Anatase titanium dioxide particles with a size of at most 100 nm wherein the particles are at least partially covered with a layer of at least one metal oxide, hydroxide or hydroxide oxide and the particles exhibit a BET specific surface of at least 70 m2/g and a relative density of the order of 2.2. A process for preparing the anatase dioxide particles is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to novel anatase titanium dioxide particles exhibiting anti-UV properties which can be used in particular in cosmetic formulations.
It is known to use titanium dioxide as anti-UV agent in numerous applications, in particular in cosmetics, paint, plastics, and the like.
In these applications, the titanium dioxide is generally provided in the form of particles with a size of less than 100 nm as a dispersion in an aqueous or organic phase.
The problem resulting from the use of these dispersions of titanium dioxide particles arises from the fact that the latter are often unstable. To control their stability, it is known to add dispersing agents to them, generally organic polymers.
However, the addition of these dispersing agents is not a solution which is without its disadvantages. This is because, when the titanium dioxide dispersion is mixed with other products in order to prepare a cosmetic, paint or plastic formulation, this agent can exhibit behaviour incompatible with the application (stability, agglomeration, toxicity, and the like) or be incompatible with the other components of the formula.
In these applications, the need is thus felt to be able to have available dispersions of titanium dioxide particles which are stable without the addition of dispersing agent.
One aim of the present invention is thus to provide dispersions of titanium dioxide particles which are stable and which do not contain dispersing agent.
With this aim, the invention relates to anatase titanium dioxide particles with a size of at most 100 nm, the said particles being at least partially covered with a layer of at least one metal oxide, hydroxide or hydroxide oxide and exhibiting a BET specific surface of at least 70 m2/g and a relative density of the order of 2.2.
With this aim, the invention also relates to the process for the preparation of these particles in which at least one metal oxide, hydroxide or hydroxide oxide is precipitated at the surface of anatase titanium dioxide particles with a size of at most 100 nm exhibiting a BET specific surface of at least 200 m2/g and a relative density of the order of 2.5.
Finally, the invention also relates to the use of these particles as anti-UV agent in cosmetic, paint or varnish formulations and in plastics; and more particularly to an anti-UV cosmetic composition comprising particles according to the invention in an amount such that the content of titanium dioxide in the said composition is at least 1% and preferably at most 25% by weight.
The dispersions of particles according to the invention in addition exhibit the advantage of being stable over a wide pH range without addition of dispersing agent.
They can also exhibit high solids contents, while remaining stable and exhibiting a low viscosity, in particular of less than 1000 mPaxc2x7s.
Moreover, it is observed that these dispersions retain the same dispersion index even when they have been mixed with the components of a formulation, for example a cosmetic formulation.
Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent on reading the description and examples which will follow.
The invention first of all relates to anatase titanium dioxide particles with a size of at most 100 nm, the said particles being at least partially covered with a layer of at least one metal oxide, hydroxide or hydroxide oxide and exhibiting a BET specific surface of at least 70 m2/g and a relative density of the order of 2.2.
The particles according to the invention are based on titanium dioxide with a largely anatase crystalline structure. xe2x80x9cLargelyxe2x80x9d means that the level of anatase in the titanium dioxide particles of the coating is greater than 50% by mass. Preferably, the particles of the coating exhibit a level of anatase of greater than 80%. The degree of crystallization and the nature of the crystalline phase are measured by X-ray diffraction.
The mean diameter of these particles is at most 100 nm, preferably at least 25 nm, more preferably still between 50 and 70 nm. This diameter is measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
The particles according to the invention exhibit a BET specific surface of at least 70 m2/g, preferably of at least 100 m2/g.
BET specific surface is understood to mean the specific surface determined by nitrogen adsorption in accordance with the ASTM standard D 3663-78 drawn up from the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method described in the periodical xe2x80x9cThe Journal of the American Chemical Societyxe2x80x9d, 60, 309 (1938). In order to measure the is specific surface of the particles according to the invention, when they are provided in the form of a dispersion, it is essential to follow the measuring protocol, which consists in removing the liquid phase from the dispersion and then in drying the particles under vacuum at a temperature of 150xc2x0 C. for at least 4 hours.
The particles according to the invention also exhibit a relative density of the order of 2.2. xe2x80x9cOf the orderxe2x80x9d is understood to mean that the relative density is 2.2+/xe2x88x920.2. Such a relative density value is low with respect to the conventional relative density of anatase titanium dioxide, which is 3.8. This relative density is measured by picnometry.
The particles according to the invention are at least partially covered with an inorganic layer based on at least one metal oxide, hydroxide or hydroxide oxide. These metal oxides, hydroxides or hydroxide oxides can be chosen in particular from SiO2, ZrO2 or aluminium, zinc, titanium or tin oxides, hydroxides or hydroxide oxides, in the simple or mixed form. Mixed is understood to mean a metal compound based on at least two of the abovementioned elements (silicoaluminates, and the like).
In general, the ratio by weight of the metal oxide(s), hydroxide(s) or hydroxide oxide(s) to the titanium dioxide is at most 60% by weight. This ratio depends on the application for which the particles are intended. Preferably, when the particles are used in a cosmetic application, this ratio is at most 25%, more preferably still at most 20%.
This amount of metal oxide, hydroxide or hydroxide oxide is measured on the dispersed particles by X-ray fluorescence.
According to the preferred form of the invention, the particles are at least partially covered with a layer of silica and/or of an aluminium oxide, hydroxide or hydroxide oxide, in the simple or mixed form.
According to a preferred alternative form, the particles are covered with a layer of silica and of aluminium hydroxide or hydroxide oxide in contents by weight of 30% of SiO2 and 15% of Al2O3 with respect to the titanium dioxide.
According to an even more preferred alternative form, the particles covered with a layer of silica and of aluminium hydroxide or hydroxide oxide in contents by weight of 15% of SiO2 and 5% of Al2O3 with respect to the titanium dioxide are particularly advantageous.
According to the preferred form of the invention, the particles are provided in the form of a dispersion.
This dispersion generally exhibits a conductivity of at most 3 msiemens.
This dispersion can exhibit a proportion of suspended solid (solids content) of between 10 and 60% by weight, preferably of at least 35%, more preferably still of at least 40%.
The dispersions of particles according to the invention exhibiting a solids content of at least 35% have the advantage of being only very slightly viscous; thus, their viscosity is generally at most 1000 mPaxc2x7s.
This dispersion generally exhibits a dispersion index of the particles in the liquid phase of at most 0.5.
The dispersion index is determined by the formula:   I  =                    xe2x88x85        84            -              xe2x88x85        16                    2                    xe2x88x85        50
in which:
xc3x884 is the diameter of the particles for which 84% of the particles have a diameter of less than xc3x884,
xc3x816 is the diameter of the particles for which 16% of the particles have a diameter of less than xc3x816,
xc3x850 is the mean diameter of the particles.
The diameters of use in the determination of the dispersion index are measured by centrifugal sedimentation of the particles of the dispersion, monitored by X-rays, using a Brookhaven type XDC device.
Such an index reflects the good dispersibility of the particles. In the case of aqueous dispersions, this index is obtained over a wide pH range which can vary from 5.5 to 10. The dispersions are stable and they retain this index value over time, despite the absence of dispersing agent.
The particles according to the invention can also be agglomerated and be provided in the form of a powder. The size of the agglomerates can be between 1 and 40 xcexcm, measured by TEM.
Following an organic treatment, this powder can exhibit good redispersibility in water or in organic medium. This organic treatment can be carried out, for example, by atomization in the presence of a fatty acid, such as stearic acid, or of a metal salt of a fatty acid or alternatively by grafting a trialkoxysilane, and the like.
The invention also relates to the process for the preparation of these particles, which consists in precipitating at least one metal oxide, hydroxide or hydroxide oxide at the surface of anatase titanium dioxide particles with a size of at most 120 nm exhibiting a BET specific surface of at least 200 m2/g and a relative density of the order of 2.5.
This precipitation can be carried out by:
introducing, into a dispersion of particles of titanium dioxide exhibiting the characteristics defined hereinabove, precursors of the metal oxides, hydroxides or hydroxide oxides, generally in the form of aqueous salt solutions, then,
modifying the pH in order to obtain the precipitation of these oxides, hydroxides or hydroxide oxides on the titanium dioxide particles.
This precipitation is generally carried out at a temperature of at least 50xc2x0 C.
In the case of the precipitation of silica and of an aluminium hydroxide or hydroxide oxide, the precipitation can be carried out at acidic or basic pH. The pH is controlled by the addition of an acid, such as sulphuric acid, or by the simultaneous and/or alternating introduction of an alkaline compound of silicon and of an acidic compound of aluminium. In this case, the pH is preferably between 8 and 10.
The silica can be precipitated from a silicon salt, such as an alkaline silicate.
The aluminium hydroxide or hydroxide oxide can be precipitated from an aluminium salt, such as aluminium sulphate, sodium aluminate, basic aluminium chloride or aluminium diacetate hydroxide.
It is possible, after the precipitation, to recover and wash the particles obtained following the treatment, before redispersing them. This stage can be carried out by centrifuging and washing or, preferably, by washing by ultrafiltration. The pH of the aqueous wash liquor is advantageously of the order of 5.5. The particles are then redispersed in another liquid medium, so as to obtain a dispersion of titanium dioxide particles. This liquid medium can be acidic or basic; it is preferably a basic solution exhibiting a pH of the order of 8-9.
To obtain a powder of particles according to the invention, the dispersion resulting from the process is dried, generally at a temperature of less than 110xc2x0 C.
The starting anatase titanium dioxide particles must exhibit a size of at most 100 nm, a BET specific surface of at least 200 m2/g and a relative density of the order of 2.5.
The starting particles are based on titanium dioxide with a mainly anatase crystalline structure, as defined above.
The mean diameter of these particles is at most 100 nm, preferably at least 25 nm, more preferably still between 50 and 70 nm. This diameter is measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
The starting particles exhibit a BET specific surface of at least 200 m2/g, preferably of at least 250 m2/g.
This BET specific surface is measured in the same way as defined above.
The starting particles also exhibit a relative density of the order of 2.5. xe2x80x9cOf the orderxe2x80x9d is understood to mean that the relative density is 2.5+/xe2x88x920.2. This relative density is given by the following formula:       relative              xe2x80x83            density    =      1                  (                  1          /          ρ                )            +      Vi
in which:
xcfx81 is the relative density of the anatase, i.e. 3.8,
Vi is the volume contributed by the intraparticle pores; it is measured by the BJH method. Volume measured by the BJH method is understood to mean the volume measured from the Barrett-Joyner-Helenda method described in the article in the work Techniques de l""Ingxc3xa9nieur [Techniques of the Engineer] and entitled xe2x80x9cTexture des solides poreux ou divisxc3xa9sxe2x80x9d [Texture of porous or divided solids], p.3645-1 to 3645-13.
In order to measure the volume contributed by the intraparticle pores of the particles according to the invention, when they are provided in the form of a dispersion, it is essential to follow the measuring protocol which consists in removing the liquid phase from the dispersion and then in drying the particles under vacuum at a temperature of 150xc2x0 C. for at least 4 hours.
Such particles can be obtained by hydrolysis of at least one titanium compound A in the presence of at least one compound B chosen from:
(i) the acids which exhibit:
either a carboxyl group and at least two hydroxyl and/or amine groups,
or at least two carboxyl groups and at least one hydroxyl and/or amine group,
(ii) the organic phosphoric acids of following formulae:
xe2x80x83in which n and m are integers of between 1 and 6 and p is an integer of between 0 and 5, R1, R2 and R3, which are identical or different, representing a hydroxyl, amino, aralkyl, aryl or alkyl group or hydrogen,
(iii) the compounds capable of releasing sulphate ions in acidic medium,
(iv) the salts of the acids described above,
and in the presence of anatase titanium dioxide seeds exhibiting a size of at most 8 nm and in a titanium, expressed as TiO2, present in the seeds/titanium present before introduction of the seeds in the hydrolysis medium, expressed as TiO2, ratio by weight of between 0.0% and 3%.
The starting solution, intended to be hydrolysed, is preferably completely aqueous; it is optionally possible to add another solvent, for example an alcohol, provided that the titanium compound A and the compound B used are then substantially soluble in this mixture.
As regards the titanium compound A, use is generally made of a compound chosen from titanium halides, oxyhalides or alkoxides, sulphates and more particularly synthetic sulphates.
Synthetic sulphates are understood to mean titanyl sulphate solutions prepared by ion exchange from very pure titanium chloride solutions or by reaction of sulphuric acid with a titanium alkoxide.
The preparation is preferably carried out with titanium compounds of the titanium halide or oxyhalide type. The titanium halides or oxyhalides which are more particularly used in the present invention are titanium fluorides, chlorides, bromides and iodides (respectively oxyfluorides, oxychlorides, oxybromides and oxyiodides).
According to a particularly preferred form, the titanium compound is titanium oxychloride TiOCl2.
The amount of titanium compound A present in the solution to be hydrolysed is not critical.
The initial solution additionally contains at least one compound B as defined above. Mention may be made, as non-limiting examples of compounds B coming within the scope-of the present invention, of in particular:
hydroxypolycarboxylic acids and more particularly hydroxydi- or hydroxytricarboxylic acids, such as citric acid, maleic acid and tartaric acid,
(polyhydroxy)monocarboxylic acids, such as, for example, glucoheptonic acid and gluconic acid,
poly(hydroxycarboxylic) acids, such as, for example, tartaric acid,
dicarboxylic monoacids and their corresponding amides, such as, for example, aspartic acid, asparagine and glutamic acid,
hydroxylated or non-hydroxylated monocarboxylic amino acids, such as, for example, lysine, serine and threonine,
aminotri(methylenephosphonate), ethylenediaminotetra(methylenephosphonate), triethylenetetraaminohexa(methylenephosphonate), tetraethylenepentaaminohepta(methylenephosphonate) or pentaethylenehexaaminoocta(methylenephosphonate),
methylenediphosphonate, 1,1xe2x80x2-ethylenediphosphonate, 1,2-ethylenediphosphonate, 1,1xe2x80x2-propylenediphosphonate, 1,3-propylenediphosphonate, 1,6-hexamethylenediphosphonate, 2,4-dihydroxypentamethylene-2,4-diphosphonate, 2,5-dihydroxyhexamethylene-2,5-diphosphonate, 2,3-dihydroxybutylene-2,3-diphosphonate, 1-hydroxybenzyl-1,1xe2x80x2-diphosphonate, 1-aminoethylene-1,1xe2x80x2-diphosphonate, hydroxymethylenediphosphonate, 1-hydroxyethylene-1,1xe2x80x2-diphosphonate, 1-hydroxypropylene-1,1xe2x80x2-diphosphonate, 1-hydroxybutylene-1,1xe2x80x2-diphosphonate or 1-hydroxyhexamethylene-1,1xe2x80x2-diphosphonate.
As already indicated, it is also possible to use, as compound B, all the salts of the abovementioned acids. In particular, these salts are either alkali metal salts, more particularly sodium salts, or ammonium salts.
These compounds can also be chosen from sulphuric acid and ammonium or potassium sulphates, and the like.
The compounds B as defined above are preferably hydrocarbon-comprising compounds of aliphatic type. In this case, the length of the main hydrocarbon-comprising chain preferably does not exceed 15 carbon atoms and more preferably 10 carbon atoms. The preferred compound B is citric acid.
The amount of compound B is not critical. The molar concentration of the compound B with respect to that of the titanium compound A is generally between 0.2 and 10% and preferably between 1 and 5%.
Finally, the starting solution comprises titanium dioxide seeds used in a specific way.
Thus, the titanium dioxide seeds used in the present invention must first of all exhibit a size of less than 8 nm, measured by X-ray diffraction. Use is preferably made of titanium dioxide seeds exhibiting a size of between 3 and 5 nm.
Subsequently, the ratio by weight of the titanium dioxide present in the seeds to the titanium present in the hydrolysis medium before introduction of the seeds, that is to say contributed by the titanium compound A, and expressed as TiO2 is between 0.01 and 3%. This ratio can preferably be between 0.05 and 1.5%. The bringing together of these two conditions with respect to the seeds (size and ratio by weight), in combination with the process as described above, makes it possible to precisely control the final size of the titanium dioxide particles, a level of seeds being associated with a particle size. It is thus possible to obtain particles for which the size varies between 25 and 100 nm.
Use is made of titanium dioxide seeds in the anatase form, so as to induce precipitation of the titanium dioxide in the anatase form. Generally, due to their small size, these seeds instead exist in the form of poorly crystallized anatase. The seeds are generally provided in the form of an aqueous suspension composed of titanium dioxide. They can generally be obtained in a known way by a process of neutralization of a titanium salt by a base.
The following stage consists in hydrolysing this starting solution by any means known to a person skilled in the art and generally by heating. In the latter case, the hydrolysis can preferably be carried out at a temperature greater than or equal to 70xc2x0 C. It is also possible to operate, firstly, at a temperature below the bciling temperature of the medium and, then, to maintain the hydrolysis medium level at the boiling temperature.
Once hydrolysis has been carried out, the titanium dioxide particles obtained are recovered by separation of the precipitated solid from the mother liquors before being redispersed in a liquid medium so as to obtain a titanium dioxide dispersion. This liquid medium can be acidic or basic. It is preferably a basic solution, for example an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. It is from this dispersion that the stage of precipitation of the metal oxides, hydroxides or hydroxide oxides will be carried out.
According to a specific alternative form, after the recovery of the particles obtained following the hydrolysis and before they are redispersed, the particles are neutralized and subjected to at least one washing operation. The particles can be recovered, for example by centrifuging the solution resulting from the hydrolysis; they are subsequently neutralized with a base, for example a sodium hydroxide or aqueous ammonia solution, they are then washed by redispersing them in an aqueous solution, and finally the particles are separated from the aqueous washing phase. After optionally one or more other washing operations of the same type, the particles are redispersed in an acidic or basic solution.
These particles generally exhibit a high degree of purity, compatible with an application in cosmetics.
Finally, the invention relates to the use of the particles described above as anti-UV agent. They can be used in particular as anti-UV agent in cosmetic, varnish or paint formulations and in plastics.
Introduced into cosmetic formulations, these titanium dioxide dispersions or powders make it possible to obtain an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) number of at least 20.
Moreover, the formulations obtained are photostable, that is to say that they do not exhibit blueing after exposure to UV according to the test defined in the examples.
They are particularly stable on storage and it may be observed that the titanium dioxide particles retain their dispersion index in the formulation.
The invention relates to anti-UV cosmetic compositions comprising particles as described above in an amount such that the titanium dioxide content in the said compositions is at least 1%, preferably at most 25%, by weight and more preferably still between 2 and 10% by weight.
It is possible to introduce into the cosmetic compositions particles exhibiting different particle sizes.
The compositions forming the subject-matter of the invention can be formulated as a large number of types of products, such as anti-sun products of gel, lotion, oil or cream type and more generally make-up products, self-tanning agents, care products, hairs, total blocks for the lips and many other compositions of the same type.
The term cosmetic composition or formulation is understood to mean all cosmetic products or preparations, such as those described in Appendix I (xe2x80x9cIllustrative list by category of cosmetic productsxe2x80x9d) of European Directive No. 76/768/EEC of Jul. 27, 1976, known as the cosmetic directive.
The cosmetic compositions forming the subject-matter of the invention can involve a vehicle, or a mixture of several vehicles, which act as diluent, dispersant or support for the other constituents of the composition and make possible their distribution when the composition is spread over the skin or hair.
The vehicles other than water can be liquid or solid emollients, solvents, humectants, thickeners or powders. The following types of vehicles can be used, for example, alone or as a mixture:
emollients, such as stearyl alcohol, glyceryl monoricinoleate, oleyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, isopropyl isostearate, stearic acid, isobutyl palmitate, isocetyl stearate, isopropyl laurate, hexyl laurate, decyl oleate, octadecan-2-ol, isocetyl alcohol, eicosanyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, cetyl palmitate, silicone oils, such as dimethylpolysiloxane, di-n-butyl sebacate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl stearate, butyl stearate, polyethylene glycol, lanolin, cacao butter, cottonseed oil, olive oil, palm oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, almond oil, sesame oil, coconut oil, groundnut oil, castor oil, mineral oil, butyl myristate, isostearic acid, palmitic acid, isopropyl linoleate, lauryl lactate, decyl oleate or myristyl myristate;
propellants, such as: propane, butane, isobutane, dimethyl ether, carbon dioxide or nitrogen dioxide;
solvents, such as: ethanol, methylene chloride, isopropanol, acetone, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, dimethyl sulphoxide, dimethylformamide or tetrahydrofuran;
powders, such as chalk, talc, kaolin, starch, gums, colloidal silica, poly(sodium acrylate), tetraalkyl- and/or trialkylarylammonium smectites, chemically modified magnesium aluminosilicate, organically modified montmorillonite, hydrated aluminium silicate, pyrogenic silica, polycarboxyvinyl, sodium carboxymethylcellulose or ethylene glycol monostearate.
The compositions according to the invention generally comprise from 10 to 99% by weight of at least one vehicle as described above.
The compositions according to the invention are preferably provided in the form of emulsions, in which an oily component is present with an emulsifier, so as to form an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion, depending on the value of the hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB).
Thus, the compositions according to the invention can comprise one or more oily components or components having the properties of an oil.
It can relate to vegetable or mineral oils, such as those provided in the above list of emollients. It is also possible to use volatile or non-volatile silicone oils, such as polydimethylsiloxanes.
These oily components can represent up to 90%, preferably from 10 to 80%, of the volume of the composition.
The compositions according to the invention can also comprise one or more emulsifiers. Depending on the nature of these emulsifiers, the compositions will be provided in the form of an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion.
For the preparation of an emulsion of water-in-oil type, the emulsifier or emulsifiers chosen must exhibit a mean HLB of between 1 and 6. For the preparation of an emulsion of oil-in-water type, the emulsifier or emulsifiers chosen must exhibit a mean HLB greater than 6. The amount of these emulsifiers in the compositions according to the invention can vary between 1 and 50% by weight, preferably between 2 and 20%.
These cosmetic compositions can also comprise surface-active agents which serve to disperse, emulsify, dissolve or stabilize various compounds used for their emollient or humectant properties. These surface-active agents are used in these compositions at concentrations varying from 0.05 to 50% by weight of the preparation. Anionic, non-ionic, cationic, zwitterionic or amphoteric surfactants or mixtures of these surfactants are thus found, such as:
anionic surfactants:
alkyl ester sulphonates of formula Rxe2x80x94CH(SO3M)xe2x80x94COORxe2x80x2, where R represents a C8-C20, preferably C10-C16, alkyl radical, Rxe2x80x2 a C1-C6, preferably C1-C3, alkyl radical and M an alkali metal cation (sodium, potassium or lithium), substituted or unsubstituted ammonium -(methyl-, dimethyl-, trimethyl- or tetramethylammonium, dimethylpiperidinium, and the like) or derivative of an alkanolamine (monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine and the like). Mention may very particularly be made of methyl ester sulphonates in which the R radical is C14-C16;
alkyl sulphates of formula ROSO3M, where R represents a C10-C24, preferably C12-C20 and very particularly C12-C18 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical, M representing a hydrogen atom or a cation with the same definition as above, and their oxyethylenated (EO) and/or oxypropylenated (PO) derivatives exhibiting, on average, from 0.5 to 6, preferably from 0.5 to 3, EO and/or PO units;
alkylamide sulphates of formula RCONHRxe2x80x2OSO3M, where R represents a C2-C22, preferably C6-C20, alkyl radical and Rxe2x80x2 a C2-C3 alkyl radical, M representing a hydrogen atom or a cation with the same definition as above, and their oxyethylenated (EO) and/or oxypropylenated (PO) derivatives exhibiting, on average, from 0.5 to 60 EO and/or PO units;
salts of saturated or unsaturated C8-C24, preferably C14-C20, fatty acids, C9-C20 alkylbenzenesulphonates, primary or secondary C8-C22 alkyl sulphonates, alkyl glycerol sulphonates, the sulphonated polycarboxylic acids described in GB-A-1,082,179, paraffin sulphonates, N-acyl-N-alkyltaurates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl isethionates, alkyl succinamates, alkyl sulphosuccinates, monoesters or diesters of sulphosuccinates, N-acylsarcosinates, sulphates of alkyl glycosides or polyethoxycarboxylates, the cation being an alkali metal (sodium, potassium or lithium), a substituted or unsubstituted ammonium residue (methyl-, dimethyl-, trimethyl- or tetramethylammonium, dimethylpiperidinium, and the like) or derivative of an alkanolamine (monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and the like);
non-ionic surface-active agents:
polyoxyalkylenated (polyoxyethylenated, polyoxypropylenated or polyoxybutylenated) alkylphenols, the alkyl substituent of which is C6-C12, containing from 5 to 25 oxyalkylene units; mention may be made, by way of example, of Triton X-45, Triton X-114, Triton X-100 or Triton X-102 sold by Rohm and Haas Cy.;
glucosamides or glucamides;
glycerolamides derived from N-alkylamines (U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,179 and FR-A-1,585,966);
polyoxyalkylenated C8-C22 aliphatic alcohols containing from 1 to 25 oxyalkylene (oxyethylene or oxypropylene) units; mention may be made, by way of example, of Tergitol 15-S-9 or Tergitol 24-L-6 NMW, sold by Union Carbide Corp., Neodol 45-9, Neodol 23-65, Neodol 45-7 or Neodol 45-4, sold by Shell Chemical Cy., or Kyro EOB, sold by The Procter and Gamble Cy.;
the products resulting from the condensation of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic compound resulting from the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol, such as the Pluronic sold by BASF;
amine oxides, such as (C10-C18 alkyl)-dimethylamine oxides or (C8-C22 alkoxy)-ethyldihydroxyethylamine oxides;
the alkyl polyglycosides described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,647 and their polyoxyalkylenated derivatives;
amides of C8-C20 fatty acids;
ethoxylated fatty acids;
ethoxylated amides, amines or amidoamines;
amphoteric and zwitterionic surface-active agents:
alkyltrimethylsulphobetaines, condensation products of fatty acids and of protein hydrolysates, alkyl amphopropionates or -dipropionates, alkyl sultaines, or amphoteric derivatives of alkylpolyamines, such as Amphionic XL(copyright), sold by Rhxc3x4ne-Poulenc, or Ampholac 7T/X(copyright) and Ampholac 7C/X(copyright), sold by Berol Nobel, are used to decrease the irritation caused by other surface-active agents, mainly anionic surface-active agents.
Use may also be made of an emulsifier chosen from those on the following list:
The compositions according to the invention can comprise water in a content which can range up to 80% by volume, preferably between 5 and 80%.
The compositions according to the invention can additionally comprise a high molecular weight silicone surface-active agent which can be an emulsifier used instead of those mentioned hereinabove.
This agent can be a high molecular weight dimethylpolysiloxane with polyoxyethylene and/or polyoxypropylene chains having a molecular weight of between 10,000 and 50,000 and with the structure:
in which:
the Rxe2x80x2 and Rxe2x80x3 groups are chosen from H, C1-C18 alkyl and [CH2CH2O]a[CH2CH(CH3)O]bH; one of the Rxe2x80x2 and Rxe2x80x3 groups can be lauryl, the other having a molecular weight of between 1000 and 5000,
a is between 9 and 115, preferably between 10 and 114,
b is between 0 and 50, preferably between 0 and 49,
x is between 133 and 673, preferably between 388 and 402,
y is between 25 and 0.25, preferably between 15 and 0.75.
The dimethylpolysiloxane can be used in the form of a dispersion in a volatile siloxane, this dispersion comprising from 1 to 20% by volume of dimethylpolysiloxane.
The dimethylpolysiloxanes can be chosen from cyclomethicone and dimethicone copolyols, such as DC 3225C from Dow Corning, or lauryl methicone copolyol, such as DC Q2-5200 from Dow Corning.
It can also relate to Mirasil DMCO from Rhxc3x4ne-Poulenc or the cetyl dimethicone copolyol Abil AM90 from Th. Goldschmidt AG.
The composition according to the invention can comprise up to 25% by weight of such a surface-active agent.
The compositions according to the invention can also comprise an organic sunscreen, such as, for example:
It is also possible to use, as sunscreen, any compound authorized in European Directive No. 76/768/EEC and its appendices.
The composition according to the invention can also comprise inorganic sunscreens, such as: zinc oxide in the form of particles with a mean size of between 1 and 300 nm, iron oxide in the form of particles with a mean size of between 1 and 300 nm and silica in the form of particles with a mean size of between 1 and 100 nm.
The compositions can also comprise additives, such as:
preservatives, for example para-hydroxybenzoate esters;
antioxidants, such as butylhydroxytoluene;
humectants, such as glycerol, sorbitol, dibutyl phthalate, gelatin or PEGs, for example PEGs 200-600;
buffer solutions, such as mixtures of lactic acid and of sodium hydroxide or of triethanolamine;
waxes, such as beeswax or paraffin wax;
plant extracts;
preservatives, such as the methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, sodium benzoate, Germaben (trade name) or any chemical agent which prevents bacterial proliferation or moulds and which is conventionally used in cosmetic compositions, are generally introduced into these compositions at a level of 0.01 to 3% by weight. The amount of these products is generally adjusted in order to prevent any proliferation of bacteria, moulds or yeasts in the cosmetic compositions. As an alternative to these chemical agents, it is sometimes possible to use agents which modify the activity of the water and which greatly increase the osmotic pressure, such as carbohydrates or salts;
. . .
The cosmetic compositions forming the subject-matter of the invention can also comprise fixative resins. These fixative resins are generally present at concentrations of between 0.01 and 10%, preferably between 0.5 and 5%. The constituent fixative resins of the cosmetic compositions forming the subject-matter of the invention are preferably chosen from the following resins: acrylate/acrylamide copolymer, poly(vinyl methyl ether)/maleic anhydride copolymer, vinyl acetate/crotonic acid copolymer, octylacrylamide/acrylate/butylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), copolymers of polyvinylpyrrolidone and of methyl methacrylate, copolymer of polyvinylpyrrolidone and of vinyl acetate (VA), poly(vinyl alcohol), copolymer of poly(vinyl alcohol) and of crotonic acid, copolymer of poly(vinyl alcohol) and of maleic anhydride, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl guar, sodium polystyrenesulphonate, polyvinylpyrrolidone/ethyl methacrylate/methacrylic acid terpolymer, monomethyl ether of poly(methyl vinyl etherxe2x80x94maleic acid), poly(ethylene glycol terephthalate)/poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers, poly(ethylene glycol terephthalate)/poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(sodium sulphoisophthalate) copolymers, and their mixtures. The fixative resins can also comprise grafted functionalized polyorganosiloxane units, as described in Patent WO 95/06079.
The fixative resins will preferably be of the following type: polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), copolymers of polyvinylpyrrolidone and of methyl methacrylate, copolymer of polyvinylpyrrolidone and of vinyl acetate (VA), poly(ethylene glycol terephthalate)/poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers, poly(ethylene glycol terephthalate)/poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(sodium sulphoisophthalate) copolymers, and their mixtures.
These fixative resins are preferably dispersed or dissolved in the chosen vehicle.
The cosmetic compositions forming the subject-matter of the invention can also comprise polymeric derivatives exercising a protective function.
These polymeric derivatives can be present in amounts of the order of 0.01 to 10%, preferably approximately 0.1 to 5% and very particularly of the order of 0.2 to 3% by weight, agents such as
cellulose derivatives, such as cellulose hydroxyethers, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or hydroxybutyl methylcellulose
poly(vinyl ester)s grafted onto polyalkylene backbones, such as poly(vinyl acetate)s grafted onto polyoxyethylene backbones (EP-A-219,048)
poly(vinyl alcohol)s
polyester copolymers based on ethylene terephthalate and/or propylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, with an ethylene terephthalate and/or propylene terephthalate (number of units)/polyoxyethylene terephthalate (number of units) molar ratio of the order of 1/10 to 10/1, preferably of the order of 1/1 to 9/1, the polyoxyethylene terephthalates exhibiting polyoxyethylene units having a molecular weight of the order of 300 to 5000, preferably of the order of 600 to 5000 (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,959,230, 3,893,929, 4,116,896, 4,702,857 and 4,770,666);
sulphonated polyester oligomers obtained by sulphonation of an oligomer derived from ethoxylated allyl alcohol, dimethyl terephthalate and 1,2-propylenediol exhibiting from 1 to 4 sulpho groups (U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,451)
polyester copolymers based on propylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene terephthalate units and terminated by ethyl or methyl units (U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,730) or polyester oligomers terminated by alkyl polyethoxy groups (U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,857) or anionic sulphopolyethoxy (U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,580) or anionic sulphoaroyl (U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,896) groups
polyester polyurethanes obtained by reaction of a polyester with a number-average molecular mass of 300-4000, obtained from adipic acid and/or from terephthalic acid and/or from sulphoisophthalic acid and from a diol with a mass of less than 300, with a prepolymer containing terminal isocyanate groups obtained from a poly(ethylene glycol) with a molecular mass of 600-4000 and from a diisocyanate (FR-A-2,334,698)
ethoxylated monoamines or polyamines or polymers of ethoxylated amines (U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,898 and EP-A-11,984)
sulphonated polyester oligomers obtained by condensation of isophthalic acid, of dimethyl sulphosuccinate and of diethylene glycol (FR-A-2,236,926).
The performances of the cosmetic compositions forming the subject-matter of the invention can also be improved by the use of plasticizers. The plasticizer can constitute between 0.1 and 20% of the formulation, preferably from 1 to 15%. Mention may be made, among particularly useful plasticizers, of adipates, phthalates, isophthalates, azelates, stearates, silicone copolyols, glycols, castor oil or their mixtures.
It is also advantageously possible to add, to these compositions, metal-sequestering agents, more particularly those sequestering calcium, such as citrate ions, or emollients, such as silicones or oils or fatty substances used in this connection in the cosmetics industry (mineral oils, fatty acid esters, triglycerides, silicones, and the like).
It is also possible to add water-soluble or water-dispersible polymers, such as collagen or certain non-allergizing derivatives of animal or plant proteins (wheat protein hydrolysates, for example), natural hydrocolloids (guar gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, and the like) or hydrocolloids resulting from fermentation processes, such as xanthan gum, and derivatives of these polycarbohydrates, such as modified celluloses (for example, hydroxyethylcellulose or carboxymethylcellulose), or guar or locust bean derivatives, such as their cationic derivatives or non-ionic derivatives (for example, hydroxypropylguar) or anionic derivatives (carboxymethylguar and carboxymethylhydroxypropylguar).
Inorganic powders or particles, such as calcium carbonate, inorganic oxides in the powder form or in the colloidal form (particles with a size of less than or of the order of a micrometre, sometimes of a few tens of nanometres), such as silica, aluminium salts generally used as antiperspirants, kaolin, talc, clays and their derivatives, and the like, can be added in combination to these compounds.
One or more fragrances, colouring agents, among which may be mentioned the products described in Appendix IV (xe2x80x9cList of colouring agents allowed for use in cosmetic productsxe2x80x9d) of European Directive No. 76/768/EEC of Jul. 27, 1976, known as the cosmetic directive, and/or opacifying agents, such as pigments, can generally be added to these ingredients to increase the attractiveness during use of the composition by the consumer.
Finally, the composition can also contain viscosifying or gelling polymers, such as crosslinked polyacrylates (Carbopol, sold by Goodrich), cellulose derivatives, such as hydroxypropylcellulose or carboxymethylcellulose, guars and their derivatives, locust bean, tara or cassia gum, xanthan gum, alginates, carrageenans, or chitin derivatives, such as chitosan, used alone or in combination, or the same compounds, generally in the form of water-soluble polymers modified by hydrophobic groups bonded covalently to the polymer skeleton, as described in Patent WO 92/16187, and/or water, in order to bring the total of the constituents of the formulation to 100%.
The cosmetic compositions forming the subject-matter of the invention can also comprise polymeric dispersing agents in an amount of the order of 0.1 to 7% by weight, in order to control the calcium and magnesium hardness, agents such as:
water-soluble salts of polycarboxylic acids with a molecular mass of the order of 2000 to 100,000, obtained by polymerization or copolymerization of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, such as acrylic acid, maleic acid or anhydride, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid or methylenemalonic acid, and very particularly polyacrylates with a molecular mass of the order of 2000 to 10,000 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,067) or copolymers of acrylic acid and of maleic anhydride with a molecular mass of the order of 5000 to 75,000 (EP-A-66,915)
poly(ethylene glycol)s with a molecular mass of the order of 1000 to 50,000.
The following examples illustrate the invention without, however, limiting the scope thereof.


A system for cyber-attack emulation includes a memory and one or more processors. The memory is configured to store a library of attack-code templates, each attack-code template including configurable program code that carries out a respective type of cyber-attack. The one or more processors are configured to specify an attack-emulation campaign based on one or more of the attack-code templates, and, for at least a given attack-code template included in the attack-emulation campaign, to perform an iterative process including (i) generating an emulated attack from the given attack-code template, (ii) applying the emulated attack to a component of a target computer system, (iii) evaluating an interim outcome of the emulated attack, and (iv) adapting the emulated attack depending on the interim outcome.

Computer systems, particularly those connected to the Internet, are under constant threat of cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks may attempt to exfiltrate sensitive data, to destroy data, or to hijack data in request of ransom, for example. Known cyber-security measures, including Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) solutions and automated penetration testing tools, typically involve scanning for known vulnerabilities and reproduction of previously-encountered attacks. Example BAS tools include Atomic Red Team, as well as tools provided by companies such as AttackIQ, XM Cyber, Pentera, SafeBreach, Picus Security, Randori, Scythe, Cymulate, and Mandiant (formerly Verodin).


A hydraulic control method of a regenerative braking system for vehicles in which a point of time when regenerative braking torque starts to be reduced is predicted and hydraulic control is performed in advance prior to this point of time so as to improve braking performance. A hydraulic braking control unit predicts the point of time when regenerative braking torque starts to be reduced based on vehicle velocity and starts hydraulic control in advance prior to this point of time, thereby improving responsiveness of hydraulic braking force compared to the regenerative braking torque to satisfy braking force required by a driver, and minimizing a deceleration change at the end of regenerative braking to improve braking performance.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a hydraulic control method of a regenerative braking system for vehicles in which a point of time when regenerative braking torque starts to be reduced is predicted and hydraulic control is performed in advance prior to this point of time so as to improve braking performance.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hybrid fuel cell vehicle is a hybrid electric vehicle having two or more kinds of braking force using an existing engine and an electric motor (driving motor) as power sources, and selectively uses power of the engine and power of the electric motor according to load and velocity of the vehicle and converts remaining energy into electric energy using the electric motor, thereby achieving high fuel efficiency and low pollution.
Such a hybrid fuel cell vehicle is traveled by rotating driving wheels of the vehicle with the electric motor operated by electric energy. Here, it is a very important subject to efficiently use the electric energy to drive the electric motor. For this purpose, if a deceleration or brake order is given by a driver, the electric motor functions as a generator and electric energy generated from the electric motor is stored in an electric condenser. While the electric motor functions as the generator, braking force is applied to vehicle wheels and such braking force is referred to as regenerative braking force. Consequently, the total braking force applied to the vehicle wheels is the sum of regenerative braking force generated from the electric motor and hydraulic braking force generated from a hydraulic control device.
Therefore, in order to satisfy driver's braking intention, generation of only hydraulic braking force equal to a value, obtained by subtracting regenerative braking force corresponding to an amount of braking force, generated from the electric motor, from braking force required by the driver, is required.
FIG. 1 shows profiles illustrating a braking pattern of a conventional regenerative braking system under the condition that a velocity of a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) or planet gear type vehicle is reduced as time goes by.
As shown in FIG. 1, regenerative braking torque (regenerative braking force) is decreased as the velocity of the vehicle increases, and is increased as the velocity of the vehicle decreases and is rapidly decreased at a designated low velocity of the vehicle. Therefore, hydraulic braking force needs to be decreased in a section in which the regenerative braking torque (regenerative braking force) is increased, and hydraulic braking force needs to be increased in a section in which the regenerative braking torque (regenerative braking force) is decreased.
In such a regenerative braking system, a point of time when the generated regenerative braking torque must be removed occurs. Due to slow responsiveness of hydraulic braking force compared to responsiveness of regenerative braking force at this point of time, the total braking force, i.e. the sum of the hydraulic braking force and the regenerative braking force, is not uniform, and thus a deceleration change frequently occurs, as shown in FIG. 1.

Hydraulic control method of regenerative braking system for vehicle


The present invention provides a skin external preparation comprising a compound of the formula (1), (2), (3) or (4). ##STR1##. wherein X represents COOH, etc., Z represents CONH.sub.2, etc. and R.sup.1 and R.sup.7 individually represent a hydrogen atom, etc.. The above-described compound has excellent effects, for example, for preventing or alleviating skin aging or inhibiting hair growth.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a skin external preparation having effects for preventing or alleviating skin aging or for inhibiting hair growth.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a result of researches on the aging of the skin, influences of aging, drying, oxidation, sun light (ultraviolet ray) and the like are mentioned as the causes for the aging of the skin. The aging of the skin is recognized by a decrease of collagen or elastin in the dermis of the skin, a decrease in mucopolysaccharides including hyaluronic acid, cellular damage by ultraviolet rays or the like.
For the prevention of wrinkle formation, however, sufficient effects have not yet been attained, for example, by a collagen-containing cosmetic composition. In addition, various researches have been made on the aging of the skin caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays in consideration of the relation with ultraviolet rays, however, a cosmetic composition superseding an ultraviolet absorber or ultraviolet protector has not yet been developed.
There is an increasing tendency to have a liking for a hairless body, particularly, hairless arms or legs, from the viewpoint of aesthetic appearance. In order to remove the body hair, various methods have been made use of, for example, a mechanical removing method by using a shaver, a pair of hair-tweezers or the like, a method of removing the hair even from the hair bulb by using a depilatory agent and a method of removing the body hair by the chemical action of a depilatory agent.
The above-described hair removing methods however give physical or chemical stimulation to the skin and in addition, are limited in maintaining the removed state. There is accordingly a demand for the development of a method which facilitates the body hair removal.


An apparatus for recording information carried by an electro-magnetic radiation beam. The apparatus has a recording unit having two electrodes, a photoconductive member and a recording member of liquid crystals capable of holding electric charges, the members being arranged so as to face each other between the electrodes. An electro-magnetic radiation beam carrying information to be recorded is directed to the photoconductive member under presence of a voltage across the electrodes. An electric field corresponding to a conductivity variation of the photoconductive member according to the information is thus applied to the recording member to form a charge latent image corresponding to the information on the recording member. The recording member is then heated so that an intensity of the applied electric field exceeds a specific threshold level at which an optical characteristic of the liquid crystal begins to vary according to the charge latent image. Therefore, the information is recorded in the recording member as the optical characteristic variation.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for performing information recording using light (including various types of electro-magnetic radiation beams) with respect to a recording medium which stores information, and in particular, to an improved developing process for recording media.
Recording apparatus with respect to recording media which store information include for example, that shown in FIG. 1. In this figure, a recording medium 10 is configured with a recording member 16 laminated onto a transparent substrate 12 via a transparent electrode 14. A write head 20 is configured with a photoconductive member 26 laminated onto a transparent substrate 22 via a transparent electrode 24. Then, the recording medium 10 and the write head 20 are arranged so that the photoconductive member 26 is opposite the recording member 16.
Between the transparent electrodes 14 and 24 there is a drive power source 30 connected via a switch 32. To the side of the transparent substrate 22 of the write head 20 there are arranged an optical shutter 34 and a taking lens 36. In addition, there is another drive power source 40 which impresses a voltage to the switch 32 and the optical shutter 34 via a switch 38 so that the switch 32 and the optical shutter 34 are operated.
Glass substrates for example, are used as the transparent substrates 12 and 22. In addition indium-tin oxide for example, is used as the transparent electrodes 14 and 24. The recording member 16 is capable of having a charge image formed on its surface for a long time in accordance with an impressed electric field and of photomodulation according to the charge image. For example, it is possible to apply silicone resin, liquid crystal, lead lanthanum zirconate titanate, an electrochromic material or the like to the recording member 16. A polymer-dispersed liquid crystal memory is also applicable to the recording member 16. The photoconductive member 26 is made of a photoconductive material such as a-Si or the like so that a charge image corresponding to information is formed when light carrying the information to be recorded is irradiated to the photoconductive member 26.
The following is an outline description of the recording operation in the recording apparatus having the configuration described above. When the switch 38 is switched to its ON state, a voltage of the drive power source 40 is impressed to the switch 32 and the optical shutter 34 to operate. Because of this, a voltage of the drive power source 30 is impressed across the transparent electrodes 14 and 24, and the optical shutter 34 opens, so that light carrying image information of an object 42 is irradiated to the photoconductive member 26 of the write head 20 via the taking lens 36 and the optical shutter 34. By this, the photoconductive member 26 exhibits conductivity distribution corresponding to the intensity of the irradiated light.
When this occurs, the drive voltage which is impressed across the transparent electrodes 14 and 24 is fractionally and variably impressed to the recording member 16 in accordance with the conductivity distribution of the photoconductive member 26. A charge image corresponding to the image information of the object 42 is thus formed on the surface of the recording member 16. By this, the image information of the object 42 is recorded as changes in the variation of optical transmittivity on the recording member 16 if including liquid crystals.
FIG. 2 shows the characteristics graph of the recording operation described above. First, the relationship between the optical transmittivity of the irradiated light and the impressed voltage in the recording member 16 is as shown by the graph GA. In addition, the relationship between the exposure amount in the photoconductive member 26 and the voltage which is impressed to the recording member 16 by the exposure amount is as shown by graphs GB and GC. B1 and B2 are the dark potential.
The exposure range with respect to the photoconductive member 26 is made EW. In the case of the graph GB, the voltage which is impressed to the recording member 16 by the photoconductive member 26 is in agreement with the variation of the optical transmittivity (as shown by dotted line arrows FA and FA). Because of this, the optical image of the object 42 is favorably recorded to the recording member 16.
However, when the characteristics of the photoconductive member 26 is as shown by the graph GC, the voltage which is impressed to the recording member 16 by the photoconductive member 26 has the range shown by dotted line arrows FB and FB. More specifically, the voltage impressed with respect to the recording member 16 does not attain a threshold value SV, and there is no variation of the optical transmittivity on the recording member 16. Therefore, when a photoconductive member with a low dark potential is used there is no recording of the optical image of the object 42.
Accordingly, a photoconductive member having a high dark potential could be used but when such a photoconductive member is used, it is likely to generate unevenness in the dark potential and thus there is the resultant influence of shading due to the unevenness.

Apparatus and method for recording information carried by electro-magnetic radiation beam


A clearance control apparatus providing compressed cooling air to a turbine casing in a gas turbine, the apparatus including: a cooling gas passage extending through an inner annular shell of the turbine casing; a cooling gas conduit connected to a compressor of the gas turbine and to the turbine casing, wherein the cooling gas conduit receives compressed air from the compressor and delivers the compressed air to the turbine casing, and wherein the cooling gas conduit is in fluid communication with the cooling gas passage, and a heat exchanger connected to the cooling gas conduit and to a fuel conduit delivering fuel to a combustor of the gas turbine, wherein the heat exchanger transfers heat from the cooling gas to the fuel.

The present invention relates to clearance control in a turbine, such as a gas turbine.
Clearance in a turbine typically refers to the dimension of gaps between the rotor and the stator casing that surrounds the rotor. The rotor is typically an axial turbine having rows of buckets each mounted on a turbine wheel. The wheels are mounted on a shaft of the turbine. The stator casing houses the rotor and includes rows of stationary nozzles positioned between the rows of buckets. Clearance often refers to the annular gap between the tips of the buckets and the stator casing.
Clearance is needed to allow the buckets to rotate without rubbing against the stator casing. If the clearance is too great, combustion gases may leak over the tips of the buckets and do not drive the rotation of the turbine. If the clearance is too small, the tips may rub against the stator casing and may cause vibrations that damage the turbine.
The clearance varies as the turbine is heated and cools during its various operational phases. The variations in clearance are due to thermal expansion and contraction of the components of a turbine. A turbine is typically formed of metal components having different heat expansion rates. The turbine wheels, buckets on the wheels and annular shells around the buckets expand and contract at different rates. Due to different rates of thermal expansion, clearance could increase or shrink as the gas turbine heats and cools.
Clearance is needed whenever the turbine buckets rotate including: while the turbine heats up during startup, as the gas turbine transitions from full speed no load (FSNL) operation to and during full speed full load (FSFL) operation, and as the turbine shuts down. Maintaining adequate clearance during any and all operational phases of a gas turbine is achieved by a clearance control system.
Clearance control systems and techniques provide adequate clearance during all phases of gas turbine operation. Conventional clearance control systems and techniques include cooling systems mounted on external skids adjacent the gas turbine, complex sensing and actuation systems for regulating cooling flow bled from the compressor and used for turbine cooling and external heat transfer systems to heat or cool the cooling air before it enters the turbine. Conventional clearance control systems and techniques tend to be active in that they adjust the amount of a cooling fluid flowing through the shell or buckets. Some active conventional clearance systems are actuated in response to a certain operating conditions, such as at pinch points which occur when clearance is at its narrowest. For example, heating cooling air may be added to the turbine casing to increase the thermal expansion of the casing and thus increase the clearance at a pinch point.
Active clearance control systems are often mechanically complex, expensive and require computer or hydraulic controllers. Passive clearance control systems do not require controllers and tend to be relatively mechanically simple and inexpensive. However, passive controllers typically do not have the ability to adjust the cooling capacity of the cooling gas fed to the turbine. Even in view of the conventional clearance control systems, there remains a long felt need for clearance control systems and techniques that are robust, economical, assure adequate clearance at all phases of gas turbine operation and avoid excessive clearances especially at steady operating phases such as FSFL.

Method and apparatus for clearance control utilizing fuel heating


A system for analyzing driver fitness to drive with consideration given to any of various conditions such as driver drowsiness, fatigue, and anxiety. The system includes a processing hardware unit, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising various modules to determine if the driver is impaired. The modules include an input interface module that, when executed by the processing unit, receives sensor data indicating a present driver health factor. A database module includes pre-established driver-profile data particular to a driver. And the modules include an activity module that, when executed by the processing unit, obtains the driver-profile data and the sensor data, and determines, based on the present health factor and the pre-established driver-profile data, fitness of the driver to drive. The disclosure relates in various embodiments to a computer-readable storage device, separately, and processes performed by the system and device.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Driver reaction time can be reduced by drowsiness. Drowsiness, or sleepiness, results typically from lack of sufficient sleep.
Even when drivers are not sleep deprived, fatigue can lower reaction time.
Robust systems are needed to help drivers avoid driving when they are impaired in such ways.

Apparatus for assessing, predicting, and responding to driver fatigue and drowsiness levels


Compositions and methods for reducing susceptibility and enhancing tolerance to Nosema disease (Nosemosis) using RNA interference technology, and more particularly, prevention and treatment of Nosema infections in honeybees by feeding of Nosema-specific dsRNA.

The importance of honeybees and other pollinating insects to the global world economy far surpasses their contribution in terms of honey production. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that every third bite we consume in our diet is dependent on a honeybee to pollinate that food. The total contribution of pollination in terms of added value to fruit crops exceeds $15 billion per annum, with indirect potential consequence of $75 billion dollars.
Microsporidia are basal fungi and obligate intracellular parasites of other eukaryotes characterized by extreme genomic and cellular reduction. Two described species of microsporidia, Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae, cause a widespread and destructive disease in adult honey bee. Nosema disease is widespread across the world, and it has been observed that nosema pathogenesis, together with increased viral load, are the best predictors of weak and collapsing colonies. In Europe, disappearing colony syndrome has been directly attributed to Nosema ceranae, and the risk of colony depopulation is six times higher in colonies infected with N. ceranae than in uninfected ones. Recently, it was shown that natural Nosema ceranae infection can cause the sudden collapse of bee colonies.
Transmission of Nosema in honey bee colonies is mainly via the fecal-oral route in which pathogens are spread from diseased hosts to uninfected hosts via ingestion of nucleated Nosema spores from fecal material from infected bees. The spores geminate within the midgut and release polar tubes that transfer their sporoplasm into midgut epithelial cells. Inside the cell, the sporoplasm grows to form a multinuclear plasmodium, or "meront", replicating to generate more spores, usually numbering in the millions per infected bee.
Current Anti-Nosema Protocol: Fumagillin
Fumagillin is an antibiotic derived from the fungus Aspergillus fumigates. It is an anti-angiogenic agent that covalently and selectively binds and inhibits the methionine aminopeptidase, MetAP-2 and has been used for many years to treat microsporidiosis caused by Nosema in honeybees. It is used extensively in the United States where beekeepers drench their hives in sucrose solution containing Fumagillin. However, Fumagillin does not kill Nosema spores, and has rapidly deteriorating potency after application, resulting in only partial and temporary anti-Nosema effect, since new bees emerge constantly in a colony, and re-application is required several times a year. Indeed, differences between treated and untreated colonies disappear several months after treatment, with several different etiologies.    a) Nosema-infected colonies naturally recover during the summer    b) fumagillin loses its efficacy or    c) fumagillin becomes depleted from colony honey stores
In humans, Fumagillin was used more than 40 years ago for the treatment of intestinal amebiasis, and it is effective when used topically. However, a recent study showed that Fumigillin caused serious toxic side effects (neutropenia and thrombocytopenia) in patients that were treated for microsporidiosis due to Enterocytozoon bieneusi.
Of further concern is the possibility that Nosema, multiplying in the millions in each bee gut, will eventually develop resistance to Fumagillin, as has been the experience with other antibiotics that are copiously applied. Thus, possible resistance of Nosema to Fumagillin makes many beekeepers around the world understandably concerned about it's widespread use for prevention of Nosema infection. Due to these and other concerns, Fumagillin's use for treating Nosema in honeybees has already been prohibited in Europe.
Nosema and Microsporidian Genetics
Several Microsporidian genomes, including the human Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cunuculi), have been published to date. The sequence analysis of E. cuniculi revealed a very small and compacted genome of 2.9-megabase, comprising of nearly 2000 genes. Due to its extreme reduction, E. cuniculi genome lacks most of the introns and intergenic spacers usually found in eukaryotic genomes. The majority of the genes are also shorter than their corresponding homologues. In addition, in-depth analysis of the predicted genes showed absence of genes of some biosynthetic and metabolic pathways, while other such pathways included a relatively limited number of genes. Recent studies using the sequencing information have revealed some details of microsporidian evolution and metabolism such as homologues of bacterial ADP/ATP transporter suspected important in E. cunuculi energy metabolism.
Being an obligate parasite, E. cuniculi, and microsporidia in general, relies on its host to provide it with the energetic and metabolic needs. The compensation pathways, and their function, are poorly understood.
For many years, microsporidia were thought be lacking the mitochondria, and accordingly proposed to have evolved before the appearance of the eukaryotic mitochondria. Nosema lack electron transport chain and Kreb's cycle, however, recently a highly reduced organelle, extremely reduced both in size and biochemical complexity, called the mitosome was identified, a probable relic from a primitive mitochondrion. To date, only 20 mitosomal proteins were identified, in contrast to the yeast mitochondrion, which contains about 1000 proteins.
Recently, a draft sequence of the Nosema ceranae genome was published, enabling further analysis of protein homologies and revealing a significant homology to, while distinct diversity from the E. cunuculi genome, and only few genes orthologous with that of S. cerevisae.
Intracellular symbiotic organisms use mitochondrial carrier family proteins (MCF) in order to acquire various substrates, including ATP, from the host cell, in order to provide the energy for the protein transport and other necessary mitosomal activities. However, as the microsporidian genomes have apparently lost all of the genes for the MCF proteins, it is not known how the parasite's mitosome acquires the necessary ATP for its function. Several bacterial intracellular parasites, such as Rickettsia, possess a nucleotide transporter which is used for ATP import from their eukaryotic host cell. Homologues of these genes were identified in the E. cuniculi genome, however, the use of such bacterial-like nucleotide transporters to acquire ATP from a eukaryotic cell is unknown in a eukaryotic parasite. There are no homologues of these proteins in either vertebrate or invertebrate species sequenced to date.
Gene Silencing in Invertebrates
The process of post-transcriptional gene silencing is most likely a cellular defense mechanism used to prevent the expression of foreign genes, thought to be shared across kingdoms. The presence of long dsRNAs in cells stimulates the activity of a ribonuclease III enzyme referred to as Dicer, which is involved in the processing of the dsRNA into short pieces known as short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). These are typically about 21 to about 23 nucleotides in length and comprise about 19 base pair duplexes. The RNAi response also features an endonuclease complex, commonly referred to as an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which mediates cleavage of single-stranded RNA having sequence complementarity to the antisense strand of the siRNA duplex. In some organisms, an amplification stage may follow the initiation stage of gene silencing, involving an RNA dependent RNA Polymerase (RdRP), which may subsequently lead to degradation of RNAs outside the initial dsRNA region of homology. It has been shown in some species that RNAi mediated interference spreads from the initial site of dsRNA delivery, producing interference phenotypes throughout the injected animal. In some invertebrates, including honeybees, a systemic interference defective (SID) gene encoding a transmembrane protein important to the systemic RNAi pathway has been identified. Apparently, these SID1-like proteins channel dsRNAs between cells, enabling a mechanism of systemic spread of the silencing signal. However, an invertebrate RdRP homologue has not yet been described. Recently, gene silencing by feeding viral dsRNA has been demonstrated effective in combating IAPV infection in honeybees (PCT IL2008/001440).
Microsporidia have been classified as Fungi, which have shown an evolutionarily diverse repertoire of silencing proteins. Some of these are distinct from vertebrate silencing homologues. In Trypanosoma brucei a DICER-like homologue was identified. RISC homologues have also been described, and RNAi-related transcripts have been identified in simple, parasitic eukaryotes such as Giardia and Trichomonas. However, the function of such enzymes and their products is unclear. Further, although DICER and RISC enzymes have been detected in some species of Trypanosomes, other Trypanosomes have been identified as RNAi-negative, consistent with the observation that many eukaryotic parasites are genetically heterogeneous where RNAi pathways are concerned (Ullu et al, 2004).
RNAi gene silencing in intracellular eukaryotic parasites has been demonstrated either for host proteins suspected of critical roles in the parasites life cycle (as in T. cruzi), or in free-living forms, such as the extra-cellular forms of Plasmodium and T. brucei that can be cultured in-vitro. As opposed to the numerous studies with viral parasites, to date, no endogenous gene silencing in intracellular forms of eukaryotic parasites has been demonstrated. In addition to the requirement of traversing at least one parasite membrane of undefined permeability and composition, additional obstacles to effective RNAi methodology for intracellular forms of eukaryotic parasites include the heterogeneity of RNAi pathways in lower, parasitic eukaryotes, poor understanding of the function of such pathways, and the limited knowledge of parasite metabolism, and therefore difficulty in selecting effective targets for silencing the parasite genes.
There is thus a need and it would be highly desirable to have methods for effective, gene silencing in Nosema, in order to prevent and treat Nosema infection in honeybees.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Prevention and treatment of Nosema disease in bees


In a light sensing element having simplified structure, an array substrate having the light sensing element and an LCD apparatus having the light sensing element, the light sensing element includes a first electrode, a control electrode and a second electrode. An alternating bias voltage is applied to the first electrode. An off voltage is applied to the control electrode. The second electrode outputs a light-induced leakage current based on an externally provided light and the bias voltage. Therefore, the array substrate includes one light sensing switching element corresponding to one pixel so that structure of the array substrate is simplified and opening ratio is increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light sensing element, an array substrate having the light sensing element and a liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus having the light sensing element. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light sensing element having a simple structure and an improved opening ratio, an array substrate having the light sensing element and an LCD apparatus having the light sensing element.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a light sensing element senses a light that is provided from an exterior to an electronic apparatus so as to sense a position where the light is incident. A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus having the light sensing element is disclosed in 56.3 Society for Information Display (SID) by Willem den Boer et al., which is entitled "Active Matrix LCD with Integrated Optical Touch Screen". A plurality of the light sensing elements is arranged in a matrix shape to generate a position information corresponding to a position of the externally provided light. The light sensing elements may sense a fingerprint. Also, a touch panel may include the light sending elements.
The LCD panel includes the light sensing element so as to sense the light. The light sensing element may be formed on an array substrate of the LCD panel.
A pixel region of the array substrate is not small so that the light sensing element may not have enough space on the array substrate. When a transmissive LCD apparatus or a reflective-transmissive LCD apparatus includes the light sensing element, opening ratio of the LCD apparatus is decreased. In addition, a number of elements formed in one pixel region of the array substrate is increased so that the structure of the array substrate is complicated, thereby decreasing a yield of the LCD apparatus. Furthermore, a signal interference may be generated between the elements in the pixel region.
The present invention is directed towards overcoming problems and disadvantages of the related art.

Light sensing element, array substrate having the same and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same


A receptacle assembly includes a receptacle housing having a module cavity defined by a top wall having a plurality of apertures therethrough. The module cavity has a port at a front end of the receptacle housing configured to receive a pluggable module. A communication connector is positioned in the receptacle housing having a mating interface for mating with the pluggable module. A heat exchanger is received in the module cavity having a heat spreader positioned interior of the module cavity below the top wall. The heat spreader is configured to be in thermal communication with the pluggable module. The heat exchanger has a plurality of fin segments extending from the heat spreader. The fin segments are received in corresponding apertures in the top wall to pass through the top wall to an exterior of the module cavity for heat dissipation.

The subject matter described herein relates to a receptacle assembly that receives a pluggable module in a communication system.
At least some known communication systems include receptacle assemblies, such as input/output (I/O) connector assemblies, that are configured to receive a pluggable module and establish a communicative connection between the pluggable module and an electrical connector of the receptacle assembly. As one example, a known receptacle assembly includes a receptacle housing that is mounted to a circuit board and configured to receive a small form-factor (SFP) pluggable transceiver. The receptacle assembly includes an elongated cavity that extends between an opening of the cavity and an electrical connector that is disposed within the cavity and mounted to the circuit board. The pluggable module is inserted through the opening and advanced toward the electrical connector in the cavity. The pluggable module and the electrical connector have respective electrical contacts that engage one another to establish a communicative connection.
A challenge often encountered in the design of the pluggable module and receptacle assembly is the heat generated during operation of the communication system, which negatively affects module/system reliability and electrical performance. Typically, heat is generated by components on the internal circuit board within the pluggable module and drawn away from the internal circuit board by the metal body of the pluggable module. In some cases, a heat sink is used to dissipate heat from the pluggable module. In conventional receptacle assemblies, the top of the receptacle housing includes a large opening. The heat sink covers the opening and is retained on the receptacle housing by a spring clip. A portion of the heat sink extends through the opening and engages the pluggable module. The large opening in the top of the housing is a leak point for electromagnetic interference (EMI). Some receptacle assemblies mitigate EMI leakage with additional gaskets at the opening, which adds to the overall cost of the receptacle assembly.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide cost-effective EMI shielding at the interface between a heat exchanger and the housing of a receptacle assembly.

Receptacle assembly having a heat exchanger


This invention solves problems associated with prior-art soft-dock mechanisms by placing all active components of a soft-dock system on the chaser side of the mechanism, leaving the target side of the mechanism completely passive (i.e., requiring no power expenditure or self-actuated moving parts to operate). In particular, the active components are supported on the end of a flexible cable attached to the probe, or chaser, side of the device. These components act as a sort of spring-loaded xe2x80x9ctrap.xe2x80x9d Once the end of the probe passes into a receptacle on the target side, the mechanism is triggered, engaging it in such a way that it can no longer be pulled out of the receptacle until it is reset.

This invention relates generally to spacecraft docking and, in particular, to a system of the type wherein all active components are disposed on a chase vehicle.
There is interest in commercial uses of outer space, particularly earth orbit. This environment offers unique characteristics, such as zero gravity and unlimited vacuum, which may be useful to certain manufacturing processes. A major problem is the costs in launch and recovery of payloads.
One possible solution involves the use of a semi-permanent orbiting vehicle that is periodically serviced for refueling, resupply, and payload exchange. The most economical approach to such operations involves unmanned, unsupervised, autonomous rendezvous and docking vehicles. This requires capture and docking mechanisms which are simple and reliable, even in the presence of some misalignment. It would also be advantageous for the mechanism aboard the normally orbiting craft to be largely passive, thereby preserving power resources for other, perhaps more critical uses.
Existing spacecraft coupling structures typically take the form of compatible male and female devices, such as a conical seating platform on one vehicle and a docking adapter on the other for alignment and coupling of the spacecraft. Such structures typically absorb the relative kinetic energy between the two space vehicles upon engagement, and upon coupling, rigidly and securely interconnect the two spacecraft until their desired disengagement or decoupling.
In most applications, attachment is accomplished by remotely controlling one spacecraft on earth. The controlled vehicle typically includes an elongate probe or grappling arm for insertion into the conical seating platform in the other vehicle. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,735,488; 5,364,046; 4,177,964; 4,195,804; 4,391,423; and 4,588,150, and Japanese Patent No. 226,497 are illustrative of such structures.
The apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,488 includes an elongate grappling arm extending from a first space vehicle. A pair of inflatable bladders are positioned about the grappling arm for engaging an inner surface of the combustion chamber of a second vehicle upon inflation, and a pair of rear bladders are positioned about the grappling arm for engaging an inner surface of the nozzle downstream from the combustion chamber upon inflation. This aligns the grappling arm and the rocket propulsion nozzle. A pressurized fluid source is provided on the first space vehicle for supplying fluid pressure to the inflatable bladders, and a fluid control valve manifold selectively controls the release of pressurized fluid to the bladders. In operation, the grappling arm is inserted into the rocket propulsion nozzle, and the control valves are actuated to first inflate the front bladders and thereby interconnect the grappling arm and the rocket propulsion nozzle. The rear bladders are subsequently inflated to align a central axis of the grappling arm with a central axis of the rocket propulsion nozzle. Inflation of the rear bladders provides an axial reaction load to balance the axial load provided by the front bladders. Attaching the vehicles in space may be controlled from the earth by activating the control valves to inflate the bladders.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,046, a largely passive capture mechanism disposed on a first spacecraft includes a concave cone section with the narrower interior end to admit a ball of a predetermined diameter. When tripped, a capture device restricts the diameter of passage for capture of the ball. In the release position passage for the ball is unrestricted. The capture device is preferably reset by the other spacecraft to release the ball. A docking mechanism disposed on the second spacecraft includes a convex cone section constructed to mate with the concave cone section, ball at the end of a cable and a boom. The cable may be extended from or retracted to the apex of the convex cone section. A rotary drive coupled to the convex cone section permits relative rotation of the spacecraft. The boom may be extended from or retracted into the second spacecraft. The spacecraft dock by directing the extended ball into the cylinder, where it is captured. The cable and boom retract to dock. The active docking mechanism releases and resets the capture device to undock. A pyrotechnic cutter disposed inside the boom can cut the cable for emergency release.
This invention solves problems associated with prior-art soft-dock mechanisms by placing all active components of a soft-dock system on the chaser side of the mechanism, leaving the target side of the mechanism completely passive (i.e., requiring no power expenditure or self-actuated moving parts to operate). In particular, the active components are supported on the end of a flexible cable attached to the probe, or chaser, side of the device. These components act as a sort of spring-loaded xe2x80x9ctrap.xe2x80x9d Once the end of the probe passes into a receptacle on the target side, the mechanism is triggered, engaging it in such a way that it can no longer be pulled out of the receptacle until it is reset.


A new and distinct variety of peach tree. The following features of the tree and its fruit are characterized with the tree budded on ‘Nemaguard’ Rootstock (non-patented), grown on Handford sandy loam soil with Storie Index rating 95, in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, near Modesto, Calif., with standard commercial fruit growing practices, such as pruning, thinning, spraying, irrigation and fertilization. Its novelty consist of the following combination of desirable features:                1. Vigorous, upright tree growth.        2. Fruit with a high degree of attractive red skin color.        3. Heavy and regular production of very large size fruit.        4. Firm, yellow fleshed fruit with very good flavor and eating quality.        5. Fruit being relatively uniform in size throughout the tree.

1. Field of the Invention
In the field of plant genetics, we conduct an extensive and continuing plant-breeding program including the organization and asexual reproduction of orchard trees, and of which plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries, almonds and interspecifics are exemplary. It was against this background of our activities that the present variety of peach tree was originated and asexually reproduced by us in our experimental orchard located near Modesto, Stanislaus County, Calif.
2. Prior varieties
Among the existing varieties of peach trees, which are known to us, and mentioned herein, 'Zee Lady' Peach (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,832), 'Zee Diamond' Peach (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,673), 'Vista' Peach (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,549), 'Sunnirich' Peach (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,567) and our proprietary non-patented peach seedling selection '175LE265'.


A plasma processing method allows to suppress the drop of the etching rate of the depoless-process without performing an additional seasoning process right after the dry cleaning process. The method includes a first and a second plasma processing step carried out in a single chamber and a step of dry cleaning an inside of the chamber by using a dummy substrate between the first and the second plasma processing step. Deposits are substantially accumulated in the chamber during the first plasma processing step, while substantially no deposits are accumulated in the chamber during the second plasma processing step. The dry cleaning step is performed by supplying into the chamber a deposit removing gas for removing the deposits produced in the chamber during the first plasma processing step and a dummy substrate etching gas capable of etching the dummy substrate.

Foreign substances attached on a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer during a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device result in pattern defects in the device, thereby lowering a manufacturing yield. Accordingly, a process employing plasma, e.g., dry etching and CVD, in a manufacturing process has been widely studied recently. Specifically, a plasma reaction of various gases introduced into a manufacturing apparatus is used to carry out micro processing, e.g., film deposition and etching.
In such a process, deposits (a deposition film) may be attached on an inner wall of the manufacturing apparatus, in addition to an object being micro-processed. Since, for example, molecules of an etching gas may be decomposed or combined with each other in the plasma and etching by-products may be generated during the dry etching process, deposits thereof may be attached on the inner wall of the apparatus during the dry etching process. As the number of wafers treated increases, the deposits get thicker and are partially peeled off to generate dusts, which cause pattern defects in devices. Therefore, such deposits attached on the inner wall in the apparatus must be periodically removed.
If a depo-process is followed by a depoless-process in a same chamber while dry etching a silicon oxide film, an etching rate of the depoless-process becomes unstable, since the depoless-process can be easily influenced by deposits produced in the same chamber during the preceding depo-process. The term "depo-process" used herein denotes a process of using a gas with a smaller F/C (fluorine/carbon) ratio, e.g., C4F8, which leaves a visible amount of polymers including a CF based element such as CF4 attached to the chamber. The term "depoless-process" used herein denotes a process using a gas with a larger F/C ratio, e.g., CF4, which leaves no polymers attached to the chamber.
In order to solve the above problem, a gas reacting with the deposits is conventionally introduced to perform a dry cleaning process. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 5-291213 discloses such a dry cleaning process scheme, wherein while a wafer installed on a supporting table is maintained at a temperature below 0° C., a process gas, i.e., a mixed gas of CF4 and O2, is introduced into a chamber so that the deposits may be removed by an activated process gas. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 7-78802 discloses another dry cleaning process scheme, wherein a cleaning gas in which H2 gas is added to O2 gas is introduced to perform the dry cleaning process.
The gas used in the dry cleaning process reacts with the deposits of deposition film to be removed to produce compounds of high vapor pressures, so that the deposits are removed by an evaporation and vacuum exhaustion. Since a condition in the chamber just after the dry cleaning process is different from a stable condition in the chamber reached after repeatedly performing the depoless-process, the etching rate in the depoless-process decreases.
To solve the above problem, a seasoning process has been introduced. In the seasoning process, instead of processing the wafer right after the dry cleaning process, a plurality of dummy wafers are transferred into the chamber and a plasma processing is performed on the dummy wafers under exactly same process conditions as those of the actual plasma processing process to stabilize the process conditions in the chamber.
However, the seasoning process requires the dummy wafers for the seasoning process and at least several minutes of processing time. Accordingly, an additional effort and an additional time needed therefore lower an operating rate of a series of plasma processes.


A connector includes a first and a second terminal portions each having: a substrate pressing portion; a spacer pressing portion; and a fulcrum portion arranged between the substrate pressing portion and the spacer pressing portion, a spacer arranged between the spacer pressing portions of the first and the second terminal portions, and a clipping section formed of the substrate pressing portions of the first and the second terminal portions. The clipping section opens and closes while operating the fulcrum portions as a fulcrum. The spacer pressing portions of the first and the second terminal portions close via the fulcrum when the clipping section opens.

This invention relates to a connector and, in particular, to a type of a connector which establishes an electrical connection of electrodes thereto when a card-like substrate, on an end portion of which the electrodes are formed, is inserted into the connector.
There is a type of a connector (a socket) to establish an electrical connection when a card-like substrate, on one side of which a plurality of electrodes (circuit conductors) are provided, is inserted into the connector. The connector includes terminal clamps which connect the plurality of the electrodes to the substrate by clamping the substrate when the substrate is inserted. The terminal clamps have an elastic force, and holds the substrate by the elastic force, thereby maintaining the electrical connection.
Since the terminal clamp provided on the connector into which the substrate is inserted maintains the electrical connection with the electrode of the substrate by the elastic force of itself as described above, various arts are proposed to assure the electrical connection.
For example, FIG. 5 shows a substrate connecting structure according to a conventional art 1 disclosed in a Patent Document 1. In the conventional art 1, a terminal unit 70 includes a plurality of substrate connecting terminals 71 and a shaft member which supports the substrate connecting terminals 71 to arrange the substrate connecting terminals 71 in a predetermined manner. The shaft member is made of a circular insulating resin, and is held to be clipped by a bent portion of the substrate connecting terminal. In this way, clipping and connecting portion 72 to which a circuit conductor 77 of a circuit substrate connects is placed in a proper position.
FIG. 6 shows a structure of a card-edge connector 90 according to a conventional art 2 disclosed in a Patent Document 2. A terminal clip 80 of the card-edge connector 90 limits a movement of a circuit substrate 84 by a limiting unit 83 including an elastic connect piece 81 and a locking part 82 when the circuit substrate 84 is inserted into the card-edge connector 90.
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2001-155802
[Patent Document 2] JP-A-2003-7375
Generally, a card-edge connector for receiving a substrate having two separate conductive connecting terminals with one on each sides of the substrate, requires more than merely the connecting terminals of a terminal clip to support the connecting weight and forces applied to the connector, when the substrate is inserted into the connector.
As a result, a housing is needed to receive a reactive force of the connecting terminal. Accordingly, if the housing if formed by a resin such as a plastic, the above reactive force acts continually, causing creep, or deformation of the housing, particularly in the presence of heat produced by the substrate. If creep occurs, the connecting force is reduced. Consequently, it may decrease a reliability of the connection.
In the conventional art 2, the connecting weight is received by the terminal alone. However, since the locking part 82 of the terminal clip 80 at the under side on the upper side of the substrate, there is a concern that the both sides conductor is short-circuited. Therefore, it is necessary to have a sufficient width between the terminals, and it is difficult to minimize the connector.


A splash guard mechanism for preventing the entry of grass, in addition to mud and gravel, in a vehicle such as a an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle). A disc-shaped splash guard mechanism covers a brake disc stored in a concave portion of a wheel to thereby prevent the entry of dirt such as mud, gravel, and grass into the brake disc. If the dirt enters the brake disc, the dirt is ejected from a first cutout portion provided on a lower portion of the splash guard mechanism. Additionally, a grass removal portion substantially triangle-shaped in plan view is provided on a lower portion of the splash guard mechanism. The grass removal portion protrudes toward a vehicle center to push grass on the ground outward and away from the first cutout portion. Since the grass is only pushed out, the grass is prevented from being cut and entering the brake disk.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a splash guard mechanism suitable for a brake system for a vehicle, in particular, for an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle).
2. Description of Background Art
Vehicle are equipped with a brake system. In an ATV capable of traveling on an unpaved ground such as dirt or moor, it is necessary to strengthen measures against, particularly, the entry of mud into a brake system. Such measures have been proposed for example, in JP-A No. 2008-57707, see FIG. 11.
A related art will be described with reference to FIG. 11 of JP-A No. 2008-57707. Referring to FIG. 11, dirt (72) such as mud and gravel is deposited on a smallest-diameter portion (32a) of a rim, as shown in FIG. A1 (the bracketed reference signs are those transferred from JP-A No. 2008-57707, hereinafter described in the same manner). The smallest-diameter portion (32a) of the rim is a rotating body, and a brake disc guard (33) is a nonrotating body. A flange (38) extends from the brake disc guard (33) to the near side of the drawing.
When the smallest-diameter portion (32a) of the rim rotates in the direction shown by arrow F, a part of the dirt (72) falls down. The rest of the dirt (72) reaches an upper portion as shown in FIG. B1, and then is scraped off by a scraper (36) in FIG. C1.
The brake disc guard (33) includes a lower portion (41) that is widely cutout. The dirt (72) having fallen down in FIG. 11 sub-FIGS. A1, B1, and C1, is ejected to the far side of the drawing through the large opening of the lower portion (41).
That is to say, JP-A No. 2008-57707 discloses a splash guard mechanism for a vehicle in which the brake disc guard (33) is provided so as to prevent the entry of mud and gravel into a brake disc (30) provided in a wheel, and the lower portion (41) is provided with a cutout so as to easily eject therethrough mud and gravel having entered the brake disc (30).
However, a vehicle such as an ATV may travel on grass. Although grass having entered the brake disc (30) is also ejected through the cutout of the lower portion (41), grass is likely to become tangled therein as compared with mud and gravel. Therefore, the ejection of the grass becomes more difficult. For this reason, the entry of grass into the brake disc (30) is preferably suppressed as much as possible.