A secure content object protects electronic documents from unauthorized use. The secure content object includes an encrypted electronic document, a multi-key encryption table having at least one multi-key component, an encrypted header and a user interface device. The encrypted document is encrypted using a document encryption key associated with a multi-key encryption method. The encrypted header includes an encryption marker formed by a random number followed by a derivable variation of the same random number. The user interface device enables a user to input a user authorization. The user authorization is combined with each of the multi-key components in the multi-key encryption key table and used to try to decrypt the encrypted header. If the encryption marker is successfully decrypted, the electronic document may be decrypted. Multiple electronic documents or a document and annotations may be protected by the secure content object.

Electronic documents have become the de facto standard for information creation, transmission and storage. An electronic document (or electronic file or electronic object) typically has content information (such as text, graphics, equations, tables, spreadsheets, pictures, sound, full motion video and other multimedia content, etc.) and formatting information which directs how the content is to be displayed. Different types of content information are more readily understood if formatted in a particular manner. Spreadsheets, for example, are more easily understood if formatted in interactive tables. Many different application programs or languages have been developed for displaying or formatting content information in specific ways. Each language, such as Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, HTML, etc., defines a set of formatting rules which determines how the content information (such as a letter, article, sales information, etc.) will be displayed to a user.
Most users have an interest in protecting content information, especially when the document is not in use. The level of protection desired by users depends on the value of the content information. The more valuable the content information, the more stringent the protections desired by users. To accommodate this, many application programs include methods for protecting content. Microsoft Word, for example, allows users to protect documents by assigning a password. The Word document is stored in the clear, so an enterprising hacker could remove the password and see the document content.
The "Portable Document Format", PDF, created by the Adobe Acrobat presents content information in a format which preserves the publisher's desired presentation appearance and it is platform independent, which makes it attractive for use over the Internet. The Acrobat software provides some document "protection." A PDF document can be encrypted to protect its content. Encryption applies to all strings and streams in the PDF file, but not to other objects which are used to convey information about the document's structure rather than its content. Access to the "protected" PDF document is by a user password. While content is protected via encryption, PDF does not provide for a "secure" transmission, i.e., transmission where the structure and/or other information about the document is not visible. Even with partially encrypted content, however, much can be learned about a document by observing the relationship of formatted content or by comparing one version of a digital document with another. Also, the PDF does not provide for user selected encryption levels, nor for the protection of any preliminary information (which frequently reveals structure of the document) that is presented to the user in order to input the password that any user can read before opening the protected parts.
Many application programs and languages provide for insertion of comments, footnotes, and other types of annotations to an existing document. Annotations are frequently made by persons other than the original document author(s). Whether a non-author can make an annotation to another user's document depends on the particular application program and whether the non-author has been given authorization to make annotations. In a Microsoft Word document, for example, any user having access to a document can insert annotations. In Adobe Acrobat, the user's version of the Acrobat software determines whether the user can make annotations or not. If the user's version permits annotations, then in the normal sequence of events the user will save changes to the annotations causing the Acrobat software to include the new annotation and/or changes to existing annotations in a new version of the existing PDF file.
Such annotations, however, can be read by all users who have the right to open the document (whether it is a Word document or a PDF or some other document type). There is no way to limit who can read or edit the annotations a user added to the file if the new version is distributed to other users with access to a software application that shows/edits annotations. Protection of documents, for example, in which a security mechanism only provides for limiting access to those who know the password for the document cannot be considered a general solution.


A structured artificial construct that allows corneal endothelium to be regenerated from isolated cells outside the human or animal body is provided. The structured artificial construct is formed from a dome-shaped base body with a honeycomb structure formed in a concave side of the base body. Methods for generating the structured artificial construct are also provided.

The transparency of the cornea of the eye is essential for proper vision. Above all, it requires an intact endothelial tissue (corneal endothelium). This single-layered endothelium at the back of the cornea is in direct contact with a cell-free basal membrane, the so-called Lamina limitans posterior descementi or Descemet membrane, which delimits is from the main layer of the cornea, the stroma. The Descemet membrane of the healthy cornea consists essentially of type VIII collagen and laminin. It has a regular spatial structure, which corresponds to the structure of the cells of the endothelium. The endothelium actively drains the stroma across the Descemet membrane, preventing water retention and edema formation, and thus opacity of the cornea.
Human corneal endothelial cells arrest in the GI-phase and show only limited ability to proliferate in vivo. Their inability to divide implies that in the case of corneal injury, be it due to inflammatory processes or by mechanical trauma, but also due to natural aging processes, an irrevocable destruction of the endothelium may incur and, in the worst case, vision may be completely lost due to corneal opacity. Although dead endothelial cells are replaced by neighbors, they become larger and migrate into gaps in order to ensure the tightness and function of the endothelium. However, this repair mechanism is very limited.
Endothelial cell loss in the cornea can be cured by medical measures to only limited extend. An often used method is the substitution of the entire damaged cornea with a donor cornea in the so-called perforating keratoplasty. However, clinical complications often occur, which cause a lack in or a reduced rehabilitation of the eye, such as chronically dry eyes, corneal vascularization and, in the worst case, a rejection of the foreign donor material.
Besides to this total substitution, methods have now been established in which, after local removal of the damaged endothelium together with its Descemet membrane (Descemetorhexis), a lamellar transplant consisting of a corneal endothelium and attached Descemet membrane, and a small portion of posterior stroma, is introduced from a donor cornea into the anterior chamber of the recipient. Through this specific transplantation, the usual risks of a transplant and the side effects of the operation are reduced against a total transplant. However, there are still further technical problems that have not yet been overcome.
A general problem with such allogeneic transplants of corneal tissue is the loss of endothelial cells. The preparation technique at the donor eye, the manner of storage and the nutrient medium used, the transport and ultimately the perioperative handling of the donor tissue always result in a more or less pronounced loss of endothelial cells in the transplant. In addition to the immunoreactive degeneration of the foreign tissue, these factors can lead to a primary transplant failure as well, rendering the transplanted endothelial tissue non-functional and no rehabilitation takes place.

FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.


The object of the invention is to reduce the deterioration of crystallinity in the vicinity of an active layer when C, which is a p-type dopant, is doped and to suppress the diffusion of Zn, which is a p-type dopant, into an undoped active layer, thus to realize a sharp doping profile. When a Zn-doped InGaAlAs layer having favorable crystallinity is provided between a C-doped InGaAlAs upper-side guiding layer and an undoped active layer, the influence of the C-doped InGaAlAs layer whose crystallinity is lowered can be reduced in the vicinity of the active layer. Further, the Zn diffusion from a Zn-doped InP cladding layer can be suppressed by the C-doped InGaAlAs layer.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor optical devices and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to a technique which is effectively applicable to the structure of a p-type semiconductor layer of a semiconductor optical device including a semiconductor laser, and a method for forming the p-type semiconductor layer.
2. Description of the Related Arts
As a method of crystal growth on an InP substrate for a semiconductor laser, a metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy has been mainly used. Zn is used as a p-type dopant, which is produced from DEZn or DMZn, and Si or Se is used as an n-type dopant, which are produced from Si2H6 or H2Se. Although Si and Se used as the n-type dopants hardly diffuse, Zn used as the p-type dopant easily diffuses. Accordingly, for example, when the concentration of Zn of a p-type guiding layer or a p-type buried layer is increased, the laser characteristic is enhanced up to a certain concentration of Zn along with the increase of the concentration of Zn. However, when the concentration of Zn becomes excessively high, Zn diffuses into an undoped active layer and hence, the laser characteristic is sharply deteriorated. FIG. 13 shows a result of an experiment on Zn characteristic by actually preparing laser devices. When the concentration of Zn was increased to 8×1017 cm−3 from an undoped state, a threshold current value was increased by 4.1 mA although the resistance was lowered by 2.8 Ω. Further, as the p-type dopant having a low diffusion constant compared to Zn, C (carbon) is known, which is produced from CBr4, CCl4 or the like. Although C is used as the p-type dopant with respect to InGaAs, InGaAlAs and InAlAS, C becomes the n-type dopant with a low doping concentration with respect to InP and InGaAsP. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device structure when C is used. The device structure is formed by successively laminating an n-Inp cladding layer 2, an n-InGaAlAs lower-side guiding layer 3, an undoped InGaAlAs multiple quantum well active layer 4, a C-doped InGaAlAs upper-side guiding layer 5, a Zn-doped InP cladding layer (1×1018 cm−3) 6, a Zn-doped InGaAs contact layer 7 on an n-InP substrate 1. Profiles of C and Zn in the device structure are shown in FIG. 2. It was confirmed that the Zn diffusion from the cladding layer was stopped at the C-doped layer and Zn did not diffuse into the undoped active layer. When C is doped with a high doping concentration, it is necessary to allow C to grow at a low temperature of 600° C. or less and at a low V/III ratio (a flow rate ratio of V group/III group) (for example, see the relationship between the concentration of C and a growth temperature shown in FIG. 3). Thus, the crystallinity of the InGaAlAs upper-side guiding layer 5 is deteriorated. FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the growth temperature of the InGaAlAs upper-side guiding layer 5 and a PL (photo luminescence) intensity of the device structure. As can be understood from FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, to perform doping of C with the C concentration of 1×1018 cm−3 or more, it is necessary to set the growth temperature to 600° C. or less. (see K. Kurihara et. al., "Carbon-doped InAs(Ga)As with low oxygen contamination", Journal of Crystal Growth, 254, 2003, pages 6 to 13). On the other hand, the PL intensity of the device structure is sharply lowered when the growth temperature of the upper-side guiding layer 5 is set to 600° C. or less and the crystallinity of the InGaAlAs upper-side guiding layer is deteriorated in the low-temperature growth of 600° C. or less. Hence, it is considered that the PL intensity of a light emitting layer is lowered due to the lack of crystallinity.
Further, while the usual InGaAlAs layer is grown in the vicinity of 700° C., the C-doped layer is grown at a temperature of 600° C. or less and hence, the growth interruption becomes necessary when the temperature rises or lowers. Accordingly, for example, the crystallinity at an interface between the undoped InGaAlAs multiple quantum well active layer 4 and the C-doped InGaAlAs upper-side guiding layer 5 is deteriorated by the growth interruption (K. Kurihara et. al., "Phase separation in InAlAs grown by MOVPE with a low growth temperature", Journal of Crystal Growth, 271, 2004, pages 341 to 347). FIG. 5 is a Transmission Electron Microscope figure which is obtained as a result of study of the deterioration of crystallinity due to the growth interruption. In this study, to clearly observe the influence of the growth interruption, after growing the C-doped InGaAlAs layer at a growth temperature of 535° C., the growth interruption in the hydrogen atmosphere was provided for 5 minutes for temperature elevation and temperature stabilization, and the InGaAlAs layer was grown at a temperature of 690° C. As a result, it was confirmed that a crystalline defect was generated at an interface where the growth interruption was provided.
FIG. 14 shows a result of an experiment on characteristics by actually preparing laser devices. In spite of the fact that the diffusion of Zn from the cladding layer was stopped at the C-doped layer, a threshold current value was increased by 3.2 mA. The above-mentioned results (FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, and FIG. 14) indicate that although the diffusion of Zn to the active layer can be suppressed by the C-doped InGaAlAs layer, the crystallinity in the growth layer right above the active layer and at the growth interface is deteriorated due to the C-doped InGaAlAs layer which is grown at the low temperature and the low V/III ratio and the growth interruption, resulting in an increased threshold current value.

Semiconductor optical device and manufacturing method thereof


A self-exercise device that provides resistance to tugging, and is operable to intermittently change the resistance so as to mimic an actual tug-of-war game. The device includes ball gallery and ratchet structures that cooperate to provide additional intermittent resistance to provide action to the device that mimics an actual tug-of-war experience wherein the opposing resistance is randomly changing.

Improvement is desired in the construction of pet exercise devices, and in particular canine exercise devices for tug of war type exercise. In a conventional game of tug of war between a dog and a human using a tug-toy, the dog grasps one end of the toy with its teeth, while the human grasps the other end with a hand and pulls against the dog's pull. The pull applied by either is not constant, and in particular the human will randomly change the pull strength applied so that a back-forth tug of war game ensues.
The present disclosure fills a need in the art by providing an exercise device that can be used by a dog or other pet for self-exercise that provides advantages and features not found in prior devices.
The exercise device is advantageously configured to be wholly mechanical so as to be able to be used and left outdoors, and operable to intermittently change the resistance against which the dog pulls so as to mimic the desirable random change of pull strength as would be applied by a human.


A method and system for monitoring an appliance is disclosed. The method includes establishing a wireless communication connection between a communication module in an appliance and a communication network, transmitting operational data in real-time from the appliance to an external monitoring system over the communication network, determining a status of a component of the appliance from the real-time operational data, and if a failure mode of the component is detected, initiating a service protocol corresponding to the component.

The aspects of the disclosed embodiments generally relate to appliances. More particularly, the aspects of the disclosed embodiments relate to remotely monitoring appliance operational data in real-time.
One example of a conventional remote maintenance system for an appliance is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,096. This type of system generally includes a server located in the home (home server) and is connected to a service center server. The appliance includes a monitoring circuit that monitors an internal state of the appliance. The internal state is reported to the home server, which sends the information on to the center server. The center server holds a failure decision model for the appliance that determines a failure of the appliance.
The home server can also hold a failure decision model corresponding to the appliance model. The home server can detect a failure of the appliance and notify the center server of the failure.
However, in these types of systems, a home server is required to acquire the internal state of the appliance. The internal state data is collected in the home server. The home server must then arrange for the internal state data to be transmitted to the central server, where the data is compared with a failure model to determine if the appliance is in a failure state.
It would be advantageous to be able to automatically couple an appliance to the Internet over a user's wireless local area network (WLAN) in order to transmit real-time operating data of the appliance to a service center or user. It would also be advantageous to be able to use the real-time data to determine a failure or pre-failure mode of the appliance in order to address repair issues prior to a catastrophic failure of the appliance.


An anion exchange method conducted at a high temperature, which comprises using a crosslinked anion exchanger which comprises structural units having a quaternary ammonium group of the following formula (a) and structural units derived from an unsaturated hydrocarbon group-containing crosslinkable monomer, and of which at least 90% of anion exchange groups are present in the form of a group represented by ##STR1## as defined in the following formula (a): ##STR2## wherein R is a --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --group (n=an integer of from 3 to 18) which may include a cyclic hydrocarbon, each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 which are independent from one another, is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 hydrocarbon group or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkanol group, the benzene ring of the formula (a) may be substituted by an alkyl group or a halogen atom, or may be condensed with other aromatic ring, and X is an anion.

Heretofore, generally, an anion exchange resin is preferably used for removing anions, and as anion exchange resins, various resins are known which have, as functional groups, various anion exchange moieties, for example, amine-type substituent such as primary, secondary and tertiary amino groups and quaternary ammonium. Among them, anion exchange resins of trialkylbenzyl ammonium salt type (e.g. trimethylbenzyl ammonium salt) wherein trialkyl amine is bonded by a covalent bond to the benzyl group of a unit derived from monovinyl aromatic compound, are particularly excellent in the ion exchange capacity and are widely used.
As well known, various hot water and normal temperature water in a power plant are required to be demineralized and purified. Examples of a nuclear reactor used in an atomic power plant include a boiling water reactor (BWR) and a pressurized water reactor (PWR). The former is a reactor where a cooling water is heated and converted into vapor which is then directly supplied to a turbine, and the latter is a reactor where a primary cooling water is heated and supplied to a vapor-generator where a secondary cooling water is heated and converted into vapor which is then supplied to a turbine.
In any type of the above mentioned nuclear reactors, a condensate demineralizer of a reactor water charged with an ion exchange resin is provided in the circulation system of the cooling water to remove radioactive material from the reactor water and to purify the reactor water.
In addition to the above device, the reactor water of hot water or water of a rising temperature is treated with ion exchange resin also in a demineralizing tower for removing boric acid, a boric acid-recovering device, a used fuel pool water-purifying device and/or a condensate demineralizer. The condensate demineralizer is used also in a large once-through boiler in a thermal electric power plant.
Examples of the demineralizer include a device using a mixed bed comprising an anion exchange resin and a cation exchange resin, a device prepared by connecting a single bed of an anion exchange resin with a single bed of a cation exchange resin, and a device prepared by precoating a powdery or fiber-like resin on a nylon or stainless made element.
Among the conventional ion exchange resins, generally, an H type cation exchanger has a satisfactory heat resistance at 120.degree. C., but an OH type anion exchange resin has a heat resistance at 40.degree.-60.degree. C. and a Cl type anion exchange resin has a heat resistance at about 60.degree. C. Thus, in a demineralizer using these conventional anion exchange resins, the performances of the anion exchange resins are degraded and their demineralizing performances are lowered when hot water of 60.degree. C. or higher is passed for a short or long period of time. Therefore, in the treatment of various hot waters in a power plant, a hot water having a temperature of at least 60.degree. C. must be cooled to a water having a temperature of less than 60.degree. C. (generally 50.degree. C. or lower).
Under such a high temperature condition of above 60.degree. C., the anion exchange resins of trimethylbenzyl ammonium salt type undergo detachment of the quaternary ammonium ion exchange groups or the quaternary ammonium group is converted to a tertiary amine group, and they are not suitable for use under a high temperature condition for a long period of time. U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,467 discloses that a strong basic anion exchanger can be obtained by reacting a quaternary amine to a crosslinked copolymer of an aromatic monovinyl hydrocarbon with an aromatic divinyl hydrocarbon having haloalkyl groups of the formula --C.sub.n H.sub.2n --X wherein --X is chlorine or bromine, and --C.sub.n H.sub.2n is an alkylene group with n being from 1 to 4. However, specifically disclosed is only the strong basic anion exchanger wherein n is 1, and there is no description to distinguish between the linear case and the branched case among --C.sub.n H.sub.2n groups. If the one wherein n is 3 or 4 were produced in accordance with the method concretely disclosed in this publication, the resulting --(CH.sub.2).sub.3 --or --(CH.sub.2).sub.4 --would be present only at a part of anion exchange groups of the entire resin, whereby the heat durability would not be improved. However, this publication describes nothing about the heat durability of the resin.
EP-A-400,848 discloses an anion exchanger having ##STR3## unit which is structurally similar to the anion exchange resin used in the present invention, but it is used as an anti-high cholesterol agent, thus its use being essentially different from that of the present invention.
Accordingly, an anion exchanger having higher heat durability has been desired.


A disk cartridge includes a shell, a disklike recording medium rotatably accommodated in the shell, and a center core mounted to the disklike recording medium in the center thereof. The center core includes an upper-clearance defining portion which abuts on the upper inner surface of the shell to define an upper clearance between the upper inner surface of the shell and the upper side of the disklike recording medium, and a lower-clearance defining portion which abuts on the lower inner surface of the shell to define a lower clearance between the lower inner surface of the shell and the lower side of the disklike recording medium.

The present invention relates generally to cartridges for disks such as a microfloppy disk, and particularly, to the cartridges for disks which need high-speed rotation due to increased storage capacity.
Referring to FIG. 5, a known disk cartridge 101 comprises a disklike recording medium 102, a center core 103 mounted in the center thereof and made of magnetic metal, a shell 104 for rotatably accommodating the disklike recording medium 102 with the center core 103 located in an opening 104a, a pair of liners 105, 106 placed on the upper and lower inner surfaces of the shell 104, and a lifter 107/liner pressing ribs 108 for lightly pressing the liners 105, 106 to the upper and lower sides of the disklike recording medium 102.
When loading the disk cartridge 101 into a drive, a bottom plate 103a of the center core 103 is attracted on a disk table 201 of the drive by a magnet 202. And a spindle 203 of the drive enters a center hole 103b formed in the center of the bottom plate 103a of the center core 103, obtaining centering so called. The spindle 203 rotates with the disk table 201 to carry out recording/reproducing by a magnetic head of the drive which enters the shell 104 through a recording/reproducing opening, not shown, formed therein. The liners 105, 106 contact the upper and lower sides of the disklike recording medium 102 to remove dust, etc. and produce appropriate disk slide torque.
With recent development of multimedia, image and voice data are diversified, which needs increased storage capacity of microfloppy disks, resulting in requirements for high density and high-speed rotation thereof.
With the known disk cartridge 101, when rotating the disklike recording medium 102 at a speed several to several tens times as high as a conventional speed, the liners 105, 106 accelerate wear of a signal record surface of the disklike recording medium 102, deteriorating the durability thereof. Moreover, even if the liners 105, 106 are positioned so as not to directly contact the upper and lower sides of the disklike recording medium 102 upon high-speed rotation thereof, they disturb air flow or laminar flow produced on the surface of the disklike recording medium 102 by high-speed rotation, which forms turbulent flow to cause swinging of the signal record surface of the disklike recording medium 102, resulting in lowered recording/reproducing accuracy.
Referring to FIG. 6, the disk cartridge 101 with no liner is proposed to solve such inconvenience. In the operating state where the disk cartridge 101 is chucked on the disk table 201 of the drive, the upper and lower sides 102a, 102b of the disklike recording medium 102 are in non-contact with the upper and lower inner surfaces 104a, 104b of the shell 104, producing no problem. However, in the non-operating state or upon keeping and transport, the lower side 102b of the disklike recording medium 102 contacts the lower inner surface 104b of the shell 104 as shown in FIG. 7, or the upper side 102a of the disklike recording medium 102 contacts the upper inner surface 104a of the shell 14 as shown in FIG. 8 when the disk cartridge 101 is placed upside down, suffering damage easily. Note that in the latter case as shown in FIG. 8, a slight clearance .delta. is defined between the upper side of the disklike recording medium 102 and the shell 105 by a flange 103c of the center core 103, which cannot fully prevent contact between the two, however.
If the upper and lower inner surfaces 104a, 104b of the shell 104 have a flash or a mark of an ejector pin for ejecting a molding from a mold, which are formed upon plastic molding, such flash or mark may injure the upper or lower side of the disklike recording medium 102.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide disk cartridges which are free of the above inconvenience, and contribute to improvement in the durability of the disklike recording medium.


A universal impression tray can be reshaped shortened or lengthened allowing a clinician the ability to use one tray in any clinical situation. The tray itself can be used with patients requiring complete removable dentures, root supported and implant-supported overdentures and in some selected dentate cases. The tray can be infinitely modified allowing total control by the clinician. Trays in accordance with features of the present invention are made of a material composition including thermoplastic resin and thermochromic pigment. The material composition softens and changes color in warm water but tends to hold its shape until manipulated by the dentist. The thermoplastic resin portion of the tray can include polycaprolactone resin, styrene resin and dental modeling compound and can vary for specific uses to roughly 50% polycaprolactone /styrene resin and 50% dental modeling compound. Thermochromic pigment can represent up to 5% of the overall material composition of a tray.

Many dental procedures require the dentist to form an impression of patients' teeth, either alone or in conjunction with the gums and vestibular anatomy. This impression typically is either used directly by the dentist to analyze the patient's mouth structure or is used to form a plaster replica of the patient's teeth, gums, and vestibule. Such impressions are typically used to produce dental replacement components and dental assemblies such as crowns, teeth, bridgework, dentures and other oral prostheses.
Dental impression trays for obtaining an impression of a patient's dentition are well known. Such trays generally include tray portions anatomically contoured to fit at least a part of a patient's upper and/or lower oral anatomy, of which an impression is to be obtained. An appropriate impression material is placed in the tray and inserted in the mouth. After the impression material sets, it is used as a mold, into which plaster or dental stone can be poured which upon setting forms a model of the patient's oral anatomy. In addition, the set impression material may also be used directly as a mold for other purposes such as the fabrication of temporary restorations, the process of teeth whitening etc.
Dentists use trays to carry impression material to the mouth and to support the moldable material intra-orally until it cures. The design of the tray depends on the size and shape of the area to be recorded. Tray sets typically include variably-sized upper and lower troughs, each filled with impression material such as a settable material. The upper impression corresponds to an impression section of maxilla, the lower impression corresponds to a complimentary section of mandible, and the two complimentary impressions jointly provide an impression of the bite relationship of mandible to maxilla.
Metal trays are typically used for the above-mentioned procedures. Metal trays are expensive. They require cleaning and sterilization before reuse, which is inconvenient. In the process of obtaining any impression, called the modeling process, dental trays to contain the impression materials are used, and such dental impression trays are generally classified into ready-made (stock) trays and customized trays. In order to obtain more exact impression, customized trays fitted on an individual are manufactured from the model made by using the ready-made trays. So, ready-made trays could be regarded as one of the most basic apparatus for manufacturing an exact restoration. The arch has the shape of a horse hoof formed by person's teeth and alveolar bones, and its size and shape differs from person to person. A set of ready-made dental impression trays usually comprises at least 4 maxillary trays (small, medium, large and extra large) and at least 3 mandibular trays (small, medium and large). However, these conventional ready-made trays are so complex that even an expert has some difficulty in selecting and classifying them, and furthermore, there are some cases that none of such ready-made trays fits an individual. It is, therefore, difficult to obtain an exact impression through conventional ready-made trays.
Current disposable trays are inexpensive, which gives them the convenience of disposability. However, their flexibility and plastic memory can cause intra-oral distortions in the impression. The lack of complete rigidity in a plastic tray can create a "springback" distortion transfer from the tray to the impression material on release of pressure to the tray sides, which is inadvertently applied by hard- and soft-tissue interferences at some point during the impression-making process. For example, pressure can be generated by the tongue, by occlusal forces pushing material against the tray wall, by the cheeks, or by tray impingement of gingival tissues, alveolar ridge, retromolar pad, tuberosity and teeth. This pressure flexes the tray while the impression material sets, causing inaccuracies in the impression when the distorted tray attempts to return to its original shape upon removal from the mouth. An impression in a flexible frame can also be distorted by forces applied to remove the tray from the patient's mouth or during routine laboratory handling. These inaccuracies are then transferred to the master cast when it is made in the dental laboratory.
The use of thermoplastics in the field of dentistry is known. Conventionally, hardened or semi-hardened thermoplastics are used in the making of dental impressions, for example. Thermoplastics are also used as material to build up regions of castings that serve as the basis for making dentures. In order to melt or soften thermoplastics in the conventional dental office or laboratory, a dedicated water bath, which may be a so-called crock pot, such as found in the domestic kitchens, has been used to soften the thermoplastic. Alternatively, it has been known to heat up a cup of water in a microwave oven to a temperature of 150.degree. F. or more, and then carry the hot cup of water into the room where the dentist or technician is working the thermoplastic material. Currently in the dental field thermoplastic is typically used in the form of pre-formed wafers, such as so-called TEMP-TABS™, which are heated in use. There is also known thermoplastic which is incorporated in a triple tray or dental impression tray, such as a so-called THERMO-TRAY™. Both the TEMP-TABS™ and the THERMO-TRAY™ must be softened in hot water, as discussed above. This heating in the dental office not only leads to the problems discussed above, but if the thermoplastic is improperly overheated, it may develop undesirable bubbles. Further, the TEMP-TABS™ are very costly and, even if a relatively small quantity of TEMP-TABS™ is required for a procedure, such may be cost prohibitive.
Unformed thermoplastic is a relatively inexpensive material. Needless to say, such prior art devices and methods of heating and using heated thermoplastic material are impractical, if not unwieldy.
What is needed is a new tray system that will fit any patient during any clinical situation using any impression making technique that is required. What is also needed is a tray system that is universal and easy to use by clinicians.

Universal impression trays and method of use


The remotable, ultrawide band optical image rejection downconverter uses sub-carrier modulation techniques without concern for image frequency interferences in the shifted signal, thereby allowing telecommunications systems to downconvert densely multiplexed communications channels into a low frequency band where conventional electronics can perform signal-processing functions. This invention has the image rejection ( greater than 120 dB) to provide unambiguous signals for direction finding applications and exhibits an efficient image that permits multi-octave microwave frequency reception and compression. This invention is intrinsically remoteable, and due to the various optical and electrical components proves to be very useful and practical in numerous fiber optic and antenna systems.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to an optical downconverter and more specifically to an invention for improving the image rejection capability of image rejection downconverters.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are two primary types of image rejection systems that provide significant frequency translation; those which use a digital phase modulator to produce a serrodyne phase modulated waveform and those which split a received signal into two parts and then recombine them in a way which eliminates the unwanted image and carrier frequencies.
Optical image rejection mixers that utilize the serrodyne method of frequency translation apply a phase modulated sawtooth waveform to the optical signal, thereby causing the frequencies to shift. The achievable image rejection is limited by the number of discrete bits that can be implemented by the digital phase modulator when approximating the sawtooth waveform. This limits the image rejection to approximately 25 dB.
In the case of microwave image rejection mixers, the achievable image rejection is limited by the need for near perfect amplitude and phase control. As shown in FIG. 1, a received radio frequency (RF) signal 12 is first divided into, two RF signals 16 and 18 in an in-phase power divider 14 mixed with an electromagnetic signal 22 from a local oscillator, (commonly referred to as LO IN) which is split into two signals 24 and 26 in a first 3 dB 90xc2x0 hybrid combiner 28. The mixers 32 and 34 mix the pair of signals from the local oscillator 26 and 28 with the pair of input RF signals 16 and 18 to produce a pair of respective RF signals 36 and 38 having a 90xc2x0 phase shift between the two component signals 36 and 38, which are recombined in a second 3 dB 90xc2x0 hybrid circuit 42 to produce an output intermediate frequency (IF) 44 for use by other electronic components (not shown). Exact amplitude and phase matching with broad band signals is nearly impossible with strictly microwave components since the frequency response of each of the components varies. A typical device, with a 3xc2x0 phase error and a 0.25 dB amplitude imbalance upon recombination, is limited to about 30 dB of image and carrier rejection. Further details on serrodyne frequency shifting is found in Johnson et al., SERRODYNE OPTICAL FREQUENCY TRANSLATION WITH HIGH SIDEBAND SUPPRESSION, J. of Lightwave Tech.; Vol. 6, pg. 109, 1988.
An optical image rejection downconverter with  greater than 60 dB of image rejection is a recently developed device that utilizes an electronic mixer to upconvert signals into the passband of a bandpass filter followed by optical downconversion of the filtered signals into the desired output band. This system developed by Ward et al. for which patent protection is being sought in the Navy Case No. 79,800, U.S. Patent Application Serial Number (not yet assigned) filed on Jul. 17, 2000, entitled IMAGE REJECTING MICROWAVE PHOTONIC DOWNCONVERTER is an improvement over the previous presented optical and electronic mixers. The system exhibits more than 60 dB of image rejection; however, it is limited by the production of unwanted harmonics by the upconverting mixer. The key to eliminating the spurious signals is to change which sideband is filtered. In Ward et al. the system is designed to operate with the local oscillator (LO1) at a frequency below the passband of the band pass filter (BPF), causing the negative (lower sideband) frequencies of the received RF signal to be shifted into the bandpass of the BPF. With this technique, unwanted frequencies are converted into the passband of the bandpass filter and as a result appear at the output of the system. These unwanted frequencies produce spurious signals in the system output which are only 25 dB below the desired signal power, severely limiting the sensitivity of the system.
A object of the invention is a device to increase the amount of image rejection while decreasing the power in harmonic spurious radiations to approximately 60 dB below the desired signal power in an image rejection device.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device for upconverting broadband electrical signals, filtering out image frequencies in the electrical domain and then downconverting the desired frequency using optical techniques.
Another object of this invention is to obtain a frequency shifted microwave signal utilizing electro-optic modulators and bandpass electronic filters.
Another object of this invention is to provide an analog device that does not rely upon phase or amplitude matching to achieve image rejection.
These and other objects are accomplished by a remotable, ultrawide band optical image rejection downconverter using sub-carrier modulation techniques without concern for image frequency interferences in the shifted signal, thereby allowing telecommunications systems to downconvert densely multiplexed communications channels into a low frequency band where conventional electronics can perform signal-processing functions. Further, this invention has the image rejection ( greater than 120 dB) to provide unambiguous signals for direction finding applications and exhibits an efficient image that permits multi-octave microwave frequency reception and compression. This invention is intrinsically remoteable, and due to the various optical and electrical components proves to be very useful and practical in numerous fiber optic and antenna systems.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


An opening 11 is formed in a region of a circuit board 10 opposite to a vibration region E of a piezoelectric element 5. The piezoelectric element 5 is mounted on the circuit board 10, and electrode connection portions 9 of the piezoelectric element 5 are connected with and fixed to the circuit board by a solder. In succession, soldered connection portions kept away from the vibration region E of the piezoelectric element 5 are filled with a bonding agent 8. Thereupon, an excess bonding agent 8 with which the soldered connection portions are filled is eliminated by the opening 11, and hence is prevented from invading the vibration region E of the piezoelectric element 5. Further, any stress exerted on the circuit board 10 is dispersed because of its being mostly received by the bonding agent 8, and hence any stress exerted on the piezoelectric element 5 is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mounting structure of a piezoelectric element mounted on a circuit board.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Extended use is made of some electronic parts such as piezoelectric filters which utilize piezoelectric effect.
Such piezoelectric filters include surface elastic wave filters which utilize propagation of surface elastic waves.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a chip type surface wave filter as an example of a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element 5 includes connecting electrodes 9 formed in the vicinity of opposite ends of an element body, and a vibration region located between the connecting electrodes 9. The piezoelectric element 5 uses a glass plate 15 as an element substrate on which comb electrodes are provided. A zinc oxide (ZnO) film 18 is formed so as to cover the comb electrode for formation of the vibration region E of the piezoelectric element 5.
The piezoelectric element 5 has its length L and its width W greater than the former and further has a ratio L/W ranging from 3 to 5 to exhibit its elongated structure.
For prior practice to mount the piezoelectric element 5 on a circuit board the piezoelectric element 5 is directly connected with and fixed to the circuit board 10 through a solder 7. This produces a problem that any application of mechanical or thermal stress to the circuit board 10 causes any of them to be directly exerted to the piezoelectric element 5 through connection portions. The piezoelectric element 5, which has the elongated structure, is therefore likely to be bent in the direction of the length thereof, i.e., an arrow B in FIG. 1 as the stress is exerted thereon, and the piezoelectric element 5, which is formed with the glass plate 15, is hard and fragile and hence is likely to be cracked in the vicinity of the solder connection portions. There is further produced another problem of the solder 7 being exfoliated to result in the electric characteristics of the piezoelectric element 5 being deteriorated.
Further, there is produced another problem that upon mounting the piezoelectric element 5 on a resin substrate and the like, thermal expansion coefficients of the glass and the resin are different from each other (thermal expansion coefficient of the glass is of 3.about.5.times.10.sup.-6 while that of the glass epoxy resin being of 15.times.10.sup.-6) and hence any stress due to the difference between the thermal expansion coefficients might be a cause to produce any crash in the piezoelectric element 5.

Mounting structure of piezoelectric element


The invention is directed to a film which comprises a poly(carboxylic acid) polymer and a polyvalent metal compound, which is endowed with excellent gas barrier property against, for example oxygen, which has such resistance that the appearance, shape, and gas-barrier properties are not impaired by neutral water, high-temperature water vapor, or hot water; a laminate produced by use of the film; and a process for producing the film or laminate industrially conveniently at low cost. The film or laminate of the present invention is suitable for use as a package, packaging container, or vacuum insulation material for articles which are apt to be deteriorated by oxygen, etc., such as foods, beverages, chemicals, medicines, and metallic precision parts; e.g., electronic parts. Furthermore, there can be provided a packaging material suitable for use with articles which are required to be reliably insulated from gases for prolonged periods and should be treated under high-temperature, hot-water conditions as in boiling or pressurized high-temperature sterilization.

Polymers containing in the molecule a group which has high hydrophilicity and readily forms a hydrogen bond, such as poly(meth)acrylic acid and polyvinyl alcohol, are known as gas-barrier polymers. Although a film formed solely from such a polymer exhibits excellent gas (e.g., oxygen)-barrier properties under dry conditions, the film exhibits very poor gas (e.g., oxygen)-barrier properties under high humidity, because of the hydrophilic property of the polymer. In addition, such a polymer has poor resistance to moisture or hot water (e.g., the polymer dissolves in hot water), and such poor moisture or hot water resistance imposes a limitation on the industrial use of the polymer as a gas-barrier resin. The moisture or hot water resistance of poly(meth)acrylic acid or polyvinyl alcohol is described in Comparative Examples of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 06-220221 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,479) filed by the present inventors.
In an attempt to solve the aforementioned problems, the present inventors have proposed a film product exhibiting excellent gas-barrier properties even at high humidity, the film product being produced by subjecting, to thermal treatment under specific conditions, a film formed from the following mixture: a mixture of poly(meth)acrylic acid and polyvinyl alcohol (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 06-220221), a mixture of partially neutralized poly(meth)acrylic acid and polyvinyl alcohol (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 07-102083 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,096)), or a mixture of a sugar, and poly(meth)acrylic acid or partially neutralized poly(meth)acrylic acid (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 07-165942 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,662)).
Meanwhile, researchers other than the present inventors have proposed, for example, a gas-barrier resin composition characterized by prepared through chemical treatment, by means of heat and active energy beams, of a composition containing a carboxyl-group-containing resin which readily forms a hydrogen bond (specifically, a poly(meth)acrylic acid polymer), a hydroxyl-group-containing resin which readily forms a hydrogen bond (specifically, a sugar), and an inorganic layered compound (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 10-231434); and a resin composition characterized by containing a water-soluble polyacrylic acid compound, polyvinyl alcohol, and an inorganic layered compound, which composition exhibits excellent gas barrier properties at a relative humidity (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 11-246729).
Regarding films formed solely from a polyacrylic acid polymer, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2001-19782 discloses a film which is formed from partially neutralized polyacrylic acid, which contains no polyvinyl alcohol, and which exhibits improved oxygen gas-barrier properties through electron beam irradiation.
Although a film produced through any of the aforementioned known techniques exhibits excellent gas-barrier properties at high humidity, the film has unsatisfactory resistance to high-temperature water vapor or hot water. These known techniques are focused on chemical treatment of a mixture of a poly(meth)acrylic acid polymer and a polyalcohol polymer, or chemical treatment of a polyacrylic acid polymer, by means of heat, active energy beams, electron beams, or the like. However, when such treatment is carried out, the resultant film is not easily dissolved in an acid or an alkali, and therefore, separation/recovery or recycling of the film becomes difficult upon disposal thereof.
In an attempt to enhance the high-temperature water vapor resistance or hot water resistance of a film formed from a poly(carboxylic acid) polymer and a polyalcohol polymer, the present inventors have further proposed a resin composition containing a reaction product formed from a poly(meth)acrylic acid polymer, a polyalcohol polymer, and a polyvalent metal (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 10-237180 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,384)). Specifically, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 10-237180 discloses a gas-barrier resin composition characterized by having a chemical structure including an ester bond formed through reaction between a poly(meth)acrylic acid and a polyalcohol, and an ionic bond formed between the poly(meth)acrylic acid and polyvalent metal ions. This publication discloses that when the amounts of ester bonds and ionic bonds are limited to fall within specific ranges, the resultant film exhibits resistance to high-temperature water vapor or hot water. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 10-237180 also discloses a method for forming an ester bond between a poly(meth)acrylic acid and a polyalcohol by means of thermal treatment; and a method for forming an ionic bond between the poly(meth)acrylic acid and polyvalent metal ions by immersing a mixture of the thermally treated poly(meth)acrylic acid and polyalcohol in water containing a polyvalent metal compound.
The present inventors have also proposed a film containing a poly(carboxylic acid) polymer and a polyalcohol polymer, which film is produced by means of a simpler method and exhibits enhanced resistance to high-temperature water vapor or hot water (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2000-931 (European Patent No. 1086981A1)). Specifically, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2000-931 discloses a film produced by applying a layer containing a metallic compound onto the surface of a molded product layer formed of a mixture of a poly(meth)acrylic acid polymer and a polyalcohol polymer. This publication discloses that the aforementioned method readily produces a film exhibiting enhanced gas (e.g., oxygen)-barrier properties and enhanced resistance to high-temperature water vapor or hot water.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) Nos. 10-237180 and 2000-931 disclose that a polyvalent metal compound is caused to act on a mixture of a poly(meth)acrylic acid polymer and a polyalcohol polymer, and that the resultant gas-barrier resin composition or the resultant film exhibits resistance to high-temperature water vapor or hot water. However, in order to impart sufficient oxygen gas-barrier properties, high-temperature water vapor resistance, and hot water resistance to the gas-barrier resin composition or film, the poly(meth)acrylic acid polymer-polyalcohol polymer mixture must be chemically treated by means of a predetermined treatment such as thermal treatment. In the case where the mixture is incompletely treated; i.e., the thus-treated mixture contains polyalcohol, even when a polyvalent metal compound is caused to act on the mixture, the resultant film may fail to exhibit sufficient oxygen gas-barrier properties and resistance to high-temperature water vapor or hot water. Thus, the poly(meth)acrylic acid polymer-polyalcohol polymer mixture must be chemically treated by means of, for example, heat. However, when such treatment is carried out, the resultant film is not easily dissolved in an acid or an alkali, and therefore, separation/recovery of the film becomes difficult upon disposal thereof.
Next will be described techniques for causing a polyvalent metal compound to act solely on a poly(carboxylic acid) polymer, which techniques do not necessarily relate directly to the aforementioned film-related technical field. A mixture of polyacrylic acid and a polyvalent metal compound is publicly disclosed by, for example, the following academic publications: A. Ikegami, Journal of Polymer Science, Vol. 56, p. 133 (1962), Yasuo Goto, SEN'I GAKKAISI, Vol. 55, No. 11, pp. 522-527 (1999), and L. E. Nielsen, Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol. 9, No. 5 (1969). A. Ikegami, et al. have reported formation of precipitates by causing a divalent metal compound to act on an aqueous sodium polyacrylate solution. As has been reported, polyacrylic acid readily reacts with a polyvalent metal compound in an aqueous solution. Yasuo Goto, et al. and L. E. Nielsen, et al. have reported a method in which a polyvalent metal compound is reacted with an aqueous polyacrylic acid solution, and the thus-formed polyacrylic acid polyvalent metal salt is subjected to compression molding at very high pressure. As has been reported, a polyacrylic acid polyvalent metal salt can be readily formed by the mediation of an aqueous polyacrylic acid solution. However, difficulty is encountered in forming a uniform film-like molded product by means of this method. In addition, molding of the thus-formed polyacrylic acid polyvalent metal salt requires application of high pressure.
Attempts have been made to form a film from a polyacrylic acid polyvalent metal salt, as described in, for example, the following academic publication: A. Claudio Habert, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 24, pp. 489-501 (1979). A. Claudio Habert, et al. have reported a method in which an aqueous polyacrylic acid solution is spread on a glass plate, and the aqueous-solution-spread plate is immersed in a polyvalent metal compound solution, to thereby react polyacrylic acid with the polyvalent metal. This method successfully produces a uniform film under specific conditions when a compound of a specific metal (e.g., Al) is employed. However, as has been reported, difficulty may be encountered in forming a uniform film, depending on the type of a polyvalent metal compound to be employed or reaction conditions, since this method employs reaction between an aqueous polyacrylic acid solution and a polyvalent metal compound solution (i.e., solution-solution reaction).
Next will be described techniques relating to a coating liquid prepared by causing a polyvalent metal compound to act on a poly(carboxylic acid) polymer, which techniques also do not necessarily relate directly to the aforementioned film-related technical field. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 54-82416 discloses a pigment dispersant for forming coated paper, the dispersant containing an aqueous solution prepared by reacting a compound of a polyvalent metal (e.g., calcium, aluminum, or zinc) with a polymer or copolymer formed from an α,β-monoethylenic unsaturated carboxylic acid, and/or an alkali metal salt or ammonium salt of the polymer or copolymer. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 5-263046 discloses a method for producing a coating agent composition, which method is characterized in that a film-forming agent and/or a plasticizer is added to an emulsion containing a polymer having an acid value of 20 to 200, the polymer being produced through polymerization of an ethylenic unsaturated monomer; and subsequently a polyvalent metal compound is added in an amount of 0.05 to 0.9 chemical equivalents (hereinafter may be referred to simply as "eq") on the basis of the acid value of the polymer, thereby reacting the compound with the polymer. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 8-176316 discloses an alkali-soluble film and an alkali-soluble coating agent, each of which contains a polyvalent metal and a polymer produced through non-aqueous polymerization of an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer and at least one vinyl-group-containing monomer. In these known techniques, a coating liquid is prepared through, for example, addition of an alkali metal or ammonia to an aqueous poly(carboxylic acid) polymer solution, employment of a poly(carboxylic acid) polymer in the form of emulsion, or employment of a copolymer formed from an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer and a vinyl-group-containing monomer. However, when a film is formed only through application of such a coating liquid onto a support, the resultant film fails to exhibit satisfactory gas (e.g., oxygen)-barrier properties and resistance to high-temperature water vapor or hot water.
Conventional techniques relating to, for example, a gas-barrier film formed from a poly(carboxylic acid) polymer have been described so far with reference to the laid-open patent publications and academic publications. In summary, in the case where a film exhibiting excellent gas (e.g., oxygen)-barrier properties even at high humidity and having resistance to high-temperature water vapor or hot water is to be formed from a poly(carboxylic acid) polymer, there may be employed a method in which a mixture of a poly(carboxylic acid) polymer and a polyalcohol polymer is chemically modified through, for example, thermal treatment, and a polyvalent metal is caused to act on the resultant mixture. However, in a film formed through this method, an ester bond is formed between the poly(carboxylic acid) polymer and the polyalcohol polymer through such a chemical treatment. Therefore, the film is not easily dissolved in an acid or an alkali, and separation/recovery of the film becomes difficult. Meanwhile, there has been described a technique in which a polyvalent metal compound is caused to act solely on a poly(carboxylic acid) polymer, without mixing of the polymer with a polyalcohol polymer and without chemical treatment of the polymer through, for example, thermal treatment. However, even when a film is formed from a poly(carboxylic acid) polymer through such a technique, a limitation is imposed on the industrial use of the film.
Objects of the present invention are to provide a film which can be readily produced on an industrial scale at low cost, which exhibits excellent gas (e.g., oxygen)-barrier properties even in a high-humidity atmosphere, which has water resistance such that the appearance, shape, and gas-barrier properties are not impaired by neutral water, high-temperature water vapor, or hot water, which is easily dissolved in an acid and/or an alkali, and which exhibits good disposability; i.e., separation/recovery of the film can be carried out upon disposal thereof; to provide a laminate comprising the film; to provide a method for producing the film or the laminate; and to provide use of the film or the laminate.


Exemplary embodiments of the invention include a housing for light bulbs or light sources, above, and attached to or integrated with, a ceiling fan, thus providing soft non-glaring indirect light upwardly into a room. Light bulbs or light bulb fixtures do not intrude into the space of the room either upwardly or downwardly or horizontally.

One useful embodiment or variation of the invention relates to the following field, although the invention may also relate to other fields and uses. The invention may have various embodiments and variations. The general field of the invention is indirect uplighting lighting for ceiling fans.
Most current ceiling fans have lighting features which send harsh light downward, or have bulbs or lighting fixtures which hang down into the room and are unsightly or produce glare in the eyes of people in the room. Other fans have internal bulbs in the housing which are difficult to replace.


A stacker crane is provided with: a travelling carriage that is configured to be able to travel along the rack width direction; a first mast that is provided so as to stand on the travelling carriage; a second mast that is provided so as to stand on the same travelling carriage on which the first mast is provided; a first elevator body that is configured to be guided along the first mast; a second elevator body that is configured to be guided along the second mast so as to be able to move up/down independently of the first elevator body, and that is aligned with the first elevator body in the rack width direction in plan view; a first transferring device that is supported by the first elevator body; and a second transferring device that is supported by the second elevator body.

An example of the article transport facility above is disclosed in JP H9-315518A (Patent Document 1). In the article transport facility according to Patent Document 1, the stacker crane includes: a travelling carriage that is able to travel in the rack width direction; an elevator body that is guided along a mast that is provided so as to stand on the travelling carriage; and a first transferring device and a second transferring device that are supported by the elevator body.
In this way, the two transferring devices, namely the first transferring device and the second transferring device, are supported by the elevator body so that articles can be transferred to/from a storage section by the first transferring device, and articles can be transferred to/from a storage section by the second transferring device. The article transport facility is thus configured to be able to simultaneously transfer articles to/from two storage sections with a single stacker crane.


Provided is an objective lens driving unit that includes a moving structure including an objective lens and a driving coil, a yoke and a fixed portion extending from the yoke, and a wire holder that has a first surface and a second surface that is adjacent to the first surface. The fixed portion of the yoke is integrally bonded to the first surface, and a terminal unit comprising a plurality of interconnection layers is embedded on the second surface. The objective lens driving unit also includes a plurality of suspension wires that connect the driving coil to the terminal unit of the wire holder.

1. Field
The following description relates to an objective lens driving unit, and more particularly, to an objective lens driving unit that is easier to assemble.
2. Description of Related Art
An objective lens driving unit of an optical pickup device typically has a structure of a voice coil motor (VCM). The typical objective lens driving unit includes a static structure including a permanent magnet and a yoke, and a moving structure including a driving coil and an objective lens. In a typical structure, the moving structure is supported with respect to the static structure by a plurality of suspension wires. The suspension wires also function as an electrical connection for applying a driving voltage to a driving coil to control focusing and tracking of the objective lens.
An optical pickup device for a slim optical disc drive such as that used in a notebook computer structurally consists of small parts. Accordingly, assembling thereof is difficult, and product characteristics may have a wide range of dispersion due to assembly misalignment.

Objective lens driving unit, and optical pickup device and optical disc drive including the objective lens driving unit

Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Korea Corporation


A curable polymer latex composition obtainable by:                (a) subjecting a monomer mixture comprising                    i. at least one conjugated diene;            ii. at least one ethylenically unsaturated nitrile;            iii. optionally at least one ethylenically unsaturated acid;            iv. optionally at least one further ethylenically unsaturated compound different from any of the compounds (i)-(iii);                        to free-radical emulsion polymerization in an aqueous reaction medium to form a raw polymer latex; and        (b) allowing the obtained raw latex to mature in the presence of at least one thiocarbonyl-functional compound, wherein the at least one thiocarbonyl-functional compound is present in an amount of at least 0.05 wt.-%, based on the total amount of monomers subjected to free-radical emulsion polymerization in step (a), and        (c) optionally compounding the matured polymer latex with one or more cross-linking agent. Methods for making such curable polymer latex composition or rubber articles made therefrom, respectively.

The manufacture of thin film rubber articles such as gloves, condoms and catheters from natural rubber latex has been known for many years. Typically such articles are manufactured by a dip molding process which involves dipping, one or several times, a mold of the desired shape after suitable pre-treatment into a composition comprising natural rubber latex and cross-linking substances such as sulphur and vulcanization accelerators and/or polyvalent metal compounds, and subsequent drying to form a rubber film of the desired thickness. The formed rubber film is then cured at elevated temperature to impart elastic properties to the film and subsequently the rubber article is removed from the mold. While thin film rubber articles of adequate mechanical properties and barrier properties for most conventional applications can be made from natural rubber latex, natural rubber latex contains latex proteins, which may cause allergic reactions to sensitised individuals upon contact to the skin (type I hypersensitivity).
Synthetic polymer latices such as nitrile latex (NBR) or carboxylated nitrile latex (XNBR) do not contain proteins and have therefore become established as an alternative to natural rubber latex in the manufacture of rubber articles in order to improve skin compatibility. Synthetic polymer latices are typically made by free radical emulsion polymerization of the respective monomers in an aqueous reaction medium containing auxiliary agents such as an initiator, emulsifier and/or chain transfer agent. The manufacture of rubber articles from synthetic polymer latices is achieved analogously to the manufacture of rubber articles from natural rubber latex. Thus the synthetic polymer latex is typically compounded with one or more than one cross-linking additive to form a curable polymer latex composition from which a rubber article of the desired shape is formed e.g. by dip molding.
Enormous quantities of rubber articles manufactured from natural rubber latex and synthetic polymer latices such as gloves are produced and consumed worldwide. Accordingly there is thus a strong economic and ecological impetus to reduce the amount of raw materials required to prepare the rubber articles. A reduction of the film thickness of thin film rubber articles goes along with lowering the raw material consumption and thereby the production costs, and moreover reduces the amount of waste material to be disposed of. On the other hand there are stringent requirements to the physical properties determined by the type of rubber product and its application, which have to be met. Latex-made gloves should for instance be devoid of any disagreeable odour and exhibit good barrier properties, suitable mechanical properties with a high elongation at break and high tensile strength, good donning and comfortable wearing properties with adequate tactility, and an aesthetically pleasant non-staining visual appearance, wherein these properties should be stably preserved even upon long term storage. Reducing the film thickness generally requires the use of a polymer latex, which imparts a relatively high tensile strength, in order to withstand the mechanical stresses encountered upon use. A higher tensile strength is however normally associated with a higher stiffness and reduced softness of the material resulting in a less comfortable feel for the wearer and a reduced tactility, which is unsatisfactory. It would thus be desirable to provide a polymer latex that imparts an enhanced softness in combination with a suitably high tensile strength to latex films derived there from to facilitate producing optimized rubber articles of reduced film thickness. Such a desirable combination of mechanical properties should ideally be maintained under conditions, which the respective rubber product can be expected to encounter in a product life cycle including e.g. ageing over extended periods of time.
Elemental sulfur and other cross-linking agents have extensively been used as vulcanization agents and vulcanization accelerators to formulate polymer latex compositions with desired curing characteristics for the manufacture of rubber articles. For this purpose the formed raw polymer latex is conventionally compounded without any preceding modification with sulfur and/or other vulcanization agents for vulcanization of the latex. Articles of the desired shape are then formed from the compounded polymer latex composition and subsequently cured by a heat treatment at temperatures typically in the range of 100° C. to 250° C.
Thiocarbonyl-functional compounds including thiuram compounds have previously been used as auxiliary agents in the preparation of polymer latices by emulsion polymerization. Thus for example U.S. Pat. No. 2,662,876 discloses a combination of a compound selected from sulphur and sulphur donors including inter alia thiuram sulfide compounds with a water-soluble salt of a dithiocarbamic acid for terminating an emulsion polymerization of 1,3-butadiene and copolymerizable monomers. Such combination is found to be effective at a level as low as 0.01 to 0.1%, based on sulphur or its equivalent, for each of the two components. Accordingly the thiocarbonyl-functional compounds are used for short stopping the polymerization reaction and not for a treatment of the formed raw polymer latex to modify its mechanical properties to achieve a combination of high tensile strength and/or elongation at break with an enhanced softness. Furthermore, as evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 2,662,876 the use of sulphur donor substances in amounts of 0.2 wt. % or more, based on the initial monomer content of the emulsion, is conventionally associated with undesirable side-effects such as intense staining and poor storage stability of the polymer latex.
The present invention thus aims to overcome or at least alleviate the afore-mentioned shortcomings and disadvantages of the prior art seeking in particular to provide a curable polymer latex composition that imparts an ageing-stable combination of mechanical properties favourable for reducing the latex film thickness in rubber articles such as gloves, in particular an enhanced softness in combination with a high tensile strength, in a cost-efficient manner compatible with existing polymer latex preparation and processing techniques without affecting other characteristics relevant for the intended application of the rubber articles such as odour and color in an unacceptable manner.

Curable polymer latex compositions for the manufacture of rubber articles


A covert taggant dispersing grenade includes: a shell, the covert taggant disposed in the shell; a dispersal apparatus operably associated with the covert taggant to disperse the covert taggant; and a propulsion section operably associated with the shell for propelling the shell through an atmosphere. A method for dispersing a taggant includes: launching a grenade containing a taggant over a target, the taggant being invisible in the spectrum of the human eye; and covertly dispensing the taggant over the target.

This section of this document introduces various concepts of the art that may provide context or be related to various aspects of the present invention described and/or claimed below. It provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. As the section's title implies, this is a background discussion of "related" art. That such art is related in no way implies that it is also "prior" art. The related art may or may not be prior art. The discussion in this section of this document is to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
In military or police crowd control situations, particularly in riot or violent confrontations with large numbers of people it is often desirable but not practical to identify all participants. The mob members will disperse unless physically restrained and it is not possible to easily identify a person at a later time as having been involved in the act. In some situations it is desirable to covertly mark subjects with a material which will allow them to be later identified.
The present invention is directed to resolving, or at least reducing, one or all of the problems mentioned above.


A bookbinding apparatus, which is capable of being attached to an image forming apparatus, and bookbinding by adhering a cover sheet onto a spine of a sheet bundle formed by a plurality of sheets on each of which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus, the bookbinding apparatus including: a coating section for coating adhesive onto the spine of the sheet bundle; a heater for heating the adhesive; a temperature detection section for detecting temperature of the adhesive; an input section for receiving input from a user; and a heater control section for controlling the heater based on a detection result of the temperature detection section based on the input from the input section so that temperature of the adhesive becomes a predetermined control temperature, and changing a control condition of the heater.

A bookbinding apparatus for simply conducting a wrap bookbinding process by wrapping a bundle of a plurality of sheets onto which images have been formed by a copying machine and a printer with a cover sheet in horseshoe-shape and adhering the spine of the bundle of the sheets and the cover sheet is known.
Heat melting type adhesive is used as adhesives used for such a bookbinding machine. Adhesive is stored in the adhesive tank, prior to conducting bookbinding, it is necessary to heat the adhesive with a heater beforehand to more than a predetermined temperature. There is a problem that heating to a predetermined temperature takes at least a certain amount of time.
In Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-22768, a bookbinding machine, which begins adhesive dissolution at the time of setting coating bookbinding job operations or a specified time, instead of starting adhesive dissolution at the time of conducting a coating bookbinding job for the first time has been disclosed.
However, there are problems when a predetermined preset temperature is maintained in order to maintain the adhesive in a dissolved state without bookbinding for a long period of time after ending the bookbinding job or after an appointed time, that consumption energy with an adhesive heater increases and that adhesive deteriorates. Further, in a small room, which cannot perform sufficient ventilation, there is a possibility that the bad smell generated from adhesive may become a problem.
To these problems, Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-57580 discloses a bookbinding apparatus, which changes heater temperature control mode according to the state of other image forming apparatus during processing of a bookbinding job to any one of (1) the temperature in which adhesion is possible, (2) a temperature lower than the temperature in which adhesion is possible, or (3) a state where heater is turned off.
However, with respect to the bookbinding machine which has been disclosed by Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 2007-22768 and 2007-57580, the control of an adhesive heater is changed based on the conditions set up beforehand, and the control of the adhesive heater is not directly changed. Although it is possible to turn off the adhesive heater by turning off the electric power switch of the whole bookbinding machine, however, in such a case, all the functions of the bookbinding machine will stop simultaneously. There was a problem of taking time to use only the sheet ejection pathway, which does not perform a book binding, until initial communication or re-heating with a heater became usable again since all the functions had to be restarted.

Image forming apparatus having a bookbinding apparatus attachable thereto wherein a heater of the bookbinding apparatus is controlled based on a detection result of a temperature detection section and an input section

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


Accordingly, there are provided coated microcapsules including: a microcapsule including a polymeric shell and a liquid core material encapsulated therein; and a metallic coating surrounding said microcapsule, wherein the metallic coating includes particles of a first metal adsorbed on said polymeric shell and a film of a second metal formed thereon; wherein the particles of the first metal are sterically-stabilized nanoparticles; processes for preparing the coated microcapsules, as well as formulations related thereto are also provided.

The encapsulation of liquid substances and their controlled, targeted delivery is important to industry. However, the efficient encapsulation of liquid substances, especially volatile substances, has proven difficult. Although applications of encapsulation techniques are increasing year on year, there remain significant shortcomings and limitations. In particular, the encapsulation of volatile compounds is an area in which little progress has been made.
Particular problems are encountered in the encapsulation of perfume oils, which are volatile substances found in fine fragrances and other fragrance formulations. Although the use of microcapsules to encapsulate perfume oils has been proposed, fragrance formulations typically contain polar solvents such as ethanol in which the microcapsules are dispersed. These polar solvents can readily penetrate the wall of the microcapsules, causing the perfume oils to leach prematurely from the microcapsules. It would be desirable to provide microcapsules which enable perfume oils to be released in a controlled manner during use, e.g. by rupturing the microcapsules during normal human movement.
There is a need in the art for improved microcapsules for encapsulating liquid substances, especially microcapsules which exhibit an improved release profile. In particular, there is a need for microcapsules for encapsulating liquid substances such as perfume oils, wherein the microcapsules are substantially impermeable to polar solvents such as ethanol yet, at the same time, are capable of releasing their contents in a controlled manner during use. There is also a need for improved processes for the preparation of microcapsules.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An air hardening steel which is killed during casting used as material for manufacturing structural tubes for structural elements which are subjected to high mechanical loads, particularly for door reinforcements in the manufacture of automobiles. The steel is composed of in percent by weight:. 0.15-0.30% C PA1 0.50-0.80% Si PA1 2.05-3.35% Mn PA1 max. 0.03% P PA1 max. 0.03% S PA1 0.50-1.00% Cr PA1 max. 0.60% Mo PA1 max. 0.05% Al PA1 0.01-0.05% Ti PA1 0.0015-0.0035% B PA1 0.002-0.015% N PA1 wherein: PA1 Ti(%):N(%).gtoreq.3.4% PA1 Mn(%)+Cr (%)+Mo(%)+Si(%).gtoreq.3.3%.. remainder iron and impurities,

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the use of a steel for the manufacture of structural tubes of structural elements which are subjected to strong mechanical loads and stresses, particularly for door reinforcements in the manufacture of automobiles.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to provide protection against side impacts during automobile accidents, the vehicle doors are frequently stiffened by means of reinforcing elements which partially absorb the kinetic energy of the impacting vehicle and convert the kinetic energy into plastic deformation. In order to be able to be used for this purpose, the steel tubes must meet relatively high requirements with respect to strength, ductility and working capacity. The same is true, for example, for structural tubes for manufacturing stabilizer or other structural components which are subjected to strong mechanical loads or stresses.
Structural tubes of this type are usually hot rolled, wherein the final rolling temperature is between 900.degree. C. and 1080.degree. C. The necessary strength properties can be adjusted in dependence on the used type of steel by water hardening. For example, a known steel which is manufactured in accordance with this method contains 0.18% C, 0.4% Si and 1.14% Mn, the remainder being iron and usual impurities. The significant disadvantage of this method is the fact that it requires additional heat treatment of the steel tube for adjusting the mechanical properties. On the one hand, an additional heat treatment makes the manufacture of such tubes more expensive. On the other hand, when hot forming operations are performed on the tube during the further processing thereof, for example, into door reinforcement tubes, the mechanical properties of the tube are changed in such a way that the strength properties may unintentionally be significantly lowered as compared to the initial condition of the tube. The same may occur in the heat influence zone of welding seams which may be necessary for assembly.
DE 37 28 476 C1 and DE 39 35 965 C1 disclose two other steel materials for reinforcement tubes which obtain their strength properties solely by an air cooling from the rolling heat as a result of their chemical compositions, so that no separate heat treatments are required. However, the use of these steels results in other significant disadvantages. Thus, both steels cannot be manufactured in a single-stage smelting process on a large scale by means of the LD method. This is because the high proportion of alloying elements makes it necessary to adjust the chemical composition in two partial stages which inevitably leads to increase in the expenses of producing the initial material. The two steels have the following chemical compositions in percent by weight:
______________________________________ DE 37 28 476 C1 DE 39 35 965 C1 ______________________________________ max. 0.35% C 0.15-0.25% C max. 0.50% Si max. 0.60% Si max. 1.80% Mn 3.4-6.1% Mn max. 0.030% P max. 0.030% P max. 0.030% S max. 0.030% S 0-1.5% N 0-1.0% Ni 1.8-2.2% Cr 0-1.0% Cr 0.4-0.7% Mo 0-1.0% Mo 0.025-0.050% Al max. 0.005% Al 0-0.15% V ______________________________________
the remainder being iron and usual impurities.
In order to adjust the required mechanical properties of the steel according to DE 37 28 476 C1, it is necessary to add large quantities of the elements Cr, Ni and Mo. However, an alloying concept on the basis of these elements is a relatively expensive solution mostly because of the costs of the alloying elements.
The steel described in DE 39 35 965 C1 has a high resistance to tempering which favorably influences the properties of the steel. These properties prevent a significant reduction of the strength properties during subsequent hot forming or during hot galvanizing. On the other hand, a disadvantage is the fact that the cold forming capability of this steel is extremely limited, as is the case in the steel of DE 37 28 476 C1. As a result, certain tube dimensions, as they can be manufactured directly by means of conventional hot forming, cannot be produced from this steel. DE 40 32 996 Al discloses another steel for the manufacture of steel sections which are to be used as door reinforcements and have an outer corrosion protection by galvanizing. The steel has the following composition:
0.18-0.25% C PA1 0.30-0.50% Si PA1 1.30-2.00% Mn PA1 0.1-0.5% Cr PA1 0.1-0.3% Mo PA1 0.02-0.07% Ti PA1 0.002-0.007% B PA1 0. 15-0.30% C PA1 0.50-0.80% Si PA1 2.05-3.35% Mn PA1 max. 0.03% P PA1 max. 0.03% S PA1 0.50-1.00% Cr PA1 max. 0.60% Mo PA1 max. 0.05% Al PA1 0.01-0.05% Ti PA1 0.0015-0.0035% B PA1 0.002-0.015% N PA1 single-stage steel production by means of the LD process; PA1 inexpensive alloying elements; PA1 air hardening capability; PA1 high-resistance to tempering; PA1 high strength properties; and PA1 high energy absorption capacity.
the remainder being iron and usual impurities.
Accordingly, this steel is a water hardening steel whose mechanical properties can only be adjusted after hot rolling by carrying out a special and separate heat treatment. Although the steel has the characteristics of a water hardening steel, steel tubes manufactured from this steel can be protected against corrosion by galvanizing them, without unduly reducing the adjusted strength properties by the resulting heating of the tubes.

Hot rolled and air hardened steel for manufacturing structural tubes and method thereof


An apparatus including an elongate, rigid spine member mounting a plate member orthogonally relative to an upper end of the spine, with a flexible belt including a fastener member mounted adjacent a lower end of the spine, wherein the spine is mounted to a roof portion of a vehicle. The apparatus further includes pin members projecting orthogonally and longitudinally of the spine to be directed within the headliner of a vehicular roof to mount the spine thereto. A holster belt loop is directed about the plate, with the flexible strap securing the holster relative to the spine to position the holster in a secured orientation relative to the interior portion of the vehicular roof.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to holster securement apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved vehicular holster mount apparatus wherein the same selectively mounts a support apparatus adjacent an interior portion of a vehicular roof to secure a holster thereto.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of various organizations to secure a firearm's holster to interior portions of vehicles has been developed in the prior art. Heretofore, however, the holsters are frequently positioned to such accessory items as steering wheel columns, visors, and the like. The need to develop an organization to flush-mount a holster adjacent an interior surface of a vehicular roof to provide convenient access thereto, as well as essentially removing the holster from inadvertent usage and removal from the working environment of a vehicular interior is provided. Examples of the prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,245 to Serres wherein a bracket is mounted to a sun visor of a vehicle, with a pistol holster selectively mounted to the bracket. The organization of the Serres patent is removed from that of the instant application that provides an organization to mount the holster not to a sun visor that provides obstructed vision through a vehicle windshield, but further limits use the sun visor within the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,242 to Stoesser illustrates the use of a leg holster wherein a circumferential upper and lower band is mounted to an individual's leg mounting a holster therebetween.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,181 to Finnigan illustrates a container for articles such as cards, a pistol, and the like, mounted to a shoulder strap arrangement for a harness within a vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,322,198 to Morrison sets forth the use of a holster of a generally "U" shaped configuration, including a flange directed outwardly therefrom to permit securement of the holster to various objects.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,255 to Dunn illustrates a container mounted to a web for securement to a bicycle for transport of various articles by the bicycle.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved vehicular holster mount apparatus wherein the same addresses both the problems of ease of use and effectiveness in construction and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A parallel test circuit that can perform the parallel test and data reading of the memory device at the same time. By using it, one can shorten the test time. The parallel test circuit of the present invention has several MOS transistors N1 to NK where several data Data1 to DataK selected from the memory cell are input into each gate and their drains are commonly connected to an input/output line. Also, it has several MOS transistors n1 to nk where Data1 to DataK which are complementary data of said Data1 to DataK are input into each gate and their drains are commonly connected to another input/output line. Finally, it has load transistors P1 and P2 used to pre-charge said input/output lines. During the normal reading operation, it switches on data line pairs that have been selected, and then reads their data. During the parallel test, it evaluates whether the data is erroneous according to the output voltage level of the input/output lines by inputting all the data at the same time. Since it can test all the data at the same time, the test time can be shortened. Also, unlike the conventional logic circuit, its circuit is less complicated.

This invention relates to an improved parallel test circuit used to shorten the test time of a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly to a parallel test circuit that can perform the parallel test and data reading at the same time. By using the test circuit of the present invention whose circuit is less complicated than the conventional one, the test time is shortened and the test accuracy improved.
Generally, as the integration of the memory device increases to 4 Mega bit, 16 Mega bit, and 64 Mega bit, and so forth, the test time for the memory device also increases. Accordingly, a parallel test method that tests several bits simultaneously in order to shorten the test time is used. A parallel test is performed by storing "1" (high) or "0" (low) at the same time onto the several cells that have been selected to test and then by reading them at the same time to see whether the same data as stored are read out. For example, if all the data are found to be "1"s when reading the cells after storing "1"s onto all the cells that had been selected, the test is evaluated as "pass". If any of the data are read as "0"s, the test is evaluated as "fail".
Up to now, a logic circuit has been used when carrying out a test on the memory device described above. For example, a 16 bit parallel test circuit illustrated in FIG. 1 has been used when testing 16 Mega DRAM. In the conventional parallel test circuit illustrated in FIG. 1, 16 data D1 through D16, each of which is 1 bit data, are divided into four groups of input IN1 to IN4 with each group having 4 data, and then are input into the logic circuit for testing. Then first, four data of each group of input IN1 through IN4 are compared with each other to see whether they are the same, and then they are output as final outputs after comparing theix outputs again. However, as described previously, the disadvantages of the conventional method are that it takes too long to compare the data under all given conditions and that many transistors must be used in order to carry out the test successfully. Also, an accurate error check is impossible since the data of input IN1 and data of input IN2 are not compared with each other even though the data D1, D2, D3, and D4 are compared through input IN1 and the data D5, D6, D7, and D8 are compared through input IN2.

Parallel test circuit of a semiconductor memory device

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.