A spoiler and wing of an aircraft. A bottom surface of the spoiler has several longitudinal, elongated grooves. At least some of the grooves are equipped with one or more vortex generators. Further, the invention relates to a wing having in its back part at least one flap and having at least one spoiler of the invention arranged on the section between the wing and flap. The invention also relates to a method and control surface for generating vortexes.

The invention relates to a spoiler of an aircraft, which comprises: a top surface and a bottom surface; a front edge and a back edge that reside on the longitudinal outer edges of the spoiler; and at least one hinge element for turning the spoiler relative to said hinge element from a low position to a high position and vice versa.
The invention further relates to a wing of an aircraft, which comprises: a front edge and a back edge; at least one movable flap at the back of the wing; at least one movable spoiler arranged on the front side of the flap, the spoiler comprising a top surface and a bottom surface; and at least one vortex generator for controlling airflows.
The invention also relates to a movable control surface of an aircraft, which comprises: a top surface and a bottom surface; a front edge and a back edge that reside on the longitudinal outer edges of the control surface; and at least one hinge element for moving the control surface relative to said hinge element.
In addition, the invention relates to a method for generating vortexes, in which method vortexes are generated on the top surface side of a wing of an aircraft by means of at least one vortex generator.
In aircrafts, such as airplanes, different movable flaps are used to control takeoffs and landings. The flap can be arranged on the trailing edge of the wing, and it can consist of several parts whose angularity and position in the longitudinal direction of the airplane can be changed. By means of the flap, airflows on the wing can be controlled during takeoffs and landings in such a manner that the upward force of the wing can be increased as necessary. This way, the takeoff speed and landing speed required by the airplane can be kept reasonable. One problem with the flaps is that airflow endeavors to leave the top surfaces of the flaps, which reduces the maximum upward force generated by the wing. To solve this problem, protruding vortex generators are arranged on the top surfaces of the wings to endeavor to generate on the top surface of the flap controlled vortexes which keep the airflow on the top surface of the flap. For instance U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,419 discloses vortex generators arranged on the top surface of the wing. A drawback with such protruding vortex generators is, however, that they also cause vortexes and air resistance during cruising. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,720 discloses an arrangement in which on the front edge of a flap at the back part of the wing there is a transverse section that serves as a vortex generator.


A wireless network device to support quality-aware adaptive media streaming includes a radio-frequency transceiver, a processor operably coupled to the radio-frequency transceiver, and a memory device operably coupled to the processor. The memory storing instructions that configure the processor to parse a manifest file to read information characterizing media content available for hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) adaptive streaming, obtain quality information of the media content based on a quality attribute parsed from the manifest file, and dynamically switch streaming between different encoded portions of the media content in response to the quality information for an encoded portion of the media content deviating from a desired quality value.

Hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) streaming is a form of multimedia delivery of internet video and audio content—referred to as multimedia content, media content, media services, or the like. In HTTP streaming, a multimedia file can be partitioned into one or more segments and delivered to a client using the HTTP protocol. HTTP-based multimedia content delivery (streaming) provides for reliable and simple content delivery due to broad previous adoption of both HTTP and its underlying protocols, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Moreover, HTTP-based delivery simplifies streaming services by avoiding network address translation (NAT) and firewall traversal issues. HTTP-based streaming also provides the ability to use standard HTTP servers and caches instead of specialized streaming servers that are more difficult to scale due to additional state information maintained on those servers. Examples of HTTP streaming technologies include Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) Smooth Streaming, Apple HTTP Live Streaming, and Adobe HTTP Dynamic Streaming.
Adaptive video streaming involves continuously optimizing video configurations such as bit rate, resolution, and frame rate based on changing link conditions, device capabilities, and content characteristics. Adaptive streaming improves the video viewing experience for the end client user in terms of performance goals such as high video quality, low startup delay, and interrupt-free playback. Traditionally, adaptive video streaming involved a Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP). RTSP includes a client that connects to a streaming server that tracks the client's state until it disconnects. Tracking the client's state entails frequent communication between the client and the server, including session provisioning and negotiation of media parameters. Once the client and the server establish a session, the server sends the media as a continuous stream of packets over either User Datagram Protocol (UDP) or TCP transport. Example technologies for RTSP-based adaptive streaming include Microsoft Windows Media™, Apple QuickTime™, Adobe Flash™, and Helix™ by Real Networks, among others.
Dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH) is an adaptive HTTP streaming technology standardized in the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) TS 26.247 and the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) ISO/IEC DIS 23009-1; however, various standards organizations implement DASH technology including the Open Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Forum (OIPF) and Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV), among others. DASH operates differently in comparison to RTSP-based adaptive streaming because DASH operates by the use of the stateless HTTP protocol.
DASH specifies formats for a media presentation description (MPD) metadata file. The MPD file provides information on the structure and different versions of the media content representations stored in the server. The MPD file also specifies the segment formats, i.e., information concerning the initialization and media segments for a media player to ensure mapping of segments into media presentation timeline for switching and synchronous presentation with other representations. For example, the media player inspects initialization segments identified in the MPD file to understand container format and media timing info.
Wireless communication technology, such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) or Long Term Evolution (LTE), has evolved to deliver rich multimedia and video services in addition to the traditional voice and data services. Typical wireless multimedia communications involve the transmission of a continuous source over a noisy channel. Common examples are speech communications, mobile TV, mobile video, and broadcast streaming. In such communications, the multimedia source is encoded and compressed into a finite stream of bits, and the bit stream is then communicated over the noisy channel. Source coding is carried out to convert the continuous source into a finite stream of bits. Channel coding is performed to mitigate the errors in the bit stream introduced by the noisy channel. Source and channel coding introduce quality degradation during playback of the media that is generally attributable to such factors as high distortion levels, limited bandwidth, excessive delay, power constraints, and computational complexity limitations. Nevertheless, it may be important to transmit the source over time-varying wireless channels while satisfying certain end-to-end quality of service (QoS) or quality of experience (QoE) constraints, including average distortion and multimedia quality requirements, such as in real-time mobile video streaming.

Quality-aware adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol using quality attributes in manifest file


An embodiment includes a walking stick. The walking stick includes a rod assembly, a water purification assembly, and a manual pump. The rod assembly extends from a first end to a second end that is opposite the first end along a longitudinal direction of the rod assembly. The rod assembly includes at least one rod portion. The water purification assembly is integrated with the rod assembly. The manual pump is configured to impose a pressure gradient in the water purification assembly. The manual pump includes a plunger that is physically coupled to a handle portion. Motion of the plunger relative to the water purification assembly draws water into an inlet tube that is positioned in the rod portion and through the water purification assembly. The motion of the plunger results from translation of the handle portion in substantially the longitudinal direction of the rod assembly.

Obtaining drinkable or potable water when away from trustworthy public water sources can be problematic. For instance, while outdoors such as during hiking trips, individuals may carry potable water obtained from a trustworthy source. The individual may drink the water during the hike to maintain adequate levels of hydration. However, it is difficult to estimate an amount of water that is sufficient to maintain a healthy level of hydration. For instance, the temperature may be hotter than expected, which may increase consumption of the water. Moreover, water is heavy. Accordingly, carrying the water may introduce an additional load.
Additionally or alternatively, individuals may carry a portable water filtration system (filtration system). The filtration system may enable a user to draw water from naturally-occurring water source, such as a stream or lake, and to filter the water. However, filtrations systems are an extra piece of equipment that is often forgotten and poorly maintained. Moreover, through attempts to minimize the volume and weight of filtration systems, the functionality of some filtration systems has been reduced. For instance, use of some filtrations systems involves the user laying on her stomach and putting her face near the water source. Additionally, filtration systems are stored while walking, which may introduce additional steps in obtaining potable water and may reduce a number of times users hydrate.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

Walking stick with integrated water filtration


A generally rectangular elongated horizontally disposed open frame having a base frame, upright studs, joists and rafter members form an overhead round hay bale rack for supporting hay bales. One side of the frame is closed by panel members to form a windbreak for livestock which may enter both ends or the side opposite the windbreak panels for shelter. Hay bales supported by the hay rack portion of the device may be rolled off the rack for access by animals as they consume the respective bale.

1. Field of the invention
It is well understood by stockmen or ranchers raising cattle in open flat country where there is very little natural windbreaks for cattle, that is it desirable to provide some type of windbreak. In such open country, where there are no windbreaks for livestock and the ground is frozen or covered with snow and the wind chill index is in the minus readings extra feed needs to be provided for livestock for survival Further, the requirement of extra feed is greatly reduced where a windbreak is provided, either natural or man-made. In consideration of the soil or pasture, particularly if it is hay-raising soil, it is desirable to move the feeding station from time to time to prevent undue damage to the dormant hay producing vegetation. Therefore it is desirable that a hay feeder and shelter be provided which may be moved by a pick-up truck, or the like, from one location to another. This invention provides such a feeder-shelter.
2. Description of the Prior art
Range cattle feeders are well known and have generally comprised a mobile vehicle which contains a quantity of hay either loose or baled with slats or grating surrounding the hay permitting animal access to the hay. Such a unit may contain several relatively small bales of hay which provides some windbreak for the animals until the hay has been consumed.
Other patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,609 discloses a multiple ring concentric open frame device which contains, in the innermost central ring a jumbo size bale of hay with the outer ring framework providing a space through which the animals extend their head and neck for eating hay from the bale. This prevents waste of hay by the excess hay falling from the animal's mouth into the area between the rings of the frame where it may be reached by the animals and not be trampled under foot.
The most pertinent patent is believed to be U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,524 which discloses a partially enclosed feeder and shelter having a hay loft under an overlying roof with grating at one end of the hay rack permitting feed to be obtained by an animal when within the shelter. This device is primarily intended for hay baled in relatively small, rectangular bales which are manually placed in the hay loft under the roof.
This invention is distinctive over this and other similar feeder shelter patents by providing a rectangular open framework shelter having one side closed to provide a windbreak and an overhead frame rack area for storing a plurality of superposed jumbo size hay bales to be individually fed to the livestock by successively rolling the hay bales off the overhead rack as the respective bale is consumed.


An apparatus is disclosed for transporting empty yarn winding tubes from a tube supply magazine, and then loading the tubes onto the transport: mandrel, of a service carriage. A rake removes the empty tubes in layers from a cardboard carton and delivers the tubes in a predetermined orientation to a channeled tube receiving tray, and the tubes are then individually dispensed from the tray and moved coaxially onto the transport mandrel of a service carriage.

The invention relates to an apparatus for transporting empty winding tubes from a tube magazine and onto the transport mandrels of a transport carriage.
Apparatus of the described type are used to ensure a continuous winding operation in yarn spinning plants. To this end, it is necessary to continuously provide the winding takeup machines of these spinning plants with empty yarn winding tubes at the end of each winding cycle, since the yarns to be wound advance continuously to their respective winding positions.
In general, each winding spindle of a takeup machine is equipped with one or with several winding tubes, and one yarn advances to each of these winding tubes. The exchange of the full packages from each winding spindle for a corresponding number of empty tubes is performed fully automatically, so as to be able to wind within the shortest period of time the continuously advancing yarns on the empty tubes without an unnecessary waste of yarn.
DE-OS 29 39 675 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,187 disclose a package doffer for such a spinning plant, in which a yarn service carriage is provided for movement in the service aisle from one takeup machine to another. The yarn service carriage is operatively linked to a package doffing carriage. When in use at each contacted and serviced takeup machine, the full packages are removed from the winding spindle and transferred to the package doffing carriage which then delivers the packages to a package transport device. The package transport device receives a plurality of packages, which it subsequently transports to an individual control station. Thereafter, the full packages having been found satisfactory, advance to a packing station.
The doffing of the full packages and replacement with empty tubes are performed by a doffer. As used in the present application, a doffer is understood to be an apparatus traveling along the machine front from one takeup machine to another, which doffs the produced full packages at the end of a winding cycle. This doffing includes the removal of the full packages from each winding spindle, and the transfer of the full packages to a carriage for further transportation.
The time to doff the produced full packages is monitored by the doffer, it being useful that the doffer also requests the respectively needed number of empty tubes.
In one embodiment, the doffer is additionally designed to furnish the just serviced winding spindle with new empty tubes after removing and transferring the full packages, so that the takeup machine is able to continue its winding operation. Such a doffer is known, for example, from DE-AS 24 49 415. In the case of this doffer, the necessary number of needed empty tubes is continuously furnished by means of a conveyor chain passing by the doffer.
Also known from DE-OS 21 28 974 is a package doffing carriage which replaces full packages with empty tubes. In this embodiment, the empty tubes are carried along on the package doffing carriage and transferred to the winding spindle of the takeup machine by means of two gripping arms.
DE-OS 21 23 689 also discloses a traveling package doffer, which delivers the full packages to a traveling package transport device. Subsequently, the package transport device is moved to an individual control station, where the individual packages are subjected either individually or randomly to a quality check, and then continue to a packing station.
In light of this prior art, it is the object of the present invention to improve the apparatus for loading empty winding tubes such that it is possible to fully automatically introduce the tubes into an operation for processing continuously advancing yarns, in particular, synthetic filament yarns. A further object resulting therefrom is to improve the apparatus such that it can be used in a spinning installation for an uninterrupted production of a plurality of synthetic filament yarns.


A probe and collimator to be releasably secured thereto for use in detecting, localizing, and mapping or imaging radiation emanating from a hidden source, such as within the body of a living being. The probe comprises a small body arranged to be readily held in one's hand and a radiation detector located within the body. The probe's body includes a window located at its distal end over the detector. The collimator comprises a cylindrical member adapted to be snap-fit onto the distal end of the probe body to reduce the solid angle of acceptance of radiation entering the window to a predetermined value less than that if the collimator was not in place on the probe. The collimator includes a central bore having an air vent and at least one recess extending about the inner periphery thereof and in which is located a resilient locking member, e.g., an O-ring. The body at the distal end of the probe includes at least one recess extending about the outer periphery thereof and into which the locking member is snap-fit to releasably secure the collimator to the probe. The air vent enables air to vent from the interior of the collimator to facilitate the mounting of it to the probe.

This invention relates generally to probes for detecting radiation, and more particularly to collimating probes for detecting, localizing, and imaging or mapping of radiation in biological systems or other systems.
The use of radioactive materials to tag tissue within a patient for effecting its localization and demarcation by radiation detecting services has been disclosed in the medical literature for at least forty years. Significant developments in the localization and demarcation of tissue bearing radioactive isotope tags for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes have occurred since that time. Thus, it is now becoming an established modality in the diagnosis and/or treatment of certain diseases, e.g., cancer, to introduce monoclonal antibodies tagged with a radioactive isotope (e.g., Iodine 125) into the body of the patient. Such monoclonal antibodies tend to seek out particular tissue, such as the cancerous tissue, so that the gamma radiation emitted by the isotope can be detected by some apparatus, e.g., a MRI or CAT scanner, to provide information and/or an image of the radiation emitting tissue.
As is known MRI and CAT scanning apparatus are extremely large, and thus not suitable for use in an operating room. Thus, while the surgeon may be able to utilize some hard copy image or data regarding the radioactively tagged tissue provided by an MRI or CAT scanner during the surgical procedure the surgeon will, nevertheless, want to manually explore various possible sites that may contain cancerous tissue to ensure that no such tissue has been overlooked or missed. Such action is typically accomplished visually and/or by palpation. Obviously, such inspection procedures are complicated by the limited amount of time available to the surgeon during the surgery, the type of cancer involved, and its possible location(s).
One type of apparatus which is small enough to be used in the operating room to assist the surgeon in detecting and localizing the presence of radioactively tagged tissue within the body of the patient makes use of a hand held radiation detecting probe. Such a probe is disposed or held adjacent portion of the patient's body where the cancerous tissue is suspected to be in order to detect if any radiation is emanating from that site, thereby indicating that cancerous tissue is likely to be found there. Unfortunately, radiation from the tagged tissue scatters off of the various surrounding body tissues organs, thereby rendering the localization of the source of the radiation difficult. Much of the indium 111 monoclonal antibody accumulates non-specifically in the liver.
One technique for localizing the radiation source is to look for the highest energy rays emanated by the radioactive isotope. This technique is based on the theory that the lower energy rays received by the probe must have undergone some scattering, whereas the higher energy rays remaining could not have undergone such scattering and must be coming from a source directly in front of the probe. While that technique has some merit it does not work well for all types of isotopes.
An alternative approach to localize the source of radiation is to utilize some device with the probe so that the surgeon or operator of the device can adjust the solid angle (cone) in which radiation can be received or accepted by the probe's detector. One such probe and associated device is commercially available from Neoprobe Corporation under the designation Neoprobe 1000. That probe makes use of three collimators, each of which can be attached in either an extended or retracted position on the probe to establish a minimum and maximum solid angle from which radiation can be detected. In particular, each of the Neoprobe 1000's collimators is a device having a different size small diameter opening which is arranged when secured to the probe in the extended position (so that its narrow diameter provides a constrained or narrowed field, i.e., the minimum solid angle of acceptance) to localize the radiation source within a small area. When the collimator is retracted or removed the solid angle of acceptance is maximum, and thus the area from which the radioactivity can be detected is significantly larger. Thus, it is suggested that when using the Neoprobe 1000 that the collimator be removed or retracted for wide angle scanning (e.g., broad survey use), and that the collimator be connected and extended for localized scanning.
In our copending U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 07/363,243, filed on June 8, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,547 entitled Apparatus and Methods for Detecting, Localizing and Imaging of Radiation in Biological Systems, whose disclosure is incorporated by reference herein, and which is assigned to the same assignee as this invention, there is disclosed a collimating probe which overcomes many of the disadvantages of prior art collimating probes. In particular that probe comprises a radiation detector and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the solid angle through which radiation may pass to the detector. That solid angle is continuously variable. The probe is constructed so that the only radiation reaching the detector is that which is within said solid angle. By adjusting the solid angle from a maximum to a minimum while moving the probe adjacent the source of radiation and sensing the detected radiation one is able to precisely locate the probe at the source of radiation. The probe can be used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. A receptacle is also provided to hold a specimen on the probe to detect the presence of radiation emanating therefrom.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,803 (Denen et al) assigned to Neoprobe Corporation there is disclosed a probe having a distal end arranged to have a separate collimator mounted thereon to provide the probe with a higher directional aspect. The collimator for achieving that end is not shown nor described. Means are, however, shown and described for mounting the collimator to the probe. Such means comprises a first retainer groove 42 extending about the periphery of the probe's distal end, and a second retainer groove 102 disposed closely adjacent the groove 42 and formed by the edge of a shell 66 and a wall portion of the distal end of the probe when the shell 66 is disposed thereon.
The following U.S. patents relate to collimators and/or apparatus for use with x-ray or other radiation detecting equipment, e.g., x-ray machines, etc: 3,112,402 (Okun et al.), 3,310,675 (Prickett et al.), 3,628,021 (MacDonald), 3,609,370 (Peyser), 3,869,615 (Hoover et al.), 3,919,519 (Stevens), 3,936,646 (Jonker), 4,340,818 (Barnes), 4,419,585 (Strauss et al.), 4,489,426 (Grass), and 4,502,147 (Michaels).
In some applications, like the aforementioned Neoprobe prior art devices, it may be desirable or expedient to utilize a separate collimator for securement to the probe to reduce the probe's normal solid angle of acceptance. In such a case a need exists for a probe and associated collimator which are constructed so that the collimator can be readily releasably secured to the probe by means which are simple, reliable, and efficient. Moreover, probes constructed in accordance with the teachings of our aforementioned patent applications may also make use of a separate releasably securable collimator constructed in accordance with the teaching of this invention. Further still collimators may be constructed in accordance with this invention which can be releasably mounted on a probe in one of several selected positions to adjust the solid angle of acceptance to predetermined values.

Probe and collimator for quick releasable mounting thereon


A panel with a blocker comprising: an upper plate, a lower plate opposite to said upper plate, a liquid crystal layer, with which a gap between the upper plate and lower plate is filled, a blocker formed on the edge of said lower plate; and a sealant formed next to said blocker, wherein the blocker separates the sealant from the liquid crystal layer. The panel of the present invention can be a LCD panel or a LCOS panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a panel, and more particularly to a panel with a sealant blocker.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the high popularity of portable products, e.g., personal digital assistant (PDA) and cellularphone, the display technology develops rapidly. By employing a silicon plate, a glass plate, and liquid crystal molecules, a LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) panel is more compact and has higher resolution than the traditional liquid crystal display (LCD), in which liquid crystal molecules are filled between two glass plates.
FIG. 1 is a cross section of a single pixel on a reflective-type LCOS. The LCOS has a lower plate 102 and an upper plate 101. The lower plate 102 includes a silicon substrate 103, and further includes a thin film transistor (TFT) 106, a capacitor 108, a pixel electrode 110, scan lines 107, data lines 111, and a reflective layer 112 on the silicon substrate 103, wherein the scan lines 107 are parallel to each other and so are the data lines 111. The upper plate 101 includes a glass substrate 120 and an opaque electrode 118, such as ITO electrode, on the glass substrate 120.
The upper plate 101 and the lower plate 102 are opposite to each other, and the gap between the two plates is filled with liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal molecules with spacers 132 constitutes a liquid crystal layer 114. A sealant 130 is next to the liquid crystal layer 114. The sealant 130 is used to connect the upper plate 101 and the lower plate 102, and the spacer 132 is used to support the spacing of the gap. The spacer 132 can be formed by direct spraying. To distinguish photo spacers from the other spacers, the photo spacers are labeled as 132(2), and the other spacers are labeled as 132(1).
The driving circuit of LCOS applies a voltage signal to the pixel electrode 110 to control the operations of each pixel by enabling scan lines 107 and data lines 111. The polarization of the light passing through the liquid crystal layer 114 is modulated by the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 114, which varies with the voltage applied to the pixel electrode 110. After the incident ray (labeled as I in FIG. 1) passes through the liquid crystal layer 114, the reflected ray (labeled as O in FIG. 1) is produced by the reflective layer 112 and passes through a polarizing film (not shown in FIG. 1). The polarized reflected ray O has the brightness corresponding to the voltage applied to the pixel electrode 110.
Another method to form a uniform gap, which is more commonly used now a days, is to apply a long-shaped photo spacer in the spacing between the pixels. Referring to FIG. 2, it shows a cross-sectional view of LCOS with long-shaped photo spacer 205 before the upper plate 201 and the lower plate 202 are compressed. The manufacturing of the upper plate 201 and the lower plate 202 are completed respectively. The lower plate 202 has the long-shaped photo spacers 205, extending upwardly and including an optical fiber therein. Then, a sealant 203 is also formed on the periphery of the lower plate 202. The upper plate 201 and the lower plate 202 are aligned to each other and are compressed towards each other. After the compressing of the upper plate 201 and the lower plate 202, the width of the gap can be sustained to be uniform by the long-shaped photo spacer 205.
Referring to FIG. 3, it shows a LCOS with the liquid crystal molecules filled in cell room 304 of each pixel. The cell room 304 is the spacing separated by the long-shaped photo spacer 305. After the compressing, liquid crystal molecules are injected into the cell rooms 304 and the manufacturing of the LCOS is completed.
However, the sealant utilized in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 will contaminate the liquid crystal molecules in the peripheral cell room 304(1), which is disposed on the edge of the lower plate 302. And the polluted and un-polluted liquid crystal molecules will have different alignments, although the voltage signals applied to the pixel electrodes are the same. Therefore, the display quality on the panel edge is not consistent with the other area of the panel.
Furthermore, a hot pressing process is needed to cure the sealant to seal the upper plate and the lower plate tightly. The high temperature of the hot pressing process on the devices of the upper plate and the lower plate, and shortens the panel lifetime.
Moreover, the structure of the LCOS is easily destroyed by the hot pressing process due to the different coefficient of expansion for the sealant, upper plate, and lower plate. So that the residual stress will decrease the yield of the LCOS.
Also, a UV gel, which is a substitute of the sealant 303, is cured by irradiating UV light and does not have the disadvantages caused by the hot pressing process. However, the liquid crystal molecules are polluted more seriously by the UV gel than by the sealant, which limits the using of the UV gel in the traditional method.

Sealant encased blocker for LCD or LCOS panel


An installation vessel for installing an offshore structure, the installation vessel comprising a hull and a plurality of legs, each leg comprising vertical chords and cross braces, the hull having a plurality of leg openings each configured for passage of a leg therethrough, each leg opening having a number of jack-cases for supporting pinions thereon, each pinion being configured for rotatably engaging a rack disposed on a chord of the leg to move the leg relative to the hull, each jack-case comprising a number of guides for guiding passage of the leg through the leg opening, each guide comprising a plurality of angled surfaces configured for sliding engagement with a corresponding plurality of surfaces of a rack, each of the plurality of angled surfaces comprising a wear plate.

A jack-up rig is an offshore oil exploration drilling structure for use in shallow water, typically in water depths up to 500 feet. The jack-up rig normally comprises a floatable hull with a deck or working platform and three or four legs. The legs pass through leg openings in the hull and are moveable relative to the hull. After the jack-up rig has arrived on location, the legs of the jack-up rig are lowered until they touch a seabed beneath the hull. This allows the hull to be supported by the legs that rest on a foundation soil on the seabed so that the hull may be jacked up using a jacking system to raise the working platform above the water, making the jack-up rig safer to be operated in open water situations where water movement is experienced.
The legs of a jack-up rig are commonly trusses, each truss comprising a number of vertical chords interconnected with cross braces. A leg typically comprises three or four chords. The legs normally terminate in a footing that rests on the seabed. The footing provides an enlarged soil bearing area so as to reduce pressure exerted on the soil of the seabed. This in turn reduces bearing capacity that is required by the soil to support the jack-up rig, allowing the jack-up rig to be operated in a greater variety of locations and soil types.
To move the legs relative to the hull, a rack-and-pinion mechanism is normally used. Each vertical chord of each leg is typically provided with two longitudinally aligned racks disposed diametrically on either side of the chord, with the teeth of each rack directed laterally away from the chord. Pinions to engage the racks are provided on jack-cases that are installed in the leg openings in the hull through which the legs pass. Rotation of the pinions on the jack-cases against the racks on the chords of each leg thus moves the leg relative to the hull. To keep the legs aligned as they pass through the leg openings in the hull, guides are provided in the jack-cases for sliding engagement with the racks on the chords of the legs as the legs are moved relative to the hull.
For offshore oil exploration, the jack-up rig is normally brought to site and installed there for months at a stretch. This means that relative movement of the legs occurs only every few months at most, that is, when the jack-up rig arrives at site and is installed, and when the exploration operation is completed months afterwards and the jack-up rig leaves the site.
For installing structures such as offshore wind turbines, a jack-up barge that operates similarly to jack-up rigs is often used. Installing one wind turbine from an installation vessel such as a jack-up barge typically takes only a few days. An offshore wind farm can comprise scores to several hundred individual wind turbines. Installing an entire offshore wind farm therefore requires the installation vessel to be moved from one designated wind turbine site to the next designated wind turbine site every few days, several hundred times over.
Moving a jack-up barge every few days several hundred times means that legs of the jack-up barge have to be raised and lowered relative to the hull at least an equal number of times. Guides currently used in oil exploration jack-up rigs are therefore not suitable for use in installation vessels such as jack-up barges because they are designed only to slideably engage the racks on the legs at most a few times every few months, and are consequently unable to withstand the wear from sliding against the racks every few days many times over, as would be required when installing offshore wind turbines.

Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology Centre Pte Ltd


The present technique, applicable to low voltage, medium voltage, and high voltage MCCs and other power management systems, provides for substantially containing and directing an arcing fault and resultant ionized gases within a stab enclosure or housing disposed in the MCC. For example, the stab housing may have reduced stab-openings at the power bus interface to diminish the potential of an arc flash (and ionized gases) from reaching the power buses. Furthermore, phase-to-phase isolation barriers may be employed within the stab housing to reduce the potential of an arcing fault going phase-to-phase. Moreover, to reduce arc flash damage within the MCC, the walls and barriers, including walls around the stabs, within the housing may be configured to direct the arc on a preferred path to a desired location within the housing to extinguish the arc in less than 0.1 second or 6 cycles, or even less than 0.033 second or 2 cycles.

The present technique relates generally to the field of power supply, such as that to motor control centers (MCCs). Specifically, the invention relates to techniques for connecting incoming power supply to certain types of electrical machinery, such as MCC's and components, for protecting such connections, and for containing and extinguishing arcing within such systems when faults do occur.
Systems that distribute electrical power for residential, commercial, and industrial uses can be complex and widely divergent in design and operation. Electrical power generated at a power plant may be processed and distributed via substations, transformers, power lines, and so forth, prior to receipt by the end user. The user may receive the power over a wide range of voltages, depending on availability, intended use, and other factors. In large commercial and industrial operations, the power may be supplied as three phase ac power (e.g., 208 to 690 volt ac, and higher) from a main power line to a power management system. Power distribution and control equipment then conditions the power and applied it to loads, such as electric motors and other equipment. In one exemplary approach, collective assemblies of protective devices, control devices, switchgear, controllers, and so forth are located in enclosures, sometimes referred to as "motor control centers" or "MCCs". Though the present technique is discussed in the context of MCCs, the technique may apply to power management systems in general, such as switchboards, switchgear, panelboards, pull boxes, junction boxes, cabinets, other electrical enclosures, and so forth.
The MCC may manage both application of electrical power, as well as data communication, to the loads, such loads typically including various machines or motors. Within the MCC may be disposed a variety of components or devices used in the operation and control of the loads. Exemplary devices contained within the MCC are motor starters, overload relays, circuit breakers, and solid-state motor control devices, such as variable frequency drives, programmable logic controllers, and so forth. The MCC may also include relay panels, panel boards, feeder-tap elements, and the like. Some or all of the devices may be affixed within various "units" (or "buckets") within the MCC. The MCC typically includes a steel enclosure built as a floor mounted assembly of one or more vertical sections containing the units or buckets. An MCC vertical section may stand alone as a complete MCC, or several vertical sections may be bolted and bused together. Exemplary vertical sections common in the art are 20 inches wide by 90 inches high.
The MCC normally interfaces with (and contains) power buses and wiring that supply power to the units and components. For example, the MCC may house a horizontal common power bus that branches to vertical power buses at each MCC vertical section. The vertical power buses then extend the common power supply to the individual units or buckets. To protect the power buses from physical damage, both the horizontal and vertical buses may be housed in enclosures, held in place by bus bracing or brackets, bolted to molded supports, encased in molded supports, and so forth. Other large power distribution equipment and enclosures typically follow a somewhat similar construction, with bus bars routing power to locations of equipment within the enclosures.
To electrically couple the MCC units or buckets to the vertical bus, and to simplify installation and removal, the units may be provided with self-aligning electrical connectors or metal stabs on the back of each unit. To make the power connection, the stabs, which may comprise spring-supported clamp devices, engage metal bars disposed on the vertical bus. For three phase power, three stabs per unit may accommodate three bus bars for the incoming power to give the phase terminals or terminations at the unit. An optional ground bus may also be used. Within the unit, three stab wires or power lead wires may route power from the stabs to a disconnecting device or component, typically through protective devices such as fuses and circuit breaker. It should be noted that though three phase ac power is discussed, the MCCs may also manage single phase ac power, as well as dc power (e.g., 24 volt dc power for sensors, actuators, and data communication). Moreover, the individual units or buckets may connect directly to the horizontal common bus by suitable wiring and connections.
A problem in the operation of MCCs and other power management systems, such as switchboards and panelboards, is the occurrence of arcing (also called an arc, arc fault, arcing fault, arc flash, arcing flash, etc.) which may be thought of as an electrical conduction or short circuit through gas or air. Initiation of an arc fault may be caused by a momentary or loose connection, build-up of foreign matter such as dust or dirt mixed with moisture, insulation failure, or a short-circuit (e.g., a foreign object establishing an unwanted connection between phases or from a phase to ground) which causes the arc to be drawn, and so forth. Once initiated, arcing faults may proceed in a substantially continuous manner. On the other hand, arcing faults may be intermittent failures between phases or phase-to-ground, and may be discontinuous currents that alternately strike, extinguish, and strike again.
In either case, the result is an intense thermal event (e.g., temperatures up to 35,000° F.) causing melting and vaporization of metals. An arcing fault is an extremely rapid chain of events releasing tremendous energy in a fraction of a second, and is known for quick propagation. Once the arcing begins, heat is generated and ionized gases are produced that provide a medium by which the arcing fault can propagate. An arc may travel along one stab wire and jump to other stab wires, melting and/or vaporizing the stab wires. As a result, more ionized gas and arcing may be created, engulfing all three phases and possibly reaching the power buses. A phase-to-ground or phase-to-phase arcing fault can quickly escalate into a three-phase arcing fault due to the extensive cloud of conductive metal vapor which can surround the power leads and terminals. If not contained, the arc may propagate throughout the entire MCC, especially if the arc reaches the power buses. Arcing faults can cause damage to equipment and facilities, and drive up costs due to lost production.
It has been well documented that incident energy of an arcing fault is directly proportional to the time the fault persists. As the arcing fault flows for 6, 12, or 30 cycles or more, for example, the incident energy and force of the arc fault increases dramatically. Thus, circuit breakers, for example, on the line side operating with typical time delays (e.g., greater than 6 cycles) may be problematic with arcing faults. In general, it is desirable that the arcing fault be extinguished in a short time, such as within 6 cycles, and in certain applications, in less than 2 cycles. Testing has shown that if the arc (e.g., for 65,000 amps available current at 480 volts) does not extinguish quickly (e.g., in less than 0.1 seconds or six cycles), it can cause extensive damage. Moreover, although the amount of energy released in an arc flash may be greater for higher voltage installations, such as those found in petrochemical and other industrial plants, the sheer volume of lower voltage equipment in commercial and industrial facilities means that such installations account for a great number of arc flash incidents. Thus, there has been interest in arc flash protection for medium and low voltage MCCs, in addition to interest for protection of high voltage systems. Finally, as known by those skilled in the art, there are several industry and regulatory standards around the world that govern arc flash prevention.
Arc characteristics and incident energy levels have many variables, such as system voltage, arc current, arc duration, arc electrode spacing, and so forth. In recent years, significant progress has been made in understanding arcing faults. For example, analytical tools have been developed to better assess arcing faults. As a result, it has been found that current-limiting devices, low impedance circuit components such as low impedance transformers, reduce the occurrence of arcing faults and/or the arc energy. However, such advances have proved deficient in mitigating arcing fault incidents.
There is a need, therefore, for improved stab housing and enclosure designs that reduce the potential of arcing faults going phase-to-phase and reaching the power buses. Similarly, there is a need for a technique that efficiently and quickly extinguishes arcing faults to reduce damage to the MCC and other power management systems.

Arc extinguishing stab housing and method


Method and apparatus for decoding a convolutionally encoded sequence of bits encoded by an encoder with given generator polynomial. The encoded sequence of bits is decoded by a decoder which comprises an inverted given generator polynomial. The decoder is particularly designed for encoders having a code rate 1, including encoders utilized in EDGE/EGPRS communications systems. The decoder is less complex than Viterbi decoders, and is faster and requires less memory than Viterbi decoders.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of convolutional coding; and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for decoding convolutionally encoded data.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Convolutional codes are used to correct bit errors that occur when digital bits are communicated between a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter and receiver may be physically connected, or they may interact wirelessly; for example, in a wireless digital communications system.
A typical convolutional encoder introduces dependency and adds redundancy to the encoded sequence. The amount of redundancy introduced by the encoder is measured as n/k, where k is the length of the sequence input to the encoder and n is the length of the sequence output from the encoder in a given encoder cycle. The code rate C is defined as c=k/n, and is usually in the range of 0 less than cxe2x89xa61.
FIG. 1 illustrates a convolutional encoder 10 with a code rate c=xc2xd provided in a transmitter 11. More specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates a G7G4-encoder used in a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) system with generator polynomial (1+D+D2+D3+D61+D2+D3+D5+D6). As shown in FIG. 1, and as known to those skilled in the art; the encoder 10 is typically implemented as a shift register together with associated combinatorial logic. The shift register is composed of a chain of six delay elements (i.e., flip-flops) 12; and the combinatorial logic is composed of a plurality of suitably positioned modulo-2 adders 14, typically implemented as exclusive-or gates. The number of delay elements in the encoder that feed the combinatorial logic that produces the output sequence is defined as the xe2x80x9cconstraint lengthxe2x80x9d of the code. A sequence input to the encoder at input 16 is encoded by the encoder to produce encoded output sequences at 18.
In order to add some extra redundancy, so-called xe2x80x9cterminating codesxe2x80x9d are often used. These start and end in predefined states, often the all zero state. This is accomplished by starting the encoding in the all zero state and adding zeros at the end of the sequence that is input to the encoder, as many as the size of the constraint length of the code.
EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution) is an interface mode which has recently been developed for GSM, as well as for CPRS (General Packet Radio Service) systems. GPRS is a packet switched system that uses the same physical carrier structure as the GSM cellular communications system. EDGE""s principal features include new modulation and coding schemes which increase data capacity and speed in the air interface. The packet switched data mode with EDGE modulation is called EGPRS (Enhanced GPRS).
In EDGE/EGPRS systems, convolutional codes having different code rates are used as compared to those used in GSM. Among these is a code with a code rate c=1. FIG. 2 illustrates a convolutional encoder 20 in a transmitter 21 that is used in EDGE/EGPRS systems. More particularly, FIG. 2 illustrates a G4-encoder with generator polynomial (1+D2+D3+D5+D6), code rate c=1. As shown, the encoder 20 is implemented as a shift register with six delay elements 22, and combinatorial logic comprised of a plurality of modulo-two adders 24. A sequence input to the encoder at 26 is encoded by the encoder to produce an encoded output sequence at 28.
At the receiver, a convolutional decoder attempts to reconstruct the original sequence that was input to the convolutional encoder at the transmitter (e.g., the sequence input at 26 in FIG. 2) by utilizing knowledge of the code used by the encoder at the transmitter, and the redundancy in the sequence received by the receiver. To every bit in the received, estimated sequence, there are so-called soft values attached. These soft values are calculated earlier in the receiver, for example, in the equalizer; and are used during the decoding to provide a measure of how good the estimation of the bit is.
Using a code with a code rate c=1 reduces the possibilities to correct bit errors, because there is no redundancy in the received bit sequence except for the starting and ending state.
The common way to decode a convolutionally encoded sequence is to use a Viterbi decoder (see R. Johannesson and K. S. Zigangirov, xe2x80x9cFundamentals of convolutional codingxe2x80x9d, IEEE Press series on Digital and Mobile Communication, IEEE Press, 1999). The Viterbi decoder investigates all possible sent sequences and compares them with the received sequence. The most probable sequence is calculated, with respect to the soft values.
The Viterbi decoder uses a large amount of memory and requires that many calculations be carried out. In order to reduce the size of the memory, a Viterbi decoder with back-search limit is often used. A Viterbi decoder with back-search limit investigates only a part of all possible sent sequences when making a bit decision.
The current procedures for decoding a convolutionally encoded sequence suffer from a variety of shortcomings. Initially, as indicated above, the Viterbi decoder uses a large amount of memory and requires that a great many calculations be carried out. This results in an increase in power consumption such that in a mobile telephone, for example, the talk and stand-by time of the telephone is decreased.
Using a Viterbi decoder with back-search limit will reduce memory requirements; however, it will not reduce the number of calculations that are required to be carried out. Furthermore, performance is negatively affected by introducing the back-search limit, especially when convolutional codes with code rate 1 are used, since the starting and ending states are not connected in the investigated trellis.
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for decoding convolutionally encoded data which enables simplification of the overall decoding process as compared with conventional decoding procedures. More particularly, a method for decoding a convolutionally encoded sequence of bits encoded by an encoder with given generator polynomial according to the present invention comprises the step of using an inverted given generator polynomial as a decoder.
According to a presently preferred embodiment, the decoding method of the present invention decodes a convolutionally encoded sequence of bits encoded by an encoder with generator polynomial (1+D2+D3+D5+D6), code rate 1, and uses a decoder with inverted generator polynomial 1/(1+D2+D3+D5+D6). Preferably, the decoder is implemented as a shift register with feedback, together with appropriate combinatorial logic.
The convolutional decoder of the present invention provides substantially the same results as a Viterbi decoder with back-search limit, except for the last n bits, if n is the back-search limit of the Viterbi decoder; inasmuch as there will be no redundancy in the encoded frame except for the start and end state. The frame error rate can be reduced, however, by checking the end state of the shift register. Specifically, when a terminating code is used, the encoder will send tailbits; and the shift register of the decoder should end up in a predefined state. If it does not, the frame has been erroneously decoded; and according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a redecoding procedure is performed until the end state of the shift register is in the predefined state or until a predefined number of decodings are carried out.
The decoding method and apparatus of the present invention provides several advantages as compared with a Viterbi decoder, including a Viterbi decoder with back-search limit. Among such advantages include a lower complexity (since only a few of all possible paths in the trelllis are calculated), and a smaller memory size and higher performance than a Viterbi decoder with back-search limit. The method according to the present invention also provides greater flexiblity than conventional decoders in that with the present invention, the performance of the decoder can be increased as desired by increasing its complexity.
According to one alternative embodiment of the invention, the required number of calculations can be reduced by splitting the frame into two halves which are separately decoded. According to another alternative embodiment, the time required for a complete decoding can be reduced by using several shift registers operating in parallel with different input sequences.
Yet further advantages and specific details of the present invention will become apparent hereinafter in conjunction with the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments.


A communication device including a registration unit that registers an IP address of the communication device and a method information including a first method information indicating a first setting method for setting a dynamic IP address and a second method information indicating a second setting method for setting a static IP address. The registration unit includes a change unit that changes registered contents of a memory in accordance with a user's instruction. When the first method information and a first IP address are registered in the memory, the change unit does not change the method information in the memory from the first method information to the second method information when a method change instruction for changing the first setting method to the second setting method is given under a state where the first IP address has not been changed to another IP address.

For example, there has been proposed a related-art printer that allows a user to select an IP address setting method. That is, the user can select any one of an automatic setting method for setting a dynamic IP address that is automatically allocated by a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server in a printer and a manual setting method for setting a static IP address that is manually designated by the user. Further, there has also been discloses a user operation manual for changing the IP address setting method of the printer from the automatic setting method to the manual setting method.


In an aspect, a track maintenance vehicle includes a body, a work head, and a controller. The work head performs track maintenance and is coupled to the body. The controller is configured to operate the vehicle in an autonomous mode. In another aspect, an anchor adjustor includes first and second jaws and an actuator. The jaws pivot about a single axis. The actuator causes the jaws to rotate about the axis. In another aspect, an anchor adjustor assembly includes a first pair of jaws, a second pair of jaws and an actuator. The first and second pairs of jaws open and close about a rail in a track. The actuator causes the closed first pair of jaws to translate towards the closed second pair of jaws along a longitudinal direction of the rail.

The present application relates generally to railway maintenance and includes methods and apparatus for improving track maintenance operations.
Generally, a railroad includes at least one pair of elongated, substantially parallel rails coupled to a plurality of laterally extending ties, which are disposed on a ballast bed. The rails are coupled to the ties by tie plates and spikes and/or spring clip fasteners, which is an example of a class of fasteners that may be referred to as anchors. The ballast is generally hard particulate material such as, but not limited to, gravel. The ballast filled space between ties is referred to as a crib. Ties may be crooked or skewed and not extend generally laterally, i.e. perpendicular to, the rails.
During installation and maintenance, various operations may be performed at tie locations. For example, ballast may need to be tamped, or compressed, to ensure that the ties, and therefore the rails do not shift and are positioned correctly; anchors may need to be tightened; or ties may need to be replaced.
Track maintenance activities generally require multiple operators riding on the track maintenance equipment or controlling it from alongside the railroad. It would be desirable to reduce the number of operators needed to perform track maintenance operations.
Track maintenance equipment typically moves from tie to tie to perform operations. These machines accelerate (under their own power) to the ties requiring work. As they approach the tie, they slow down to a stop, perform the required work and move on to the next tie to repeat the cycle. This results in slow progress of work, increased energy usage, and increased wear on parts of the equipment from repeated acceleration and deceleration. It would be desirable to reduce the acceleration and deceleration, and associated inefficiency, involved in the track maintenance operations.


A method and a system in a data processing system for differentially smoothing raw isolines containing linear segments within a triangular mesh which represents a single-valued surface. The triangulation mesh comprises a plurality of triangles. A first centroid is located for a first triangle within the triangular mesh and a second centroid is located for a second adjacent triangle within the triangular mesh which shows a common side with the first triangle. Each centroid includes three medians beginning at the centroid and terminating at one of three vertices of a triangle associated with the centroid. The common side between the two triangles has a first end point and a second end point, and an isoline which traverses the first and the second triangle traverses at least one of the three medians in each triangle. A first point is determined at an intersection of the isoline and a median within the first triangle. A second point is determined at an intersection of the isoline with a median within the second triangle. A third point is determined at an intersection of the isoline with the common side. The isoline is replaced within the triangle formed by the first point, the second point, and the third point with a selected curve, such as a pair of parabolic lines.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a method and system for manipulating raw isolines associated with a triangular mesh representing a surface and in particular to a method and system for smoothing isolines associated with a triangular mesh to provide an isoline map. In the most representative application of the present invention, the surfaces are topographical and the isolines are called contours.
2. Description of the Related Art
Topographic surfaces are the visible sections of the Earth modelled from the reality by people, such as civil engineers, surveyors, cartographers, and Earth scientists. Today, these surfaces are modelled on computers, manipulated with algorithms and graphics systems, and analyzed in many different ways. In many computer applications, a topographic surface is usually represented by a uniform grid--much like a fishnet spread over the land or as a "triangulation" or "triangular mesh", which is a set of triangular facets covering a surface without overlapping each other (except for the case in which one area is made to overhang another).
An example of a triangulation or a triangular mesh is found in FIG. 1, which depicts a small section of such a triangulation or triangular mesh representing a topographic surface. Depending on the application, triangulations may have any number of elements, which may range, for example, from a few dozen to several millions.
Contouring is probably the most frequent of the many operations that may be performed on a triangulation. When applied to a topographic surface, the result of a contouring operation is a contour map. "Contours" are lines of constant height. Examples of contours may be seen in FIG. 2, which is an illustration of the triangulation or triangular mesh depicted in FIG. 1 with raw contours added. A more general term for contours is "isolines", which is a concept that has found acceptance in almost any scientific and technical discipline. In this disclosure, "isolines" or simply "lines" are indistinctly utilized. Maps of isolines are the preferred illustration in the analysis of geologic, climatic, magnetic, gravitational, etc., phenomena. In this more general context, isolines are lines of constant field value.
Referring again to FIG. 2, there is an example of the simplest form of an isoline map. The isolines are "raw" isolines, having highly angular successions of more or less short segments that change direction at the triangle edges. The greatest value of raw isolines, in this case raw contours, for surveyors and civil engineers, and other users concerned with representation accuracy, is the fidelity with which they honor or conform with the source data from which the contours are derived. In addition, raw isolines are an attractive proposition to both programmers and system managers because of the simplicity of the algorithms involved. Programs for raw isolines are easy to write and maps may be completed in a relatively short time.
Although isolines are frequently used to represent types of surface other than topographical, they are almost exclusively utilized for uniform functions of two variables, also called single-value functions and scalar and potential fields. A uniform function is one which yields a single value f for each coordinate pair x, y. For topographic surfaces, f represents the height of the surface. In this description, these surfaces are called "single valued surfaces."
Notwithstanding the simplicity and time efficiency involved with raw isolines, many users tend to reject maps containing only raw isolines, preferring isoline maps with a more natural look, maps in which the broken lines have been smoothed into curves resembling the product of traditional cartographers.
The objection to raw isolines is not grounded on esthetics only. Raw isolines, especially when densely packed, clearly show the underlying triangular structure from which they were derived. As a result, it is difficult for the user to ignore that structure when trying to understand the surface shape from raw isolines. On the other hand, smooth isolines help the user by effectively concealing the triangular structure underneath.
In an attempt to provide the smooth isolines desired by many users, two fundamentally different approaches have been utilized. The first approach, line interpolation, totally ignores the triangles in the triangulation or triangular mesh. The source data for this first approach are the raw isolines within the triangular mesh, or in a broader sense, any other type of broken lines. The lines are transformed into curves, one piece at a time, that blend smoothly into each other. The conversion of the raw isolines involves inserting extra points between the vertices of the raw isolines, computed by means of equations of different types. The sequence of extra points define the smoothed isoline.
In the second method, patch contouring, the raw isolines are ignored. This approach consists of fitting patches of curved surfaces over each triangle in a triangulation or triangular mesh. The patches on adjacent triangles are forced to blend more or less continuously into each other. The contouring proceeds on the patches rather than on the original triangles. Because the patches are curved, the resulting isolines are also curved.
Several problems exist with utilizing a line interpolation approach. First, the smoothed isolines generally do not accurately correspond to the original data points because the triangulated surface is not considered during the operation. The smoothed isolines may only correspond to the vertices of the raw isolines under a line interpolation approach.
Next, in the smoothing of one isoline, the other isolines are ignored under the line interpolation approach. This method may lead to the isoline being smoothed intersecting its neighbors. Such intersections are generally unacceptable, since two different function values (two heights in topographic maps) at the point of intersection would occur.
In attempting to avoid the crossing of isolines, designers have often resorted to equations of degrees higher than quadratic. The penalty associated with this solution is usually an introduction of "fantasies" in the smoothed lines. "Fantasies" are undulations in the lines unwarranted by the source data. The higher the degree, the higher the potential for fantastic curves, which are curves containing fantasies. FIG. 3A depicts a section of the area shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 with the isolines smoothed with a fifth degree line interpolation program. In addition to the undesirable effect of introducing fantasies, raising the degree in the curves above the quadratic also greatly increases program complexity, execution time, and computer storage requirements.
Another inadequacy is the fact that in addition to isolines, other means of rendering surfaces exist, such as, for example, profiles or fishnets in perspective views of different geometries, and maps colored in continuous tones. Presently, no available commercial packages exist to smooth the surfaces, either for perspective views or for continuous tone maps, in a way consistent with the results of the line interpolation approach.
The patch contouring approach, like the line interpolation approach, also presents problems in smoothing isolines. The mathematics of rigorously fitting patches to any triangulation, without adopting unnatural shapes, is anything but elementary, and the design of algorithms is then anything but simple. Compared to what the raw isoline approach needs, the number of operations per triangle and isoline are enormous. Processing times are larger in the same ratio, and for dense isoline maps, processing times may be exorbitant. Data processing systems processing dozens of isoline maps per day are not uncommon. In such data processing systems, a complex smoothing procedure may not be acceptable. Any attempt to significantly reduce processing time requires large amounts of storage space. For example, the simplest patch fitting method requires a minimum storage of 12 extra coefficients per vertex, plus three coefficients per triangle, all of which quadruples the basic data storage requirements for raw contouring.
Furthermore, compared to the operation on flat triangles, the contouring of curved patches is a very complex task. In contouring awkward triangle configurations, frequently found in topographic applications, the patches may be forced to adopt convoluted shapes. The patches are the result of very complex expressions and may have more than a single local maximum or minimum. Then, if used directly and not as an intermediate data structure-as is explained next-, the patches will have to be exhaustively scanned in order to "thread" through them all possible isolines. In fact, this direct procedure is seldom, if ever, implemented in commercial packages. Instead, the patches are utilized to define an orthogonal grid of z-values at regular intervals on the x,y plane. This grid is then contoured, usually with programs specific for grids. The price, in terms of processing resources, demanded by this kind of contouring is proportional to the square of the number of grid elements, which must be added to the cost of the lengthy patch determination. All things considered, smooth patches and their contouring is a very costly exercise.
Furthermore, contouring by means of an intermediate grid may result on misrepresentations of the surface. Contrary to what happens in directly contouring a triangulation, the contouring of these grids does not necessarily ensure that all the features in the smoothed surfaces are shown in the resulting map: features smaller than the grid interval may be ignored. A consequence of this shortcoming is that the original data points, unless they coincide with grid intersections, may not be exactly honored by the grid isolines. Not surprisingly, very few commercial products for the Earth Sciences offers this kind of smoothing capability.
In the case of topographic mapping, the obstacles to the smoothing of isolines mentioned above are compounded by an additional requirement. Today's users prefer to establish some distinctions among the edges of the triangulation, which later, at contouring time, should translate as variable degrees of smoothing along different segments of the same contour. For example, a contour should not be smoothed at or near a retention wall. A contour crossing a glacial valley (with rounded shaped floor) should be smoothed to a higher degree than the contour crossing a mountain river valley (with a v-shaped floor). Similar considerations can be made in connection with geologic mapping and the existence of surface or subsurface discontinuities, such as faults.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method and a system for accurately smoothing raw isolines within a triangular mesh without the shortcomings of the two approaches described above.

Method and system for the smooth contouring of triangulated surfaces

International Business Machines Corporation


Plastic lenses for spectacles having a high refractive index and a high Abbe""s number, and having good transparency, heat resistance, mechanical strength and impact resistance are produced. Plastic lenses for spectacles are produced through polymerization of an epithio group-having compound (a), a polythiol compound (b) and a polyisocyanate compound (c) whereby the ratio (by mol) of the polythiol compound (b) to the polyisocyanate compound (c) is at least 1.2 calculated on the basis of xe2x80x94SH and xe2x80x94NCO groups. The invention also provides a process for preparing such lenses and a catalyst for use in said process.

The present invention relates to plastic lenses for spectacles, in particular to those having a high refractive index and a high Abbe""s number and having good transparency, heat resistance, mechanical strength and impact resistance.
Plastics are being much used these days for optical products such as lenses, as being lightweight, hardly broken and easily colored when compared with glass. It is known to use, as the monomer material, an epithio group-having compound in producing plastic lenses. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 180977/1999 discloses a plastic lens having optical properties, a refractive index of 1.70 or so and an Abbe""s number of from 35 to 37 or so, which, however, still leaves room for improving its heat resistance and mechanical strength.
Japanese. Patent Laid-Open Nos. 292950/1999 and 352302/1999 disclose a resin composition prepared by reacting an epithio group-having compound, an isocyanate group-having compound and a thiol group-having compound in a ratio of thiol group/isocyanate group of at most 1, and its use for plastic lenses. They say that the resin composition has improved heat resistance, mechanical strength and impact resistance. However, the plastic lenses of the resin composition are often cloudy and could not be well cured, and are therefore unsuitable to practical use for spectacles.
The present invention has been made so as to solve the problems as above, and to provide plastic lenses for spectacles having a high refractive index and a high Abbe""s number and having good transparency, heat resistance, mechanical strength and impact resistance.
The present Inventors have found that (1) a plastic lens produced through polymerization of an epithio group-having compound (a), a mercapto (xe2x80x94SH) group-having polythiol compound (b) and an isocyanate (xe2x80x94NCO) group-having, sulfur-free polyisocyanate compound (c0) in a ratio (by mol), xe2x80x94SH/xe2x80x94NCO, of at least 2.0; (2) a plastic lens produced through polymerization of an epithio group-having compound (a), a mercapto group-having polythiol compound (b) and an isocyanate group-having, sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound (cs) in a ratio (by mol), xe2x80x94SH/xe2x80x94NCO, of at least 1.2 can attain the desired balance of properties.
Specifically, the first aspect of the invention is to provide a plastic lens for spectacles, which is produced through polymerization of an epithio group-having compound, a polythiol compound and a sulfur-free polyisocyanate compound in a ratio (by mol) of the polythiol compound to the sulfur-free polyisocyanate compound, xe2x80x94SH/xe2x80x94NCO, of at least 2.0.
The second aspect of the Invention is to provide a plastic lens for spectacles, which is produced through polymerization of an epithio group-having compound, a polythiol compound and a sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound in a ratio, (by mol) of the polythiol compound to the sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound, xe2x80x94SH/xe2x80x94NCO, of at least 1.2.
The polyisocyanate compound (c) may be a mixture of a sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound (cs) and a sulfur-free polyisocyanate compound (c0). The plastic lens material may be produced through polymerization of at least one polyisocyanate compound selected from di(isocyanatomethyl)bicycloheptane, bis(isocyanatomethyl)-1,4-dithian and dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, and an, epithio group-having compound and a polythiol compound. The plastic lens material may also be produced through polymerization of a polyisocyanate compound prepared by mixing bis(isocyanatomethyl)-1,4-dithian with di(isocyanatomethyl)bicycloheptane and/or dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, and an epithio group-having compound and a polythiol compound.
In its first aspect, the plastic lens for spectacles of the invention is produced through polymerization of an epithio group-having compound, a polythiol compound and a sulfur-free polyisocyanate compound in a ratio (by mol) of the polythiol compound to the sulfur-free polyisocyanate compound, xe2x80x94SH/xe2x80x94NCO, of at least 2,0. If the ratio xe2x80x94SH/xe2x80x94NCO is smaller than 2.0, the effect of the first aspect of the invention cannot be obtained.
In its second aspect, the plastic lens for spectacles of the invention is produced through polymerization of an epithio group-having compound, a polythiol compound and a sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound in a ratio (by mol) of the polythiol compound to the sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound, xe2x80x94SH/xe2x80x94NCO, of at least 1.2. If the ratio xe2x80x94SH/xe2x80x94NCO is smaller than 1.2, the effect of the invention cannot be obtained. Polyisothiocyanate group-having compounds are outside the scope of the sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound, as not producing then advantages of the invention.
With the increase in the proportion of thiourethane bonds therein, lenses for spectacles could have an increased tensile strength characteristic of polythiourethanes, but their refractive index could not increase. For further increasing the refractive index of the lenses while producing lenses having an increased tensile strength and an increased Abbe""s number, heretofore proposed is adding an epithio group-having compound to the lenses. However, in the system for lenses that comprises an epithio group-having compound, a polythiol compound and a sulfur-free polyisocyanate compound, if the polyisocyanate is excessive over the polythiol, as in the Examples in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 180977/1999 and 292950/1999, the lenses formed are cloudy.
On the other hand, lenses formed from a sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound, an epithio group-having compound and a polythiol compounds are not cloudy even when the proportion of the sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound therein is increased. Since the sulfur content and the thiourethane bond content thereof are high, the lenses have an increased refractive index and their mechanical strength and Abbe""s number are not lowered.
Some sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compounds such as bis(isocyanatomethyl)-1,4-dithian are solid at room temperature. Such a solid, sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound may be dissolved in a sulfur-free polyisocyanate compound that is liquid at room temperature. As being liquid at room temperature, the resulting mixture is easy to handle when it is used in producing lenses. In mixing the two, the ratio of the sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound to the sulfur-free polyisocyanate compound may be so controlled that the liquid, sulfur-free polyisocyanate compound can dissolve the solid, sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound to give a mixture that is liquid at room temperature. In practice, the ratio of the sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound and the sulfur-free polyisocyanate compound may be such that the amount of the sulfur-free polyisocyanate compound is enough for dissolving therein the sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound which is solid at room temperature. The ratio of the two can be readily determined to produce lenses having the desired balance of properties. For example, from 5 to 30 parts by weight of a sulfur-free polyisocyanate may be added to 10 parts by weight of a sulfur-containing polyisocyanate.
A sulfur-free polyisocyanate compound that can be used in the first and second aspects of the invention is di(isocyanatomethyl)bicycloheptane and/or dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate. A sulfur-containing polyisocyanate compound that can be used is bis(isocyanatomethyl)-1,4-dithian.
The lens for spectacles may be produced through polymerization of at least one polyisocyanate compound selected from di(isocyanatomethyl)bicycloheptane, bis(isocyanatomethyl)-1,4-dithian and dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, and an epithio group-having compound and a polythiol compound. The lens for spectacles may also be produced through polymerization of a polyisocyanate compound prepared by mixing bis(isocyanatomethyl)-1,4-dithian with di(isocyanatomethyl)bicycloheptane and/or dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, and an epithio group-having compound and a polythiol compound.
Bis(isocyanatomethyl)-1,4-dithian is solid at room temperature. When it is mixed with di(isocyanatomethyl)bicycloheptane and/or dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, and dissolved therein, the resulting mixture is liquid at room temperature, and is easy to handle.
The ratio (by mol) of the polythiol compound to the polyisocyanate compound, xe2x80x94SH/xe2x80x94NCO, is preferably at least 2.0, more preferably at least 2.5.
The polythiol compound for use in the invention includes, for example, aliphatic thiols such as methanedithiol, 1,2-ethanedithiol, 1,1-propanedithiol, 1,2-propanedithiol, 1,3-propanedithiol, 2,2-propanedithiol, 1,6-hexanedithiol, 1,2,3-propanetrithiol, tetrakis(mercaptomethyl)methane, 1,1-cyclohexanedithiol, 1,2-cyclohexanedithiol, 2,2dimethylpropane-1,3-dithiol, 3,4-dimethoxybutane-1,2-dithiol, 2-methylcyclohexane-2,3-dithiol, 1,1-bis(mercaptomethyl)cyclohexane, bis(2-mercaptoethyl)thiomalate, (2-mercaptoethyl) 2,3-dimercaptosuccinate, 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol (2-mercaptoacetate), 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol (3-mercaptoacetate), diethylene glycol bis(2-mercaptoacetate), diethylene glycol bis(3-mercaptopropionate), 1,2-dimercaptopropyl methyl ether, 2,3-dimercaptopropyl methyl ether, 2,2-bis(mercaptomethyl)-1,3-propanedithiol, bis(2-mercaptoethyl) ether, ethylene glycol bis(2-mercaptoacetate), ethylene glycol bis(3-mercaptopropionate), trimethylolpropane tris(2-mercaptoacetate), trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate), pentaerythritol tetrakis(2-mercaptoacetate), pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate), 1,2-bis(2-mercaptoethylthio)-3-mercaptopropane; aliphatic thiols having sulfur atom(s) in addition to mercapto groups, such as bis(mercaptomethyl) sulfide, bis(mercaptoethyl) sulfide, bis(mercaptopropyl) sulfide, bis(mercaptomethylthio)methane, bis(2-mercaptoethylthio)methane, bis(3-mercaptopropyl)methane, 1,2-bis(mercaptomethylthio)ethane, 1,2-(2-mercaptoethylthio)ethane, 1,2-(3-mercaptopropyl)ethane, 1,3-bis(mercaptomethylthio)propane, 1,3-bis(2-mercaptoethylthio)propane, 1,3-bis(3-mercaptopropylthio)propane, 1,2-bis(2-mercaptoethylthio)-3-mercaptopropane, 2-mercaptoethylthio-1,3-propanedithiol, 1,2,3-tris(mercaptomethylthio)propane, 1,2,3-tris(2-mercaptoethylthio)propane, 1,2,3-tris(3-mercaptopropylthio)propane, tetrakis(mercaptomethylthiomethyl)methane, tetrakis(2-mercaptoethylthiomethyl)methane, tetrakis(3-mercaptopropylthiomethyl)methane, bis(2,3-dimercaptopropyl) sulfide, 2,5-dimercapto-1,4-dithian, bis(mercaptomethyl) disulfide, bis(mercaptoethyl) disulfide, bis(mercaptopropyl) disulfide, and their thioglycolates and mercaptopropionates,hydroxymethylsulfide bis(2-mercaptoacetate), hydroxymethy bis(3-mercaptopropionate), hydroxyethylsulfide bis(2-mercaptoacetate), hydroxyethylsulfide bis(3-mercaptopropionate), hydroxypropylsulfide bis(2-mercaptoacetate), hydroxypropylsulfide bis(3-mercaptopropionate), hydroxymethyldisulfide bis(2-mercaptoacetate), hydroxymethyldisulfide bis(3-mercaptopropionate), hydroxyethyldisulfide bis(2-mercaptoacetate), hydroxyethyldisulfide bis(3-mercaptopropionate), hydroxypropyldisulfide bis(2-mercaptoacetate), hydroxypropyldisulfide bis(3-mercaptopropionate), 2-mercaptoethyl-ether bis(2-mercaptoacetate), 2-mercaptoethyl-ether bis(3-mercaptopropionate), 1,4-dithian-2,5-diol bis(2-mercaptoacetate), 1,4-dithian-2,5-diol bis(3-mercaptopropionate), bis(2-mercaptoethyl)thioglycolate, bis(2-mercaptoethyl)thiodipropionate, bis(2-mercaptoethyl) 4,4xe2x80x2-thiodibutyrate, bis(2-mercaptoethyl) dithiodiglycolate, bis(2-mercaptoethyl) dithiodipropionate, bis(2-mercaptoethyl) 4,4xe2x80x2-dithiodibutyrate, bis(2,3-dimercaptopropyl)thioglycolate, bis(2,3-dimercaptopropyl)thiodipropionate, bis(2,3-dimercaptopropyl)dithiodiglycolate, (2,3-dimercaptopropyl)dithiodipropionate, 4-mercaptomethyl-3,6-dithiaoctane-1,8-dithiol, bis(mercaptomethyl)-3,6,9-trithia-1,11-undecanedithiol, bis(1,3-dimercapto-2-propyl)sulfide; and heterocyclic compounds having sulfur atom(s) in addition to mercapto groups, such as 3,4-thiophenedithiol, tetrahydrothiophene-2,5-dimercaptomethyl, 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 2,5-dimercapto-1,4-dithian, 2,5-dimercaptomethyl-1,4-dithian.
The polythiol compound for use in the invention is preferably bismercaptomethyl-1,4-dithian and/or (4-mercaptomethyl-2,5-dithianyl)methyl disulfide.
The epithio group-having compound for use in the invention is an episulfide monomer, including, for example, alicyclic skeleton-having episulfide compounds such as 1,3- and 1,4-bis(xcex2-epithiopropylthio)cyclohexanes, 1,3- and 1,4-bis(xcex2-epithiopropylthiomethyl)cyclohexanes, bis[4-(xcex2-epithiopropylthio)cyclohexyl]methane, 2,2-bis[4-(xcex2-epithiopropylthio)cyclohexyl]propane, bis[4-(xcex2-epithiopropylthio)cyclohexyl]sulfide; aromatic skeleton-having episulfide compounds such as 1,3- and 1,4-bis(xcex2-epithiopropylthio)benzenes, 1,3- and 1,4-bis(xcex2-epithiopropylthiomethyl)benzenes, bis[4-(xcex2-epithiopropylthio)phenyl]methane, 2,2-bis[4-(xcex2-epithiopropylthio)phenyl]propane, bis[4-(xcex2-epithiopropylthio)phenyl]sulfide, bis[4-(xcex2-epithiopropylthio)phenyl]sulfide, 4,4-bis(xcex2-epithiopropylthio)biphenyl; dithian skeleton-having episulfide compounds such as 2,5-bis(xcex2-epithiopropylthiomethyl)1,4-dithian, 2,5-bis(xcex2-epithiopropylthioethylthiomethyl)-1,4-dithian, 2,5-bis(xcex2-epithiopropylthioethyl)-1,4-dithian, 2,3,5-tri(xcex2-epithiopropylthioethyl)-1,4-dithian; and aliphatic skeleton-having episulfide compounds such as 2-(2-xcex2-epithiopropylthioethylthio)-1,3-bis(xcex2-epithiopropylthio)propane, 1,2-bis[(2-xcex2-epithiopropylthioethyl)thio]-3-(xcex2-epithiopropylthio)propane, tetrakis(xcex2-epithiopropylthiomethyl)methane, 1,1,1-tris(xcex2-epithiopropylthiomethyl)propane, bis(xcex2-epithiopropyl)sulfide.
Many epithio group-having compounds are known, and their examples are described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 071580/1997, 110979/1997, 255781/1997, 081320/1991, 140070/1999, 183702/1999, 189592/1999, 180977/1999, and Japanese Patent Re-Laid-Open No. 810575/1989. Episulfide monomers disclosed in these publications are all usable in the invention.
Of the epithio group-having compounds mentioned hereinabove, bis(xcex2-epithiopropyl)sulfide is preferred for use in the invention.
Plastic lenses for spectacles of the invention preferably contain from 60 to 85% by weight of the epithio group-having compound and from 15 to 40% by weight of the polythiol compound and the balance polyisocyanate compound. Plastic lenses are produced that have a refractive index of 1.70 or so and an Abbe""s number of 36 or so and their mechanical strength is enough for practical use of the lenses in rimless spectacles.
Especially preferred combinations of the polyisocyanate compound, the polythiol compound and the epithio group-having compound for use in the invention are mentioned below.
A. Di(isocyanatomethyl)bicycloheptane (polyisocyanate compound), bis(mercaptomethyl)-1,4-dithian (polythiol compound), and bis(xcex2-epithiopropyl)sulfide (epithio group-having compound).
B. Di(isocyanatomethyl)bicycloheptane (polyisocyanate compound), (4-mercaptomethyl-2,5-dithianyl)methyl disulfide, bis(mercaptomethyl)-1,4-dithian (polythiol compounds), and bis(xcex2-epithiopropyl)sulfide (epithio group-having compound).
C. Bis(isocyanatomethyl)-1,4-dithian (polyisocyanate compound), bis(mercaptomethyl)-1,4-dithian (polythiol compound), and bis(xcex2-epithiopropyl)sulfide (epithio group-having compound).
D. Dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (polyisocyanate compound), (4-mercaptomethyl-2,5-dithianyl)methyl disulfide, bis(mercaptomethyl)-1,4-dithian (polythiol compounds), and bis(xcex2-epithiopropyl)sulfide (epithio group-having compound).
E. Bis(isocyanatomethyl)-1,4-dithian and di(isocyanatomethyl)bicycloheptane (polyisocyanate compounds), bis(mercaptomethyl)-1,4-dithian (polythiol compound), and bis(xcex2-epithiopropyl)sulfide (epithio group-having compound).
F. Bis(isocyanatomethyl)-1,4-dithian and dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (polyisocyanate compounds), bis(mercaptomethyl)-1,4-dithian (polythiol compound), and bis(xcex2-epithiopropyl)sulfide (epithio group-having compound).
The polymerization reaction according to the present invention may be performed in the presence of a catalyst. Any suitable catalyst may be employed. Specific examples of a suitable catalyst include amines such as aliphatic and aromatic tertiary amines, Lewis acids and dialkyl tin salts such as dibutyltin dichloride and dibutyltin dilaurate.
Preferably, a catalyst of the following general formula (1) is added to the plastic lenses for spectacles of the invention while they are produced through polymerization. The catalyst facilitates the production of lenses with neither optical strain nor striae from the polymerizing compounds, epithio group-having compound, polythiol compound and polyisocyanate compound.
wherein R indicates an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The catalyst of formula (1) is preferably at least one selected from tetramethyldiacetoxy-distannoxane, tetraethyidiacetoxy-distannoxane, tetrapropyldiacetoxy-distannoxane and tetrabutyldiacetoxy-distannoxane.
In case where the plastic lenses of the invention are, after produced through polymerization in a mold, difficult to release from the mold, any known external and/or internal lubricant may be used for them or may be added to them to thereby improve the releasability of the lenses. If desired, an UV absorbent may be added to the lenses while they are produced. This is for protecting the resin of the lenses from UV rays and also for protecting the eye from them, and its amount to be added to each lens may fall generally between 0.03% and 3% or so, though depending on its UV absorbability and on the maximum wavelength of the UV rays to be absorbed by it. As the case may be, the lenses produced may be dipped in an UV absorbent. The plastic lenses of the invention are easy to color with a colorant.
For improving their scratch resistance, the plastic lenses of the invention may be coated with a hard film, for which is usable a coating liquid that contains an organosilicon compound or acrylic compound and inorganic fine particles of, for example, tin oxide, silicon oxide, zirconium oxide or titanium oxide. For improving their impact resistance, the plastic lenses may be coated with a primer layer that consists essentially of polyurethane.
For preventing them from glaring, the hard film of the plastic lenses may be further coated with an anti-glare film that contains an inorganic substance of, for example, silicon oxide, titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide or tantalum oxide. For improving their water repellency, the anti-glare film of the plastic lenses may be coated with a water-repellent film of an organic fluorosilicon compound.
The plastic lenses for spectacles of the invention mentioned hereinabove have a refractive index of from 1.65 to 1.76, and their mechanical strength is higher than that of conventional plastic lenses. In addition, they are highly transparent, and have good heat resistance and impact resistance.


Methods and compositions are disclosed utilizing the optically pure S(-) isomer of amlodipine. This compound is a potent drug for the treatment of hypertension while avoiding the concomitant liability of adverse effects associated with the administration of the racemic mixture of amlodipine. The S(-) isomer of amlodipine is also useful for the treatment of angina and such other conditions as may be related to the activity of S(-) amlodipine as a calcium channel antagonist without the concomitant liability of adverse effects associated with the racemic mixture of amlodipine.

Pharmacological therapy utilizing pure formulations of S(-) amlodipine results in effective theraputic results while avoiding toxicities and adverse effects of racemic amlodipine. The methods and compositions described include the enriched deuterated forms of amlodipine as well as the nonenriched form. Amlodipine and deuteroamlodipine have a chiral center at C4 in the dihydropyridine ring, and thus can exist as optical isomers. The isomers may be separated by various methods, for example selective crystallization and column chromatography. See for example T. Shibanuma, et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 28, 2809-2812 (1980). Alternatively, S(-) amlodipine may be prepared using optically active reactants, or by a combination of separation and chiral synthesis. Optical isomers of compounds are specified (+) or (-), indicating the direction the chiral center rotates a plane of polarized light.
Optically active amlodipine, amlodipine derivatives and salts and deuterated amlodipine or deuterated amlodipine derivatives and salts are designated herein using the IUPAC R-S convention, sometimes called the "sequence rule." A description of the R-S convention may be found, for example, in "Introduction to Organic Chemistry" by A. Streitwieser, Jr. and C. Heathcock, (Macmillan Pub. Co., New York, 1976), pages 110-114.
Optical purity is important since certain isomers may actually be deleterious rather than simply inert. For example, it has been suggested that the D-enantiomer of thalidomide was a safe and effective sedative when prescribed for the control of morning sickness during pregnancy, while the corresponding L-enantiomer has been thought to be a potent teratogen.
The active compound of the present invention is the S(-) isomer of the compound amlodipine and the s(-) isomer of deuterated amlodipine. Amlodipine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,909. Chemically, this compound is the S(-) isomer of amlodipine and is a long-acting calcium channel blocker.
Amlodipine is chemically described as (R.S.) 3-ethyl-5-methyl-2-(2-aminoethoxymethyl)-4-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,4-dihydro-6- methyl-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate. Its empirical formula is: C.sub.2 OH.sub.25 ClN.sub.2 O.sub.5. Also encompassed within the present invention are compositions and methods of using deuterated compounds which are related to amlodipine. In the structures given below, R represents either hydrogen or deuterium. In a preferred embodiment, R.sup.1 represents either hydrogen or deuterium wherein one or more R.sup.1 is deuterium. The symbol "*" denotes the chiral carbon. ##STR1##
The present commercial formulation of amlodipine contains the drug as the salt; amlodipine besylate. The term "amlodipine" herein refers to amlodipine and its pharmaceutically suitable salts and esters including amlodipine besylate and deuterated amlodipine and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters including deuterated amlodipine besylate. This isomer will hereinafter be referred to as S(-) amlodipine. The terms "S(-) amlodipine" and "S(-) isomer of amlodipine" as used herein includes substantially optically pure S(-) amlodipine as well as optically pure S(-) amlodipine.

Methods of pharmacological treatment using S(-) amlodipine