Author: claimsbot

1. An image taking device for taking an image of an object by focusing reflected light from the object on a light receiving portion, comprising:
a measuring portion that measures distances between the image taking device and at least two points in a subject surface of the object;
an exposure control portion that controls exposure time of the light receiving portion upon taking the image in accordance with at least one of the distances measured;
a posture determining portion that determines whether the subject surface is perpendicular to an axis along a shooting direction of the image taking device in accordance with the distances measured; and
an image taking portion that takes the image if it is determined by the posture determining portion that the subject surface is perpendicular to the axis and one of the distances measured is within a predetermined range.
2. The image taking device according to claim 1, further comprising a guiding portion that outputs guidance so that the subject surface is perpendicular to the axis by producing different signs between a first case where it is determined that the subject surface is perpendicular to the axis and a second case where it is determined that the subject surface is not perpendicular to the axis.
3. An image taking device for taking an image of an object by focusing reflected light from the object on a light receiving portion, comprising:
a measuring portion that measures a first distance between the object and the image taking device at a first time and a second distance between the object and the image taking device at a second time;
an exposure control portion that controls exposure time of the light receiving portion upon taking the image in accordance with at least one of the first distance measured and the second distance measured;
a still determining portion that determines whether the object is still in accordance with the first distance measured and the second distance measured;
an image taking portion that takes the image if it is determined by the still determining portion that the object is still and at least one of the first distance measured and the second distance measured is within a predetermined range.
4. An image taking device for taking an image of an object by focusing reflected light from the object on a light receiving portion, comprising:
a measuring portion that measures a distance between the object and the image taking device;
an exposure control portion that controls exposure time of the light receiving portion upon taking the image in accordance with the distance measured;
an image taking portion that takes the image if it is determined by the measuring portion that the distance is within a predetermined range;
a background storage portion that stores a background image that is taken when the object is not detected; and
an extracting portion that extracts a part of the object from the image by comparing the background image with the image.
5. A method for taking an image of an object by using an image taking device that focuses reflected light from the object on a light receiving portion, the method comprising:
measuring distances between the image taking device and at least two points in a subject surface of the object;
controlling exposure time of the light receiving portion upon taking the image in accordance with at least one of the distances measured;
determining whether the subject surface is perpendicular to an axis along a shooting direction of the image taking device in accordance with the distances measured; and
taking the image if it is determined in said determining that the subject surface is perpendicular to the axis and one of the distances measured is within a predetermined range.
6. A computer-readable storage storing a computer program for controlling an image taking device including a light receiving portion for receiving reflected light from an object and a distance measuring sensor, the computer program which when executed by a computer makes the computer execute a process comprising:
making the distance measuring sensor measure distances between the image taking device and at least two points in a subject surface of the object;
controlling exposure time of the light receiving portion upon taking the image in accordance with at least one of the distances measured;
determining whether the subject surface is perpendicular to an axis along a shooting direction of the image taking device in accordance with the distances measured; and
taking the image if it is determined in said determining that the subject surface is perpendicular to the axis and one of the distances measured is within a predetermined range.
7. The computer-readable storage according to claim 6, the process further comprising outputting guidance so that the subject surface is perpendicular to the axis by producing different signs between a first case where it is determined that the subject surface is perpendicular to the axis and a second case where it is determined that the subject surface is not perpendicular to the axis.
8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising outputting guidance so that the subject surface is perpendicular to the axis by producing different signs between a first case where it is determined that the subject surface is perpendicular to the axis and a second case where it is determined that the subject surface is not perpendicular to the axis.
9. An image taking device for taking an image of an object by focusing reflected light from the object on a light receiving portion that converts the light into an electric signal, comprising:
a measuring portion that measures distances between the image taking device and at least two points in a subject surface of the object;
a gain control portion that controls an output gain of the electric signal in accordance with at least one of the distances measured;
a posture determining portion that determines whether the subject surface is perpendicular to an axis along a shooting direction of the image taking device in accordance with the distances measured; and
an image taking portion that takes the image if it is determined by the posture determining portion that the subject surface is perpendicular to the axis and one of the distances measured is within a predetermined range.
10. The image taking device according to claim 9, further comprising a guiding portion that outputs guidance so that the subject surface is perpendicular to the axis by producing different signs between a first case where it is determined that the subject surface is perpendicular to the axis and a second case where it is determined that the subject surface is not perpendicular to the axis.
11. An image taking device for taking an image of an object by focusing reflected light from the object on a light receiving portion, comprising:
a measuring portion that measures a first distance between the object and the image taking device at a first time and a second distance between the object and the image taking device at a second time;
a gain control portion that controls an output gain of the electric signal in accordance with at least one of the first distance measured and the second distance measured;
a still determining portion that determines whether the object is still in accordance with the first distance measured and the second distance measured;
an image taking portion that takes the image if it is determined by the still determining portion that the object is still and at least one of the first distance measured and the second distance measured is within a predetermined range.
12. An image taking device for taking an image of an object by focusing reflected light from the object on a light receiving portion, comprising:
a measuring portion that measures a distance between the object and the image taking device;
a gain control portion that controls an output gain of the electric signal in accordance with the distance measured;
an image taking portion that takes the image if it is determined by the measuring portion that the distance is within a predetermined range;
a background storage portion that stores a background image that is taken when the object is not detected; and
an extracting portion that extracts a part of the object from the image by comparing the background image with the image.
13. A method for taking an image of an object by using an image taking device that focuses reflected light from the object on a light receiving portion, the method comprising:
measuring a first distance between the object and the image taking device at a first time and a second distance between the object and the image taking device at a second time;
controlling exposure time of the light receiving portion upon taking the image in accordance with at least one of the first distance measured and the second distance measured;
determining whether the object is still in accordance with the first distance measured and the second distance measured; and
taking the image if it is determined in said determining that the object is still and at least one of the first distance measured and the second distance measured is within a predetermined range.
14. A method for taking an image of an object by using an image taking device that focuses reflected light from the object on a light receiving portion, the method comprising:
measuring a distance between the object and the image taking device;
controlling exposure time of the light receiving portion upon taking the image in accordance with the distance measured;
taking the image if it is determined in said measuring that the distance is within a predetermined range;
storing a background image that is taken when the object is not detected; and
extracting a part of the object from the image by comparing the background image with the image.
15. A computer-readable storage storing a computer program for controlling an image taking device including a light receiving portion for receiving reflected light from an object and a distance measuring sensor, the computer program which when executed by a computer makes the computer execute a process comprising:
measuring a first distance between the object and the image taking device at a first time and a second distance between the object and the image taking device at a second time;
controlling exposure time of the light receiving portion upon taking the image in accordance with at least one of the first distance measured and the second distance measured;
determining whether the object is still in accordance with the first distance measured and the second distance measured; and
taking the image if it is determined in said determining that the object is still and at least one of the first distance measured and the second distance measured is within a predetermined range.
16. A computer-readable storage storing a computer program for controlling an image taking device including a light receiving portion for receiving reflected light from an object and a distance measuring sensor, the computer program which when executed by a computer makes the computer execute a process comprising:
measuring a distance between the object and the image taking device;
controlling exposure time of the light receiving portion upon taking the image in accordance with the distance measured;
taking the image if it is determined in said measuring that the distance is within a predetermined range;
storing a background image that is taken when the object is not detected; and
extracting a part of the object from the image by comparing the background image with the image.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A metallic pigment composition comprising:
metallic particles;
0.01 to 10 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the metallic particles, of at least one heteropolyanion compound that is at least one selected from the group consisting of H3PWxMo12-xO40.nH2O (phoshotungstomolybdicacid.n-hydrate), H3+xPVxMo12-xO40.nH2O (phosphovanadomolybdic acid.n-hydrate), H4SiWxMo12-xO40.nH2O (silicotungstomolybdic acid.n-hydrate) and H4+xSiVxMo12-xO40.nH2O (silicovanadomolybdic acid.n-hydrate), wherein 1\u2266x\u226611, n\u22670;
0.01 to 50 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the metallic particles, of an organic oligomer or polymer, which is an organic oligomer or polymer having interaction with at least one of the metallic particles and the heteropolyanion compound, which coexist, and is an organic oligomer or polymer that is obtained by performing a polymerization in the presence of the heteropolyanion compound and the metallic particles;
and at least one phosphoric acid compound selected from inorganic phosphoric acids or salts thereof.
2. The metallic pigment composition according to claim 1, wherein the metallic particles are made of aluminum.
3. A metallic pigment composition comprising:
metallic particles;
0.01 to 10 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the metallic particles, of at least one heteropolyanion compound that is a salt of at least one selected from a heteropolyacid with at least one selected from ammonia and amine compounds represented by the following formula 1 and a mixed-coordination heteropolyacid with at least one selected from ammonia and amine compounds represented by the following formula (1):
wherein R1, R2 and R3 may be the same or different, and are each a hydrogen atom, or a mono- or divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms that may optionally contain an ether bond, an ester bond, a hydroxyl group, a carbonyl group, and a thiol group, wherein R1 and R2 are optionally taken together to form a 5-membered or 6-membered cycloalkyl group, R1 and R2 are optionally taken together with a nitrogen atom to form a 5-membered or 6-membered ring that is capable of additionally containing a nitrogen or oxygen atom as a crosslinking member, or R1, R2 and R3 are optionally taken together to form a multi-membered multiring multi-ring composition that is capable of containing one or more additional nitrogen atoms andor oxygen atoms as a crosslinking member; R1, R2 and R3 are not a hydrogen atom at the same time; and n represents a numerical value of 1 to 2, and wherein
a heteroatom constituting the heteropolyanion compound is at least one selected from elements of Group 13, Group 14, and Group 15 in the periodic table, and a polyatom constituting the heteropolyanion compound is selected from transition metals;
0.01 to 50 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the metallic particles, of an organic oligomer or polymer, which is an organic oligomer or polymer having interaction with at least one of the metallic particles and the heteropolyanion compound, which coexist, and is an organic oligomer or polymer that is obtained by performing a polymerization in the presence of the heteropolyanion compound and the metallic particles; and
at least one phosphoric acid compound selected from inorganic phosphoric acids or salts thereof.
4. The metallic pigment composition according to claim 3, wherein the heteropolyacid is at least one selected from the group consisting of H3PMo12O40.nH2O (phosphomolybdic acid.n-hydrate), H3PW12O40.nH2O (phosphotungstic acid.n-hydrate), H4SiMo12O40.nH2O (silicomolybdic acid.n-hydrate) and H4SiW12O40.nH2O (silicotungstic acid.n-hydrate), wherein n\u22670.
5. The metallic pigment composition according to claim 3, wherein the mixed-coordination heteropolyacid is at least one selected from the group consisting of H3PWxMo12-xO40.nH2O (phosphotungstomolybdic acid.n-hydrate), H3+xPVxMo12-xO40.nH2O (phosphovanadomolybdic acid.n-hydrate), H4SiWxMo12-xO40.nH2O (silicotungstomolybdic acid.n-hydrate) and H4+xSiVxMo12-xO40.nH2O (silicovanadomolybdic acid.n-hydrate), wherein 1\u2266x\u226611, n\u22670.
6. A method for producing a metallic pigment composition according to claim 1, comprising mixing metallic particles with the heteropolyanion compound in the presence of a solvent arbitrarily containing water and then polymerizing or mixing an organic oligomer or polymer.
7. A coating composition comprising the metallic pigment composition according to claim 1.
8. An ink composition comprising the metallic pigment composition according claim 1.
9. An article being coated with the coating composition according to claim 7.
10. A printed material being formed by the ink composition according to claim 8.
11. A coating film formed by the coating composition according to claim 7.

1. An industrial-scale atomizing apparatus for applying a liquid coating onto materials which require porosity, acoustical transparency, or very light coating weight, the apparatus comprising a discharge nozzle of a specified length, the discharge nozzle which extends longitudinally is capable of discharging a uniform stream of atomized liquid droplets at a uniform velocity at least along the entire specified length of the discharge nozzle.
2. The industrial-scale atomizing apparatus of claim 1, comprising first and second opposed air streams positioned proximate the discharge nozzle, each of the first and second opposing air streams extending longitudinally and in parallel relation to the discharge nozzle.
3. The industrial-scale atomizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid coating comprises from about 40% to about 70% solids by weight.
4. The industrial-scale atomizing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the liquid coating comprises from about 50% to about 60% solids by weight.
5. The industrial-scale atomizing apparatus of claim 1, whereby a minimum deviation is achieved in the acoustic capability of the acoustical material to which the liquid coating is applied.
6. The industrial-scale atomizing apparatus of claim 1, whereby the apparatus provides a coating which has minimal impact on the light reflectance, color, and gloss of the material to which the coating is applied.
7. A method of spray coating a moving object comprising the steps of:
(a) providing an industrial-scale coating apparatus having a longitudinally extending discharge nozzle having a specified length;
(b) positioning the industrial-scale coating apparatus above a conveyor, the conveyor having a direction of travel such that the longitudinally extending discharge nozzle extends in a direction transverse the direction of travel of a conveyor; and
(c) discharging a linear stream of atomized droplets onto the surface of an object moving on the conveyor, the linear stream of atomized droplets being discharged from the nozzle at a uniform velocity along the entire specified length of the nozzle.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein in step (c) the linear stream of atomized droplets extends uniformly over a cross-machine width of the moving object.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein in step (c) first and second opposing air streams are positioned proximate the discharge nozzle, the air streams discharging air which atomizes the liquid coating.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second air streams extend in the longitudinal direction of the discharge nozzle.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first air stream is located upstream of the discharge nozzle.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second air stream is located downstream of the discharge nozzle.
13. The method of claim 7, wherein the moving object is a fibrous mat.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the fibrous mat has a top surface having perforations therein.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the fibrous mat is an acoustical ceiling panel.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An air handling unit, comprising:
an enclosure comprising:
an air inlet;
an air outlet; and
a fluid duct that extends from the air inlet to the air outlet;

a heater assembly comprising a base plate that (1) comprises an inner surface and an outer surface and (2) is configured to form at least a portion of the fluid duct; and
a heat exchanger assembly configured to selectively receive the heater assembly.
2. The air handling unit of claim 1, wherein the heater assembly is carried by the heat exchanger assembly.
3. The air handling unit of claim 1, wherein the heater assembly is disposed between a left slab and a right slab of the heat exchanger assembly.
4. The air handling unit of claim 1, wherein the heater assembly is disposed downstream from the heat exchanger assembly with respect to airflow through the fluid duct.
5. The air handling unit of claim 1, wherein the heater assembly is disposed adjacent to the air outlet.
6. The air handling unit of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the base plate is configured to form a fluid tight seal with a complimentary mounting surface of a heat exchanger assembly.
7. The air handling unit of claim 1, wherein the base plate is configured to carry a plurality of electronic components disposed on the outer surface of the base plate.
8. The air handling unit of claim 1, wherein the heater assembly comprises at least one heater element that is carried by the base plate and that is disposed within the fluid duct.
9. The air handling unit of claim 1, wherein the heater assembly comprises a heater rack that is attached to the base plate.
10. The air handling unit of claim 9, wherein the heater rack is configured to carry at least one heater element.
11. The air handling unit of claim 10, wherein the heater rack comprises at least one alignment pin.
12. The air handling unit of claim 11, wherein the heat exchanger assembly comprises at least one alignment pin hole that is configured to selectively receive the alignment pin.
13. A method of forming a fluid duct in an air handling unit, comprising:
providing an enclosure comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, and a fluid duct that extends from the air inlet to the air outlet;
providing a heater assembly comprising a base plate that (1) comprises an inner surface and an outer surface and (2) is configured to form at least a portion of a fluid duct in an air handling unit; and
providing a heat exchanger assembly configured to selectively receive the heater assembly.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
disposing the heater assembly between a left slab and a right slab of the heat exchanger assembly.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
disposing the heater assembly downstream from the heat exchanger assembly with respect to an airflow through the fluid duct.
16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
disposing the heater assembly adjacent to the air outlet.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the inner surface of the base plate is configured to form a fluid tight seal with a complimentary mounting surface of a heat exchanger assembly.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the base plate is configured to carry a plurality of electronic components disposed on the outer surface of the base plate.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein the heater assembly comprises at least one heater element that is carried by the base plate and that is disposed within the fluid duct.
20. The method of claim 13, wherein the heater assembly comprises a heater rack that is attached to the base plate and that is configured to carry at least one heater element.