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The immobilization of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) onto support surfaces has become an important aspect in the development of DNA-based assay systems as well as for other purposes, including the development of microfabricated arrays for DNA analysis. See, for instance, "The Development of Microfabricated Arrays of DNA Sequencing and Analysis", O'Donnell-Maloney et al., TIBTECH 14:401-407 (1996). Generally, such procedures are carried out on the surface of microwell plates, tubes, beads, microscope slides, silicon wafers or membranes. Certain approaches, in particular, have been developed to enable or improve the likelihood of end-point attachment of a synthetic oligo to a surface. End-point attachment (i.e., with the nucleic acid sequence attached through one or the other terminal nucleotide) is desirable because the entire length of the sequence will be available for hybridization to another nucleic acid sequence. This is particularly advantageous for the detection of single base pair changes under stringent hybridization conditions.
Hybridization is the method used most routinely to measure nucleic acids by base pairing to probes immobilized on a solid support. When combined with amplification techniques such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or ligase chain reaction (LCR), hybridization assays are a powerful tool for diagnosis and research. Microwell plates, in particular, are convenient and useful for assaying relatively large numbers of samples. Several methods have been used for immobilization of nucleic acid probes onto microwell plates. Some of these involve adsorption of unmodified or modified oligos onto polystyrene plates. Others involve covalent immobilization. Various methods have also been used to increase the sensitivity of hybridization assays. Polymeric capture and detection probes have been synthesized and used to obtain sensitivities down to 10.sup.7 DNA molecules/ml. Another method used branched oligos to increase the sensitivity of hybridization assays. Yet another method used a multi-step antibody-enhanced method. Other types of nucleic acid probes such as ribonucleic acid (RNA), complementary DNA (cDNA) and peptide nucleic acids (PNA's) have also been immobilized onto microwell plates for hybridization of PCR products in diagnostic applications. Furthermore, PCR primers have been immobilized onto microwell plates for solid phase PCR.
Only a relative few approaches to immobilizing DNA, to date, have found their way into commercial products. One such product is known as "NucleoLink.TM.", and is available from Nalge Nunc International (see, e.g., Nunc Tech Note Vol. 3, No. 17). In this product, the DNA is reacted with a carbodiimide to activate 5'-phosphate groups which then react with functional groups on the surface. Disadvantages of this approach are that it requires the extra step of adding the carbodiimide reagent as well as a five hour reaction time for immobilization of DNA, and it is limited to a single type of substrate material.
As another example, Pierce has recently introduced a proprietary DNA immobilization product known as "Reacti-Bind.TM. DNA Coating Solutions" (see "Instructions--Reacti-Bind.TM. DNA Coating Solution" 1/1997). This product is a solution that is mixed with DNA and applied to surfaces such as polystyrene or polypropylene. After overnight incubation, the solution is removed, the surface washed with buffer and dried, after which it is ready for hybridization. Although the product literature describes it as being useful for all common plastic surfaces used in the laboratory, it does have some limitations. For example, Applicants were not able to demonstrate useful immobilization of DNA onto polypropylene using the manufacturer's instructions. Furthermore, this product requires large amounts of DNA. The instructions indicate that the DNA should be used at a concentration between 0.5 and 5 .mu.g/ml.
Similarly, Costar sells a product called "DNA-BINDTM" for use in attaching DNA to the surface of a well in a microwell plate (see, e.g., the DNA-BIND.TM. "Application Guide"). The surface of the DNA-BIND.TM. plate is coated with an uncharged, nonpolymeric, low molecular weight, heterobifunctional reagent containing an N-oxysuccinimide (NOS) reactive group. This group reacts with nucleophiles such as primary amines. The heterobifunctional coating reagent also contains a photochemical group and spacer arm which covalently links the reactive group to the surface of the polystyrene plate. Thereafter, amine-modified DNA can be covalently coupled to the NOS surface. The DNA is modified by adding a primary amine either during the synthesis process to the nascent oligomer or enzymatically to the preformed sequence. Since the DNA-BIND.TM. product is polystyrene based, it is of limited use for those applications that require elevated temperatures such as thermal cycling.
These various products may be useful for some purposes, or under certain circumstances, but all tend to suffer from one or more drawbacks and constraints. In particular, they either tend to require large amounts of oligo, render background noise levels that are unsuitably high and/or lack versatility.
It would be highly desirable to be able to attach molecules such as oligos to a surface in a manner that avoids some or all of the drawbacks of these previous approaches. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a plate for planographic printing with which direct plate formation, in which a plate can be formed directly by scanning an infrared laser based on digital signals from a computer or the like, is possible. Specifically, the present invention relates to an infrared-sensitive planographic printing plate suitable for alkali developing processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
High-output, compact solid-state lasers, semiconductor lasers, and gas lasers, which emit ultraviolet light, visible light, and infrared light having wavelengths ranging from 300 nm to 1200 nm, have become readily available. These lasers are very useful as a recording light source for making a printing plate directly from digital data of computers or the like.
Various studies concerning recording materials sensitive to these various types of laser have been made. Typical examples of recording materials that can be recorded by an infrared laser beam having a wavelength of 760 nm or greater include the positive-type recording material described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,925, and the negative-type recording material that is crosslinkable by an acid catalyst and described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 8-276558.
Examples of recording materials responsive to an ultraviolet or visible light laser having a wavelength of 300 nm to 700 nm are numerous, and include the radical polymerizable, negative-type recording materials disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,445 and Japanese Patent Application Bulletin (JP-B) No. 44-20189.
In the greater part of such image recording materials that use various kinds of laser beams, particularly in drawing techniques which use an infrared laser having a wavelength of 760 nm or greater, an image is formed by using high heat generated at portions irradiated with the infrared laser. Because the high heat used in this manner is utilized not as an optical mode but as a heat mode, a threshold property appears in image formation and a very contrasty image quality is obtained, so that such image recording materials are preferable as printing materials. To briefly describe threshold property in image formation, in the optical mode, when unexposed portions are irradiated only with weak light leaked at the exposure apparatus, photochemical reactions and the like corresponding to the amount of leaked light are generated, whereby fogging is produced. By contrast, in the heat mode, because a high temperature is not generated unless an amount of light greater than a given value is irradiated, a thermal reaction is not generated (threshold property) and fogging at weakly exposed regions is not produced. On the other hand, at exposed portions irradiated with a strong light, a high temperature is generated and a sufficient image is formed, even in the heat mode. The result is a contrasty image.
Ordinarily, when used as a heat mode characteristic, and in particular when used as material for a printing plate, a support made of metal such as aluminum is used from the standpoint of printability, smoothness and processing ease. However, there is the drawback that heat diffuses from the support and exposure energy is not used effectively for recording, thus leading to a considerable drop in sensitivity.
For this reason, the use of an insulated support or the provision of a heat-insulating material on a support are effective when an image is formed in the heat mode. Because sensitivity is greatly improved by the effect of preventing heat diffusion caused by a reduction in heat conductivity, various insulation methods have been explored.
However, one of the large characteristics of a printing plate is that it is structured by an image portion (a region that is highly hydrophobic and whose affinity to ink is high) and a non-image portion ( a region that is highly hydrophilic and ink-repellant). Here, when a highly hydrophobic material is used as a heat insulating material, the non-image portion (highly hydrophilic portion) must be formed by exposure in order to actually function as a printing plate. When the hydrophilic portion is not formed sufficiently, it becomes easy for ink to adhere to areas whose hydrophilicity has been lowered by abrasion at the time of printing, and there emerges the possibility for contamination in printing to occur.
Conversely, when a highly hydrophilic material is used as a heat insulating material, when the image portion (highly hydrophobic portion) is formed by exposure, problems arise in that damping water at the time of printing penetrates the surface of the heat insulating material along the hydrophilic portion thereof, whereby the photosensitive layer is stripped away by surface destruction, thus leading to a deterioration in printability.
As examples of a structure in which such problems originating in heat insulating materials are few, systems which utilize a heat insulating material at the support or in the vicinity thereof and which carry out recording by ablation, which are systems without alkali developing processing (hydrophilic processing), and systems in which a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region are formed in the surface by a polar-transformable material have been investigated. When recording is conducted using ablation, recording layer material is scattered within the exposure apparatus, whereby particularly delicate lenses in a laser transmission section are contaminated. For that reason, there has been the need to additionally furnish a device to remove the ablated materials. The apparatus thus grows complex and is not desirable in terms of costs. Raising printability is therefore substantially difficult in view of the present circumstances.
There are no problems associated with contamination of optical systems when polar-transformable materials are used. However, because the hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions are formed by utilizing only polar variations in the vicinity of the surface of the printing plate, repeated printings of 300,000 plates or more cannot possibly be withstood, printability is low, and there is the fear that contamination in printing caused by a deterioration in the hydrophilicity of the non-image portion will occur.
Accordingly, attempts have been made to develop a heat insulating technology that will eliminate problems associated with heat loss, without adversely effecting other characteristics required of a planographic printing plate, such as compatibility with ink used in printing, printability, adhesion to the recording layer, and the like.
An object of the present invention is to improve the loss of exposure energy and to form an image in which the on-off thereof in the irradiated and non-irradiated portions is enlarged in an infrared-sensitive planographic printing plate and to provide an aqueous alkali developing type planographic printing plate having high sensitivity and high printing durability.
The inventors of the present invention have conducted various studies to solve the aforementioned problem and, as a result, found that the drop of the heat of a recording layer is prevented and a hydrophilic/hydrophobic region is formed without decreasing adhesion between a support and a recording layer, for example, by using a material having low thermal conductivity and by providing a layer having the ability to make the surface thereof hydrophilic by using an alkali developing solution or by using a support which itself has such an ability. The present invention was thus completed.
Accordingly, the planographic printing plate of the present invention comprises forming a first layer which is made of an heat-insulating material having a low thermal conductivity and is made hydrophilic by treating using an alkali or a silicate in an alkali developing solution after being exposed and a second layer which is an infrared ray-sensitive recording layer to be changed in alkali developing ability without being abraded by irradiation with infrared rays in this order on a support.
Also, in one embodiment, the planographic printing plate of the present invention uses, as the support, a material made of a low heat-conductive insulating material and having the ability to make the surface thereof hydrophilic by treating using an alkali or a silicate in an alkali developing solution after being exposed and an infrared-sensitive layer which is changed in alkali developing ability by irradiation with infrared rays is disposed on the support.
Here, the thermal conductivity of the above heat-insulating material is 3.0 (Wxc2x7mxe2x88x921xc2x7Kxe2x88x921) or less and preferably 1.0 (Wxc2x7mxe2x88x921xc2x7Kxe2x88x921) or less.
Also, the layer made of a heat-insulating material and provided with a surface to be made hydrophilic preferably has an average thickness ranging from 0.2 to 50 xcexcm. When such a heat-insulating material is used as the support itself, the average thickness of the heat- insulating material is preferably in a range from 0.05 to 2.0 mm.
The planographic printing plate of the present invention uses a heat-insulating material having such a hydrophilic level as to enable the light-sensitive layer to adhere as the support itself or as the layer disposed between the support and the light-sensitive layer (recording layer). Also, the heat-insulating material having such a property as to enable only the unexposed portion to be made hydrophilic after the surface is exposed by an infrared laser is used. Therefore, the image portion is not made hydrophilic so that adhesion to the recording layer is secured. At the same time, in the non-image portion, the surface of the heat-insulating material acquires hydrophilicity for the first time by performing alkali developing processing (hydrophilicity treatment) in an alkali development treating step. The present invention enables the preparation of a planographic printing plate which attains high sensitization using a heat insulting material, is freed of the penetration of an alkali developing solution between the recording layer and the support, has clear on-off of an image portion/a non-image portion and is superior in printing durability.
An infrared-sensitive planographic printing plate of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail.
The planographic printing plate of the present invention may have a layer (appropriately termed a xe2x80x9cheat-insulating intermediate layerxe2x80x9d hereinafter), disposed between a support and an infrared-sensitive recording layer, structured by a heat-insulating material having a low thermal conductivity, and that is made hydrophilic by being treated with an alkali or a silicate in an alkali developing solution after exposure. Alternatively, the planographic printing plate of the present invention may have a support (appropriately termed a xe2x80x9cheat-insulating supportxe2x80x9d hereinafter) formed of a heat-insulating material having a low thermal conductivity, with the support having a surface that is made hydrophilic by being treated with an alkali or a silicate in an alkali developing solution after exposure.
When the heat-insulating intermediate layer is provided on the support, the heat-insulating material of the heat-sensitive planographic printing plate of the present invention preferably uses materials that have a cross-linkable structure, from the standpoint of abrasion at the time of printing. Further, the heat-insulating intermediate layer changes to a hydrophilic layer that is essentially ink-repellant by the action of an alkali or a silicate in an alkali developing solution at the time of alkali developing processing.
On the other hand, when the heat-insulating support which itself is the heat-insulating material is used, the surface thereof must be provided with surface treatment enabling the surface to be changed to an ink-repellent hydrophilic surface during the above alkali developing processing. As this surface treatment, a method of forming the surface treated layer unitedly on the above heat-insulating support is preferably used.
The thermal conductivity of the heat-insulating material used here is preferably 3.0 (Wxc2x7mxe2x88x921xc2x7Kxe2x88x921) or less and more preferably 1.0 (Wxc2x7mxe2x88x921xc2x7Kxe2x88x921) or less.
When the heat-insulating material is used as the heat-insulating intermediate layer, the average thickness of the heat-insulating layer is in a range of 0.05 to 5.0 xcexcm, preferably 0.1 to 10 xcexcm and most preferably 0.2 to 5.0 xcexcm. When the thickness is less than 0.05 xcexcm, the effect of insulation significantly decreases. When the thickness exceeds 50 xcexcm, the possibility of the surface being stripped away from the support at the time of printing increases. When the heat-insulating support is used, the thickness thereof is in a range of 0.05 to 5.0 mm and preferably 0.05 to 2.0 mm. When the thickness is less than 0.05 mm, dimensional accuracy becomes poor, causing printing displacement. On the other hand, when the thickness exceeds 5.0 mm, the support cannot withstand flexural strength when it is wound around a printer, causing cracks in the support itself. The heat-insulating material used as the heat-insulating intermediate layer in the planographic printing plate of the present invention must be, first, a material whose thermal conductivity is low. Second, it is necessary that the heat-insulating material has good adhesion to the photo-sensitive layer, has a surface that is hydrophobic or weakly hydrophilic at least to the extent that ink adheres, and that is made substantially hydrophilic by the alkali developing processing to the extent that the material repels ink.
Preferable examples of materials that fulfill such requirements include vitreous inorganic compounds, inorganic/organic hybrid compounds, and organic polymer compounds. A material containing air therein, such as foamed styrol, is also preferable. From the standpoint of being made hydrophilic by the alkali developing processing, it is essential that the heat-insulating material has a compound, particularly a polymer organic or inorganic compound, having a hydroxyl group, a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, an acid group (particularly, a phenol group, an imide group, a sulfonamide group, a mercapto group, a carboxylic acid group, a sulfonic acid group, a phosphoric acid group, a phosphonic acid group and a silicic acid group) or an acid group precursor (particularly, alkylesters, arylesters, acid anhydrides or acid halides), which are functional groups that become hydrophilic or whose hydrophilicity is strengthened when the groups react with an alkali or a silicate in a developing solution.
For the formation of such heat-insulating intermediate layer which can be made hydrophilic, conventionally known, crosslinked hydrophilic layer technology may be applied.
Crosslinked hydrophilic layer technology can be utilized because of the advantages that a strong film can be formed because much of the technology includes functional groups made hydrophilic by the aforementioned alkali developing treatment.
Any one of conventionally known, cross-linked hydrophilic layers may be used as such a cross-linkable hydrophilic layer. For example, 1) the hydrophilic layer formed of a crosslinked polymer having a metal colloid as disclosed in International Application Laid-Open WO98/40212, 2) the hydrophilic layer formed of a condensate of an organic hydrophilic polymer and a silane coupling agent as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2592225, or 3) the hydrophilic layers formed of a crosslinked organic polymer as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 10-6468 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 10-58636 may be used.
The crosslinked hydrophilic layers will hereinafter be described sequentially.
First, 1) the hydrophilic layer formed of a crosslinked polymer having a metal colloid will be described.
Examples of the metal colloid include colloids of hydroxysilane, hydroxyaluminum, hydroxytitanium and hydroxyzirconium. These metal colloids may be crosslinked using a crosslinking agent such as a di-, tri- or tetra-alkoxysilane, titanate or aluminate to form a polymer. The metal colloid may be produced according to U.S. Pat. No. 2,244,325 or U.S. Pat. No. 2,574,902. Among the above metal colloids and crosslinking agents, a particularly useful metal colloid is colloidal silica and a particularly useful crosslinking agent is aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The amount of the metal colloid to be used is in a range of 100 to 5000% and preferably 500 to 1500% with respect to the amount of the crosslinking agent.
Next, 2) the hydrophilic layer formed of a condensate of an organic hydrophilic polymer and a silane coupling agent will be described.
For instance, it is preferable to cast a hydrophilic polymer having a free reactive group such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxy-propyl, amino, aminoethyl, aminopropyl or carboxymethyl group from an aqueous composition containing a suitable crosslinking agent or modifying agent containing, for example, a hydrophilic organic titanium reagent, aluminoformyl acetate, dimethylolurea, melamine, aldehyde or hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate.
The polymer suitable to form the above hydrophilic layer may be selected from a group of gum arabic, casein, gelatin, derivatives of starch, carboxymethyl cellulose and Na salts thereof, cellulose acetate, sodium alginate, vinyl acetate/maleic acid copolymers, styrene/maleic acid copolymers, polyacrylic acids and salts thereof, polymethacrylic acids and salts thereof, hydroxy-ethylene polymers, polyethylene glycols, hydroxypropylene polymers, polyvinyl alcohols and hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate of which the degree of hydrolysis is at least 60 wt % and preferably at least 80 wt %.
Specifically, the hydrophilic layer disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,476,937 is particularly preferable because it produces excellent lithographic printability when used as the planographic printing plate of the present invention. This hydrophilic layer has polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl acetate that has been hydrolyzed at least to 60 wt. %, and the hydrophilic layer is film-hardened by a tetraalkyl orthosilicate such as tetraethyl orthosilicate or tetramethyl orthosilicate.
Another suitable film-hardened hydrophilic surface layer is disclosed in European Patent (EP) 91201227.5. The hydrophilic layer disclosed in this European Patent has a copolymer (e.g., amino modified dextran), which contains an amine or amide functional group having at least one free hydrogen, and a hardened reaction product of an aldehyde.
When this film-hardened hydrophilic surface layer is used as the heat-insulating intermediate layer in the planographic printing plate of the present invention, additional materials such as plasticizers, pigments and dyes may be included to improve the qualities of the layer. Specifically, particle materials such as TiO2 or colloidal silica may also be included to improve the strength and/or hydrophilicity of the layer.
Next, 3) the hydrophilic layer formed of a crosslinked organic polymer will be explained.
The crosslinked organic polymer in the present invention may be a networked polymer, structured from carbon-carbon bonds, having as side chains thereof one or more types and a plurality of hydrophilic functional groups such as a carboxyl group, an amino group, a phosphoric acid group, a sulfonic acid group, salts of these groups, a hydroxyl group, an amide group, a polyoxyethylene group or the like. The crosslinked organic polymer may also be a polymer in which one of carbon atoms and carbon-carbon bonds are connected by hetero atoms formed of at least one type or more of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur or phosphorous. The crosslinked organic polymer may also be a networked polymer having as side chains thereof one or more types and a plurality of hydrophilic functional groups such as a carboxylic group, an amino group, a phosphoric acid group, a sulfonic acid groups, salts of these groups, a hydroxyl group, an amide group or a polyoxyethylene group. Specific examples of these organic polymers may include polymers such as poly(meth)acrylate types, polyoxyalkylene types, polyurethane types, epoxy ring-opening addition polymer types, poly(meth)acrylic acid types, poly(meth)acrylamide types, polyester types, polyamide types, polyamine types, polyvinyl types and polysaccharide types and complex types of these types.
Polymers in which the side chains of the segment has a repetition of any one or combinations of a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group or its alkali metal salt, an amino group or its hydrogen halide, a sulfonic acid group or its amine, an alkali metal salt, an alkali earth metal salt and an amide group, and polymers having plural polyoxyethylene groups on a part of these hydrophilic functional groups and principal chain segment are preferable because of their high hydrophilicity. In addition to the above polymers, hydrophilic binder polymers having a urethane bond or a urea bond on the principal chain or the side chain improve not only hydrophilicity but also the printing durability of the non-image portion and are therefore more preferable.
The binder polymer may include as needed various other components described later. Specific examples of the three-dimensionally crosslinked hydrophilic binder polymer are given below. As the hydrophilic binder polymer, at least one of hydrophilic monomers, having a hydroxyl group, carboxylic group or its salt, sulfonic acid group or its salt, phosphoric acid group or its salt, amide group, amino group and ether group, such as (meth)acrylic acid or its alkali or amine salt, itaconic acid or its alkali or amine salt, 2-hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylamide, N-monomethylol(meth)acrylamide, N-dimethylol(meth)acrylamide, 3-vinylpropionic acid or its alkali or amine salt, vinylsulfonic acid or its alkali or amine salt, 2-sulfoethyl(meth)acrylate, polyoxyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate, 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, acid phosphooxypolyoxyethylene glycol mono (meth) acrylate and allylamine or mineral acid salt thereof is used to synthesize a hydrophilic homo- or co-polymer.
The hydrophilic binder polymer, having functional groups such as a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, an amino group or its salt, or an epoxy group in the hydrophilic polymer, uses these functional groups to obtain an unsaturated group-containing polymer into which an additional polymerization double bond, such as a vinyl group, an allyl group, or a (meth) acryl group, or a ring-forming group, such as a cinnamoyl group, a cinnamylidene group, a cyanocinnamylidene group or a p-phenylenediacrylate, has been introduced. As needed, a monofunctional or polyfunctional monomer copolymerizable with the unsaturated group, an initiator (described later), and other components may be added to the polymer and dissolved in an appropriate solvent to prepare a dope. The aforementioned support is coated with the dope, which is then three-dimensionally crosslinked either after or while being dried.
The hydrophilic binder polymer having active hydrogen such as a hydroxyl group, an amino group or a carboxyl group is added to the aforementioned active hydrogen-excluding solvent together with an isocyanate compound or a block polyisocyanate compound and other components described later. The dope is mixed, applied to the support, and reacted either after or while being dried to effect three-dimensional crosslinking. A monomer having a glycidyl group such as glycidyl (meth) acrylate or a carboxylic group such as (meth) acrylic acid may be used in combination with the copolymer components of the hydrophilic binder polymer. The hydrophilic binder polymer having a glycidyl group may be crosslinked three-dimensionally by using, as a crosslinking agent, an xcex1,xcfx89-alkane- or alkene-dicarboxylic acid such as 1,2 -ethanedicarboxylic acid or adipic acid, polycarboxylic acid such as 1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid or trimellitic acid, polyamine compound such as 1,2-ethanediamine, diethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine or xcex1, xcfx89-bis-(3-aminopropyl)-polyethylene glycol ether, oligo alkylene or polyalkylene glycol such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol or tetraethylene glycol or polyhydroxy compound such as trimethylolpropane, glycerol, pentaerythritol or sorbitol and by utilizing a ring-opening reaction with each of these compounds.
The hydrophilic binder polymer having a carboxylic group or an amino group may be crosslinked three-dimensionally by utilizing an epoxy ring-opening reaction or the like using, as a crosslinking agent, a polyepoxy compound such as ethylene or propylene glycol diglycidyl ether, polyethylene or polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether, neopentyl glycol diglycidyl ether, 1,6-hexane diol diglycidyl ether or trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether.
The hydrophilic binder polymer formed of a polysaccharide such as a cellulose derivative, or the hydrophilic binder polymer in which polyvinyl alcohol or its partially saponified product, glycidol homo- or co-polymer have been taken as its base can be made to possess a three-dimensional structure by introducing the aforementioned crosslinkable functional group by utilizing a hydroxyl group contained in these compounds using the aforementioned method.
Preferable examples of the aforementioned three-dimensionally crosslinked hydrophilic polymers include those obtained by three-dimensionally crosslinking a hydrophilic homo- or co-polymer synthesized using at least one type selected from hydrophilic monomers, such as a (meth) acrylic acid or its alkali metal or amine salt, itaconic acid or its alkali metal or amine salt, 2-hydroxylethyl(meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylamide, N-monomethylol(meth)acrylamide, N-dimethylol(meth)acrylamide, allylamine or its hydroacid halide, 3-vinylpropionic acid or its alkali metal or amine salt, vinylsulfonic acid or its alkali metal or amine salt, 2-sulfoethylene(meth)acrylate, polyoxyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate, 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, acid phosphooxypolyoxyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate or allylamine or its hydroacid halide, having a hydrophilic group such as a carboxylic group, sulfonic acid group, phosphoric acid and amino group or salts of these groups, hydroxyl group, amide group or ether group or by three-dimensionally crosslinking a hydrophilic binder polymer constituted of a polyoxymethylene glycol or a polyoxyethylene glycol by using the aforementioned method.
The three-dimensionally crosslinked hydrophilic polymers described above are important materials as a matrix for the heat-insulating intermediate layer. However, in order to be made hydrophilic by the alkali developing processing, it is essential that the heat-insulating material according to the present invention has a compound, particularly a polymer organic or inorganic compound, having a hydroxyl group, a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, an acid group (particularly, a phenol group, an imide group, a sulfonamide group, a mercapto group, a carboxylic acid group, a sulfonic acid group, a phosphoric acid group, a phosphonic acid group and a silicic acid group) or an acid group precursor (particularly, alkylesters, arylesters, acid anhydrides or acid halides), which are functional groups that become hydrophilic or whose hydrophilicity is strengthened when the groups react with an alkali or a silicate in a developing solution.
However, these techniques are so-called cross-linkable hydrophilic layers that were developed simply as a means to impart hydrophilicity to a hydrophobic support. When such hydrophilic layers are used as they are for the heat-insulating material of the present invention, the hydrophilicity becomes too high and sometimes adhesion with the adjacent photosensitive layer is made worse. For this reason, the above hydrophilic layer technique is combined with two techniques described below in order to form a heat-insulating layer that can be made hydrophilic and can be appropriately used in the present invention.
A first technique is that in which an adhesive is combined with the cross-linkable hydrophilic layer. A second technique is that in which a processing for improving adhesion by regulating hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity is administered, but details of this second technique will be described later.
First, the first technique in which an adhesive is combined with the cross-linkable hydrophilic layer will be described.
One example concerns a technique in which an adhesive (described later) for improving adhesion with the photosensitive layer is incorporated in the material of the hydrophilic layer, thereby imparting to the heat-insulating intermediate layer itself a high adhesion with the infrared-sensitive layer (i.e., the recording layer). Another example concerns a technique in which an adhesive layer having an adhesive is disposed between the heat-insulating intermediate layer and the recording layer to thereby ensure the adhesion of both.
Examples of such an adhesive include one or more types selected from phosphonic acids having an amino group such as carboxymethyl cellulose, dextrin, gum arabic and 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid; organic phosphonic acid such as phenylphosphonic acid, naphthylphosphonic acid, alkylphosphonic acid, glycerophosphonic acid, methylenediphosphonic acid and ethylenediphosphonic acid which may have a substituent; organic phosphoric acid such as phenylphosphoric acid, naphthylphosphoric acid, alkylphosphoric acid and glycerophosphoric acid which may have a substituent; organic phosphinic acid such as phenylphosphinic acid, naphthylphosphinic acid, alkylphosphinic acid and glycerophosphinic acid which may have a substituent; amino acids such as glycine and xcex2-alanine; and hydrochloride of amines having a hydroxyl group such as hydrochlorides of triethanolamine. These may be used by mixing two or more.
Compounds represented by the following general formulae ZZ-1 to ZZ-6 are particularly preferable as adhesives:
A diazonium polymer (weight average molecular weight 1,000 to 20,000) is represented by the following general formula ZZ-1:
In the formula, R1 to R4 independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 12, and an alkoxy group having an alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 12, Z represents O, S or NH, and Xxe2x88x92 represents a counter-anion selected from Clxe2x88x92, Brxe2x88x92, PF4xe2x88x92, BF4xe2x88x92, ClO4xe2x88x92, arylsulfonic acid anion and alkylsulfonic acid anion, and nxe2x89xa00 but m may be zero.
A copolymer (weight average molecular weight 1,000 to 50,000) of vinylbenzoic acid is represented by the general formula ZZ-2,
In the formula, R5 to R7 independently represent an alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 12, an aryl group, and an aralkyl group, Xxe2x88x92 represents a counter-anion as in the formula ZZ-1, and pxe2x89xa00 but q may be zero.
When the molecular weight of any of the aforementioned copolymer is less than the range described above, the effect of adhesion is diminished. When the molecular weight of the same is greater than the range described above, there is the risk that it cannot be taken off at the time of developing and that printing contamination will arise. Therefore, it is preferable to use a copolymer having a molecular weight that falls within the range prescribed above.
The compounds of the remaining general formulae are a polymerizable silane coupling agent represented by the general formula ZZ-3, a polymer compound (weight average molecular weight 1000 to 50,000) having a silane coupling moiety represented by the general formula ZZ-4, polymerizable phosphonic acid or polymerizable phosphoric acid represented by the general formula ZZ-5, and a polymer compound (weight average molecular weight 1,000 to 50,000) represented by the general formula ZZ-6 having two or more adjoining hydroxyl groups on the benzene ring.
It is particularly effective to use these compounds as an adhesive layer by coating by a sol-gel processing with tetra-alkoxysilne in the presence of an acid catalyst (phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid or organic sulfonic acid) or a basic catalyst (ammonia, KOH or NaOH). In particular, the compounds are appropriately used as a recording layer when a radical polymerizable recording layer is used.
In the formula, R8 denotes a methyl group, R9 denotes a methyl, ethyl or phenyl group, and r and n represent integers of 2 to 20 and 1 to 3, respectively. X represents O or a single bond.
When a polymer having a hydroxyl group at the side chains thereto is used as the hydrophilic layer, boric acid, aluminic acid or aluminosilisic acid, or sodium, potassium, ammonium, tetaalkylammonium or organic amine salts of these acids are hihgly effective for advancing film hardening and for adhesion.
When these adhesive agents are incorporated in the hydrophilic material, the amount incorporated therein is 0.01 wt. % to 50 wt. % with respect to the total solid component. When the incorporated amount is less than 0.01 wt. %, the effect of adhesion does not emerge. When the incorporated amount is less greater than 50 wt. %, it becomes difficult for the effect of the hydrophilic layer to be made manifest.
When these adhesive agents are formed on the surface of the hydrophilic layer as an adhesive layer (an organic undercoat layer), an appropriate amount of coating is 1 to 500 mg/m2, more preferably 1 to 100 mg/m2, and most preferably 1 to 50 mg/m2. When the amount of coating is less than 1 mg/m2, the effect of improving the adhesion becomes insufficient. When the coating amount is greater than 500 mg/m2, there is a tendency for the hydrophilization processing resulting from permeation of the developer to be obstructed, such that the layer cannot be made hydrophilic and printing contamination is generated.
The organic undercoat layer may be disposed by a method such as the following methods. In one method, a solution prepared by dissolving the foregoing organic compound in water, or in an organic solvent such as methanol, ethanol and methylethyl ketone, or in a mixed solvent thereof, is coated on a support having a heat-insulating intermediate layer or on a heat-insulating support comprising a hydrophilic layer, then dried. In another method, a solution prepared is by dissolving the foregoing organic compound in water, or in an organic solvent such as methanol, ethanol and methylethyl ketone, or in a mixed solvent thereof, and then the support is immersed in the solution so that the support is made to adsorb the aforementioned compound. Thereafter, the support is washed with water or the like and dried to provide the organic undercoat layer. In the former method, a solution having a concentration of 0.05 wt. % to 10 wt. % of the organic compound may be coated by a variety of methods. In the latter method, the concentration of the solution is 0.01 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.05 to 5% by weight, the dipping temperature is 20 to 90xc2x0 C., preferably 25 to 50xc2x0 C., and the dipping time is 0.1 second to 20 minutes, preferably 2 seconds to 1 minute. The pH of the solution to be used may be adjusted from 1 to 12 using a basic substance such as ammonia, triethylamine or potassium hydroxide, or an acidic substance such as hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid. When the recording layer of the present invention is used as a printing plate for lithography, a yellow dye may be added in order to enhance tonal reproducibility.
The second technique for improving adhesion will be described hereinafter. In this technique, adhesion is improved by the adjusting the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of the heat-insulating material.
Specifically, the second technique is a method in which the number of hydrophilic groups in the components included in the hydrophilic layer suitable as a heat-insulating material is decreased or the number of hydrophobic groups in the same is increased, whereby the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance is adjusted, a certain degree of hydrophobicity is imparted to the surface and adhesion is improved. As mentioned previously, when the number of hydrophilic groups is large and the hydrophilicity is too high, adhesion with the adjacent infrared-sensitive layer drops. Here, however, the possibility emerges that contamination may be generated in the non-image portions when measures to reduce the functional groups, which function to make hydrophilicity manifest in the heat-insulating intermediate layer or the heat-insulating support surface by making contact with the alkali developing solution, or measures to suppress the function of the functional groups are taken. Accordingly, it is preferable to adjust the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance without exerting a large influence on the functional groups having such a function. Examples of means for doing so include increasing the prepared amount of compounds having hydrophobic groups at the time the matrix of the heat-insulating material is formed, or adjusting the number of functional groups by lowering the amount of compounds introduced when there are compounds having hydrophilic functional groups that are not used in the reaction with the alkali developing solution.
Whether or not the heat-insulating layer (i.e., the heat-insulating intermediate layer or the heat-insulating support of the present invention), which can be made hydrophilic and has been obtained by administering an adhesion-improving processing to the cross-linkable hydrophilic material in accordance with the preceding techniques, is suitable for the object of the present invention can be judged by measuring the surface contact angle of water drops in the air. Adhesion with the recording layer may be judged to be good when the contact angle of water drops in the air is within a range of 10xc2x0 to 100xc2x0, preferably 30xc2x0 to 200xc2x0, and more preferably 50xc2x0 to 100xc2x0. When the value is lower than 10xc2x0, adhesion with the photosensitive layer becomes weak, and peeling of the surface due to permeation of the developing solution at the time of developing easily occurs. When the value is greater than 100xc2x0, the developing is completely repelled and permeation of the developing solution is suppressed, thus making it difficult to administer hydrophilicization processing.
Hereinafter, the infrared-sensitive layer (recording layer), whose alkali developability is changed by the action of an infrared ray and which the heat-sensitive planographic plate of the present invention has on the heat-insulating material, will be described. The infrared-sensitive layer that is used here is a layer whose solubility in an alkali developing solution is changed by the irradiation of an infrared laser. It is necessary that substantially no ablation occurs at the time the solubility is changed. Namely, in the present invention, a change in the solubility of the recording layer refers to a change in solubility only with respect to the alkali developing solution, unattended by other phenomena, and is not meant to include elimination resulting from scattering of the recording layer.
The construction of the infrared-sensitive layer of the heat-sensitive planographic plate of the present invention is not particularly restricted. Known infrared-sensitive layers may be selected and used. The recording layer can be divided into two types: a negative-type in which alkali developability is lowered by the action of an infrared light, and a negative-type layer in which alkali developability is raised by the action of an infrared light.
Examples of the negative-type recording layer include known negative-type polar conversion material (change from hydrophilic to hydrophobic) based, radical polymerization based, and acid catalyst cross-linking based (including cationic polymerization) recording layers. The radical polymerization based and acid catalyst cross-linking based recording layers are preferable among the recording layers from the aspect of tolerance to repeated printings. Radicals or acids generated by light irradiation or heating serve as an initiator or a catalyst, and the compounds structuring the recording layer trigger a polymerization reaction and a cross-linking reaction and harden to form image portions.
Examples of the negative-type recording layer include known negative-type polar conversion material (change from hydrophobic to hydrophilic) based, acid catalyst decomposition based and interaction release based (heat-sensitive positive) recording layers. Among these, the negative-type polar conversion material based recording layer formed by heat decomposition of a sulfonic acid ester, and acid catalyzed decomposition based and interaction release based recording layers are preferable in from an aspect of image quality. The bonds of the polymer compounds that form the layer are released by the acids and heat energy generated by light irradiation and heating, whereby the layer becomes soluble in water or alkaline water. The layer is then removed by development to form image portions.
The present invention provides a heat-insulating support or a heat-insulating intermediate layer capable of being made hydrophilic at the time of developing processing, through which effect sensitivity is raised and printing performance is improved. The present invention is not affected by the materials structuring the recording layer.
Radical Polymerization Layer
The radical polymerization layer usable as the recording material of the planographic printing plate of the present invention has a compound that generates radicals by light or heat (referred to as a radical generator hereinafter), and a compound polymerizable by radicals (referred to as a polymerizable compound hereinafter). For example, radicals are generated at exposed portions from the radical generator by the irradiation of an infrared laser or the like, the radicals become initiators and the polymerizable compound is hardened by a radical polymerization reaction, whereby image portions are formed. The combination of the radical generator and polymerizable compound used here may be appropriately selected from known combinations, provided that the strength of the film formed by the radical polymerization satisfies demands as a recording layer. Accelerators such as onium salts and infrared absorbers may be used together for improving reactivity of the radical generator. Examples of components that can be used for the radical polymerization layer include, for example, the compound disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 8-108621 as a structural component of a heat-polymerizable recording layer, and the compound disclosed in JP-A No. 9-34110 as a structural component of a photosensitive layer.
Radical Generator
Known radical polymerization initiators generally used in polymer synthesis reactions caused by radical polymerization may be used without restriction as the radical generator to be used for the radical polymerization layer. Examples include azobisnitrile compounds such as 2,2xe2x80x2-azobisisobutylonitrile and 2,2xe2x80x2-azobispropyonitrile; peroxides such as benzoyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, acetyl peroxide, t-butyl perbenzoate, xcex1-cumyl hydroperoxide, di-t-butyl peroxide, diisopropyl peroxydicarbonate and t-butyl peroxyisopropyl carbonate; alkyl peroxycarbamates; organic peroxides such as nitrosoaryl acylamine; inorganic peroxides such as potassium persulfate, ammonium persulfate and potassium perchlorate; diazo compounds such as diazoaminobenzene, p-nitrobenzene diazonium, azobis-substituted alkanes, diazothioethers and arylazosulfones; tetraalkyl tiuramdisulfides such as nitrosophenyl urea and tetramethylthiuram disulfide; diaryl disulfides such as dibenzoyl disulfide; dialkyl xantic acid disulfides; aryl sulfines; aryl alkylsulfones; and 1-alkane sulfines.
Although it depends on the energy of the laser, sufficient sensitivity can be obtained even with a radical generator having a large activation energy, because the temperature of the exposed surface can reach up to 600xc2x0 C. when the planographic printing plate of the present invention is recorded with an infrared laser.
The activation energy of the radical generator for generating radicals is preferably 30 Kcal/mole or more, and examples of such radical generators include azobisnitrile compounds and organic peroxides. Compounds whose stability at room temperature is excellent, whose speed of decomposition when heated is rapid, and which become colorless at the time of decomposition are preferable. Examples of such compounds include benzoyl peroxide, 2,2xe2x80x2-azobisisobutylonitrile and the like.
The radical generators described above may be used singly, or in combination of two or more, and are used in an amount of 0.5 to 30% by weight, preferably 2 to 20% by weight, relative to the total solid component of the radical polymerization layer.
Compounds that generate radicals by interacting with onium salt (described later) may also be appropriately used. Specifically, examples of such compounds include halides (xcex1-haloacetophenones, trichloromethyl triazines and the like), azo compounds, aromatic carbonyl compounds (benzoyl esters, ketals, acetophenones, o-acyloxyimino ketones, acylphosphine oxides and the like), hexaaryl bismidazole compounds and peroxides. Preferably, the bisimidazole derivative disclosed as A-1 to A-4 on p. 16 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 9-24110 may be used.
The latter radical generator can attain high sensitivity by interacting with an onium salt. Examples of onium salts that can be used together with the radical generator include such compounds as the phosphonium salts, sulfonium salts, iodonium salts and ammonium salts disclosed in paragraphs [0022] to [0049] of JP-A No. 9-24110.
The amount of the onium salt added is preferably in the range of 0.05 to 50% by weight relative to the total solid component of the recording layer, although the amount differs depending on the kind and the mode of use of the onium salt.
Polymerizable Compound
Known monomers having a polymerizing group may be used without particular restriction as the polymerizable polymer compound which is polymerized and hardened by radicals generated from the radical generator. Examples of such monomers include monofunctional acrylic acid esters and their derivatives such as 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate and 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, or compounds in which acrylate was replaced with methacrylate, itaconate, chrotonate or emalate; bifunctional acrylic esters and their derivatives such as polyethyleneglycol diacrylate, pentaerythritol diacrylate, bisphanol A siacrylate and diacrylate of hydroxypivalic acid neopentyl alcohol xcex5-caprolactone adduct, and or compounds in which these acrylates are replaced with methacrylate, itaconate, crotonate and emalate; and multifunctional acrylic acid esters and their derivatives such as trimethylolpropane (metha)acrylate, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate and pyrogallol triacrylate, or compounds in which these acrylates are replaced with methacrylate, itaconate, crotonate and emalate. So-called pre-polymers, prepared by introducing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid into an oligomer having an appropriate molecular weight to import a photopolymerizing property, may be favorably used.
Other examples include such compounds as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 58-212994, 61-6649, 62-46688, 62-48589, 62-173295, 62-187092, 63-67189 and 1-244891. The compounds described in xe2x80x9c11290 Chemicalsxe2x80x9d, Kagaku Kogyo Nippo Co., pp. 286-194, and in xe2x80x9cHandbook of UV/EB Hardening Agents (Materials)xe2x80x9d Kobunshi Kanko-kai, pp.11-65may also be favorably used.
Among these, the compounds having two or more acrylic groups or methacrylic groups in the molecules thereof are preferable in the present invention. The compounds preferably have a molecular weight of 10,000 or less, and more preferably 5,000 or less. In the present invention, in accordance with the object, one type of polymer compound (and if no problems arise in compatibility and affinity, combinations of two or more types of polymer compounds) may be used from the prepolymers and monomers having a polymerizing group, including those monomers given as examples above.
The compounds having ethylenic unsaturated groups are preferably incorporated in the radical polymerization layer as a solid componentin a preferable amount of 20 to 80% by weight, and more preferably in an amount of 30 to 60% by weight.
Binder Resins
Binder resins may be used in the photosensitive layer as needed. Examples of such binder resins include polyester resins, polyvinyl acetal resins, polyurethane resins, polyamide resins, cellulose resins, olefin resins, vinyl chloride resins, (meth)acrylic reins, styrene resins, polycarbonate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polysulfone, polycaprolactone resins, polyacryronitrile resins, urea resins, epoxy resins, pehnoxy resins, and rubber based resins. Resins having unsaturated bonds in the resin, for example diarylphthalate resins and their derivatives, and chlorinated polypropylene, may be favorably used depending on the purpose, since they can be polymerized with the compounds having ethylenic unsaturated bonds described above. One type of binder resin or a combination of two or more among the resins described above may be used for the binder resin.
These binder resins are preferably used in a range of 500 parts by weight or less, and more preferably 200 parts by weight or less, relative to 100 parts by weight of the polymerizable compound.
Infrared Absorber
It is preferable in the present invention that the radical polymerization layer includes an infrared absorber that efficiently converts infrared laser light into heat, in order to improve the sensitivity of the radical generator and accelerate the radical polymerization reaction. The infrared absorber to be used herein may be dyes or pigments that effectively absorb infrared light having a wavelength of 760 nm to 1200 nm. Preferably, the dye or pigment has a absorption maximum at a wavelength of 760 nm to 1200 nm.
Commercially available and known dyes, such as those described in Senryxc3x4 Biran (xe2x80x9cHandbook of Dyesxe2x80x9d, edited by the Association of Synthetic Organic Chemistry Japan, 1970), may be used. Examples of the dyes and pigments include azo dyes, metal complex azo dyes, pyrazolone dyes, naphthoquinone dyes, anthraquinone dyes, phthalocyanine dyes, carbonium dyes, quinimine dyes, methine dyes, cyanine dyes, squalilium pigments, pylylium salts and metal thiolate complexes.
Preferable dyes include the cyanine dyes disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 58-125246, 59-84356, 59-202829 and 60-78787; the methine dyes disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 58-173696, 58-181690 and 58-194595; the naphthoquinone dyes disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 58-112793, 58-224793, 59-48187, 59-73996, 60-52940 and 60-63744; the squalilium pigments disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 58-112792; and the cyanine dyes described in British Patent No. 434,875.
Further, the near infrared absorption intensifier disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,938 may also be suitably used. In addition, the arylbenzo(thio)pyrylium salts disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,924; the trimethylene thiapyrylium salts disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 57-142645 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,169); the pyrylium compounds disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 58-181051, 58-220143, 59-41363, 59-84248, 59-84249, 59-146063 and 59-146061; the cyanine pigments disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 59-216146; the pentamethine thiopyrylium salts disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,475; and the pyrylium compounds described in Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-B) Nos. 5-13514 and 5-19702 may also be preferably used.
Other examples of preferable dyes include the near infrared absorption dyes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,993 as the formulae (I) and (II).
Particularly preferable among these dyes are cyanine pigments, squalirylium pigments, pyrylium salts, and nickel thiolate complexes.
Favorable examples of the infrared absorber to be used in the present invention include those having an onium salt structure as described below. By using such infrared absorbers, the addition of the onium salts described above may be omitted, or the added amount of onium can be reduced. Specific examples of infrared absorbers having an onium salt structure are shown in A-1 to A-56, but the present invention is not restricted thereto.
In the structural formulae A-1 to A-56, Txe2x88x92 denotes a univalent counter anion, preferably a halogen anion (Fxe2x88x92, Clxe2x88x92, Brxe2x88x92 or Ixe2x88x92), a Lewis acid anion (BF4xe2x88x92, PF6xe2x88x92, SbCl6xe2x88x92 or ClO4xe2x88x92) , an alkylsulfonic acid anion or an arylsulfonic acid anion.
The alkyl group as used here denotes a straight-chain, branched or ring alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 20. Specifically, examples include methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, eicosyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, s-butyl, t-butyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, 1-methylpropyl, isohexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, 2-methylhexyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl or2-norbonyl groups. Straight-chainalkyl groups with a carbon number of 1 to 12, branched alkyl groups with a carbon number of 3 to 12, and ring alkyl groups with a carbon number of 5 to 10 are preferable among these examples.
The aryl group used here refers to an aryl group of one benzene ring, an aryl group formed of a condensed ring of two or three benzene rings, or an aryl group in which a benzene ring and five-member unsaturated ring form a condensed ring. Specific examples include phenyl, naphthyl, anthoryl, phenanthoryl, indenyl, acenaphthenyl and fluorenyl groups. The phenyl and naphthyl groups are more preferable among them.
Examples of pigments that may be used for the infrared absorber in the present invention include commercially available pigments and pigments described in the Color Index (C.I.) catalog, Saishin Ganryxc3x4 Binran (xe2x80x9cRecent Pigment Catalogxe2x80x9d (edited by the Japan Pigment Technology Association, 1977), Saishin Ganryxc3x4 Ôyxc3x4 Gijutsu (xe2x80x9cRecent Pigment Application Technologyxe2x80x9d, published by CMC, 1986) , and Insatsu Inki Gijutsu (xe2x80x9cInk Printing Technologyxe2x80x9d, published by CMC, 1984).
Examples of the kinds of the pigments include black pigments, yellow pigments, orange pigments, brown pigments, red pigments, purple pigments, blue pigments, green pigments, fluorescent pigments and metal powder pigments, as well as polymer bound pigments. Specifically, insoluble azo pigments, azo complex pigments, condensation pigments, complex azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, anthraquinone pigments, perylene and perynone pigments, thioindigo pigments, quinacridon pigments, dioxadine pigments, isoindolinone pigments, qinophthalocyanine pigments, staining lake pigments, azine pigments, nitroso pigments, nitro pigments, natural pigments, fluorescent pigments, inorganic pigments and carbon black.
These pigments may be used without surface treatment or after a surface treatment has been administered thereto. Examples of surface treatment methods include a method in which the surface is coated with a resin or wax, a method in which a surfactant is adhered, and a method in which a reactive substance (e.g., a silane coupling agent, an epoxy compound, polyisocyanate and the like) is bonded to the pigment surface. These surface treatment methods are described in Kinzoku Sekken no Seishitsu to Ôyxc3x4 (xe2x80x9cProperties and Application of Metallic Soapxe2x80x9d, published by Saiwai Shobxc3x4), Insatsu Inki Gijutsu (xe2x80x9cInk Printing Technologyxe2x80x9d, published by CMC, 1984), and Saishin Ganryxc3x4 Ôyxc3x4 Gijutsu (xe2x80x9cRecent Pigment Application Technologyxe2x80x9d, published by CMC, 1986).
The particle diameter of the pigment is preferably in the range of 0.01 xcexcm to 10 xcexcm, more preferably in the range of 0.05 xcexcm to 1 xcexcm, and even more preferably in the range of 0.1 xcexcm to 1 xcexcm. A pigment particle diameter of less than 0.01 xcexcm is not preferable from the standpoint of acid cross-linking of dispersed material and stability of the polar conversion layer in the coating solution. A particle diameter of more than 10 xcexcm is also not preferable from the standpoint of uniformity of the recording layer.
Known dispersion methods used in the manufacture of inks and toners may also be used as a method for dispersing the pigment. Examples of dispersing machines include a ultrasonic dispersing machine, a sand mill, an atoliter, a pearl mill, a super mill, a ball mill, an impeller, a dispersor, a KD mill, a colloid mill, a dynatron, a three-axis roll mill and a pressurizing kneader. Details are described in Saishin Ganryxc3x4 Ôyxc3x4 Gijutsu (xe2x80x9cRecent Pigment Application Technologyxe2x80x9d, published by CMC, 1986).
In addition, other compounds, such as the compound disclosed as a xe2x80x9cphoto-thermal conversion substancexe2x80x9d in JP-A No. 8-108621 and the compound disclosed as a xe2x80x9cphoto-thermal conversion elementxe2x80x9d in JP-A No. 9-34110, may also be similarly used.
These dyes or pigments may be added to the recording layer preferably in a proportion of 0.01 to 50% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 10% by weight in the case of the dye and 1.0 to 10% by weight in the case of the pigment, relative to the total solid component of the radical polymerization layer. When the added amount of pigment or dye is less than 0.1 wt. %, the effect of sensitization becomes insufficient. When the added amount of pigment or dye exceeds 50 wt. %, contamination is generated at non-image portions at the time of printing.
Other Compounds
As long as the object of the present invention is not compromised, various additives that may be used together with conventionally known photopolymerizable compounds can be appropriately used in the radical polymerization layer.
Examples of the additive include thermal polymerization inhibitors. Specifically, examples include quinones and phenol based compounds such as hydroquinone, pyrogallol, p-methoxyphenol, catecol, xcex2-naphthol and 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol. These compounds may be used in a proportion of 10 parts by weight, preferably in a proportion of about 0.01 to 5 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the total, combined amount of the polymerizable compound having ethylenic unsaturated bonds and the binder resin.
Examples of compounds that can be added as an oxygen quencher include the N,N-diaryalkylaniline derivatives disclosed at column 11 line 58 to column 12 line 35 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,541.
A plasticizer may be also used to improve film quality. Examples include phthalic acid esters, trimellitic acid esters, adipic acid esters, other saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acid esters, citric acid esters, epoxylated soy bean oil, epoxylated linseed oil, epoxylated stearic acid, orthophosphoric acid esters, phosphonic acid esters and glycol esters.
It is also preferable to use an acid generator together that generates an acid by heating as an additive to accelerate the decomposition of the radical generator. Acid generators described later in detail in the description of the acid cross-linking layer may be used.
The radical polymerization layer may be formed by appropriately selecting respective components, dissolving the components in an appropriate solvent, and then coating the solvent on a support. However, the coating amount after drying is preferably about 1 g/m2 to 5.0 g/m2.
When the infrared absorber is added to the radical polymerization layer, it is preferable to add the infrared absorber so that the optical density in a recording wavelength is in a range of 0.5 to 3. The radical generator, the polymerizable compound and the infrared absorber added if desired may be localized in microcapsules for the purpose of improving sensitivity. The microcapsules used herein preferably have a heat responsive property (i.e., internal materials are discharged upon heating during exposure). A method for forming such microcapsules is disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 1-145190.
An overcoat layer impermeable to oxygen may be provided adjacent to the radical polymerization layer, in order to prevent polymerization inhibition oxygen. Preferable examples of materials for the overcoat layer include water soluble resins such as polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose and polyvinyl pyrrolidone. A film thickness of about 0.2 to 3 xcexcm is appropriate.
Acid Cross-link Layer
The acid cross-linking layer of the present invention has a compound that generates an acid by light or heat (referred as an xe2x80x9cacid generatorxe2x80x9d hereinafter), a compound that can cross-link the generated acid as a catalyst (referred as a xe2x80x9ccross-linkingxe2x80x9d agent hereinafter), and a binder polymer that is able to react with the cross-linking agent in the presence of the acid to form a layer that includes these compounds. In the acid-crosslinking layer, acids generated by the decomposition of the acid generator when the acid generator is irradiated with light or heated accelerate the action of the cross-linking agent, whereby a firm cross-linking structure is formed between cross-linking agents themselves or between the cross-linking agent and the binder polymer. Accordingly, alkali solubility drops and the acid cross-linking layer becomes insoluble in the developer.
Known layers having characteristics similar to those described above may be used for the acid cross-linking layer of the present invention. Examples of such a layer include the layer composed of a radiation sensitive composition having a Resol resin, a Novolac resin, a latent Bronsted acid and an infrared absorber, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 7-20629. This composition has both a Resol resin, which is alkaline resistant, and a Novolac resin, which is highly soluble in alkaline, as well as a latent Bronsted acid. The term xe2x80x9clatent Bronsted acidxe2x80x9d as used herein refers to a precursor that decomposes to generate a Bronsted acid, and is a compound having features of both the acid generator and acid cross-linking agent of the present invention. The Bronsted acid is thought to catalyze the matrix forming reaction between the Resol resin and the Novolac resin, and examples of Bronsted acids suitable for this purpose include trifluoromethane sulfonic acid and hexafluorophosphonic acid.
In addition, ionic latent Bronsted acids are preferable, and examples thereof include onium salts, particularly iodonium, sulfonium, phosphonium, selenonium, diazonium and alsonium salts. Particular examples of useful onium salts include diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate, triphenylphosphonium fluoroantimonate, phenylmethyl-ortho-cyanobenzylsulfonium trifluoromethane sulfonate, and 2-methoxy-4-aminophenyl diazonium hexafluorophosphate.
Non-ionic latent Bronsted acids may be favorably used, and examples thereof include RCH2X, RCHX2, RCX3, R(CH2X)2 and R(CH2X)3 (X is Cl, Br, F, or CF3, SO3, and R is an aromatic group, an aliphatic group, or a combination of an aromatic group and an aliphatic group.
Further, the recording layer composed of an acid cross-linking compound and high molecular weight bonding agent and disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 11-95415 is also suitable. This layer is a photosensitive layer composed of a compound that can generate an acid by irradiation of an active ray, for example diazonium, phosphonium, sulfonium and iodonium salts, an organic halogen compound, orthoquinone-diazidesulfonyl chloride and an organometallic compound/organic halogen compound; a compound having at least one bond that can form cross-links in the presence of the foregoing acids, for example an amino compound having at least two functional groups such as an alkoxymethyl group, a methylol group and an acetoxymethyl group, an aromatic compound substituted with at least two functional groups that are an alkoxymethyl group, a methylol group and an acetoxymethyl group; a Resol resin; and an acrylic resin synthesized from specified monomers.
Examples of known recording materials that can be applied to the layer having similar functions include the negative image recording material having a phenol derivative and disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 8-276558; the negative-type recording material having a diazonium compound and disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 7-306528; and the negative-type image forming material, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 10-203037, that utilizes cross-link reaction caused by an acid catalyst and in which polymers having heterocyclic groups with unsaturated bonds in the ring are used. The recording layers disclosed in the foregoing patent publications can also be used as the acid cross-linking layer of the present invention.
The acid cross-linking layer of the present invention has an acid generator, a cross-linking agent, a binder polymer and other components. These compounds will be described separately hereinafter.
Acid Generator
In the present invention, by a compound that generates an acid by light or heat (i.e., the acid generator) is meant a compound that is decomposed by being irradiated with infrared light or by being heated at a temperature of 100xc2x0 C. or higher to generate an acid. The acid generated is preferably a strong acid with a pKa value of 2 or less, such as sulfonic acid and hydrochloric acid.
Examples of acid generators favorably used in the present invention include onium salts such as iodonium salts, sulfonium salts, phosphonium salts and diazonium salts. Specifically, the compounds disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,925 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 7-20629 may be used. In particular, iodonium salts, sulfonium salts and diazonium salts having sulfonic acid ions as counterions are preferable. Examples of preferable diazonium salts include the diazonium compounds disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,147, the diazonium compounds described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,632,703, and the diazo resins disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 1-102456 and 1-102457. The benzylsulfonates disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,838 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,544 are also preferable. Activated sulfonic acid esters and disufonyl compounds disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 2-100054 and 2-100055, and in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-9444, are also preferable. Further, the S-triazines substituted with haloalkyl groups disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 7-271029 are also preferable.
These acid generators are added to the acid cross-linking layer in a proportion of 0.01 to 50% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 40% by weight, and more preferably 0.5 to 30% by weight, relative to the total solid component of the acid cross-linking layer. When the added amount is less than 0.01% by weight, images cannot be obtained. When the added amount exceeds 50% by weight, contamination is generated at non-image portions at the time of printing.
These compounds may be used singly, or in combination of two or more. Since the acid generators described above may be decomposed by ultraviolet irradiation, images can be recorded not only by infrared light irradiation but also by UV irradiation using the recording layer having such an embodiment.
Acid Cross-link Agent
There are no particular restrictions on the cross-linking agent usable in the acid cross-linking layer of the present invention, as long as the cross-linking agent is a compound that is cross-linked by an acid. A phenol derivative represented by the following general formula (I) (referred to as a xe2x80x9clow molecular weight phenol derivativexe2x80x9d hereinafter), a polynuclearphenolic cross-linking agent having in the molecule thereof three or more phenol rings that have two or three hydroxymethyl groups on the rings, and a mixture of the low molecular weight phenol derivative and the polynuclear phenolic cross-linking agent and/or a Resol resin may be preferably used.
In the formula, Ar1 denotes an aromatic hydrocarbon ring that may have substituents. R1 and R2 may be the same or different, and denote hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group with a carbon number of 12 or less. R3 denotes hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group with a carbon number of 12 or less, and m and n denote integers of 2 to 4 and 1 to 3, respectively. X denotes a bivalent linking group, and Y denotes a one to four valent a linking group having the partial structure described above, or a hydrogen atom. Z does not exist when Y is a terminal group, or may denote a one to four valent linking group or functional group present depending on the number of linking groups of Y.
In the formula, A denotes an r-valent hydrocarbon linking group with a carbon number of 1 to 20, and r and p denote integers of 3 to 20 and 2 to 3, respectively.
The phenol derivative represented by the general formula (I) will be described in detail first.
In the general formula (I), Ar1 denotes an aromatic hydrocarbon ring that may have substituents. A benzene ring, naphthalene ring or anthracene ring is preferable as the aromatic hydrocarbon ring from the standpoint of availability of raw materials. Examples of preferable substituents include a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group with a carbon number of 12 or less, an alkoxy group with a carbon number of 12 or less, an alkylthio group with a carbon number of 12 or less, a cyano group, a nitro group and a trifluoromethyl group. Examples of the Ar1 that are particularly preferable includes a benzene or naphthalene ring having no substituents, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon atom with a carbon number of 6 or less, an alkoxy group with a carbon number of 6 or less, an alkylthio group with a carbon number of 6 or less, and a benzene and a naphthalene ring having nitro groups as substituents, for the reason of their high sensitivity.
R1 and R2 may be the same or different, and denote a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group with a carbon number of 12 or less. Hydrogen or a methyl group is particularly preferable as R1 and R2 for the reason of easy synthesis. R3 denotes a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group with a carbon number of 12 or less. A hydrocarbon group with a carbon number of 7 or less such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, cyclohexyl, benzyl group is particularly preferable as R3 for the reason of high sensitivity. The letters M and n denote integers of 2 to 4 and 1 to 3, respectively.
X denotes a bivalent linking group, and Y denotes a one to four valent linking group or a functional group with terminal hydrogen atoms. Z does not exist when Y is a terminal group, or may denote a one to four valent linking group or functional group present depending on the number of the Y linking groups.
X in the general formula (I) will next be described in detail.
X is a bivalent linking group, and indicates a hydrocarbon linking group that may have single bonds or substituents. Preferable examples of the hydrocarbon linking group include a straight-chain, branched or ring alkylene group with a carbon number of 1 to 18, a straight-chain, branched or ring alkenylene group with a carbon number of 2 to 18, an alkynylene group with a carbon number of 2 to 8, and an arylene group with a carbon number of 6 to 20. More preferable examples include a methylenne, ethylene, propylene, butylene, isopropylene, cyclohexylene, phenylene, tolyllen or biphenylene group, or a group represented by the following chemical structure.
When these linking groups have substituents, an alkoxy group with a carbon number of 12 or less, a halogen atom or a hydroxy group is a preferable substituent.
Y in the general formula (I) will be next described in detail.
Y is a functional group that may be a linking group accompanying Z described below. As expressed earlier, may be mono-, di-, tri- or quadri-valent, and is a group known to a strongly interact with aphenolic hydroxy group. Specifically, a functional group having the partial structures described below may be appropriately indicated as an example.
That the exemplified structures are partial structures of Y means that the linking group or the functional group Y, whose termnus is a hydrogen atom, has at least one of the partial structures exemplified above. Accordingly, Y is a group in which a plurality of the partial structures are linked, or the group in which an exemplified partial structure and a usual hydrocarbon group are linked.
Preferable examples of compounds having these functional groups include amide, sulfonamide, imide, urea, urethane, thiourea, carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester and sulfonic acid ester.
Z in the general formula (I) will next be described in detail.
Z does not exist when the functional group Y is a terminal group, or may denote a one to four valent linking group or a functional group present depending on the number of the linking groups of the functional group Y. Z is preferably a hydrocarbon linking group or a hydrocarbon group that may have substituents, and preferable examples of the hydrocarbon linking groups include straight-chain alkylene or alkyl with a carbon number of 1 to 18, branched alkylene or alkyl, ring alkylene or alkyl, arylene or aryl with a carbon number of 6 to 20, straight-chain, branched or ring alkenylene or alkenyl with a carbon number of 2 to 18, or alkynylene or alkynyl with a carbon number of 2 to 18.
More preferable examples of Z include a mono-valent group such as a methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, sec-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, cyclopentyl, cyclihexyl, octyl, benzyl, phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, aryl or vinyl group.
Preferable examples of Z having a valency of two or higher include a linking group in which hydrogen atoms are eliminated from these mono-valent group depending on the valency number.
When Z has substituents, an alkoxy group with a carbon number of 12 or less, a halogen atom or a hydroxyl group are preferred.
Specific examples of low molecular weight phenol derivatives that may suitably be used in the present invention are, for convenience, divided into several patterns (e.g., the examples of functional groups illustrated below). However, the present invention is not limited to the same.
Low molecular weight phenol derivatives having amide or urea structures are preferable among the above compounds from the standpoint of effectiveness.
Low molecular weight phenol derivatives that are useful as cross-linking agents can be synthesized by conventionally known methods. Common synthetic methods are shown below in Schemes I and II.
In the formulae, xe2x80x9cbasexe2x80x9d represents a strong alkali, such as KOH, NaOH, or Me4Nxe2x88x92OH.
The compound in the general formula (I) can be synthesized from corresponding phenol derivatives to a hydroxyalkyl compound or an alkoxy compound by a carbonyl compound.
These low molecular weight phenol derivatives may be used singly, or in combination of two or more. Impurities such as dimers or trimers may be formed as side products by condensation of phenol compounds when synthesizing the phenol derivatives, these impurities may be contained in the product. However, it is preferable that the content of the impurities is 30% or less, preferably 20% or less.
The polynuclear phenolic cross-linking agent represented by the general formula (II) will be described hereinafter. As is evident from the structural formula, the polynuclear phenolic cross-linking agent represented by the general formula (II) has in the molecule thereof three or more phenol rings having two or three hydroxymethyl groups on the rings.
A in the general formula (II) is an r-valent hydrocarbon linking group with a carbon number of 1 to 20, wherein hydrogen atoms are removed from the skeleton composed of straight-chain, branched or ring alkyl or aryl groups so that the resultant group has a r-valency.
Preferable examples of the linking group A include the groups represented by the following structures.
Preferable examples of the polynuclear phenolic cross-linking agent having the linking group A in the molecule and represented by the general formula (II) include those represented by the formulae (II-1) to (II-6) below, but the agent is not restricted thereto.
These compounds are obtained by the same process as in the scheme previously described in the low molecular weight phenol derivatives, by corresponding polynuclear phenols methylolated. The compounds may even be used if by-products such as oligomers produced at the time of the reaction for converting into methylol compounds. However, even in this case, amount of the by-products is preferably 10% by weight or less.
Although the Resol resin usable in the present invention is not particularly restricted, the compounds disclosed as Resol resins in BP 2,082,339 are preferable. Favorable examples among them include the compounds with a weight average molecular weight of 500 to 100,000, and number average molecular weight of 200 to 50,000. When the molecular weight is too small, cross-linkability and tolerance to repeated printings become low. When the molecular weight is too large, there is the risk that storage stability will deteriorate due to instability. Therefore, neither a molecular weight that is too small nor a molecular weight that is too large is preferable.
A mixture of (1) a low molecular weight phenol derivative and polynuclear phenolic cross-linking agent, (2) a low molecular weight phenol derivative and Resol resin, or (3) a low molecular weight phenol derivative, polynuclear phenolic cross-linking agent and Resol resin may be used as the cross-link component of the present invention.
Examples of other cross-linking agents favorably used in the present invention include compounds having in the molecule two or more groups of hydroxymethyl, alkoxymethyl, epoxy, aldehyde, ketone, or vinylether groups. Preferable examples include compounds in which, these cross-linking functional groups are directly bonded to the aromatic group. Specific examples include methylol melamine, epoxylated Novolac resin and urea resin. In addition, the compounds described in Kakyxc3x4zai Handobukku (xe2x80x9cCross-Linking Agents Handbookxe2x80x9d, Shinzxc3x4 Yamashita and Tosuke Kaneko, published by Taiseisha) are also preferable. Particularly, phenol derivatives having two or more hydroxymethy or alkoxymethyl groups in the molecule are preferable since the strength of images portions when an image has been formed is excellent.
However, these cross-linking agents are unstable in heat, and storage stability after the acid cross-linking layer has been prepared is not so good. In contrast, phenol derivatives that have two or more hydroxymethyl or alkoxymethyl groups bonded to the benzene ring in the molecule, that contain three to five benzene nuclei, and that have a molecular weight of 1,200 or less, have good storage stability and are therefore most preferably used in the present invention. The alkoxymethyl group preferably has a carbon number of 6 or less. Specific examples include methoxyethyl, ethoxymethyl, n-propoxymethyl, isopropoxymethyl, n-butoxymethyl, isobutoxymethyl, sec-butoxymethyl and t-butoxymethyl groups. Alkoxymethyl groups substituted with alkoxy groups such as 2-methoxyethoxymethyl and 2-methoxy-l-propoxymethyl groups are also preferable.
Specifically, the compounds disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 6-282067 and 7-64285, and in EP 632003A1 may be cited.
These cross-linking agents may be used singly, or in combination of two or more.
In the present invention, the cross-linking agent may be used at an added amount of 5 wt. % to 70 wt. %, and preferably 10 wt. % to 65 wt. %, with respect to the total cross-linking layer solid component. When the added amount of the cross-linking agent is less than 5 wt. %, the film strength of image portions after an image has been recorded deteriorates. An amount exceeding 70 wt. % is not preferable from the standpoint of stability at the time of storage.
Examples of the binder polymers usable in the acid cross-linking layer of the present invention include polymers having at side chains or main chains thereof aromatic hydrocarbon rings to which a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy groups is directly attached. An alkoxy group having a carbon number of 20 or less is preferable from the standpoint of sensitivity. Preferable examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon ring include a benzene ring, a naphthalene ring and an anthracene ring, from the standpoint of availability of raw materials. While these aromatic hydrocarbon rings may have substituents other than a hydroxyl or alkoxy group (e.g., a substituent such as a halogen group or a cyano group), it is preferable that the aromatic hydrocarbon ring does not have substituents other than the hydroxyl and alkoxy groups from the standpoint of sensitivity.
Binder polymers that can be favorably used in the present invention are polymers having structural units represented by the following general formula (III), or phenol resins such as Novolac resin.
In the formula, Ar2denotes a benzene, naphthalene or anthracene ring. R4 denotes a hydrogen atom or methyl group. R5 denotes a hydrogen atom or an alkoxy group having a carbon number of 20 or less. X1 denotes a bivalent linking group that has single bonds or one or more types of atoms selected from C, H, N, O, and S, and that has a carbon number of 0 to 20. The letter k denotes an integer of 1 to 4.
While examples of structural units ([BP-1 to [BP-6]) represented by the general formula (III) favorably used in the present invention are listed below, the present invention is not restricted thereto.
Polymers having these structural units can be obtained by radical polymerization in accordance with conventionally known methods using corresponding monomers.
While a homopolymer composed only of the structural unit represented by the general formula (III) may be used as the binder polymer, a copolymer having structural units derived from other known monomers may also be used in addition to this specific structural unit.
The ratio of the structural unit represented by the general formula (III) and included in the copolymer is preferably 50 to 100% by weight, more preferably 60 to 100% by weight.
The weight average molecular weight of the polymer used in the present invention is preferably 5,000 or more, more preferably in the range of 10,000 to 300,000, and the number average molecular weight is preferably 1,000 or more, more preferably in the range of 2,000 to 250,000. The degree of polydispersity (weight average molecular weight/number average molecular weight) is preferably 1 or greater, more preferably in the range of 1.1 to 10.
While these polymers may be either a random polymer, block polymer or graft polymer, a random polymer is preferable.
Novolac resins will be described hereinafter. Examples of novolac resins favorably used in the present invention include a phenol novolac resin, various cresol novolac resins of o-, m- and p-cresol and their copolymers, and novolac resins utilizing phenols substituted with halogen atoms or alkyl groups.
The weight average molecular weight of these novolac resins is preferably 1,000 or more, more preferably in the range of 2,000 to 20,000, and the number average molecular weight is preferably 1,000 or more, more preferably in the range of 2,000 to 15,000. The degree of polydispersity is 1 or more, more preferably in the range of 1.1 to 10.
It is also a preferable embodiment to use as the binder polymer a polymer having heterocyclic group that has unsaturated bonds in the ring.
The heterocyclic ring used herein refers to a ring having one or more hetero-atoms other than carbon in the atoms structuring the ring. Nitrogen atoms, oxygen atoms, sulfur atoms, and silicon atoms are preferable as the hetero-atoms that may be used. It is thought that, by using a polymer having such a heterocyclic group, it becomes chemical-structurally easy to react due to the function of lone pairs present in the heterocyclic ring, whereby a film having excellent tolerance to repeated printings is formed.
The heterocyclic ring having unsaturated bonds in the ring that is favorably used in the present invention (simply referred as xe2x80x9cheterocyclic ringxe2x80x9d hereinafter) refers to a five member ring comprising two conjugated double bonds, a six member ring having three conjugated double bonds, or a heterocyclic ring formed by condensation of these heterocyclic rings. Since these heterocyclic rings are aromatic, they are called aromatic heterocyclic rings. Particularly, more preferable heterocyclic rings are those in which aromatic hydrocarbon rings such as a benzene ring and a naphthalene ring are condensed to the heterocyclic rings described above.
Examples of heterocyclic rings favorably used in the present invention include monocyclic heterocyclic rings such as pyrrole, furan, thiophene, oxazole, iso-oxazole, thiazole, iso-thiazole, imidazole, pyrazole, furazane, oxadiazole, pyridine, piridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, triazine and silabenzene, and condensed heterocyclic rings such as indole, iso-indole, benzofuran, benzothiophene, indorizine, quinoline, iso-quinoline, purine, indazole, benzoimidazole, benzothiazole, benzooxazole, quinazoline, sinnoline, quinosaline, phthaladine, puteridine, carbazole, acridine, phenathoridine, xanthene, phenazine and phenochiazine. These heterocyclic rings may have substituents. Examples of referable substituents include hydrocarbon groups with a carbon number of 20 or less, alkoxy groups with a carbon number of 20 or less, aryloxy groups with a carbon number of 20 or less and halogen atoms.
Although the heterocyclic group may be introduced in the polymer having this heterocyclic group as a component structuring the main chain of the polymer, it is preferable that the heterocyclic group is bonded to the side chain of the polymer in a pendant configuration for the reason of enhancing the film strength of the image. While the heterocyclic group may be directly connected to the main chain of the polymer for this purpose, it is still preferable that the heterocyclic group is bonded in a pendant configuration to the main chain via appropriate linking chains from the standpoint of enhancing the film strength of the image portions. Preferable examples of linking chains include ester bonds, amide bonds of carboxylic acid, amide bonds of sulfonic acid, ether bonds, thiother bonds, and organic groups having a carbon number of 20 or less that may have these bonds. While examples of polymer main chains include a vinyl polymer as a side chain of poly(meth)acrylate, polystyrene and polyvinyl actal, polyester and polyurethane, a polyvinyl polymer is preferable in terms of availability and economical efficiency.
The binder polymers used in the present invention and described above may be used singly, or in combination of two or more. These polymers are added at a ratio of 20 to 95% by weight, preferably 40 to 90% by weight, relative to the total solid component of the acid cross-linking layer. When the added amount is less than 20 wt. %, the strength of image portions is insufficient when an image has been formed. When the added amount exceeds 95 wt. %, an image is not formed.
It is preferable that the acid cross-linking layer also has an infrared absorber from the standpoint of improving sensitivity. Infrared absorbers similar to those previously described with regard to the radical polymerization layer may be used as the infrared absorber usable in the acid cross-linking layer.
A preferable amount of the infrared absorber is 0.01 to 50% by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 10% by weight, relative to the total solid component of the acid cross-linking layer. The amount in the recording layer is preferably 0.5 to 10% by weight when a dye is used for the infrared absorber, and preferably 1.0 to 10% by weight when a pigment is used for the infrared absorber. When the added amount of the dye or pigment is less than 0.01% by weight, the sensitization effect becomes insufficient. When the amount exceeds 50% by weight, there is the tendency for contamination to be easily generates at non-image portions at the time of printing.
Various additives such as a surface active agent may be used together in forming the acid cross-linking layer to improve coating performance and film quality.
Respective components are usually dissolved in a solvent and coated on an appropriate support in the acid cross-linking layer according to the present invention. The concentration of the components(the total solid component inclusive of the additives) in the solvent is preferably 1 to 50% by weight. Although the amount (solid component) to be coated on the support differs in accordance with purpose, with regard to plate material for planographic printing, an amount of 0.01 g/m2 to 5.0 g/m2 is generally preferable as the acid cross-linking layer.
Various methods may be used as the coating method. Examples thereof include bar coater coating, rotation coating, spray coating, curtain coating, dip coating, air-knife coating, blade coating and roll coating. While a parent sensitivity increases as the amount of coating decreases, film characteristics of the recording layer become poor.
Examples of negative-type recording layers include an interaction releasing type (heat sensitive negative-type), an acid catalyzed decomposition type and a polar conversion type. These layers will be sequentially described hereinafter.
Interaction Release Type (Heat Sensitive Negative-Type) Layer
The interaction release type layer is structured a water-insoluble, alkaline water-soluble polymer and an infrared absorber, described hereinafter.
The polymer compound that can be used for the negative-type recording layer has a homopolymer having acidic groups at the main chain and/or side chain of the polymer, a copolymer or a mixture of them.
The polymer compounds having the acidic groups described in (1) to (6) below at the main chain and/or side chain of the polymers are preferable from the standpoint of solubility in the alkaline developer and manifesting a solubility suppressing effect.
(1) phenol group (xe2x80x94Arxe2x80x94OH)
(2) sulfonamide group (xe2x80x94SO2NHxe2x80x94R)
(3) substituted sulfonamide based acidic group (referred as active imide hereinafter: xe2x80x94SO2NHCOR, xe2x80x94SO2NHSO2R, xe2x80x94CONHSO2R)
(4) carboxylic acid group (xe2x80x94CO2H)
(5) sulfonic acid group (xe2x80x94SO3H)
(6) phosphoric acid group (xe2x80x94OPO3H2)
In (1) to (6) above, Ar denotes an aryl linking group that may have substituents, and R denotes a hydrocarbon group that may have substituents.
The aqueous alkaline soluble polymers having (1) a phenol group, (2) a sulfonamide group, and (3) an active imide group are preferable among the alkaline water-soluble polymers having the acidic groups selected from (1) to (6). The alkaline water-soluble polymers having (1) a phenol group and (2) a sulfonamide group are most preferable in view of solubility in the alkaline developer, development latitude and ensuring sufficient film strength.
Examples of the alkaline water-soluble polymers having the acidic groups selected from (1) to (6) include the following ones.
(1) Examples of the alkaline water-soluble polymers having the phenol group include novolac resins such as condensation polymerization products of phenol and formaldehyde, m-cresol and formaldehyde, p-cresol and formaldehyde, m-/p-mixed cresol and formaldehyde, and phenol, cresol (either m-, p- or a mixture of m-/p-) and formaldehyde; and a condensation polymerization product of pyrogallol and acetone. Example also include copolymers in which compounds having phenol groups on side chains thereof have been copolymerized.
Examples of compounds having the phenol group include acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid esters and hydroxystyrene.
The alkaline water-soluble polymer preferably has a weight average molecular weight of 5.0xc3x97102 to 2.0xc3x97104 and a number average molecular weight of 2.0xc3x97102 to 1.0xc3x97104, from the standpoint of image formability. These polymers can be used singly, or in combination of two or more. When used in combination, a condensation polymer of formaldehyde and phenol having an alkyl group with a carbon number of 3 to 8, such as the condensation polymer of t-butylphenol and formaldehyde and the condensation polymer of octylphenol and formaldehyde disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,279, may be used together.
(2) Examples of the alkaline water-soluble polymers that have a sulfonamide group include polymers in which the smallest structural unit from a compound having a sulfonamide group is taken as the main structural component to structure the polymer. Examples of such compounds include a compound having in the molecule thereof one or more of each of a sulfonamide group, in which at least one hydrogen atom is bonded to a nitrogen atom, and a polymerizable, unsaturated group. Examples of preferable compound among them include a low molecular weight compounds having in the molecule thereof an acryloyl group, an allyl group or a vinyloxy group, and a substituted or mono-substituted aminosulfonyl group or substituted sulfonylimino group. Examples include the compounds represented by the general formulae 1 to 5 below:
In the formula, X1 and X2 independently denote xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94 or xe2x80x94NR27xe2x80x94. R21 and R24 independently denotes a hydrogen atom or xe2x80x94CH3. R22, r25, R29, R32 and R36 independently represent an alkylene group a cycloalkylene group, arylene group or alalkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 12 which may have substituents. R23, R37 and R33independently represent an alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, aryl group or alalkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 12 which may have substituents. R26 and R37 independently represent an alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, aryl group and alalkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 12 which may have substituents. R28, R30 and R34 independently represent a hydrogen atom or xe2x80x94CH3. R3 and R35 independently represent an alkylene group, cycloalkylene group, arylene group or alalkylene group with a carbon number of 1 to 12 which may have substituents. Y3 and Y4 independently represent a single bond, or xe2x80x94COxe2x80x94.
Among the compounds represented by the general formulae 1 to 5, m-aminosulfonyl methacrylate, N-(p-aminosulfonylphenyl)methacrylamide, and N-(p-aminosulfonylphenyl)acrylamide may be favorably used in the negative-type planographic printing material.
(3) Examples of the alkaline water-soluble polymers that have an active imide group include polymers in which the smallest structural unit from a compound having an active imide group is taken as the main structural component to structure the polymer. Examples of such compounds include a compound having in the molecule thereof one or more of each of an active imide group represented by the formula below and a polymerizable, unsaturated group.
Specifically, N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)methacrylamine and N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)acrylamine can be favorably used.
(4) Examples of the alkaline water-soluble polymers that have a carboxylic acid group include polymers in which the smallest structural unit from a compound, which has in the molecule thereof one or more of each of a carboxylic acid group and a polymerizable unsaturated group, is taken as the main structural component to structure the polymer.
(5) Examples of the alkaline water-soluble polymers that have a sulfonic acid group include polymers in which the smallest structural unit from a compound, which has in the molecule thereof one or more of each of a sulfonic acid group and a polymerizable unsaturated group, is taken as the main structural component to structure the polymer.
(6) Examples of the alkaline water-soluble polymers that have a phosphoric acid group include polymers in which the smallest structural unit from a compound, which has in the molecule thereof one or more of each of a phosphoric acid group and a polymerizable unsaturated group, is taken as the main structural component to structure the polymer.
It is not necessary that the smallest structural units structuring the alkaline water-soluble polymer used in the positive-type recording layer and having an acid group selected from those represented by (1) through (6) be only of one kind. Polymers in which two or more types of the smallest structural units having similar acid groups have been copolymerized, or polymers in which two or more types of the smallest structural units having different acid groups have been copolymerized may also be used.
Conventionally known methods of copolymerization, such as a graft copolymerization method, a block copolymerization method and a random copolymerization method, may be used.
It is preferable that 10 mole % or more, more preferably 20 mole % or more, of the compounds having the acid groups selected from those in (1) to (6) to be copolymerized is incorporated in the copolymer. When the amount is less than 10 mole %, development latitude, there is a tendency to be unable to sufficiently improve.
The infrared absorbers that can be used when the planographic printing plate has a negative- type recording layer will next be described.
When an infrared absorber is used in the positive-type recording layer, an infrared absorber having an onium salt structure is preferable because it is necessary to induce a positive action (in which development is suppressed at unexposed portions and released at exposed portions to accelerate development) by an interaction with a binder polymer having a specific functional group. Specifically, a cyanine pigment and pyrylium salts are preferable among the infrared absorbers that can be used for the negative-type recording layer. Details regarding the cyanine pigment and pyrylium salts are as described previously.
The anionic infrared absorbers disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 10-237634 may also be favorably used. These anionic infrared absorbers have not a cationic structure but an anionic structure in the mother nucleus of the pigment that substantially absorbs infrared light.
Examples include (a-1) anionic metal complexes, (a-2) anionic carbon black and (a-3) anionic phthalocyanine.
The anionic metal complex (a-1) refers to an overall central metals and ligands of a complex that substantially absorbs light, which complex forms an anion.
Examples of the anionic carbon black (a-2) include carbon black to which an anion group such as sulfonic acid, carboxylic acid or phosphonic acid groups is bonded as a substituent. As described in Kxc3xa2bon Burakku Binran Dal San Han (xe2x80x9cCarbon Black Handbook, Third Editionxe2x80x9d, edited and published by the Carbon Black Association, Apr. 5, 1995), p. 12, a means of introducing these anion groups into the carbon black, such as oxidizing the carbon black with a predetermined acid, may be adopted.
The anionic phthalocyanine (a-3) refers to a compound in which an anion group listed above as a substituent in the explanation of (a-2) is bonded to a phthalocyanine skeleton to from an overall anion.
Other examples include the anionic infrared absorbers represented by [Gaxe2x88x92xe2x80x94Mxe2x80x94Gb]mXm+ and disclosed in paragraphs [0014] to [0105] of Japanese Patent Application No. 10-237634 (Gaxe2x88x92 denotes an anionic substituent, and GB denotes a neutral substituent, Xm+ denotes a cation of 1 to m valency protons, and m is an integer of 1 to 6)
Acid Catalyzed Decomposition
A chemical amplification layer is preferably formed at the exposure surface of the uppermost layer of the recording layer. The chemical amplification layer must have as components thereof a compound that generates an acid by the action of light or heat (i.e., an acid generator), and a compound whose chemical bonds are split by the acid generated as a catalyst and whose solubility in the alkali developing solution is thereby increased (an acid degradable compound).
The chemical amplification layer may also have a polymer compound that is a binder component for forming the layer. The acid degradable compound itself may be a polymer compound or a precursor that performs the function of the binder component.
Acid Degradable Compound
The compound whose solubility in the alkaline developer is raised by the dissociation of chemical bonds with an acid as a catalyst may also be called a compound having linking groups that may be decomposed in the molecule by an acid. The compound disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 9-171254 as xe2x80x9ca compound having at least one bond decomposed by an acidxe2x80x9d may be used for the purpose above. A preferable example of the chemical bond degradable by an acid is a xe2x80x94(CH2CH2O)nxe2x80x94 group (n represents an integer of 2 to 5).
Among these compounds, the compound represented by the general formula (1) below is preferably used from the standpoint of sensitivity and developability.
In the formula, R, R1 and R2 each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 5, an alkoxy group with a carbon number of 1 to 5, a sulfo group a carboxyl group or a hydroxyl group, p, q and r each denote an integer of 1 to 3, and m and n each represent an integer of 1 to 5.
In the general formula (1), the alkyl group represented by R, R1 and R2 may be straight-chain or branched, and examples thereof include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl and pentyl groups. Examples of the alkoxy group include methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, t-butoxy and pentoxy groups. The sulfo and carboxyl groups have salts of these groups. Compounds in which m and n are 1 or 2 are particularly preferable among the compounds represented by the general formula (1).
Examples of acid degradable compounds applicable to the present invention include the compounds having Cxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94C bonds that are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 48-89603, 51-120714, 53-133429, 55-12995, 55-126236 and 56-17345, the compounds having Sixe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94C bonds that are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 60-37549 and 60-121446, and other acid degradable compounds disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 60-3625 and 60-10247. The compounds having Sixe2x80x94N bonds disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No.62-222246, the carbonate esters disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 62-251743, ortho-carbonate esters described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 62-209451, the ortho-titanic acid esters disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 62-280841, the ortho-silisic acid esters disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 62-280842, the acetal, ketal and ortho-carboxylic acid esters disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 63-010153, 9-171254, 10-55067, 10-111564, 10-87733, 10-153853, 10-228102, 10-268507, 10-282648, 10-282670 and EP 0884547A1, and the compounds having Cxe2x80x94S bonds that are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 62-244038 may also be used.
The compounds having Cxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94C and Sixe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94C bonds, and the ortho-carbonate esters, acetals, ketals and silyl ethers disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 53-133429, 56-17345, 60-121446, 60-37549, 62-209451, 63-010153, 9-171254, 10-55067, 10-111564, 10-87733, 10-153853, 10-228102, 10-268507, 10-282648 and 10-282670, and in EP 0884647A1 are particularly preferable among the acid degradable compounds described above.
Among the foregoing acid degradable compounds, polymer compounds that have on the main chain thereof repeated acetal or ketal portions, and whose solubility in the alkali developing solution is raised by generated acids, are preferably used.
These compounds may be used singly, or in combination of two or more types. The compounds are added in the layer in a proportion of 5 to 70% by weight, preferably 10 to 50% by weight, and more preferably 15 to 35% by weight, relative to the total solid component of the chemical amplification layer. When the amount is less than 5% by weight, the non-image portions are easily contaminated. When the amount of addition exceeds 70% by weight, film strength of the image portions becomes insufficient.
Heat sensitive, positive-type acid degradable compounds may be used as the infrared absorber, and compounds similar to those used in the acid-catalyzed crosslinking types above may be used as the acid generator.
Polar Conversion Material
By a polar conversion material that changes from being lipophilic to hydrophilic by heat is meant a material that changes from a state in which an affinity, such as swelling or dissolution, with respect to water at room temperature is not shown, to a state in which an affinity toward water is shown. While this change may or may not be accompanied by a chemical reaction, a change accompanied by chemical reaction is preferable since the degree of polar conversion is great. Examples of such a polar conversion reaction include a reaction hydrophilic groups are formed by heat. Examples of hydrophilic substituents include acidic groups such as phosphonic acid, sulfonic acid, carboxylic acid, sulfonamide and phenol, hydroxyl group, amino group and onium salts such as ammonium salts. Reactions in which substituents such as these are generated by the action of heat are preferable. Examples of such polar conversion materials include the carboxylic acid esters disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 7-186562, the photochromic compounds disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 9-240148, 4-44895, 8-3463and8-156401, the inorganic compounds disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 51-115101, and the compounds capable of generating sulfonic acid disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 10-282672. Protective groups in which the above hydrophilic groups are generated by heat are also favorably used, and examples include those described in Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis (by Theodra W. Greene and Peter G. M. Wuts, published by Wiley-Interscience Publication) and Protective Groups (by Philip J. Kocienski, published by George Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart). These compound may be polymers or low molecular weight compounds.
A preferable reaction temperature is 80xc2x0 C. or more and 300xc2x0 C. or less, particularly from 120xc2x0 C. to 200xc2x0 C. Storage stability is decreased when the reaction temperature is low, and sensitivity is decreased when the reaction temperature is high.
Compounds that generate sulfonic acid are preferable among the compounds described above, and examples thereof include sulfonic acid generating polymer compounds.
The sulfonic acid generating polymer compounds are not particularly restricted, provided that they possess functional groups for generating sulfonic acid. While the functional groups for generating sulfonic acid may be provided on either the main chain or on the side chain, the polymer compounds represented by the general formulae (6), (7) or (8) having functional groups on the side chain are preferable since they are suitable for synthesis.
In the formula, L represents an organic group made of polyvalent non-metallic atoms required for linking the functional group to the polymer skeleton, R1 denotes a substituted or non-substituted aryl group, a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group or ring imide, R2 and R3 denote a substituted or non-substituted aryl group, a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group or xe2x80x94SO2xe2x80x94R5, and R5 denotes a substituted or non-substituted aryl group or a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group.
The polymer compounds having at least one of the functional groups shown by the general formulae (6), (7) or (8) will be described in more detail.
Carbon ring aryl groups and heterocyclic aryl groups are contained in the aryl group, when R1 to R5 represent aryl groups or substituted aryl groups. Phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, pyrenyl groups are used as the carbon ring aryl groups having a carbon number of 6 to 19. A Pyridyl and furyl group, as well as quinolyl groups as a cndensation ring of benzene rings, and a benzofuryl and thioxanton group are used as the heterocyclic aryl groups having a carbon number of 3 to 20 and a hetero-atom number of 1 to 5. When R1 to R5 denote an alkyl group or a substituted alkyl group, a methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, t-butyl and cyclohexyl groups are used for the straight-chain, branched or ring alkyl groups with a carbon number of 1 to 25.
When R1 to R5 denote a substituted aryl, hetero-aryl or alkyl group, examples of the substituents include an alkoxy group with a carbon number of 1 to 10 such as a methoxy or ethoxy group; a halogen atom such as fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom; a halogen substituted alkyl group such as trifluoromethyl or trichlorometyl group; an alkoxycarbonyl or aryloxycarbonyl group with a carbon number of 2 to 15 such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxyxarbonyl, t-butyloxyxarbonyl and p-chlorophenyloxycarbonyl groups; an acyloxy groups such as hydroxylic, acetyloxy, benzoyloxy and p-diphenylaminobenzoyloxy groups; a carbonate group such as t-butyloxycarbonyloxy group; an ether group such as t-butyloxyxarbonylmethyloxy and 2-pyranyloxy groups; a substituted or non-substituted amino group such as amino, dimethylamino, diphenylamino, morphotino and acetylamino groups; a thioether groups such as methyltio and phenyltio groups; an alkenyl groups such as vinyl and styryl groups; a nitro group; a cyano group; an acyl group such as formyl, acetyl and benzoyl group; an aryl groups such as phenyl and naphthyl groups; and a heteroaryl group such pyridyl group. When R1 to R5 are substituted aryl or non-substituted heteroaryl groups, alkyl groups such as methyl and ethyl groups may be used for the substituent.
When R1 represents a ring imide group, imides with a carbon number of 4 to 20 such as succinimide, phthalimide, cyclohexane diacrboximide and normornene dicarboximide may be used as the ring imide group.
An aryl group substituted with an electron absorbing group such as halogen, cyano or nitro group, an alkyl group substituted with an electron absorbing group such as aryl, halogen, cyano or nitro group, a branched secondary or tertiary alkyl group, and ring alkyl and imide groups are preferable as R1 in the general formula (6). The secondary alkyl group represented by the following general formula (9) is more preferable for satisfying both of sensitivity and time-dependent stability.
General Formula (9)
In the formula, R6 and R7 represent a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group. R6 and R7may form a ring together with secondary carbon atoms (CH) to which R6 and R7 are bonded.
R6 and R7 represent a substituted or non-substituted alkyl or aryl group. R6 and R7 may form a ring together with secondary carbon atoms (CH) to which R6 and R7 are bonded.
When R6 and R7 represent a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group, examples of the alkyl group include straight-chain, branched or ring alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, t-butyl and cycrohexyl groups, and those with a carbon number of 1 to 25 are favorably used.
When R6and R7 represent a substituted or non-substituted aryl group, the aryl group contains a carbon ring aryl group and heterocyclic aryl group. Aryl groups with a carbon number of 6 to 19 such as phenyl, naphthyl, actharcenyll and pyrenyl groups may be used as the carbon ring aryl group. The heterocyclic aryl groups with a carbon number of 1 to 5 such as pyridyl and furyl groups, and a quinolyl group with condensed benzene rings, and quinolyl, thioxanton and carbazole groups are used as the heterocyclic aryl groups.
When R6 and R7 are a substituted alkyl or aryl group, examples of the substituents include an alkoxy group with a carbon number of 1 to 10 such as methoxy or ethoxy groups; a halogen atom such as fluorine, chlorine and bromine atoms; a halogen substituted alkyl group such as trifluoromethyl and trichloromethyl groups; an alkoxycarbonyl group or aryloxycarbonyl group with a carbon number of 2 to 15 such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxyxarbonyl, t-butyloxyxarbonyl and p-chlorophenyloxycarbonyl groups; hydroxyl group; an acyloxy group such as acetyloxy, benzoyloxy and p-diphenylaminobenzoyloxy groups; a carbonate group such as t-butyloxycarbonyloxy group; an ether group such as t-butyloxycarbonylmethyloxy and 2-pyranyloxy groups; a substituted or non-substituted amino group such as amino, dimethylamino, diphenylamino, morpholino amd acetylamino groups; a thioether group such as methylthio and phenylthio groups; an alkenyl group such as vinyl and styryl groups; nitro group; cyano group; an acyl group such as formyl, acetyl and benzoyl groups; an aryl group such as phenyl and naphthyl gtoups; and a heteroaryl group such as pyridyl group.
When R6 and R7 are substituted aryl groups, methyl and ethyl groups may be used as the substituents in addition to those described above.
A substituted or non-substituted alkoxyl group is preferable as R6 and R7, in that storage stability of sensitive materials is excellent. A secondary alkyl group substituted with an electron absorbing group such as alkoxy, carbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, cyano or halogen group, or a secondary alkyl group such as cyclohexyl or norbonyl group is particularly preferable in view of stability through time. A compound in which a chemical shift of the secondary methine hydrogen in proton NMR within chloroform-d appears in a magnetic field lower than 4.4. ppm is preferable. A compound in which the chemical shift appears in a magnetic field lower than 4.6 ppm is more preferable.
A secondary alkyl group substituted with an electron absorbing group is particularly preferable, because the carbo-cations considered to be formed as an intermediate product during the heat degradation reacton are made unstable by the electron absorbing group, thereby suppressing degradation.
The particularly preferable structures of the xe2x80x94CHR6R7 group are shown below.
Particularly preferable as R2 to R5 in the general formulae (7) and (8) are an aryl group substituted with an electron absorbing group such as halogen, cyano and nitro groups, an alkyl group substituted with an electron absorbing group such as halogen, cyano and nitro groups, and a secondary or tertiary branched alkyl group.
The polyvalent linking group made of non-metallic atoms represented by L is composed of 1 to 60 carbon atoms, zero to 10 nitrogen atoms, zero to 50 oxygen atoms, 1 to 100 hydrogen atoms and zero to 20 sulfur atoms. More specifically, the linking group is composed of a combination of the structural units described below.
polyvalent naththalene and antthracene
When the polyvalent linking group has substituents, an alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 20 such as methyl and ethyl groups; an aryl group with a carbon number of 6 to 16 such as phenyl and naphthyl groups; a hydroxyde group; an alkoxy group with a carbon number of 1 to 6 such as carboxyl, N-sulfonamide and acetoxy groups; an alkoxy group with a carbon number of 1 to 6 such as methoxy and ethoxy groups; a halogen atom such as chlorine and bromine atoms; an alkoxycarbonyl group with a carbon number of 2 to 7 such as methoxyxarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl and cyclohexloxycarbonyl groups; a cycano groupl and a carbonate ester such as t-butyl carbinate may be used as the substituents.
Examples of monomers favorably used for synthesizing the polymer compounds having on side chains the functional groups shown in the general formulae (6) to (8) are listed below.
Preferably, polymer compounds obtained by radical polymerization of any one of the monomers, among the monomers having the functional groups represented by the general formulae (6) to (8), are used in the present invention. While a homopolymer, using only one kind of the monomers among those having the functional groups represented by the general formulae (6) to (8), may be used as the polymer compound described above, a copolymer using two or more kinds of monomers or a copolymer of these monomers with other monomers may be also used.
Polymer compounds more favorably used in the present invention are copolymers obtained by radical polymerization of the monomers described above with other known monomers.
Monomers having cross-link reactivity such as glycidyl methacrylate, N-methylol methacrylate, omega-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate and 2-isocyanate ethyl acrylate, are preferable.
Examples of other monomers used for the copolymer include known monomers such as acrylic esters, methacrylic esters, acrylamides, methacrylaminde, vinyl esters, styrenes, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylonitrile, maleic anhydride and amleic acid imide.
Examples of the acrylic acid esters include methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, (n- or i-)propyl acrylate, (n-, i-, sec or t-)butyl acrylate, amyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, chloroethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 5-hydroxypentyl acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, acryl acrylate, trimethylpropane monoacrylate, pentaerythritol monoacrylate, benzyl acrylate, methoxybenzyl acrylate, chlorobenzyl acrylate, hydroxybenzyl acrylate, hydroxyphenethyl acrylate, dihydroxyphenethyl acrylate, furfuryl acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, hydroxyphenyl acrylate, chlorophenyl acrylate, sulfamoylphenyl acrylate and 2-(hydroxyphenyl-carbonyloxy)ethyl acrylate.
Examples of the methacrylic esters include methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, (n- or i-)propyl methacrylate, (n-, i-, sec- or t-)butyl methacrylate, amyl methacrylate2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate, chloroethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 5-hydroxypentyl methacrylate, cyxlohexyl methacrylate, aryl methacrylate, trimethylolpropane methacrylate, pentaerythrytol monomethacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate, methoxybenzyl methacrylate, chlorobenzyl methacrylate, hydroxybenzyl methacrylate, hydroxyphenethyl methacrylate, dihydroxyphenethyl methacrylate, furfuryl methacrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate, phenyl methacrylate, hydroxyphenyl methacrylate, chlorophenyl methacrylate, sulfamoylphemyl methacrylate and 2-(hydroxyphenylcarbonyloxy)ethyl methacrylate.
Examples of acrylamides include acrylamide, N-methyl acrylamide, N-propyl acrylamide, N-butyl acrylamide, N-benzyl acrylamide, N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide, N-phenyl acrylamide, N-tolyl acrylamide, N-(hydroxyphenyl) acrylamide, n-(sulfamoylphenyl) acrylamide, N- (phenylsulfonyl) acrylamide, N-(tolylsulfonyl) acrylamide, N,N-dimethyl acrylamide, N-methyl-N-phenyl acrylamide and N-hydroxyethyl-N-methyl acrylamide.
Examples of the methacrylamides include mehtacrylamide, N-metyl mehtacrylamide, N-ethyl mehtacrylamide, N-propyl mehtacrylamide, N-butyl mehtacrylamide, n-benzyl mehtacrylamide, n-hydroxyethyl mehtacrylamide, n-phneyl mehtacrylamide, N-tolyl mehtacrylamide, N-(hydroxypehnyl)mehtacrylamide, N-(sulfamoylphenyl)mehtacrylamide, N-(phenylsulfonyl) mehtacrylamide, N-(tolylsulfonyl)mehtacrylamide, N,N-dimetyl mehtacrylamide, , N-methyl-N-phenyl mehtacrylamide and N-hydroxyethyl-N-methyl mehtacrylamide.
Examples of the vinyl esters are vinyl acetate, vinyl butylaye and vinyl bemzoate.
Examples of styrenes include styrene, methyl styrene, dimethyl styrene, trimethyl styrene, ethyl styrene, propyl styrene, cyclohexyl styrene, chloromethyl styrene, trifluoromethyl styrene, ethoxymethyl styrene, acetoxymethyl styrene, methoxy styrene, fimethoxy styrene, chlorostyrene, dichlorostyrene, bromostyrene, iodostyrene, fluorostyrene, and carboxy styrene.
Other monomers favorably used are acrylic esters, methacrylic esters with a carbon number of 20 or less, acrylamides, methacrylamides, vinyl esters, styrenes, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and acrylonitrile.
The ratio of monomers having functional groups represented by the general formulae (6) to (8) used for the synthesis of the copolymers is preferably 5 to 99% by weight, more preferably 10 to 95% by weight.
Specific examples of polymers having on side chains the functional group(s) represented by the general formulae (6) to (8) are listed below.
Numerals in the formulae denote mole composition of the polymer compounds.
The weight average molecular weight of the polymer compound having at least one of the functional groups represented by the general formulae (6) to (8) is preferably 2,000 or more, more preferably in the range of 5,000 to 300,000, and the number average molecular weight is preferably 800 or more, and more preferably in the range of 1,000 to 250,000. The degree of polydispersity (weight average molecular weight/number average molecular weight) is preferably 1 or more, more preferably in the range of 1.1 to 10.
While these polymers may be random polymers, block polymers or graft polymers, a random polymer is preferable.
Examples of solvents to be used in synthesizing the sulfonic acid generation type polymer compounds include tetrahydrofuran, ethylne dichloride, cyclohexanone, methylethyl ketone, acetone, methanol, ethanol, ethyleneglycol monmetylether, ethyleneglycol monetylether, 2-methoxyethyl acetate, diethyleneglycol dimethylether, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, 1-methoxy-2-propyl actetate, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetoamide, toluene, ethyl acetate, methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, dimethylsulfoxide and water. These solvents may be used singly, or in combination of two or more.
Examples of the radical initiator used for synthesizing the sulfonic acid generating polymer compounds include known compounds such as azo-type initiators and peroxide initiators.
The sulfonic acid generating polymer compounds may be used singly, or mixtures thereof may be used. The sulfonic acid generating polymer compounds can be used in a ratio of 50 to 90% by weight, preferably 70 to 90% by weight, relative to the total solid component of the image recording material. When the added amount is less than 50% by weight, the printed images become unclear. When the added amount exceeds 90% by weight, image formation by laser exposure cannot be sufficiently performed.
The sulfonic acid generating polymer compound, the acid generator disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No.9-10755, and the salt generator disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-26877 may be used together.
Examples of usable infrared absorbers include the heat sensitive positive-type infrared absorbers above.
In addition to there, various compounds may be added as necessary to the image recording layer of the planographic printing plate of the present invention.
For example, dyes having a large absorption at the visible region may be used as image coloring agents. Examples of these dyes include oil yellow #101, oil yellow #103, oil pink #312, oil green BG, oil blue BOS, oil blue #603, oil black BY, oil black BS and oil black T-500 (made by Orient Chemical Industry, Co.); victoria pure blue, crystal violet, (CI 42555), methyl violet (CI 42535), ethyl violet, rhodamin B (CI 145170B), malachite green(CI 42000), methylene blue (CI 52015) and eizenspiron blue C-RH (made by Hodogaya Chemicals Co.); and the dyes disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 62-293247.
It is preferable to add these dyes since the distinction between image portions and non-image portions gains clarity after the formation the images. The amount of addition is preferably in the range of 0.01 to 10% by weight relative to the total solid fraction of the recording layer.
The nonionic surface active agents disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 62-25740and 3-208514, and the amphoteric surface active agents disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 59-121044 and 4-13149 may be added in the recording layer of the present invention in order to raise the stability of processing under developing conditions.
Examples of the nonionic surface active agent include sorbitan tristearate, sorbitan monoparmitate, sorbitan triolate, stearic acid monoglyceride, and polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether.
Examples of the amphoteric surface active agent include alkyl-di(aminoethyl)glycine, alkyl polyaminoethyl glycine, 2-alkyl-N-carboxyethyl-N-hydroxyethyl imidazolium betaine, and N-tetradecyl-N,N-betaine type surface active agents (for example, Amogen (trade name), made by Dai-ichi Kxc3x4gyxc3x4 Co.).
The ratio of the non-ionic and amphoteric surface active agents in the recording layer are preferably 0.05 to 15% by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 5% by weight.
It is preferable to adsorb a heat amplifier such as the metal powders and metal compound powders below to the photosensitive layer, the heat-insulating layer or the support surface in order to amplify heat generation.
The metal powders and metal compound powder will be described. By metal compound is meant a compound such as a metal, a metal oxide, a metal nitride, a metal sullfide or a metal carbide.
Examples of the metal compound includes such metals as Mg, Al, Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au and Pb. Among these, metals that readily induce exothermic reactions such as an oxidation reaction by heat energy are preferable. Specific examples include Al, Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Mo, Ag, Sn and W. Metals having a high radiation absorbing efficiency and exhibiting large self-heating exothermic reaction such as Fe, Co, Ni, Ti and Zr are preferable among them.
The metal compounds may be of one metal only, or two or more components, or may be structured of a metal and a metal oxide, nitrode, sulfide or carbide. The self-activated thermal reaction thermal energy generated by such as oxidation is larger with an individual metal, but there is the danger of spontaneous combustion when the metal makes contact with air, since handling in air is complicated. Accordingly, it is preferable that the surface of such metal is covered with an oxide, nitride, sulfide or carbide to a depth of several nanometers from the surface.
The surface coating layer may be particles or a thin film such as a deposition film, but particles are preferable when the layer is formed together with an organic substance. The particle size is 10 xcexcm or less, preferably 0.005 to 5 xcexcm, and more preferably 0.01 to 3 xcexcm. When the particle size is 0.01 xcexcm or less, dispersion of the particles is difficult. When the particle size is 10 xcexcm or more, resolution of printed images deteriorates.
Iron powder is preferable among the metal fine powders of in the present invention. An iron alloy powder mainly composed of xcex1-Fe is more preferable among the preferable iron powders. Theses powders may have such atoms as Al, Si, S, Sc, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Cu, Y, Mo, Rh, Pd, Ag, Sn, Sb, Te, Ba, Ta, W, Re, Au, Hg, Pb, Bi, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, P, Co, Mn, Zn, Ni, Sr and B, in addition to predetermined atoms. It is preferable that the powder has at least one of Al, Si, Ca, Y, Ba, La, Nd, Co, Ni and B , more preferably at least one of Co, Y and Al, in addition to xcex1-Fe. The content of Co relative to the content of Fe is preferably zero atomic % or more and to 40 atomic % or less, further preferably 15 atomic % or more and 35 atomic % or less, and more preferably 20 atomic % or more and 20 atomic % or less. The content of Y is preferably 1.5 atomic % or more and to 12 atomic % or less, further preferably 3 atomic % or more and 10 atomic % or less, and more preferably 4 atomic % or more and 9 atomic % or less. The content of Al is preferably 1.5 atomic % or more and to 12 atomic % or less, further preferably 3 atomic % or more and 10 atomic % or less, and more preferably 4 atomic % or more and 9 atomic % or less. The iron alloy fine powder may have a small amount of oxides or hydroxides. Specific examples are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-B) Nos. 44-14090, 45-18372, 47-22062, 47-22513, 46-28466, 46-38755, 47-4286, 47-12422, 47-17284, 47-18509, 47-18573, 39-10307and46-39639, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,026,26215, 3,031,341, 3,100,194, 3,242,005 and 3,389,014.
These heat amplifiers are preferably used in a ratio of 0.01 to 50% by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 10% by weight, relative to the total solid fraction of the heat-insulating layer or recording layer. The amplification effect becomes insufficient when the amount of addition is less than 0.01% by weight. When the amount exceeds 50% by weight, film strength at the time of printing decreases.
The support that can be favorably used for the planographic printing plate of the present invention will be described.
A dimensionally stable plate may used as the support. Examples thereof include paper, paper laminated with a plastic (for example polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene), a metal plate (for example aluminum, zinc and copper), a plastic film (for example cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butylate, cellulose acetate butylate, cellulose nitrate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, and polyvinyl acetal), or paper or a plastic film on which foregoing metals are laminated or deposited.
Polyester film, or a plastic film on which aluminum is laminated or deposited, is particularly preferable as a heat-insulation support having a low thermal conductivity and a high heat-insulation effect among the supports described above. The thickness of the support is in the range of 0.05 to 5.0 mm, preferably in the range of 0.05 to 2.0 mm, as described previously. Dimensional accuracy becomes poor when the thickness is smaller than 0.05 mm. When the thickness is larger than 5.0 mm, flexural strength is insufficient when the plate is wound on a printing machine, thereby causing cracks in the support itself.
An aluminum plate is particularly preferable as a support having heat-insulation effect, since it is cheap and has excellent dimensional stability.
A suitable aluminum plate may be an alloy plate having as main components a pure aluminum plate and aluminum, with a minute amount of foreign elements.
The foreign elements contained in the aluminum alloy may be silicon, iron, manganese, magnesium, chromium, zinc bismuth, nickel and titanium. The total amount of the foreign elements in the alloy is 10% by weight or less. While pure aluminum is favorable in the present invention, a minute amount of the foreign elements may be contained in aluminum, since production of perfectly pure aluminum is difficult in view of refining technology. The composition of the aluminum plate to be used in the present invention is not particularly restricted, and aluminum plates of conventionally known and used material may be appropriately used. The aluminum plate to be sued in the present invention has a thickness of about 0.1 to 0.6 mm, preferably 0.15 to 0.4 mm, and a thickness of 0.2 to 0.3 mm is particularly preferable.
Prior to roughening the surface of the aluminum plate, a degreasing treatment with a surfactant, an organic solvent, or an alkaline water solution may be administered to the aluminum plate in order to eliminate rolling oil on the surface as needed.
The surface of the aluminum plate may be roughened in accordance with various methods. Examples thereof include a method in which the surface is mechanically roughened, a method in which the surface is electrochemically dissolved and roughened, and a method in which the surface is chemically roughened by selectively dissolving the surface. Methods such as ball polishing, brush polishing, blast polishing and buff polishing methods may be used for the mechanical roughening method. Examples of the electrochemical roughening method include a method in which an alternating current or a direct current is passed through an electrolytic solution of hydrochloric acid or nitric acid. A method in which both may be also used, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 54-63902.
Following alkaline etching and neutralization processing as needed, the aluminum plate thus roughened may be subjected to anodic oxidation as desired in order to raise the water retention and wear resistance of the surface. Various electrolytes that form a porous oxidation film can be used for the anodic oxidation of the aluminum plate, and sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, chromic acid or a mixed acid thereof may be used for that purpose. The concentration of the electrolyte is appropriately determined depending on the kind of the electrolyte.
After the anodic oxidation treatment has been administered, the aluminum surface of may be subjected to a hydrophobic treatment as needed. The alkali metal silicate (for example, an aqueous solution of sodium silicate) methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,066, 3,181,461, 3,280,734 and 3,902,734 can be used for the hydrophobic treatment applicable in the present invention. In these methods, the support is dipped in an aqueous sodium silicate solution or subjected to an electrolytic treatment. Other methods include the methods in which the aluminum surface is treated with potassium fluorozirconic acid as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-B) No. 36-22063, and the method in which the aluminum surface is treated with polyvinyl sulfonic acid as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,276,868, 4,153,461 and 4,689,272.
The planographic printing plate of the present invention thus obtained is preferably recorded by an infrared laser.
The positive-type or negative-type recording layer in the planographic printing plate of the present invention is subjected to developing processing with water or an alkaline developing solution after exposure. Because the heat-insulating intermediate layer or the heat-insulating support, which are the distinctive structures of the present invention, have the feature that they become hydrophilic by the alkaline developing solution, the effect of the present invention is most optimally displayed when an alkaline developing processing is administed.
The developing processing may be performed immediately after exposure, or a heat treatment may be performed between the exposure step and development step. When a heat treatment is administered, it is preferable that the temperature is within a range of 60xc2x0 C. to 150xc2x0 C. and that the heat treatment is conducted for 5 seconds to 5 minutes. Various, conventionally known methods may be employed. Examples thereof include a method in which the recording materials are heated by a panel heater or a ceramic heater while the heater is brought into contact with the recording materials, and a method in which the recording materials are heated by a lamp or warm air without contact. These heating treatment; allow the laser energy required for recording at the time of irradiation to be reduced.
When an alkaline water solution is used, conventionally known as alkaline water-solutions may be used as the developing solution and replenisher. Examples include inorganic alkaline salts such as sodium or potassium silicate; sodium, potassium or ammonium phosphate, sodium, potassium or ammonium hydrogen phosphate; sodium, potassium or ammonium carbonate; sodium, potassium or ammonium hydrogen carbonate; sodium, potassium or ammonium borate, and sodium, ammonium, potassium or lithium hydroxide. Organic alkaline salts may be also used, including monomethylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine,monoethylamine, diethylamnine, triethylamine, monoisopropylamine, diisopropylamine, triisopropylamine, n-butylamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, monoisopropanolamine, siisopropanolamine, ethyleneimine, ethylenediamine and pyridine.
These alkaline chemicals may be used singly, or in combination of two or more.
Among these alkali agents, an aqueous silicate salt solution such as sodium silicate and potassium silicate is particularly preferable because developability can be adjusted depending on the ratio and concentration of silicon oxide SiO2 and alkali metal oxide M2O (M denotes an alkali metal), which are components of the silicate. For example, the silicates of alkali metals as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 54-62004 and Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-B) No. 57-7427 may be effectively used.
Further, when an automatic developing machine is used for development, it is known that a large amount of recording layers can be processed without changing developing solutions in the developing tank over a long period of time by adding to the developing solution an aqueous solution whose alkaline strength is greater than that of the developing solution. This supplement method may be preferably used in the present invention.
The recording layer developed using the developing solution and replenisher described above is washed with water, and post-treated with a rinse liquid having a surface active agent and the like, and a non-sensitizing grease solution having gum arabic or starch derivatives. A variety of these post-treatments may be combined as post-treatments when the planographic printing plate of the present invention is used in printing.
In recent years, automatic developing machines for plate materials in printing have come to be used widely, particularly in the plate-making and printing industries, because of the rationalization and standardization of plate-making labor.
The automatic developing machine usually has a development part and post-processing part, a device for conveying printing plates, processing fluid tanks and a spray device. A printing plate once exposed is sprayed with various processing fluids that have been drawn up by pumps and sprayed out from spray nozzles while the plate is conveyed horizontally, whereby developing processing is carried out. Recently, a method has come to be known in which printing materials are dipped and conveyed by guide rolls in processing fluid tanks filled with processing fluids. In this type of automated processing, processing can be carried out by replenishing the various processing fluids with replenishing fluids in accordance with processing amount, operation time and the like.
A so-called disposable processing method in which substantially fresh processing fluids are used may be also employed.
The planographic printing plate thus obtained may be ready for the printing step after being coated with a non-sensitizing grease gum, as desired. A burning treatment may also be administered for the purpose of further improving tolerance to repeated printings.
When the planographic printing plate is burned, it is preferably treated with the surface adjustment liquid as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-B) Nos. 61-2518 and 55-28062 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 62-31859 and 61-159655.
The planographic printing plate coated with the surface adjustment liquid is dried, if necessary, and is heated at a high temperature with a burning processor (for example, a burning processor BP-1300 available from Fuji Photo Film Co.) The heating temperature and time are preferably 180 to 300xc2x0 C. and 1 to 20 minutes, respectively, although they depend on the type of components forming the image.
The planographic printing plate that has been subjected to the burning treatment may be appropriately subjected to conventional treatments such as washing and coating with a gum. However, the so-called non-sensitizing grease treatment such as gum coating may be omitted when a surface adjustment liquid having a water soluble polymer compound is used.
The planographic printing plate obtained by such treatments as described above is placed on an offset printing machine, and used for a number of printings. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
Rational manipulation of large DNA constructs is a central challenge to current synthetic biology and genome engineering efforts. In recent years, a variety of technologies have been developed to address this challenge and increase the specificity and speed with which mutations can be generated. Additionally, adaptive mutations are a central driver of evolution, but their abundance and relative contribution to cellular phenotypes are poorly understood even in the most well-studied organisms. This can be attributed in large part to the technical challenges associated with observing and reconstructing these genotypes and correlating their presence with the phenotype of interest. For example, methods of genome editing that rely on random mutagenesis lead to complex genotypes consisting of many mutations, the relative contribution of each of which is difficult to deconvolute. Moreover, epistatic interactions between alleles are difficult to assign due to lack of information regarding the individual mutations. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a compressor, and more particularly, to a compressor having an improved structure of a valve unit for controlling the suction and discharge of fluid.
There are several kinds of conventional compressors such as a scroll type compressor, a rotary type compressor, a wobble plate type compressor, or a piston reciprocating type compressor according to its driving method. FIG. 1 is a schematic of one example of a reciprocating airtight type compressor among such compressors.
The reciprocating airtight type compressor has a motor 12, a cylinder 14, a piston 15 reciprocating inside cylinder 14, a crank shaft 13 rotated by motor 12 and a connecting rod 16 for connecting piston 15 and crank shaft 13, inside an airtight main body 11. Reference numeral 20 denotes a valve unit.
In the airtight reciprocating compressor structured as above, piston 15 reciprocates inside cylinder 14 by the drive of motor 12 to compress fluid.
A valve unit 20 for controlling the suction and discharge of fluid into and from a compression chamber of the cylinder is mounted between a cylinder block 17 and a cylinder head 25. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, valve unit 20 comprises a valve plate 21 in which a suction hole 21d, a groove portion 21c having a predetermined depth on which a valve coupling groove 21b and discharge hole 21a are formed, a discharge valve 22 for opening and closing discharge hole 21a supported by coupling groove 21b of groove portion 21c at its one end, a stop 23 for supporting discharge valve 22 and defining an opening and closing region of discharge valve 22, a supporting plate 24 for preventing the detachment of discharge valve 22 and stop 23 from groove portion 21c, and a suction valve 27 and a gasket 28 disposed between valve plate 21 and cylinder block 17. An annular shoulder 21e for preventing a backward flow of refrigerant gas is formed on an edge of discharge hole 21a. Reference numeral 26 denotes a gasket interposed between valve plate 21 and a cylinder head 25.
The conventional compressor 1 having such a structure operates as follows. At the time of a suction stroke, piston 15 is moved to a bottom dead point so that vacuum is formed in the compression chamber. As a result, a suction valve plate 27a is opened due to the suction force of the vacuum so that the fluid flows into the compression chamber through suction hole 21d. At this time, discharge valve 22 is maintained to 20 block discharge hole 21a.
In this state, an exhaustion stroke in which the fluid is compressed while piston 15 is moved to a top dead center and the compressed fluid is discharged, proceeds. In such a process, suction valve plate 27a blocks suction hole 21d and discharge valve 22 facing discharge hole 21a is opened by the pressure of the compressed fluid so that the fluid is discharged. Then, when piston 15 is moved to the bottom dead point again, discharge valve 22 is closed and suction valve plate 27a is opened. A continuous compression operation is performed by the above reciprocating of piston 15. The conventional compressor has annular shoulder 21e formed on the edge of discharge hole 21a for preventing the discharged fluid (the refrigerant gas) from flowing reversely, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Accordingly, the refrigerant gas is remained as much as the volume corresponding to the thickness (H) of annular shoulder 21e plus valve plate 21.
Accordingly, since new refrigerant gas and the remaining refrigerant gas are mixed and reexpanded at the time of a subsequent suction stroke, there is a problem in that a refrigeration efficiency is lowered. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention concerns novel nucleic acid sequences, vectors and host cells containing them, amino acid sequences encoded by said sequences, and antibodies reactive with said amino acid sequences, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising any of the above. The present invention further concerns methods for screening for candidate activator or deactivators utilizing said amino acid sequences.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a heparin-binding growth factor specific for vascular endothelial cells that is able to induce angiogenesis in vivo. DNA sequencing suggests the existence of several molecular species of VEGF. VEGFs are secreted proteins in contrast to other endothelial cell mitogens such as acidic or basic fibroblast growth factors and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factors. VEGF was found to augment human growth by inducing neovascularization. Thus it was suggested that neutralization of VEGF activity may have clinical application in inhibiting malignant cells-induced angiogenesis, decreasing blood supply to the cancerous tissue, leading eventually to its destruction. VEGF has various other functions on endothelial cells, the most prominent of which is the induction of proliferation and differentiation. It was found to be capable of preventing serum starvation-induced apoptosis and this inhibition may represent a major aspect of the regulatory activity of VEGF on vascular endothelium.
VEGF was also found to be involved in the development and the growth of ovarian corpus luteum (CL), since its development is dependent on the growth of new capillary vessels. It has been reported that Flt-1 receptors which inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor bioactivity, resulted in complete separation of corpus luteum angiogenesis in a rat model of hormonally induced ovulation, indicated that VEGF is essential for CL angiogenesis and may be involved in the control of fertility and treatment of ovarian disorders characterized by hypervascularity and hyperplasia.
The human VEGF gene has been recently assigned to chromosome 6p21.2. cDNA sequence analysis of a variety of human VEGF clones had initially indicated that VEGF may exist as one of four different molecular species, having respectively, 121, 165, 189 and 206 amino acids (VEGF121, VEGF165, BEGF206). Alternative exon splicing of a single VEGF gene is the basis for this molecular heterogeneity, VEGF165 lacks the residues encoded by exon 6, while VEGF121 lacks the residues encoded by exons 6 and 7. VEGF189 has an insertion of 24 amino acids highly enriched in basic residues and VEGF206 has an additional insertion of 17 amino acids. VEGF165 is the predominant isoform secreted by a variety of normal and transformed cells. Transcripts encoding VEGF121 and VEGF189 are detected in the majority of cells and tissues expressing the VEGF gene. In contrast, VEGF206 is a very rare form.
Native VEGF is a basic, heparin-binding, homodimeric glycoprotein of 45 kDA. These properties correspond to those of VEGF165. VEGF121 is an acidic polypeptide that fails to bind to heparin. VEGF189 and VEGF200 are more basic and bind to heparin with greater affinity than VEGF165. VEGF121 is a freely soluble protein; VEGF165 is also secreted, although a significant fraction remains bound to the cell surface and the extracellular matrix (ECM). VEGF189 and VEGF206 are almost completely sequestered in the ECM, but may be released in a soluble form by heparin or heparinase. Also, these long forms may be released by plasmin following cleavage at the COOH terminus (Ferrara, N., European J. of Cancer, 32A(14):2413-2422 (1996)).
Glossary
In the following description and claims use will be made, at times, with a variety of terms, and the meaning of such terms as they should be construed in accordance with the invention is as follows:
xe2x80x9cVascular endothelial growth factor variant (VEGFV) nucleic acid sequencexe2x80x9dxe2x80x94the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, sequences having at least 70% identity to said sequence and fragments of the above sequences of least 20 b.p. long. This sequence is a sequence coding for a novel alternative splice variant of the native VEGF. While the known VEGF peptides include 206, 189, 105 or 121 amino acids, the novel VEGF variant peptide of the invention includes only 141 amino acids, xe2x88x9227 of which being in the signal peptide and 114 being present in the mature protein. According to the terminology used in the publication of Ferrara (supra) this new variant should be termed VEGF114.
xe2x80x9cVascular endothelial growth factor variant (VEGFV product)xe2x80x94also referred at times as the xe2x80x9cVEGFV proteinxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cVEGFV polypeptidexe2x80x9dxe2x80x94is an amino acid sequence having the first 141 amino acids of the native VEGF. This naturally occurring sequence is the result of alternative splicing. The amino acid sequence may be a peptide, a protein, as well as peptides or proteins having chemically modified amino acids (see below) such as a glycopeptide or glycoprotein. An example of an VEGFV product is shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. The term also includes analogues of said sequences in which one or more amino acids has been added, deleted, substituted (see below) or chemically modified (see below) as well as fragments of this sequence having at least 10 amino acids.
xe2x80x9cNucleic acid sequencexe2x80x9dxe2x80x94a sequence composed of DNA nucleotides, RNA nucleotides or a combination of both types and may includes natural nucleotides, chemically modified nucleotides and synthetic nucleotides.
xe2x80x9cAmino acid sequencexe2x80x9dxe2x80x94a sequence composed of any one of the 20 naturally appearing amino acids, amino acids which have been chemically modified (see below), or composed of synthetic amino acids.
xe2x80x9cFragment of VEGFV productxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94a polypeptide which has an amino acid sequence which is the same as part of but not all of the amino acid sequence of the VEGFV product.
xe2x80x9cFragments of VEGFV nucleic acid sequencexe2x80x9d a continuous portion, preferably of about 20 nucleic acid sequences of the VEGFV nucleic acid sequence.
xe2x80x9cConservative substitutionxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94refers to the substitution of an amino acid in one class by an amino acid of the same class, where a class is defined by common physicochemical amino acid side chain properties and high substitution frequencies in homologous proteins found in nature, as determined, for example, by a standard Dayhoff frequency exchange matrix or BLOSUM matrix. [Six general classes of amino acid side chains have been categorized and include: Class I (Cys); Class II (Ser, Thr, Pro, Ala, Gly); Class III (Asn, Asp, Gln, Glu); Class IV (His, Arg, Lys); Class V (Ile, Leu, Val, Met); and Class VI (Phe, Tyr, Trp). For example, substitution of an Asp for another class III residue such as Asn, Gln, or Glu, is a conservative substitution.
xe2x80x9cNon-conservative substitutionxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94refers to the substitution of an amino acid in one class with an amino acid from another class; for example, substitution of an Ala, a class II residue, with a class III residue such as Asp, Asn, Glu, or Gln.
xe2x80x9cChemically modifiedxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94when referring to the product of the invention, means a product (protein) where at least one of its amino acid resides is modified either by natural processes, such as processing or other post-translational modifications, or by chemical modification techniques which are well known in the art. Among the numerous known modifications typical, but not exclusive examples include: acetylation, acylation, amidation, ADP-ribosylation, glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, covalent attachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, methylation, myristlyation, pegylation, prenylation, phosphorylation, ubiqutination, or any similar process.
xe2x80x9cBiologically activexe2x80x9dxe2x80x94refers to the VEGFV product having structural, regulatory or biochemical functions of the naturally occurring VEGFV product, for example the same effect on vascular endothelial cells.
xe2x80x9cImmunologically activexe2x80x9d defines the capability of a natural, recombinant or synthetic VEGFV product, or any fragment thereof, to induce a specific immune response in appropriate animals or cells and to bind with specific antibodies. Thus, for example, a biologically active fragment of VEGFV product denotes a fragment which retains some or all of the immunological properties of the VEGFV product, e.g can bind specific anti-VEGFV product antibodies or which can elicit an immune response which will generate such antibodies or cause proliferation of specific immune cells which produce VEGFV.
xe2x80x9cOptimal alignmentxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94is defined as an alignment giving the highest percent identity score. Such alignment can be performed using a variety of commercially available sequence analysis programs, such as the local alignment program LALIGN using a ktup of 1, default parameters and the default PAM. A preferred alignment is the one performed using the CLUSTAL-W program from MacVector (TM), operated with an open gap penalty of 10.0, an extended gap penalty of 0.1, and a BLOSUM similarity matrix. If a gap needs to be inserted into a first sequence to optimally align it with a second sequence, the percent identity is calculated using only the residues that are paired with a corresponding amino acid residue (i.e., the calculation does not consider residues in the second sequences that are in the xe2x80x9cgapxe2x80x9d of the first sequence).
xe2x80x9cHaving at least X% identityxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94with respect to two amino acid or nucleic acid sequence sequences, refers to the percentage of residues that are identical in the two sequences when the sequences are optimally aligned. Thus, 70% amino acid sequence identity means that 70% of the amino acids in two or more optimally aligned polypeptide sequences are identical.
xe2x80x9cIsolated nucleic acid molecule having an VEGFV nucleic acid sequencexe2x80x9dxe2x80x94is a nucleic acid molecule that includes the coding VEGFV nucleic acid sequence. Said isolated nucleic acid molecule may include the VEGFV nucleic acid sequence as an independent insert; may include the VEGFV nucleic acid sequence fused to an additional coding sequences, encoding together a fusion protein in which the VEGFV coding sequence is the dominant coding sequence (for example, the additional coding sequence may code for a signal peptide); the VEGFV nucleic acid sequence may be in combination with non-coding sequences, e.g., introns or control elements, such as promoter and terminator elements or 5xe2x80x2 and/or 3xe2x80x2 untranslated regions, effective for expression of the coding sequence in a suitable host; or may be a vector in which the VEGFV protein coding sequence is a heterologous.
xe2x80x9cExpression vectorxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94refers to vectors that have the ability to incorporate and express heterologous DNA fragments in a foreign cell. Many prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression vectors are known and/or commercially available. Selection of appropriate expression vectors is within the knowledge of those having skill in the art.
xe2x80x9cDeletionxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94is a change in either nucleotide or amino acid sequence in which one or more nucleotides or amino acid residues, respectively, are absent.
xe2x80x9cInsertionxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cadditionxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94is that change in a nucleotide or amino acid sequence which has resulted in the addition of one or more nucleotides or amino acid residues, respectively, as compared to the naturally occurring sequence.
xe2x80x9cSubstitutionxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94replacement of one or more nucleotides or amino acids by different nucleotides or amino acids, respectively. As regards amino acid sequences the substitution may be conservative or non-conservative.
xe2x80x9cAntibodyxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94refers to IgG, IgM, IgD, IgA, and IgG antibody. The definition includes polyclonal antibodies or monoclonal antibodies. This term refers to whole antibodies or fragments of the antibodies comprising the antigen-binding domain of the anti-VEGFV product antibodies, e.g. antibodies without the Fc portion, single chain antibodies, fragments consisting of essentially only the variable, antigen-binding domain of the antibody, etc.
xe2x80x9cActivatorxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94as used herein, refers to a molecule which mimics the effect of the natural VEGFV product or at times even increases or prolongs the duration of the biological activity of said product, as compared to that induced by the natural product. The mechanism may be by binding to the VEGFV receptor, by prolonging the lifetime of the VEGFV, by increasing the activity of the VEGFV on its target (vascular endothelial cells), by increasing the affinity of VEGFV to its receptor, etc. Activators may be polypeptides, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, or derivatives thereof, or any other molecules which can bind to and activate the VEGFV product.
xe2x80x9cDeactivatorxe2x80x9d or (xe2x80x9cInhibitorxe2x80x9d)xe2x80x94refers to a molecule which modulates the activity of the VEGFV product in an opposite manner to that of the activator, by decreasing or shortening the duration of the biological activity of the VEGFV product. This may be done by blocking the binding of the VEGFV to its receptor (competitive or non-competitive inhibition), by causing rapid degradation of the VEGFV, etc. Deactivators may be polypeptides, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, or derivatives thereof, or any other molecules which bind to and modulate the activity of said product.
xe2x80x9cTreating a diseasexe2x80x9dxe2x80x94refers to administering a therapeutic substance effective to ameliorate symptoms associated with a disease, to lessen the severity or cure the disease, or to prevent the disease from occurring.
xe2x80x9cDetectionxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94refers to a method of detection of a disease. This term may refer to detection of a predisposition to a disease.
xe2x80x9cProbexe2x80x9dxe2x80x94the VEGFV nucleic acid sequence, or a sequence complementary therewith, when used to detect presence of other similar sequences in a sample. The detection is carried out by identification of hybridization complexes between the probe and the assayed sequence. The probe may be attached to a solid support or to a detectable label.
The present invention is based on the surprising finding that there exist in humans a novel variant of the VEGF protein, having 141 amino acid (114 amino acids of the mature protein without the signal peptide) than the known VEGF. The nucleic sequence coding for this variant was identified as being from the same locus as the known VEGF and thus it was concluded that the variant is not encoded from a different gene than the known VEGF, but is the result of alternative splicing of the known VEGF.
Thus the present invention provides by its first aspect, a novel isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising or consisting of the coding sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, fragments of said coding sequence having at least 20 nucleic acids, or a molecule comprising a sequence having at least 70%, preferably 80%, and most preferably 90% identity to SEQ ID NO:1.
The present invention further provides a protein or polypeptide comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence encoded by any of the above nucleic acid sequences, termed herein xe2x80x9cVEGFV productxe2x80x9d, for example, an amino acid sequence having the sequence as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 2, fragments of the above amino acid sequence having a length of at least 10 amino acids, as well as homologs of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO.:2 in which one or more of the amino acid residues has been substituted (by conservative or non-conservative substitution) added, deleted, or chemically modified.
The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecule comprising or consisting of a sequence which encodes the above amino acid sequences, (including the fragments and analogs of the amino acid sequences). Due to the degenerative nature of the genetic code, a plurality of alternative nucleic acid sequences, beyond SEQ ID NO:1, can code for the amino acid sequence of the invention. Those alternative nucleic acid sequences which code for the same amino acid sequences codes by the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 are also an aspect of the of the present invention.
The present invention further provides expression vectors and cloning vectors comprising any of the above nucleic acid sequences, as well as host cells transfected by said vectors.
The present invention still further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising, as an active ingredient, said nucleic acid molecules, said expression vectors, or said protein or polypeptide.
These pharmaceutical compositions are suitable for the treatment of diseases and pathological conditions, which can be ameliorated or cured by raising the level of the VEGFV product.
By a second aspect, the present invention provides a nucleic acid molecule comprising or consisting of a non-coding sequence which is complementary to that of SEQ ID NO:1, or complementary to a sequence having at least 70% identity to said sequence or a fragment of said two sequences. The complementary sequence may be a DNA sequence which hybridizes with the SEQ of ID NO:1 or hybridizes to a portion of that sequence having a length sufficient to inhibit the transcription of the complementary sequence. The complementary sequence may be a DNA sequence which can be transcribed into an mRNA being an antisense to the mRNA transcribed from SEQ ID NO:1 or into an mRNA which is an antisense to a fragment of the mRNA transcribed from SEQ ID NO.:1 which has a length sufficient to hybridize with the mRNA transcribed from SEQ ID NO:. 1, so as to inhibit its translation. The complementary sequence may also be the mRNA or the fragment of the mRNA itself
The nucleic acids of the second aspect of the invention may be used for therapeutic or diagnostic applications for example for detection of the expression of VEGFV. The proportion of expression of the VEGF variant of the present invention as compared to the known VEGF variants may be indicative to a variety of physiological or pathological conditions.
The present invention also provides expression vectors comprising any one of the above defined complementary nucleic acid sequences and host cells transfected with said nucleic acid sequences or vectors, being complementary to those specified in the first aspect of the invention.
The invention also provides anti-VEGFV product antibodies, namely antibodies directed against the VEGFV product which specifically bind to said VEGFV product. Said antibodies are useful both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. For example said antibody may be as an active ingredient in a pharmaceutical composition as will be explained below.
The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising, as an active ingredient, the nucleic acid molecules which comprise or consist of said complementary sequences, or of a vector comprising said complementary sequences. The pharmaceutical composition thus provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising, as an active ingredient, said anti-VEGFV product antibodies.
The pharmaceutical compositions comprising said anti-VEGFV product antibodies or the nucleic acid molecule comprising said complementary sequence, are suitable for the treatment of diseases and pathological conditions where a therapeutically beneficial effect may be achieved by neutralizing the VEGFV or decreasing the amount of the VEGFV product or blocking its binding to the receptor, for example, by the neutralizing effect of the antibodies, or by the decrease of the effect of the antisense mRNA in decreasing expression level of the VEGFV product.
According to the third aspect of the invention the present invention provides methods for detecting the level of the transcript (mRNA) of said VEGFV product in a body fluid sample, or in a specific tissue sample, for example by use of probes comprising or consisting of said coding sequences; as well as methods for detecting levels of expression of said product in tissue, e.g. by the use of antibodies capable of specifically reacting with the above amino acid sequences. Detection of the level of the expression of the VEGF variant of the invention in particular as compared to that of the known VEGF variants may be indicative of a plurality of physiological or pathological conditions.
The method, according to this latter aspect, for detection of a nucleic acid sequence which encodes the VEGFV product in a biological sample, comprises the steps of:
(a) providing a probe comprising at least one of the nucleic acid sequence defined above;
(b) contacting the biological sample with said probe under conditions allowing hybridization of nucleic acid sequences thereby enabling formation of hybridization complexes;
(c) detecting hybridization complexes, wherein the presence of the complex indicates the presence of nucleic acid sequence encoding the VEGFV product in the biological sample.
By a preferred embodiment the probe is part of a nucleic acid chip used for detection purposes, i.e. the probe is a part of an array of probes each present in a known location on a solid support.
The nucleic acid sequence used in the above method may be a DNA sequence an RNA sequence, etc; it may be a coding or a sequence or a sequence complementary thereto (for respective detection of RNA transcripts or coding-DNA sequences). By quantization of the level of hybridization complexes and calibrating the quantified results it is possible also to detect the level of the transcript in the sample.
Methods for detecting mutations in the region coding for the VEGFV product are also provided, which may be methods carried-out in a binary fashion, namely merely detecting whether there is any mismatches between the normal VEGFV nucleic acid sequence and the one present in the sample, or carried-out by specifically detecting the nature and location of the mutation.
The present invention also concerns a method for detecting VEGFV product in a biological sample, comprising the steps of:
(a) contacting with said biological sample the antibody of the invention, thereby forming an antibody-antigen complex; and
(b) detecting said antibody-antigen complex
wherein the presence of said antibody-antigen complex correlates with the presence of VEGFV product in said biological sample.
By yet another aspect the invention also provides a method for identifying candidate compounds capable of binding to the VEGFV product and modulating its activity (being either activators or deactivators). The method includes:
(i) providing a protein or polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence substantially as depicted in SEQ ID NO: 2, or a fragment of such a sequence;
(ii) contacting a candidate compound with said amino acid sequence;
(iii) measuring the physiological effect of said candidate compound on the activity of the amino acid sequences and selecting those compounds which show a significant effect on said physiological activity.
The activity of the amino acid which should be changed by the modulator (being either the activator or deactivator) may be for example the binding of the VEGFV product to its native receptor, effect on the modulation in the effect of VEGFV on vascular endothelial cells, etc. Any modulator which changes such an activity has an intersecting potential.
The present invention also concerns compounds identified by the above methods described above, which compound may either be an activator of the serotonin-receptor like product or a deactivator thereof. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The majority of landfills create methane gases that escape into the surrounding atmosphere if they are uncontrolled. The gases have an obnoxious odor and can harm the environment in many ways. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently released new solid waste regulations and a draft of New Source Performance Standards (NSPSs) which could significantly increases the number of landfills that are now required to employ active LFG collection systems. Landfill gas condensate is a by-product of these collection systems.
Landfill gases are produced within the refuse pile of a landfill as organic matter decomposes. If left alone, the gas may migrate within the landfill, ultimately escaping at the landfill's surface into the atmosphere. Under the new EPA regulations, LFG collection systems will be installed in currently active and previously closed landfills; as well as part of the procedure for closing a landfill. An LFG collection system generally includes a series of gas extraction wells. The wells are typically formed by drilling a hole into the refuse pile and inserting a perforated pipe into the hole. The space around the pipe is typically backfilled with a porous material to facilitate gas flow. The wells are connected together by a series of collector pipes. The collector pipes are connected to a fan which provides the necessary vacuum to extract the LFG from the refuse pile. The LFG is then fed into a flare which burns the gas.
The temperature of the gas within the refuse pile can achieve temperatures as high as 90.degree. fahrenheit (F) to 140.degree. F. depending on the type and moisture content of organic matter in the refuse pile, as well as the other site specific conditions. The amount of gas produced also depends on these factors and on the age of the landfill. Generally, a landfill will produce its maximum amount of gas between three and seven years after it is closed. When the gas being drawn up through the wells reaches the collector piping on the surface, it is cooled by the ambient temperature of the air. As the gas cools, condensation forms on the inside of the piping. The piping is pitched to allow the condensate to flow to a collection point or dump. If the piping system has a plurality of collection points, the condensate is pumped by conventional means to a central collection or accumulating tank.
Until now, the condensate formed in the gas collection piping was released back into the landfill. Under-the new Subtitle D Regulations for municipal solid waste facilities, landfill gas condensate must be collected unless the landfill gas collection system is operated within a landfill equipped with both composite base liner and leachate collection systems. The current methods of disposal include discharging the condensate into an on-site leachate treatment system or transporting the condensate to an industrial wastewater treatment facility. Only a limited number of landfills can make practical use of the aforementioned solutions. Many landfills, due either to their design or location, cannot economically use these solutions. Smaller landfills located in rural areas are in great need of an economical solution. An alternative solution for these and other landfills is needed.
It is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for the onsite disposal of LFG condensate. It is a further object of the present invention to incinerate the contaminants in the LFG condensate by using the waste heat generated by burning LFG in an onsite flare. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
A fade in moving pictures refers to a phenomenon of gradual transition from one image to another image while these images are being overlapped during the transition. The fade includes a fade-in which represents a transition from a monochromatic static image to a moving image, a fade-out which represents a transition from a moving image to a monochromatic static image, and a cross-fade (also referred to as a dissolve or an overlap) which represents a transition from one moving image to another moving image. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates generally to audio input circuits for use with a sound transducer and more particularly to audio input circuits for interfacing with host devices such as voice recognition host devices. The invention provides a universal interface such that the audio input circuit may be attached to a variety of voice recognition host devices through various switch settings. Additionally, the audio input circuit conditions the output of an inexpensive microphone such that the output response of the microphone is ideally suited to the input requirements of the voice recognition host device.
Voice recognition systems are being used with increased regularity in industry, the home, and the office. Such systems are typically computer based and are either free standing units or are incorporated within a computer system. Currently, there is no standardized format governing the electrical or physical connections between an input sound transducer, such as a microphone, and differing and various voice recognition host devices. Some systems are self-contained and include a microphone while other systems connect to an externally supplied microphone. Users wishing to attach an external microphone to a voice recognition host device may find that each individual system may require a unique interconnection format such as a differential input signal or a common mode input signal.
Additionally, there are various configurations for supplying power to the microphone. Thus, the use of a particular voice recognition host device selected from a wide array of available systems is cumbersome and inconvenient due to the wide variety of input requirements and interconnection formats available.
Typically, the host device receives audio signals directly from the microphone or receives the signals from a microphone circuit. Often, a two or three wire connector and a plug are used to couple the audio signal to the host device. Additionally, the host device may supply an external DC bias voltage component on one or more of the wires. The DC bias voltage may be used to supply power to the microphone or microphone circuit, or may unique to the host device. In one particular configuration, the external DC bias voltage may be referred to as phantom power when it is used to supply electrical power to the audio input circuit in a balanced, differential mode format. However, the voltage level of the DC bias voltage may be inadequate for use by the audio input circuit. Hence, there is a need to be able to utilize or block the external DC bias voltage supplied by the host device.
Voice recognition host devices accept input from a microphone or similar device and typically process the input signal in accordance with specialized algorithms and signal processing hardware. However, these systems are typically very sensitive to the frequency response characteristics of the signal received. If the microphone signal received has a nonlinear frequency response, or falls off sharply in a particular frequency band, voice recognition performance may be degraded. Typically, voice recognition host devices perform optimally when the input signal received is essentially linear or has a uniform energy spectrum throughout the frequency range of approximately 200 Hz to 10,000 Hz. Usually, high quality, expensive microphones provide this optimal output response. However, the increased cost of such microphones reduces the marketability of many voice recognition systems. In addition, such expensive microphones typically cannot connect directly to more than one type of system. On the other hand, inexpensive microphones typically attenuate sharply below 500 Hz, and respond nonlinearly above 500 Hz exhibiting undesirable variations in amplitude. This nonlinear response of inexpensive microphones impairs voice recognition performance.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an audio input circuit that substantially overcomes the above problems.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an audio input circuit that universally interfaces to a wide variety of voice recognition host devices.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an audio input circuit including a universal interface, and filtering to enhance the frequency response characteristics of an inexpensive microphone.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an audio input circuit that includes a center-tap transformer for providing an inductive element as part of a filtering circuit. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention is in the field of camera handling equipment and more particularly to a transportable, foldable, maneuverable, and multifunctional video cart.
When a camera operator arranges to film a subject, the operator ordinarily sets up a tripod with camera mounted thereon at the location of the subject. Sequentially, the operator adjusts the height of the tripod and the angular orientation of the camera. When the operator wants to film the subject at a different angle or film another subject at a different location, the operator must collapse the tripod and reset same at another location. Clearly, such running about is laborious and time consuming.
The prior art, however, was cognizant of such problems in the industry as reflected in U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,687, which issued on Sept. 4, 1979 to R. Viering. The patentee discloses a mobile photographic cart that can be transported and operated by one person. Viering's cart however, suffers the disadvantage of the camera operator disconnecting and reconnecting the power supply, or in the alternative, running a very long electric cord in and about the filming site. Similarly, K. Littwin et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,909 and issuing on Sept. 24, 1985, shows a mobile TV camera cart having a monopodial camera mount and an operator's seat attached. The patentee's cart also relies on an outside power source and teaches no means of storing multiple camera accessories.
The maneuverable video cart of the present invention simplifies the filming process for the camera operator by not only making it easier for the operator to move the essential camera and equipment about, but also in controlling the camera orientation once the cart is in position for the rapid film recording of the subjects. Moreover, such simplification is achieved without the exposure of electrical wires about the floor, with their inherent dangers, since the instant video cart contains its own portable power source.
Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a maneuverable, self-sufficient, inexpensive video cart for use by a lone camera operator.
It is particularly an object of the present invention to provide a video cart that contains its own electrical power supply.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a video cart having compartments for batteries, VCR, video monitor, and requisite camera accessories.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a video cart that is partially collapsible for easy transport.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a video cart equipped with camera mounting means. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved structure of a base drum counter-hoop mounted clamp, which comprises a clamp body having upper and lower locking platforms coupled to a counter hoop of the base drum and a vertical plate arranged therebetween forming centrally an opening and a projecting pivot seat to accommodate insertion and coupling of a movable connection member, the connection member having an end to which a V-shaped clip block is pivoted to oppose to a clip plate mounted to an underside of the upper platform for respectively clamping against opposite surfaces of the counter hoop and an opposite end to which a threaded bolt bar is rotatably coupled so that with the threaded bolt bar tightened and driven downward, the clip block pivoted to the end of the connection member is pushed upward to securely clamp and position on the counter hoop for allowing a holder formed on the upper platform to mount a support bar that carries a music instrument, whereby simple and convenient racking of the music instrument to the base drum is realized to provide a safe and practical purposes of simple assembling.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
For the need of performance, music instruments are often arranged and racked together in a set. The racking of the music instruments requires racks/stands, as shown in FIG. 6 of the attached drawings, wherein a base drum 30 is provided as a core of the racking of the music instruments. Pre-shaped rack 31 is arranged around the base drum 30 for mounting various instruments 32 for a performer to move within a limited space to play these instruments. Such a racking of the music instruments is very inconvenient in connecting and assembling of the parts thereof, and due to that all the stands or racks are independently arranged, the legs 33 are expanded and occupy quite a floor area to firmly and safely support the music instruments. This is certainly a waste of the floor space and also leads to an undesired expansion of the limited space that the performer is moving therein for playing the instruments, resulting in the inconvenience of performing percussion of the drums. In addition, the expanded legs 33 make the practical operation/movement in the stage in convenient; especially for a small stage, it would become very crowded. To make the arrangement of music instruments with a simplified configuration to make the racking space more concentrated for convenience of use, racking devices are available in the market, such as a drum-mounted clamp disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,258, wherein a pivotally connected bar and a clamp body are arranged in a vertical direction and pivoted and a locking bar is provided for assembling purposes to mounting the clamp body to the counter hoop of the base drum. With the locking effect realized by the locking bar and a spring encompassing around the locking bar, the clamp body can be secured. However, since force applied in percussion of the instrument is variable, the resilient clamping will result in instability of the clamp body. Due to the instability of mounting of the clamp body, the music instrument supported thereby can not effect stable production of sound and satisfy the needs of racking. Thus, such a solution is not appealing to the users. In addition, the known solution uses a ringed bar to support and secure also surfaces instability of receiving and holding the instrument. This is because the straight knurled surface of an insertion ring thereof is not able to effectively hold and fix a straight bar like support rack, leading to unsafe racking. This also makes it not appealing to the users. It is thus desired to alleviate the above mentioned impracticability of the known racking structure and provide a more practical music instrument racking that features simplified assembling. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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As of 1996, the most advanced production-line silicon semiconductor circuit manufacturing processes use 0.35 micron technology, meaning that the minimum size of any circuit feature is 0.35 microns. This, in tum, requires the tools used to measure semiconductor device features to be accurate to approximately 0.035 microns. Production of devices with minimum feature sizes of 0.25 microns, 0.18 microns and less will be likely to take place within by 2001, and production of devices with 0.07 micron sizes is predicted to take place by 2010. However, it is not yet clear what metrological tools will be used to preform the measurements of such devices necessary to develop and accurately model the associated manufacturing processes.
SEMs can generally be used to perform measurements with accuracy on the order of 0.05 microns. However, it would appear that SEM technology has been pushed to its limit. Further improvements in the accuracy of SEM based measurements of semiconductor devices are likely to be too limited to perform the metrology required for supporting semiconductor devices using feature sizes of 0.18 microns or less.
The manufacture of integrated circuits is a complicated and expensive process sometimes involving dozens of process steps. To ensure that this manufacturing effort is not wasted, steps of the IC fabrication process modeled in process simulators to determine beforehand whether resulting device features will have the desired width, thickness, cross-sectional profile,etc.
Results generated by process simulators, such as PROLITH/2.TM. and SAMPLE.TM. are typically verified through scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination of a cross section and feature widths of a photolithographically defined surface. However, while SEM verification is adequate for relatively large-scale features (i.e., a few microns and up), SEMs are generally not able to capture critically important cross-sectional details of features defined by submicron photolithography.
One reason for this is that SEMs charge the sample under examination with electrons, which has the effect of blurring edges on photographs taken of the imaged surface. While blurring is not a significant problem for surfaces with macroscopic features, it tends to obliterate submicron details. Another problem with SEM metrology is that, typically, IC feature sizes are determined by direct measurement of the SEM photographs with a precision ruler. Besides the obvious problem of making measurements from the blurred edges described above, direct measurement can result in additional errors due to (1) incorrect placement of the ruler on the edge of a photographed feature (assuming the feature edge is identifiable) and (2) the difficulty of measuring the pitch or angle of a cross-sectional feature with a ruler. In the case of submicron devices, these errors can amount to a significant percentage of the feature being imaged. Additionally, SEMs can physically alter the device features being measured.
Other aspects of process models in need of verification include basic process variables such as the developing rate associated with a particular developing solution. By developing a semiconductor wafer in stages and measuring the change in surface profile after each stage, developing rates can be better quantified, resulting in a more accurate process model. However, given the above mentioned measurement errors associated SEM surface imaging, it is not possible to accurately quantify such process variables using SEM metrology.
Moreover, given the inherent lack of reliability (i.e., reproducibility of measurements) of SEM metrology as applied to submicron features, it is not possible to use SEM measurements to iteratively adjust the process simulator to model better the results of a particular IC manufacturing process. That is, the SEM is better suited to rough verification of a model rather than incremental improvement of a model.
Finally, given the current lack of a reliable method for verifying and updating process models with respect to submicron IC device features, it is not currently possible to modify IC manufacturing/processing steps in accordance with the predictions of an improved process simulator.
Consequently, there is a need for an IC process model verification system that incorporates a measuring device that can accurately measure the cross sections of submicron device features. There is also a need for a measuring device that can measure surface profile changes during the performance of semiconductor processing steps. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention pertains to the field of erosion prevention, and more particularly to offshore beach and shoreline erosion prevention devices.
Shorelines and beaches are subject to erosion from the action of waves impinging thereon. Wave action erodes beaches by several different mechanisms. Waves mobilize shoreline materials and then redistribute them, leading to erosion. Rising and falling water levels may erode beaches over a long period of time. Shoreline structures, including seawalls, pilings and levees, often increase beach erosion adjacent to those structures, by causing wave reflection, turbulence, eddies and currents. These currents mobilize the beach materials which may be transported along shore or offshore. Offshore currents, transversing the beach, can carry the beach materials many miles away until the current slows and the beach materials sink due to the influence of gravity. Further, heavy storms can impinge high waves on beaches and shorelines, imparting heavy forces which carry away the beach or crumble the shoreline leading to heavy erosion. Portions of Lake Michigan are particularly susceptible to shoreline erosion, and it is not uncommon for bluffs 20 to 40 feet high to erode 5 feet inland during the course of a year. The seawall area of Galveston, Tex. has for many years experienced severe beach erosion problems, where heavy seas carry the sand off the beach face and, because of ocean currents, deposit the sand some 5 to 10 miles away.
In a natural beach/water ecosystem, the shallow water extending up to the beach, and the beach face itself, act to dissipate the energy of the waves, thereby preventing erosion of the land area behind the beach. Typical water front profiles include a surf zone of relatively shallow water where the waves break into surf, a beach zone where a wave expends its last landward energy, and the land area behind the beach. The land areas typically include dunes, low barrier islands, alluvial fans and river deltas, or bluffs. During severe storm conditions when the waves are commonly two to three, and occasionally ten times their normal height, the typical beach response is the loss of material from the beach zone to an offshore sand bar. The sand bar then creates a shallow area offshore with a deeper trough between it and the beach face. The shallow area causes the waves to break on the sand bar, thereby initiating dissipation of wave energy further offshore and providing a wider surf zone. Both of these effects decrease beach erosion. It is not uncommon for a series of multiple sand bars to develop offshore. The sand bars tend to create a series of long ridges parallel to the beach, causing the waves to dissipate much of their energy offshore before they reach the beach. Over time, the beach-sand bar system stabilizes, and includes a relatively constant volume of sand. Heavy wave action tends to carry sand off the beach and deposit it on the sandbars. Long term low energy wave action moves the offshore sand bar back onto the beach face. This is known as the summer/winter beach profile response.
The establishment of an equilibrium between the beach face and the sand bars can take many years to develop, and minor changes in the shoreline, offshore water circulation patterns, and a myriad of other environmental factors can upset the environmental balance and thereby cause substantial beach or coastline erosion. Further, a particular ecosystem may be adverse to the continued existence of a substantial beach or a stationary coastline. The coastline of northern California is continuously eroding, and small beaches exist often only in sheltered coves or cuts in the bluffs which abut the sea. Further, unusual storms having wave heights experienced only every few decades will often severely depreciate the amount of beach material. Finally, municipalities and individuals, in a quest to increase the leisure value of shoreline, place sand on the shoreline to establish a beach. Such artificial beaches commonly wash away, because the shoreline, sea bed or lake bed structure is not compatible with the existence of a beach at the location of the artificial beach.
Many methods have been employed in an attempt to reduce shoreline erosion. These attempts have included both protruding and submerged breakwaters located offshore. The protruding breakwater reflects and/or dissipates the waves. A submerged breakwater also reflects and/or dissipates waves, or causes the wave to break further offshore. These breakwaters are typically constructed of concrete or stone, and are solid structures. Commonly, rubble or rocks are piled in a submerged line off the shoreline to form a breakwater.
Breakwaters have several deficiencies. Foremost, they are expensive to build and maintain. Rubble breakwaters erode by losing rock to the action of waves, and unstable subsoils commonly cause the rocks or concrete segments to sink into the sea or lake bed. The use of larger rocks to prevent wave displacement is expensive, because larger rocks cost more to quarry and transport.
Revetments and seawalls are also used to reduce shoreline erosion. However, these structures actually inhibit beach and sandbar growth. Therefore, although they may protect the shore behind the beach, they tend to erode the beach by requiring materials for offshore sandbar development to be provided by the adjacent unprotected beach and by creating intensified water currents which may permanently transport the beach materials out to sea.
On shore, devices other than revetments and seawalls are used to protect the beach. Beach grass may be planted to create a subsurface root structure which is more resistant to wave action than loose sand. However, this provides a low level of protection, and commonly requires constant nourishment and replanting.
A device known as a sand perch may also be used on the beach to prevent beach erosion. These devices are concrete structures having small channels, commonly less than four feet high, with a generally triangular cross section. Vertical or horizontal slots are found on their upward projecting triangular faces. The horizontal slots allow the seawater to pass through the channel, but the sand is trapped in the device thereby keeping the sand on the beach. Although this device reduces beach erosion, it is an unsightly addition to the beach. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Heart failure is a common and potentially lethal condition affecting humans, with sub-optimal clinical outcomes often resulting in symptoms, morbidity and/or mortality, despite maximal medical treatment. In particular, “diastolic heart failure” refers to the clinical syndrome of heart failure occurring in the context of preserved left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction) and in the absence of major valvular disease. This condition is characterized by a stiff left ventricle with decreased compliance and impaired relaxation, which leads to increased end-diastolic pressure. Approximately one third of patients with heart failure have diastolic heart failure and there are very few, if any, proven effective treatments.
Symptoms of diastolic heart failure are due, at least in a large part, to an elevation in pressure in the left atrium. In addition to diastolic heart failure, a number of other medical conditions, including systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle and valve disease, can lead to elevated pressures in the left atrium. Increased left atrial pressure often causes acute or chronic breathlessness amongst other problems. In addition, a variety of heart conditions can lead to “right heart failure”, which can result in enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly), fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites) and/or swelling of the lower limbs.
Frequently, patients with diastolic heart failure experience breathlessness due, in part, to elevated pulmonary venous pressure. These patients often feel worse when supine than when sitting or standing, implying that small changes in pulmonary venous pressure have a pronounced effect on symptoms.
In the past, strategies have been described for the relief of high pressure in the right atrium, such as the creation of hole(s) in the native or surgically created septum between the left and right atria. These have been designed for the rare conditions of pulmonary hypertension or cavopulmonary connections for certain complex congenital heart diseases.
The functioning of the heart and the opening and closing of heart valves occur primarily as a result of pressure differences. For example, the opening and closing of the mitral valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle occurs as a result of the pressure differences between the left atrium and the left ventricle. During ventricular diastole (ventricular filling), when ventricles are relaxed, the venous return of blood from the pulmonary veins into the left atrium causes the pressure in the atrium to exceed that in the ventricle. As a result, the mitral valve opens, allowing blood to enter the ventricle. As the ventricle contracts during ventricular systole (ventricular emptying), the intraventricular pressure rises above the pressure in the atrium and pushes the mitral valve shut. Blood then is pumped from the ventricles to the arteries.
The heart has four valves to ensure that blood does not flow in the wrong direction during the cardiac cycle; that is, to ensure that the blood does not back flow from the ventricles into the corresponding atria, or back flow from the arteries into the corresponding ventricles. The valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle is the mitral valve. The valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle is the tricuspid valve. The pulmonary valve is at the opening of the pulmonary artery. The aortic valve is at the opening of the aorta.
Blood flowing back from the left ventricle into the left atrium, or systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle and valve disease, as mentioned in the background, may cause high atrial pressure and reduce the flow of blood into the left atrium from the lungs. As blood backs up into the pulmonary system, fluid leaks into the lungs and causes pulmonary edema. Blood volume going to the atrium reduces volume of blood going forward into the aorta causing low cardiac output. Excess blood in the atrium over-fills the ventricle during each cardiac cycle and causes volume overload in the left ventricle.
Heart failure with such symptoms is a common and potentially lethal condition affecting humans, with sub-optimal clinical outcomes often resulting in symptoms, morbidity and/or mortality, despite maximal medical treatment. In particular, “diastolic heart failure” refers to the clinical syndrome of heart failure occurring in the context of preserved left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction) and in the absence of major valvular disease. This condition is characterized by a stiff left ventricle with decreased compliance and impaired relaxation, which leads to increased end-diastolic pressure. Approximately one third of patients with heart failure have diastolic heart failure and there are very few, if any, proven effective treatments.
Symptoms of diastolic heart failure are due, at least in a large part, to an elevation in pressure in the left atrium. In addition to diastolic heart failure, a number of other medical conditions, including systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle and valve disease, can lead to elevated pressures in the left atrium. Increased left atrial pressure often causes acute or chronic breathlessness amongst other problems. In addition, a variety of heart conditions can lead to “right heart failure”, which can result in enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly), fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites) and/or swelling of the lower limbs.
Frequently, patients with diastolic heart failure experience breathlessness due, in part, to elevated pulmonary venous pressure. These patients often feel worse when supine than when sitting or standing, implying that small changes in pulmonary venous pressure have a pronounced effect on symptoms.
In the past, strategies have been described for the relief of high pressure in the right atrium, such as the creation of hole(s) in the native or surgically created septum between the left and right atria. These have been designed for the rare conditions of pulmonary hypertension or cavopulmonary connections for certain complex congenital heart diseases. Accordingly, there still exists a need for devices and methods to treat heart failure, particularly diastolic and/or systolic failure of the left ventricle and its consequences.
Furthermore, there also still exists a need for devices to relieve high pressure in the left atrium and which will prevent or minimize the chance of the passage of thrombi and the resulting risk of systemic emboli. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field
Various different embodiments relate to methods, apparatus, or systems for prefetching instructions. In particular, various different embodiments relate to methods, apparatus, or systems for prefetching instructions using cache line history.
2. Background Information
Processors and other instruction processing apparatus commonly perform instruction prefetching in order to help increase performance. Processor speed (e.g., the speed of execution of instructions by the processor) typically is significantly faster than the speed of the memory subsystem (e.g., the speed of accessing instructions from memory). Instruction prefetching may involve speculatively fetching or otherwise accessing instructions from memory before the processor requests the instructions for execution. The prefetched instructions may be stored in a processor cache until they are ready to be executed. When the prefetched instructions ready to be executed, the instructions may be accessed from the cache, more rapidly than they could have been accessed from memory. However, if the instructions were not prefetched and were not available in the instruction cache (e.g. an instruction cache miss), the execution logic of the processor may need to wait for the instructions to be accessed from main memory, which may take a significant amount of time. This may tend to significantly reduce the overall throughput of the processor. This tends to be especially significant for instruction working sets that do not fit in the processor cache(s). Accordingly, the prefetching of the instructions may help to improve performance by reducing the amount of time the execution logic of the processor needs to wait for instructions for it to execute.
Instructions are not always processed sequentially one after the other. Certain types of instructions, such as branch instructions, jump instructions, function calls, traps, and other types of control flow transfer instructions, may cause processing to branch, jump, or otherwise move around in the instruction sequence or control flow. For example, the processor may process a group of instructions sequentially until a control flow transfer instruction (e.g., a branch instruction) is encountered, and then the control flow transfer instruction may cause the processor to jump or branch to a target instruction at another non-sequential or discontinuous location in the instruction sequence (e.g., the target instruction may be separated from the control flow transfer instruction by one or more or potentially many intervening instructions).
In some cases, the number of intervening instructions between the target instruction and the control flow transfer instruction may be relatively small (e.g., in the case of a so-called short control flow transfer instruction), in which case the target instruction may potentially be within the same cache line as the control flow transfer instruction or in a subsequent cache line. However, in other cases, the number of intervening instructions between the target instruction and the control flow transfer instruction may alternatively be sufficiently larger (e.g., in the case of a so-called long control flow transfer instruction), in which case the target instruction may be in a non-sequential cache line relative to the cache line of the control flow transfer instruction (e.g., separated by one or more or potentially many intervening cache lines). As used herein the cache line that has a target instruction of an instruction of a given cache line may be referred to as a target cache line.
As a result, instruction prefetching may involve not only sequential prefetching of cache lines (e.g., prefetch line L and then prefetch subsequent line L+1) but also non-sequential prefetching of cache lines (e.g., prefetch line L and the prefetch line L+N, where N≠1). | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The primary source of hydroxyfatty acids is castor oil that contains ˜90% ricinoleic acid (12-hydroxy-cis-9-octadecenoic acid, 18:1 (OH)). Its hydroxyl functional group is highly valued since it provides a site for facile chemical derivatization. Unfortunately, castor plant surfaces harbor allergenic compounds that harm workers harvesting these plants. An additional concern is residual ricin, a toxic byproduct from castor oil production. Ricinoleic acid is used in high-volume products that include coatings, surfactants, polymers and cosmetics. Competitive chemical routes to ricinoleic analogs require multiple steps, use harsh chemical reagents, and generally lack selectivity. Furthermore, there is a need for a broadened spectrum of agro-based hydroxyl fatty acids that are more reactive primary substituents.
Unlike rinoleic acid, the ω-hydroxyfatty acids produced by the novel method described herein can be derived from a wide range of oil sources while also providing hydroxyl functional groups. Furthermore, ω-hydroxyfatty acids have primary instead of secondary hydroxyl groups which increase their reactivity for esterification and urethane synthesis. As such, they can replace ricinoleic acid and hydrostearic acid in certain applications requiring higher performance.
Owing to their unique attributes of new functional ω-hydroxy fatty acids and α,ω-dicarboxylic acids, they can be used in a wide variety of applications including as monomers to prepare next generation polyethylene-like polyhydroxyalkanoates, surfactants, emulsifiers, cosmetic ingredients and lubricants. They also can serve as precursors for vinyl monomers used in a wide-variety of carbon back bone polymers. Direct polymerization of ω-hydroxy fatty acids via condensation polymerization gives next generation polyethylene-like polyhydroxyalkanoates that can be used for a variety of commodity plastic applications. Alternatively, the polymers can be designed for use as novel bioresorbable medical materials. Functional groups along polymers provide sites to bind or chemically link bioactive moieties to regulate the biological properties of these materials. Another use of functional polyesters is in industrial coating formulations, components in drug delivery vehicles and scaffolds that support cell growth during tissue engineering and other regenerative medicine strategies.
2.1 Polymer Properties
Aliphatic polyesters are a group of biodegradable polymers that may be synthesized from readily renewable building blocks such as lactic acid and fatty acid-derived materials. Such polyesters can be synthesized via polycondensation reactions between aliphatic dicarboxylic acids with diols, transesterification of diesters with diols, polymerization of hydroxy acids, and ring-opening polymerization of lactones. Resulting products can be used in industrial and biomedical applications such as for controlled release drug carriers, implants and surgical sutures. Moreover, polyesters with functional groups along chains or in pendant groups are attracting increased interest since these groups can be used to regulate polymeric material properties. Furthermore, functional polymers can be post-modified to attach biologically active groups that allow the preparation of biomaterials for use in drug delivery system and as scaffold materials for tissue engineering. Polymers from ricinoleic acid have proved highly valuable for controlled drug delivery system. However, high purity ricinoleic acid is extremely expensive due to difficulties in its purification from the natural mixture.
2.2 Polymerization Reactions
Both chemical and enzymatic approaches have been explored to synthesize polyesters from diol/diacid and hydroxyacid monomers. Chemical synthetic methods often require harsh reaction conditions and metal catalysts that are difficult to remove subsequent to polymerization. Introduction of functional groups along chains or in pendant groups is difficult to accomplish by chemical methods due to the lack of selectivity of chemical catalysts and associated harsh reaction conditions. Typically, to incorporate functional groups in chains or pendant groups using a chemical catalyst, protection-deprotection steps are required. In other words, prior to polymerization, functional groups are protected and after polymerization a deprotection step is performed to liberate functional groups. Such methods required by chemical polymerization catalysts are tedious, costly, and produce undesirable by-products.
Compared to chemical synthesis, enzyme-catalyzed polymerizations can be performed under mild reaction conditions, using proteins that are metal-free and that have high enantio- and regioselectivities. Regioselectivity of enzyme-catalysts circumvents the need for protection of functional groups and allows the preparation of polymers from multifunctional monomers with control of branching.
In recent years it has been shown that lipase-catalyzed condensation polymerizations may be performed using non-activated diacids and diols. Resulting products were obtained in high yield and with useful molecular weights. Mahapatro et al., 2004, Macromolecules 37, 35-40, describes catalysis of condensation polymerizations between adipic acid and 1,8-octanediol using immobilized Lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB) as the catalyst. Furthermore, effects of substrates and solvents on lipase-catalyzed condensation polymerizations of diacids and diols have been documented. See Olsson, et al., 2003, Biomacromolecules 4: 544-551. These publications demonstrate the feasibility of lipase-catalyzed polymerizations between diacids and diols.
Lipase-catalyzed polymerization of monomers containing functional groups including alkenes and epoxy groups to prepare polyesters has also been disclosed. Warwel et al. report the polymerization through transesterification reactions of long-chain unsaturated or epoxidized α,ω-dicarboxylic acid diesters (C18, C20 and C26 α,ω-dicarboxylic acid methyl esters) with diols using Novozym 435 as catalyst. See Warwel, 1995, et al. J. Mol. Catal. B: Enzymatic. 1, 29-35, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The α,ω-dicarboxylic acid methyl esters were synthesized by metathetical dimerization of 9-decenoic, 10-undecenioc and 13-tetradecenioc acid methyl esters, and polycondensation with 1,4-butanediol in diphenyl ether yielded the polyesters with molecular weight (Mw) of 7800-9900 g mol−1. Uyama et al. report polymerization of epoxidized fatty acids (in side-chain) with divinyl sebacate and glycerol to prepare epoxide-containing polyesters in good yields. See Uyama, et al., 2003, Biomacromolecules 4, 211-215, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Cis-9,10-epoxy-18-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid, isolated from suberin in the outer bark of birch, was used as a monomer to synthesize an epoxy-functionalized polyester by Novozym 435 catalysis (Biomacromolecules 8, 757-760 (2007)). Thus, prior work describes the preparation of functional polyesters using Novozym 435 catalysis. However, in each instance, monomer synthesis was performed either by (i) a chemical method that lacks selectivity, gives undesirable by-products and/or uses a toxic catalyst or (ii) an inefficient extraction of the monomer from a plant source.
2.3 Production of Monomers Prior to Polymerization
Currently, α,ω-dicarboxylic acids are almost exclusively produced by chemical conversion processes. However, the chemical processes for production of α,ω-dicarboxylic acids from non-renewable petrochemical feedstocks usually produces numerous unwanted byproducts, requires extensive purification and gives low yields (Picataggio et al., 1992, Bio/Technology 10, 894-898). Moreover, α,ω-dicarboxylic acids with carbon chain lengths greater than 13 are not readily available by chemical synthesis. While several chemical routes to synthesize long-chain α,ω-dicarboxylic acids are available, their synthesis is difficult, costly and requires toxic reagents. Furthermore, most methods result in mixtures containing shorter chain lengths. Furthermore, other than four-carbon α,ω-unsaturated diacids (e.g. maleic acid and fumaric acid), longer chain unsaturated α,ω-dicarboxylic acids or those with other functional groups are currently unavailable since chemical oxidation cleaves unsaturated bonds or modifies them resulting in cis-trans isomerization and other by-products.
Many microorganisms have the ability to produce α,ω-dicarboxylic acids when cultured in n-alkanes and fatty acids, including Candida tropicalis, Candida cloacae, Cryptococcus neoforman and Corynebacterium sp. (Shiio et al., 1971, Agr. Biol. Chem. 35, 2033-2042; Hill et al., 1986, Appl. Microbiol. Biotech. 24: 168-174; and Broadway et al., 1993, J. Gen. Microbiol. 139, 1337-1344). Candida tropicalis and similar yeasts are known to produce α,ω-dicarboxylic acids with carbon lengths from C12 to C22 via an ω-oxidation pathway. The terminal methyl group of n-alkanes or fatty acids is first hydroxylated by a membrane-bound enzyme complex consisting of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and associated NADPH cytochrome reductase that is the rate-limiting step in the ω-oxidation pathway. Two additional enzymes, the fatty alcohol oxidase and fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase, further oxidize the alcohol to create ω-aldehyde acid and then the corresponding α,ω-dicarboxylic acid (Eschenfeldt et al., 2003, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69, 5992-5999). However, there is also a β-oxidation pathway for fatty acid oxidation that exists within Candida tropicalis. Both fatty acids and α,ω-dicarboxylic acids in wild type Candida tropicalis are efficiently degraded after activation to the corresponding acyl-CoA ester through the β-oxidation pathway, leading to carbon-chain length shortening, which results in the low yields of α,ω-dicarboxylic acids and numerous by-products.
Mutants of C. tropicalis in which the β-oxidation of fatty acids is impaired may be used to improve the production of α,ω-dicarboxylic acids (Uemura et al., 1988, J. Am. Oil. Chem. Soc. 64, 1254-1257; and Yi et al., 1989, Appl. Microbiol. Biotech. 30, 327-331). Recently, genetically modified strains of the yeast Candida tropicalis have been developed to increase the production of α,ω-dicarboxylic acids. An engineered Candida tropicalis (Strain H5343, ATCC No. 20962) with the POX4 and POX5 genes that code for enzymes in the first step of fatty acid β-oxidation disrupted was generated so that it can prevent the strain from metabolizing fatty acids, which directs the metabolic flux toward ω-oxidation and results in the accumulation of α,ω-dicarboxylic acids (FIG. 3). See U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,466 and Picataggio et al., 1992, Bio/Technology 10: 894-898, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Furthermore, by introduction of multiple copies of cytochrome P450 and reductase genes into C. tropicalis in which the β-oxidation pathway is blocked, the C. tropicalis strain AR40 was generated with increased ω-hydroxylase activity and higher specific productivity of diacids from long-chain fatty acids. See, Picataggio et al., 1992, Bio/Technology 10: 894-898 (1992); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,878, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. Although the mutants or genetically modified C. tropicalis strains have been used for the biotransformation of saturated fatty acids (C12-C18) and unsaturated fatty acids with one or two double bonds to their corresponding diacids, the range of substrates needs to be expanded to produce more valuable diacids that are currently unavailable commercially, especially for those with internal functional groups that can be used for the potential application in biomaterials. The production of dicarboxylic acids by fermentation of saturated or unsaturated n-alkanes, n-alkenes, fatty acids or their esters with carbon number of 12 to 18 using a strain of the species C. tropicalis or other special microorganisms has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,975,234; 4,339,536; 4,474,882; 5,254,466; and 5,620,878. However, all of the known processes for the preparation of dicarboxylic acids by means of yeast only give straight-chain saturated or unsaturated (containing one double bond) dicarboxylic acids with carbon number of 12 to 18. Furthermore, the resulting dicarboxylic acids are not readily purified and used for polymer synthesis. Thus, no process is known for the preparation of ricinoleic acid analogs containing internal functionality that may consist of double bonds, triple bonds, epoxide, secondary hydroxyl, Si—O—Si and other moieties, in which the functional groups are transferred into the resulting dicarboxylic acids without change, especially in large scale, and also no processes are known for the preparation of an ω-hydroxy fatty acids with double bond and secondary hydroxyl group.
In some instances it may be advantageous to polymerize long-chain ω-hydroxy fatty acids. These cannot be prepared using any described strain of Candida because the ω-hydroxy fatty acid is oxidized to form an α,ω-dicarboxylic acid. Furthermore, neither the general classes nor the specific sequences of the Candida enzymes responsible for the oxidation from ω-hydroxy fatty acids to α,ω-dicarboxylic acids have been identified. There is therefore a need in the art for methods to produce ω-hydroxy fatty acids from fatty acids by fermentation. | {
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This invention relates to a wide angle objective for a single lens reflex camera.
Objectives for single lens reflex cameras are required to have a back focal length sufficiently long to permit for the quick return operation of the mirror mechanism. In single lens reflex cameras of 35mm format type, it is necessary that this distance be at least 36mm. Wide angle objectives for such single lens reflex cameras are constructed in the form of retrofocus lens in which concave lenses are arranged in the object-side of the lens system for the purpose of meeting the aforementioned requirement. These concave lenses contribute an increase in the back focal length to the lens system, but they have adverse effects on the correction of aberrations, because of the asymmetry of lens configuration of the resulting lens system with respect to the center thereof. Particularly barrel distortion and negative coma which are produced by the object-side concave lenses are more difficult to be corrected in high degree over the entire field. As the field angle of the objective increases, or as the overall focal length is decreased, it is necessary to increase the retro ratio, or the ratio of the back focal length to the overall focal length. As a result, the asymmetry of the lens configuration is intensified which complicates the correction of the aforementioned aberrations. Particularly with wide angle objectives which operate with a retro ratio of more than two, it is impossible to preserve a high standard imagery with respect to the aforementioned aberrations so long as all of the refracting surfaces in the lens system are spherical. | {
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1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to three-dimensional physical models of complex structures, and more particularly to three-dimensional physical models of molecular structures and methods of manufacturing such models.
2. Background Prior Art
The study of molecular structure and function is at the core of modern biology, and shapes much of biological research. Images of newly solved structures are appearing at an ever increasingly rate in science journals weekly and the rate is increasing, as structural biology becomes a mainstream science. At the same time that understanding of molecular structures has increased, methods to model and communicate understanding of these structures has not.
A number of different types of molecular model construction are known and used to represent molecular structures and to study the interaction between a large molecule, such as an enzyme, and its substrate. Many of the models currently in use are the well known. For example, it is known to use ball and stick models in which balls representing atoms are connected by rigid or flexible connectors representing chemical bonds. Using such models it is possible by tedious manual construction to assemble space filling representations of complex molecules.
Other known molecular models currently in use include space filling individual components fabricated of plastic or other rigid material representing the space filling nature of individual molecular structures. These models must also be individually assembled from construction units representing single atoms, involving tedious manual manipulation by highly skilled personnel. One reason why skilled personnel are sometimes needed to assemble molecular structure representations from known modeling kits is that the modeling kits include many parts that can be assembled in a variety of arrangements. Due to the flexibility of the kit a model can be assembled incorrectly, thus inaccurately representing the structure of the subject molecule. A skilled person having knowledge of the subject structure""s configuration is therefore needed to accurately assemble the model.
Information technology also provides one type of readily available computer-generated, virtual model of complex structures through the generation of interactive computer images. Although the image created on the computer screen is two-dimensional, various shading, depth cueing and kinetic depth effects can produce an image that takes on three-dimensional character when the model appears to rotate on the screen. Although these computer visualization programs were originally developed for UNIX-based computer workstations, versions now exist for use in desktop computer (PC or Mac) environments. Once such program, RasMol, is publicly available software. An extensive molecular structure database exists at the Protein Data Bank web site (http//www.rcsb.org/pdb) which can be down-loaded and used with RasMol, or in the RasMol-based Chime software using the down-loaded data permits virtual modeling of the molecular structures.
The following prior art references disclose a variety of model constructions and techniques used for the modeling of complex structures, such as molecular models.
Although computer-generated images can be used by experienced users to view molecular structure in great detail, these virtual models are often unavailable in classrooms and other facilities without computers. Moreover, even when such virtual modeling apparatus is available, the virtual models can be unappreciated by those who have no previous experience with either the modeling software or the molecular structure. For these individuals, physical models provide a tangible object to which users can relate in a tactile manner. In general, a three-dimensional model of complex structures assists in gaining a more complete understanding of the functional consequences of the three-dimensional structure.
Also, physical models are a necessary complement to, not a substitute for, computer-aided visualization. While interactive computer-generated images are much superior to static, two-dimensional pictures, this technology does not naturally facilitate group discussion. Only one person controls the computer xe2x80x9cmodelxe2x80x9d, and it is often difficult for inexperienced students to visualize the three-dimensional character of these computer-generated images. However, a physical model can be thought of as the ideal portable, three-dimensional, graphical display. Unlike a computer-generated image, it is always xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d; and be shared among multiple users quickly and easily. Thus there is a need for accurate, affordable physical models of biological structures.
In one embodiment, the invention provides an affordable, easy-to-use, accurate three-dimensional model of a complex structure, such as a molecule or chain of molecules, that can be used to study the structure and its function, as well as a method to manufacture the three-dimensional model. More particularly, in one embodiment, the invention provides a three-dimensional model of a complex structure including a backbone representation of a series of predetermined elements interconnected by representations of bonds extending between the predetermined elements.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making a three-dimensional model through the application of rapid prototyping technology, particularly Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) techniques. The use of such techniques is particularly well-suited to the production of physical models of the complex geometry found in molecular structures. The complex geometry found in three-dimensional protein structures precludes the use of subtractive manufacturing methods as found in traditional numerical control machining. However, these complex structures can be produced by the additive manufacturing processes employed by SFF prototyping technologies.
Although physical models produced by rapid prototyping technologies have all the properties required to be useful as instructional aids in science education, the use of rapid prototyping technologies alone is not feasible because such techniques are too slow and costly to produce molecular models in large numbers.
Accordingly, in another embodiment, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a model of a complex structure, such as a molecular model, including steps that afford use of relatively inexpensive processes such as injection molding. In particular, the invention also provides a method of making a three-dimensional model including the use of rapid prototyping techniques to divide the model into a series of segments that can be more easily manufactured than the model as a whole and that can be assembled by persons without any particular knowledge of the molecular structure and without any particular or special modeling skills.
Another aspect of the invention is the provision of a model including a plurality of model elements or segments that each have interconnecting fittings which are configured to engage only the appropriate adjacent segments, i.e., the segments fit together in only one way, so that the model as a whole can be constructed without foreknowledge of the modeled structure and without any special training. The configurations of the segments and the interconnecting fittings are also amenable to injection molding.
The invention thus provides several advantages. First, the invention provides a model of a complex structure, such as a molecular structure, divided into a series of short segments each of which possess a simple geometry. The model segments afford production by injection molding and have uniquely configured connectors built into the ends of the segments, allowing contiguous segments to be joined together to create the model. The invention also provides a method of making the model in an accurate, cost effective manner, and a method for representing covalent bonds which act in the molecular structure by the use of structural elements initially formed through the use of rapid prototyping techniques.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings. | {
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Many challenges exist as semiconductor structures scale smaller and smaller. For example, complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS) in the 7 nm node require small Lgate. Small Lgate, though, poses challenges in replacement high-k metal gate processes.
For example, with a gate length (Lg) less than 20 nm, a workfunction metal is deposited within a small opening formed by removal of a dummy gate structure. The deposition of the workfunction metal in such a small opening forms a seam due to a pinch-off effect. The deposition process is then followed by a recessing (chamfering) which removes workfunction metal in the upper portion of the gate before tungsten deposition, in order to improve gate resistance. However, it is very difficult to recess the workfunction metal without undesirably removing some of workfunction metal at a bottom of the seam and then etching the gate dielectric material and exposing the underlying fin structure, once the seam is open. Also, the formation of the self-aligned contact exposes the metal material of the replacement gate due to erosion of the sidewall spacer material, e.g., SiO2, resulting in potential contact to gate shorting or other reliability issues. | {
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Electronic information, recorded and magnetically stored so as to be processed as software by a central processing unit "CPU" of a computer, must be identified for visual recognition, to allow a human to know the relevance of that information. Such identification by indicia relating to the information, is typically a legend imprinted on a label adhesively secured to a particular portion of the exterior surface of a diskette's substantially rigid rectangular protective cover, referred to as a "casing". The casing is formed by sealing a pair of opposed thin-walled front and rear sidewalls in spaced-apart relationship, along their peripheral edges, the spacing being sufficient to accommodate an electronic data storage disk and a pair of opposed foamed synthetic resinous pads on either side thereof.
The diskette is inserted in a slot in the CPU to be "read". The diskette may also be used in a disk drive means operatively connected with the CPU, or in some other processing unit of a computer. The casing non-removably encases the storage disk, specifically a flexible "floppy" disk of coated synthetic resinous material, which disk is rotatably disposed for rotation about a central transverse or z-axis of the diskette, if the diskette is said to be planarly disposed in the x-y plane, the x-axis being the longitudinal axis, and, the y-axis the vertical.
The lower portion of the casing is referred to as the "label portion" upon which the label is to be adhesively secured; and, the upper portion is referred to as the "slidable gate portion". Each portion is inwardly off-set from the remaining surface portion, referred to as the "uncovered portion" of the exterior surface of the casing. The term "uncovered portion" is used because the "label portion" is to be covered by a label, and the "slidable gate portion" is partially covered by a slidable gate, which is spring-loaded and reciprocably disposed along the upper edge of that portion. The label portion extends over about 60% of the area on one side, referred to herein as the "front label portion" of the diskette, and over about 15% of the area of the other side, referred to as the "rear label portion". The front sidewall of the diskette is said to lie in the vertical x-y plane.
As will presently be apparent, details of the construction of a "standard" 9 cm or three and one-half inches (3.5") substantially square diskette (it is slightly longer or higher along the y-axis than it is wide along the x-axis) are relevant because of the extent to which the construction permits protection of the storage disk from a high temperature heat source, in a heating zone, in which a labeled diskette is to be placed.
This invention is specifically related to a method for removing a conventional label applied to the label portion of the casing with an adhesive, most typically a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and to a device in which the diskette is directly heated, preferably only across its label portion, before the label is manually removed, hence referred to as a "de-labeling means" or "de-labeler".
Much effort has been devoted to the problem of positioning and adhesively securing a single label on a "standard" 9 cm diskette accurately. Though apparatus is now available which can execute such a labeling task satisfactorily, the cost of such labeling of diskettes is prohibitive. Such apparatus is used by producers of software who record and label thousands of sets of diskettes, each set containing from one to a dozen diskettes, or more.
An analogous problem arises with respect to labels secured with a pressure sensitive adhesive ("PSA") similar to those used for labels on diskettes, in those instances where the original labels on casings for 44-Meg and 88-Meg removable cartridges, and casings for other media such as film, cards of various types, cigars, chocolate candies and myriad "notions" sold over the counters of stores. The common feature shared by such casings is that they are geometrical bodies, symmetrical about two axes, and present at least one relatively large surface, front or rear, to which a label is non-removably adhered.
It will be appreciated that with diskettes and removable cartridges, the casing is typically a synthetic resinous material which is itself a poor heat conductor, and facilitates the task of removing the label with a storage medium encased within. In other instances, for example with chocolates, the casing is empty when the label is to be removed.
New, that is "blank" diskettes, whether formatted or not, are sold by most manufacturers without being labeled. Blank diskettes are usually packaged in lots of 10 (ten) or more, in a box of stiff, heavy paper. Also packed in the box, is a folded, large sheet of paper, coated with a release agent, to which blank labels, suitably colored and lined, are releasably adhered. Various other types of imprinted labels are available for use in particular fields of endeavor (say, business accounting) to identify various documents routinely generated in that field. Such labels normally employ some type of indicia conventionally used with a preselected system of identification for various purposes in the field of business accounting.
Identification of the software is typically imprinted on a label by one who plans to use the diskettes (hereafter, the "user") for a particular application. The user of the blank discs labels each disk as it is recorded with information which is to be retrieved, amplifying details of the identification chosen for describing the information on the label, before it is manually positioned and secured within the label portion of the casing.
The user of the diskettes, may be an individual who will use only one or two diskettes at a time; or, a `small user` who will use only a few diskettes, perhaps as many as a couple of dozen at a time; or, a `large user` who may use several thousand at a time. A large user typically identifies diskettes by imprinting appropriate identifying indicia on a paper label, indelibly, with conventional permanent inks. Also identified, are usually the name of the creator of the software, the manufacturer, and distributor or other purveyor of the diskette, each of whom for simplicity, is hereafter referred to as the "seller".
The single label is adhesively secured with its major indicia-bearing portion on the label portion of the front side wall, and, a minor color-coded bottom marginal portion on the rear ("wrap-around label"). Some labels having only a major indicia-bearing portion (and no color-coded bottom marginal portion) are secured only in the label portion and do not extend around the bottom edge of the casing. Besides identification indicia, the label often also carries a warning that the software is protected by copyright, with the expectation that the imprinted label will remain on the diskette for its entire useful life, taking into consideration how difficult it is to remove a label from a diskette.
It is in the best interest of the seller of the software that the label, once adhered to the diskette's synthetic resinous casing, be non-removably adhered to the exterior surface thereof, so that the diskette may be manually handled a very large number of times without a significant risk that the label will be delaminated while the diskette is in use in the CPU; and also that the diskette may be stored essentially indefinitely without fear of having the label come off due to aging or oxidation of the adhesive bonding the label to the exterior surface of the casing. For durability, the casing is typically made from high impact styrene (HIPS), high density polyethylene (HDPE), or propylene (PP), appropriately filled with fillers, stabilized against degradation by heat and light with stabilizers, and colored with dyes or pigments.
Further, a seller who wishes to be remembered by the user, has no reason to want to remove a readily visible, identifying label from its substrate diskette.
These very reasons result in users, and particularly large producers of software, providing labels which are adhesively secured so tenaciously with a water-insoluble adhesive composition, that the high difficulty of removing the labels effectively thwarts any serious attempt to do so.
Particularly with casings of HDPE and PP, the logical way to remove a label would be to use a solvent since HDPE and PP are substantially insoluble even in commonly available aggressive solvents. Solvents such as acetone or methylisobutyl ketone (and `finger nail polish remover`), xylene(s), toluene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and many others, would appear to be able to penetrate through the paper and quickly dissolve the adhesive sufficiently to loosen it. However, even if the sidewalls were sealed (in most diskettes they are not) in fluid-tight relationship at their respective perimeters, and also sealed around the edges of a corner window in which a slide is movable to ensure that data on the storage disk will not be erased, there is an open circular central aperture about 2.7 cm (1.0625") in diameter, in one (rear or reverse) sidewall, through which solvent would enter the casing if the label was dipped in a bath of solvent. The lower portion of the periphery of the aperture is well below the upper edge of the indicia-bearing portion of the label (viewed with the slidable window as being the upper edge of the diskette). Solvent leaking into the casing around the periphery of the aperture will destroy the storage disk. The aperture is open for a metal driven disk about 2.5 cm in diameter (0.984") and about 2 mm (0.075") thick, upon which driven disk the storage disk is mounted for rotation about a central transverse axis (z-axis).
Clearly, the use of solvents known to dissolve the adhesive, do not lend themselves for use in this application because the diskette cannot be dipped into the solvent.
To avoid dipping a diskette, it has been bathed with a solvent, but this requires swabbing the label with solvent for too long a time. Most adhesives in current use are neither easily nor speedily dissolved at room temperature (20.degree. C.) by such solvents. If the casing is solvent-sensitive, a portion of the casing is also dissolved.
Bathing or swabbing a diskette is successful only if used to remove residual adhesive, to `finish clean` a diskette. Thus swabbing has been used to finish clean a diskette after the label has been laboriously scraped away with a sharp edge. (see article in IBM Users Forum; GO IBMNEW).
In any case, an attempt to bathe a label on the diskette sufficiently long with a suitable organic solvent, adequately to dissolve the adhesive, is both, too time-consuming and too frustrating to be justifiable. In practice, the relatively low cost of a diskette results in the old, labeled diskette being discarded as waste.
Since so much effort is devoted to labeling a diskette, whether it has been manually labeled, or labeled with a sophisticated apparatus for doing so, it appears incongruous then, to seek to remove the label. But removing an existing imprinted label is highly desirable if a diskette is to be recycled.
Not surprisingly, a seller will consider recycling its diskettes, only if there was a practical method for recovering an essentially "clean" diskette. Recycling once-used diskettes becomes particularly attractive in some not-so-unusual circumstances. For example, when a software program is found to have a "bug", or, the old program has been updated with a new program, and the former made obsolete, there may be several thousand diskettes, or sets thereof, which would be scrapped if they could not be economically recycled.
It will be evident that there can be a strong economic incentive for a seller to reuse the labeled diskettes of the no-longer-saleable diskettes, by the simple expedient of superposing a new identification label over the old. However, even if great care is exercised to position another label precisely over the first, it is difficult to hide the fact that a first label lies beneath the second.
In addition to corporate sellers of software, whether large entities or small, there are many individuals and organizations who use hundreds of diskettes for some specific project or projects, and each diskette is carefully labeled for obvious reasons. When one of the projects, or all the projects come to an end, and there is no reason to save the labeled diskettes, it is highly desirable that they be reused, not only from the standpoint of saving the cost of purchasing virgin diskettes, but also from that of conservation, to avoid dumping them to a landfill, incinerating, or otherwise disposing of the "used" diskettes.
Another occasion to recycle diskettes presents itself when a small user finds he has collected a multiplicity of diskettes on which data are recorded, but which he does not need to store. Much as the user would like to re-use those diskettes, the impracticality of delaminating the old labels from the casing of the diskette, and the unsightly result of superimposing a new label over the old, results in the labeled diskettes being discarded.
Most purchasers of software do not want to purchase software which is sold in an overtly "used" diskette even if they are well aware that a properly "recycled" diskette is of no less quality than a fresh, new or `virgin` diskette.
Because, to date, the labels cannot be removed by any practical method without damaging the recording medium within the casing of the diskette, or the casing itself, those who wished to reuse or `recycle` a labeled diskette for any one of the foregoing reasons, inter alia, either placed a second label over the first, or painstakingly scraped the printed label off the casing of the diskette. Even scraping a label off is not satisfactory because much, if not most of the adhesive remains on the casing, causing a fresh label to be warily or non-planarly readhered on the casing.
On the assumption that one is not averse to recycling a diskette and re-identifying it by a second label superimposed on the first, it will be evident that re-using the diskette for successive documents, each of which are correspondingly identified with new labels, successively superimposed one upon the last preceding one, will soon result in a thickness which will not permit the diskette to be slidably inserted in its slot in the CPU. Even if the slot was able to accommodate a diskette with multiple labels laminated one upon another and to the casing of the diskette, most users of diskettes have a marked aversion to re-using diskettes with multiple overlaid labels, if for no other reason, because of the peculiar aesthetics which are inculcated in PC (Personal Computer) users.
Finally, in view of the fact that the manufacturers of 5.25" floppies, 3.5" diskettes and other magnetic devices for storing data, usually caution against storing such devices in a hot room, users are careful to avoid exposing diskettes to heat. It is well known that diskettes are heat-sensitive. Yet, it is heat, precisely applied for a short time, which provides the solution to the problem. Moreover, a preferred device in which the diskette(s) can be heated, is simple in construction, the basic structural and control elements of the device being well known in the art of toasters for toasting slices of bread and the like. The simple construction of such a device, whether for cleaning only one diskette at a time, or plural diskettes at a time, in a batch operation, or cleaning a multiplicity of diskettes continuously, makes the de-labeler of this invention the key to recycling already-labeled diskettes.
A continuous diskette heater is constructed with the same principles in mind as in a continuous toaster for slices of bread which must be toasted to the "just right" color without being overly darkened or charred.
This invention is directed to a practical solution to the problem of removing a label, which is non-removably adhesively secured to a "standard" diskette with a thin layer of heat-sensitive adhesive, without damaging either the casing of the diskette or the storage disk on which data is to be magnetically stored, and more specifically to the problem of cleanly parting the label from the surface of a diskette without leaving a substantial amount of adhesive on the surface of the diskette. The best solution to the problem is to remove the label when the adhesive bond has been vitiated sufficiently to cause viscous deformation of the adhesive layer, to cause adhesive failure where the adhesive exhibits a higher degree of elastic response or rubbery behavior, so that the label can be parted cleanly from the surface of the label portion of the casing. | {
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Pterin is a heterocyclic compound composed of a pyrazine ring and a pyrimidine ring (a pteridine ring system). The pyrimidine ring includes a carbonyl oxygen and an amino group. Pterins are derivatives of 2-amino-4-oxopteridine with additional functional groups attached to the pyrazine ring. Pterins are known in the art and are used in a various applications. One of the most notable examples of pterin is folic acid. Another example is molybdopterin which is a substituted pteridine that binds molybdenum to give redox enzymes involved in biological hydroxylation and oxidation reactions. Pterins, substituted pterins, and derivatives thereof are of significant interest because of their potential uses in the fields of medicine and pharmaceuticals. It is contemplated that pterins can be used as a means for therapy in treating various medical conditions, such as cancer and molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MCD). Further, it is believed that pterins may possess antibacterial properties.
Pyran is a heterocyclic ring composed of five carbon atoms and one oxygen atom. There are many pyran derivatives that are known in the art as important biological molecules.
Molybdenum is an essential trace element for virtually all life forms. It is central to a cofactor for a number of enzymes that catalyze important chemical transformations. A biological form of molybdenum present in molybdenum-containing enzymes is known as the molybdenum cofactor. The molybdenum cofactor is a complicated molecule with multiple redox-active components delicately balanced having the following structure:
In some enzymes, the phosphate group substituent of the cofactor is modified with a dinucleotide. The chemical synthesis of the molybdenum cofactor and its precursors is very challenging.
An absence of or deficiency in molybdenum cofactor (known as MCD) in the human body can lead to serious illness and death. MCD is a lethal autosomal recessive disease for which treatment and cure is a focus of significant research efforts.
The biosynthetic pathway of molybdenum cofactor is a multi-step and evolutionarily conserved process involving four genes. Three of these four genes are linked to MCD. Patients are characterized by progressive neurological damage, leading to early childhood death in most cases. Symptoms are mainly caused by the sulfite oxidase (SO) enzyme deficiency. The SO enzymes remove toxic sulfite in the human body to protect the organs, particularly the brain, from an accumulation of sulfite. A deficiency of SO enzymes causes excess sulfite to accumulate in plasma and serum, it crosses the blood-brain barrier, and rapidly triggers neuronal death. Excess sulfite reacts with cystine, forming S-sulfocysteine, a potential agonist of glutamate receptors, which has been implicated for observed seizures, convulsions, contractions and twitching associated with MCD, causing damage of cortical neurons and loss of white matter.
There is a desire in the art to develop and synthesize new substituted pyrans and pterins for use in various applications including medicine and pharmaceuticals, such as, but not limited to, the treatment of MCD. | {
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In recent years, with realization of multi-channel structure of information offer resulting from popularization of CATV (Cable Television), etc., there is being increased such a demand to record, at the same time, plural video/speech (sound) data, reproduce such data or reproduce such data while recording them from a single video/speech data recording and/or reproducing unit, etc. Further, in order to satisfy this demand, there is being popularized apparatuses called video server (or also called AV (Audio and/or Video) server adapted for recording and/or reproducing video (image) or speech (sound) by using random accessible recording medium such as hard disc, etc.
In general, the video server within the broadcasting station is required to have large capacity because transfer rate of required data is high and long time data is recorded from the requirement with respect to the picture quality and/or the sound quality. In view of the above, there have been carried out an attempt in which data recording and/or reproducing unit including plural hard disc (hereinafter referred to as HD) units adapted for storing video/speech data and capable of carrying out parallel processing is used to thereby realize high speed of transfer rate of data and large capacity, and an attempt in which parity data are recorded to thereby have ability of ensuring reliability even if any HD unit is caused to be out of order. Thus, there can be realized multi-channel video server which can cope with a wide variety of use forms such that even in the case where there are different numbers of channels required by the content of the program or the broadcasting form that the broadcasting station attempts to provide, material data consisting of plural speech/video data are recorded in a distributed manner to carry out, at the same time, sending of many channels, and/or the same material data is reproduced by m any channels with the reproduction time being shifted to thereby construct system such as VOD (Video On Demand) or NVOD (Near Video On Demand), etc.
In the data recording and/or reproducing apparatus used in such video server, there is used RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks) technology constituted by plural hard disc drives (hereinafter each referred to as HDD) each consisting of plural HDs lectured by the article ("A Case for Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks (RAID)", ACM SIGMOND Conference, Chicago, Ill., Jun. 1-3, 1988) announced by Patterson, etc. 1988.
In the above-mentioned article, RAID) is classified into five disc systems of RAID-1 to RAID-5. The RAID-1 is the system of writing the same content intc two HDDs. The RAID-3 is the system in which input data is divided into data of a predetermined length to record these data into plural HDDs, and to generate parity data which are exclusive logical sum of data blocks corresponding to each other of respective HDDs to write them into other respective one HDDs. Further, the RAID-5 is the system in which respective divisional units (blocks) of data are caused to be large to record respective divisional data into respective HDDs as respective data blocks, and to record results obtained by taking exclusive logical sum of data blocks corresponding to each other of respective HDDs (parity data) into other respective HDDs as parity blocks to distribute those parity blocks into other respective HDDs.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the fundamental configuration of RAID. This RAID 10 is of configuration comprising a SCSI protocol controller (hereinafter referred to as SPC) 1, a striping section 2, a unification section 3, a memory section 4, a SPC section 5, a HDD section 6, and a CPU 7. In this example, the HDD section 6 is composed of eight HDDs of HDD.sub.1.about.HDD.sub.8. By taking, as an example, the case where SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) is employed as input/output interface of data, the configurations and the functions of respective sections will be described below.
The SPC 1 is input/output control means for carrying out management/control of input/output of data of the RAID 10, and its operation is controlled by the CPU 7. In addition, the SPCI is connected to an initiator 8 through the SCSI.
The striping section 2 is data distribution means for recording recording data inputted through the SPC 1 in a manner distributed to the HDD.sub.1.about.HDD.sub.8 of the HDD section 6. Parity data are respectively added to data distributed to the respective HDDs.
The unification section 3 is data constructing means for constituting data which have been read out from the HDD.sub.1.about.HDD.sub.8 of the HDD section 6 into single reproduction data.
The memory section 4 is buffer memory means for temporarily storing recording and/or reproduction data of the HDD section 6, and is constituted by using semiconductor memory elements.
The SPC section 5 is transfer control means for controlling data transfer between the HDD section 6 and the memory section 4, and is controlled by the CPU 7 similarly to the SPC 1.
The HDD section 6 is composed of eight HDDs of HDD.sub.1 to HDD.sub.8 as described above. For these HDDs, small diameter discs having diameter of 3.5 inches or diameter of 5.25 inches are ordinarily used. The same addresses are assigned (allocated) to the respective HDDs as described later. Data are recorded and/or reproduced in parallel.
The memory section 4 and the SPC section 5 both comprise memory.sub.1.about.memory.sub.8 and SPC.sub.1.about.SPC.sub.8 corresponding to the HDD.sub.1.about.HDD.sub.8 of the HDD section 6. Further, data input/output operations of respective HDDs of the HDD section 6 are carried out through the memory section 4 and the SPC section 5.
Moreover, the initiator 8 is connected to the SPC 1 through the SCSI, and serves to issue respective various control commands to control the operation of the RAID 10.
At the time of recording input data into the RAID 10, parity codes are added to data inputted through the SPC 1 at the time of striping at the striping section 2. The parity code added data are distributed to the respective HDDs of the HDD section 6 through the SPC section 5. Moreover, at the time of reproducing data from the RAID 10, data are read out from the respective HDDs of the HDD section 6 by the procedure opposite to that at the time of recording, and reproduction data are constructed at the unification section 3.
In HDs of the HDD.sub.2.about.HDD.sub.8 data are recorded in the state equally distributed in units called sector. Namely, in the RAID 10 of FIG. 1, data are equally distributed to respective sectors of HDD.sub.1.about.HDD.sub.8 of the HDD section 6. Moreover, since the HDD section 6 takes the configuration of the above-described RAID-3 or RAID-5, even if any fault takes place in any one of the HDD.sub.1.about.HDD.sub.8 of the HDD section 6 so that normal data transfer cannot be carried out, necessary data are restored by using parity data from data recorded in a manner distributed to the remaining seven HDDs, thus making it possible to normally transfer data. Thus, also in the case where any fault takes place in one HDD, the RAID 10 can continue use without stopping the function.
However, in the case where there take place any faults in the same address of two HDDs or more among these HDD.sub.1.about.HDD.sub.8, there are instances where it would be impossible to restore necessary data to normally transfer data. For this reason, when a fault occurs in one HDD, there is carried out a defect processing to restore the data which could not be read out by fault before fault takes place in the second HDD to record, for a second time, hereinafter referred to as re-record as occasion may demand restored data into the normal alternative sector. This defect processing is carried out by "Reassign Block command" from the CPU 7.
FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the state where the defect processing is carried out by Reassign Block command. Namely, an approach is employed to re-register address of sector 21 where defect has taken place into another normal spare sector 30 prepared in advance (this processing will be referred to as Reassign hereinafter) thereafter to carry out data restore processing of defect sector 21 to re-record the restored data into spare sector 30 (this processing will be referred to as Rebuilt hereinafter). This spare sector 30 is provided at another track on the same disc, or is provided on another disc.
However, when the above-mentioned reassign block command is executed, only the defect sector 21 is reassigned to the spare sector 30. For this reason, the physical order on the disc of the sector address of the RAID 10 would be changed. For this reason, "seek+rotation standby" time would take place. Namely, since the physical order on the disc is changed, there takes place time required for moving the head to the spare sector 30 (seeking) when access to data is provided, and until a desired spare sector 30 is rotated to the head position (rotation standby). Accordingly, after execution of reassign block command, the data access time may be remarkably elongated. In the case where data to be transferred is video/audio data, etc. for which real time characteristic is required, necessary data cannot be transferred within a predetermined time, resulting in the cause that reproduced picture (image)/sound (speech) is disturbed.
Moreover, in the RAID constituted by using plural HDDs, respective HDDs transfer data in parallel, thereby making it possible to transfer data at a speed higher than transfer speed necessary for transferring picture or sound (speech) data of one channel. For example, in the case where high speed transfer of four times speed can be made, single RAID can carry out, in parallel, transfer of four data. Thus, four users of user A to user D can provide access at the same time.
FIG. 3 explains the state where data transfer of four times speed is being carried out in the RAID 10. Namely, four kinds of data of 1-1.about.1-2, 2-1.about.2-2, 3-1.about.3-2, 4-1.about.4-2 recorded on the disc are respectively read out at four times speed and are stored into the memory section 4. Further, the four kinds of data are respectively read out at one time speed from the memory section 4. When such an approach is employed, four users of user A to user D can provide access to different data at the same time.
However, in the RAID constituted as described above, in the case where the previously described reassign block command is executed, it is required to once stop the operation of the entirety of RAID to disconnect HDD for which defect processing is to be carried out. This is because the reassign block command is a command for providing access to one (body of) HDD. In the case where four users use single RAID 10 as shown in FIG. 3, four users must stop all works. For this reason, this is great limitation in use (working) of RAID. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device such as an illuminator which includes an LED chip and a resin package for sealing the LED chip. The present invention also relates to a method of making such a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An example of semiconductor devices is an illuminator incorporating an LED chip. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a typical prior art illuminator for use in a display of a mobile phone as a light source or in a photointerrupter for example. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the illuminator 100 comprises a first lead 2 having an inner portion on which an LED chip 1 is mounted, a second lead 3 having an inner portion electrically connected to the LED chip 1 via a wire 4, and a transparent resin package 5 for sealing the LED chip 1 and the wire 4. In this illuminator 100, the LED chip 1 is surrounded by a shock absorber 107 within the resin package 5.
The LED chip 1 may be provided by forming a p-type semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, and an n-type semiconductor layer by epitaxial growth on a semiconductor wafer, forming electrodes on the semiconductor wafer, and dividing the wafer into chips of a desired size by dicing.
The shock absorber 107 is formed before the formation of the resin package 5. The shock absorber 107 functions to protect the LED chip from breaking in forming the resin package 5. The shock absorber 107 maybe formed of a soft resin called JCR (Junction Coating Resin).
The resin package 5 is generally formed of a transparent epoxy resin which does not contain a filler, because such a resin is relatively inexpensive and is easily hardened by heating.
Specifically, for forming the resin package 5, the respective inner portions of the first lead 2 and the second lead 3 together with the LED chip 1 and the wire 4 are disposed in a cavity having a predetermined configuration defined by a mold. Then, an epoxy resin in a fluid state is injected into the cavity and heated for hardening. At this time, the epoxy resin tends to thermally expand in the cavity to compress the LED chip 1.
The LED chip 1, which is obtained by cutting a wafer, may suffer strains at the cut surfaces. Therefore, when the LED chip 1 is compressed by the epoxy resin, the LED chip may start breaking at the cut surfaces. Particularly, since a transparent epoxy resin, which has a greater coefficient of linear expansion as compared with a black epoxy resin, is used for forming the resin package 5, the possibility of breakage of the LED chip 1 due to the expansion of the resin is relatively high.
In the prior art device, however, the LED chip 1 is surrounded by the shock absorber 107 before the resin package 5 is formed. Therefore, in forming the resin package 5, the pressing force of the resin toward the LED chip 1 is absorbed by the resiliency of the shock absorber 107. In this way, the shock absorber 107 protects the LED chip 1.
The shock absorber 107 is generally formed of a soft resin such as a transparent silicone resin. However, since silicone resin is used in a gel state for forming the shock absorber 107, the thickness of the shock absorber 107 becomes relatively large. As a result, the shock absorber 107 may cause lens effect for refracting the light emitted from the LED chip 1.
Further, the shock absorber 107 is formed by surrounding the LED chip 1 by a silicone resin in a gel state and then heating the resin in a furnace for example for hardening. Such process steps are rather troublesome and hinder the efficient manufacturing of the light emitting diode 100. | {
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This invention relates to a ceramic device and method for producing the same which is used as photomask when an electric circuit is drawn on a semiconductor wafer. | {
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During operation of a gas turbine engine installed as a prime mover in an aircraft, heat is generated in various parts of the engine, its accessories and its associated fluid-flow systems. Thus, heat is obviously generated during combustion of the fuel in the engine's combustion system. Though a very high percentage of this exits the engine by way cf the hot exhaust jet, or is turned into work within the engine, some heat from the combustion process is absorbed by engine components and systems. Heat is also generated by frictional effects and similarly input to engine components and systems. These frictional effects may be mechanical, such as exist between relatively moving parts of the engine or its accessories; aerodynamic, due to drag and stagnation effects in the engine's gas passages; or fluid, due to churning of oil in the lubricating oil system, fuel pumping losses, pipe flow losses, etc.
The heat input to the installation is to a large extent dissipated from it by processes of conduction, convection and radiation, but heat is also transported around the installation by the engine's fluid flow systems. These can be used in order to prevent local overheating, to raise the efficiency of heat usage, and to facilitate desirable heat exchange either internally of the installation, or by way of dumping excess heat to the environment.
It has therefore become common practice in aircraft gas turbine installations to transfer heat from the oil in the engine's lubrication oil system to the fuel in the engine's fuel system by means of a heat exchanger designated a "fuel cooled oil cooler" (FCOC) or similar. The lubricating oil of course picks up a lot of the heat generated in the engine's bearings, in the oil pumping process, and from other sources, and this is transferred to the fuel in order both to prevent the oil overheating and to improve specific fuel consumption by raising the fuel temperature prior to combustion.
Another known practice is to provide fuel and/or oil systems with air-cooled heat exchangers for dumping excess heat from these systems into the atmosphere. In turbofan engines such heat exchangers are sited within the bypass duct so that the heat can be efficiently passed to the fan air stream. However, such heat exchangers cause a loss of thrust in the fan air stream and impose a drag penalty, leading to higher fuel consumption.
Under certain operational conditions--for example, when fuel held in an aircraft's fuel tanks is too warm due to heat soaking of the aircraft or prior fuel storage at high ambient ground temperatures, or when short flight times allow inadequate time at stratospheric altitudes for the cooling effect of the cold air on the aircraft structure to keep fuel tank temperatures low--heat input from the lubricating oil to the fuel can cause the fuel temperature before combustion to become too high for safety due to the danger of vaporisation in the fuel system, e.g. excessive cavitation during pumping.
On the other hand, there are many circumstances when fuel tank temperature is low, even though temperatures in the installation's fluid flow systems are high, and in this case rejection of heat to the environment is wasteful, having an adverse effect on the engine's specific fuel consumption. Furthermore, sub-zero fuel tank temperatures can lead to icing problems under some atmospheric conditions and warming of the fuel in the tanks to above 0.degree. C. helps to avoid such problems.
One object of the present invention is therefore to provide a convenient means of managing the heat flows in the installation's fluid flow systems in such a way that excessively high or low fuel and oil temperatures can be avoided and the heat capacity of the fuel in the fuel tanks utilised to help in this.
The problems are exacerbated by the continued advance of aircraft gas turbine technology in terms of reduction of fuel consumption by such means as increased compressor compression ratios, higher combustor exit temperatures and increased rotor speeds. Combined, these factors present considerable challenges in efficiently managing the heat generated within the relatively small volume of the engine. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved capacity to manage large quantities of heat in aircraft gas turbine installations.
Besides the lubricating oil system of an engine, another closed-circuit oil system associated with large engines is that used for lubricating and cooling an electrical generator which is driven by the engine for providing electrical power to engine and aircraft systems. Unlike the engine's oil system, the generator's oil system is conventionally considered as separate from the rest of the engine installation for heat exchange purposes, and is normally provided with its own ACOC if necessary to avoid placing any additional load on the heat management capacity of the other fluid-flow systems, even though an ACOC imposes a drag penalty due to its position in an airstream flowing through or past the engine and even though under many engine operational conditions an additional heat input to the fuel would benefit efficiency. Consequently, it is a desirable object of the present invention to facilitate efficient integration of such generator oil systems with other fluid-flow systems of the engine installation in terms of their heat-exchange relationships, thereby providing the installation with a more comprehensive heat management capability and avoiding the need to give the generator's oil system its own ACOC. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to an apparatus for the reception of video signals.
It is known that television signals are transmitted in the form of successive lines with the following, notably, for each line: a synchronization pulse, a constant level that acts as a reference for the black level of the image and is called the "back porch", and the video signal in analog form.
In television receivers or, more generally, in video signals reception equipment, there is provision for automatic gain control circuits that make it possible to hold the amplitude of the video signals between limits that are acceptable for good quality of the image. This automatic gain control is usually done by detecting a determined level of the video signal, notably the peak value of the signal, and the signal thus detected is used to activate a gain control device or a variable gain amplifier in order to hold the video signal between the prescribed limits.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has been observed that the known circuits do not always satisfactorily regulate the amplitude of the video signal, especially when this video signal has to be converted into digital form. Indeed, in this latter case, the problem of the dynamic range of the analog video signal is particularly acute because the analog/digital converter has to be held between a lower level and an upper level, failing which the values that overstep the limits are not restored accurately.
The invention enables a satisfactory regulation of the amplitude of the video signal, notably when there is provision for an analog/digital converter. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas canister holder for holding a gas canister filled with a liquefied gas in a compact engine using liquefied gas as a fuel.
2. Description of Background Art
In a compact gas engine using liquefied gas mainly containing a butane gas charged in the gas canister as a fuel, a gas canister holder is provided for detachably attaching the gas canister so as to connect a carburetor chamber in the engine.
A compact gas engine is shown in FIG. 7 as an embodiment of the conventional compact gas engine. In FIG. 7, 1 denotes a compact gas engine and this compact gas engine 1 is constituted by parts mentioned below. A crank case 2, includes a cylinder 3 fixed to an upper portion of the crank case 2 and having an air intake port 4 and an exhaust port 5. A muffler 6 communicates with the exhaust port 5. A mixer 7 includes an air passage 8 and an amount adjusting chamber 9 communicating with an air passage 10. An air cleaner 11 provides outside air and feeds to the mixer 7. A muffler cover 12 communicates with the muffler 6.
A crank shaft 13 is supported by the crank case 2. A crank arm 14 is provided in the crank shaft 13. A connecting rod 15 is provided for connecting a crank pin 16 and a piston pin 17. A piston 18 and an ignition cap 19 are provided in a top portion of the cylinder 3.
Further, a gas canister holder 21 is provided for holding a cassette type gas canister A filled with a liquefied petroleum gas, and the gas canister holder has a cylindrical case 22 fixedly attached to a lower portion of the crank case 2. An end portion of the case 22 is provided with a gas canister outlet and inlet port 22a for taking in and out the gas canister A. A cap 23 is inserted and fitted into an inner portion of the gas canister outlet and inlet port 22a in the case 22 so as to be held thereby, and a compression coil spring 24 is provided for pushing the gas canister A.
A carburetor chamber case 31 is provided on the other end portion of the case 22, and the carburetor chamber case has an injection port 32 to which a nozzle-shaped discharge port B provided in a front end portion of the gas canister B is inserted. Further, a pressure adjusting device 33 is provided adjacent to a fuel passage connecting between the carburetor chamber case 31 and the pressure adjusting device 33. A fuel passage 35 connects the pressure adjusting device 33 and the amount adjusting chamber 9 of the mixer 7.
A structure for holding and fixing the cap 23 to the case 22 in the gas canister holder 21 will be described below with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a drawing as seen from a Z direction in FIG. 7. An engaging groove 25 is formed on a peripheral wall surrounding the gas canister outlet and inlet port in the case 22 at regular intervals in a circumferential direction, and an engaging hook 26 engaging with and disengaging from the engaging groove 25 is formed on a peripheral wall of the cap 23. Accordingly, the engaging groove 25 substantially has an L shape and comprises an insert and non-insert portion extending along an axial direction of the case 22 and an engaging portion having a portion continuing the insert and non-insured portion so as to extend along a peripheral direction and a portion continuing the peripheral portion so as to extend along the axial direction. The engaging hook 26 is inserted into the insert and non-insert portion of the engaging groove 25 so as to move along the peripheral portion of the engaging and disengaging portion and is again returned along the axial portion so as to be engaged. As mentioned above, the cap 23 is inserted into the outlet and inlet port 22a of the case 22 and rotated to the peripheral direction so as to be mounted in a bayonet manner. In the case of removing the cap 23 from the case 22, the inverted operation to the operation mentioned above is performed.
When the gas canister A is fitted to the inner portion 4 of the case 22 and the cap 23 is fitted and fixed to the case 22, an end surface portion of the outlet and inlet port 22a side of the gas canister A is pressed by the compression coil spring 24 provided in the cap 23. Accordingly, the discharge port B provided in the opposite end portion is brought into contact with the injection port 32 of the carburetor chamber case 31 so as to be kept in an air tight state, and as it is pressed inward the gas canister discharge valve of the canister A is opened. Accordingly, the gas fuel corresponding to the liquid charged in the gas canister A enters into the carburetor chamber case 31 and is gasified. The gas fuel gasified within the carburetor chamber case 31 successively passes through the passage 34, the pressure adjusting device 33, the passage 35, the amount adjusting chamber 9 in the mixer 7 and the passage 10 so as to enter into the air passage 8 in the mixer 7 and is mixed with the air so as to be fed to the inner portion of the cylinder 3 through the air intake port 4.
In the gas canister holder in the compact gas engine in accordance with the conventional art, the following problems exist.
In the case where the gas canister A is fitted to the inner portion of the case 22 so as to fit and hold the cap 23 to the case 22, the case 23 receives a force toward the inner portion of the cap (rightward in FIG. 7) through the compression coil spring 24 from the base end portion of the gas canister A, and the engaging hook 26 of the cap 23 receives a force toward the opposite direction to the case of the cap 23 (leftward in FIG. 7) from the portion along the peripheral direction in the engaging groove 25 of the case 22. Therefore, the cap 23 fitted to the case 22 is held by two pressing forces opposite to each other mentioned above. On the contrary, in the case where the cap 23 is fitted to the case 22 at a time when the gas canister A does not exist in the inner portion of the case 22, the spring 24 does not work and the forces mentioned above do not respectively act, so that the cap 23 is free with respect to the case 22. Therefore, there is a risk that the engaging hook 26 of the cap 23 freely moves within the engaging groove 25 of the case 22 during transit of the engine 1 so that the cap 23 gets out of place from the case 22 and further the removed cap 23 is lost.
The cap 23 fitted to the conventional case 22 is formed by pressing the metal plate. However, in the case where the compact gas engine 1 is used for a machine operating outdoors for a long time, in summer season, the metal cap 23 becomes hot if exposed to direct sunshine, so that there is a risk that the operator is burned when the operator holds the engine with unprotected hands. On the contrary, in the case where the compact gas engine 1 is used for a machine operating outdoors for a long time, the gas canister A is replaced relatively frequently. In the case of replacing the gas canister A, the operator holds the cap 23 and attaches the cap to and detaches the cap from the case 22. In this case, as mentioned above, in the summer season, since the temperature of the cap 23 is high, there is a risk that the cap 23 may burn the operator's unprotected hands. | {
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Current generators are electrical circuits used to produce currents with low variability that may be provided to other circuitry. It may be desirable for the current provided by the current generator to be insensitive to process, voltage, or temperature (PVT) variations. Electrical components' physical properties may change with changing temperature. For example, a resistance of a resistor may increase with increasing temperature. If the resistor is included in a current generator circuit, it may cause variations in the output current as temperature changes. Operational amplifiers and transistors may be used to compensate for temperature variations. Often many additional components are necessary for PVT compensation. This may lead to increases in component costs and increased layout area for the current generator. It may also increase the power consumption of the current generator. | {
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The invention relates to extrusion, especially the dies that are used in the extrusion process which essentially comprises charging solid extrudable material, such as rubber, to the heat chamber of an extruder, after which the material is heated to a flowable state and forced from the chamber through the opening in a plate or die which is mounted at the discharge end of the heat chamber. The extrudate falls onto a conveyor which removes the extrudate from the extruder which, typically, has a horizontally disposed hollow barrel with a cylindrical bore as a heat chamber. A rotatable screw is disposed in the bore for forcing the heated material through the die at the discharge end of the barrel.
Extruded products, such as rubber automobile and refrigerator door seals are limited to linear extruded formations. The corners of such door seals are presently formed, by hand. For example, the ends of two seals are mitered and held together in a mold, after which similar rubber material is injected into the mold to contact and join the mitered ends to form the corner desired. Removable inserts are placed in hollow sections of the mitered ends, so that the shapes of the seals will not be distorted during the corner forming process which is complex, time consuming and expensive.
The aforementioned door seals can be molded with curved or square corners, but this process is a batch-type process which is much slower than the continuous extrusion process. Moreover, expensive molds are required in the molding process. Thus, it is quicker and easier and less expensive to use the extrusion process, if at all possible.
The extrusion of bends in rubber automobile hose is well known. This is accomplished by eccentrically positioning in the flow channel through which extrudate flows, the cylindrical core or mandrel which is used to form the hollow bore within the hose. The variation in the thickness of the flow pathways along the mandrel, causes the rubber extrudate or hose to bend in the direction of the narrower pathway, or thinner sidewall produced in the hose. Such a process is suitable for extrudates which have a relatively simple shape that is substantially symmetrical about an axis. The aforementioned door seals generally have a complex geometry or shape, so that their formation is incompatible with the hose making process.
A simple, revolutionary way has been discovered to bend or curve a uniform extrudate without radically distorting the shape of the extrudate.
Briefly stated, the invention is in a method and apparatus for substantially varying the length of the pathways which extrudate flows to opposing extremities of a die opening to produce bending or curvature of the extrudate in the direction of the longer pathway.
It has been found that varying the lengths of the flow pathways, rather than the thickness nf the pathways, causes the extrudate to bend without substantially changing its cross sectional shape. Thus, the invention has the advantage of producing a more uniform product which does not have any of its sidewalls weakened by a reduction in thickness. | {
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FIG. 23 shows the main part of an inker (ink supply device) in a printing unit of each color of a web offset printing press. Referring to FIG. 23, reference numeral 1 denotes an ink fountain; 2, ink stored in the ink fountain 1; 3, an ink fountain roller; 4 (4-1 to 4-n), a plurality of ink fountain keys juxtaposed in the axial direction of the ink fountain roller 3; 5, an ink ductor roller; 6, an ink roller group; 7, a printing plate; 8, a plate cylinder on which the printing plate 7 is mounted; 9, a blanket cylinder; and 10, an impression cylinder.
This ink supply device supplies the ink 2 in the ink fountain 1 to the ink fountain roller 3 by adjusting the opening ratios of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n, and supplies, via the ink roller group 6, the ink supplied to the ink fountain roller 3 to the printing plate 7 by the feed operation of the ink ductor roller 5.
An image is printed on the printing plate 7. The ink supplied to the printing plate 7 is received by the blanket cylinder 9. The ink received by the blanket cylinder 9 is transferred to printing paper (target printing material) 11 conveyed between the blanket cylinder 9 and the impression cylinder 10.
Note that ink form rollers 6-1 to 6-4 in contact with the printing plate 7 are provided at the end of the ink flow path of the ink roller group 6. Together with the ink supplied via the ink form rollers 6-1 to 6-4, dampening water stored in a fountain pan 13 is supplied to the printing plate 7 via a dampening form roller 12.
In this ink supply device, when a print job is switched, that is, when the printing plate 7 of a preceding print job is exchanged with a printing plate 7′ of the next print job, the opening ratios of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n and the rotation amount of the ink fountain roller 3 are changed to values corresponding to the image of the printing plate 7′ of the next print job, and the ink 2 in the ink fountain 1 is supplied to the exchanged printing plate 7′ via the ink roller group 6. In this case, test printing is performed before final printing, and the ink supply amount is adjusted, thereby obtaining a satisfactory color tone. A desired ink film thickness distribution (the gradient of an ink film thickness) is thus formed on the ink roller group 6, the plate cylinder 8, and the blanket cylinder 9.
However, in this ink supply device, when exchanging the printing plate 7 with the printing plate 7′ and executing the next print job, the ink film thickness distribution for the printing plate 7 of the preceding print job still remains on the ink roller group 6. In this case, the ink film thickness distribution for the printing plate 7 of the preceding print job needs to be gradually changed to the ink film thickness distribution for the printing plate 7′ of the next print job. Excessive ink supply amount adjustment and test printing are needed until a satisfactory color tone is obtained. This poses problems such as “an increase in the preparation time before printing”, “an increase in working load”, “a waste of printing materials”, “a decrease in production efficiency”, and “an increase in cost”.
Hence, aiming at decreasing the numbers of times of ink supply amount adjustment and test printing until a satisfactory color tone is obtained, “ink film thickness control methods” described in patent literatures 1 and 2 have been proposed.
[Patent Literature 1 (Ink Decrease+Preinking 2)]
In the ink film thickness control method described in patent literature 1, when switching a print job, the feed operation of the ink ductor roller 5 is turned off. In a state in which the printing plate 7 of the preceding print job is kept mounted, the printing press is operated to print a predetermined number of sheets (blank sheet printing). The ink in the ink supply device is thus decreased (ink decrease), and a minimum ink film thickness distribution Ma (see FIG. 24A) that is needed during printing and becomes thinner from the upstream to the downstream, that is, the reference ink film thickness distribution Ma corresponding to a portion (a portion where the image area ratio is zero) of the printing plate 7 without any image is left on the ink roller group 6 (ink removing).
Next, the opening ratios of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n, the rotation amount of the ink fountain roller 3, and the like are set to values corresponding to the image of the printing plate 7′ of the next print job. Then, in a state in which the ink form rollers 6-1 to 6-4 are thrown off, the printing press is operated to cause the ink ductor roller 5 to perform the feed operation a predetermined number of times, thereby superimposing an ink film thickness distribution Mb (see FIG. 24B) corresponding to the image of the printing plate 7′ of the next print job on the reference ink film thickness distribution Ma remaining on the ink roller group 6 (preinking 2).
[Patent Literature 2 (Ink return+Preinking 1)]
In the ink film thickness control method described in patent literature 2, when switching a print job, the opening amounts of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n are set to zero. In this state, the ink ductor roller 5 is caused to perform the feed operation a predetermined number of times, thereby wholly returning the ink on the ink roller group 6 to the ink fountain 1 (ink return). A state in which each roller in the ink roller group 6 does not hold ink is thus attained.
Next, the opening ratios of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n are set to a predetermined opening ratio (for example, 50%). In addition, the rotation amount of the ink fountain roller 3 is set to a predetermined amount (for example, 50%). Then, the ink ductor roller 5 is caused to perform the feed operation a predetermined number of times, thereby forming the minimum ink film thickness distribution (reference ink film thickness distribution) Ma (see FIG. 24A) needed during printing on the ink roller group 6 (the first step of preinking 1).
The opening ratios of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n, the rotation amount of the ink fountain roller 3, and the like are set to values corresponding to the image of the printing plate 7′ of the next print job. Then, in a state in which the ink form rollers 6-1 to 6-4 are thrown off, the printing press is operated to cause the ink ductor roller 5 to perform the feed operation a predetermined number of times, thereby superimposing the ink film thickness distribution Mb (see FIG. 24B) corresponding to the image of the printing plate 7′ of the next print job on the reference ink film thickness distribution Ma formed on the ink roller group 6 (the second step of preinking 1).
FIG. 25 shows a printed product printed by the printing press including the ink supply device. A strip-shaped color bar 11-2 is printed in a margin portion except an image region 11-1 on the printed product (target printing material) 11. In general four-color printing, the color bar 11-2 is formed from density measurement patches (density measurement solid color patches of a percent dot area of 100%) 11a1, 11a2, 11a3, and 11a4 of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Regions S1 to Sn correspond to the key zones of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n in the printing units of the respective colors of the printing press.
[Color Matching]
A reference density is set in advance for the printing unit of each color. That is, a reference density value is set in advance for each of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. When printing the printed product 11, the opening ratios of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n in the printing unit of each color are adjusted so as to make the density value of each color match the reference density value. The adjustment of the opening ratios of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n in the printing unit of each color is performed by an ink supply amount adjustment device (not shown) based on the densities of the density measurement patches 11a (11a1, 11a2, 11a3, and 11a4) of the respective colors printed on the printed product 11.
For example, the region S1 in the printed product 11 will representatively be described. The density values of the density measurement patches 11a of the respective colors on the printed product 11 obtained by test printing or final printing are measured. The density difference between the measured density value of each color and the preset reference density value of the color is obtained. The adjustment value of the opening amount of the ink fountain key 4-1 (the adjustment value of the ink supply amount to the region S1) in the printing unit of each color is obtained from the density difference of the color. The obtained adjustment value (reference adjustment value) is multiplied by a unique coefficient (control ratio) to obtain a correction value. The opening amount of the ink fountain key 4-1 in the printing unit of each color is adjusted using the correction value as a feedback amount.
For the regions S2 to Sn as well, the adjustment values of the opening amounts of the ink fountain keys 4-2 to 4-n (the adjustment values of the ink supply amounts to the regions S2 to Sn) in the printing unit of each color are obtained in a similar manner. The obtained adjustment values (reference adjustment values) are multiplied by a unique coefficient (control ratio) to obtain correction values. The opening amounts of the ink fountain keys 4-2 to 4-n in the printing unit of each color are adjusted using the correction values as feedback amounts.
However, in the ink film thickness control method described in patent literature 1 (ink decrease+preinking 2), since blank sheet printing is performed when leaving the ink film thickness distribution Ma on the ink roller group 6, paper is wasted.
In the ink film thickness control method described in patent literature 2 (ink return+preinking 1), since the ink on the ink roller group 6 is wholly returned to the ink fountain 1, and a corrected ink film thickness distribution (Ma+Mb) is formed from zero, a long time is needed. Additionally, in this method, since emulsified ink (ink blended with dampening water) is returned to the ink fountain 1, a printing failure occurs, and printing materials are wasted.
The present applicant considers an ink supply method that enables to divide the ink roller group 6 in the ink supply device into the upstream side and the downstream side, provides an ink scraper blade configured to remove ink remaining on the roller group on the upstream side and removes the ink remaining on the roller group on the upstream side in a state in which the ink roller group 6 is separated into the upstream side and the downstream side to decrease the ink, connects the roller group on the upstream side and the roller group on the downstream side after that, sets the opening amounts of the ink fountain keys to opening amounts corresponding to the image of the printing plate 7′ of the next print job, and performs the feed operation of the ink ductor roller 5 a predetermined number of times in that state to superimpose an ink film thickness distribution corresponding to the image of the printing plate 7′ of the next print job, thereby enabling to immediately print a normal printed product.
In this ink supply method, however, even if the ink remaining on the roller group on the upstream side is scraped by the ink scraper blade, the difference in the ink film thickness caused by the difference in the image area ratio in the area corresponding to the ink fountain keys cannot completely be eliminated. The adverse effect remains in the ink film thickness distribution corresponding to the image of the next print job, and a normal printed product cannot be printed immediately. Hence, the printing materials are wasted.
This problem, that is, the problem that even if the ink remaining on the roller group on the upstream side is scraped by the ink scraper blade, the difference in the ink film thickness caused by the difference in the image area ratio in areas corresponding to the ink fountain keys cannot completely be eliminated will be described with reference to FIGS. 26, 27A, and 27B.
FIG. 26 is a view showing the images of printing plates of a preceding print job (job A) and a current print job (job B) and ink film thicknesses (printed states) in the ink supply device corresponding to the images. The view on the upper side of FIG. 26 shows the images of the printing plates of the jobs A and B, and the view on the lower side shows the ink film thicknesses in the ink supply device corresponding to the images of the printing plates of the jobs A and B.
In the job A, the image area ratio in the area corresponding to the ink fountain keys increases (the ink film thickness increases) from left to right. In the job B, the image area ratio in the area corresponding to the ink fountain keys increases (the ink film thickness increases) from right to left, contrary to the job A. Note that t1 is the reference ink film thickness, t2 is the image film thickness, and W is the width of the printing plate. Each of the reference ink film thickness t1 and the image film thickness t2 indicates the average value of ink film thicknesses that decrease from the upstream side to the downstream side on the ink roller group 6.
FIG. 27A shows an ink film thickness after ink is decreased by the method (blank sheet printing) described in patent literature 1 (a film thickness after removing) when switching the print job from the job A to the job B. In this case, since the ink is decreased by blank sheet printing, the image film thickness t2 of the printing plate of the job A is removed, and only the reference ink film thickness t1 is left. Hence, when the opening amounts of the ink fountain keys are set to opening amounts corresponding to the image of the printing plate of the job B, the image film thickness t2 of the job B is superimposed on the reference ink film thickness t1.
FIG. 27B shows an ink film thickness after ink is scraped by the ink scraper blade (a film thickness after removing) when switching the print job from the job A to the job B. In this case, since the ink scraper blade 15 scrapes the ink evenly in the roller width direction, the influence of the unevenness of the ink film thickness caused by the difference in the image area ratio in the area corresponding to the ink fountain keys cannot be eliminated. In addition, the ink is removed while cutting into the reference ink film thickness t1. For this reason, even when the opening amounts of the ink fountain keys are set to opening amounts corresponding to the image of the printing plate of the job B, an ink film thickness including the image film thickness t2 of the job B superimposed on the reference ink film thickness t1 cannot be obtained. | {
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FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional pixel 100 of an active matrix light-emitting diode (AMLED) display. Pixel 100 includes a light-emitting diode (LED) 105 (e.g., an organic LED or other type of LED), a column driver 108, row drivers 110 and 115 (each coupled to ground), voltage sources 120 and 125 (each coupled to ground), a capacitor 130, and switches 142, 144, 146, and 148 (e.g., semiconductor switches).
The cathode of LED 105 is coupled to the negative terminal of voltage source 120 (the positive terminal being coupled to ground), or directly to ground, while the anode of LED 105 is coupled to a pixel drive transistor (e.g., a switch 142). Switch 142 is also coupled to a node 152, and node 152 is also coupled to switches 144 and 148. Switch 142 is turned ON/OFF by column driver 108 (via switch 146 and a node 156) and capacitor 130 via a node 154.
Switch 148 is coupled to node 156, and is turned ON/OFF by row driver 115 (via a node 158). Node 156 is also coupled to switch 146, and switch 146 is turned ON/OFF by row driver 115 (via node 158).
Pixel 100 also includes a node 160 coupled to switch 144, capacitor 130, and the positive terminal of voltage source 125 (the negative terminal being coupled to ground). Switch 144 is coupled to and turned ON/OFF by row driver 110.
During operation, row driver 115 turns ON switches 146 and 148 to program pixel 100. When switch 146 is ON, current from column driver 108 charges capacitor 130 and provides a voltage at the gate of switch 142, which turns ON switch 142. When switches 148 and 142 are each ON (at the same time as switch 146), current from column driver 108 is supplied to LED 105 (via switch 142) and LED 105 is illuminated.
Row driver 115 then turns OFF switches 146 and 148, and row driver 110 turns ON switch 144 (switch 142 remains ON via capacitor 130). When switches 142 and 144 are both ON, current from voltage source 125 is supplied to LED 105. This is referred to as the “Hold” portion of the cycle. LED 105 remains illuminated until row driver 110 turns OFF switch 144.
The brightness of LED 105 is determined not only by the magnitude of the current supplied, but also by the amount of time current is supplied to LED 105. That is, the longer the period of time LED 105 receives current during the cycle time, the brighter LED 105 appears. Similarly, the shorter the period of time LED 105 receives current, the dimmer LED 105 appears.
A conventional display (not shown) using an array of pixels 100 illuminates the array one row of pixels at a time (via a pair of row drivers 110 and 115 for each respective row) during a cycle time. Furthermore, once illuminated, each row remains illuminated until it is reprogrammed during the next cycle. That is, for each cycle row 1 is illuminated first via a first pair of row drivers, row 2 is then illuminated via a second pair of row drivers, and then row 3 is illuminated via a third pair of row drivers. This process continues until each row is illuminated via a respective pair of row drivers, and each row remains illuminated throughout its cycle.
FIG. 2 illustrates a timing diagram 200 of a conventional array of pixels 100 arranged in a plurality of rows. Timing diagram 200 shows one cycle time, which is typically about 16.6 milliseconds (ms). As illustrated, row 1 is illuminated at time T0 and held ON for the remainder of the cycle time. After row 1 is illuminated, row 2 is illuminated at a time TR (e.g. 0.5 ms) after T0 and held on until its next programming time. As discussed above, this process is repeated for each row until all of the rows in the array are illuminated.
Dimming of the display's luminance while retaining displayed information (e.g. gray shades) may be accomplished by modulating the amplitude of voltage supplies 120 and/or 125, or by turning either supply 125 or 105 OFF at an interval shorter than the cycle time. This is referred to as pulse width modulation of the LED 105 current.
Since each pair of row drivers illuminates the pixels 100 in their respective rows one row at a time, each row may be illuminated for a different amount of time if the PWM is not properly synchronized with each row's programming and hold periods. Furthermore, transients caused by the turning ON or OFF of switch 144 cause a change in the amount of charge on capacitor 130, and a corresponding change in the programmed current through switch 142 resulting in an undesired change in luminance of LED 105, thus causing luminance non-uniformity in the LED 105 array. Moreover, the ability to control the brightness of each LED is limited to the ability to precisely control the amount of current provided to the LED by the current source.
Accordingly, it is desirable to employ apparatus, systems, and methods for dimming the brightness of an array of pixels uniformly without the problems associated with the prior art methods. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention. | {
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This invention relates to a display arrangement which is capable of presenting bright, but readily alterable displays with modest power consumption and without being excessively bulky.
According to a first aspect of this invention a display arrangement includes a sealed envelope containing a mesh electrode positioned between an electron emissive cathode arranged to emit a divergent flood beam of electrons and a fluorescent screen which forms part of the envelope so that the flood beam falls upon a predetermined area of said mesh electrode; and field electrode means positioned closely adjacent to the cathode for controlling the strength and polarity (with respect to the cathode) of the electric field in which the cathode is situated, so as to determine whether or not electrons are able to reach said screen to cause it to fluoresce.
According to a second aspect of this invention, a display arrangement includes a sealed envelope containing a mesh electrode positioned between an electron emissive cathode arranged to emit a divergent flood beam of electrons and a fluorescent screen which forms part of the envelope so that the flood beam falls upon a predetermined area of said mesh electrode; and field electrode means positioned so that the cathode is between at least a part of said means and said mesh electrode, the field electrode means being positioned closely adjacent to the cathode for controlling the strength and polarity (with respect to the cathode) of the electric field in which the cathode is situated so as to determine whether or not electrons are able to reach said screen to cause it to fluoresce.
The strength and polarity of the electric field in which the electron emissive cathode is situated is dependent on the potential of the cathode itself as well as the potentials on the mesh electrode and the field electrode. Since the potential on the mesh electrode is primarily dictated by other considerations, it is preferable to use the potential upon the field electrode to control the passage of electrons from the cathode to the fluorescent screen. By arranging that the electron emissive cathode is situated in an electric field which is more negative than the potential of the cathode, free electron emission is inhibited, and electrons are tightly confined to the vicinity of the cathode surface and thus are unable to reach the fluorescent screen. Conversely, by altering the polarity of the electric field with respect to the cathode, electrons are freely emitted and accelerated towards the mesh electrode which is at a potential somewhat more positive than that of the cathode. Once they reach this mesh electrode the electrons are rapidly accelerated towards the fluorescent screen, which typically has a potential of several thousand volts upon it. Increasing the magnitude of the electric field provides a control over the quantity of electrons which reach the screen and hence the brightness of the display, although the brightness is primarily dependent on the magnitude of the accelerating potential on the screen. The presence of the mesh electrode effectively isolates the cathode and the field grid from the effects of the high potential on the screen, and thus the display can be switched on and off by means of very low voltages in a rapid and reliable fashion.
According to a third aspect of this invention a method of operating a display arrangement comprising a sealed envelope containing a mesh electrode positioned between an electron emissive cathode arranged to emit a divergent flood beam of electrons and a fluorescent screen which forms part of the envelope so that the flood beam falls upon a predetermined area of said mesh electrode; and field electrode means positioned so that the cathode is between at least a part of said means and said mesh electrode, the field electrode means being positioned closely adjacent to the cathode for controlling the strength and polarity (with respect to the cathode) of the electric field in which the cathode is situated so as to determine whether or not electrons are able to reach said screen to cause it to fluoresce, includes the steps of applying a first predetermined potential difference between the field electrode means and the cathode so as to cause the divergent flood beam of electrons of predetermined size to be emitted from said cathode so as to cause fluoresence of said screen; and applying a second selectable predetermined potential difference between the field electrode means and the cathode so as to prevent electrons reaching the mesh electrode.
The invention avoids the need to position control electrodes between a cathode structure and the screen to achieve selective illumination thereof, and it permits the thickness of a display arrangement to be very small indeed, since the control electrode, which comprises, in effect, the field electrode, can be positioned on that side of the cathode which is remote from the screen. Advantageously, one or both of the cathode and the field electrode are of a segmented nature, so that the selection of particular segments constrains electrons to call upon selected locations of the screen to permit complex display patterns to be generated and rapidly altered. In principle, the mesh electrode can be of a segmented nature, so that it can also be used to selectively address locations of the fluorescent screen, but this is less preferred.
The display arrangements can take a number of different physical forms. For example, it can be arranged to generate a stylised symbol or character, usually a seven stroke character based upon the numeral eight. Alternatively, it can be used to select from a matrix of possible points or small patches of light just those points which act together to represent the required display pattern. Other variations are described subsequently with reference to the drawings. The use of an appropriate fluorescent screen enables a colour display to be provided, if necessary. | {
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Mature human relaxin is a hormonal peptide of approximately 6000 daltons known to be responsible for remodelling the reproductive tract before parturition, thus facilitating the birth process. This protein appears to modulate the restructuring of connective tissues in target organs to obtain the required changes in organ structure during pregnancy and parturition. See, Hisaw, F. L., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 23: 661-663 (1926); Schwabe, C., et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 75: 503-570 (1977); James, R. et al., Nature, 267: 544-546 (1977). A concise review of relaxin was provided by Sherwood, D. in The Physiology of Reproduction, Chapter 16, “Relaxin”, Knobil, E. and Neill, J., et al. (eds.), (Raven Press Ltd., New York), pp. 585-673 (1988). Circulating levels of relaxin are elevated for the entire nine months of pregnancy and drop quickly following delivery.
While predominantly a hormone of pregnancy, relaxin has also been detected in the non-pregnant female as well as in the male. Bryant-Greenwood, G. D., Endocrine Reviews, 3: 62-90 (1982) and Weiss, G., Ann. Rev. Physiol., 46:43-52 (1984) and has most recently been found to be useful in the treatment of heart failure.
Heart failure is defined as the inability of the cardiac pump to move blood as needed to provide for the metabolic needs of body tissue. Decreases in pumping ability arise most often from loss or damage of myocardial tissue. As a result, ventricular emptying is suppressed which leads to an increase in ventricular filling pressure and ventricular wall stress, and to a decrease in cardiac output. As a physiological response to the decrease in cardiac output, numerous neuroendocrine reflexes are activated which cause systemic vasoconstriction, sympathetic stimulation of the heart and fluid retention. Although these reflex responses tend to enhance cardiac output initially, they are detrimental in the long term. The resulting increases in peripheral resistance increase the afterload on the heart and the increases in blood volume further increase ventricular filling pressure. These changes, together with the increased sympathetic stimulation of the heart, lead to further and often decompensating demands on the remaining functional myocardium.
Congestive heart failure, which is a common end point for many cardiovascular disorders, results when the heart is unable to adequately perfuse the peripheral tissues. According to recent estimates, there are about 4 million people in the United States diagnosed with this disease, and more than 50% of these cases are fatal within 5 years of diagnosis [Taylor, M. D. et al., Annual Reports in Med. Chem. 22, 85-94 (1987)].
Current therapy for heart failure, including congestive heart failure, focuses on increasing cardiac output without causing undue demands on the myocardium. To achieve these ends, various combinations of diuretics, vasodilators and inotropic agents are used to decrease blood volume, to decrease peripheral resistance, and to increase force of cardiac contraction. Current therapy therefore depends on balancing the effects of multiple drugs to achieve the clinical needs of individual patients, and is plagued by adverse reactions to the drugs used.
For example, diuretics decrease plasma concentrations of potassium and magnesium and increase the incidence of arrhythmias in patients receiving digitalis. Diuretics can potentiate the circulatory effects of nitrates through volume depletion and lead to decreases in filling pressure of the heart, cardiac output and systemic arterial pressure.
Alpha adrenergic antagonists can lead to marked falls in systemic arterial pressure that compromise coronary perfusion.
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors can have similar effects on arterial pressure and additionally lead to excessive increases in plasma concentrations of potassium.
Drugs that lead to positive inotropy, such as digitalis and beta adrenergic antagonists, have the potential to provoke arrhythmias. In addition, digitalis has a narrow therapeutic index and the catecholamine analogs all tend to loose their effectiveness rapidly, due to receptor downregulation.
Thus there is a need for therapeutic agents that lead to physiologically integrated responses of arterial and venous vasodilation and cardiac inotropy, and are devoid of the disadvantages of the currently used therapeutic agents.
Relaxin has been purified from a variety of species including porcine, murine, equine, shark, tiger, rat, dogfish and human, and shows at least primary and secondary structural homology to insulin and the insulin-like growth factor, however homology between species can be quite low. In the human, relaxin is found in most abundance in the corpora lutea (CL) of pregnancy. However, specific nuclei in the brain have relaxin receptors and other nuclei contain messenger RNA for relaxin. Several nuclei with cells bearing relaxin receptors are found in the area of the hypothalamus.
Two human gene forms have been identified, (H1) and (H2). Hudson, P., et al., Nature, 301: 628-631 (1983); Hudson, P., et al., The EMBO Journal, 3: 2333-2339 (1984); and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,758,516 and 4,871,670. Only one of the gene forms (H2) has been found to be transcribed in CL. It remains unclear whether the (H1) form is expressed at another tissue site, or whether it represents a pseudo-gene. When synthetic human relaxin (H2) and certain human relaxin analogs were tested for biological activity, the tests revealed a relaxin core necessary for biological activity as well as certain amino acid substitutions for methionine that did not affect biological activity. Johnston, et al., in Peptides: Structure and Function, Proc. Ninth American Peptide Symposium, Deber, C. M., et al. (eds.) (Pierce Chem. Co. 1985).
Methods of making relaxin are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,251 and in co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 07/908,766 (PCT US90/02085) and Ser. No. 08/080,354 (PCT US94/0699). Methods of using relaxin in cardiovascular therapy and in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,191 and in U.S. Ser. No. 07/902,637 (PCT US92/06927). Certain formulations of human relaxin are described in allowed U.S. Ser. No. 08/050,745.
Recombinant human relaxin (H2) in currently in Phase I human clinical trials in scleroderma patients. Scleroderma is a disease involving an imbalance in tissue reformation giving rise to the overproduction of collagen, and ultimately resulting in swelling and hardening of the skin (and affected organs). Currently treatments delivering relaxin require repeated and prolonged infusions. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for emulsion polymerization. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for emulsion polymerizing a monomer which is hardly soluble in water.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general emulsion polymerization, at least one monomer and a polymerization initiator are added in an amount of water and polymerized, if desired, in the presence of an emulsifier and a buffer while keeping a polymerization system in an emulsified state.
When a monomer which is hardly soluble in water is to be emulsion polymerized, its polymerization rate is very low, since it diffuses into an aqueous phase at an extremely slow diffusion rate. In order to efficiently polymerize such a monomer on a commercial scale, it is necessary to increase the reaction rate and the diffusion rate through the increase of the reaction temperature. However, polymerization at a high temperature is not economical. Alternatively, it may be possible to accelerate the polymerization of monomer which is hardly soluble in water with the use of a larger amount of the emulsifier so as to improve the solubility and dispersibility of the monomer in water. However, the use of an emulsifier in a larger amount makes it difficult to separate the emulsifier from the resulting polymer. When the monomer which is hardly soluble in water is copolymerized with another monomer, the other monomer is preferentially polymerized so that the copolymer produced contains only very small amount of the monomer which is hardly soluble in water.
Various proposals have been made to increase the polymerization rate in an emulsion polymerization or to solve the problem of non-uniform consumption of the monomers during copolymerization. For example, Japanese Pat. Kokai Publication No. 223007/1986 discloses copolymerization of a perfluorovinyl ether with other fluoroolefins in the presence of a specific emulsifier. Japanese Pat. Kokai Publication No. 89713/1987 proposes the use of hexafluoropropylene as a third monomer so as to stably emulsion polymerize a perfluorovinyl ether and tetrafluoroethylene with good reproducibility. | {
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It is well known that in nuclear fuel reprocessing plants a certain amount of radioactive krypton gas is released during chemical processes which are used to dissolve spent nuclear fuel rods. Rather than allow such radioactive gas to contaminate the atmosphere, environmental standards generally require that such krypton be recovered and stored for a period of about 100 years. As the half-life of krypton is approximately 10 years, storage for 100 years will reduce the radioactivity of the krypton to virtually insignificant levels, at which time it will be comparatively safe to use or release the gas to atmosphere. Storage of a large quantity of gas for a period of 100 years obviously poses substantial problems and cost with respect to such storage, even if only in terms of the space required. Therefor, it has been an objective of the art to develop an efficient process for separation of these radioactive gases so that the least amount possible of the particular gas need be stored. Hence, there is and has been a need for an efficient method of separating radioactive krypton from other gases.
In one common type of nuclear fuel reprocessing plant the krypton arrives at the separation point mixed with argon, xenon and nitrogen; other gaseous products of the fuel dissolution process such as oxygen and hydrocarbons having been removed by catalytic combustion or adsorption methods. However, it is difficult to remove xenon from nitrogen by distillation methods as the pressures and temperatures typically used are such that any xenon present tends to freeze and clog columns, etc. By comparison, Kr and Xe can be separated from oxygen with relative ease, although there are some freezing problems with this process as well. Hence, the art has recognized that a need exists for a highly efficient and inexpensive process for separation of the gases krypton and xenon from nitrogen. In particular, a method is needed for the efficient separation of xenon, as the krypton can then be distilled from the nitrogen.
Another approach to the problem of nuclear fuel reprocessing plants involves a similar process to that already described except that the krypton and xenon come mixed together with helium gas which, of course, is also inert. A process for the separation of the krypton and xenon from helium is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,429. The described process is carried out in sealed containers and the retorts and reaction vessels utilized are continually flushed with helium. The krypton and xenon are separated from the helium by passing the mixture into a large container having surfaces cooled by liquid nitrogen. As the freezing point of the krypton and xenon are above the liquefaction temperature of nitrogen, while that of helium is below such nitrogen boiling point, the helium remains gaseous while the krypton and xenon freeze out on to the walls of the container while the helium flows therethrough. However, the fact that the krypton has a significant partial pressure--1.7 mm Hg at liquid nitrogen temperatures means that some of the krypton will be entrained in and necessarily escape with the helium gas streams; therefore, the helium must be further processed, in order to ensure that virtually all of the krypton has been removed therefrom. Moreover, the xenon and krypton remaining in the container are subsequently separated from each other in order to avoid storing xenon for unnecessarily long periods of time. This approach, while not unworkable, is not especially efficient and, in particular, is not well suited to the separation of nitrogen from krypton and xenon because much more nitrogen is used in the nitrogen-based approach than is helium in the other method discussed above. Thus, even more krypton and xenon will tend to become entrained with the nitrogen than with the helium. Consequently, it is an object of the invention to provide an efficient, simple and workable method for separating one or more gases from a multi-component feed gas stream.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method whereby large quantities of nitrogen can be thoroughly separated from a gas mixture containing minor quantities of krypton and xenon.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a general method for separation of gases which have large differences in partial pressure at a given temperature from one another.
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment thereof which follows and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in conjunction with the claims appended hereto. | {
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The invention relates to a method for stunning an animal for slaughter, e.g. a pig, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing the animal for slaughter; PA1 (b) conveying said animal by means of conveying means in the direction of stunning means; PA1 (c) causing a first current pulse to flow through the neck- and/or head-region of said animal for slaughter to stun said animal; and PA1 (d) causing a second current pulse to flow through the body of the animal for slaughter to cause a cardiac arrest. PA1 (a) conveying means for conveying an animal for slaughter; PA1 (b) at least one first electrode to be pressed against the neck- and/or head-region of the animal; PA1 (c) electrical supply means connected to said first electrode for causing a first current pulse to flow through the at least one first electrode through the neck- and/or head-region of the animal; and PA1 (d) at least one second electrode to be pressed against the body of the animal, said electrical supply means being also connected to said at least one second electrode for causing a second current pulse to flow via said at least one second electrode through the body of the animal to cause cardiac arrest.
Also the invention relates to a device for stunning an animal for slaughter, for instance a pig, for application of the method specified herein above, said device comprising;
Such a method and a device are known from NZ-A-201 402.
The invention has for its object to provide a method and associated device with which an animal for slaughter can be rapidly stunned using simple means, wherein needless suffering is prevented and the quality of the meat is not adversely affected. In addition to achieving effective stunning it is important that the animal remains substantially still after the treatment. This is important in respect of the subsequent treatment which, in accordance with a normal procedure, consists of arranging a chain around one of the hind legs, suspending from the conveyor and subsequently piercing the carotid artery to kill the animal.
Furthermore, the invention has for its object to provide a method and associated device with which the stunning of the animal for slaughter can take place during the transporting of the animal by means of conveying means, such as a restrainer, without the necessity of stopping the transport during the stunning operation. In this connection it should be noted that, for an efficient management of the stunning operation in the abattoir, the continuity of the supply of animals to be slaughtered to the conveyor must not be interrupted.
With the above in mind the method according to the invention is characterized by a step (e) of carrying out step (c) in a way such that the first current pulse has a maximum duration of 10 seconds and by steps (c) and (d) being executed during step (b).
Use of the method according to the invention can very effectively prevent the animal displaying so-called "clonic spasms" and the animal remains virtually motionless while stunning is nonetheless complete.
Particularly effective is the method wherein the second current pulse is caused to flow through the heart region.
This method can for instance be performed such that the second current pulse is caused to flow through the neck- and/or head-region and the heart region of the animal.
The first and the second current pulse can have a duration of a maximum of 10 secs. and preferably a duration of 1-2 secs. The total duration of the first and the second current pulse together is preferably 2.5-3 secs.
The effective voltage of the first current pulse and of the second current pulse is preferably a maximum of 1000 V.
Excellent results are obtained with methods in which the voltage of the first current pulse lies in the order of magnitude of 250 V and that of the second current pulse in the order of magnitude of 125 V.
The first and second current pulse can each consist of an alternating current with a frequency of a maximum of 1000 Hz.
A method in which these frequencies are the same as the mains frequency has the advantage of easy availability.
Attention is drawn to the fact that in general preference will be given to an alternating current.
From EP-A-0 019 332 an apparatus is known in which electrodes adapted to engage the head of an animal to be stunned are movable along a restrainer in a reciprocating fashion. No electrodes engaging the breast or other part of the body of an animal is used.
EP-A-0 021 548 also relates to such a device in which the head electrode said is movable together with the animal carried by the restrainer. No breast electrode is used.
FR-A-2 390 903 relates to a device in which, the electrodes are carried by hingible arms, so that they can more or less follow the movement of an animal during the stunning operation.
The method according to the invention is implemented in material sense with a device for stunning an animal for slaughter, for instance a pig, with application of the method as described above, said device being characterized in that: the first and second electrodes are movable together with said conveying means.
It should be noted that the apparatus known from NZ-A-201 402 for stunning an animal and causing cardiac arrest uses a current flowing through electrodes arranged in the head and the breast region of an animal, respectively. These electrodes are not movable together with a conveyor, but are rather positioned in a fixed stationary position.
While the use of a relatively high voltage can achieve a good stunning, internal bleeding could occur as a side-effect which could adversely affect the quality of the meat. A relatively low voltage for the first and the second current pulses is therefore the objective. In order to further the quality of the stunning, however, the device according to the invention is characterized in a variant by means for lowering the transition resistance between the electrodes and the animal. This ensures that at a determined voltage a desired strength of current can be obtained.
The device according to the invention can be characterized particularly for this purpose by pressing means for pressing the electrodes against the animal with chosen forces.
In order to induce cardiac arrest as effectively as possible the device can have the feature that the third electrode is adapted to be pressed against the thorax region of the animal such that the second current pulse is caused to flow to at least a significant degree through the heart region.
In a specific embodiment the device characterized in that the at least one first electrode is carried by a first carriage which can be moved reciprocally along said conveyor such that said at least one first electrode can make contact with an animal for slaughter carried by said conveyor during the first current pulse having a maximum duration of 10 secs.
Correspondingly, the device may be characterized in that the second electrode is carried by a second carriage which can be moved reciprocally along said conveyour such that said second electrode can make contact with an animal for slaughter carried by said conveyor during the second current pulse having a maximum duration of 10 secs.
In a simple yet effective embodiment, the device is characterized in that said first and second carriages are coupled for simultaneous reciprocating movement along said conveyor.
In yet another embodiment the device is characterized in that said first carriage is also said second carriage.
In yet another embodiment the device is characterized in that said at least one second electrode forms part of the outer surface of said conveyor. It can be practical to use an external electrical contact connected with the power supply for supplying the second current pulse in a way such that said second electrode is connected with the power supply only during a predetermined time interval. The second current pulse is fed to the second electrode only during that interval. | {
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A modern mobile device can incorporate functions of multiple conventional electronic devices, including a personal computer, a cellular phone, a radio transceiver, and/or a wireless (e.g., WiFi or GPS) transceiver. For example, a modern mobile phone or personal data assistant (PDA) can provide telephony services, as well as hosting user applications for organizing contacts, playing music, providing email communications, browsing the Internet, and so on. In some mobile devices, a positioning system integrated with, or coupled to, the mobile device also provides opportunities for applications to provide location-based services (e.g., map services, location-based search refinements).
A mobile device that provides both telephony services and application services typically includes a baseband subsystem and an application subsystem. The baseband subsystem includes one or more baseband processors and supports a baseband operating system that operates in a constant active mode. The baseband subsystem can generate real-time responses to external events, and is often reserved for the telephony functions of the mobile device. The application subsystem includes one or more application processors and an application operating system. User applications are typically installed and executed within the application subsystem of the mobile device. The application subsystem can switch between an active mode and a dormant mode. In general, the application subsystem consumes more power than the baseband subsystem when in its active mode. Switching the application subsystem into the dormant mode after an extended idle period can help conserve battery power of the mobile device. | {
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In recent years, personal computers have pushed into the field of work stations with intent to realize alternate for large-size computers by the network configuration of work stations. Also, an architecture for realizing a low-cost and high-speed graphic processing has recently been needed with the advance of home amusement equipments. In particular, a modified sprite processing for freely mapping source data of rectangles forms the basis of a three-dimensional graphics processing and is expected to have a drawing performance on the order of several ten thousands of polygons per second In order to realize more real display.
In order to improve the drawing performance of graphic LSI, a labor is taken for an improvement in the rate of data transfer between the graphic LSI and a frame buffer. A method for improving the data transfer rate includes (1) a method in which a high-speed interface is used and (2) a method in which a data bus width between the graphic LSI and the frame buffer is enlarged.
In the case of the method (1), the improvement in data transfer rate is realized using a DRAM provided with a high-speed page mode or a synchronous DRAM. The method using the synchronous DRAM is disclosed by JP-A-7-160249.
In the case of the method (2), the improvement in data transfer rate is realized by incorporating a frame buffer and a graphics controller in one chip with 128 bits or the like as the bit width of an internal bus. An example having a DRAM and a graphics controller incorporated in one chip is disclosed by "DEVELOPMENT OF GRAPHIC LSI HAVING FRAME BUFFER INCORPORATED THEREIN", Nikkei Electronics, p. 17 (Apr. 10, 1995) and "ONE-CHIP IMPLEMENTATION WITH LOGIC--DRAM FORMS CORE OF SYSTEM", Nikkei Microdevice, pp. 44-65 (March, 1996).
In the frame buffer incorporated graphic LSI disclosed by Nikkei Electronics, a portion of a 16-Mbit general purpose standard DRAM corresponding to 9 Mbits is removed and thereinstead replaced by a logic circuit including a controller. Regarding a DRAM incorporated graphic controller disclosed by Nikkei Microdevice, this reference has no specific disclosure excepting that the DRAM is incorporated. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates to a power device in which a plurality of switching circuits for power conversion employ in common a switching element. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In today's information economy, entities frequently interact with other entities through computer networks. It is important to entities with more than one agent that a given agent interacts with other entities only in ways authorized by the entity. For example, a first entity may only authorize select personnel to interact with a second entity to purchase goods through the Internet. Granting limited authorization to agents helps prevent the first entity from acquiring unwanted legal obligations. At the same time, the second entity wants assurances that the first entity has authorized the agent to interact with the second entity. For example, the second entity wants to be certain that the first entity will not repudiate a legal agreement resulting from the interaction because the first entity did not authorize the agent to make the agreement.
Because of this situation, it may be crucial that entities interacting across a computer network assure one another that agents claiming to operate on behalf of the entity in fact operate on behalf of the entity. However, there are security problems inherent in exchanging such assurances. It can be difficult for one party to trust the assurances made by another party, especially when the assurances could have been made casually, falsely, or under false pretense. For instance, a third party could falsely pose as an authorized agent of a first entity and surreptitiously interact with a second entity, generally disrupting the operations of both entities. Or an agent of a first entity may falsely claim to have privileges that the first entity has not authorized. Or the first entity may casually assign computer-readable privileges to an agent and upon their later misuse, seek to avoid responsibility for their misuse. Or an unauthorized individual, such as a person with criminal intent, may create a situation of false pretense where assurances are made on his or her behalf by the first entity, and any interaction that arises may be dishonored or incur cost to one or both parties.
In another instance, a first entity may disclose a list of authorized agents to a second entity that the second entity may rely upon when authorizing requests for a network resource or resources. However, the first entity may fail to update the list of authorized agents in a timely manner, or the second entity may not possess an efficient means to update its copy of the list of authorized agents securely. Any errors in the copy of the list of authorized agents held by the second entity could lead to unauthorized actions.
In any of these or similar instances, a second entity may doubt assurances received via a public network claiming that a first entity has authorized an agent to perform certain business activities on behalf of the first entity. Compared to traditional face-to-face settings where the agent of the first entity is clothed with apparent authority to conduct business, conducting business over a network may prevent or render untrustworthy the presentation of traditional signals of apparent authority. This problem is not explained precisely as an inability to trust; parties to a traditional agreement such as a business contract commonly demonstrate a willingness to trust each other in limited ways. The problem may be better identified as difficulty in communicating trustworthy assurances regarding an agent's limited authority to act on behalf of a first entity upon the resources provided by a second entity. A system and method that invokes a memorialization of parties' willingness to trust in a limited way, and affirms the true affiliation of the agent, and also provides a secure and accurate means to “clothe” an agent undertaking business activities while communicating over a public network may be used to address the problems described above.
Several current technologies address one or more aspects of the security problem. For instance, an entity may use passwords to verify the identity of a specific agent. In addition, entities may attempt to use cryptography to ensure that unauthorized agents cannot view, alter, or create certain information. Granting possession of cryptographic certificates to agents may help prevent unauthorized agents from pretending to be authorized agents. In addition, attribute certificates or extensible markup language-based security assertions may provide a secure mechanism of supplying authorization information about an agent. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of handguns, and more particularly semiautomatic handguns.
2. Prior Art
An automatic pistol carries a slide/barrel assembly that slides longitudinally along a frame. A spring braced between the slide and frame holds the slide/barrel assembly in a forward and closed position. A cartridge chamber exists within this slide/barrel assembly. In the forward position, the rear end of the barrel is covered by the breech face upon the slide. A hole in the breech face provides access to the cartridge chamber for a firing element to pierce the primer of the pistol cartridge, thereby discharging the cartridge and expelling the bullet.
The firing element can be driven forward by a hammer striking it, or it can be moved backward under spring pressure and released to drive the firing element forward through the breech face to the primer. In either instance the hammer or the firing element itself is connected through mechanical means to a trigger operated by the user.
Upon discharge of a pistol cartridge, a bullet travels forward out through the barrel, the slide/barrel assembly moves rearward for a specific distance where the barrel moves slightly downward and stops, the slide continues to move rearward opening the cartridge chamber. The extractor (through spring pressure) holds the spent cartridge casing to the breech face, removing it from the barrel. As the slide continues rearward, the ejector (mounted in the frame) contacts the spent cartridge casing, pushing it away from the breech face, causing the extractor spring pressure to be overcome to expel the empty cartridge from the pistol.
Now at maximum rearward travel, the slide has cleared the magazine assembly, allowing the next cartridge in the magazine to move up (magazine cartridges are loaded under spring pressure). Spring pressure pushes the slide forward contacting the next cartridge from the magazine and delivering it to the cartridge chamber which closes as the slide moves forward. Slide fully forward, the pistol is loaded ready to fire again.
This generally describes the operation of an automatic pistol with a locked breech mechanism, fired either by striker or hammer operation. A straight blowback mechanism operates similarly. However, the barrel is not part of a slide/barrel assembly; it is integrally and rigidly mounted to the frame. The slide, containing the breech face, is held forward closing the cartridge chamber only by spring force and with no particular mechanical interlock.
Whether hammer or striker fired, various pistol mechanisms are employed to facilitate the forward movement of the firing element:
In a DAO (Double Action Only) mechanism, actuating the trigger pulls back the hammer (or striker) to a critical point and then releases it in one smooth motion.
In a single action mechanism, the pistol must be manually “cocked” by racking the slide rearward or by pulling the hammer back. Trigger actuation will then release the “cocked” element driving the firing element forward through the breech face. Following the initial discharge of the pistol, sequential shots may not require manually “cocking” of the firing element, as the pistols operation will leave the device in a “cocked” condition following each firing.
Specific to the Glock firearm (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,539,889, 4,825,744 and 4,893,546) is an intermediate action mechanism. This device works like a single action mechanism, however, it has characteristics of the DAO as well. It must be manually “cocked” before the first discharge, and sequential firings require only trigger actuation. The sequential trigger operations do not solely release a firing element, however (as in the single action design), they serve to actuate the firing element from an intermediate position to the critical point where release takes place, actuating the firing element. This design allows a trigger pull distance that is less than in the DAO and greater than in the single-action. Most importantly, it maintains the firearm in a partially “cocked” position where accidental discharge by dropping the weapon is impossible (a single action design makes inadvertent discharge through dropping prevalent), since the intermediate position of the firing element does not have enough spring tension to drive the firing element through the breech face if released.
Classically, semiautomatic handguns have been substantially all metal, except for the handgrip, which often included plastic, wood or other material for comfort and esthetic purposes. More recently, plastic has been sometimes used in other parts of semiautomatic handguns as a means of cost reduction, though typically in conjunction with metal parts that define the critical operating parts and surfaces. As such, the metal parts are still relatively expensive because of their complexity and machining requirements, thereby limiting the cost reduction that can be achieved. | {
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There have been recent remarkable developments in communication systems that use microwave frequencies with a range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz in mobile communications such as wireless telephone sets and car-phones, satellite broadcastings, satellite communications and the like. With the development of personal portable communications, miniaturization of terminals has become generalized. Thus, laminated parts are increasingly required to accomplish miniaturization, high light weighting, and surface mounting of terminal parts. Particularly, passive elements such as filters, duplexers, resonators and antennas, which are essential parts of communication equipment, were difficult to miniaturize. However, miniaturized thick film laminated chip elements were obtained with the use of low temperature sintering materials that can be co-fired with an electrode, such as silver (Ag) or copper (Cu). High dielectric constant and high frequency are required for miniaturization of parts because the wavelength of microwaves within dielectric ceramics is inversely proportional to the square root of a dielectric constant, and the frequency. Generally, a dielectric constant (εr) is inversely proportional to a quality factor (Q) value, and dielectric materials having a high dielectric constant are required for miniaturization of parts. However, as the frequency in use is increased to ≧1˜2 GHz, the parts are sufficiently miniaturized. Thus, materials having dielectric constants with a range of 20˜40 are now actively applied to a variety of chip antennas, chip filters and the like.
The representative examples of low temperature sintering dielectric ceramics for high frequency, which have been developed, include CuO and V2O5 containing the BiNbO4 system, of which the Q·f0 value is 18,300 GHz, the dielectric constant is 43, and the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency is +38 ppm/° C. These types of dielectric ceramics have sintering temperatures as low as 875° C., but have very high temperature coefficients of resonant frequency. Thus, they are impossible to apply to actual parts. Therefore, study of adding various additives to the BiNbO4 system to stabilize the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency is now in energetic progress (See, H. Kagata, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 31, p.3152, 1992). Bismuth (Bi) reacts with electrodes when a BiNbO4 system is in laminated sintering, causing a characteristic deterioration of the BiNbO4 system (see, K. B. Shim, J. Mater. Sci., 35, p.813, 2000). Thus, a demand is rising for low temperature sintering dielectric ceramics materials that do not include Bi. | {
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When wearing absorbent articles, such as diapers and incontinence protectors, it is important to prevent, as much as possible, urine from spreading backwards in the article so as to come into contact with the anus and the skin surrounding it. It is even more important to prevent urine from being mixed with faeces in the rear portion of the article and then coming into contact with the sensitive area around the anus.
AU-B-45 217/85 describes a diaper with a collection pouch for collecting urine and keeping the urine separate from the body of the wearer. The diaper comprises an inner layer of hydrophobic, essentially liquid impermeable material. This layer is provided with an oblong opening at the front portion of the crotch area. On either side of the opening, elastic elements are mounted which, during use, keep the inner layer against the body of the user. An absorbent body is bent laterally under the influence of the elastic elements and is spaced from the inner layer. Thus, a channel is formed for collecting urine and faeces, which are thereafter spread over the absorbent body beneath the liquid impermeable inner layer and are kept separate from the skin.
GB-A-2 159 693 discloses a diaper which is provided with collecting pockets at the end edges or at least at one end edge, for example the rear portion. The collecting pocket is formed by layers of liquid permeable material covering a portion of the diaper and being fixed thereto along a waist edge and a portion of the lateral edges. On the layer edge facing the crotch area, i.e. along the opening of the pocket, there is applied an elastic element transversely, which strives to pull the layer together laterally and create a small gap between the layer and an absorbent body. These collecting pockets are intended to prevent leakage of primarily faeces.
Furthermore, EP-A-0 357 298 and EP-A-0 359 410 describe absorbent articles where solid excrements are removed from the skin of the user with the aid of collecting pockets. The inner layer of the article is liquid permeable and has a small opening, through which solid excrement is conducted to an absorbent body. The intention is in this case that the opening should be small and correctly placed. An arrangement of elastic means can be disposed on the inner layer in order to adjust the position of the opening and thus minimize its size.
None of these previously known absorbent articles is, however, constructed to effectively prevent urine, especially in a rapid heavy emission by a wearer lying on his back, from reaching the faeces receiving area of the article and thus coming into contact with the area surrounding the anus of the wearer. This problem is particularly pertinent to incontinence protectors which are to be worn for a relatively long period, for example over a night, by a patient lying in bed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color value converting technique of a color sequential display. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technique for converting three color values to four color values.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional liquid crystal display (LCD), a light source of backlight module is generally designed to be a white light source, for example, a cold cathode tube. Such white light source can provide a backlight source for each pixel through color filters. Regarding a pixel array, a red (R) color filter, a green (G) color filter and a blue (B) color filter are disposed at each pixel position, which may lead to a high cost. Moreover, since the color filters are applied to the LCD, the white light source can be blocked by the color filters, so that a luminance of the LCD is decreased.
Accordingly, a color sequential display applying a color sequentially method and a control circuit is developed according to the conventional techniques. The color sequential display uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with various colors to replace the conventional white backlight source, in which the light sources of different colors are alternately lighted on timing to display the colors of the pixels. The conventional LCD uses the color filters to mix colors on a spatial axis, while the color sequential display mixes colors on a time axis through different color light sources, and a principle thereof is that within a time range of a visual staying principle, the R, G and B colors are swiftly switched on the time axis to achieve the color mixing effect.
The color sequential display does not require the color filters, so that the light source is not blocked, and therefore image luminance is increased. Moreover, since the color sequential display applies the LEDs as the light sources, and in coordination with a color display technique of the color sequential method, the color sequential display may have features of lightness, slimness, shortness and smallness, so that a large spatial resolution can be obtained with a low cost. Though the color sequential display has advantages of high resolution, high luminance, high color and small size, disadvantages thereof such as a color break-up (CBU) phenomenon are also derived.
The CBU phenomenon is generated due to that different color fields of an object of an image will fall on different retina points of human eyes due to the features of random saccade and instinct of tracing moving object of human eyes. Therefore, the CBU phenomenon occurs on edges of the object. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a color breakup phenomenon. Referring to FIG. 1, a full color image can be divided into red (R), green (G) and blue (B) sub-images. Display of the full color image can be achieved by swiftly and sequentially displaying the R, G and B sub-images. Taking a white image as an example, when the white image is required to be displayed, a left edge of the white image 100 observed from a moving observation point is a color combination of blue (B) and blue plus green (B+G), and a right edge thereof is a color combination of red (R) and red plus green (R+G), which are not the white (W) color required to be displayed. | {
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Fire alarm devices such as audible horns (audible/visible or A/V), loudspeakers (speaker/visible or S/V) and visible strobes (visible only or V/O), are referred to as “notification appliances.” Typically, a fire alarm control panel (FACP) drives these devices over one or more “notification appliance circuits” (NACs). The strobes are used, for example, as an alert for the hearing-impaired, or for those in a high noise environment.
One type of strobe uses a flash tube (also called a flash lamp). Typically, the flash tube is an electric glow discharge lamp designed to produce extremely intense, incoherent, full-spectrum white light for very short durations. Flash tubes are made of a length of glass tubing with electrodes at either end and are filled with a gas that, when triggered, ionizes and conducts a high voltage pulse to produce the light. Xenon is an example of the gas that can fill the flash tube, with a Xenon flash tube producing a high-intensity light (such as hundreds of thousands of lumens) for a very short duration pulse (such as hundreds of milliseconds). Xenon flash tubes use a high voltage storage element, such as an electrolytic capacitor, that can be charged several hundred volts to provide energy for the flash. Xenon flash tubes also use a trigger voltage that is in the several thousand volt range to start the gas discharge.
The lifetime of the flash tube can depend on both the energy level used for the lamp in proportion to its discharge energy, and on the pulse duration of the lamp. Failures can be catastrophic or can be gradual, reducing the performance of the lamp below a usable rating.
Another type of strobe is Light Emitting Diode (LED)-based. An LED-based strobe includes an LED that is high power, and greater than typical display LEDs. However, even with a high power LED, the LED-based strobe cannot generate light at as high of an intensity as a Xenon-based strobe. Instead, LED-based strobes generate a lower intensity light (such as hundreds of lumens) for a longer period of time (such as tens to hundreds of milliseconds). In this way, the LED-based strobes can generate a comparable amount of light energy, as measured in candela, as a Xenon-based strobe. In contrast to flash-tube based strobes, LED-based strobes typically have a longer usable lifetime. | {
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This section is intended to provide a background or context to the invention disclosed below. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived, implemented or described. Therefore, unless otherwise explicitly indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
For reliable and efficient communication in a wireless system, a UE is required to continuously monitor its downlink radio link conditions and determine whether it is in out-of-sync or in in-sync status when a UE is in the connected state. The procedure is commonly called Radio Link Monitoring (RLM). For legacy E-UTRAN systems, all UEs work under the same cell coverage level, which is normally predetermined by careful cell-planning during the feature deployment. Conventional RLM is Thus designed and implemented to support one cell coverage level.
3GPP introduced enhanced machine type communication (eMTC) and narrow-band Internet of Things (NB-IoT), which are believed to be the baseline, or at least used as input, for 5G massive machine type communication (mMTC) and 5G Internet of Things (5G-IoT). Unlike legacy E-UTRAN systems, where there is only one cell coverage level and the cell coverage level is predetermined by careful cell-planning during the feature deployment, eMTC and NB-IoT features support multiple coverage levels. It is expected that multiple coverage levels will also be supported for mMTC and 5G-IoT features.
According to similar principles as for LTE, eMTC and NB-IoT devices are required to monitor the downlink radio link quality and determine their In-sync and Out-of-sync status. That is, if the DL quality falls below predefined threshold Qout, UE is expected to declare it is in out-of-sync status, which may eventually trigger Radio Link Failure (RLF). For a UE already in out-of-sync status, it is expected to declare it comes back to in-sync status, if the DL quality exceeds another predefined threshold Qin to avoid unnecessarily triggering RLF. Since eMTC and NB-IoT support multiple coverage levels, the RLM for eMTC and NB-IoT is therefore required to support multiple cell coverage levels.
The current invention moves beyond these techniques and materials.
Abbreviations that may be found in the specification and/or the drawing figures are defined below, after the detailed description section. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In the longwall mining of coal, a shearing machine has cutter drum attached to it. The cutter drum is rotated and moved by the shearing machine into the wall by a desired distance depending on the characteristics of the particular coal being mined. The rotating drum is then moved along the wall. As the mined coal falls, it is picked up by a conveyor, which carries it to a location for hauling from the mine.
Cutter drums generally include a hub, which is attached to the shearing machine. The hub carries several helical vanes, and a sump ring is attached to the end of the hub. Cutting bits are attached to the vanes and to the sump ring for engaging and cutting the coal as the cutter drum rotates.
In the typical prior art cutter drum, pockets are flame cut into the vanes to provide seats for bit blocks. The bit blocks are placed in the seats at predetermined angles and then welded to the vanes. Cutting bits are attached to the sump ring in the same fashion.
Another method for attaching bit blocks is to weld the bit block directly to the vanes and the sump ring, without first making a seat, and then bridging the area between adjacent bit blocks with gussets to strengthen the arrangement. In either construction, knock-out holes are generally provided to facilitate removal of a used bit.
These prior art constructions result in cutting drums having very jagged surfaces because the bit blocks and gussets create numerous irregular and uneven surfaces. Falling pieces of coal that have been cut from the coal seam by the cutting bits crash into these jagged and irregular surfaces on the rotating drum. This creates particles of coal and coal dust and distributes them throughout the region surrounding the cutting drum. Such is very dangerous to those working in the mines and reduces the efficiency of the entire longwall mining operation. | {
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Light fixtures, or luminaires, are used with electric light sources to provide an aesthetic and functional housing in both interior and exterior applications. One type of light fixture is an area light, generally used for exterior lighting of roads, walkways, parks, parking lots, or other large areas requiring a significant amount of lighting. Area lights typically include a light fixture attached to a pole, wall, or other elevated structure to provide an elevated lighting position. In recent years, lighting applications, including area lights have trended towards the use of light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a light source in place of conventional incandescent and fluorescent lamps. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in devices for recreational or body-support floatation in water using a flexible foam tube or tubes and a fabric or mesh sling.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Body support of an individual in the water for the purposes of recreational floatation or body-support may currently be accomplished by a number of different means.
The use of recreational floatation devices is widespread. Most popular are a very large number of inflatable products composed of flexible air-impermeable material such as vinyl plastic. The water mattress as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,068,134, 2,939,158 and 3,068,494 are common examples. These inflatable air mattress products may be simple and inexpensive or elaborate and expensive. Inflatable products are distributed in many shapes based such as, for example, dinosaurs, lobsters, whales and many others. Adaptations may provide for example, leg holes, handle grips, drinking glass holders and clear plastic viewing windows to look through into the water under the inflatable.
Other features have been designed into inflatable air mattresses. U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,329 describes a device said to improve the posturepedic qualities of an air mattress, incorporating two separate air chambers and other improvements.
These inflatable devices all suffer from a number of disadvantages. They all must be inflated, such as by using a pump or by the user blowing into a valve. Over-inflation or under-inflation is always a concern. They are typically plastic or water impermeable cloth fabric construction and when punctured loose buoyancy partially or completely. A puncture must be repaired to afford full usefulness to the device. Construction typically involves seams, which may be difficult to repair if a puncture or tear occurs on a seam. The inclusion of repair kits with available inflatable flotation devices is very common.
A second type of floatation lounger is a type of construction using a rigid or semi-rigid foam slab material. These are typically composed with two large opposing flat surfaces. There may be a foam pillow or such support incorporated at one end for head and neck support. A disadvantage of this type of product is that lying on the foam slab results in a high centre of gravity above the surface of the water. Thus it is very easy to tip about the centre axis of the device or to lose balance while moving about while on the slab.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,007 describes a water lounger or water mattress having stacked layers of air-bubble sheet plastic encased in flexible plastic sheet or mesh. This design may provide for lower centre of gravity and better stability while in the lying on the device in the water. However, this mattress design is bulky and may not be easily folded or disassembled for storage. Further, during use, accidental puncture or slitting of the outer water impermeable plastic vinyl sheet cover would result in water entering between the outer layer and inner construction. This could cause some loss of floatation. This water contamination would also be difficult, if not impossible, to remove and could result in problems such as bacterial or algae growth or moulding eventually within the layers of the device construction.
Another type of recreational water lounging product consists of some type of chair, such as a lawn chair construction, with buoyant means, such as rigid styrofoam attached to the chair. These devices have the disadvantage that they are bulky and may use metal frames, for example, aluminum tube frame, which may bend or crack. Typically, metal bolts are also used in the aluminum frame, which are subject to rusting or decay with use, especially when used in recreational pool water containing traces of chlorine for water. This type of water lounger also tends to be expensive.
Recently, an extruded foam tube has been found to be useful as a pool toy and floatation aid. However, this semi-rigid straight tube construction has not been useable as a lounge device. | {
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The invention relates to an ink feed component for a fountain pen. There are known in the art ink feed components which include a main body provided with radial ink-holding chambers, located intermediate forward and rearward ends thereof. The forward end is provided with a nib supporting surface, while the rearward end is adapted for connection to the ink reservoir of the fountain pen. On the nib support side of the ink feed, an axially extending groove is provided for receiving an inset, such that between the inset and the base of the groove, an air channel and at least one capillary ink feed channel are formed.
In a known ink feed of this type (DE-AS 1 034 066) two capillary ink feed channels extend in the base of a groove forming an air channel in the main body, and connect the rear end of the main body with the nib support surface. These two ink feed channels deviate in the region of the front end of the main body from their otherwise straight course, by curving towards the nib support surface, so that they emerge on the nib support surface, and so that direct wetting of the under side of the nib takes place with ink from the ink feed channels.
In practice, it has been discovered that in many cases the continuity of the ink film breaks between the nib and the exit openings of the ink-feed channels when the nib spreads slightly (due to increased writing pressure) and is lifted from the nib support surface of the ink feed. It is also possible, particularly with nibs used for wider lines, and when there is a greatly fluctuating writing pressure, that the ink feed channels are not capable of automatically supplying the larger quantity of ink required under such circumstances.
The object of this invention is to provide an ink feed in which the ink film between the ink feed and the nib does not break, even under increased writing pressure.
To achieve this object, an ink feed of the type specified in the introduction is improved in accordance with this invention, such that the front end of the ink feed channel opens into an ink reserve chamber formed between the main body and the inset, and such that the ink reserve chamber is connected to the nib support surface via a capillary ink exit slit located between the front end area of the inset and the main body. This ink exit slit extends from the longitudinal axis of the ink feed, (which extends through the center of the groove), out to its two sides, with at least partial side sections extending to the rear.
In the ink feed according to the invention, the supply of ink to the nib does not therefore take place directly from the capillary ink feed channel or channels, but from an ink reserve space charged by one or more of the channels, so that even when there is greater ink consumption, sufficient ink can be drawn from the ink reserve space, which forms a type of buffer. Due to this arrangement, there is surprisingly an almost complete suppression of the pressure fluctuations, caused by other pressure fluctuations in the ink reservoir due to consumption of ink and entry of air, which otherwise occur in the region of transfer to the nib and accompanying retraction of the ink meniscus.
As indicated above, the supply of ink from the ink reserve space to the nib takes place via a capillary ink exit slit, the front area of which lies directly below the nib groove. The slit also extends both to the side and to the rear, so that when not in use or when there is low writing pressure, wetting of the nib takes place through the entire ink exit slit including the region immediately below the nib groove even when the nib is not positioned in the exact center. When there is increased writing pressure, resulting in the spreading of the nib, the ink film between the region of the ink exit slit lying directly below the nib groove and the nib may be broken; however, an ink film is reliably maintained between the remaining region of the ink exit slit and the nib on both sides of the nib groove.
In a related aspect of the invention, a high degree of ink evaporation from the ink reserve space is prevented by the ink exit slit. When the ink does evaporate, ink is additionally drawn again from the ink feed channel into the ink reserve space, thereby supplying ink to the ink exit slit. This produces very good start of writing performance.
The ink exit slit can, for example, be U-shaped, wherein the arms of the U extend directly to the rear but can, if desired, diverge outwardly to the rear. Additionally, the passage from the base of the U to its arms can take place via a rounded region or an angled region.
It is also possible to form the ink exit slit in the shape of a V or to form it in a curve such that the ends of the curve lie further to the rear than its central curved region.
In order to ensure that ink is fed to the writing nib when using nibs for wider lines, the distance between the neighboring sides of the main body and the inset which border on the ink reserve space can gradually decrease from the outlet region of the ink feed channel to the ink exit slit. In this way, a relatively large volume of ink is collected in the ink reserve space, and because the capillary forces act more strongly there due to the narrowing of the ink reserve space towards the ink exit slit, the ink is carried reliably to the ink exit slit and therefore to the writing nib.
As described, the ink reserve space can also taper to the front in a wedge-shape along the longitudinal axis of the ink feed which extends through the center of the groove.
As already mentioned above, by providing the ink reserve space and the ink exit slit according to the invention, a reliable supply of ink to the writing nib is ensured even under difficult writing conditions. The ink feed according to the invention is therefore suitable both for narrow-line nibs and for wider-line nibs.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ink feed channel (channels) is (are), formed on the under side of the inset.
In this way, it is necessary to provide only one form of a main body for the ink feed, and to adapt the insets for nibs of different line widths by using an appropriately formed inset, with the ink feed channel or channels so dimensioned that they transport the appropriate quantity of ink to the front end of the ink feed, the inset being so formed that together with the main body it forms an ink reserve space and an ink exit slit with dimensions suitable for the current application.
When an inset of this type is used, transverse channels can be provided on the under side of the inset to connect with the radial ink holding chambers.
In order to be able to position the inset precisely in the main body so that an ink exit slit of the desired size can be obtained within the most narrow specifications, positioning projections can be constructed in the front end region of the inset on its side walls.
It has also proved advantageous to form the radius of curvature of the outer surface of the inset in the region of the nib support surface such that it is larger than the radius of curvature of the outer surface of the main body which joins in the circumferential direction, so that the radius of curvature of the outer surface of the inset exactly matches the radius of curvature of the nib. This results in a further improvement of the ink feed.
Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description which follows. | {
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Commercial aircraft passengers are increasingly demanding in-flight entertainment (IFE) and electrical power outlets to operate various electronic devices, such as laptop computers, at their seats. To provide the passenger with such features, electrical power and data must be delivered to each seat. Conventionally, power and data are delivered to aircraft passenger seats via numerous cables that, during aircraft assembly, are laid out in position on the floor of the aircraft passenger cabin. A portion of the cables is positioned beneath a covering, such as the seat track cover, and a portion that includes connectors for connection to the seats is left exposed to connect with the yet to be installed seat groups containing each passenger seat. During installation of the seat groups, the seat groups must be carried in over the exposed wires. Taking care to avoid the exposed wires increases both the complexity of the operation and the amount of time required to install the seats.
The seat groups can be arranged in various configurations and positions. As a result, a plurality of cables of various lengths and configurations are required to accommodate the desired seating configurations and positioning. The requirement for a variety of cables is expensive to purchase for initial installation and for spares. Additionally, when reconfiguring the seat groups or changing the positions, the existing cables may be inadequate and require re-wiring so that the wiring will reach the seats in their new positions. As would be expected, re-wiring an aircraft is a costly and time consuming process.
In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide an improved device for delivering power to aircraft passenger seat groups that will eliminate the need to separately connect each seat group to an individual power or data cable and the need to re-wire the power cables when the seat configuration is changed. | {
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Mobile devices have become ubiquitous in the everyday life of the general consumer. No longer are cellular phones, electronic personal data assistants, and Internet-connected hand-held devices reserved for the elite. As these devices become ingrained in consumers' daily routines, the use of the devices in situations in which safety, convenience and even appropriateness have become issues. For example, drivers routinely attempt to text, email and talk on their phone while driving. “Hands-free” operation has made use of these devices somewhat more acceptable in certain instances, but the user experience is less than ideal.
For example, the present state of the art does not provide a method for a user to effectively “barge in” to a device operating with a speech recognition system and text-to-speech system, while the text-to-speech system is producing simulated speech. Because a built-in microphone may be used to detect any user utterance, speech recognition technology often cannot distinguish between a user's voice attempting to control the mobile communication device, the voice of the text-to-speech system, the user's voice when the user is not providing direction to the device, and other voices and other background sounds that are audible in the acoustic environment.
This problem is common in systems such as interactive voice response (IVR) phone trees, which have difficulty deciphering spoken requests that are not directly responsive to the phone tree prompts (such as user requests to be transferred to an “operator”), due to the noise floor of the environment or connection problems, or due to the limitations of modern speech recognition technology. Similar issues are found in “constant” listening applications that are continually screening ambient audio for commands.
This situation may be exacerbated over speakerphone systems—such as are common in automobiles for hands-free cell phone use—because the mobile communication device microphone may be picking up both the voice of the user and the voice of recorded prompts from the IVR system. Speakerphone systems also exacerbate the problem because their microphones do not discriminate among sounds in the acoustic environment, which sounds can include voices other than that of the user, as well as other background sounds such as road noise. Hence, “barging in” or “getting the attention” of a device by speaking a specifically predefined voice command is ineffective by virtue of the limited accuracy of conventional speech recognition.
Additionally, some mobile voice-controlled applications deliver audio content themselves, such as simulated speech (text-to-speech), music or video. Because many devices place the speaker used for delivering the audio content in close proximity to the microphone used for detecting voice commands, it is even more difficult for the device to hear and distinguish the user's voice over audio content it is delivering.
For “barging in” or “getting the attention” of a device via user voice command, the device must be constantly listening to all acoustic signals in the environment and attempting to detect a specifically predefined “barge in” command. Today's mobile devices and the applications that run on such devices perform much of their speech recognition using cloud-based services, so constantly listening can be prohibitively expensive for the user from a data usage standpoint under current mobile data plans offered by cell carriers. There is also a latency associated with transmitting every utterance and sound from the mobile device to the cloud for speech recognition processing, which makes the mobile device inadequately responsive to such spoken barge-in commands. And “barge-in” commands are rendered impotent if the data connection between the mobile device and the network is lost. Also, constant listening takes a dramatic toll on battery life.
What is needed, therefore, is a system and techniques that allow a user to effectively and reliably interrupt or “get the attention” of an application using audible user signals, under a variety of acoustic conditions and in the presence of competing audio signals or noise, and without requiring access to a data network. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Sterile reusable clothing has previously been used in many health care environments. Due to the inconvenience and cost of cleaning and providing sterile storage for such clothing, a switch to disposable products has generally occurred. For example, the demand for disposable shoe covers has increased substantially during the past several years and is now standard practice for most surgical procedures. Health care workers in emergency rooms and other medical environments wear disposable shoe covers to protect the health care environment from microbial and other types of contamination carried by shoes and to protect the respective health care worker from contamination by blood and other body fluids.
In addition to the health care industry, it is necessary in many other industries to wear protective clothing to prevent contamination of clean room type working environments. In certain environments it is also necessary to prevent stray electricity such as static electricity and sparks, from damaging sensitive electronic circuits or accidentally igniting a possibly volatile atmosphere.
Disposable shoe covers are worn in a wide variety of industrial environments for many reasons such as providing either a conductive or non-conductive electrical surface depending upon the environment preventing contamination of both the wearer and the surrounding environment, and providing a non-skid walking surface for the wearer. Disposable shoe covers have often been manufactured from a single type of material. Since it is difficult to find a single material with all the desired characteristics such as, fluid resistance, breathability, non-skid surface, anti-static and durability, some desired characteristics have frequently been enhanced to the detriment of other desired characteristics. | {
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The present invention relates to an electric compressor having a compression mechanism, an electric motor and a motor driving circuit.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-112261 discloses an electric compressor having a housing that accommodates therein a compression mechanism for compressing a refrigerant gas, an electric motor for driving the compression mechanism and a motor driving circuit for driving the electric motor. The motor driving circuit includes a circuit board and electronic components that are mounted on the circuit board.
The electric compressor further has a bus bar for supplying electric power from an external power supply to the circuit board. The bus bar is resin-molded integrally with a washer through which a bolt is inserted. The washer serves as a seat for the bolt. With the bolt inserted through the washer and screwed into a boss of the housing, the bus bar is fixed to the housing through resin. The resin ensures insulation between the bus bar and the housing.
An electromagnetic noise is generated from the electronic components, and there is a fear that motor driving circuit may malfunction when the electromagnetic noise transmitted to the bus bar. In order to prevent the transmission of the electromagnetic noise, a shield plate that can intercept the electromagnetic noise may be interposed between the electronic components and the bus bar. The shield plate and the bus bar are disposed in such a state that the insulation is secured. Accordingly, the malfunction of the motor driving circuit caused by the transmission of the electromagnetic noise to the bus bar is prevented because the electromagnetic noise generated from the electronic components is intercepted by the shield plate.
From the viewpoint of downsizing the electric compressor, the above shield plate is preferably molded integrally with the bus bar. In molding of the bus bar and the shield plate, each bus bar and the shield plate need to be held in place by a pair of mold members so as not to be displaced in the mold by the injection pressure of resin.
The shield plate may be held by the mold members with the surface of the shield plate on side thereof that is opposite from the bus bar placed in contact with a part of one of the mold members and the surface of the shield plate on the side on which the bus bar is provided placed in contact with a part of the other mold member where no bus bar is formed. In some case, however, the bus bar may not be held properly by the pair of mold members because part of one of the mold member is unable to be placed in contact with the surface of bus bar on the side thereof facing the shield plate due to the interference with the shield plate.
In such case, a hole may be formed through the shield plate, through which a part of the one of the mold members is inserted so as to be into contact with a part of the bus bar on the side thereof facing the shield plate. The other side of the bus bar is set into contact with a part of the other mold member, with the result that the bus bar is held by a pair of the mold members.
In the configuration in which the bus bar and the shield plate are integrally resin-molded, however, the bus bar is exposed through the hole and, consequently, the electromagnetic noise is transmitted from the electronic components through the hole to the bus bar. In addition, the aforementioned washer that is used to fix the bus bar to the housing increases the number of parts of the electric compressor.
The present invention, which has been made in light of the problems mentioned above, is directed to providing an electric compressor that prevents the transmission of an electromagnetic noise from electronic components to the bus bar while permitting to reduce the number of parts. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Algebraic and transcendental functions are fundamental in many fields of application. In particular, K-th root family functions of the form (y)±1/K, which include inverse functions, inverse square root functions and square root functions, are performance critical in many graphics applications. Traditional algorithms for these K-th root family functions are typically tailored for desktop computers (e.g., personal computers) and workstation platforms. These traditional algorithms typically provide relatively high precision and accuracy, ranging from approximately seven significant decimals (e.g., IEEE single precision floating point) to sixteen significant decimals (e.g., IEEE double precision floating point). Due to typical accuracy requirements, methods for calculating K-th root family functions usually require data memory accesses, which may require the computers or platforms on which the methods are implemented to have relatively large main memories and data caches.
Many emerging classes of handheld computing platforms such as, for example, handheld platforms based on the Intel® XScale™ processor family, rely heavily on K-th root family function approximation values. In particular, computer graphics capabilities and performance are highly dependent on the performance of the platform responsible for determining K-th root family function approximation values. However, when traditional K-th root family function computational methods are implemented on emerging classes of handheld platforms, these traditional computational methods often result in low and unpredictable performance because data memory accesses often affect the data memory access performance (e.g., corrupt the data cache) of a running application that calls the K-th root family functions.
The data memory access required by traditional methods for determining K-th root family function approximation values is due in part to the fact that these methods generally require function values to be calculated prior to a compilation phase and stored in a table in data memory. In addition, these traditional methods usually employ general polynomials having coefficients that are stored in data memory during a compilation phase.
Alternative methods for determining K-th root family function approximation values that do not require a table of pre-calculated function values have recently been developed. However, these alternative methods typically rely on polynomial functions that include coefficients that are not stored explicitly. Although these alternative methods have provided some improvement over the methods that use pre-calculated function values and tables stored in data memory, the polynomials used by these methods are restrictive and the accuracy of the final result (i.e. the K-th root family function value) is relatively low.
Another method for determining K-th root family function approximation values uses floating-point arithmetic. However, the use of floating-point arithmetic requires software emulation, which may decrease the overall performance of a processor based-platform when processing K-th root family functions. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase; Mr=˜52.2 kD) is a secreted enzyme, typically found in the stomach, salivary gland, and lungs. Unique among mammalian enzymes in that it has an acidic pH optimum, the enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of artificial chitin-like substrates. It is induced during Th2 inflammation through an IL-13-dependent mechanism. Chitinases are believed to play a key role in the innate immunity to parasites and other infectious agents. When produced in a dysregulated fashion, the enzymes may also play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergy and/or asthma.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by recurrent episodes of reversible airway obstruction and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Typical clinical manifestations include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and chest tightness that can become life threatening or fatal. While existing therapies focus on reducing the symptomatic bronchospasm and pulmonary inflammation, there is a growing awareness of the role of long-term airway remodeling in the accelerated lung deterioration in asthmatics. Airway remodeling refers to a number of pathological features, including epithelial smooth muscle and myofibroblast hyperplasia and/or metaplasia, subepithelial fibrosis and matric deposition.
It is generally accepted that allergic asthma is initiated by an inappropriate inflammatory reaction to airborne allergens. The lungs of asthmatics demonstrate an intense infiltration of lymphocytes, mast cells and, especially, eosinophils. AMCase is prominently expressed in lungs from antigen-sensitized and challenged and IL-13-transgenic mice. AMCase mRNA is not readily detected in lung tissues from patients without known lung disease, but has been detected, histologically and morphometrically, in the epithelial cells and subepithelial cells in tissues from patients with asthma.
Preliminary published studies (Zhu Z, Zheng T, Homer R J, Kim Y K, Chen N Y, Cohn L, Hamid Q, and Elias J A. Acidic mammalian chitinase in asthmatic Th2 inflammation and IL-13 pathway activation. Science 304: 1678-1682, 2004; Matsumoto T, et al. Demethylallosamidin, a chitinase inhibitor, suppresses airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 390: 103-108, 2009) suggest that AMCase plays a role in the Th-2 driven inflammatory response in a murine model of allergic asthma. Th-1 responses do not seem to be involved. No therapeutic effect was observed in a mouse model that expresses Th-1, but not Th-2 (Fitz L J, et al. Acidic mammalian chitinase is not a critical target for allergic airway disease. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 46: 71-9, 2011). This result would be expected since Th-1 cells are primarily involved in host defense against pathogens.
Chitotriosidase 1 (CHIT1, Mr=˜52 kD or ˜39 kDa) is a chitinase expressed predominantly in the myeloid cells and lung epithelial cells as an innate immune mediator that digests the cell walls of chitin-containing eukaryotic pathogens. CHIT1 is a circulating enzyme, with both endochitinolytic and tranglycosylating activity. Besides its role in chitin recognition and innate immune response, CHIT1 is implicated in pathogenesis of fibrotic lung diseases. Lung fibrosis was significantly reduced in CHIT1 knockout mice in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis animal model and it was suggested that this chitinase plays a role in tissue remodeling and fibrogenesis in the lung.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibroproliferative disorder refractory to current pharmacological therapies with a median survival of only 3-5 years following diagnosis. IPF is a devastating disease characterized by excessive matrix deposition that disrupts the normal architecture of the lung parenchyma. The key pathological features of IPF include fibroblastic foci, areas of epithelial cysts associated with the honeycombing appearance of the lung, and mild lymphoplasmacytic interstitial inflammation that is associated with areas of type II cell hyperplasia. The pathogenesis of each form of lung fibrosis remains poorly understood. They each result in a progressive loss of lung function with increasing dyspnea, and most forms ultimately result in mortality.
Poor prognosis of IPF patients generates a great need for novel targets that can be used as a therapeutic strategy to improve clinical outcomes in IPF, with CHIT1 among them. CHIT1 overexpression was shown in fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), including IPF (Bargagli W et al. Chitotriosidase activity in patients with interstitial lung diseases. Respir Med. 101(10):2176-81, 2007) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Letuve S et al. Lung chitinolytic activity and chitotriosidase are elevated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and contribute to lung inflammation. Am J Pathol. 176(2):638-49, 2010) characterized by inflammation and tissue remodeling and was interestingly shown to be potent amplifier of TGFβ signaling (Lee C G et al. Chitinase 1 is a biomarker for and therapeutic target in scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease that augments TGF-β1 signaling. J Immunol. 189(5):2635-44, 2012). A study showed that CHIT1 activity was elevated in the BAL of IPF patients compare to controls suggesting it might be responsible for remodeling and tissue damage seen in the lung from IPF patients. As such, it is conceivable that CHIT1 could be involved in fibrogenesis of other ILD, such as systemic sclerosis (SSc), where patient group with lung involvement show high levels of circulating CHIT1 activity that correlate with disease severity.
Diseases, disorders, and conditions mediated by AMCase and CHIT1 are discussed in more detail below.
Substituted amino triazoles that inhibit AMCase and CHIT1 been described (see international patent application publication No. WO 2015/095701, and U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/094,446).
There is an ongoing need to investigate the inhibition of AMCase and CHIT1, and to discover treatments for conditions associated with elevated expression of AMCase or CHIT1, such as asthma and allergic responses or COPD and fibroproliferative disorders. In particular, there is a need for new molecular scaffolds that effectively inhibit AMCase and CHIT1, therefore, can act as therapeutic agents for the treatment of these conditions. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an ocean water drawing system, more particularly to an ocean water drawing system including a working well, a working tunnel, a pipeline disposed in the working tunnel and in fluid communication with the working well and the ocean, and an access tunnel extending downwardly from the ground surface to intersect the working tunnel for access into the working tunnel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional ocean water drawing system includes a well 12 disposed adjacent to a seashore of an ocean 14 and extending downwardly from a ground surface 11, and a pipe 13 made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) and extending from a bottom of the well 12 into the ocean 14 so as to draw ocean water from the ocean 14 into the well 12. The pipe 13 has a horizontal section extending from the well 12 through a soil or a bedrock layer in the vicinity of the seashore and into the ocean 14 at a first level proximate to that of the bottom of the well 12, and an end section disposed in the ocean 14 and extending downwardly from the horizontal section to a desired depth for drawing the ocean water at a second level much deeper than the first level. However, the conventional ocean water system is disadvantageous in that it requires expensive pumping equipment and that maintenance of the pipe 13 requires diving experts and is relatively difficult and inconvenient. Moreover, the end section of the pipe 13 tends to be damaged due to long exposure to the sea water. Furthermore, the drawn ocean water can be contaminated when the end section of the pipe 13 is broken and causes undesired level(s) of the ocean water to enter into the end section of the pipe 13.
To overcome some of the aforesaid drawbacks, referring to FIG. 2, another conventional ocean water drawing system has been proposed. The proposed ocean water drawing system includes a well 16 and a tunnel 15 having an inclined section extending downwardly from a bottom of the well 16, and a horizontal section extending from the inclined section through a soil layer or a bedrock layer in the vicinity of the seashore and into the ocean 14 at a level proximate to that of the horizontal section. The ocean water can flow into the well 16 through hydrostatic pressure without using expensive pumping equipment. However, the conventional ocean water drawing system still has the aforesaid disadvantage of maintaining an outlet 151 of the tunnel 15. | {
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The invention relates to a viscoelastic transmission device which, inside a winding tube for a blind, for a roller shutter or for a roll-up screen, provides the mechanical connection between the shaft of an actuator and a driving wheel that drives the winding tube.
Winding tubes are not standardized. They have a wide variety of cross sections (circular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, etc.) and dimensions in an orthogonal cross section.
A driving wheel according to the prior art comprises a housing able to accept an output shaft of the actuator and comprises an exterior profile able to fit inside the winding tube, with a limited clearance between the exterior profile of the wheel and the interior profile of the winding tube.
For one same type of actuator, there are therefore a great many driving wheels, differing only in terms of their exterior profile, each wheel being able to collaborate with one specific winding tube.
In order to prevent actuator vibrations (caused by an electric motor and by reduction gearing) from spreading to the winding tube, or at least to limit this spread, it is known practice to use a driving wheel equipped with a viscoelastic material as a replacement for a driving wheel made of one single material, for example of plastic.
Patent application WO 2006/032761 describes a driving wheel that allows the use of several viscoelastic tiles working in compression and positioned between elastic beam elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,162 describes a driving wheel with vibration-damping effect that can be fitted into a tube made of rolled sheet, of circular profile, with bend channel.
Patent DE 197 36 770 likewise describes such a driving wheel, with vibration-damping effect. An exterior component has a cross section tailored to that of the winding tube. An interior component of this driving wheel acts as a housing for a splined shaft of the actuator. Torque is transmitted between the shaft and the wheel by direct collaboration of complementary shapes between the splined shaft and the internal profile. The elastic material is firmly attached to the interior component and to the exterior component.
However, this driving wheel is specific to one particular winding tube, for example an octagonal tube made of bent sheet, with bend channel, the wheel having a recess to accommodate the bend channel.
What this means is that there are as many driving wheels with damper to be designed as there are driving wheels without damper, which means an increase in different stock items that is all the more troublesome given that it is difficult to predict which applications will require a damped driving wheel because of special installation requirements.
The driving wheels of the prior art have damping elements that work essentially in compression. A viscoelastic material working in compression is able to transmit a higher load, and therefore a higher actuator torque.
However, the ability of the material to dissipate vibrational energy is much poorer than when the material is working in shear. Conversely, the transmission of shear load is limited by the risks of the material failing (by tearing).
Also known, from document DE 196 18 635, is an elastic transmission coupling for a sewing machine comprising an elastic element equipped with a cylindrical exterior profile with a groove for collaborating with a first shaft and an exterior profile shaped to collaborate with a second shaft that has a bore with internal teeth. Hence, mechanical power can be transferred from the first shaft to the second.
Also known, from document U.S. Pat. No. 1,780,727, is a power transmission device for a motor vehicle. The transmission device is of the type involving obstacles consisting of teeth between which an elastic material designed to damp out jerkiness is located.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,962 discloses an actuator comprising a motor suspended internally both by an attachment of the viscoelastic type and by a viscoelastic transmission device interposed between the shaft of the motor and the output shaft of the actuator.
It is an object of the invention to provide a device for transmitting mechanical power that overcomes the above disadvantages and improves the mechanical power-transmission devices known from the prior art. In particular, the invention makes it possible to produce a transmission device that is able to limit the diversity of driving wheels that have to be produced for a range of home automation installations. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in effecting relative movement between bones in a body of a patient and, more specifically, to an apparatus for effecting movement of bones in an arm of the patient relative to a shoulder of the patient.
An orthosis for stretching viscoelastic or soft tissue in a human body to regain joint movement and eliminate tissue contracture is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,773. The apparatus disclosed in this patent includes a pair of cuffs which are mounted on cuff arms. A drive assembly interconnects the cuff arms.
Another orthosis is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,619. The orthosis disclosed in this patent includes a pair of cuffs which are connected with cuff arms. A drive assembly interconnects the cuff arms. The orthosis disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,619 is particularly well adapted for use in bending a patient""s wrist.
An orthosis for effecting relative movement between bones in an arm of a patient is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/683,196, filed Jul. 18, 1996 by Peter M. Bonutti et al. and entitled xe2x80x9cOrthosisxe2x80x9d. The orthosis disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. patent application includes a first cuff which grips a wrist portion of the arm of a patient. A second cuff grips an upper portion of the arm of the patient. A drive assembly is provided to rotate the first cuff about an axis which extends along the lower portion of the arm of the patient. Operation of the drive assembly effects pronation and suppination of the hand of the patient.
A new and improved apparatus for effecting relative movement between bones in a body of a patient includes a first cuff which grips a lower portion of an arm of the patient. A second cuff grips an upper portion of the arm of the patient. A drive assembly is operable to rotate the first cuff and a humerus bone in the arm of the patient about a central axis of the humerus bone. This results in a stretching of viscoelastic tissue connected with a head end portion of the humerus bone.
The extent of stretching of the viscoelastic tissue connected with a humerus bone in the arm of the patient may be maximized by interrupting operation of the drive assembly to allow the viscoelastic body tissue to relax. After the viscoelastic body tissue has relaxed, the drive assembly is again operated to further rotate the first cuff and further stretch the viscoelastic body tissue connected with the humerus bone.
A secondary drive assembly is provided to pivot the humerus bone in the arm of the patient about the head end portion of the humerus bone. This moves an arcuate surface on the head end portion of the humerus bone into alignment with an arcuate surface of a glenoid cavity in a scapula bone in the shoulder of the patient. The secondary drive assembly is disposed beneath an axilla between the trunk and arm of the patient. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reformer fuel cell system. The present invention further relates to a method for starting and/or operating a reformer fuel cell system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Reformer fuel cell systems have been known for a long time. A reformer consisting of a plurality of partial reformer systems generates from a primary fuel a hydrogen-rich gas which is used for the generation of electric current in a fuel cell. Known partial reformer systems are, for example, reformer devices, vaporizers, heat exchangers, shift stages, and gas fine-cleaning stages.
Small reformers for fuel cells with a low electric power have, for example, been disclosed in DE-A-100 40 539, DE-A-100 32 059 or DE-A-101 18 618.
Adequate heat supply is required for the startup and continuous operation of both the reformer and the fuel cell. Particularly if reformer fuel cell systems with low power are operated in the part load mode, there is the danger that the heat available is insufficient. As a result, the reformer process on the one hand and the fuel cell process on the other hand may deteriorate or even come to a standstill.
As has been disclosed in DE-A-199 10 387, an additional heating system the operating heat of which is used to heat a fuel cell stack is provided for heating up a fuel cell unit on cold start. The heating system heats a heat transport medium which is supplied through the reaction chamber of the fuel cell stack, thereby heating up the latter.
DE-A-199 31 061 has disclosed an arrangement for heating and cooling a fuel cell system in which a reformer can be integrated in addition to a burner and a cooler. A heating or cooling medium circulating in a closed circuit within the system serves to regulate the internal heat flux, especially to heat the gaseous medium flows supplied to the fuel cell.
DE 103 15 225 A1 describes a reformer fuel cell system in which, for heating purposes, the exhaust gas from an external burner or a heat transfer medium heated by an external burner can be supplied to the reformer or the fuel cell. | {
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Pellet burning stoves have been found to be extremely efficient combustors with the predictable nature of the pellet fuel and the ability to control burning conditions within the fire box enclosures of such units. Combustion efficiency, due to the consistent size, material, and moisture content of the combustible particulates, may be controlled by specific design of the air feed systems and burn pots into which the pellets are fed in metered quantitites.
Combustion efficiency at high burn rates is a relatively easily achieved objective, due to the burn intensity and the ability to supply regulated combustion air to the burning product. Combustion efficiency at lower burn rates, however, is more difficult to achieve. Previous burn pots having a fixed internal volume must be designed for a maximum load of particulate fuel, thereby detracting from combustion efficiency at low burn rates. Such "typical" burn pots are excessively large for small amounts of fuel at low burn settings. A difficulty experienced at low burn is that the small amounts of fuel received within the burn pots is spread over a considerable surface area, leaving the individual combustible particulates to burn independently. Even with the fairly consistent nature of the combustible particulates, the individual particulates cannot be relied upon to burn evenly individually. Some will burn actively while others smolder or do not burn at all. A need has therefore remained for a burn pot in which provisions are made to facilitate high burn rates and that it will also function well to increase effective burning at low burn rates by accumulating the particulates in a desired mass.
Another difficulty with existing forms of burn pots is ash accumulation. This is especially true of certain combustible particulates that do not burn completely and leave excessive ash. The task of cleaning ash from the burn pots thus becomes a tedious chore. There therefore also remains a need for a burn pot that includes provision for cleaning ash and cinders from the burning area. | {
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1. Field
The presently disclosed embodiment relates to the general field of producing tanks made of high-performance composite materials, intended for storing pressurized fluids.
The presently disclosed embodiment applies in particular to tanks made of thermoplastic matrix composite materials, but may be applied to tanks made of composite materials comprising other types of matrices (radiation-polymerizable, thermosetting, etc. matrices).
More generally, the presently disclosed embodiment applies to the field of the transport and storage of fluids, optionally cryogenic storage, for example to the transport of liquefied gas by methane tankers, to the storage of liquid hydrogen for automotive applications, or to the liquid propellant tanks of launch vehicles such as the Ariane European launch vehicle.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
High-performance tanks made of composite material are in general produced by the technique of filament winding (i.e. by winding) of (pre)impregnated fibers or else by a variant thereof such as fiber placement.
High-performance tanks are understood to mean tanks that are optimized in terms of weight/strength ratio, such as those used in particular in the fields of the space industry and the transport industry generally.
In the particular case of applications in the space industry, the use of high-performance tanks is induced by the need to store gases under pressure, optionally under cryogenic conditions, in other words at very low temperature.
The high-performance composite tanks intended in particular for storing pressurized fluids are generally designed by separating the functions of leaktightness and of mechanical resistance to the pressure. Such a tank thus comprises: a shell made of metal or made of a polymer material, referred to as a “liner”, responsible for ensuring the containment of the fluid, that is to say the leaktightness of the tank and, optionally, the chemical protection of the wall made of composite material with respect to the fluid contained; a composite coating that ensures the mechanical strength of the tank, resistance to the internal pressures in particular, which coating is formed of fibers deposited on the liner by filament winding, or by any equivalent method.
Since the shell (liner) has no mechanical function, it is in principle thin, knowing that, in a high-performance tank, it is naturally sought to minimize the masses. Since this thinness gives it little mechanical strength, the liner is usually placed on a support mandrel.
However, for reasons of simplification of the manufacture, it is possible to give the liner other functions, in particular at the stage of producing the tank. Thus, in the case of small-sized tanks, the liner may be used as a winding mandrel during the deposition of the composite material fibers. It must therefore be able to withstand, without deforming, the forces induced by the deposition of the fibers, which requires the liner to have a sufficient thickness to withstand these forces
Similarly, the liner may be used as a reference surface of the composite structure deposited. It must then be able to exhibit a certain stiffness.
When such structures are produced, one problem to be taken into account is that of the behavior of the liner during the use of the tank, which is characterized by successive fillings and emptyings, therefore successive pressurizations, and also by thermal cycles in the case of cryogenic fluids. In particular, the emptying operations result in a compression of the liner by the composite wall.
Consequently, there are two cases: either the tank is of small size (1 m3 typically). In such a case, the liner may have a sufficient thickness to withstand this compression without buckling, this thickness being, for example, imposed by the manufacturing principle of the liner or else by usage characteristics of the liner such as the direct use of the liner as a winding tool. There is thus no particular precaution to be taken regarding a bond between the liner and the composite wall. or the tank is of large size or else the liner is very thin or has a very low stiffness. In such a case, it cannot withstand this compression. It is then necessary to connect the liner to the composite wall, in general by adhesive bonding.
Consequently, there is therefore, in a good many production cases, a need to be able to connect the liner to the composite wall.
However, although the joining of two high-performance thermoplastic matrix composite materials by welding generally requires known joining processes (cf. the book by Michael J. Troughton entitled “Handbook of Plastics Joining” (Plastics Design Library) ISBN: 978-1-884207-17-4), no technique exists to date, among the known joining techniques, that makes it possible to join an element made of thermoplastic material to an element made of another material, especially a polymer or metal material, and that gives the joint produced the required qualities, in terms of mechanical strength in particular.
This is especially the case as regards the joining of the liner that forms a tank and of the protective wall that covers it. | {
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Consumer demand for digital video, high-speed communication, and ever increasing processing speed is pushing manufacturers to adopt faster data transmission schemes. Though the data conveyed is typically digital, designers are favoring analog communication schemes that employ low-voltage differential signals, particularly for moving data within a system. The transmission medium, or “channel,” can be pairs of copper lines but is more typically pairs of circuit-board traces extending between integrated circuits. The use of differential signals allows for rejection of common-mode noise, and thus enables data transmission with exceptional speed and common-mode noise immunity.
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) published a standard specifying the electrical characteristics of low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface circuits that can be used to interchange binary signals. LVDS employs low-voltage differential signals to provide high-speed, low-power data communication. For a detailed description of this LVDS Standard, see “Electrical Characteristics of Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) Interface Circuits,” TIA/EIA-644 (March 1996), which is incorporated herein by reference.
Signal distortion limits the sensitivity and bandwidth of any communication system. A form of distortion commonly referred to as “intersymbol interference” (ISI) is problematic in single-ended and differential communication schemes, and is manifested in the temporal spreading and consequent overlapping of individual pulses, or “symbols.” Severe ISI prevents receivers from distinguishing symbols and consequently disrupts the integrity of received signals. To make matters more complicated, the characteristics of high-speed signals are highly destination-dependent, which is to say a received signal will appear different depending upon characteristics of the communication channel and receiver. In extreme cases, the transmitter may be so far out of adjustment for the particular communication channel and receiver that the received data is entirely unintelligible. Data transmitters must therefore be tuned to achieve and maintain optimal performance.
Receivers in high-speed communication systems sometimes include control circuitry that monitors various characteristics of incoming signals and tunes the associated transmitter accordingly. Such adjustments to the transmitter may be done once, to account for channel characteristics and process variations, or may be carried out continuously or periodically to additionally account for time-variant parameters, such as supply-voltage and temperature. Performing such adjustments requires receivers to communicate back to the associated transmitter, a process sometimes referred to as “backchannel” communication.
Providing for backchannel communication may be expensive, particularly for systems in which the high-speed communications channel being monitored and adjusted is unidirectional. The backchannel communication takes place in the direction opposite the flow of data, and so may require one or more additional signal paths and associated pins between the communicating circuits. Adding pins and signal paths is expensive and undesirable. In the alternative, bi-directional communication can support backchannel signals, but this option potentially reduces the forward communication bandwidth.
In a paper entitled “Phantom Mode Signaling in VLSI Systems,” Thaddeus Gabara describes circuits that facilitate backchannel communication in high-speed differential channels by injecting common-mode signals on the same channel but in the reverse direction as high-speed differential signals. These circuits take advantage of the ability of modern differential receivers to reject common-mode signals; in practice, however, injecting common-mode signals into a high-speed differential communication channel is, from the differential receiver's perspective, no different from injecting common-mode noise. Backchannel communication schemes relying upon common-mode signaling techniques would therefore undesirably limit forward channel transmission speed. There is therefore a need for protocols and circuits that facilitate backchannel communication over high-speed differential channels without unduly limiting the bandwidth of the differential signals. | {
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Typically, most conventional firearms have been adapted for specific tasks and generally are limited to use with specific calibers and/or types of ammunition. However, demand is increasing for firearms that can be modified to fire different types of ammunition, and/or can be reconfigured for different environments and uses. For example, in military applications today, the environments in which soldiers are forced to fight are changing such that they can be in open desert and then move into close quarter's battle in a more urban area within the matter of a few hours. At the same time, their weapons needs can further change, i.e., they might be faced with need for a longer range, sniping weapon or alternatively with needs for a more standard infantry rifle depending on the environment or situation. Carrying multiple different firearms is, however, impractical as adding undue weight and bulk to soldiers' packs and gear. Additionally, for more specialized uses, such as for sniping and other tactical situations, the weapon must be configurable as needed to fit the shooter's particular needs and/or use in a particular combat situation.
It therefore can be seen that a need exists for a modular firearm that addresses the foregoing and other related and unrelated problems in the art. | {
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When operating a system (e.g. an auto-driving control system), ensuring an on-going highly efficient, safe communication between processes is of paramount importance to ensure the stability and security of the system. Currently, a commonly available communication mode with multiprocess includes: 1) a message communication mechanism based on a socket connection; and 2) a pointer communication mechanism based on multiple processes.
However, for the message communication mechanism based on a socket connection, data processing before transmission, memory copying and pass message loss and retransmission during the transmission will result in high delay, low throughput and high CPU load, which in turn will not meet a high real-time demand of, for example, the auto-driving control system. For the pointer communication mechanism based on multiple processes, it is required to load a sending program node or a receiving program node in a form of process, which are stored in separate memory spaces, into a same process. Accordingly, the message is sent in a form of pointer, and interactions and managements between multiple processes would cause unpredictable risks to system stability, and moreover, the isolation and individual management of sources may not be implemented. | {
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In general, in the medical field, an X-ray radiograph, such as computed tomography (CT), is used for a diagnosis.
However, since the X-ray radiograph illustrates an inside of a human body, an ordinary person is not accustomed to the X-ray radiograph except for a trained professional such as a doctor.
Especially, in the dental or plastic surgery field, use of only the X-ray radiograph cannot satisfy demand for easily identifying a facial change after treatment.
In this aspect, a way to efficiently obtain a 3D facial image for 3-dimensionally illustrating a part of a human body, such as a face, is required.
In this regard, it may be considered to use a three dimensional (3D) imaging device commonly used for 3D movies. However, it is problematic in that the 3D imaging device is very expensive, and takes much time for 3D scanning.
Accordingly, a way to obtain a more effective 3D facial image for medical use is urgently required. | {
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The present disclosure relates to a method of patterning a structure, and more particularly to a non-lithographic method of patterning a structure employing successive mask erosion, and structures formed by the same.
Semiconductor device scaling has been limited by the limitations of lithographic tools. For example, dimensions of minimum printable features have been limited by the capabilities of available lithographic tools to print such features. The slow progress in the capabilities of lithographic tools in recent years has made it difficult to aggressively scale the pitch of line level patterns near critical dimensions. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to frequency multipliers and more particularly to frequency multipliers producing odd harmonics at one output port and even harmonics at a second output port.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Varactor diodes, Schottky barrier diodes and single and dual gate field effect transistor (FET) devices are each capable of producing harmonics of an applied microwave fundamental frequency signal. In each case the device is operated in its non-linear region to generate the harmonics. FETs have an advantage relative to diodes of providing gain and in particular dual-gate FETs provide better conversion gain and dynamic range than do single gate FETs. An article entitled "Balanced Dual Gate GaAs FET Frequency Doublers" by Roger Stancliff (1981, IEEE International Microwave Symposium Digest, Los Angeles, June 1981, pp. 143-145) reported on a frequency doubler which utilizes two dual gate FETs, an in phase power divider, an in-phase power combiner and a 180.degree. delay which produces even harmonics while suppressing all odd harmonics including the fundamental. | {
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Without the ability to retrieve information from a device, services that may be offered to a customer may become limited. For example, one way set-top boxes (STB), such as direct-to-home STBs or satellite direct-to-home STBS, may be installed in a subscriber premise, and these STBs are configured to provide video services to the subscriber. However, these one-way STBs are typically without the ability or are configured with a limited ability to transmit upstream communications. Thus, it is difficult or impossible to gather information from a one-way STB that may be used to expand or improve services offered to the subscriber. For example, without certain information associated with a subscriber's demographic or viewing preferences, content or service providers are unable to target advertisements to a specific subscriber.
As a result, static advertisements are typically output from a one-way STB to a display device, and these static advertisements are usually displayed in the form of moving picture experts group (MPEG) stills which may not be relevant to a viewer. Moreover, the static advertisements are not necessarily relevant to the content being viewed at a display device. Therefore, a need exists for improving upon methods and systems for displaying advertisement content from a one-way STB that is relevant to content being received through the STB.
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. | {
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The United States Army's M198 towed 155-mm Field Artillery Howitzer is a medium weight weapon weighing approximately 16,000 pounds. Operated by an 11 man crew, this weapon is designed to provide general support and direct support artillery fire for infantry and air assault divisions and in the corps general support battalions. It is also used to increase light infantry division capabilities as required by specific missions. The M198 is used by both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine corps units, active and reserve.
Currently there are four methods of transporting the M198 howitzer; air, ground, water, and rail. The principal method of transport is by ground. Because of its high tongue weight (4,200 lbs. In the stowed configuration) the M198 howitzer must be towed by a relatively large vehicle, such as a 21/2 ton or a 5-ton cargo truck. The 5 ton cargo truck is assigned to the artillery unit and transports the unit personnel, their ammunition, equipment, and the M198 Howitzer in a stowed or towed A-frame position configuration. The 5-ton cargo truck is equipped with a rear pintle hook that attaches to the M198 howitzer's lunette (a ring in the trail plate of the towed howitzer, that is used to attach the howitzer to the pintle of the 5-ton cargo truck). Towing in the towed A-Frame configuration is recommended in tactical situations because towing in the stowed configuration usually requires removal of the muzzle brake.
During combat operations, it may be necessary for the commander to quickly move his fire support assets forward to engage targets that are beyond the weapons range capabilities and then quickly move them back to support the close battle. To conduct these missions, the commander would use the heavy lift assets within the Corps to airlift the howitzers on an artillery raid.
The primary method of air transport of the howitzer is the CH-47D, or larger, heavy lift helicopter. The howitzer is externally rigged for air transport with lifting hardware attached to the four lifing eyes. The howitzer is in the A-frame configuration during air transport. The crew, ammunition, and equipment are secured within the helicopter. Once the aircraft reaches its destination, it drops off the howitzer, crew, ammo, and equipment and then departs. There currently is no method of moving the howitzer once it has been positioned by the helicopter, since the 5-ton truck is not air-liftable.
To meet the increased requirement for responsiveness and survivability demanded by the broad range of future combat missions, towed howitzers must have the capability to be rapidly and accurately emplaced, conduct fire missions, and move to a new location. | {
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For centuries, animals have been transported across continents and oceans, in ships and more recently, animals have been flown in airplanes from the wild to zoos. In fact, zoological and research institutions ship thousands of animals every, year. These shipments include, for example, inter-facility transfers, intra-institution shipments and transport from wildcatch staging areas to quarantine facilities.
There are no specific design standards for crate construction. However, some general guidelines exist for volume, ventilation and access requirements. For example, the 1945-1995 IATA Live Animals Regulations sets forth crate designs for various animals.
Transport crates are typically designed for the size and type of animals to be transported. Many institutions have significant inventories of crates for the numerous types and sizes of animals they maintain. Additional design factors, such as the temperament of the animal, its strength and the amount of husbandry required in transit, add to the number of different crates that an institution may hold.
These transport crates are typically built by the institution or contracted to local fabrication shops. Such crates take up a significant volume of cargo space whether an animal is being transported or the crate is being returned because they are typically not easily disassembled and reassembled. High-strength crates of conventional material and construction are typically very heavy so that they limit the weight-carrying capacity of the vehicle. Animals have also been and are being shipped in crates specifically made for that particular transport. In such instances, the crates are discarded after the one-time use.
The crates are typically made of wood and wire mesh. Rough surfaces and openings in the walls, floors, and ceilings of such crates can create a hazard for abrasions, lacerations and fractures. It is also difficult to properly ventilate, clean and care for the animals in such crates. Moreover, wood is porous and absorbs liquids which provides a breeding ground for bacteria and makes wood difficult to sterilize. Accordingly, wood crates create a significant number of potential problems.
Many animals will ingest the wooden crate material during the transport process. Even animals which would not generally attempt to chew and eat wood, will sometimes do so in a heightened stress state during transport.
Wood's low strength-to-weight ratio limits its use with large and/or strong animals. If wood is utilized for such crates it often must be very heavily reinforced in order to withstand the impact loads generated by the animals. Furthermore, building a crate in a permanent, non-disassembling configuration further inhibits proper cleaning and sterilization.
Use of crates, particularly with larger species and hoofed mammals, routinely requires a crate-training or habituation as part of the process. Prior to shipping, the crate must be in the animal's enclosure for extended periods while the animal is being acclimated to it. During this period, the crate is further exposed to potential abuse from the animal, increased exposure to waste materials, water, cleaning solutions and other environmental factors further limit the crate life.
Accordingly, the life-span of wooden crates is inherently short. Often the crate must be discarded after a few uses because the animal and the handling of the crate itself, have literally destroyed it.
Most institutions will not ship animals during the middle of summer or the middle of winter, because the temperature limits the shipment of animals in non-environmentally controlled enclosures. This effectively reduces the available shipping time by 120-150 days per year.
Accordingly, the need exists for a light-weight modular, reusable shipping crate for animals. There is also a need for shipping crates which reduce the chance of injury to the animal. The control of communicable disease, especially between separate facilities is very important in today's modern zoological institution. Finally, there is a need to properly ventilate, clean and handle such crates while in transport. | {
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Currently, a Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) scheme has been introduced over a Secondary Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH) in a Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) to improve the throughput of a system.
A Low Chip Rate Time Division Duplex MBMS (LCR TDD MBMS) is introduced below by way of an example. The LCR TDD MBMS with a 16QAM scheme may adopt four timeslot formats as illustrated in FIG. 1, which specify an amount of data transmitted in and constituent fields of respective timeslots as well as whether to carry Transport Format Combination Indicator (TFCI) information in the transmitted data. The TFCI information is used to indicate a combining mode of the data. For example, the TFCI information indicates to a recipient that the first 20 bits in its received data of 80 bits relate to a first set of data and the last 60 bits relate to a second set of data. As illustrated in FIG. 1, no TFCI information is required to be carried in transmitted data in the two timeslot formats with serial numbers of “0” and “2”, and TFCI information of 8 bits is required to be carried in transmitted data in the two timeslot formats with serial numbers of “1” and “3”.
Currently, occupancy of two 5 ms timeslots, i.e., 10 ms, is required for transmission of a data frame in the LCR TDD MBMS with the 16QAM scheme. Referring to FIG. 2, first and second timeslots are occupied for a data frame of 10 ms, and if TFCI information of 8 bits is carried in the data frame, the TFCI information is divided into two halves, and the first and second 4-bit halves of TFCI information are arranged respectively at corresponding locations in the first and second timeslots. Taking the first timeslot as an example below and as illustrated in FIG. 2, data transmitted in the first timeslot is divided into the first and second parts of data between which midamble codes are sandwiched for channel estimation as specified in the timeslot formats as illustrated in FIG. 1, so that the first half of TFCI information is arranged following the first part of data in the first timeslot in order to transmit the TFCI information; and alike the second half of TFCI information is arranged following the first part of data in the second timeslot. As such, the TFCI information of 8 bits can be transmitted to the recipient in the data frame. The data frame is retransmitted at an interval of 10 ms in the case of a Transmission Time Interval (TTI) of 20 ms/40 ms/80 ms.
In the prior art, various information is subject to a loss during transmission thereof, and since the data length of TFCI information is only 8 bits in the LCR TDD MBMS with the 16QAM scheme, the recipient apparently fails to demodulate corresponding part of data according to obtained TFCI information if the TFCI information is subject to a substantial loss during transmission thereof.
An existing solution to the foregoing issue is as follows:
Referring to FIG. 3, TFCI information is firstly mapped to a LCR TDD 16QAM constellation for modulation prior to addition thereof into a data frame in the LCR TDD MBMS in order to maintain the signal strength of the TFCI information. As illustrated in FIG. 3, there are sixteen energy points in the LCR TDD 16QAM constellation, each of the energy points is identified with a binary code with a data length of 4 bits, the intersection of Q and I coordinate axes is referred to as the origin of the LCR TDD 16QAM constellation, and the distance of each energy point from the origin is associated with the power of the energy point so that the energy point further from the origin has larger power. Therefore in a practical application, four energy points closest to the origin each are referred to as a low energy point or a minimum power point, four energy points furthest from the origin each are referred to as a high energy point or the maximum power point, and remaining eight energy points each are referred to as an intermediate energy point or an intermediate power point. For modulation of the TFCI information, the TFCI information of 8 bits is mapped unbiasedly to two of the energy points in the LCR TDD 16QAM constellation to maintain specific signal strength of the TFCI information. For example, the TFCI information of “11011000” is divided into two halves of “1101” and “1000”, and the two halves of TFCI information are mapped respectively to the two energy points identified with “1101” and “1000” for modulating.
Unfortunately, the foregoing method can not be used to satisfactory because although the TFCI information of 8 bits is mapped to the first and second energy points in the LCR TDD 16QAM constellation, the modulated TFCI information may still fail to attain ideal signal strength if the first and/or second energy point is a low energy point closest to the origin, such as “1000”, thus resulting in an influence upon the effect of demodulation at the recipient; and on the other hand, multiple mapping of different TFCI information may occur during modulation, and if there is a considerable difference between the number of times that the TFCI information is mapped to the low energy points and the number of times that it is mapped to the high energy points, a relatively large peak-to-average ratio (the ratio of peak to average) may arise in the system to consequently cause fluctuation of average power in the system and a consequential influence upon stability of the system. | {
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Computer systems are constantly improving in terms of speed, reliability, and processing capability. As is known in the art, computer systems which process and store large amounts of data typically include a one or more processors in communication with a shared data storage system in which the data is stored. The data storage system may include one or more storage devices, usually of a fairly robust nature and useful for storage spanning various temporal requirements, e.g. disk drives. The one or more processors perform their respective operations using the storage system. Mass storage systems particularly those of the disk array type have centralized data as a hub of operations all driving down costs. But performance demands placed on such mass storage have increased and continue to do so.
Design objectives for mass storage systems typically include cost, performance, and availability. Objectives typically included are a low cost per megabyte, a high I/O performance, and high data availability. Availability is measured by the ability to access data. Often such data availability is provided by use of redundancy such as well-known mirroring techniques.
One problem encountered in the implementation of disk array data storage systems concerns optimizing the storage capacity while maintaining the desired availability and reliability of the data through redundancy. It is important to allocate as closely as possible the right amount of storage capacity with going over or under significantly because of cost and necessity but this is a complex task. It has required a great deal of skill and knowledge about computers, software applications such as databases, and the very specialized field of data storage. Such requisite abilities have long been expensive and difficult to access. There remains and probably will be an increasing demand for and corresponding scarcity of such skilled people.
Determining the size and number of disk array or other data storage system components needed by a customer requires information about both space, traffic and a desired quality of service. It is not sufficient to size a solution simply based on the perceived quantity of capacity desired, such as the number of terabytes believed to be adequate.
There is a long-felt need for a computer-based tool that would allow a straight-forward non-complex way to allocate proper storage capacity while balancing cost, growth plans, workload, and performance requirements. This would be advancement in the computer arts with particular relevance in the field of data storage. | {
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} |
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a gas turbine engine and, more specifically, to a fuel nozzle for a combustor of the gas turbine engine.
A gas turbine engine generally includes a turbine and a combustor with a fuel nozzle. A mixture of fuel and air combusts within the combustor to generate hot combustion gases, which drive rotation of turbine blades in the turbine and, in turn, a shaft coupled to a load, e.g., an electrical generator. The fuel-air mixture (e.g., uniformity of fuel-air mixing in the combustor) can significantly impact power output, efficiency, and exhaust emissions of the gas turbine engine. In addition, combustion of the fuel-air mixture in the combustor can cause combustion dynamics, vibration, and thermal gradients, which can impact the performance and life of various combustor components, such as the fuel nozzle. For example, the fuel nozzle may be subjected to thermal growth due to its close proximity to the hot products of combustion. These combustion-related effects can complicate the design of gas turbine engines, particularly the combustors and fuel nozzles. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present inventions relate to testing interconnections, such as solder joints, to detect defects that may negatively affect the integrity of a joint, and more specifically to dye-based circuit mount testing of solder joints that connect packaged semiconductors to a printed circuit board (PCB) or other substrate.
A semiconductor package assembly, also called a package, is a carrier for one or more integrated circuits. A package may provide leads, pins, and/or other structures to permit electrical, electronic, and/or mechanical interconnections between the packaged integrated circuit and the supporting PCB or other substrate. A surface-mount component (SMC) is a type of package that may be mounted directly to the surface of a substrate, for example, by soldering its leads and/or pins to the PCB. A ball-grid array (BGA) is a type of SMC that replaces the leads and pins with a grid of solder balls placed on the bottom of the package and held in place, for example, by a flux until soldered. BGA packaging enables a high density of solder-joint connections between the package and the substrate. However, a solder-joint connection may exhibit defects, such as cracks, separations, and/or voids, that may negatively affect the electrical, electronic, and/or mechanical properties of the joint. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly a mobile communication terminal transmitting a random access channel (RACH) signal and a method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, each base station in a cell in a mobile communication network broadcasts a broadcast control channel signal to the mobile communication terminals by means of a broadcast control channel (BCCH). The BCCH is a downlink channel transmitted in a single direction in a point-to-multi point method and is a channel used for notifying the mobile communication terminals of general cell information. All mobile communication terminals are required to receive a BCCH signal before connecting to a mobile communication network. Conventional mobile communication terminals synchronize with the strongest BCCH signal received from base stations in each cell. Then, when a user makes a request for a network connection such as communication or data downloading, the conventional mobile communication terminals originate RACH signals and perform a call allocation request. The RACH is an uplink channel transmitted in a single direction and is a channel used for transmitting a message such as a response message to a call allocation request or question from a network.
When originating the RACH signals as described above, the conventional mobile communication terminals have always originated the RACH signals at the maximum power level regardless of their own positions. However, since the mobile communication terminals originate the RACH signals at the maximum power level, the power of terminals is unnecessarily consumed and the interference effect occurs in a mobile communication network. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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This invention relates to video systems, and more particularly, to interactive television program guide systems which allow for digital storage of programs and program related information.
Cable, satellite, and broadcast television systems provide viewers with a large number of television channels. Users have traditionally consulted printed television program schedules to determine the programs being broadcast at a particular time. More recently, interactive electronic television program guides have been developed that allow television program information to be displayed on a user's television.
Interactive program guides allow the user to navigate through television program listings using a remote control. In a typical program guide display, television listings are organized into subsets of listings according to multiple organization criteria and are sorted in various ways. One approach is to organize program listings into a program listings grid. Each row in the grid contains television program listings for a different channel. The columns in the grid correspond to a series of scheduled broadcast times. The user can scroll up or down to view program listings for different channels or may pan left or right to view information about programs being broadcast at different times.
Recently, interactive program guides have been developed that allow for storage of programs selected within the program guide on an independent storage device, typically a videocassette recorder. Usually, a control path involving an infrared transmitter coupled to an infrared receiver in the videocassette recorder is used to control the videocassette recorder. The use of independent analog storage devices like videocassette recorders, however, does not allow for the more advanced features that might be implemented if a digital storage device were associated with the program guide.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an interactive television program guide with digital storage. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates to a fuel cell power generation system including a reformer and a method of operating the same system. More particularly, it relates to a solid-oxide fuel cell power generation system where a hydrocarbon-based fuel is used as an anode gas, and a method of operating the same system.
A fuel cell is a kind of a power generation device, wherein an anode is provided on one side of the fuel cell, and a cathode is provided on the other side thereof with an electrolyte set up therebetween. Then, a fuel gas is supplied to the anode side, and an oxidant gas, which is mainly air, is supplied to the cathode side. Next, the fuel and the oxidant are electrochemically reacted with each other through the electrolyte, thereby generating electric power. In particular, researches are now being conducted concerning a solid-oxide fuel cell, which is one type of fuel cell. This is because, in this fuel cell, the operation temperature is high, i.e., 700 to 1000° C., the power generation efficiency is high, and the exhaust heat is easy reusable.
Usually, a hydrocarbon-based fuel, such as town gas, LNG, or kerosene, is supplied to the anode side of this solid-oxide fuel cell together with water vapor. CH4 is regarded as the most common fuel of the hydrocarbon-based fuels. Then, as indicated by a chemical formula (1), CH4 is reformed by reacting with the water vapor on the anode surface of the solid-oxide fuel cell. This reformation reaction, which is an endothermic reaction, is referred to as “internal reformation scheme”, since CH4 is reformed inside the solid-oxide fuel cell. It is also possible to perform temperature control over the fuel cell by taking advantage of the endothermic reaction of this internal reformation.CH4+H2O=3H2+CO (1)
Then, H2 and CO, which are acquired by the reformation reaction indicated by the formula (1), react respectively with O2− from the cathode side as are indicated by chemical formulas (2) and (3). These processes result in acquisition of electricity and heat output.H2+O2−═H2O+2e− (2)CO+O2−═CO2+2e− (3)
The hydrocarbon-based fuel, however, also contains higher-order hydrocarbons having larger carbon numbers than CH4, such as C2H6, C3H8, and C4H10. If these higher-order hydrocarbons are supplied to the anode electrode with no reformation made thereto, the C component turns out to deposit. Accordingly, there exists a possibility of causing a performance degradation of the fuel cell to occur. On account of this, usually, the higher-order hydrocarbons are partially reformed up to CH4, or are reformed in total amount up to H2 and CO indicated by the formula (1), then being supplied to the anode in this reformed state. At this time, this reformation is performed using an external configuration appliance referred to as “reformer” which is different from the fuel cell. In this way, performing the reformation of hydrocarbon using the reformer composed of the external configuration appliance which is apart from the fuel cell is referred to as “external reformation scheme”.
Concerning the reformer based on the external reformation scheme, as is described in, e.g., JP-A-2003-109639 (Abstract), an innovation is devised that a heat source for the reformation reaction is ensured by setting up the reformer in a combustion chamber where unused fuel and unused oxidant from the fuel cell are combusted. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In general, the frequency from 20 Hz to 20 KHz is a commonly employed frequency range utilized in an audio and video signal processing system that performs digital signal processing of acoustic or sound signals. A digital signal processing technique has a tendency to have wider dynamic range and characteristics, compared with an analog signal processing technique, therefore an original signal input can be more faithfully processed and amplified at a signal input section, a signal processing section and a power amplification section of the digital audio and video signal processing system. Unfortunately, however, sound reproduction of a speaker needs improvement.
Today's speaker system include a three-way type employing a tweeter for high-frequency sound reproduction, a squawker for medium-frequency sound reproduction and a woofer for low-frequency sound reproduction, and a two-way type employing the tweeter and the woofer. In order to improve low-frequency characteristics of the woofer, lowest resonance frequency should be set to the low frequency, and in such a case the diameter of a vibration plate must be large to improve the low-frequency characteristics. However, when the diameter of the vibration plate is large, volume of the speaker system becomes large as well, limiting installation environment. For this reason, small speaker systems will have a drawback that the sound signal of the low frequency cannot be faithfully reproduced due to the small volume of the speaker even in the case of receiving a high quality audio signal. In addition, the overall reproduction characteristics of the speaker cannot be improved even though the above method is employed to improve reproduction characteristics of the low frequency component of an audio signal by changing the diameter of the vibration plate of the speaker system. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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As electronic articles such as the electronic trading cards (“ETC”) illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,216 continue to set the standard for entertaining novelty items or greeting cards, there is an increasing demand to improve the animation quality of devices which do not rely upon the transmission of electronic data to convey a message or present an artistic work in an entertaining way. Animated greeting cards, which rely upon a mechanized actuator, are perhaps the most notable of these latter devices. Constraints in existing actuators used in such cards have been the primary reason they have not yet been able to convey a message, or display a character in a way that comes close to approximating the animation quality of articles such as the ETC.
Existing animation actuators suffer from numerous drawbacks: they are fragile; they consume power inefficiently, and they typically can only be used in one particular device configuration. The animated greeting card described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,454 (“'454 Patent”) illustrates these drawbacks.
The card disclosed in the '454 Patent contains an actuator employing a bimetallic wire about 0.003 to 0.010 inches in diameter. This wire is affixed at one end to a circuit board and at the other to a gear. A Flexinol (Dynalloy) shape memory alloy CVAA″) wire is disclosed in the '454 Patent as one example of a useful wire. Upon application of electric current to the wire, the wire contracts thereby exerting a force on the gear which causes the gear to rotate The '454 Patent discloses that a one inch long wire which is 3 millimeters in diameter can be activated by a pulsed current of about 0.75 volts at 6 ohms.
While application of a SMA wire in an actuator such as that disclosed in the '454 Patent has inherent advantages (e.g., as disclosed in detail hereinafter, minimal contraction of a SMA wire can move an attached element a relatively substantial distance), there are numerous drawbacks attendant to the actuator used in the animated greeting card design disclosed in the '454 Patent. It is inherently limited to an open-flap greeting card design and is not readily adaptable to other applications, e.g., a panel display greeting card. It uses small-module size, non-replaceable button batteries. The linear configuration of the SMA wire in the actuator used in the '454 Patent subjects the wire to significant stress, which in turn can either break the wire or limit the movement of the attached moving features. Further, in the actuator illustrated in the '454 Patent, the SMA wire draws a current at a rate that would quickly drain the specified power source. And, in the actuator of the '454 Patent, the wire length is necessarily fairly short, thereby effectively limiting the mechanical force which the wire can convey to the connected gear.
Accordingly, the need exists for versatile animation actuators that are adaptable to numerous animated entertainment devices. Ideally, such actuators will facilitate the efficient use of power, be durable, and be adaptable to numerous configurations. Further, the need exists for animated entertainment devices that employ such actuators to achieve a level of animation approximating that of items such as the ETC. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Cloud computing is an Internet based computer technology and refers to a computing service in which a user may use software through an Internet connection whenever necessary without installing the software in his or her computer and may also easily share expensive hardware needed to drive the software. That is, a person may connect to a web to use high-end software such as Photoshop or Office. In addition, data is stored on the web. As a result, several people may connect to one cloud computing server group and do their personal work.
Along with the development of a market for IT technology and applications, the amount of data processed by users through their personal terminal devices has significantly increased. In this case, a cloud computing system may be a solution to such an increase in the amount of data that needs to be processed. In addition, a cloud computing system may be a foundation of miniaturization of terminal devices.
For example, when software needing to process a large-scale image is executed, the software is executed through a cloud computing based server, and only an execution result screen is transmitted to a user's terminal using a streaming technology. Thus, the user may use high-end software through his or her terminal. That is, a technology through which the user sends only a request to execute software to a cloud computing server through the user's terminal device, and the cloud computing server provides the user with an execution screen for the software requested by the user through streaming is referred to as a cloud streaming service.
In order to provide such a cloud streaming service, a technology for inspecting whether an application is normally executed in the server or whether there is an error in the server is increasingly desperately needed.
Also, in order to provide the cloud streaming service, a cloud streaming server has to simultaneously execute a plurality of applications and provide results of the execution. In order to measure performance of a cloud streaming server, a conventional test scheme is performed by manually setting the number of applications being executed, executing an application through an input, observing a change in system resources used by people for a certain time, and increasing the number of applications. However, such a test scheme requires a lot of labor and has test errors that may frequently occur due to a manager's mistake. Accordingly, a new cloud streaming server test technology that may be performed automatically is increasingly desperately needed.
In addition, in a computing environment based on a cloud streaming service, main services or functions are executed by a server. Thus, the development of a technology for detecting a failure in the server is needed.
Furthermore, a new clouding streaming server management technology that may rapidly collect and reconstruct information regarding cloud streaming servers to resume a service although a problem has occurred in a cloud streaming management server is increasingly desperately needed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tray locking structure of a vehicle in which when a button of a locking part installed in a door of the vehicle is pulled forward, the tray is released from the locked state such that the door of the tray is prevented from opening due to external shock and accident is prevented
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an instrument panel of a vehicle includes various meters in the side of a driver seat and a glove box in the side of a front passenger seat.
Between the driver seat and the front passenger seat a center facea is formed. On the upper side of the center faced, an upward opening tray is installed to accommodate glasses.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a conventional tray of a vehicle whose button is pressed down to open it, FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the button in a closed state of the tray in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the button pressed down in the state shown in FIG. 2.
As shown in the drawings, the tray 1 includes a housing 10 installed in the upper side of the instrument panel of a vehicle, a door 20 hinged to the upper side of the housing 10 to open the upper side of the housing 10, and a cover 30 for covering the upper side of the door 20.
The housing 10 has an opened upper side, an accommodating room 11 for accommodating articles, and an installation recess 12 for accommodating a button of the door 20.
The rear side of the door 20 is rotatably hinged to a coupling plate 16 formed in the rear side of the housing 10 directly or by a bracket. The front side of the door 20 has a button unit 21 to be inserted into and locked by or released from the installation recess 12.
The cover 30 is coupled with the upper side of the door 20 and is formed with a through-hole for a part of the button unit 21 to protrude through.
Meanwhile, the button unit 21 includes a button 22, a hook 23, and a fixed plate 24.
The fixed plate 24 is fastened to an installation hole 29 formed in the front side of the door 20 by screws, the hook 23 having a locking protrusion 23a formed in the end thereof is rotatably coupled in the fixed plate 24 by pins 25, the button 22 traveling up and down is coupled with the upper side of the hook 23.
Pin springs 25a are installed to the pins 25 positioned at the places where the hook 23 and the fixed plate 24 are coupled with each other so that when pressure against the button is released, the button 22 can be returned to the original position.
Moreover, into the installation recess 12 of the housing 10, a supporting box 14 having a spring 13 is inserted to push the hook 23 upward.
Thus, the button unit 21 is assembled and installed to the door 20, the cover 30 is coupled with the upper side of the door 20, and the door equipped with the cover 30 is hinged to the housing 10.
In this case, in the state of the tray 1 being closed as shown in FIG. 2, the locking protrusion 23a formed in the lower end of the hook 23 of the button unit 21 is fixed to a locking step 15 of the housing 10.
In the above state, as shown in FIG. 3, when a user presses the button 22 down, the hook 23 rotates about the pins 25 so that the locking protrusion 23a is released from the locking step 15.
Thus, due to the elastic restoring force of the spring 13 installed in the installation recess 12 of the housing 10, the supporting box 14 pushes the hook 23 upward so that the door 20 is released from the locked state and protrudes upward.
At that time, when the force applied to the button 22 is released, due to the pin springs 25a, the hook 23 is returned to its original state and the button 22 is returned to its original state.
However, when shock is applied to the instrument panel in which the tray is installed, the ring of the button unit is minutely rotated in the direction where the shock is applied. Generally, since the shock is generated from the front side of the tray, the ring rotates forward due to the shock, so that the locking protrusion of the ring is separated from the locking step to release the locked state of the door. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Fuel senders in automotive fuel tanks typically consist of a float on the end of a pivot arm, which is connected to a means for providing variable resistance in such a way that, as the float moves up and down on the surface of the fuel, the resistance value of the resistance means changes. A resistor is typically coupled in series with the resistance means and voltage is applied across the circuit. As the resistance of the resistance means changes, the voltage across the resistance means changes. The voltage across the resistance means is used as the sender output signal and is used as an input to a fuel gauge for indicating the amount of fuel in the tank. The fuel gauge is typically a conventional three coil air core gauge with two coils being biased to a set voltage and the third coil being energized in relation to the output signal of the fuel sender. A pointer connected to an axle of a permanent magnet rotor is rotated in relation to the energization of the third coil of the air core gauge.
Because motor vehicles are subject to varying accelerations due to changes in vehicle speeds and direction, fuel in the fuel tank tends to slosh, unless the tank is full. Bumpy roads may also cause the fuel in the tank to slosh. Unless countermeasures are taken, fuel slosh is reflected in the fuel gauge reading as wavering of the gauge pointer, making determination of the actual fuel level difficult for the vehicle operator.
Presently various measures are available to partially reduce the affects of fuel slosh on the fuel reading. One example is the addition of baffles to the fuel tank, increasing the cost of the tank. Another example is damping the response of the gauge with a viscous fluid, slowing the response of the gauge.
Electronic damping of the output signal of the sender can reduce the effects of fuel slosh, reducing or eliminating the requirements of baffles and viscous damping fluid. Further improvements are still sought over conventional electronic damping techniques. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
The present invention relates generally to hierarchical storage management, and more particularly to data migration management in a hierarchical storage management system.
Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM) is a data storage technique that provides efficient and cost-effective data management by utilization of fast, high-cost storage media, such as for primary storage, in addition to slow, low-cost storage media, such as for secondary storage. The primary and secondary storage may be, for example, tiered, layered, or otherwise hierarchically arranged, such as in a high-access speed upper layer and a low-access speed lower layer, respectively, to facilitate data retrieval, read/write operation, and the like. For example, the IBM® TS7700 storage system and the IBM® Spectrum Archive Enterprise Edition HSM system may utilize SSD or HDD data storage devices for primary storage, and tape storage devices for secondary storage. Certain HSM systems use cloud technologies, such as the IBM® TS7700 series tape virtualization product, to enable use of cloud data storage for secondary storage.
A conventional HSM technique may provide an HSM scheme by which frequently accessed data may be stored, for example, in a primary disk storage device arranged in an upper layer of an HSM system, in order to facilitate high availability and access of the data. The frequently accessed data may remain in the upper layer until, for example, an access request frequency of the data falls below a predetermined threshold. For example, where the access request frequency of the data falls below the predetermined threshold, a pre-migration operation may be performed by which the data may be copied, and subsequently, a migration operation may be performed by which the data may be removed for transfer to a lower layer for storage. The data, along with other unfrequently accessed data stored in the lower layer, may be transferred to the upper layer by way of a recall operation. Accordingly, pre-migration, migration, and recall operations may be implemented to provide efficient and high-speed data access for users of the HSM system. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates generally to optical devices and, more particularly, to optical sources with optical outputs, the specific output wavelengths of which are user selectable.
With the development of dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) technology for telecommunications, there is a growing interest in an optical source with an optical output that is wavelength-tunable and is also stable once the optical output has been tuned to a desired wavelength. In a multi-channel, DWDM telecommunication system, a distinct wavelength is assigned to each channel and the number of available channels in a telecommunication bandwidth is dependent on the linewidth (i.e., a narrow range of wavelengths around the assigned wavelength) of the optical signal used at each channel. In order to increase the number of channels which can be fitted into the available bandwidth, the range of wavelengths at each channel must be decreased. The standard channel range used in the telecommunications industry is less than 0.8 nm per channel (corresponding to 100 GHz at 1550 nm) and is further decreasing. In the DWDM system, any instability in the optical source larger than the channel range will result in communication error. To avoid such error, the optical output of the optical source used at each channel must be stable in wavelength within the assigned channel range.
The increase in the number of channels also creates a problem in that the number of optical sources forming a DWDM transmitter is also increased. In general, optical sources generate heat as well as light and the optical output of optical sources tend to depend on temperature. Therefore, instability in certain optical sources is exacerbated by the increased number of optical sources in close proximity within the DWDM transmitter. Supplementary components, packaging, and circuitry are needed in order to effectively control the temperature of each optical source, thus adding to the cost of the DWDM transmitter.
Many of the existing DWDM systems use a series of distributed feedback (DFB) lasers as the optical sources in the DWDM transmitter. A DFB laser is normally designed and manufactured for a specific optical wavelength. Its output wavelength is partly stabilized by a temperature control apparatus using feedback circuitry which monitors the output wavelength of the optical source and regulates the temperature control apparatus accordingly. Since the output wavelength of a DFB laser is further dependent on the input current, the feedback circuitry may regulate the current supply of the DFB laser as well. Essentially, the feedback circuitry serves as a frequency locker that locks the output frequency, which corresponds to the output wavelength, of the DFB laser at a particular value. Due to its dependence on temperature and input current, the output wavelength of the DFB laser can be tuned over a narrow wavelength range of 5 to 8 nm by controlling the temperature of the DFB laser and the current supplied to the laser. Once tuned to a specific wavelength, the wavelength stability of a DFB laser output is approximately xe2x88x9212.5 GHz/xc2x0 C. (or correspondingly +0.1 nm/xc2x0 C.) with respect to case temperature and xe2x88x921.25 GHz/mA (or correspondingly +0.01 nm/mA) with respect to bias current.
There are, however, drawbacks to the use of DFB lasers in a DWDM system. The fabrication of a DFB laser is a lengthy process requiring the formation of a sub-micron, periodic structure within a multilayer semiconductor structure to act as a wavelength-selective grating element. The output wavelength of the DFB laser is heavily dependent on the shape and periodicity of the periodic structure, hence precision of the fabrication process is crucial. Although many essentially identical DFB laser chips can be produced during a single fabrication run, DFB laser chips for different output wavelengths are normally fabricated separately. Consequently, the production of a DFB laser for a given output wavelength often necessitates a long lead time once the output wavelength has been specified to the manufacturer. The production of a series of DFB lasers for a complete DWDM system can take even longer, requiring many production runs since each channel of a DWDM system requires its own DFB laser.
Furthermore, due to the relatively high temperature coefficient of semiconductor laser materials, the feedback circuitry and temperature and current controllers discussed in the above paragraph are required to control the actual output wavelength even after the DFB laser chip has been fabricated using high precision processes. For the DFB laser to be useful in a DWDM context, an external wavelength reference must also be supplied to accurately regulate the output wavelength. Additionally, since the power output of the DFB laser is proportional to the input current and the feedback circuitry regulates the input current in order to control the output wavelength of the laser, the actual power output of a particular DFB laser is limited by the need for output wavelength stabilization. Due to such difficulty in directly controlling output power, an external attenuator is often needed at each channel in order to achieve uniform optical power output across the channels in a WDM transmitter system using a series of DFB lasers. In addition to input current control, the DFB laser requires the use of active heating and cooling measures using the aforementioned temperature control apparatus. Hence, a separate output wavelength regulation mechanism, which adds to the power consumption of the DFB laser operation, is needed for each laser used in the DWDM system with respect to temperature and input current. Moreover, in order to reduce frequency chirp often produced by the direct modulation mechanism, the DFB laser output must be modulated externally. Therefore, although each DFB laser chip is relatively inexpensive, the peripheral equipment such as the temperature control apparatus, controllable current supply, external attenuators, feedback circuitry and external modulator significantly add to the complication and total cost of a multi-channel DWDM system using such lasers.
Another commercially-available device which could be used as an optical source in a DWDM system is a tunable diode laser. For example, one type of tunable laser is based on a mechanical tuning scheme where one of the mirrors which form the laser cavity is physically moved to change the grazing angle at which an optical input from a separate diode laser is incident on a bulk grating in the laser cavity, thus changing the wavelength of the optical output of the tunable laser. Tunable lasers can generally be tuned over a wavelength range of 40 to 80 nm and are often used in optical component testing in a scanning mode where the output of the tunable laser is scanned over a part of or the entire wavelength range to test the wavelength-dependent response of an optical device. However, the precision actuators and components within a tunable laser as well as the laser controller mechanism and software are generally expensive. For example, tunable lasers currently on the market cost tens of thousands of dollars each at the time of this writing (typically $35,000 to $63,000 for laboratory instruments). Furthermore, since each channel in a DWDM system is preassigned to a specific wavelength, the optical source used at each channel needs to be tuned only to that specific wavelength at time of installation. The wavelength of a given channel may be re-assigned on occasion, but, on the whole, the optical source is made to operate at a single wavelength without the need for wavelength scanning. Therefore, the precision actuators and other tuning components of the tunable laser are generally superfluous once the laser has been tuned to the specific wavelength for a given channel. Moreover, currently available tunable lasers are relatively large compared to compact semiconductor lasers. For these reasons, it is submitted to be impractical to provide a tunable laser for each channel of a DWDM system which may include a hundred or more distinct channels.
Yet another prior art optical source for use in an optical communication system is a laser disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,011 issued to Kashyap (hereinafter the ""011 patent). The laser according to the ""011 patent is essentially a laser with an interchangeable fiber grating serving as one or both of the reflectors forming the laser cavity. The wavelength of light reflected by the fiber grating depends on the grating pitch. Therefore, the output wavelength of the laser can be tuned to a desired wavelength by fabricating a series of fiber gratings of different pitch and then selecting the appropriate fiber grating tuned to reflect the desired wavelength for use in a particular laser. The laser gain material is mounted in a package including a pre-aligned connector receptacle configured for matingly attaching the fiber grating using an optical connector. That is, an optical connector is interposed between the fiber grating and the laser gain material. By selecting a fiber grating tuned to a desired wavelength and attaching the selected fiber grating to the package using an optical connector via the pre-aligned connector receptacle, it is possible to produce lasing action at the desired wavelength thus setting the light output of this prior art laser to the desired wavelength.
It is submitted, however, that the prior art laser of the ""011 patent does have a number of disadvantages. Due to the length of the fiber grating and the package configuration, the actual cavity length of this prior art laser is much longer as compared with those generally seen in semiconductor lasers. The longer cavity length leads to potential problems such as slower possible laser modulation speed which, in turn, limits data transmission capacity. Also, once a particular fiber grating is selected and installed, it is difficult to adjust the output wavelength short of replacing the fiber grating with another fiber grating tuned to a slightly different wavelength.
Possibly the most significant drawback of the prior art laser of the ""011 patent is the presence of at least one optical connector cooperating with the package and fiber grating to define the laser cavity. It is well known in the art that optical connectors can be notoriously unreliable. They are submitted to be susceptible to mechanical damage and introduce difficulty in achieving repeatable connections. In the instance of the ""011 patent, it is submitted that the optical connector may cause spurious reflections in the laser cavity, thus reducing the repeatability of the reflectivity level of the fiber grating and optical connector combination and negatively affecting the light output of the laser. Furthermore, the use of an optical fiber as a waveguiding medium within the optical cavity may give rise to instability in the laser performance due to polarization effects such as polarization-dependent loss and induced changes in polarization state of light within the laser cavity. Further, it is difficult to control the polarization of light traveling through an ordinary optical fiber. Resolving adverse polarization effects may require the use of additional in-line polarizers or polarization maintaining optical fibers.
The present invention provides an optical source which serves to resolve the problems described above with regard to prior art optical sources in a heretofore unseen and highly advantageous way and which provides still further advantages.
As will be described in more detail hereinafter, there is disclosed herein an optical source with a light output which may be set to a desired wavelength out of a specified range of wavelengths. In one aspect of the invention, the optical source includes a housing and a laser arrangement for causing light to lase over the specified range of wavelengths. The laser arrangement is supported in the housing such that a light path is defined in the housing along which light path the specified range of wavelengths is potentially producible. The optical source further includes at least one tuning cartridge for setting the light output of the optical source to the desired wavelength out of the specified range of wavelengths using a wavelength selective element. The tuning cartridge is configured to cooperate with the housing in a way which positions the wavelength selective element in the light path, thus setting the light output of the optical source to the desired wavelength out of the specified range of wavelengths.
In another aspect of the invention, the optical source has a selectable light output and includes a housing with first and second reflective arrangements supported in the housing and defining therebetween a light path and a laser cavity. The second reflective arrangement is partially reflective over a specified range of wavelengths. The optical source further includes a gain medium positioned in the laser cavity within the light path and designed to provide optical gain over the specified range of wavelengths such that the specified range of wavelengths is potentially producible along the light path. Additionally, the optical source includes at least one tuning cartridge which in turn includes an optical element. The tuning cartridge is configured to cooperate with the housing for removably positioning the optical element within the light path to set the selectable light output to a predetermined wavelength that is selected within the specified range of wavelengths.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a method for providing a reconfigurable optical source with a light output settable to a desired wavelength out of a specified range of wavelengths, as described above, is disclosed. Accordingly, a laser arrangement is formed in a housing such that a light path is defined in the housing along which light path the specified range of wavelengths is potentially producible. A series of tuning cartridges is fabricated each of which includes a wavelength selective element such that each tuning cartridge is tunable to at least one wavelength out of the specified range of wavelengths. Each of the wavelengths in the specified range of wavelengths may be selected as the desired wavelength. Each tuning cartridge is configured to cooperate with the housing in a way which positions the wavelength selective element of that tuning cartridge in the light path to set the light output of the reconfigurable optical source to the desired wavelength.
In still another aspect of the invention, the optical source as described above is used in a DWDM system including a plurality of DWDM channels, each DWDM channel corresponding to a predetermined wavelength out of a specified range of wavelengths. A selected DWDM channel out of the plurality of DWDM channels is configured to a desired wavelength by installing a laser arrangement in the selected DWDM channel. The laser arrangement includes a housing and potentially produces the specified range of wavelengths along a light path defined by the laser arrangement. A specific tuning cartridge, which is tuned to the desired wavelength, is selected out of a series of tuning cartridges. Each tuning cartridge of the series of tuning cartridges includes an optical element such that the tuning cartridge is tunable to at least one wavelength out of the specified range of wavelengths. Furthermore, each tuning cartridge is configured to cooperate with the housing in a way which positions the optical element of that tuning cartridge in the light path. The selected DWDM channel is set to the desired wavelength by engaging the specific tuning cartridge with the housing in a predetermined way. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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In electrophotography an image comprising a pattern of electrostatic potential (also referred to as an electrostatic latent image), is formed on a surface of an electrophotographic element comprising at least an insulative photoconductive layer and an electrically conductive substrate. The electrostatic latent image is usually formed by imagewise radiation-induced discharge of a uniform potential previously formed on the surface. Typically, the electrostatic latent image is then developed into a toner image by bringing an electrographic developer into contact with the latent image. If desired, the latent image can be transferred to another surface before development.
In latent image formation the imagewise discharge is brought about by the radiation-induced creation of electron/hole pairs, which are generated by a material (often referred to as a charge-generation material) in the electrophotographic element in response to exposure to the imagewise actinic radiation. Depending upon the polarity of the initially uniform electrostatic potential and the types of materials included in the electrophotographic element, either the holes or the electrons that have been generated migrate toward the charged surface of the element in the exposed areas and thereby cause the imagewise discharge of the initial potential. What remains is a non-uniform potential constituting the electrostatic latent image.
Such elements may contain material which facilitates the migration of generated charge toward the oppositely charged surface in imagewise exposed areas in order to cause imagewise discharge. Such material is often referred to as a charge-transport material.
Among the various known types of electrophotographic elements are those generally referred to as multiactive elements (also sometimes called multilayer or multi-active-layer elements). Multiactive elements are so named, because they contain at least two active layers, at least one of which is capable of generating charge in response to exposure to actinic radiation and is referred to as a charge-generation layer (hereinafter sometimes alternatively referred to as a CGL), and at least one of which is capable of accepting and transporting charges generated by the charge-generation layer and is referred to as a charge-transport layer (hereinafter sometimes alternatively referred to as a CTL). Such elements typically comprise at least an electrically conductive layer, a CGL, and a CTL. Either the CGL or the CTL is in electrical contact with both the electrically conductive layer and the remaining CGL or CTL. The CGL comprises at least a charge-generation material; the CTL comprises at least a charge-transport material; and either or both layers may additionally comprise a film-forming polymeric binder.
Among the known multiactive electrophotographic elements, are those that are particularly designed to be reusable and to be sensitive to imagewise exposing radiation falling within the visible and/or infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Reusable elements are those that can be practically utilized through a plurality (preferably a large number) of cycles of uniform charging, imagewise exposing, optional development and/or transfer of electrostatic latent image or toner image, and erasure of remaining charge, without unacceptable changes in their performance. Visible and/or infrared radiation-sensitive elements are those that contain a charge-generation material that generates charge in response to exposure to visible and/or infrared radiation. Many such elements are well known in the art.
For example, some reusable multiactive electrophotographic elements that are designed to be sensitive to visible radiation are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,578,334 and 4,719,163, and some reusable multiactive electrophotographic elements which are designed to be sensitive to infrared radiation are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,666,802 and 4,701,396.
A problem can occur when the CTL has been adventitiously exposed to blue and/or ultraviolet radiation (i.e., radiation of a wavelength less than about 500 nanometers, which, for example, forms a significant portion of the radiation emitted by typical fluorescent room lighting). This can occur, for example, when the electrophotographic element is incorporated in a copier apparatus and is exposed to typical room illumination during maintenance or repair of the copier's internal components. The problem is manifested as a buildup of residual potential within the electrophotographic element over time as the element is exercised through its normal cycles of electrophotographic operation after having been adventitiously exposed to blue and/or ultraviolet radiation.
For example, in normal cycles of operation such an element might be initially uniformly charged to a potential of about −500 volts, and it might be intended that the element should then discharge, in areas of maximum exposure to normal imagewise actinic visible or infrared exposing radiation, to a potential of about −100 volts, in order to form the intended electrostatic latent image. However, if the electrophotographic element has been adventitiously exposed to blue and/or ultraviolet radiation, there will be a buildup of residual potential that will not be erased by normal methods of erasing residual charge during normal electrophotographic operation. For example, after about 500 cycles of operation, the unerasable residual potential may be as much as −200 to −300 volts, and the element will no longer be capable of being discharged to the desired −100 volts. This results in a latent image being formed during normal operation, which constitutes an inaccurate record of the image intended to be represented. In effect, the element has become no longer reusable, after only 500 cycles of operation.
It is known that all charge transporting materials absorb blue and/or ultraviolet light. Some charge transporting materials such as tri-p-tolylamine (TTA), absorb light and undergo a photochemical reaction. TTA in a CTL with bisphenol-A polycarbonate binder strongly absorbs ultraviolet light and the subsequent TTA photochemical reaction causes a buildup of residual potential with electrophotographic cycling as described above.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic photoconductor improved in stability to exposure to blue and/or ultraviolet light by using an additive hitherto unknown for addition to electrophotographic photoconductors. | {
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The improved device of the present invention is used in connection with an air filter for internal combustion engines. It is particularly useful for application to turbo-charged diesel engines on trucks, tractors and industrial and marine applications. The device indicates and locks itself in position when the air filter has become so loaded with contaminants that the supply of air required by the engine for its operating efficiency is not being drawn through the filter and that the filter therefore requires cleaning or replacement. It also locks itself in various positions so as to provide a continuous indication as to how much useful remains in the air filter before it should be cleaned or changed.
Heretofore, flag, gauge or warning light indicators have been used to indicate when an air filter is filled with dust or other contaminants which restrict the air flow to the engine but do not give gradual fixed readings from a clean to a dirty filter condition. Many operators unnecessarily and improperly clean or change an air filter element rather than take a chance of having a warning signal appear even though the filter is not full of contaminants. Over-servicing prevents a normal dust build-up from filtering out the fine particles that lodge in the pores of the filter paper element of, for example, a dry air filter. This shortens the life of the filter element and more frequent cleaning is needed, which increases the risk of filter element damage and improper installation. A hole as small as 1/16" can pass enough dust to ruin an engine within eight hours of operation. Most air cleaners are designed to retain a certain amount of dust until 25" of vacuum is reached. At that point the air filter is full and is incapable of taking any more dust without a rapid increase in vacuum downstream of the filter elements. The high vacuum can pull dust through the filter element and may even pull particles of the filter element and oil from the engine crank case into the combustion chamber, particularly with turbo-charged diesel engines. Such dust, contaminants or lack of oil may ruin the engine in a relatively short time.
With the flag or switch type indicators or with a continuously reading or dial gauge, it is virtually impossible to ascertain how much capacity is left in the air filter when the engine is shut down or turned off. Furthermore, dial type gauges vary the indication of vacuum depending on the load on the engine while the engine is in operation. The load and the engine air flow may be highest when the operator of the vehicle may not be able to readily visually observe the gauge or indicator. When less load is placed on the engine, an erroneous gauge reading may be indicated. When the engine is stopped completely, the gauge or indicator does not continue to indicate the true condition of the air filter as when the engine was under maximum load condition. Therefore, the maintenance personnel or the driver of the vehicle may not know the true condition of the air filter at the end of a run, since operators rarely maintain a log of readings of the air filter indicator. To make such an observation, the engine must be restarted and preferably operated with a dynamometer to simulate maximum load conditions. Such procedures take considerable time and expense and if not done frequently, may result in the engine dangerously operating with an overloaded air filter.
Furthermore, the ideal situation when a dial type gauge is used is for the operator of the engine to monitor and log and report maximum readings. It is difficult to train operators to follow such procedures, and many times the operator neglects to do so, with resultant poor engine operation.
In addition, more fuel is used to maintain horsepower at above 20" of vacuum, and if cleaning the air filter does not reduce the vacuum below 20", the filter element should be replaced to avoid frequent cleaning and to save fuel.
The device herein gives a gradual reading from a clean filter condition to a dirty filter condition and automatically locks into the highest clogged air flow condition (that is, dirty filter condition) experienced during engine operation so that it may be read after shutdown and may also be monitored during engine operation.
Furthermore, after cleaning or replacement, it is easy to reset the indicator and it will then assume a position away from a danger line on the indicator showing how much air filter use is left. Obviously air filters should be replaced when there is not much filter capacity left after cleaning.
The device herein is designed to give a continuous, progressive reading to indicate the build-up of contaminants within the air filter and to indicate the condition of the filter through eliminating guess work as to the time when cleaning or replacement of an air filter is approaching because the condition of the filter is indicated by the movement of an indicating member with respect to a visible scale. Furthermore, the indicating device indicates the condition of contamination of the air filter progressively and locks itself into its highest vacuum indicating position, whereby regardless of whether or not the engine to which it is attached is operating, there is a positive indication of the condition of contamination of the air filter and an indication to the extent to which the air filter is still useful.
Indicators for registering the restriction present in air filters have been utilized heretofore and are the subject matter of patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,068,831 Witchell, 3,443,365 Lee and 3,465,707 Kashiwaba. The indicators disclosed in these patents lock themselves into position only when they have indicated a restriction in the air filter which indicates that the filter life is expended. Such high restriction may occur at a time unknown to the operator of the vehicle, particularly when intent on driving, for example, when passing another vehicle on a hill and he will, therefore, not be aware of the degree to which the air filter is contaminated. There is no progressively locked indication of contamination as in the case of the device of the present invention.
Other prior patents in this field are Nelson U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,939,457 and 4,033,733. However, the devices disclosed in these prior Nelson patents do not include the progressive locking feature of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a contamination indicating device for an air filter for internal combustion engines, which device provides a positive indication of the increasing contamination of the air filter by having the contamination indicating member therein progressively lock itself into various indicating positions and to maintain the indication of the highest amount of contamination even in the absence of operation of the engine. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to moisture indicators capable of indicating the absorbent capacity of a desiccant material or more generally the moisture conditions present in the medium in which the indicator is placed.
The moisture indicators according to the invention comprise an active principle which is used in particular for colouring amorphous silica or silica gel, for colouring solid supports in the form of labels or for colouring bentonite or calcium sulphate pellets, or for impregnating molecular sieves, alumina, fossil flour, diatomaceous earth or the like.
The main types of solid static desiccants that are commercially available are silica gel, bentonites, molecular sieves and alumina.
The main applications are:
Dehydration of industrial liquids and gases.
Protection of materials, chemical products and pharmaceuticals, metal parts and electronic circuits against atmospheric moisture, using desiccant sachets, packets or capsules placed inside the protective packaging.
Drying of air in electrical apparatus and in transformers.
It is always necessary to demonstrate the absorbent capacity of the desiccant material, not only at the time of the first sale but also at the time of use.
For these reasons, in any application in which it is necessary to rigorously test the desiccant power of silica, blue silica gel is used (amorphous silica containing 0.5% by weight of cobalt chloride).
Blue silica gel indicates when it is spent by changing colour from blue (maximum desiccant activity) to pink (inactive as a desiccant).
However, when products based on desiccant clay (material which shows no obvious differences between its maximum activity and depletion of the desiccant power) are packaged, moisture-indicating labels are introduced into the packaging. In this way, the purchaser of the product personally checks the desiccant activity of the material purchased.
In addition, these indicator labels are commonly used for indicating the moisture conditions present inside industrial packagings, thus pointing out any penetration of moisture into these packagings and revealing the ambient conditions present during transportation.
A portion of the area of the indicator labels is impregnated with a cobalt chloride solution. This zone changes colour from blue to pink depending on the moisture present in the medium in which the label is placed; the colour change is reversible and thus allows the label to be regenerated for further use.
The concentration of the cobalt chloride solution used for colouring the indicator labels determines the sensitivity to the various moisture contents and thus the possibility of changing from blue to red in the way complying most with the ambient conditions in which the moisture indicator is required to work.
In Amendment XXV of European Directive 67/548, the cobalt chloride used hitherto in the field of desiccant materials inside silica or on labels as a moisture indicator has been relabelled and reclassified.
The consequences of this regulation include a series of warnings as regards the handling and use of products containing inorganic cobalt salts.
Since in blue silica gel, in indicator labels and in bentonite pellets and similar support materials, the coloration is given by cobalt chloride at a certain concentration, the problem arises of identifying one or more components capable of replacing cobalt chloride in its function as a substance capable of changing colour according to atmospheric moisture.
It is this problem which it is the aim of the invention to solve, and thus to provide moisture indicators whose characteristics are at least equal to those currently existing, which make use of cobalt chloride.
Essentially, according to the invention, copper chloride (CuCl2) is used as active principle in combination with a mixture of hygroscopic salts containing the chloride ion for the purpose of colouring solid supports which, besides optionally being desiccants, change colour according to the moisture present in the medium with which they are placed in contact.
In particular, with this active principle, the Applicant has developed a novel coloured silica gel whose moisture-absorbing capacities are no different to those of the previous silica gel, which can be regenerated without problems, and which undergoes a colour change from brown-yellow (when dry) to aquamarine (when wet).
In addition, with this active principle it has been possible to identify many different water-alcohol and aqueous mixtures which allow the production of moisture-indicator cards and dry mixtures of desiccant salts and materials so as to produce moisture-indicating desiccant pellets or manufactured products of any type having these characteristics. | {
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The invention relates to an autonomous moving apparatus performing required operations such as movement while detecting and avoiding an obstacle.
There are available two methods of providing an autonomous moving apparatus with an obstacle detecting element for avoiding an obstacle: by using a supersonic or infrared sensor as the obstacle detecting element or by using as it a radar device for scanning a horizontal plane.
To detect an obstacle with the former obstacle detecting element, that is, with a supersonic or infrared sensor, however, many sensors each having a small detection area need to be arranged in order to accurately detect the position of an obstacle in a wide detection area (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-49381).
As shown in FIG. 15(a), for example, in an autonomous moving apparatus 1 mounted with an obstacle sensor 5 utilizing a supersonic wave or an infrared ray and the sensor 5 having a wide detection area 50, a wide detection area is detected by few sensors 5. With only one sensor 5 alone, however, an obstacle 9, even if detected by it, cannot be decided on whether it is located at a position e or f. This means that the obstacle cannot clearly be recognized and so cannot be avoided efficiently both in direction and in distance.
Even if the sensor 5 with the small detection area 50 is arranged many as shown in FIG. 15(b), such a small obstacle 9 as indicated by a reference sign g may be missed and also such an obstacle 9 indicated by a reference sign h cannot be detected that would not reflect a supersonic wave or an infrared ray toward a receiving element. To guard against this, as shown in FIG. 15(c), it is necessary to arrange many sensors such as a sensor 5xe2x80x2 that bridges the gap between the detection areas 50 or a sensor 5xe2x80x3 that has a different detection angle. Such an arrangement of many sensors, however, not only increases the costs but also needs complicated processing to eliminate interference between the sensors.
If, as shown in FIG. 16, such a radar device 4 having a detection area 40 is used that scans a horizontal plane in a range of, for example, 180xc2x0, on the other hand, it is possible to accurately detect an obstacle in position and distance. If the obstacle 9 happens to be a chair or a table and therefore only its leg 90 is spotted on a scanning surface, the radar device 4 can recognize the leg 90 but not an upper structure 91 of the obstacle 9 such as a roof. Accordingly, the autonomous moving apparatus 1 decides that it can pass through between the legs 90 and so moves straightly without avoiding it, thus eventually collide with the upper structure 91. xe2x80x9cLxe2x80x9d in the figure indicates a set distance (radius) within which an obstacle can be detected.
If an obstacle detecting element by use of the first optional supersonic or infrared sensor and that by use of the second optional radar device are only combined, collision with an obstacle can be avoided but the problem of an inefficiency inherent to the former detecting element cannot be avoided in avoiding an obstacle that can be detected by it.
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an autonomous moving apparatus that can surely detect an obstacle and, moreover, can avoid it efficiently.
An autonomous moving apparatus according to the present invention moving to a destination while detecting an obstacle and avoiding it includes a scan-type sensor for scanning a horizontal plane in the travelling direction to detect a position of an obstacle, a non-scan-type sensor for detecting, without scanning, an obstacle in a space different from the scanning plane of the scan-type sensor, an obstacle detecting element for always detecting an obstacle based on detection information from the scan-type sensor and, when an obstacle was detected by the scan-type sensor, operating the non-scan-type sensor to thereby guess the position of the obstacle based on the detection information from both the scan-type and non-scan-type sensors, and a controller for controlling travelling to a destination based on a position of the obstacle detected by the obstacle detecting element.
By this aspect of the present invention, only when an obstacle was detected by the scan-type sensor, the, non-scan-type sensor is activated so that the position of the obstacle may be guessed on the basis of detection information from both the scan-type and non-scan-type sensors, thus enabling efficient detection as compared to an approach whereby the detection information from both sensors is used always.
Another autonomous moving apparatus according to the present invention moving to a destination while detecting an obstacle and avoiding it includes a scan-type sensor for scanning a horizontal plane in a travelling direction to detect a position of an obstacle, a non-scan-type sensor for detecting, without scanning, an obstacle in a space different from the scanning plane of the scan-type sensor, a specific-configuration detecting element for guessing a shape of a detected object based on its distance information for each scanning angle of the scan-type sensor to thereby detect a set specific configuration, an obstacle detecting element for guessing a position of an obstacle based on detection information from both the scan-type and non-scan-type sensors if a specific configuration was detected by the specific-configuration detecting element and, otherwise, guessing the position of the obstacle based on only the detection information from the scan-type sensor, and a controller for controlling travelling toward a destination based on a detected position of the obstacle obtained from the obstacle detecting element.
By this aspect of the present invention, when the specific-configuration detecting element guessed a shape of a detected object based on information of a distance of the detected object sent from the scan-type sensor to thereby detect a specific configuration, the position of the obstacle is guessed based on the detection information from both the scan-type and non-scan-type sensors. Thus, the non-scan-type sensor is activated only in a region which have therein such an obstacle that cannot be detected only by the scan-type sensor to thereby guess a specific configuration of obstacle and efficiently detect it, thus enabling avoiding the obstacle surely and efficiently.
Also, if the non-scan-type sensor is active always, it may recognize an obstacle in its detection area even when it exists only at an edge of that area. Accordingly, for example, the apparatus problematically decides it cannot pass through a narrow passage between a wall and an obstacle even when there is a space therebetween wide enough to pass through. Such a problem can be solved by the invention, by which only the scan-type sensor is activated in such a case.
The specific-configuration detecting element has a memory for storing beforehand the information required to detect a columnar object as a specific configuration so that based on a series of detected object distance data pieces obtained from the scan-type sensor it can recognize a shape given by this data as a specific configuration when a difference between distances indicated by the adjacent data pieces is within a range set in the memory, a width of the detected object guessed from the data is within a range set in the memory, and a distance indicated by data pieces on both sides of this guessed object""s data is larger than a distance set in the memory and also continues as long as at least a width set in the memory. Thus, the columnar object can be detected as a specific configuration, thus detecting an object including a chair or a table with legs that has a roof overhung in the air.
The obstacle detecting element guesses the position of an obstacle based on detection information from both the scan-type and non-scan-type sensors if the distance with respect to a specific configuration of the obstacle detected by the specific-configuration detecting element is smaller than a value set in the memory and, otherwise or if no specific configuration was detected, guesses the position of the obstacle based on only the detection information from the scan-type sensor. Thus, when the distance with respect to an object with a specific configuration is large or no specific configuration of object cannot be detected, only the scan-type sensor is used in detection, thus enabling avoiding the obstacle efficiently.
The obstacle detecting element activates the non-scan-type sensor when the specific-configuration detecting element provides a detection output. Thus, power dissipation can be reduced at the non-scan-type sensor. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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The present invention relates to a control process for a monocrystal pulling machine.
This process makes it possible to pull monocrystals from a bath of molten products. These monocrystals are essentially used for the production of integrated circuits. This process is performed by a pulling machine, in which the molten product bath is contained in a crucible and is kept at a temperature above the melting point of the product by appropriate heating means. The solid crystal or ignot is obtained by the growth of a monocrystalline nucleus of the same product, placed at the lower end of a vertically axed pulling pin or spindle, in accordance with the so-called Czochralski method, which is known in the art and will not be described in detail here.
Pulling machines operating according to the Czochralski method are fundamentally used in the crystallization of materials for which, in the crystallized solid state, said materials have the same composition as in the liquid state. It is then said that these materials have a congruent melt. For example, this is the case with certain oxides, as well as semiconductors of the silicon or germanium type.
In known machines making it possible to pull monocrystals according to the Czochralsky method, the monocrystalline nucleus is brought into contact with the liquid bath, whose temperature is adjusted in such a way that, at the solid-liquid interface, the conditions are such that at any time the quantity of crystallized atoms is identical with the quantity of atoms returning into the molten state. Growth is obtained by exerting a regular vertical translation movement at a speed which is generally between 1 and 30 mm per hour on a pulling spindle or pin, one end of which makes it possible to fix the nucleus. In order to check the shape of the solid-liquid interface, a rotary movement of the pin about its axis at a speed generally between 0 and 100 revolutions per minute is superimposed on the translatory movement thereof.
The upward displacement of the solid-liquid interface bring the latter into a colder zone, which has the effect of crystallizing the bath on the nucleus and consequently of growing the monocrystal, with the aim of forming therefrom a cylindrical ingot, which has a diameter which is as constant as possible.
The need for obtaining monocrystals with a regular geometry has led machine designers to seek control processes leading to monocrystal diameter regularity during the pulling thereof. This regularity is generally also obtained on the basis of measurements of the weight of the monocrystal during pulling. To this end, a weight transducer is generally placed at one end of the pulling pin and transmits signals representing weight values to a processing and control assembly, which make it possible to check the translation and rotation of the pin. The known machines are not completely automatic, because the processes performed by them do not use adequate processing of the weight information during pulling and information regarding the geometry of the crystal to be obtained. Thus, the regulation of the heating means containing the crucible, the fast and then slow approach of the surface of the molten product contained in the crucible, the contact between the nucleus and the surface of the molten product, the pulling of the monocrystal after contact has taken place and then the cooling of the furnace at the end of pulling are not completely automatic operations and these are often performed in an empirical manner. Thus, the results obtained are of a random nature, which is a serious disadvantage, because the monocrystals to be obtained are very expensive products. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Hitherto, content such as image information and audio information has been provided to individual users mainly through television broadcasting and radio broadcasting. However, the Internet has been widely used nowadays, and content has been provided through the Internet. For example, sites that show content such as images created or recorded by individual users to other users have been operated. On such sites, content that has been freely uploaded by individual users can be viewed by many other users at no cost.
However, content uploaded by individual users to the above-described sites includes content that has been provided without the permission of the copyright holder. Thus, the profits of the copyright holder may be adversely affected.
Therefore, TVanytime (registered trademark), which is an industry organization that promotes standardization of digital television broadcasting technology, has proposed to add a CRID (Content Reference Identification), which is a unique ID, to every broadcast program and every content on the Internet (e.g., see Non-Patent Document 1). By identifying content with the CRID, the content's copyright can be managed.
[Non-Patent Document 1] “Sutoregi Zentei No Jisedai TV ‘TV Anytime’ No Zenyou Content Wo ID-ka Housou, Internet Wo Kensaku (The Full Scope of ‘TV Anytime’: the Next Generation TV Assuming Storage--Assigning ID to Content and Searching Broadcasts and Internet)”, “Nikkei Electronics Apr. 23, 2001, no. 794 (Apr. 23, 2001), Junichi KISHIGAMI, Nikkei BP, Inc. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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As an example of optical display units mounted on liquid crystal display devices or the like, there is an optical display unit having a structure such that an optical sheet piece including an optical film such as a polarizing film is bonded onto one surface or both surfaces of a display substrate. Conventionally, as a method for manufacturing such an optical display unit, there is known a method including a step of manufacturing pieces of sheet material by feeding a sheet material from a material roll made by winding the sheet material in which a release film (first base film) is bonded onto a long optical sheet including an optical film, and sequentially cutting the sheet material along the width direction at an interval that corresponds to the size of the display substrate. Then, by peeling the first base film from the produced piece of sheet material, an optical sheet piece having a first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on the surface is obtained, and the optical sheet piece is bonded onto the display substrate with the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer interposed therebetween. As described above, the first base film is peeled off at the time of bonding the optical sheet piece to the display substrate, thereby providing a composition that can be peeled off in a comparatively easy manner.
Typically, by a conventional method of manufacturing an optical display unit as described above, pieces of sheet material produced by a film maker are packaged and transported to a panel processing manufacturer, and are subjected to unpacking and bonded to each display substrate by the panel processing manufacturer. The above packaging work is a necessary work because the film maker and the panel processing manufacturer are located at different positions; however, the work is cumbersome and also raises a problem in that scratches or contaminations are likely to generate in the pieces of sheet material at the time of transportation or the like.
In contrast, according to a technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-140046 (Patent Document 1), a step of feeding a long sheet material from a material roll and cutting the sheet material and a step of bonding the cut piece of sheet material onto a display substrate are performed on a continuous production line. Accordingly, as compared with a conventional method in which the pieces of sheet material are packaged, the operation can be facilitated and the scratches or contaminations which may generate at the time of transportation or the like can be suppressed. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
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Flat band and buckle assemblies, also known as ties, have existed for sometime for use in bundling or securing objects together. Typically, a tie, comprising an elongate band having a free end and a buckle at the opposite end, is wrapped around a group of objects with the free end passed through the buckle. The buckle and overlapping band are secured in some fashion to thereby constrain the group of objects. Similarly, tools for tightening bands around objects, for securing or locking the free end of the band within a buckle or locking member and for cutting any excess portion of the band have existed for some time. Typically, these tools grasp the free end of the band after it has passed through the buckle and apply a force to the free end of the band while simultaneously maintaining the position of the buckle to tighten the band around the group of objects. Once an appropriate tension is applied to the band, the tool will create the desired locking geometry in the band and shear the portion of the free end of the band extending through the buckle. Typically, a pair of opposed knife-edges perform the shearing or cutting operation. One blade is stationary and is positioned beneath the free end of the band and the other knife reciprocates between a first and second position. Each knife-edge comprises a single linear blade or edge that simultaneously engage and simultaneously cut the entire width of the band at once.
Tools that perform the tightening, locking and cutting functions are primarily manual, pneumatic or electric in nature. In the case of pneumatic or electric tools for use in such purposes, the power generated results in these functions being accomplished with limited or reduced physical efforts required by the operator. Band tightening tools that are pneumatic or electric are usually semiautomatic in that the operator of such a tool is required to perform some, but not all, of the tasks or functions associated with providing a band clamp about an object. Manual tasks that remain can include locating the band or tie about the object and inserting or otherwise locating the band clamp relative to the tool so that a tool can perform one or more of its tightening, locking and cutting functions. In one such device, a desired tension can be set for the band clamp about the object. A pneumatic cylinder or similar component is activated to pull the band until the desired band tension is reached. Pneumatic control can also be involved with cutting the free end or band tail portion after the band clamp is tightened, and which can also involve forming a lock that prevents unwanted release of the band clamp.
Current band clamps, however, have significant drawbacks. For example, there is a need for improving loop tensile force (the force required to break the band or separate the lock) other than by simply increasing the physical size of the band. Also, there is a need for improving the percentage of retained force (the residual force in the band after forming the lock). Stated differently, there is a need to reduce or eliminate the force that is lost following formation of the lock and release of the band by the tool. For a number of reasons, including tolerances and imprecise metal forming techniques, once the tool cuts the free end of the band, a portion of the band slips back through the buckle expanding the circumference of the band, a portion of the retained tensile load is lost, and the percent retained force decreases. The lock may also relax or loosen over time, causing the band to expand, particularly if the outward force applied on the band by the constrained objects is large or if the band and buckle are subjected to external forces such as vibration or other motion causing relative motion of the band and buckle. Still further, there is a need in some applications to increase the clamping force (the maximum force reached just prior to the band tightening tool cutting off the excess end of the band). The clamping force is related to the retained force. Typically, the higher the clamping force, the higher the retained force. Unfortunately, there are upper limits to the clamping force in some applications, as the objects being clamped may be damaged if too large a clamping force is applied.
A prior art band clamp is shown in FIGS. 18-20. It consists of a band 10 and a buckle 12. The buckle is secured to a first end 14 of the band, between a retaining dimple 16 and a load dimple 18, generally preventing axial or lateral movement of the buckle relative to the length of the band. In the embodiment shown, the buckle comprises a box-like piece of metal having two side walls 20, a bottom 22, a top 24 and two open ends 26 which permit two layers of the band to pass through the buckle. The top of the buckle 24 has an opening 28 aligned with a similar opening 30 formed in the first end 14 of the band and another opening 32 formed in bottom 22 of the buckle.
A locked band clamp using a prior art tool is illustrated in FIG. 21. As used, the free end 34 of the band is wrapped around one or more objects and inserted into the buckle 12 above the first end of the band 14, thereby creating an overlapping band portion 36. Using a tool of the type generally known to those of skill in the art, the free end 34 of the band is grasped and pulled while the buckle 12 and first end of the band 14 are held stationary by abutting the buckle against a front surface of the tool and positioning the free end of the band clamp over an underlying cutter blade. A punch 38 having a conical shaped tip 40 is then driven through the upper opening 28 and forced into the free end 34 of the band 12 to form a locking dimple 42 in the free end 34 of the band. The locking dimple 42 extends through the opening 30 in the first end of band 14. The aperture 30 defines a two-dimensional area, bounded by surface 44, that defines where the locking dimple 42 may be formed. In general terms, the locking dimple 42 fixes and secures the circumference of the band by abutting the inside surface 44 of the opening 30. The constrained or banded objects place an outward force on the band which, in turn, causes the circumference of the band to expand until locking dimple 42 abuts the inside surface 44 of the aperture 30. The inside surface 44 of the aperture 30 may also be referred to as a load bearing surface.
Simultaneously, a knife 46, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is lowered to cut the free end of the band in conjunction with the underlying cutter blade. The knife 46 includes a single linear blade or cutting edge 48 that extends across the width of the band. The knife-edge engages and cuts the entire band width at once. Therefore, a significant portion of the force driving the tool is applied to cutting the band rather than driving the punch to form the locking dimple. Once the band is cut, the tool no longer holds or constrains the band clamp. Also, there is no further downward travel of the punch, no further formation of the locking dimple and the tool releases its hold of the free end of the band.
The manner in which the locking dimple 42 is formed limits the retained tensile force of the band and contributes to loss of tensile force due to band slip-back. A punch 38 is attached to and extends out in front of the knife 46. Typically, the punch is oriented perpendicular to the band. As the knife 46 travels toward the band, the punch 38 begins formation of the locking dimple 42. When forced against the free end 34 of the band 12, a conical shaped locking dimple 42 is created, as shown in FIG. 21. Moreover, the process of cold forming the locking dimple in combination with the pointed conical tip 40 causes the walls 50 of the locking dimple to be thinner or non-uniform in thickness at the base 52. In addition, and primarily due to manufacturing tolerances, the location of the locking dimple 42 may vary laterally along the band. In particular, the locking dimple 42 may be formed anywhere within the area defined by the inside surface 44 of the opening 30. The lateral or axial distance between the inside surface 44 of the opening and the wall 50 of the locking dimple 42 is shown as Δx1 in FIG. 21. As a result, when the free end of the band is cut and the tool releases its grip of the band, the band 12 will laterally release or slip-back at least the distance Δx1, as shown by comparing FIG. 21 with FIG. 22. Moreover, additional slip-back may occur, immediately or over time, due to the conical shape of the locking dimple 42 and the relative freedom of movement that the band has in the “Z” direction (Δz as shown in FIGS. 21-23). In particular, the space 54 defined between the top 20 and bottom 22 of the buckle 12 is greater than the combined height of the overlapping bands. This space permits the free end 34 of the band to pass through the buckle. The additional height also permits the overlapping bands to move vertically within the interior space 54 of the buckle, as shown in FIG. 22. This additional degree of movement, combined with the sloped outer wall 50 of the locking dimple 42, also allows further slip-back of the band, as illustrated in FIG. 23 as Δx2. Thus, even if the locking dimple 42 were initially formed abutting the interior surface 44 of the opening 30 such that there was no Δx1, as shown in FIG. 21, lateral slip-back would still occur due to the freedom of movement allowed by the gap Δz in combination with the sloped surface 50 of the locking dimple, as shown in FIG. 23. This results in further loss of the retained tension force.
Often, end users specify a retained tensile force for their end use applications, for example, 600 pounds. If the tie being used has a fifty percent loss in retained tensile force following locking and cut off of the free end, then the tie, just prior to locking and cut off, must have a tensile load or clamping force applied to it in the amount of 1,200 pounds to accommodate the fifty percent loss of tensile force. In many situations, the applied or clamping force can exceed the tensile load of the band, causing it to fail. This is more often true when clamping objects having hard surfaces.
Yet the process of forming conical shape of the locking dimple 42 causes another problem. The conical shape of punch tip 40 causes the walls 50 of the locking dimple 42 to be thinned, even to the point that there is no material left in the wall of the dimple, as they are cold formed. The non-uniform or thin portion 52 creates a weak spot that is susceptible to the shear forces acting on the locking dimple 42 by the retained tensile load. The additional height (Δz) creates a freedom of movement inside the buckle and allows the sloped walls 50 to ride up the edge 60 of the inside surface 44, further opening the band and releasing retained tensile load. The thinned portion 52 will then abut the inside surface 44 of the aperture 30, as shown in FIG. 23. When the retained load is applied against the thinned portion 52 of the walls of the locking dimple, a failure may occur where the edge of the surface 44 shears off the locking dimple or causes the locking dimple to collapse. Thus, the locked band will fail and the bundled objects will be released.
In addition to the foregoing problems, other considerations are relevant in designing a band clamp. First, the clamp should have a high tensile strength to resist the outward tensile force exerted on the clamp by the constrained objects. Second, the clamp should be inexpensive to manufacture. Band clamps are used in a variety of applications where cost is a concern. Thus, simply increasing the physical size of the clamp does not address all of the design considerations. A physically larger band clamp will have a greater loop tensile force, but it will cost more. Also, the band clamp should be simple in design and easy to use. | {
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A common complaint among passengers in automobiles is their inability to adequately shield their eyes from the glaring rays of the sun. This problem is particularly acute, of course, when the vehicle is traveling toward the sun which is positioned fairly low on the horizon. All standard vehicles are equipped with sun visors which are hingedly secured to the vehicle at their outer end so that they can be pivoted into a parallel relation with the side windows of the vehicle to protect the drivers and passengers when the vehicle is traveling perpendicular to the sun's rays. These visors are fairly effective in this orientation. However, when traveling toward a setting sun, the visors can only be pivoted downwardly the amount equal to the width of the visor itself. This does not provide an adequate shield to the sun's rays, particularly with respect to the passenger's eyes as he is generally seated back in a restful position with his head and eyes in a horizontal plane beneath the lower edge of the vehicle's sun visor where his eyes are subjected to the rays of the sun. Because of the sun, the passenger, while attempting to relax is made uncomfortable and must resort to the wearing of tinted glasses or otherwise shield his eyes from the sun. Furthermore, such visors do not give either the driveror passenger any protection from the headlights of oncoming vehicles during night time driving. | {
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This invention relates to electro-optic devices for vehicles and, more particularly, to an enhanced vehicular rearview mirror or window glazing incorporating an electro-optic medium allowing variation in the transmission of light in response to application of an electric field to the electro-optic medium.
Specifically, in one aspect, the invention is a variable reflectance, electro-optic mirror including protection against laceration injuries and scattering of glass or other fragments if broken or damaged, against degradation from ultraviolet radiation, and against fogging and misting in high humidity conditions.
This invention also relates to glazing in vehicles and, more particularly, to an enhanced vehicular window, sun visor, shade band or sunroof incorporating an electrochromic medium allowing variation in the light transmitted by the glazing in response to application of an electric field to the electrochromic medium. Specifically, the invention is a variable transmission, electrochromic vehicular window including protection against laceration injuries and scattering of glass, other fragments, or chemicals if broken or damaged, against degradation from ultraviolet radiation, and including thin film means to reflect a substantial portion of incident, solar, near-infrared radiation. Optionally, and preferably, the electrochromic glazing assembly is blue or green in transmission, as viewed from the vehicle interior, so as to reduce glare from the sun and to optimize visibility and a true-to-nature blue view of the sky.
In a collision, the glass typically used as the substrate in vehicular rearview mirrors poses potential hazards to the driver or other vehicle occupants. Since glass easily shatters into sharp, irregular fragments, there is a high likelihood of facial or other injury, typically lacerative in nature, in any collision. For this reason, prior known interior and exterior vehicular rearview mirrors, which typically consist of a single glass piece coated with reflective material, are conventionally protected by applying a tape or a plastisol-type plastic adhesive to the back surface of the glass piece. Accordingly, if impacted or broken in an accident, and shattered, glass fragments are retained by the tape or plastisol-type plastic adhesive.
More recently, however, a new generation of electro-optical mirrors has emerged which are fabricated using two pieces of glass separated by a gap or space which contains an electro-optic medium allowing variation in the light reflected by the assembly. For example, in liquid crystal rearview mirrors, the space between the transparent front and reflective coated rear glass pieces is filled with a semi-viscous liquid crystal material. In electrochemichromic or electrochromic mirrors, the gap or space contains a liquid, thickened liquid, gel or semi-solid material.
In these types of electro-optic, laminated mirror assemblies, scatterproofing of the rear glass piece is relatively easy since tape or plastisol-type plastic adhesives can be applied to its rear surface behind the reflective coating in the conventionally known manner. However, scatterproofing the front piece of glass in such a laminated assembly is difficult since the material used to fill the space between the front and rear glass pieces is usually insufficiently viscous or adhering to retain fragments of the front glass should it shatter in a collision.
Another problem encountered with electro-optic rearview mirrors and windows or glazing assemblies is degradation due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation over the life of the mirror or glazing. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun which penetrates the earth's atmosphere has a wavelength in the range between 290 and 400 nanometers (nm) and can cause breakdown in the operational characteristics of the electro-optical medium including chain scission, cross-linking and stimulation of chemical changes in the chemicals used to formulate the electro-optical medium. This interferes with electronic conjugation in the aromatic conjugated materials typically used and thus the electro-optic activity of those materials is impaired. Moreover, the medium will often discolor taking on a yellowish tint visible in light reflected or passing therethrough and drastically affect the usefulness of the rearview mirror or window. Such degradation from UV solar radiation is particularly problematic in electro-optical automotive windows which are typically exposed to the full solar radiation, often when the electro-optical medium is in its colored state.
In order to overcome ultraviolet radiation degradation in such electro-optic rearview mirrors and glazings, it is possible to add UV radiation absorbing materials to the electro-optic medium. However, such UV absorbing additives, especially in higher concentrations and with broad UV absorbance, themselves impart a yellowish tint to the materials to which they are added. Such yellow tint is also visible in light reflected or transmitted therethrough. Yellow is aesthetically displeasing in many applications, and is particularly displeasing when used in rearview mirrors. Consumer acceptance of rearview mirrors having a yellowish tint or cast in the reflected light has been poor. Moreover, yellow mirrors are efficient reflectors of headlamp glare which itself is yellow. Consequently, prolonged exposure to sunlight and UV radiation, or reducing UV degradation in electro-optic mirrors with UV absorbing additives, can create negative consumer reaction and acceptance. Likewise, a yellow tint in, for example, an automotive sunroof is consumer displeasing as it detracts from the consumer's appreciation of, and natural view of, the blue sky.
Another objective in the use of rearview mirrors is the matching of human sight sensitivity in various light conditions during the use of such mirrors to the glare sources and ambient lighting present. It is known that the spectral sensitivity of the human eye depends on its light adaptation. Thus, daylight and night driving conditions create differing human eye sensitivities. Further, nearly all night driving is affected by the reflection of light from the headlights of the driver's own vehicle on the road. The electro-optic mirror assemblies of this invention should, therefore, optimally be constructed to correspond as much as possible with the eye sensitivities in both day and night driving conditions.
The electro-optic media commonly used in electro-optic mirrors and windows are often constituted of materials and chemicals of a potential toxic or otherwise hazardous nature. Should the mirror glass break in an accident, there is a possibility of automobile occupants contacting the electro-optic media, either directly or by contact with glass particles to which these potentially hazardous media are still adhering. Such contact presents a hazard to the occupants through toxic effects, and through skin irritation such as to eyes and facial areas. The anti-lacerative layers and laminate interlayers of this invention offer a barrier that ensures that contact with chemicals used within the mirror is minimized should the glass shatter in an accident.
Yet another problem is unwanted misting or fogging of the rearview mirror surface or the glazing surface when the vehicle encounters high humidity conditions. For example, in damp, cold conditions where the interior passenger compartment of a vehicle has a highly humid atmosphere, water droplets may tend to condense on the rearview mirror surface or window surface thereby obscuring vision in the mirror or through the window. Not only does such condensation prevent effective use of the mirror or window, but also requires frequent wiping by the vehicle driver which distracts his attention from driving.
Vehicular windows provide a field of view so that the driver can make safe driving decisions and allow occupants to comfortably view the surroundings. Glass vehicular sunroofs are luxury items that serve both aesthetic and functional needs. A transparent sunroof is primarily consumer-selected so that the occupants feel less claustrophobic and more linked to the outside environment. Sunroofs have a functional benefit in that, when opened, they can greatly increase cabin ventilation and so substitute somewhat for air-conditioning.
As reviewed in the publication SMART WINDOWS FOR AUTOMOBILES by Niall R. Lynam, SAE paper #900419, Society of Automotive Engineers, International Congress and Exposition, Detroit, Mich., Feb. 16-Mar. 2, 1990, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, increases in the area of windows used in automobiles coupled with down-sizing of vehicular air-conditioners and environmental concerns associated with use of halocarbons in air-conditioners, have led to an increased need to use solar heat-load reducing glazing in vehicles. Since solar energy (for solar mass 2) is, on the average, 3% ultraviolet (UV), 48% visible radiation, and 49% near-infrared (NIR) radiation, nearly one-half of the solar energy can be eliminated without any loss in visibility.
Solar-energy reducing glazing is already in use on automobile windows and is based on two principles: modification of the glass composition to increase the infrared absorption; and deposition of single and multilayer coatings to reflect or absorb infrared radiation. In a vehicle, the glazing need not be concerned with heat insulative properties such as are required for solar efficient windows in buildings and homes. Building solar windows allow as much of the solar spectrum as is possible to transmit into the room but also trap this solar energy by acting as a heat mirror for energy radiated from walls, floors, furniture, etc.
With respect to a vehicle, heat built up when parked or driven in sunny climates is the principal concern. Thus, the solar glazing used in vehicles should, ideally, reflect away all of the incident near-IR solar radiation above around 800 nm since visible light is between about 400 and 800 nm. Even with such reflection, however, the approximate 50% of solar energy contained in the UV/visible spectral region, if transmitted, can contribute to heat buildup within the vehicular cabin.
Chromogenic materials have been suggested for providing electrically variable control over solar transmission in automobile windows. SAE paper #900419 discloses a variety of possible designs and constructions, among them being designs using liquid crystal or electrochromic materials. Liquid crystal designs, and particularly those that operate by scattering light rather than by absorbing/reflecting light, however, yield only moderate solar energy benefit when used in automobile glazing. Electrochromic windows, because they do not operate by a light scattering mechanism, are preferred for use in variable transmission solar-efficient automobile window glazing.
A wide variety of infrared attenuating means including those that operate principally by reflecting varying amounts of the near-IR region, or by absorption, also have been disclosed in the prior art. Some have been used in association with variable transmission liquid crystal panels. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,261 to McLaughlin et al. describes a liquid crystal material operable to modulate light transmitted through a panel such as a sunroof, window, or partition. The liquid crystal material selectively operates to transmit or to scatter light.
McLaughlin et al. describe an embodiment which includes an infrared light reflective material which may take the form of a stainless steel or tin oxide, optically transparent, infrared reflecting, and electrically conductive coating that preferentially reflects infrared light while allowing visible radiation to pass. McLaughlin et al., however, fail to explicitly distinguish to which portion of the infrared spectrum (i.e., near-IR between 800 nm and 2500 nm or IR above 2500 nm) their invention is directed, and fail to combine that revelation with an electrochromic medium. Other references have failed to distinguish the particular needs of vehicular variable transmission glazing from variable transmission glazing usable as building windows and the like.
Accordingly, a need is apparent for a laminate electro-optic vehicular rearview mirror and glazing assembly which can be effectively scatterproofed to retain glass fragments from both glass pieces in the assembly, protected against lacerative-type injuries, protected against ultraviolet radiation damage throughout its life, and protected against annoying fogging and misting of the interior cabin surface in high humidity conditions. In addition, there is a related need for electro-optic rearview mirror assemblies which provide reflected light of a commercially and consumer acceptable color or tint and which match human sight sensitivity in both day and night conditions to the glare sources and ambient lighting present.
In addition, a further need is apparent for a combination near-infrared attenuating/electrochromic window which maximizes solar attenuation performance while allowing maximum variability of visible light. There is also a related need for a vehicular window which combines an electrochromic medium which attenuates visible light by absorbance and/or reflection with an efficient near-infrared reflector and an ultraviolet reducing means. Further, there is a related need for a solar attenuating window which can be effectively scatterproofed to retain glass fragments from the glass pieces in the window, protected against lacerative-type injuries, protected against leakage of chemicals, protected against ultraviolet radiation damage throughout its life, and protected against annoying fogging and misting of its surface in high humidity conditions. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to digital communication systems, and more particularly to packet-switched communication systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Request for Comment (RFC) 791, Internet Protocol (September 1981), and other RFCs define the Internet Protocol (IP) that is used for packet-switched communication networks. Information to be transmitted is divided into digital data blocks called datagrams, each of which has a header that includes the addresses of the sender (source) and intended receiver (destination), among other items of information. IP modules in the sender and receiver use the addresses to direct datagrams toward their destinations. In general, an IP module is a software program that is executed by a suitable electronic processor.
An IP datagram can be fragmented, which is to say the datagram can be split into several smaller packets, or fragments, when the network allows only smaller chunks of data to travel through the network. The several fragments that are the parts of an original datagram are sent separately through the network and have to be reassembled at their destination, reconstructing the original datagram.
Information located in communication protocol layers above the IP layer, such as the source and destination port addresses, is sometimes used to identify a unique context of an original IP datagram. Such information is not available in all fragments of the datagram, and thus the context of the original datagram cannot be recognized immediately from fragments formed by standard IP fragmentation mechanisms.
Sections 1.4, 2.3, and 3.2 of RFC 791 describe fragmentation and how fragments are identified and reassembled into an original datagram using data fields in the packet headers. Datagrams are typically fragmented by IP modules in gateways and reassembled at destination IP modules in destination IP hosts (e.g., computers), although other arrangements are permitted within networks and by agreement.
FIG. 1 depicts the format of an IP packet header according to IP version 4 (IPv4) described in Section 3.1 of RFC 791. As shown, the header includes six groups, or words, of 32 bits each that are transmitted last-bit first. Each 32-bit word includes one or more fields of digital information that identifies the packet with which the header is associated. The fields in an IPv4 header include Version, Type of Service, Total Length, Identification (ID), Flags, Fragment Offset, Time to Live (TtL), Protocol, Header Checksum, Source and Destination Addresses, and Options. The Options field has a variable length up to 40 bytes, and padding to the 32-bit word length may be provided.
After the header, which cannot be fragmented, an IPv4 packet includes a variable-length data (payload) field, which can be fragmented. Information in the fragmentable part of a datagram can include the source and destination ports and information according to another protocol. For example, an Authentication Header (AH) or Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) protocol packet may carry encrypted Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP) traffic.
The ID, Flags, and Fragment Offset fields in an IPv4 packet header are used for identifying datagram fragments. According to RFC 791, the 16-bit ID field is assigned by the sender to aid in reassembling an original datagram from fragments. Of the 3-bit Flags field, bit 0 must be zero, bit 1 is a “don't fragment” flag, and bit 2 is a “more fragments” flag. If bit 1 is 0, then the datagram may be fragmented if necessary, and if bit 1 is 1, then the datagram shall not be fragmented. If bit 2 is 0, then this packet is the last fragment, and if bit 2 is 1, then there are more fragments. The 13-bit Fragment Offset field indicates where in the datagram this fragment belongs. The fragment offset is measured, i.e., fragments are counted, in units of 8 octets (64 bits), and the first fragment has offset zero. Thus, 8192 fragments of 8 octets each are permitted by IPv4, and an unfragmented datagram has bit 2=0 in the Flags field and Fragment Offset=0.
Even when IPv4 packets that are fragments of an original datagram arrive out of order, the information in the header of every packet enables fragments to be identified. By using bit 2 of the Flags field, it is possible to know whether or not more fragments are expected for the current datagram. If there are more fragments to come, then the current packet is considered a fragment; if there are no more fragments to come, but the Fragment Offset is not 0, then the current packet is considered the last fragment of a larger (unfragmented) datagram.
Section 3.2 of RFC 791 describes a datagram reassembly procedure that is performed only at the final destination with allocated reassembly resources, including a data buffer, a header buffer, a fragment block bit table, a total data length field, and a timer. The data from a fragment is placed in the data buffer according to its fragment offset and length, and bits are set in the fragment block bit table corresponding to the fragment blocks received. For each datagram, a buffer identifier is computed as the concatenation of the Source and Destination address, Protocol, and ID fields.
IP version 6 (IPv6) uses 64-bit words in headers that are arranged in a manner similar to IPv4. FIG. 2A depicts the format of an IPv6 packet header in 32-bit words. The fields in an IPv6 header include Version, Traffic Class, Flow Label, Payload Length, Next Header, Hop Limit, and Source and Destination IP Addresses. After the header, an IPv6 packet includes a variable-length data (payload) field, which can be fragmented and includes source and destination ports. The IPv6 header is simpler than the IPv4 header in that it has a fixed size with no variable-size Options field, and no fragmentation information, if any.
The fragmentation information that may be carried by the IPv4 Options field is handled in IPv6 as “option” headers that are chained through the use of the Next Header field. FIG. 2B depicts the IPv6 header format of a fragment, including an 8-bit Next Header field, an 8-bit Reserved field, a 13-bit Fragment Offset field, a 2-bit Reserved field, a 1-bit More Fragments field, and 32-bit Identification field. The fragmentation header is always the last of the “unfragmentable” headers (in IPv4, the 20-60 byte IP header is the unfragmentable header). This makes for one of the differences between IPv4 and IPv6: it is not always possible from an IPv6 header to see what the payload protocol is. The Next Header field has the identification of the next “option” header, which can be a payload protocol value, such as “UDP”, “TCP”, “AH”, or “ESP”, if there are no other options before the UDP, TCP, AS or ESP packets.
The essence of the datagram fragmentation mechanism in IPv6 is more or less the same as IPv4. An unfragmentable part of the datagram stays more or less intact (only the fragmentation information changes), and a fragmentable part of the datagram is broken up and sent as a number of fragments. The Fragment Offset is zero in the first fragment, and all fragments except the last have a “more fragments” flag set. This results in four types of packets, from a fragmentation point of view, in both IPv4 and IPv6: unfragmented; initial fragment; non-initial fragment, more-fragments flag set; and non-initial fragment, more-fragments flag not set (i.e., the last fragment) In IPv4, a packet's type can be determined from the packets header. In IPv6, a packet must be scanned for either a fragment header or a header that is part of the “fragmentable part” in order to know if the packet is a fragment or not.
U.S. Patent Application No. US 2006/0262808 by Lin et al. states that it describes a flow-through architecture for fragmentation and reassembly of tunnel packets in network devices, including a hardware pipeline without typical store-and-forward operations. Incoming fragmented packets are reassembled.
“Resolve IP Fragmentation, MTU, MSS, and PMTUD Issues with GRE and IPSEC”, Document ID 25885, Cisco (Oct. 2, 2006), which is available at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/105/pmtud_ipfrag.html, also describes datagram reassembly from fragments, and notes that fragmentation increases receiver overhead because the receiver must allocate memory for arriving fragments and combine them into a datagram after all fragments are received.
As noted above, other problems with typical IP datagram fragmentation and reassembly involve difficulty in recognizing the context of an unfragmented datagram when information identifying the context is not available in all fragments of the datagram. | {
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The telecom sector continues to see exponential growth in terms of the number of connected devices utilizing telecommunication networks. With trends like Internet of Things (IOT) and Bring your own device (BYOD), such growth is expected to continue. Notwithstanding the development of high throughput and high capacity wireless technologies, networks that support connected devices are being utilized to their limits due to the sheer number of connected devices utilizing the networks.
To ensure that these high service demands are met, network operators test their networks for operability and robustness. For example, a network can be “stress tested” for robustness by deliberately increasing network traffic in order to cause a corresponding increase in central processing unit (CPU) and memory usage on the network nodes. In order to successfully pass a stress test, a network node should not fail (e.g., power cycle) under stressed conditions.
Often, however, today's networks are not tested adequately to ensure full robustness. That is, today's networks are still vulnerable to failure in particular scenarios that aren't covered by existing testing methodologies, and a node failure can have a significant impact on a telecommunication network. For example, in certain situations a single node failure can cause upwards of thousands of outages, whereby many customers lose service on their devices. Without adequate testing methodologies, networks remain unstable and vulnerable to failure. | {
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ESD may cause damage to sensitive electronic devices. As such, ESD protection is generally provided to the semiconductor structures. Semiconductor controlled rectifier (SCR) is a widely used ESD protection structure for the semiconductor structures such as I/O pads, high voltage pads or the like. However, a typical SCR has a trigger voltage that may be too high for the ESD protection application since an avalanche breakdown occurs at the N/P junction before the SCR is turned on. As such, the research and improvement of the ESD protection application have been conducted to this day. | {
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus incorporating solid state inverters for providing compensation on a three-phase electric power line. More particularly, it relates to apparatus which injects a compensating voltage into the power line in series, such as for example, a dynamic voltage restorer or an active power line conditioner. The inverters are connected to the primary windings of the single transformer and are line powered through additional secondary windings on the transformer.
2. Background Information
There are various types of apparatus for providing compensation on electric power lines which incorporate power inverters. One such system is the Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) an example of which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,222. The DVR injects a voltage in series with a utility source for the purpose of making up missing voltage that occurs when upstream faults cause short term voltage sags. The DVR described in the above mentioned patent uses three single-phase inverter modules with a common dc link which are connected to the utility line through injection transformers. The common dc link approach allows the use of one common source of energy to supply three separate injection systems, one for each phase, in a three-phase system. This common source of energy can be for instance, a capacitor bank or an interface to draw the required power from the line, even when the voltage is sagged. The injection transformers isolate the power electronics from the power line allowing the maximum injection capacity to be less than the source voltage. It has been shown that the vast majority of sags in utility systems are less than 50% of the phase-to-neutral voltage. The DVR can correct these sags with an inverter rating of less than the connected downstream load which is protected by the DVR.
In practice, the inverter modules of the DVR can be implemented as individual power devices, if the ratings are high enough; series strings of power devices as is the present practice and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,166; or single-phase inverter modules as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,024. Larger units, using magnetics for phase-staggered waveform mixing are also possible.
As previously stated, the topologies which have an injection transformer allow a common dc link and energy storage interface since the injection transformer provides the required isolation. This technique requires three single-phase or one three-phase transformer with a five leg core since such a transformer must support zero sequence voltage components.
In many applications, it is possible, and even desirable to derive the power required to make up a sag from the source. No significant energy storage is provided. For instance, a line powered DVR is known in which a three-phase transformer having a rectifier bridge connected to the secondary draws power directly from the power line. This arrangement not only requires the injection transformers but also the three-phase transformer for drawing power from the line. When the input voltage sags, the line powered DVR responds by drawings more current from the source to provide the power required by the load. The product of the positive sequence source voltage and current remains constant.
patent application Ser. No. 09/017,034, filed Feb. 2, 1998, proposes a neutral point connected DVR in which a three-phase inverter wye connects the secondary windings of a three-phase load transformer to the load end of the power line. This eliminates the need for injection transformers and in fact does not require any additional transformers where the load transformer is already present in the system. In a line powered version of the neutral point connected DVR, the inverter is powered from the load side. If the inverter is to optimized for fifty percent injection, a line power transformer is required. This means that a total of two transformers are required.
Commonly owned Patent Application entitled Power Inverter Apparatus Using The Load Transformer Of An AC Power Line To Insert Series Compensation (Attorney Docket No. RDM 97-037), concurrently filed in the name of C. G. Hochgraf, discloses several methods of connecting an inverter to the primary or source side of a transformer in a DVR. This system has some advantages in common with the neutral point connected DVR. It keeps the transformer voltage constant during a sag condition, whereas the neutral point connected DVR keeps only the load voltage constant. In this version, only one transformer is required in most cases. In versions of this system where the primary winding is delta connected, and a three-phase inverter with a common dc link is used to provide the voltage compensation, one single-phase injection transformer is needed to provide the required isolation.
Another type of compensation equipment which uses series injection with transformer coupling is the active power line conditioner (APLC). The APLC includes a series inverter and a parallel inverter connected by a common dc link. The parallel inverter transfers real power to and from the series inverter and also supplies harmonic currents and the reactive component of the load current. The series path in the APLC suffers from the same limitations as the DVR due to the series injection transformer discussed above patent application Ser. No. 09/017,034, filed Feb. 2, 1998, discussed above, discloses connection of the parallel inverter to the load side of the power line. While this APLC eliminates the need for injection transformers by using the neutral point connection for the series inverter, it requires an additional transformer for the connection of the parallel inverter to the load side of the power line, if the inverter system is partially rated.
While these improved DVRs and APLCs have reduced the cost of an installation by eliminating or reducing the number of transformers needed for series injection of voltage compensation into a power line, the APLC, and the DVR if it is to be line powered and take advantage of the partial rating, still require a separate transformer connected to the power line.
There is a need therefore for improved DVRs and APLCs which do not require a separate or additional transformer to draw power from the line. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an armored glove finger and gloves therefrom so as to resist inadvertent punctures or cuts. More particularly, the armored glove fingers are utilized in and/or with latex gloves to prevent infection of the wearer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous attempts have been made to provide protection against inadvertent cuts and puncture wounds in the handling and/or utilization of sharp implements, for instance:
U.S. Pat. No. 1,916,921, to Dougan, discloses a thumb protector comprising a rubber finger cot having a thickened portion embedded with lead particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,039,505, to Vollmer, discloses a finger protector comprising a rubber cot having a metal mesh embedded in the rubber.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,321, to Nuwayser, discloses a glove for use with organic solvents that is made of a flexible multilaminated sheet comprising an outer abrasion-resistant polymer layer, a pin-hole-free aluminum foil layer and an inner heat-sealable thermoplastic polymer material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,828, to Fogt et al., discloses a protective material comprising a base layer composed of textile material, an intermediate layer composed of a cut-resistant material having intermeshing strands defining pores therebetween and an outer layer composed of solid, elastomeric material which retards penetration by liquid. The elastomeric material covers and is bonded to the base layer which prevents passage entirely therethrough by liquid elastomeric material but permits partial penetration. The solid elastomeric material extends through the pores of the intermediate layer and encapsulates the strands thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,646,796, to Scholl, discloses a self-bonding tubular bandage of knitted fabric.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,847,005, to Bourne, discloses a surgical dressing comprising a fingertip pad over which a flexible member is wrapped with the seam passing over the top and side of the finger.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,681, to Nechtow et al., discloses a finger cot comprising layers of rubber and fabric that provide increased traction for a surgeon's finger.
Nonetheless, there is still a need for a glove which provides both protection from inadvertent cuts and punctures and sufficient "feel" to allow dependence on the sense of touch. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing a highly purified sweet steviol glycoside mixture, Stevioside and Rebaudioside A from the extract of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant and use thereof in various food products and beverages.
2. Description of the Related Art
In view of food sanitation, the use of artificial sweeteners such as dulcin, sodium cyclamate and saccharin has been restricted. However natural sweeteners have been receiving increasing demand. Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a plant that produces an alternative sweetener that has an added advantage of being a natural plant product. In addition, the sweet steviol glycosides have functional and sensory properties superior to those of many high potency sweeteners.
The extract of Stevia rebaudiana plant contains a mixture of different sweet diterpene glycosides, which have a single base—steviol and differ by the presence of carbohydrate residues at positions C13 and C19. These glycosides accumulate in Stevia leaves and compose approximately 10%-20% of the total dry weight. Typically, on a dry weight basis, the four major glycosides found in the leaves of Stevia are Dulcoside A (0.3%), Rebaudioside C (0.6%), Rebaudioside A (3.8%) and Stevioside (9.1%). Other glycosides identified in Stevia extract include Rebaudioside B, C, D, E, and F, Steviolbioside and Rubusoside.
The physical and sensory properties are well studied only for Stevioside and Rebaudioside A. They were tested for stability in carbonated beverages and found to be both heat and pH stable (Chang and Cook, 1983). The sweetness potency of Stevioside is around 210 times higher than sucrose, Rebaudioside A in between 200 and 400 times, and Rebaudioside C and Dulcoside A around 30 times (Phillips, 1989 and Tanaka, 1997).
However, apart from its high level of sweetness, they have also intrinsic properties of post-bitter taste and unpleasant and undesirable aftertaste. Some undesirable taste characteristics of glycosides can be as a result of contamination of other substances, presented in extract.
One of the main ways to improve the taste quality is the enzymatic glycosylation of mixture of semi-purified steviol glycosides. Another way to produce highly purified individual glycosides with standard characteristics and minimal content of accompanying compounds.
The invention related to the purification of two main glycosides—Stevioside and Rebaudioside A and use thereof.
A process for the recovery of diterpene glycosides, including Stevioside from the Stevia rebaudiana plant is described (U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,697). A variety of solvents, having different polarities, were used in a sequential treatment that concluded with a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation procedure.
A method for the recovery of Rebaudioside A from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana plants has been developed (U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,858). Again, final purification is achieved by liquid chromatography subsequent to an initial extraction with water and an alkanol having from 1 to 3 carbon carbons, preferably methanol. It is also known that water may be used as the initial solvent; their preferred solvent at this stage is a liquid haloalkane having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The preferred second solvent is an alkanol having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, while the preferred third solvent is an alkanol having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and optionally minor amounts of water.
Individual sweet glycosides can be obtained from the Stevia rebaudiana plant. A mixture of sweet glycosides extracted from the Stevia rebaudiana plant is processed to remove impurities by using two types of ion-exchangers. After removing the mixed sweet glycosides from the second column with methanol, the solution is dried. Upon refluxing the dried solids in a methanol solution and then cooling the solution, Stevioside precipitates out. The filtrate is further concentrated and cooled to precipitate out Rebaudioside A. This Rebaudioside A can be further purified as can the previously obtained Stevioside (U.S. Pat. No. 5,962,678). However, a large amount of toxic organic solvent, such as methanol is used.
However, all the above-mentioned methods allow the production of Stevioside and Rebaudioside A not in highly purified grade, which further possess a residual bitterness and aftertaste.
On the other hand, the unfavorable taste of the glycosides can be as a result of contamination of impurities, presented in extract. Highly purified Stevioside and Rebaudioside A possessing an improved taste profile and there is a need to provide an easy and commercially valuable process for the manufacturing the highly purified Stevioside and Rebaudioside A, and use thereof in various beverages and food products. | {
"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"
} |
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