Abstract: A method of reducing the kogation of the surface of the heater of a recording head for applying thermal energy to the ink in the recording head in order to discharge the ink from the recording head can effectively reduce the kogation to make it possible to print high quality images and prolong the service life of the recording head. With the method of reducing the kogation of the surface of the heater of the ink-jet recording head of an ink-jet printer, the ink-jet recording head is provided with a heater for applying thermal energy to ink in order to discharge ink from an orifice and the heater has a top surface protecting layer containing a metal and/or a metal oxide, while the ink is adapted to ink-jet recording and contains (a) a coloring material, (b) a liquid medium and (c) diglycollic acid or iminodiacetic acid or salts thereof.

Abstract: An electronic seal stamp and an electronic sheet are used. The electronic seal stamp has a stamp surface, and has a storing function and output function for electronic information. The electronic sheet is of a sheet shape, has a surface capable of being impressed, and has a storing function and input function for electronic information. When the electronic seal stamp is impressed on the electronic sheet, a seal image on the stamp surface of the electronic seal stamp is transferred to the surface of the electronic sheet. At the same time, the electronic information stored in the storing function of the electronic seal stamp is transferred to the storing function of the electronic sheet, through the output function of the electronic seal stamp and the input function of the electronic sheet. Thus, an electronic seal stamp system, in which both impression of the stamp surface and electronic sealing are possible, is realized.

Abstract: According to the present invention, techniques for sharing and providing navigation information. Embodiments according to the invention can exchange geographic location information between two or more devices using a wireless communications connection. Navigation information, including geographic locations, as well as information related to sites at the geographic locations can be stored by the various devices and exchanged in response to a specific request made by a user or a general upload/download process. Specific embodiments include systems, methods and apparatuses.

Abstract: A central vehicle-information management center gathers individual pieces of information on the state of a vehicle on a real-time manner by: acquiring and gathering pieces of information on the position of the vehicle from a reflection signal reflected by an artificial satellite as a result of reflection of a position signal transmitted by an antenna provided on the vehicle to the artificial satellite; and acquiring and gathering a signal reflected by the artificial satellite as a result of reflection of a signal used for representing information on control of the vehicle or information on conditions of vehicle parts and transmitted from the antenna to the artificial satellite or transmitted by the vehicle through a wireless-communication apparatus such as a DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) device or a cellular phone.

Abstract: A liquid composition for ink-jet recording, or an ink set for ink-jet recording which produces an image having water resistance and excellent print quality, and which can reduce color bleeding that occurs in formation of color images, and furthermore, which can extend a life-span of ink-jet recording heads, as well as an ink-jet recording method, a recording unit, an ink cartridge and an ink-jet recording apparatus are provided. The liquid composition or a color ink constituting the ink set comprising a polyvalent metal salt, a material selected from the group consisting of acids including amino groups and salts thereof, and a liquid medium is used.

Abstract: A liquid composition for cleaning and removing koga on a heater formed after long-term use of an ink-jet recording head, or contaminants introduced during manufacture of the ink-jet recording head is provided. The liquid composition includes an effective amount of a cleaner to clean an ink-jet recording head, and the cleaner is at least one selected from an organic acid, a salt of organic acid, an organic acid ester, and a salt of organic acid ester.

Abstract: An ink for ink-jet recording which comprises (a) a coloring material, (b) a liquid medium, (c) a compound selected from the group consisting of polyphosphoric acid, dicarboxylic acid, polyaminocarboxylic acid, aldonic acid, hydroxycarboxylic acid, polyolphosphate and salts thereof, and (d) an acid having an amino group and/or a salt thereof, the use of which reduces kogation of the ink-jet head heater having an outermost protecting layer containing at least one of a metal and a metal oxide.

Abstract: Each of pixels of recorded image is formed by a plurality of dots composed with ink droplets ejected from a plurality of different orifices at individual different main-scannings. With this recording process, the variation of ink ejection characteristics between a plurality of orifices in a recording head can be reduced in forming pixels.

Abstract: The invention provides liquid compositions, ink sets for ink-jet recording, ink-jet recording processes, recording units and ink-jet recording apparatus for providing high-quality images with lessened bleeding. The invention also provides liquid compositions, ink sets for ink-jet recording, ink-jet recording processes, recording units and ink-jet recording apparatus for providing images excellent in water fastness. A first liquid containing a polyvalent metal salt of aldonic acid and a second liquid containing a coloring material capable of reacting with the polyvalent metal salt are used in combination and applied on a recording medium so as to come into contact with each other, thereby conducting recording.

Abstract: The invention provides liquid compositions, ink sets for ink-jet recording, ink-jet recording processes, recording units and ink-jet recording apparatus for providing high-quality images with lessened bleeding. The invention also provides liquid compositions, ink sets for ink-jet recording, ink-jet recording processes, recording units and ink-jet recording apparatus for providing images excellent in water fastness. A first liquid containing a polyvalent metal salt of a polyol phosphate and a second liquid containing a coloring material and being capable of reacting with the polyvalent metal salt are used in combination and applied on a recording medium so as to come into contact with each other, thereby conducting recording.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of reducing kogation on the surface of a heater for applying thermal energy to an ink to eject the ink from an orifice in an ink-jet printer having a recording head equipped with the heater, wherein the heater has an outermost protective layer comprising a metal and/or a metal oxide, and the ink comprises (a) a coloring material, (b) a liquid medium, and (c) at least one selected from the group consisting of aldonic acid, &ggr;-aldonolactone, &dgr;-aldonolactone and aldonates.

Abstract: Two lines extending in the main scanning direction build a set of lines (L1, L2) each of which is formed by a plurality of dots. Assignment is alternately executed to preceding scanning and subsequent scanning so as to allow each of the lines (L1, L2) formed by a number of pixels (P1, P2, P4, P3, P5, P6, P8, P7, - - - ) to extend along a snake movement-like route. Thus, dots located adjacent to each other in the auxiliary scanning direction are not formed by same scanning, and a quantity of ink spreading on a recording medium without penetration of the ink through the latter can be reduced. Consequently, there few arises stripe and fluctuation in density, whereby an excellent quality of image having sharp edge portions can be obtained without any occurrence of a problem attributable to the presence of unfixed ink.

Abstract: Each of pixels of recorded image is formed by a plurality of dots composed with ink droplets ejected from a plurality of different orifices at individual different main-scannings. With this recording process, the variation of ink ejection characteristics between a plurality of orifices in a recording head can be reduced in forming pixels.

Abstract: An ink for ink-jet recording which comprises (a) a coloring material, (b) a liquid medium, (c) a compound selected from the group consisting of polyphosphoric acid, dicarboxylic acid, polyaminocarboxylic acid, aldonic acid, hydroxycarboxylic acid, polyolphosphate and salts thereof, and (d) an acid having an amino group and/or a salt thereof, the use of which reduces kogation of the ink-jet head heater having an outermost protecting layer containing at least one of a metal and a metal oxide.

Abstract: A liquid composition for cleaning an ink-jet recording head containing at least one kind of oxidizing detergent in an amount effective in cleaning an ink-jet recording head. The liquid composition can improve the life and ink ejecting properties of an ink-jet recording head.

Abstract: Two lines extending in the main scanning direction build a set of lines (L1, L2) each of which is formed by a plurality of dots. Assignment is alternately executed to preceding scanning and subsequent scanning so as to allow each of the lines (L1, L2) formed by a number of pixels (P1, P2, P4, P3, P5, P6, P8, P7, - - - ) to extend along a snake movement-like route. Thus, dots located adjacent to each other in the auxiliary scanning direction are not formed by same scanning, and a quantity of ink spreading on a recording medium without penetration of the ink through the latter can be reduced. Consequently, there few arises stripe and fluctuation in density, whereby an excellent quality of image having sharp edge portions can be obtained without any occurrence of a problem attributable to the presence of unfixed ink.

Abstract: The outermost surface protection layer of the heater of an ink-jet recording head containing at least metal or oxide thereof is protected against erosion by suppressing or preventing the dissolution of the outermost surface protection layer. The heater is adapted to apply thermal energy to a liquid composition to be ejected. The liquid composition contains a liquid medium, alkali metal ions and a compound expressed by general formula H2N—(CHY)n—(CH2)m—X, X representing a carboxyl group or a sulfonic acid group, Y representing a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group or a sulfonic acid group, n representing 0 or 1, m representing an integer from 0 to 2. The liquid composition is heated so as to satisfy the relation as defined by the formula 1.10≦Eop/Eth≦1.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that the car navigation system for, at the time of desiring map information, traffic information, and other required information in a car, inquiring an information distribution service provider for distribution the information is composed of a moving terminal device which can be operated by inputting and outputting voice, a communication device, an audio interactive server which can input and output voice and data, is connected to an external device and the Internet on the basis of audio interactions by the voice recognition process and voice synthesis process, and executes information transfer, and one or a plurality of information distribution service providers connected to the Internet for distributing information such as map information and traffic information.

Abstract: The facilities information service system includes a single server which can conduct questionnaire surveys for a plurality of business facilities and each business facility can offer unique incentive award service to respondents of a questionnaire thereof. When a portable terminal makes a request for facility introduction information on a facility registered in questionnaire survey service, a server sends a facility introduction screen including a questionnaire guide message to the portable terminal. Then, when the portable terminal makes a request for participating in a questionnaire survey, the server sends a prepared questionnaire to the portable terminal to collect questionnaire response data from a user of the portable terminal and then issues an incentive award coupon in return for answering the questionnaire.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of reducing kogation on the surface of a heater for applying thermal energy to an ink to eject the ink from an orifice in an ink-jet printer having a recording head equipped with the heater, wherein the heater has an outermost protective layer comprising a metal and/or a metal oxide, and the ink comprises (a) a coloring material, (b) a liquid medium, and (c) at least one selected from the group consisting of aldonic acid, &ggr;-aldonolactone, &dgr;-aldonolactone and aldonates.