becomes rough whereby it is not preferred. The Rz is more preferably about 15 to about 30 xcexcm.
The ten point mean roughness Rz is a measured value by a contact stylus type three-dimensional surface roughness meter, and was measured with a reference length of 8 mm. When the Rz is obtained, the reference length is extracted from the portion at which there is no excessively high mountain or too deep valley which is deemed to be flaw. Also, when the surface shape has a directional property, it is to be measured to the direction at which the Rz appears with the most large value. The mountain and valley of the sectional surface curve are defined by the definition described in JIS-B-0601.
In the present invention, a number of the mountain of the sectional surface curve measured by the conditions of the reference length of 8 mm with the Rz regulated according to JIS-B-0601 at the back surface of the resin-coated paper is 5 or more, more preferably 10 or more. If a number of the mountain is less than 5, an effect of feeding and conveying characteristics can be difficultly obtained. To the contrary, if it is too much, a contact surface with the front surface increases so that it is preferably 500 or less.
A ratio of a total length X of a mean line across the mountain part of the sectional surface curve under the conditions of the reference length of 8 mm at the back surface of the resin coated paper to a total length Y of a mean line across a valley part of the same, X/Y is preferably within the range of 1/10 to 3/1. If it is less than 1/10, improved effects in feeding and conveying characteristics tend to be lowered. If it exceeds 3/1, a contacting surface with the front surface of the ink-receptive layer becomes large so that blocking resistance or feeding and conveying characteristics tend to be lowered.
In the present invention, the Rz regulated by JIS-B-0601 of the front surface of the ink receptive layer is preferably set to 18 xcexcm or less which is clearly smaller than the Rz at the back surface of the resin-coated paper since both of the surfaces have little traction, and have good feeding and conveying characteristics and surface glossiness. The front surface of the ink receptive layer is more preferably subjected to a slightly roughing treatment, a mirror surface treatment or other embossing treatment so that the Rz becomes 20 xcexcm or less. It is preferred that a number of the mountain is made as little as possible, or a ratio of the total lengths of mean lines at the mountain part and the valley part of the sectional surface curve is larger than 2/1.
A method of providing a resin-coated layer on the front surface or the back surface of paper may include, in addition to the method in which a resin is melted under heating, extruded and coated on paper, a method in which an electron beam curing resin is coated on paper and an electron beam is irradiated to the resin to form a cured film, a method in which a coating liquid containing a polyolefin resin emulsion is coated on paper, and after drying, a surface smoothening treatment is carried out, and the like. In either of the case, a resin-coated paper which can be applied to the present invention can be obtained by carrying out an embossing treatment with a heat roll having an unevenness, etc.
In the present invention, at the surface of the resin-coated paper on which an ink-receptive layer is provided by coating, a subbing layer may be further provided under the ink-receptive layer. The subbing layer can be previously provided on the resin layer surface of the support by coating and drying before the ink-receptive layer is provided by coating. The subbing layer preferably comprises a film-formable water-soluble polymer or polymer latex, etc. as a main component. The subbing layer more preferably comprises a water-soluble polymer such as gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, water-soluble cellulose, etc., particularly preferably gelatin. An amount to be attached of the water-soluble polymer to the surface of the resin layer is preferably about 10 to about 500 mg/m2, more preferably about 20 to about 300 mg/m2. Moreover, the subbing layer may further contain a surfactant, a film hardening agent, etc. Furthermore, before coating the subbing layer, the resin-coated paper is preferably subjected to a corona discharge treatment.
In the polyolefin resin-coated paper support according to the present invention, a material in which various kinds of back-coating layer is/are provided for writability, antistatic property, curl preventive property, etc., within the range which does not lower the effects of the present invention is also included. The back-coating layer preferably comprises a binder as a main component and an amount to be coated is preferably about 100 to about 500 mg/m2 in terms of a solid content. To the back-coating layer, a hydrophilic binder, a latex, an organic pigment, an inorganic pigment, an inorganic antistatic agent, an organic antistatic agent, a curing agent, a surfactant, etc., may be added with an optional combination.
In the present invention, as the inorganic fine particles to be contained in the ink-receptive layer, there may be mentioned inorganic fine particles having an average particle size of a primary particle of 100 nm or less, and specifically mentioned light calcium carbonate, heavy calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, kaolin, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zinc hydroxide, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, synthetic silica, alumina, hydrated alumina, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, etc. In the points of high printing density, clear image and inexpensive manufacturing cost, synthetic silica, alumina and hydrated alumina are preferred and fumed silica is particularly preferred.
The recording material for ink-jet recording of the present invention has an ink-receptive layer containing an inorganic fine particles, preferably fumed silica, on the polyolefin resin-coated paper support. Fumed silica is contained preferably 50% by weight or more, more preferably 60% by weight or more, further preferably 70% by weight to 90% by weight based on the total solid content of the ink-receptive layer. If it exceeds 90% by weight, strength of the ink-receptive layer is lowered, and a problem of scattering powder in the preparation step or processing step arises and flaws tend to be caused when a printed product is treated.
In synthetic silica, there are two types of materials, one (precipitated silica) of which is prepared by the wet process and the other (fumed silica) is prepared by the gas phase process. Usual silica fine particles mean those prepared by the wet process in many cases. As the silica prepared by the wet process, there are (1) a silica sol obtained by metathesis of sodium silicate by an acid or passing through an ion exchange resin layer; (2) a colloidal silica obtained by heating and maturing the silica sol of (1); (3) a silica gel obtained by gelling silica sol in which formation conditions thereof are changed whereby primary particles of a silica gel having a diameter of several xcexcm to 10 xcexcm are agglomerated to form three-dimensional secondary particles; and (4) a synthetic silicic acid compound mainly comprising silicic acid obtained by heating silica sol, sodium silicate, sodium aluminate, etc.
Fumed silica to be preferably used in the present invention is also called to as the drying method silica opposed to the wet method silica, and the fumed silica can be generally prepared by a flame hydrolysis method. More specifically, it has been known a method in which silicon tetrachloride is burned with hydrogen and oxygen. In this method, silanes such as methyl trichlorosilane, trichlorosilane, etc., may be used alone in place of silicon tetrachloride or in combination with silicon tetrachloride. The fumed silica is commercially available from Nippon Aerosil K.K. (Japan) under the trade name of Aerosil, and K.K. Tokuyama (Japan) under the trade name of QS type, etc.
In the present invention, it is preferred to use fumed silica having an average primary particle size of about 30 nm or less, and to obtain higher glossiness, it is more preferably 3 to 10 nm and has a specific surface area measured by the BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) method of about 250 to about 500 m2/g. The BET method herein mentioned means one of a method for measuring surface area of a powder material by a gas phase adsorption method and is a method of obtaining a total surface area possessed by 1 g of a sample, i.e., a specific surface area, from an adsorption isotherm. In general, as an adsorption gas, a nitrogen gas has been used in many cases, and a method of measuring an adsorption amount obtained by the change in pressure or a volume of a gas to be adsorbed has most frequently been used. Most famous equation for representing isotherm of polymolecular adsorption is a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller equation which is also called to as a BET equation and has widely been used for determining a surface area of a substance to be examined. A specific surface area can be obtained by measuring an adsorption amount based on the BET equation and multiplying the amount with a surface area occupied by the surface of one adsorbed molecule.
When the fumed silica is used, a recording material having good ink absorption property and high glossiness can be obtained, but there are problems that aggregation property of secondary particles is weak and the surface is easily damaged which is supposed to be less number of silanol group on the surface of the silica particles. Due to these problems, occurrence of flaws by rubbing of the back and the front surfaces when the product is winding becomes a problem. These problems can be removed by the present invention.
In the present invention, an amount of the fumed silica to be contained in the ink-receptive layer is preferably in the range of about 10 to about 30 g/m2, more preferably in the range of about 13 to about 30 g/m2. If the content of the fumed silica exceeds the above range, surface cracks tend to be caused while if it is less than the above range, ink-absorption property becomes poor. The ink-receptive layer containing the fumed silica preferably contains a binder to maintain the characteristic as a film. As the binder, there may be mentioned, for example, a polymer latex such as a styrene-butadiene copolymer, an acrylic polymer, etc., or a hydrophilic binder such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, gelatin, carboxymethyl cellulose, etc., and a hydrophilic binder which has high transparency and gives high permeability of ink is preferably used. For using the hydrophilic binder, it is important that the hydrophilic binder does not clog voids by swelling at an initial stage of permeating ink. In this point of view, a hydrophilic binder having a relatively low swellability at around a room temperature. Particularly preferred hydrophilic binder is a completely or partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol or a cation-modified polyvinyl alcohol. For dispersing the fumed silica, a dispersing machine conventionally known such as a high-pressure homogenizer, ball mill, etc. may be used.
Among the polyvinyl alcohol, particularly preferred is a partially or completely saponified polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of 80% or more. It is also preferred that the polyvinyl alcohol has an average polymerization degree of about 500 to about 5000.
Also, as the cation-modified polyvinyl alcohol, there may be mentioned a polyvinyl alcohol having a primary to tertiary amino group or a quaternary ammonium group at the main chain or the side chain thereof as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. 10483/1986.
Also, other hydrophilic binder may be used in combination, but an amount thereof is preferably 20% by weight or less based on the amount of the polyvinyl alcohol. An amount of the hydrophilic binder to be used in combination with the fumed silica is preferably 35% by weight or less, more preferably 10 to 30% by weight based on the amount of the fumed silica. To obtain a high ink-absorption property, an amount of the binder is preferably a small ratio to that of the fumed silica but surface cracks or folding cracks are more likely caused.
Also, for improvement in curl property which effects to feeding and conveying characteristics in a printer of the recording material for ink-jet recording of the present invention, it is preferred that the polyolefin resin layer at the opposed surface to the surface on which the ink-receptive layer is provide of the support contains a high-density polyethylene resin having a density of 0.95 g/cm3 or more. Also, a content of said high density polyethylene resin is preferably about 150% by weight or more based on the total amount of the hydrophilic binder in the ink-receptive layer and its upper limit is about 500% by weight, and more preferably in the range of about 200 to about 450% by weight. In this case, the hydrophilic binder contained in the ink-receptive layer is preferably polyvinyl alcohol.
When a polyolefin resin-coated paper for coating a coating liquid for forming an ink-receptive layer is prepared by covering both surfaces of paper by using a polyolefin resin, it has been known to regulate coating amounts of the polyolefin resin on the both surfaces to prevent from causing curl. When a porous ink-receptive layer containing inorganic fine particles such as fumed silica and a hydrophilic binder is provided by coating, the ink-receptive layer causes a force to generate curl on the surface during a coating and drying process (curl in a concave shape to the front surface side is called to as xe2x80x9c+curlxe2x80x9d, and the reverse curl to the above is called to as xe2x80x9cxe2x88x92curlxe2x80x9d in the following). If an amount of the hydrophilic binder in the ink-receptive layer is increased, the +curl becomes remarkable in the coating and drying process. Not only in the coating and drying process, but also the resulting recording material for ink-jet recording is placed in various environments, curl occurs, and the curl of the recording material is also deeply related to an amount of the hydrophilic binder contained in the ink-receptive layer. As a method of correcting the curl, there is a method of generating an intentional curl by the difference in a coated amount of the polyolefin resin or in the density of the resin to the opposed surface of the recording material. In the present invention, by using a high density polyethylene resin having a density of 0.95 or more in the polyolefin resin layer provided at the surface opposite to the surface at which the ink-receptive layer is provided by coating on the support, and making the relation between the coated amount of the above resin and the amount of the hydrophilic binder in the ink-receptive layer specific conditions, the resulting recording material is flat under various environmental conditions and curl is hardly generated.
In the present invention, a water-soluble metallic compound is preferably added to the ink-receptive layer so that it is possible to further prevent from causing surface cracks. Accordingly, it is possible to further reduce the amount of the hydrophilic binder and further increase the amount of the fumed silica to improve ink absorption property of the ink-receptive layer.
The water-soluble metallic compound to be used in the present invention may include, for example, as a water-soluble polyvalent metallic salt, a water-soluble salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of calcium, barium, manganese, copper, cobalt, nickel, aluminum, iron, zinc, zirconium, titanium, chromium, magnesium, tungsten, and molybdenum. More specifically, such a water-soluble metallic compound may include, for example, calcium acetate, calcium chloride, calcium formate, calcium sulfate, barium acetate, barium sulfate, barium phosphate, manganese chloride, manganese acetate, manganese formate dihydrate, ammonium manganese sulfate hexahydrate, cupric chloride, copper (II) ammonium chloride dihydrate, copper sulfate, cobalt chloride, cobalt thiocyanate, cobalt sulfate, nickel sulfate hexahydrate, nickel chloride hexahydrate, nickel acetate tetrahydrate, ammonium nickel sulfate hexahydrate, amide nickel sulfate tetrahydrate, aluminum sulfate, aluminum sulfite, aluminum thiosulfate, poly(aluminum chloride), aluminum nitrate nonahydrate, aluminum chloride hexahydrate, ferrous bromide, ferrous chloride, ferric chloride, ferrous sulfate, ferric sulfate, zinc bromide, zinc chloride, zinc nitrate hexahydrate, zinc sulfate, titanium chloride, titanium sulfate, zirconium acetate, zirconium chloride, zirconium oxychloride octahydrate, zirconium hydroxychloride, zirconium nitrate, basic zirconium carbonate, zirconium hydroxide, ammonium zirconium carbonate, potassium zirconium carbonate, zirconium sulfate, zirconium fluoride, chromium acetate, chromium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, magnesium citrate nonahydrate, sodium phosphorus wolframate, tungsten sodium citrate, dodecawolframatophosphate n hydrate, dodecawolframatosilicate 26 hydrate, molybdenum chloride, dodecamolybdatephosphate n hydrate, etc.
In the present invention, a cationic polymer is preferably added to the fumed silica-containing layer to improve water resistance. As the cationic polymers to be used in the present invention, there may be preferably mentioned polyethyleneimine, polydiallylamine, polyallylamine, polyalkylamine, as well as polymers having a primary to tertiary amino group or a quaternary ammonium group as disclosed in Japanese Provisional Patent Publications No. 20696/1984, No. 33176/1984, No. 33177/1984, No. 155088/1984, No. 11389/1985, No. 49990/1985, No. 83882/1985, No. 109894/1985, No. 198493/1987, No. 49478/1988, No. 115780/1988, No. 280681/1988, No. 40371/1989, No. 234268/1994, No. 125411/1995 and No. 193776/1998, etc. A number average molecular weight (Mn) of these cationic polymers to be used in the present invention is preferably about 5,000 or more, more preferably about 5,000 to about 100,000.
An amount of these cationic polymers is preferably about 1 to about 10% by weight, more preferably about 2 to about 7% by weight based on the amount of the fumed silica.
In the present invention, various kinds of oil droplets are preferably added to the ink-receptive layer to improve brittleness of a film. As such oil droplets, there may be mentioned a hydrophobic organic solvent having a high boiling point (for example, liquid paraffin, dioctyl phthalate, tricresyl phosphate, silicone oil, etc.) or polymer particles (for example, particles in which at least one of a polymerizable monomer such as styrene, butyl acrylate, divinyl benzene, butyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, etc. is polymerized) each having a solubility in water at room temperature of 0.01% by weight or less. Such oil droplets can be used in an amount in the range of about 10 to about 50% by weight based on the amount of the hydrophilic binder.
In the present invention, it is preferred to use, in combination with the hydrophilic binder, a cross-linking agent (film hardening agent) of said binder. Specific examples of the cross-linking agent may include an aldehyde type compound such formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde; a ketone compound such as diacetyl and chloropentanedione; bis(2-chloroethylurea)-2-hydroxy-4, 6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine, a compound having a reactive halogen as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,288,775; divinylsulfone; a compound having a reactive olefin as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,718; a N-methylol compound as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,732,316; an isocyanate compound as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,103,437; an aziridine compound as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,017,280 and No. 2,983,611; a carbodiimide type compound as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,100,704; an epoxy compound as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,537; a halogen carboxyaldehyde compound such as mucochloric acid, a dioxane derivative such as dihydroxydioxane, an inorganic cross-linking agent such as chromium alum, potassium alum, zirconium sulfate, boric acid and a borate, and they may be used singly or in combination of two or more. Among these, boric acid or a borate is particularly preferred. An amount of the cross-linking agent is preferably about 0.1 to about 40% by weight, more preferably about 0.5 to about 30% by weight based on the hydrophilic binder constituting the ink-receptive layer.
In the present invention, to the ink-receptive layer, various kinds of conventionally known additives such as a coloring dye, a coloring pigment, a fixing agent of an ink dye, an UV absorber, an antioxidant, a dispersant of the pigment, an antifoaming agent, a leveling agent, an antiseptic agent, a fluorescent brightener, a viscosity stabilizer, a pH controller, etc. may be added.
In the present invention, the coating method of the subbing layer, the back-coating layer and the ink-receptive layer is not particularly limited, and a coating method conventionally known in the art may be used. For example, there may be mentioned a slide bead system, a curtain system, an extrusion system, an air knife system, a roll coating system, a rod bar coating system, a bar coater system, a dipping system, etc.


Various techniques for mitigating computer network attacks are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving indications of denial of service attacks from multiple target computing systems and determining one or more sources from which the denial of service attacks are deemed to originate in response to the received indications of denial of service attacks from the target computing systems. The method also includes negotiating with the network aggregation point for permission to divert network traffic originated from the one or more of the determined sources and destined to the target computing systems to the gateway.

In computing, a denial-of-service ("DoS") attack is an attempt to render computing devices or network resources unavailable to intended users by overloading them with a large number of service requests. For example, a DoS attack may utilize a group of computers at different locations to submit a large number of service requests to a web server in order to deplete computing, communications, storage, or other types of resources associated with the web server. As a result of a DoS attack, the web server may not timely, or at all, respond to legitimate requests for services. For many organizations, not timely responding to legitimate requests can cause significant loss in revenue or harm to customer goodwill.


An educational device for simulating the effects of earthquakes includes a table supported above a base by a plurality of coiled springs or other flexible and resilient members. A slot formed in the table coincident with a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the table accommodates a flywheel having a radially extending slot within which is mounted a weight member at any preselected location along the extent of the slot. A battery-operated variable speed motor strapped to the table has an output shaft to which the flywheel is coupled, and a control knob enables a user to vary the speed of rotation of the output shaft and therefore of the flywheel. The intensity of the vibration of the table is varied by moving the weight member along the extent of the radially extending slot. Alternative embodiments include a weight member having a fixed, immovable eccentric position and a balanced flywheel that is mounted eccentrically relative to the output shaft of the motor.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to mechanical toys and educational devices, specifically to such toys and educational devices which are used for the simulation of earthquake ground shaking and potential damage or destruction of buildings and other structures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Researchers in the world's major structural engineering laboratories frequently use large-scale shaker tables to perform earthquake studies and investigations. Shaker tables are also, but much less frequently, used by museum curators and science educators to provide an educational device for demonstrating concepts relating to earthquakes and for motivating students about earth science.
Originally, shaker tables were constructed as permanent installations in research laboratories. Such tables reproduce earthquake ground shaking motion for testing scale models of buildings and structures. Typically, tables in these laboratories are controlled by digital computers and driven by hydraulic actuators which enable researchers to meet the requirements of their earthquake studies. However, most non-researchers, including educators, cannot utilize these laboratory-based shaker tables because of their scarcity and their permanent nature. For example, the museum at the California Academy of Sciences possesses one of the very few such shaker tables outside of a research laboratory.
Thereafter, inventors created several types of shaker tables to reproduce or simulate earthquake ground motion without the necessity of permanent installations. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has developed shaker tables which can be relocated as part of a traveling earthquake exhibit; however, these tables require substantial set-up time and special facilities, including a continuous supply of compressed air for operation and motor vehicle accessibility for loading and transportation. Hence, these tables are not suitable for home or classroom use but are limited to use in assembly areas or special locations having the requisite facilities.
Environmental Volunteers of Palo Alto, Calif. developed a shaker table which can be relocated by one person and provides greater portability; however, the underlying mechanism of this table has an excessive number of machined parts which require custom manufacture. Thus, the table is cost prohibitive for home or educational use. This critical failing is borne out by the fact that previous manufacturers of this type of shaker table have scaled back or discontinued their production.
Several types of more economical shaker tables have been proposed; for example, Katharyn Ross, a researcher at the National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, has put together a table using common materials. Her shaker table took the form of a cardboard table suspended by rubber bands from an exterior cardboard box frame. Ross tested it in a classroom setting albeit with limited effectiveness. Although portable and inexpensive to craft, said shaker table lacks the durability demanded for extended or repetitive use and the flexibility for varied modes of use. For instance, the table's rubber bands must be replaced often and the table's user cannot achieve a specific frequency of vibration which is essential to demonstrate the effects of earthquake motion on objects.
Shaker tables have been used for more than earthquake simulation. In addition, these tables were used to generate vibration for consolidating mixtures, such as concrete, and for aiding in sorting of materials, including food, medicine or grain products. However, in the mixing and sorting applications, the shaker table's intended use, internal mechanism, and vibrational characteristics do not coincide with those necessary for earthquake simulation.
The use of such shaker tables does not allow for users to mount the objects for subjection to earthquake-type shaking. Their shaking mechanisms are generally rotating cams which produce a motion of relatively high frequency. These vibrations are required to achieve reduction of inter-particulate surface friction in mixing and sorting. However, such vibrations are much higher in frequency than acceptable shaking motion for earthquake simulation.
All the shaker tables of the types heretofore mentioned suffer from several of the following known disadvantages:
(a) Tables of the type in present use generally are made of custom machined parts or components which result in tables which are prohibitively expensive for home or educational use. PA1 (b) Tables of the type in present use rely on methods of joining or assembling parts which do not lend themselves to mass manufacture. PA1 (c) Tables of the type in present use which have operating mechanisms using elastic rubber bands for table support generally are unreliable. PA1 (d) Tables of the type in present use made of typical construction materials like steel and concrete do not end themselves to economical modification or improvements. PA1 (e) Tables of the type in present use do not lend themselves to rapid setup and mounting of objects. PA1 (f) Tables of the type in present use are not sufficiently portable nor lightweight to permit carrying in a hand-held case. PA1 (g) Tables of the type in present use require external hydraulic, compressed air or electrical power sources which may not be readily available and which may represent a safety hazard in home or educational settings. PA1 (a) to provide a shaker table which minimizes the number of parts which require custom fabrication so that the table is inexpensive for home or educational use; PA1 (b) to provide a shaker table which uses joining or assembly methods which lend themselves to mass manufacture or end user assembly; PA1 (c) to provide a shaker table which is reliable in addition to being economical; PA1 (d) to provide a shaker table whose structure may be readily modified and improved or easily complemented by accessories; PA1 (e) to provide a shaker table which can be rapidly set up and onto which objects can be rapidly mounted; PA1 (f) to provide a shaker table which is portable and sufficiently lightweight to be carried in a hand-held case PA1 (g) to provide a shaker table that is powered by a self-contained power supply or hand operated to enable use in any setting.

Earthquake toy, educational device or the like


Techniques for generating a digital wardrobe are presented herein. A transceiver can be configured to receive a request having a garment identifier and a user identifier. Additionally, an access module can be configured to access a first garment model, access a body model of the user corresponding to the user identifier, and access a second garment model corresponding to the user identifier. Furthermore, a processor can be configured by a garment simulation module to position the body model inside the first garment model and the second garment model, and calculate simulated forces based on the positioning. Moreover, a rendering module can be configured to generate an image of the garment models draped on the body model based on the calculated simulated forces. Subsequently, a display module can be configured to cause presentation of the generated image on a display of a device.

A customer may purchase a garment available for sale either online or in a physical store. Determining the look and fit of the garment and determining the appropriate garment size can help the customer make a better purchasing decision. Additionally, the consumer may have a wardrobe of garments that have been previously purchased by the customer. The customer can be more likely to purchase the garment available for sale when the garment available for sale matches with a garment from the customer's wardrobe of garments.

Digital wardrobe using simulated forces on garment models


A firearm silencer includes a first cylindrical body section formed as a single unit having a first inner bore and a receiving end having a first axial bore, and a second cylindrical body section formed as a single unit having a second inner bore and a discharge end having a second axial bore. The first cylindrical body section is joined to the second cylindrical body section to form a cylindrical body. A plurality of baffles disposed within the cylindrical body, each baffle having a baffle axial bore.

Firearm silencers can absorb and reduce the audible frequencies and vibrations resulting from the rapid expansion of gases leaving a firearm muzzle as a projectile exits the gun bore. Such devices, in addition to reducing audible frequencies, can also contain and reduce muzzle flash. Silencers are designed to temporarily contain and divert expanding gases and other combustion by-products emitted from the muzzle of a firearm, and, as a result, effective firearm silencers can be relatively large and bulky to accommodate the large volume of expanding gasses, especially with higher caliber firearms.

Weapon silencer and method of making weapon silencer


Apparatus and method for detecting metal disturbance during a medical procedure includes a probe having an insertion tube, a joint and a joint sensor, contained within the probe, for sensing a position of the insertion tube. The joint sensor has first and second subassemblies that are magnetic transducers. A processor is used for measuring force using the joint sensor, and has a threshold field value stored therein. The processor compares a sensed field value to the threshold field value and identifies a presence metal when the sensed field value is greater than the threshold field value.

In some diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, a catheter is inserted into a chamber of the heart and brought into contact with the inner heart wall. In such procedures, it is generally important that the distal tip of the catheter engages the endocardium with sufficient pressure to ensure good contact. Excessive pressure, however, may cause undesired damage to the heart tissue and even perforation of the heart wall.
For example, in intracardiac radio-frequency (RF) ablation, a catheter having an electrode at its distal tip is inserted through the patient's vascular system into a chamber of the heart. The electrode is brought into contact with a site (or sites) on the endocardium, and RF energy is applied through the catheter to the electrode in order to ablate the heart tissue at the site. Proper contact between the electrode and the endocardium during ablation is necessary in order to achieve the desired therapeutic effect without excessive damage to the tissue.
A number of patent publications describe catheters with integrated pressure sensors for sensing tissue contact. As one example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0100332, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes systems and methods for assessing electrode-tissue contact for tissue ablation. An electro-mechanical sensor within the catheter shaft generates electrical signals corresponding to the amount of movement of the electrode within a distal portion of the catheter shaft. An output device receives the electrical signals for assessing a level of contact between the electrode and a tissue.
To date, there have been no prior art systems and methods that are capable of determining accurate position information and force measurements for a medical device that is used within a body of a patient while being able to detect field distortion caused by metal interference from a metal object located near the device with the ability to account for and correct its force readings/measurements and/or its position information.

System and method for detection of metal disturbance based on orthogonal field components