A method for permanently dyeing hair which comprises subjecting said hair to a number of treatments, having a set time interval between each two consecutive such treatments, wherein each treatment comprises steps a.) and b.) below:

The present invention relates to a method for the permanent coloring of hair with cleansing and with minimized hair damage.
Most hair coloring products fall under three major groupings:
1. Temporary hair color.
2. Semi permanent hair color.
3. Permanent hair color.
Temporary hair color is a leave on product that causes minimal damage to the hair. However, temporary hair color causes stains, and leaches out under rain or with perspiration. Temporary color washes out with the next shampoo. Temporary hair color also does not give any control to the consumer over the amount of color deposited or the permanency of the color supplied. Temporary hair color does not result in a wide variety of colors and it has only a limited appeal.
Semi-permanent hair color comes as a rinse, and it causes minimal damage to the hair. However, semi-permanent hair color washes out to some degree with each shampoo and washes out completely within about 4 to 6 shampoos. Semi permanent hair color does not give the consumer any control regarding the amount of color deposited or the permanency of the color. Semi-permanent hair color has limited popularity with consumers.
Permanent hair color generally comes in two parts: a dye solution and a developer solution. Because of the damaging nature of conventional permanent hair color treatments, most home coloring products come with a post treatment conditioner. In a permanent hair coloring treatment, the dye solution and the developer solution are mixed and then applied to the hair, which is then left for about 25 to about 35 minutes. The hair is then rinsed with water, treated with a post treatment conditioner, and then rinsed again with water.
The application of the dye solution and the developer solution affords permanent hair coloring. However, this method does not provide any conditioning benefit. The conditioning benefit comes through application of the post treatment conditioner, and it is only temporary. The conditioning benefit is lost with the next shampoo. Moreover, with permanent hair coloring treatments, shampooing the hair is usually not recommended after said treatments. Thus, hair is left feeling dirty, and can stain towels and pillows.
Permanent hair coloring products need to be applied every four to six weeks since hair grows out of the scalp at the rate of approximately one half inch per month. Each permanent hair coloring application causes damage to the hair, and that damage is cumulative. Hair coloring touch ups after the initial treatment would also damage hair more.
It would be desirable to develop a method for permanently coloring hair which gives hair a soft clean feel, and minimizes the damage caused to hair by the coloring process. The present invention provides such a method.
Conventional hair coloring products cannot be used safely in the shower. It is an object of this invention to develop a method for permanently coloring hair, which can be carried out safely in the shower, for example. It is also an object of the invention to provide a method for permanently coloring hair, wherein the user has control of the amount of permanent or durable color deposited without hair damage. It is also an object of the invention to provide a method for permanently coloring hair wherein the user can employ the product as her daily hair care product to avoid new outgrowth of uncolored hair. It is also an object of the invention to provide a method for permanently coloring hair wherein said method involves less mess and difficulty than conventional permanent hair coloring methods. It is also an object of the invention to provide a method for permanently coloring hair wherein said method brings about gradual color changes with each application. Since gradual color changes are to occur, such a method would be virtually mistake free because the consumer could stop or alter the coloring method if she did not like the course the hair coloring was initially taking. It is also an object of the invention to provide a method for permanently coloring hair wherein the amount of hair coloring composition employed can be varied from application to application in order to adjust the hair coloring results.
These and other aspects of this invention will become evident by a detailed description of the invention given below.
Patents related to the field of this invention are as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,021 which discloses a process in which human hair is dyed in successive treatments at selected intervals with oxidation colors (aromatic primary amines and amino phenols) admixed in each treatment with an oxidizing agent (H2O2 or a derivative thereof)xe2x80x94the quantity of oxidation colorant applied in each treatment being substantially the same and the quantity of oxidizing agent being increased from the first to the last treatment to effect a gradual increase in depth of shadexe2x80x94the mixture being allowed to remain on the hair for substantially the same time in each treatment, followed by removal by rinsing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,404 discloses an autoxidizable hair dye preparation capable of coloring or darkening hair when applied thereto and exposed to the atmosphere comprising a mixture of (I) at least one p-phenylene diamine compound, or an acid addition salt thereof, and (II) at least one 1,2,4-benzenetriol compound, each compound optionally containing nuclearly substituted C.sub.1-4 alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl or halogen. The preparation is preferably applied and exposed to the atmosphere repeatedly until the desired degree of darkening or color build-up is attained.
The preparations of this invention may also contain known additives or assistants such as hair grooming agents, for example quaternized vinyl pyrrolidone copolymers, carboxyvinyl polymers and the like, plasticizers, thickeners, slip and wetting agents such as silicone copolymer, foam boosters, preservatives, perfumes and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,486 describes a shampoo composition for lightening and highlighting hair which comprises
(i) a peroxygen compound; and
(ii) an anionic sulfonate;
said composition having a pH less than 5. There is also described an invention directed to a method for lightening and highlighting hair which comprises shampooing the hair with a lightening and highlighting effective amount of a composition of the invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,274,126 discloses a hair conditioning composition for conditioning, lightening, and highlighting hair, which comprises
i) peroxygen compound, and
ii) a conditioning agent, said composition having a pH of 5 or less.
U.S. patent application No. 2003/0074748 B1 discloses a method for permanently dyeing hair which comprises subjecting said hair to a number of treatments, having a set time interval between each two consecutive such treatments, wherein each treatment comprises steps a.) and b.) below:
a.) contacting said hair, for a period of about 5 seconds to about 5 minutes with a recently made mixture of:
i.) an alkaline composition comprising a dye intermediate in a shampoo base or in a conditioner base; and
ii.) an acidic composition comprising an oxidating compound in a shampoo base or in a conditioner base;
b.) rinsing said mixture from said hair with water;
with the proviso that when a conditioner base is present in a.) i.) above, an independently selected conditioner base is also present in a.) ii.) above; and when a shampoo base is present in a.) i.) above, an independently selected shampoo base is also present in a.) ii.) above;
and wherein said number of treatments is between about 2 to about 30; and wherein said set time interval between each two consecutive treatments is between about 8 hours and 30 days, is described.
The present invention relates to a method for achieving permanent desired hair color change through the use of daily hair care compositions. The daily hair care compositions comprise a mixture of two compositions: part ai and part aii as described just below:
Part ai: oxidative hair dye intermediates in a shampoo base at alkaline pH; and wherein part ai optionally has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent
Part aii: an oxidative compound in a shampoo base at acidic pH and wherein part aii optionally has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent;
with the proviso that at least one of part ai and part aii has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent.
As used herein % means weight %unless otherwise indicated. When used herein % refers to weight % as compared to the total weight percent of the composition that is being discussed. For example, when % is used to discuss the amount of an ingredient that is in part ai, this means to weight % as compared to the total weight of part ai. When to weight % of the mixture of part ai and part aii is mentioned, this means the weight % as compared to the total weight the mixture of part ai and part aii. When the ratio of part ai to part aii is discussed this means the weight to weight ratio. As used herein the term xe2x80x9crecentlyxe2x80x9d means within a very short interval of time such as within a few seconds or minutes, such as within 0.01 seconds to 120 seconds, or within 0.1 seconds to 60 seconds, or within 0.5 second to within 30 second or within 2 seconds to within 20 seconds. Compositions of the invention may be made by means which are known in the art or which are analogous to those which are know in the art. Ingredients which are included in compositions of the invention are known in the art or may be made by means which are known in the art.
The present invention relates to a method for achieving permanent desired hair color change through the use of daily hair care compositions. The daily hair care compositions comprise a mixture of two compositions: part ai and part aii as described just below:
Part ai: oxidative hair dye intermediates in a shampoo base at alkaline pH; and wherein part ai optionally has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent; preferably about 1.0 to about 4.0% of a conditioning agent.
Part aii: an oxidative compound in a shampoo base at acidic pH and wherein part aii optionally has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent; preferably about 1.0 to about 4.0% of a conditioning agent.
with the proviso that at least one of part ai and part aii has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent.
More preferably, part ai comprises from
a) about 0.1 to about 99.9% of an aqueous shampoo base, wherein the shampoo or cleansing or surfactant agent within said shampoo base comprises from about 10 to about 50% of the total composition;
b) about 0.1 to about 5% of oxidative hair dye intermediates;
c) about 0.1 to about 5% of a coupling compound;
and optionally has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent.
More preferably, part ai can comprise from
a) about 1% to about 99% of an aqueous shampoo base comprising about 10 to about 50% of a shampooing agent;
b) about 0.1 to about 1.5% of oxidative hair dye intermediates;
c) about 0.1 to about 1% coupling compound;
and optionally has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent.
Part aii may comprise from:
a) about 1 to about 99% of an aqueous shampoo base comprising about 10 to about 50% of a shampooing agent; and
b) about 1 to about 5% of an oxidizing compound;
c) about 0.1 to about 1% coupling compound;
and optionally has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent.
Part aii more preferably can comprise from:
a) about 1 to about 99% of an aqueous shampoo base comprising about 10 to about 50% of a shampooing agent; and
b) about 2 to about 5% of an oxidizing compound.
and optionally has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent.
Shampooing compositions of the present invention can comprise a mixture of part ai and part aii wherein:
Part ai can comprise:
about 0.1% to about 99.9% of a shampooing base, which comprises about 10% to about 50% of a shampooing agent based upon the total composition; and optionally has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent;
a) about 0.1% to about 5% of an oxidative hair dye intermediate; and
b) about 0.1 to about 1% coupling compound;
and optionally has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent.
Part aii comprises:
a) about 1 to about 99% of an aqueous shampoo base comprising about 10 to about 50% of a shampooing agent; and
b) about 0.01 to about 5% of an oxidizing compound.
and optionally has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent.
In the compositions of the invention part ai is mixed with part aii to form the final hair coloring composition that is applied to the hair. It is understood that at least one of part aii and part aii as described above has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent. Part ai and part aii can be mixed in about a 1.2:0.8 to about 0.8:1.2 ratio, respectively, more preferably about a 1:1 ratio.
A shampooing composition of the invention may be a composition as described just above, which further comprises in part ai, part aii; or part ai and part aii; a thickener.
What follows is a description of the ingredients that can be included in the compositions of the present invention.
Oxidative Hair Intermediates and Hair Coloring Agents
The part ai compositions of the present invention include one or more oxidative hair dye intermediates or hair coloring agents. These oxidation hair coloring dye intermediates are present in compositions of the present invention which have a shampoo base. Such oxidative hair coloring dye intermediates are used in combination with the oxidizing systems of the present invention to formulate permanent hair dye compositions. Part ai can also comprise about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent as described above.
Permanent hair coloring compositions as defined herein are compositions, which once applied to the hair, are substantially resistant to washout.
Oxidation Hair Dye Intermediates
The oxidation hair dye forming intermediates used in the hair coloring compositions of the invention can be aromatic diamines, aminophenols and their derivatives. These dye forming intermediates can be classified as: primary and secondary intermediates, couplers and modifiers, and nitro dyes. Primary intermediates are chemical compounds, which by themselves will form a dye upon oxidation. Secondary intermediates, also known as color modifiers or couplers, are used with other intermediates for specific color effects or to stabilize the color. Nitro dyes are unique in that they are direct dyes, which do not require oxidation to dye the hair.
The oxidation dye intermediates, which are suitable for, use in the compositions and processes herein include aromatic diamines, polyhydric phenols, aminophenols and derivatives of these aromatic compounds (e.g., N-substituted derivatives of the amines, and ethers of the phenols). Primary oxidation dye intermediates are generally colorless molecules prior to oxidation. The oxidation dye color is generated when the primary intermediate is xe2x80x98activatedxe2x80x99 and subsequently joined with a secondary intermediate (coupling agent), which is also generally colorless, to form a colored, conjugated molecule. In general terms, oxidation hair dye precursors or intermediates include those monomeric materials which, on oxidation, form oligomers or polymers having extended conjugated systems of electrons in their molecular structure. Because of the new electronic structure, the resultant oligomers and polymers exhibit a shift in their electronic spectra to the visible range and appear colored. For example, oxidation dye precursors capable of forming colored polymers include materials such as aniline, which has a single functional group and which, on oxidation, forms a series of conjugated imines and quinoid dimers, trimers, etc. ranging in color from green to black. Compounds such as p-phenylenediamine, which has two functional groups, are capable of oxidative polymerization to yield higher molecular weight colored materials having extended conjugated electron systems. Color modifiers (couplers), such as those detailed hereinafter, are preferably used in conjunction with the oxidation dye precursors herein and are thought to interpose themselves in the colored polymers during their formation and to cause shifts in the electronic spectra thereof, thereby resulting in slight color changes. A representative list of oxidation dye precursors suitable for use herein is found in Sagarin, xe2x80x9cCosmetic Science and Technologyxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9c Interscience, Special Edition, Volume 2, pages 308 to 310 which is herein incorporated by reference.
It is to be understood that the oxidizing aids of the present invention are suitable for use (in combination with a source of peroxide as detailed herein) with all manner of oxidation dye precursors and color modifiers and that the precursors detailed below are only by way of example and are not intended to limit the compositions and processes herein.
The typical aromatic diamines, polyhydric phenols, aminophenols, and derivatives thereof, described above as primary dye precursors can also have additional substituents on the aromatic ring, e.g. halogen, aldehyde, carboxylic additional substituents on the amino nitrogen and on the phenolic oxygen, e.g. substituted and unsubstituted alkyl and aryl groups.
The hair coloring compositions of the present invention may, in addition to the essential oxidative hair-coloring agents, optionally include non-oxidative and other dye materials. Optional non-oxidative and other dyes suitable for use in the hair coloring compositions and processes according to the present invention include semi-permanent, temporary and other dyes. Non-oxidative dyes as defined herein include the so-called xe2x80x98direct action dyesxe2x80x99, metallic dyes, metal chelate dyes, fiber reactive dyes and other synthetic and natural chemicals. See Chemical and Physical Behaviour of Human xe2x80x98Hairxe2x80x99 3rd Edn. by Clarence Robbins (pp 250-259); xe2x80x98The Chemistry and Manufacture of Cosmeticsxe2x80x99. Volume IV. 2nd Edn. Maison G. De dyes. Various types of non-oxidative dyes are detailed in: xe2x80x98Navarre at chapter 45 by G. S. Kass (pp 841-920); xe2x80x98cosmetics: Science and Technologyxe2x80x99 2nd Edn, Vol II Balsam Sagarin; Chapter 23 by F. E. Wall (pp 279-343); xe2x80x98The Science of Hair Carexe2x80x99 edited by C. Zviak, Chapter 7 (pp 235-261) and xe2x80x98Hair Dyesxe2x80x99, J. C. Johnson, Noyes Data Corp., Park Ridge, U.S.A. (1973), (pp 3-91 and 113-139).
Specific hair dyes which may be included in the compositions of the invention include m-aminophenol, p-phenylene diamine, p-toluenediamine; p-phenylenediamine; 2-chloro-p-phenylenediamine; N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine; N-2-methoxyethyl-p-phenylenediamine; N,N-bis-(hydroxyethyl)-p-phenylenediamine; 2-hydroxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine; 2-hydroxyethyl-p-phenylenediamine; 4,4xe2x80x2-diaminodiphenylamine; 2,6-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine; 2-isopropyl-p-phenylenediamine; N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-p-phenylenediamine; 2-propyl-p-phenylenediamine; 1,3-N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N,N-bis (4-aminophenyl)-2-propanol; 2-methyl-4-dimethylaminoaniline; p-aminophenol; p-methylaminophenol; 3-methyl-p-aminophenol; 2-hydroxymethyl-p-aminophenol; 2-methyl-p-aminophenol; 2-(2-hydroxyethylaminomethyl)-p-aminophenol; 2-methoxymethyl-p-aminophenol; and 5-aminosalicylic acid; catechol; pyrogallol; o-aminophenol; 2,4-diaminophenol; 2,4,5-trihydroxytoluene; 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene; 2-ethylamino-p-cresol; 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene; 5-methyl-o-aminophenol; 6-methyl-o-aminophenol; and 2-amino-5-acetaminophenol; 2-methyl-1-naphthol; 1-acetoxy-2-methylnaphthalene; 1,7-dihydroxynaphthalene; resorcinol; 4-chlororesorcinol; 1-naphthol; 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene; 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene; 2-methylresorcinol; 1-hydroxy-6-aminonaphthalene-3-sulfonic acid; thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol); 1,5-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene; 2-chlororesorcinol; 2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone; and 1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid; m-phenylenediamine; 2-(2,4-diaminophenoxy)ethanol; N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl)-m-phenylenediamine; 2,6-diaminotoluene; N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl)-2,4-diaminophenetole; bis(2,4-diaminophenoxy)-1,3-propane; 1-hydroxyethyl-2,4-diaminobenzene; 2-amino-4 hydroxyethylaminoanisole; aminoethoxy-2,4-diaminobenzene; 2,4-diaminophenoxyacetic acid; 4,6-bis(hydroxyethoxy)-m-phenylenediamine; 2,4-diamino-5-methylphenetole; 2,4-diamino-5-hydroxyethoxytoluene; 2,4-dimethoxy 1,3-diaminobenzene; and 2,6-bis(hydroxyethylamino)toluene; m-aminophenol; 2-hydroxy-4-carbamoylmethylaminotoluene; m-carbamoylmethylaminophenol; 6-hydroxybenzomorpholine; 2-hydroxy-4-aminotoluene; 2-hydroxy-4-hydroxyethylaminotoluene; 4,6-dichloro-m-aminophenol; 2-methyl-m-aminophenol; 2-chloro-6-methyl-m-aminophenol; 2-hydroxyethoxy-5-aminophenol; 2-chloro-5-trifluoroethylaminophenol; 4-chloro-6-methyl-m-aminophenol; N-cyclopentyl-3-aminophenol; N-hydroxyethyl-4-methoxy-2-methyl-m-aminophenol and 5-amino-4-methoxy-2-methylpheno; 2-dimethylamino-5-aminopyridine; 2,4,5,6-tetra-aminopyrimidine; 4,5-diamino-1-methylpyrazole; 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone; 6-methoxy-8-aminoquinoline; 2,6-dihydroxy-4-methylpyridine; 5-hydroxy-1,4-benzodioxane; 3,4-methylenedioxyphenol; 4-hydroxyethylamino-1,2-methylenedioxybenzene; 2,6-dihydroxy-3,4-dimethylpyridine; 5-chloro-2,3-dihydroxypyridine; 3,5-diamino-2,6-dimethoxypyridine; 2-hydroxyethylamino-6-methoxy-3-aminopyridine; 3,4-methylenedioxyaniline; 2,6-bis-hydroxyethoxy-3,5-diaminopyridine; 4-hydroxyindole; 3-amino-5-hydroxy-2,6-dimethoxypyridine; 5,6-dihydroxyindole; 7-hydroxyindole; 5-hydroxyindole; 2-bromo-4,5-methylenedioxyphenol; 6-hydroxyindole; 3-amino-2-methylamino-6-methoxypyridine; 2-amino-3-hydroxypyridine; 2,6-diaminopyridine; 5-(3,5-diamino-2-pyridyloxy)-1,3-dihydroxypentane; 3-(3,5-diamino-2-pyridyloxy)-2-hydroxypropanol and 4-hydroxy-2,5,6-triaminopyrimidine, or combinations thereof.
Conditioning Agents
As described above at least one of part ai and part aii of the compositions of the invention has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent;
The conditioning compositions of this invention contain at least one water-soluble or water-dispersible quaternary nitrogen-containing conditioning agent that is also sometimes referred to herein as a cationic compound. A tertiary amidoamine may also be additionally present in preferred compositions of the invention.
The quaternary nitrogen-containing conditioning agents are preferably present at from about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight of the composition as an active ingredient. More preferably, the quaternary nitrogen-containing conditioning agent is present at from about 2 to about 3 weight percent, as an active ingredient.
The class of quaternary nitrogen-containing conditioning agents useful herein can contain one quaternary nitrogen atom having (a) two long aliphatic chains and (b) two identical or different short chain alkyl groups having one or two carbon atoms, each bonded to the quaternary nitrogen atom. The two long chains each can contain about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms.
Illustrative conditioning agents include distearyldimethylammonium chloride and dilauryldimethylammonium chloride. These compounds are named Quaternium-5 and Quaternium-47, respectively, in the CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1977, published by the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the CTFA Dictionary.
It is noted that the long aliphatic chain of the before-mentioned conditioning agents need not be solely or primarily of one chain length, i.e., the long chain need not be cetyl, myristyl, lauryl or stearyl. Rather, conditioning agents whose long aliphatic chain contains a mixture of lengths can be used. Such conditioning agents are conveniently prepared from naturally occurring materials, such as tallow, coconut oil, soya oil and the like, or from synthetically produced mixtures. Examples of useful conditioning agents having mixed aliphatic chain lengths include dimethyldi-(hydrogenated tallow)ammonium chloride and dialkyldimethylammonium chloride wherein each alkyl group is a saturated group consisting primarily of 16 carbon atoms. These quaternary nitrogen-containing conditioning agents are named Quaternium-18 and Quaternium-31, respectively, in the CTFA Dictionary.
The compositions of this invention can also be in the form of emulsions that contain additional amounts of hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic ingredients. Emulsions containing additional hydrophobic materials are preferred. It is preferred that those emulsions be stable to phase separation at a temperature of about 25 degrees C. for a period of about 24 hours after their preparation. The emulsions are more preferably stable to phase separation at temperatures normally found in commercial product storage and shipping for periods of one year or more.
Buffering Agents
The final coloring compositions of the present invention (that is after part ai and part aii have been mixed) have a preferred pH in the range of from about 7.5 to about 12, more preferably from about 8 to about 10. Buffering agents may be used to achieve these desired pH ranges.
Buffering agents may be present in part ai compositions of the present invention. Hair coloring compositions of the present invention may also contain one or more hair swelling agents (HSAs) such as urea, to adjust the pH to the desired level. Several different pH modifiers can be used to adjust the pH of the final composition or any constituent part thereof.
Further examples of suitable buffering agents are ammonium hydroxide, ethylamine, dipropylamine, triethylamine and alkanediamines such as 1,3-diaminopropane, anhydrous alkaline alkanolamines such as, mono or di-ethanolamine, preferably those which are completely substituted on the amine group such as dimethylaminoethanol, polyalkylene polyamines such as diethylenetriamine or a heterocyclic amine such as morpholine as well as the hydroxides of alkali metals, such as sodium and potassium hydroxide, hydroxides of alkali earth metals, such as magnesium and calcium hydroxide, basic amino acids such as L-arginine, lysine, oxylysine and histidine and alkanolamines such as dimethylaminoethanol and aminoalkylpropanediol and mixtures thereof. Also suitable for use herein are compounds that form HCO3xe2x80x94by dissociation in water (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x98ion forming compoundsxe2x80x99). Examples of suitable ion forming compounds are Na2CO3, NaHCO3, K2CO3, (NH4)2CO3, NH4HCO3, CaCO3 and Ca(HCO3) and mixtures thereof.
As herein before described certain alkaline buffering agents such as ammonium hydroxide and monoethylamine (MEA), urea and the like can also act as hair swelling agents (HSA""s).
Preferred for use as a buffering agent for the hair coloring compositions according to the present invention are ammonium hydroxide and/or sodium hydroxide.
The permanent hair coloring compositions of the present invention can come in the form of hair coloring packages or kits. In oxidizing and coloring kits comprising a portion of peroxide oxidizing agent, which may be present in either solid or liquid form, such as hydrogen peroxide, a buffering agent solution is required to stabilize hydrogen peroxide. Since hydrogen peroxide is stable in the pH range from 2 to 4, it is necessary to use a buffering agent having a pH within this range. Dilute acids are suitable hydrogen peroxide buffering agents. Phosphoric acid is a preferred agent for buffering hydrogen peroxide solutions.
This pH adjustment also can be effected by using well known acidifying agents in the field of treating keratinous fibers, and in particular human hair, such as inorganic and organic acids such as hydrochloric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, and carboxylic or sulphonic acids such as ascorbic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, sulphuric acid, formic acid, ammonium sulphate and sodium dihydrogenphosphate/phosphoric acid, disodium hydrogen phosphate/phosphoric acid, potassium chloride/hydrochloric acid, potassium dihydrogen phthalate/hydrochloric acid, sodium citrate/hydrochloric acid, potassium dihydrogen citrate/hydrochloric acid, potassium dihydrogencitrate/citric acid, sodium citrate/citric acid, sodium tartarate/tartaric acid, sodium lactate/lactic acid, sodium acetate/acetic acid, disodium hydrogenphosphate/citric acid and sodium chloride/glycine/hydrochloric acid and mixtures thereof.
Shampooing Agents or Cleansing Agents or Surfactants
The compositions of the present invention can additionally contain a surfactant system. Suitable surfactants for inclusion in the compositions of the invention generally have a lipophilic chain length of from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. Surfactants which are either amphoteric or anionic or zwitterionic are included in compositions of the present invention which have a shampoo base. In addition, there may be included in shampoo compositions of the present invention, cationic, nonionic or zwitterionic surfactants. Compositions of the invention have a shampoo base which can include cationic, nonionic or zwitterionic surfactants. Surfactants may be present in part ai and part aii compositions of the invention.
(i) Anionic Surfactants
Anionic surfactants suitable for inclusion in the compositions of the invention include alkyl sulphates, ethoxylated alkylsulphates, alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, methyl acyl taurates, fatty acyl glycinates, N-acyl glutamates, acylisethionates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl ethoxysulphosuccinates, alpha-sulfonated fatty acids, their salts and/or theiresters, alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, alkyl phosphate esters, ethoxylated alkyl phosphate esters, alkyl sulphates, acylsarcosinates and fatty acid/protein condensates, and mixtures thereof. Alkyl and/or acyl chain lengths for these surfactants are C12-C22, preferably C12-18 more preferably C12-14.
(ii) Nonionic Surfactants
The compositions of the invention can also comprise water-soluble nonionic surfactants.
Suitable oil derived nonionic surfactants for use herein include water soluble vegetable and animal-derived emollients such as triglycerides with a polyethyleneglycol chain inserted; ethoxylated mono and di-glycerides, polyethoxylated lanolins and ethoxylated butter derivatives.
Preferred for use herein are polyethyleneglycol based polyethoxylated C9-15 fatty alcohol nonionic surfactants containing an average of from about 5 to about 50 ethyleneoxy moieties per mole of surfactant.
Also suitable for use herein are nonionic surfactants derived from composite vegetable fats extracted from the fruit of the Shea Tree (Butyrospermum Karkii Kotschy) and derivatives thereof. Similarly, ethoxylated derivatives of Mango, Cocoa and Illipe butter may be used in compositions according to the invention. Although these are classified as ethoxylated nonionic surfactants it is understood that a certain proportion may remain as non-ethoxylated vegetable oil or fat.
Other suitable oil-derived nonionic surfactants include ethoxylated derivatives of almond oil, peanut oil, rice bran oil, wheat germ oil, linseed oil, jojoba oil, oil of apricot pits, walnuts, palm nuts, pistachio nuts, sesame seeds, rapeseed, cade oil, corn oil, peach pit oil, poppyseed oil, pine oil, castor oil, soybean oil, avocado oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, hazelnut oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, and sunflower seed oil.
(iii) Amphoteric Surfactants
Amphoteric surfactants suitable for use in the compositions of the invention include: alkyl betaines, alkyl sultaines, alkyl amphoacetates, alkyl amphodiacetates, alkyl amphopropionates, and alkyl amphodipropionates.
(iv) Zwitterionic Surfactants
Water-soluble auxiliary zwitterionic surfactants suitable for inclusion in the compositions of the present invention include alkyl betaines
Water-soluble auxiliary sultaine surfactants suitable for inclusion in the compositions of the present invention include alkyl sultaines. Preferred for use herein is coco amido propylhydroxy sultaine.
Water-soluble auxiliary amine oxide surfactants suitable for inclusion in the compositions of the present invention include alkyl amines and amido amine oxides number. Preferred amine oxides include cocoamidopropylamine oxide, lauryl dimethyl amine oxide and myristyl dimethyl amine oxide.
(v) Cationic Surfactants
Cationic surfactants include polyethylene condensates of alkyl phenols, condensation products of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, and ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, and ethylene diamine, long chain tertiary amine oxides, long chain tertiary phosphine oxides, and the like.
Solvents
Water is the preferred principal diluent for the compositions according to the present invention. As such, the compositions according to the present invention may include one or more solvents as additional diluent materials. Generally, the solvent is selected to be miscible with water and innocuous to the skin. Solvents suitable for use herein include C1-20 mono- or polyhydric alcohols and their ethers, glycerine, with monohydric and dihydric alcohols and their ethers preferred. In these compounds, alcoholic residues containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms are preferred. Thus, a particularly preferred group includes ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, butanol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, and mixtures thereof.
These solvents may be present in compositions of the present invention. These solvents may be present in part ai and part aii of the invention.
Optional Ingredients
The compositions of the present invention can comprise a wide range of optional ingredients. Examples of these functional classes include: anticaking agents, antioxidants, binders, biological additives, bulking agents, chelating agents, chemical additives, colorants, cosmetic astringents, cosmetic biocides, denaturants, drug astringents, emulsifiers, film formers, fragrance components, humectants, opacifying agents, plasticizers, preservatives, propellants, reducing agents, solvents, foam boosters, hydrotropes, solubilizing agents, suspending agents (nonsurfactant), sunscreen agents, ultraviolet light absorbers, and viscosity increasing agents (aqueous and nonaqueous). Examples of other functional classes of materials useful herein that are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art include solubilizing agents, sequestrants, and the like.
Other optional ingredients include organic acids. A non-exclusive list of examples of organic acids which can be used as the proton donating agent are adipic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, glycolic acid, glutaric acid, benzoic acid, malonic acid, salicylic acid, gluconic acid, polyacrylic acid, their salts, and mixtures thereof. Non-exclusive lists of examples of mineral acid for use herein are hydrochloric, phosphoric, sulfuric and mixtures thereof.
It has been found by that daily hair care products can achieve permanent or durable desired hair color. As noted above, the daily hair care product consists of two parts.
Part ai: oxidative dye intermediates in water at alkaline pH with shampoo/surfactant components wherein part ai optionally has about 0.01 to about 5% of a conditioning agent;
Part aii: an oxidative compound such as hydrogen peroxide in water at acidic pH, wherein part aii optionally has about 0.01 to about 5% of a conditioning agent;
with the proviso that at least one of part ai and part aii has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent.
Part ai is mixed with part aii and applied to hair. The reason conventional hair coloring products come in two packages is because the mixture of the coloring component and the oxidizing component is unstable and the two components must be kept apart until just before use. Similarly part ai and part aii of the present invention must be kept apart until just before use. By varying the concentration of the actives and the treatment time, the amount of color on hair can be varied while minimizing hair damage. To make the product more convenient and fool proof, part ai and aii can be packaged in dual dispensing systems where both parts are mixed outside of the package, when dispersed. Part ai and part aii can be mixed in about a 1.2:0.8 to about a 0.8:1.2 ratio, respectively, more preferably about a 1:1 ratio.
The mixture is then applied to wet hair. Depending upon the amount of color desired, the treatment time could be varied from about 10 seconds to about two minutes or longer.
Such shampooing treatments would add color to hair gradually without damage due, for example, to lower contact time. Each subsequent treatment would add color until the desired shade is obtained. Depending upon the concentration of the actives and contact time, a desired shade may be reached in six to eight treatments. It has been found that since any one treatment does not exceed the threshold of irreversible damage, the total damage resulting from multiple treatments is lower than the damage from a single conventional treatment. Such a process gives the user control over the amount of color deposited on his or her hair, and also the option to discontinue further applications if the color first delivered is not to her liking. He or she also has the option to switch to another color shade immediately without having to wait the six to eight weeks that is recommended for conventional treatments. With conventional hair color treatment, it is not recommended to perm and color hair simultaneously due to extensive damage. However, since this method of the invention colors the hair with minimum damage, perming can be done in the same time frame. Moreover, the presence of conditioner in either part ai or part aii or both, causes hair that is being colored to be conditioned at the same time. This gives the hair good feel and manageability for example.
Thus, if the contact time is kept at about two minutes or below for each treatment with compositions of the invention then there is no appreciable hair damage no matter how many hair color application treatments according to the methods of the invention are performed.
Also compositions of the present invention can have a shampoo base, and therefore the compositions of the present invention, cleanse the hair and remove debris from the hair. Compositions of the present invention can be used on a daily basis, in the shower or bath, for example, as part of a daily hair care cleansing regimen. Compositions of the present invention, as noted above, add gradual permanent color to the hair, minimize hair root outgrowth, and help to prevent hair color fading.
At the same time that hair damage is avoided by the methods of the invention, the consumer""s hair is gradually being brought to the desired shade and color. This gradual change of color has two advantages: first, since the color is changed gradually, the consumer can stop the process if she does not like the color her hair is turning to. Second, some consumers do not want an abrupt change in color because they may feel embarrassed in public after having made such an abrupt change to the color of their hair. Moreover, the method and compositions of the present invention can be used in the shower, and on a daily basis, because the compositions and methods of the present invention, by contrast with conventional color compositions, do not employ poisonous levels of chemicals and also because compositions methods of the present invention involve hair application steps that are often up to only about two minutes in length. By contrast conventional hair coloring compositions require approximately 30 minutes"" time for each application, an amount of time, which is clearly not suitable for use in the shower.
The methods of the present invention are not as messy as conventional permanent hair coloring methods. The methods of the present invention do not use chemical compositions that are smelly and noxious such as those used in conventional permanent hair-coloring methods. Because the methods of the invention can be carried out in the shower, they do not involve the dripping and the mess associated with conventional permanent hair coloring which is done outside of the shower. The methods of the present invention do not use chemical compositions that can stain fixtures in the bathroom or that will stain the scalp and the face. Compositions part ai and part aii of the invention upon mixture, form a composition with a pleasing viscosity and that is pleasing to the fingers. This is because part ai and part aii contain a shampoo agent, and one or both of part ai and part aii contain a conditioning agent.
A dual package or kit can be used to contain separately, the compositions, part ai and part aii of the present invention. A dual package which can be employed in the products and kits of the present invention is U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,588 to Markey et al which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Kit Containing an Instruction Sheet
As noted just above, he invention also relates to a package or kit for carrying out the permanent hair coloring methods of the present invention. The kit can comprise a developer solution, a hair coloring or dye solution and a post treatment solution, each in a separate container or in a dual container, as described herein. The kit can also contain written instructions that explain how the compositions of the invention are used.
The consumer admixes the components of the kit according to written instructions, to obtain the aqueous reaction mixture. The admixture may be carried out in a separate vessel external to the kit, or may take place in a container of the kit, adapted to provide sufficient head space for mixing. The components that are mixed are the developer composition and the hair colorant or dye composition. The components or reactants may also be admixed on the hair of the user. Essentially upon mixing, reaction of the hair colorant or dye and the developer will commence. After treatment for a desired time, the mixture of hair developer and hair dye may be removed, preferably with water or a conventional shampoo or a conventional conditioning shampoo. Since the contact time of the mixture of part ai and part aii upon the hair, is relatively short, as described herein, the hair may be contacted with the mixture of part ai and part aii, while the consumer is in the shower.
As noted above, hair colorant or dye composition and peroxygen or developer composition are mixed together, and the resulting mixture may be applied to the hair and allowed to remain for a set time, usually about one half minute to about 2 minutes or about one half minute to about one and a half minutes.
Desired change in permanent hair color by methods of the invention are described by the mathematical formulas described herein. The monitoring of desired change in hair color can be achieved in a number of ways. In the first instance, the consumer can compare his or her hair color with desired hair color or the hair color of a sample tress. Hair dyeing by the method of the invention can be repeated until her hair color matches the desired hair color. It is noted that the compositions used in the methods of the invention have lower contact times and thus repeated use of these compositions will not cause hair damage. An unexpected discovery of the present invention is that for damage to hair to occur, contact time in each treatment must go above the threshold value of about two minutes. Thus, the consumer can lighten or color the hair through repeated applications wherein the duration of each color application is about two minutes or less. The following two advantages are thereby achieved: first, there is a stepwise approach to the desired color; and second, a minimum of hair damage is done.
By the method of the invention, permanent or durable desired hair color, with longer lasting hair, clean soft feel, and a minimum of hair damage is achieved.
Desired hair color can also be reached by comparing hair after each treatment until it matches hair tresses taken from the consumer during a prior hair coloring treatment.
Desired hair color can also be reached by testing the hair after each treatment with instruments, which measure the color of the hair. When the measurements of hair color of the treated hair reach a desired level, the treatment hair reach a desired level, the treatment can be stopped.
The consumer also can compare the color of his or her hair with the desired hair color, which can be printed on the package of the product. The consumer can also vary the number of days of application of the product, and the consumer can also vary the amount of time the mixture of part ai and part aii is left in the hair on each application. The number of applications can vary from about 7 to about 30 applications, or the number of applications can be continued indefinitely, so as to maintain fresh hair color for an indefinite amount of time. The time of each application can vary, for example, from about 1 to about two minutes.
The monitoring of hair color change, until the desired hair color is reached or so as to insure that the desired hair color is maintained, can be done, in fact, by the use of any matching or comparison method commonly employed in the art.
The method of the invention occurs over the course of days. Therefore, the final color of the consumer""s hair may be affected by the amount of exposure to the sun of the hair during the course of treatment.
The following examples were made by mixing the below listed ingredients according to conventional means. The following examples, which were made, are shown as illustrations only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention:

Gradual permanent coloring of hair using dye intermediates in a shampoo base

Abstract: part ai: oxidative dye intermediates in a shampoo base at alkaline pH and wherein part ai optionally has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent;

Abstract: part aii: an oxidative compound in a shampoo base at acidic pH and wherein part ai optionally has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent;

Abstract: with the proviso that at least one of part ai and part aii has about 0.01 to about 5.0% of a conditioning agent;

Abstract: wherein said set time interval between each two consecutive treatments is between about 8 hours and 30 days.

Unilever Home and Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.


An object, which is particularly destined for use in horology or jewelry, includes a substrate which constitutes the framework and which is preferably formed from injected cast aluminium. A decorative and protective coating overlays the substrate, such coating consisting of a deposit of a first layer of aluminium in a substantially pure state and a second layer capping the first, said second layer being constituted of aluminium oxide formed from the first layer. The object may be a watch case or a bracelet link.

It is usual to protect objects against external constraints, physical as well as chemical, by means of protective coatings generally consisting in deposits of thin layers employing for instance nickel or chromium. A particularly effective coating having an attractive appearance consists of covering the object by aluminium oxide if the base substrate is of pure aluminium or an alloy thereof.
The Japanese patent publication JP-A-59-40 916 describes such a treatment for a watch case the substrate of which is formed of an alloy of aluminium. This treatment consists of anodically oxidizing the substrate in a solution of 10 -20% of sulphuric acid maintained between -4 and 10.degree. C., in which solution air is introduced in order to agitate it. The electrical potential and current density are progressively increased from 24 to 90 V and from 2 to 7 A/dm.sup.2 respectively, in a manner such that a layer of aluminium oxide is created which exhibits crystalline growths at the surface of the substrate. The oxide layer is thereafter impregnated by an aqueous liquid containing a fluorocarbon polymer having particles in the form of grains, the dimension of which is smaller than 2 .mu.m and which place themselves between the crystalline excrescences in order finally to fill up the holes between said excrescences. Thanks to this procedure, the wear resistance of the visible parts of the watch case is improved.
Apart from the interesting details which it divulges, the cited publication does not indicate that it is necessary in order to obtain a regular coating presenting the attractive satin matt aspect which belongs normally to the anodization of aluminium to practise such anodization on an aluminium substrate which is substantially pure or at least lacking elements which could spoil the fine aspect. The patent document US-A-4 640 625 puts the finger on this necessity. Effectively in this document it is shown that the watch case formed of an anodized aluminium alloy contains less than 0.01% of silicon and less than 0.01% of iron (by weight). This low value of silicon and iron effectively permits one to avoid diminution of the brilliance of the anodized layer.
In an article entitled "All That Glitters" from the "Horological Journal" No. 111, Aug. 1968, pages 22-24, it is also indicated that in order to anodize a watch case formed of aluminium, it is essential to have available a material the purity of which is 99.99% if one wishes to obtain good results.
The same observations appear in the patent documents FR-A-2 360 112 and US-E-28527 in which, for the first, the watch part is moulded in pure aluminium under pressure and, for the second, the parts are massively formed with 99.8% of pure aluminium.


Strategies are described for sanitizing a data set, having the effect of obscuring restricted data in the data set to maintain its secrecy. The strategies operate by providing a production data set to a sanitizer. The sanitizer applies a data directory table to identify the location of restricted data items in the data set and to identify the respective sanitization tools to be applied to the restricted data items. The sanitizer then applies the identified sanitization tools to the identified restricted data items to produce a sanitized data set. A test environment receives the sanitized data set and performs testing, data mining, or some other application on the basis of the sanitized data set. Performing sanitization on a sanitized version of the production data set is advantageous because it preserves the state of the production data set. The data directory table also provides a flexible mechanism for applying sanitization tools to the production data set.

In today's information age, various electronic systems maintain a large amount of information regarding individuals that should be kept in confidence (where such information is generally referred to herein as "restricted data items"). Government institutions administer many such electronic systems, while the private sector (such as various financial institutions) administers many other such electronic systems. The restricted data items can include information that identifies the individuals, such as the individuals' names, telephone numbers, residential addresses, Email addresses, and so forth. The restricted data items can also include information regarding the individuals' financial assets (such as account numbers, income, etc.), their financial transactions, their various debts, their subscriptions, their medical histories, their insurance records, and so forth. It is paramount that the electronic systems protect the privacy of all restricted data items, as the release of such information to unauthorized parties can have negative consequences to the individuals. Identity theft is just one concern regarding the inappropriate release of restricted data items.
At the same time, various parties also have a legitimate need to gain access to these electronic systems. In one case, a tester may wish to test the electronic systems to ensure that the systems are working properly. For instance, before deploying updated functionality, a tester may want to test this functionality in a lab environment before deploying the functionality in a production environment. (As used in the art, the term "production environment" refers to the infrastructure used to deliver services to clients in the normal course of the environment's day-to-day activities. A "lab environment" refers to infrastructure specifically set up to test code functionality. The lab environment is preferably designed to mimic the production environment; for instance, it is common to construct the lab environment so that it is a scaled down version of the production environment.) In another application, a tester may wish to perform forecasting-type testing on an electronic system to determine how it will behave in the future, for example, in response to higher loads than it currently handles.
In another application, an analyst may wish to investigate the data maintained by the electronic systems for various purposes. For instance, a government analyst may wish to examine databases maintained by a government organization to determine economic trends, population-related trends, and so forth. A private sector analyst may wish to examine databases to determine marketing trends, cross-selling and up-selling opportunities, and so forth.
The administrators of electronic systems often cannot provide unrestricted access to their systems to accommodate the above needs. This is because the administrators are often under legal and/or contractual obligations to maintain the secrecy of the restricted data items. For this reason, administrators must look to alternative strategies for allowing various legitimate parties to interact with their systems.
In one such alternative approach, the administrators can generate a mock electronic system. The entire mock system is synthesized so that it resembles the original electronic system deployed in the production environment in some respects, but the mock system otherwise omits the restricted data items or provides "fake" restricted items in the place of actual restricted data items. The administrators can then allow outside parties to interact with the mock system by performing tests on the mock system and by analyzing the data stored by the mock system. The expectation behind this technique is that the mock system will have characteristics that statistically track the production system, so that a user's interaction with the mock system will serve as a meaningful "surrogate" for the user's precluded interaction with the actual production system. For example, there is an expectation that, if a series of tests performed on the mock system's database yields error-free results, then the production system will not experience problems when it is deployed.
However, the above-described expectations may not always hold up. As appreciated by the present inventors, production systems may enter unexpected states for reasons that are not immediately fully understood. Because these states are not anticipated, this also means that the synthesized mock system may not duplicate these states (because the mock system has not been designed to account for these states). This, in turn, means that the tests performed on the mock system may not account for the complete behavior of the actual production systems. This is a problem of significant weight, as the consequences of leaking personal information due to an unpredicted malfunction in the production system can be dire.
There is accordingly an exemplary need for more efficient and effective techniques for allowing various parties to interact with an electronic system which stores restricted data items, without revealing the restricted data items to those parties.


A compact size light engine apparatus is disclosed, comprising at least a wedged dichroic mirror or a dichroic X-plate/cube to combine multiple RGB LEDs, and a folded light path assembly with a folding mirror or a right-angle prism for a miniaturized light engine system. Furthermore, the compact size light engine apparatus may comprise at least a long red wavelength light source with peak wavelength over 630 nm. A 2-channel/3-channel/4-channel compact size light engine configuration is disclosed that comprise at least one red light source, one blue light source, and one green light source, combined by a wedged dichroic mirror or a dichroic X-plate/cube into co-axis light path without Etendue increase and illuminate digital mirror device (DMD) micro-display and afterwards project the image from the micro-display onto the screen through projection lens.

Recently, micro-display projection gains lot of attraction for its portable and mobile projection display, especially with the technology progress of semiconductor light source like laser and light emitting diode (LED). Micro-display projection has been widely used in pico-projector, smart mobile projector, smart speaker projection, smart TV and other projection display applications. It's important to have a compact size light engine, plus a good thermal management solution for applications like small appliances embedded projection module and pocket size pico-projector, as well as high brightness.
The prior art of multi-channel light engine apparatus using multiple R/G/B LEDs can achieve high brightness, but the volume of light engine with multiple RGB LEDs is usually large, bulky size, which limit its applications in smart consumer electronics devices as an embedded projection module. In current market, high brightness pico-projector usually has big size and small compact projector usually has low lumen output. Accordingly, there is a need for a multi-channel light engine using multiple RGB LEDs to achieve high brightness as well as having miniaturized light engine volume.
In order to use multiple RGB LEDs in a compact size light engine, 2 LED dies or 3 LED dies may be packaged on the same substrate and enter same optical channel for light collimation. In a projection system, etendue matching is very important in order to efficiently use the light emitted from the light source, so there is optimal size for LED light in order to couple most of light, usually within 65˜75 degrees FWHM beam angle of LED emitted light, into projection system with micro-display, such as TI DMD (digital micromirror devices) panel. It is very critical to combine multi-spectral light into a co-axial light path without etendue increase in a projection system. Accordingly, there is a need to combine the lights from 2 or 3 LED dies packaged on the same substrate into a co-axial light path without Etendue increase. Dichroic mirror combining is a good approach to combine multiple wavelengths, which may reflect certain wavelength range but pass through other wavelength range. It usually includes 30˜50 dielectric layers coated in one dichroic mirror. It is easy to manufacture short-pass or long-pass dichroic mirror, which may reflect or transmit blue light, but pass or reflect longer wavelength green and red light, or reflect red light, but pass blue and green light. It's also relatively easy to manufacture a single band-pass dichroic mirror, but maybe difficult to manufacture a multiple band-passes filter. Accordingly, there is a need for a multi-channel light engine configuration to combine R/G/B light devices into a co-axial light path by using simple short-pass, long-pass or single band-pass dichroic mirrors for high brightness output in a compact size light engine apparatus.

Compact size multi-channel light engine projection apparatus


In one embodiment, the process combines a fraction (up to 15%) of a lignocellulose substrate with supplemental nutritional material and hydrates the fraction to a moisture content of from 40% to 70% by weight. The hydrated substrate fraction is heat processed to remove ambient bioburden (yeast, mold, bacteria) and to maintain the hydrated substrate fraction in an aseptic condition. Thereafter, the hydrated substrate fraction is inoculated with a fungus and incubated to obtain a myceliated substrate which is then reduced into discrete particles. The remaining fraction of the substrate is combined with water and then combined with the discrete particles of myceliated substrate and incubated to obtain a second myceliated substrate which is then reduced into discrete particles. The second myceliated substrate is combined with supplemental nutritional material and incubated to obtain a third myceliated substrate composed of at least 10% mycelium.

Conifer trees (Pinophyta, or softwoods) are cone-bearing gymnosperm species. Conifer species are particularly characterized by production of resin containing a high concentration of terpenes, especially as compared to hardwood species. This resin is considered one of the oldest and most important non-wood products derived from conifer trees, which is used to produce a number of products including turpentine and rosin. Many of the monoterpenoids that make up the terpene fraction of conifer resin are known to be highly inhibitory to the growth of wood decomposing fungi, including alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, limonene, camphene, and myrcen]. The inhibitory activity of conifer terpenes on wood decomposing fungi functions as a natural defense against fungal infection. As a result, wood decomposing fungi are typically characterized by their occurrence on either hardwood and/or conifer wood species, governed in part by varying levels of tolerance to conifer terpenes.
Solid-state cultivation of fungi on organic matter typically requires heat sterilization/pasteurization in order to eliminate/reduce ambient bioburden (yeast, mold, bacteria) present in the given substrate. This bioburden, if not eliminated prior to inoculation with the fungus species, will compete with the fungus for nutrition leading to partial or total inhibition of mycelium production. Additionally, most fungus cultivation procedures require that incubation occur in an aseptic arena to prevent accidental introduction of contaminant species post-sterilization/pasteurization (i.e. aseptic cultivation).
In the mushroom cultivation industry, the use of conifer substrates is largely avoided. This is due to two factors, the first being terpene inhibition as described above. Secondly, conifer wood provides poor nutrition for supporting rapid fungal growth, with specific deficiencies in nitrogen and trace minerals. Commercial cultivation of mushrooms on conifer substrates is rare, and often utilizes tree species with low resin content (such as Douglas Fir) blended 1:1 with non-conifer substrates (hardwood, agricultural waste) and high-value supplemental nutrition (wheat bran, brown rice flour) within cultivation systems that require aseptic cultivation as described above. Though in practice the use of conifer substrates for mushroom cultivation is rare, there are a multitude of patents, including U.S. Pat. No. 7,984,584, indicating the use of conifer substrates for mushroom cultivation, particularly for shimenji mushroom production. In this case, typical supplementation rates with non-conifer species and high value nutrition are 50 to >60%.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an economically feasible process for solid-state cultivation of mycelium on a lignocellulose substrate.
It is another object of the invention to reduce the cost of processing mycelium on a lignocellulose substrate.
It is another object of the invention to provide a mycelium-based biomaterial for use in the engineered wood industry.
Briefly, the invention provides a solid-state process wherein mycelium is cultivated on a lignocellulose substrate and, particularly, a conifer/gymnospermous substrate.
The process leverages the inhibitory nature of conifer and terpene containing substrates, in concert with specific fungal strain selection criteria and sequence of mycelium expansion and nutrition supplementation, to reduce the need for aseptic cultivation procedures to a maximum of 15% of the total mass of substrate being myceliated.
The process proposes a maximum supplemental nutrition rate of 14%, which significantly reduces cost as compared to other patents in the field of mushroom cultivation. Further, the methodology employed leverages a very specific sequence of staged mycelium expansion and rationed nutritional supplementation that selects for a desired fungal species over that of contaminant organisms (mold, bacteria, yeast). Within this process, the total mass requiring heat-processing and aseptic control is reduced to a maximum of 15% which provides for unique processing efficiency as compared to the current state of the art of mushroom cultivation.
In the context of manufacturing a biomaterial by growing mycelium on a solid substrate, a primary cost driver is processing time (growth time), which is governed by the rate at which the fungus expands (grows) through the solid substrate. When presented with the problem of growing mycelium on a conifer substrate, the most obvious assumption would be to utilize fungus species that occur exclusively on conifer trees in nature. Research found the opposite to be true; in trials conducted with a multitude of fungal and conifer wood species, it was found that fungal species which primarily colonize hardwoods in nature, and are tolerant of the terpene-containing fraction of the conifer substrate, had expansion rates (the rate at which the mycelium grows through the given substrate) 55%-61% faster than species that occur on conifers exclusively. As a result, this study indicated that the most attractive species in regard to processing time are those that meet the criteria described in process step 1 below. Additionally, the increase in the rate of expansion associated with the selection criteria of 1 was found to be critical for successful exclusion of contaminant organisms; therefore the specific combination of fungal strain selection, substrate species selection, and the specific sequence in which the fungus is expanded in concert with introduction of supplemental nutrition described in the proposed process is critical for achieving both the desired processing efficiency and material performance.
There are several patented and common processes oriented toward growing mycelium on non-sterilized wood substrate without maintaining aseptic control (i.e. non-aseptic cultivation). These processes differ in important and significant ways from the proposed process in both methodology, result, and application as detailed below:                1. Log mushroom cultivation: It is common mushroom cultivation practice to inoculate intact hardwood logs for the purposes of outdoor mushroom cultivation. This process is dependent on using intact logs, specifically leveraging the bark along with added wax to exclude contaminant organisms. Therefore, the process is not applicable to particulate substrates. Additionally, this process specifically teaches not to use logs from softwoods in most scenarios, requires processing times often exceeding 1 year, and does not produce adequate biomass for material applications.        2. Biopulping: This process teaches the utilization of white rot fungi to degrade lignin in wood chips prior to mechanical pulping in the paper manufacturing industry, thereby reducing the energy required to effectively pulp the chips. The biopulping process does not require aseptic incubation conditions, but is also not specifically concerned with exclusion of other fungi/mold species as the proposed process is. Additionally, this process requires heat disinfection of the entire mass of substrate being processed, whereas the proposed process only heat disinfects a maximum of 15% of the wood particles processed. Furthermore, the specific fungal strains utilized in biopulping as demonstrated in testing performed at Ecovative do not perform adequately as a bioresin, whereas the strain selection criteria detailed here selects for species which do perform adequately as a bioresin.        3. Cartapip97]: The product Cartapip97 is intended for inoculating particulate conifer and hardwood substrates without sterilization or aseptic control. Similar to biopulping this product is designed to effect a specific effect on the wood substrate rather than accumulate fungal biomass; the only application is to reduce the effect of sapstain fungi on wood particles and logs. The proposed methodology specifically teaches the negotiation of supplemental nutrition relative to fungal expansion to (a) exclude contaminant organisms, (b) accumulate at least 10% fungal biomass, and (c) utilize fungal species with morphological characteristics that provide value as a bioresin. Cartapip97 does not leverage supplemental nutrition for biomass accumulation and only teaches to a specific effect on substrate with a specific fungal species, not to the functionality of the biomass itself as a material.
In accordance with the process of the invention, after obtaining a lignocellulose substrate, a fraction of the substrate of up to 15% is combined with supplemental nutritional material at a ratio of up to 14% of the dry mass of the fraction and hydrated to a moisture content of from 40% to 70% by weight.
The hydrated substrate fraction is then heat processed for a period of time sufficient to remove ambient bioburden (yeast, mold, bacteria) and to maintain the hydrated substrate fraction in an aseptic condition.
Thereafter, the hydrated substrate fraction is inoculated with a fungus and incubated for a period of time to allow the fungus to grow hyphae and to allow the hyphae to form a network of interconnected mycelia cells through and around discrete particles of the substrate fraction to obtain a myceliated substrate.
Next, the myceliated substrate is reduced into discrete particles, for example, by agitation, grinding or otherwise.
The remaining fraction of the substrate is then combined with water to obtain a moisture content of 40% to 70%; then combined with the discrete particles of myceliated substrate; and incubated for a period of time to allow the fungus in the discrete particles of the myceliated substrate to grow hyphae and to allow the hyphae to form a network of interconnected mycelia cells through and around discrete particles of the remaining fraction of the substrate to obtain a second myceliated substrate.
The second myceliated substrate is then reduced into discrete particles; combined with supplemental nutritional material at a ratio of up to 14% of the dry mass of the second myceliated substrate; and incubated for a period of time to allow the fungus in the discrete particles of myceliated substrate to grow hyphae and to allow the hyphae to form a network of interconnected mycelia cells through and around discrete particles of the remaining fraction of the substrate to obtain a third myceliated substrate composed of at least 10% mycelium.

Process for solid-state cultivation of mycelium on a lignocellulose substrate


Provided are compositions and methods useful for treating and diagnosing cell proliferative disorders associated with Hsp90 and/or ZAP-70.

There exists a need in the art to identify key interactions between proteins involved in the apoptotic pathway and to regulate those interactions to treat various diseases and disorders.
The progress of CLL varies. In aggressive CLL, cells express an unmutated immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy-chain variable region (VH) and ZAP-70. In contrast indolent CLL cells express a mutated IgVH but lack ZAP-70 expression.

Methods of detecting chronic lymphocytic leukemia with Hsp90 and ZAP-70

The Regents of the University of California


A viewfinder of the real image type which is compact and high in performance and especially in dust-proof performance and can be produced at a low cost. The viewfinder comprises an indication mask for making an in-viewfinder indication on or near an image forming plane of an objective. The indication mask is disposed in an enclosed spacing defined by an eyepiece, the objective, and first and second mirror holders coupled airtight to each other. First to fourth mirrors are disposed in the enclosed spacing at positions corresponding to reflecting faces of a Porro prism of a Keplerian viewfinder system. The first and fourth mirrors are securely mounted or formed on the first mirror holder while the second and third mirrors are securely mounted on the second mirror holder. The objective and the eyepiece are provided airtight on the first mirror holder in an opposing relationship to the first and fourth mirrors, respectively. Light introduced in via the objective is reflected successively by the first to fourth mirrors in the enclosed spacing, and an image formed by the light is observed by way of the eyepiece.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a viewfinder of the real image type.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A camera of the lens shutter type which is compact in size and low in cost conventionally employs an inverted Galilean viewfinder of the virtual image type. A conventional viewfinder of the Albada type (inverted Galilean type) which is used frequently for cameras of the lens shutter type is schematically shown in FIG. 20. Referring to FIG. 20, the viewfinder shown includes an objective 101 and an eyepiece 102 which are disposed such that a virtual image of an object for photographing may be made at a position spaced by about one meter or so from a photographer so as to enable the object to be observed by the photographer. In order to enable a photographing range or a distance measuring range to be observed together with such object by the photographer, a virtual image of a pattern of a photographing range or a distance measuring range which is drawn on a transparent member (field frame) 103 is made, using a reflecting mirror 104 and the eyepiece 102, at a position substantially the same as the position at which the virtual image of the object is made. Such a viewfinder optical system as described just above, however, is disadvantageous in that when an object is very bright or very dark, the photographing range or distance measuring range cannot be observed readily and additionally the photographer cannot observe the photographing range and the distance measuring range clearly because the diopter of the eyepiece 102 does not coincide with the field frame 103.
For indication of exposure information or some other information in such an inverted Galilean viewfinder as described above, it has been proposed to cause a light source to emit light in a light path in the viewfinder. FIG. 21 schematically shows such a proposed viewfinder wherein a light source 106 such as a light emitting diode is disposed between a reflecting mirror 104 and an eyepiece 102. With the viewfinder, however, since the light source 106 is not positioned at a focus of an eye of a photographer, information cannot be discriminated depending upon a configuration but must be discriminated only depending upon a color of the light source 106. Accordingly, the viewfinder is disadvantageous in that indication only of a limited amount of information can be attained and contents of such information cannot be readily recognized visually.
Another proposal has been made to improve such disadvantages of the conventional viewfinder as described just above. Such proposed viewfinder is schematically shown in FIG. 22 and includes a mask member 107 which is positioned at a diopter conforming to a field frame 103. Light is projected from a light source 106 located at the back of the mask member 107 so as to indicate exposure information or some other information as an image to a photographer. The improved viewfinder, however, is still disadvantageous in that, where such image is indicated within a field limiting frame 105, if the ambient light is very bright, the image cannot be observed clearly. Further, if it is attempted to indicate such information image outside the field limiting frame 105, then the size of the viewfinder must be increased as much. Besides, since the diopter does not coincide with the field limiting frame 105, such information image cannot visually look very fine.
Such disadvantages of the conventional viewfinders as described above can be eliminated where an optical system of the real image type is employed for a viewfinder. An exemplary one of such viewfinders is such a Keplerian viewfinder which employs a Porro prism as shown in FIG. 23. Referring to FIG. 23, the viewfinder shown includes an objective 101 in the form of a convex lens, a field frame 103, a Porro prism composed of two parts 108 and 109, and a pair of eyepieces 102a and 102b cooperating with each other to form a convex lens. In principle, an image made by the objective 101 is enlarged by the eyepieces 102a and 102b to facilitate observation thereof by a photographer. If the field frame 103 is placed at a position at which an image is to be formed by the objective 101, then a photographer can clearly observe both of the object image and the field frame.
With the Keplerian viewfinder, however, where the Porro prism is made of glass, they require a comparatively high production cost and have a comparatively great weight. To the contrary, where the Porro prism is made of a plastic material, they can be produced at a reduced cost, but they often have residual internal strains and are thus inferior in image forming performance.
In order to resolve the problem, it may seem recommendable to provide mirrors corresponding to reflecting faces of such Porro prism. The arrangement thus requires up to four mirrors and may require an independent mirror holder for each of such mirrors, resulting in an increase in number of parts. Also, a mechanism for adjustment of each of the mirrors in position is required, which will cause a further rise in production cost. Meanwhile, if dust should enter to a position at which an image is to be formed by the objective, it will be enlarged by the eyepiece and distrub a field of view of the photographer. Therefore, a dust-proof countermeasure is required. Where the four mirrors are held independently of each other, however, it is difficult to maintain an enclosed condition of the viewfinder.


An embodiment includes an apparatus comprising: a rod-shaped substrate including a rod long axis; a first layer, including a first interconnect, substantially surrounding the substrate in a first plane that is orthogonal to the rod long axis; and a second layer, including a second interconnect, substantially surrounding the first layer in the first plane. Other embodiments are described herein.

A semiconductor package provides a housing for a semiconductor chip or discrete device. The housing may provide physical and chemical protection for the chip or device and may dissipate heat generated by the chip or device. The package electrically interconnects the chip or device with outside circuitry by connecting the chip or device to a substrate, such as a multilayered ceramic substrate, printed circuit board (PCB), and the like. The substrate mechanically supports the chip or device and electrically connects to outside electronic elements (e.g., power, signal trades, ground, and electronic components) using various features of the substrate. Those substrate features include, for example, conductive tracks, pads and other features formed (e.g., etched) from metal sheets and possibly laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. Wire bonds, which may include very thin (e.g., 30 micrometer in diameter) wires, or bumps connect the chip or device to bonding pads/areas on the substrate. A Ball Grid Array (BGA) is a type of package which uses solder balls or bumps to connect the package to outside electronic elements.

Rod-based substrate with ringed interconnect layers


The present invention relates to method of identifying whether or not an individual has Parkinson's disease (PD). In particular, the invention relates to a method for identifying whether or not an individual has PD as opposed to another neurodegenerative disease. The method of the invention comprises measuring the concentration of α-synuclein (α-syn) and the concentration of unphosphorylated tau (tau) and/or phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in a cerebrospinal fluid sample taken from an individual. The method also comprises calculating the ratio of the concentration of tau and/or p-tau to the concentration of α-syn, and thereby determining whether or not the individual has PD.

Neurodegenerative disorders are often classified based on abnormalities in α-synuclein (α-syn) or tau protein, such abnormalities typically being identified during a pathological analysis. As a result, a neurodegenerative disorder is typically classified as either a synucleinopathy or a tauopathy, with the two categories often being viewed as two distinct types of clinical and pathological entity
This view is consistent with the most obvious clinical manifestations of common disorders in each category. For example, the most common disorder classed as a synucleinopathy, Parkinson's Disease (PD), is characterized by extrapyramidal motor dysfunction, whereas the most common tauopathy, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is defined by dementia, as is another relatively common tauopathy, Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).
Despite this, there are considerable overlaps in the clinical symptoms of the synucleinopathies and tauopathies. For example, PD patients frequently have dementia, and AD and FTD patients often manifest parkinsonism. Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), although defined as a synucleinopathy, exemplifies the existence of a continuum between the clinical symptoms of the synucleinopathies and of the tauopathies. This continuum leads to difficulties when attempting to accurately diagnose a patient, particularly at an early stage in their illness.
Accordingly, there is a need for the development of a reliable diagnostic test which can discriminate between different neurological disorders.

Method of identifying whether or not an individual has Parkinson's Disease rather than another neurodegenerative disease


An adsorbent for an oral administration, comprising a surface-modified spherical activated carbon wherein an average diameter is 0.01 to 1 mm, a specific surface area determined by a BET method is 700 m2/g or more, a volume of pores having a pore diameter of 7.5 to 15000 nm is from 0.25 mL/g to 1.0 mL/g, a total amount of acidic groups is 0.30 to 1.20 meq/g, and a total amount of basic groups is 0.20 to 0.7 meq/g, is disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adsorbent for oral administration comprising a surface-modified spherical activated carbon having a specific pore structure. Further, the present invention relates to an agent for treating or preventing a renal or liver disease, comprising the adsorbent for oral administration as an effective component.
The adsorbent for oral administration, according to the present invention, exhibits a high adsorbability of harmful toxins in a body, and therefore, can adsorb many toxins within a given period of time wherein toxins must be adsorbed, during a retention period from the oral administration to an excretion.
2. Description of the Related Art
In patients suffering a lack of a renal function or a liver function, harmful toxic substances are accumulated or formed in bodies, such as blood, with a progress of a disorder of the organ functions, and thus an encephalopathia occurs, such as a disturbance of consciousness or uremia. Yearly, there is a growing number of such patients, and therefore, the development of an organ-substitute apparatus or medicament having a function to remove toxic substances from bodies, in place of such defective organs, has become a serious problem. A method for removing toxic substances by hemodialysis as an artificial kidney is prevalent. Nevertheless, the hemodialysis-based artificial kidney requires a special apparatus, and thus, a skilled specialist is required from a safe operation standpoint. Further, blood must be taken from a patient's body, and thus, there are disadvantages in that patients must bear high physical, mental and economic burdens. Accordingly, hemodialysis is not satisfactory.
As a means of remedying the above disadvantages, an oral adsorbent which can be orally administered and cure a disorder of renal and liver functions was developed and utilized [Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 62-11611]. The adsorbent disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 62-11611 comprises a porous spherical carbonaceous substance having particular functional groups, that is, a surface-modified spherical activated carbon, having a high safety factor and stable to a body, and having a useful selective adsorbability; that is, an excellent adsorbability of harmful substances in the presence of a bile acid in an intestine, and a low adsorbability of useful substances such as digestive enzymes in the intestine. For these reasons, the oral adsorbent is widely and clinically used for a patient suffering from a disorder of a liver or renal function, as an adsorbent having few side effects such as constipation. The above adsorbent disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) No. 62-11611 was prepared by forming a spherical activated carbon from a pitch such as a petroleum pitch as a carbon source, and then carrying out an oxidizing treatment and a reducing treatment.
Further, Japanese Patent No. 3522708 [Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-308785] discloses an adsorbent for oral administration providing an improvement in the above useful selective adsorbability; that is, an excellent adsorbability of harmful substances and a low adsorbability of useful substances in the intestine. The adsorbent for oral administration disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3522708 is based on a finding that the above selective adsorbability is improved within a special scope of a pore volume, that is, when a volume of pores having a pore diameter of 20 to 15000 nm is from not less than 0.04 mL/g to less than 0.10 mL/g. The adsorbent for oral administration is very effective in the treating of wherein diseases that a sufficient adsorption of toxins and a reduced adsorption of useful substances in the intestine are desired.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Adsorbent for oral administration, and agent for treating or preventing renal or liver disease


Techniques are disclosed for analyzing a scene depicted in an input stream of video frames captured by a video camera. In one embodiment, e.g., a machine learning engine may include statistical engines for generating topological feature maps based on observations and a detection module for detecting feature anomalies. The statistical engines may include adaptive resonance theory (ART) networks which cluster observed position-feature characteristics. The statistical engines may further reinforce, decay, merge, and remove clusters. The detection module may calculate a rareness value relative to recurring observations and data in the ART networks. Further, the sensitivity of detection may be adjusted according to the relative importance of recently observed anomalies.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for analyzing a sequence of video frames. More particularly, to analyzing and learning behavior based on streaming video data, including unsupervised learning of feature anomalies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some currently available video surveillance systems provide simple object recognition capabilities. For example, a video surveillance system may be configured to classify a group of pixels (referred to as a "blob") in a given frame as being a particular object (e.g., a person or vehicle). Once identified, a "blob" may be tracked from frame-to-frame in order to follow the "blob" moving through the scene over time, e.g., a person walking across the field of vision of a video surveillance camera. Further, such systems may be configured to determine when an object has engaged in certain predefined behaviors. For example, the system may include definitions used to recognize the occurrence of a number of pre-defined events, e.g., the system may evaluate the appearance of an object classified as depicting a car (a vehicle-appear event) coming to a stop over a number of frames (a vehicle-stop event). Thereafter, a new foreground object may appear and be classified as a person (a person-appear event) and the person then walks out of frame (a person-disappear event). Further, the system may be able to recognize the combination of the first two events as a "parking-event."
However, such surveillance systems typically are unable to identify or update objects, events, behaviors, or patterns (or classify such objects, events, behaviors, etc., as being normal or anomalous) by observing what happens in the scene over time; instead, such systems rely on static patterns defined in advance. For example, such surveillance systems are unable to, without relying on pre-defined maps or patterns, distinguish feature anomalies (e.g., unusual shininess at a particular location) in a scene from ordinary features (e.g., ordinary shininess at the same location) in the scene and report instances of feature anomalies to a user.

Unsupervised learning of feature anomalies for a video surveillance system


A semiconductor technique is disclosed. Particularly a low voltage high current power device for use in a lithium ion secondary battery protecting circuit, a DC-DC converter and a motor is disclosed. Further, a method for fabricating a high density trench gate type power device is disclosed. That is, in the present invention, a trench gate mask is used for forming the well and/or source, and for this purpose, a side wall spacer is introduced. In this manner, the well and/or source is defined by using the trench gate mask, and therefore, 1 or 2 masking processes are skipped unlike the conventional process in which the well mask and the source mask are separately used. The decrease in the use of the masking process decreases the mask align errors, and therefore, the realization of a high density is rendered possible. Consequently, the on-resistance which is an important factor for the power device can be lowered.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor technique, and particularly to a low voltage high current power device for use in a lithium ion secondary battery protecting circuit, a DC-DC converter and a motor. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method for fabricating a high density trench gate type power device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, the power device based on the MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) technology is classified into: a VDMOS (vertical double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor) in which the source-gate-drain are disposed in the vertical direction; and an LDMOS (lateral double-diffused metal oxide semiconductor) in which the source-gate-drain are disposed in the horizontal direction.
The VDMOS can accommodate a larger electric current than the LDMOS, and therefore, it is used as a large current power device. Further, the VDMOS is classified in accordance with its type into a planar gate type and a trench gate type.
The trench gate type power device has the disadvantage that the fabricating process is complicated, because a trench has to be etched in a silicon substrate, and because a good quality gate oxide layer has to be grown. However, it can build a larger number of devices per unit area compared with the planar gate type power device, and therefore, the on-resistance which is an important factor of a power device can be lowered. Further, it can accommodate a large current with a low driving voltage. Therefore, it is the present trend that the use of the power device is being transferred from the planar gate type power device to the trench gate type power device.
FIG. 1 illustrates the layout of a trench gate type power device. Referring to this drawing, the trench gate type power device 100 is constituted such that a well 104 and a source 106 are defined across a trench gate 102. All the drawings hereinafter will be sectional views taken along a line A-B.
FIGS. 2A to 2C illustrate the fabricating process for the conventional N-channel trench gate type power device. This conventional fabricating process will be described in detail below.
First, as shown in FIG. 2A, an oxide layer 22 is grown upon an N.sup.- -epi-layer 21 /N.sup.+ silicon substrate 20. Then a P-well mask is used to etch a portion of the oxide layer 22 where a P-well is to be formed. Then a screen oxide layer 23 is grown upon the exposed N.sup.- -epi-layer 21 in a thickness of 400 .ANG.. Then an impurity ion implantation is carried out for forming a P-well, and then, a heat treatment is carried out, thereby forming a P-well 24 on the N.sup.- -epi-layer 21.
Then as shown in FIG. 2B, a source mask is used to form an N.sup.+ source 25, and then, an oxide layer 26 is deposited on the entire structure. Then a trench gate mask is used to etch a portion of the oxide layer 26 where a trench gate is to be formed. Then a hard mask is used on the patterned oxide layer 26 to form a trench which is deeper than the P-well. Then a gate oxide layer 27 is grown along the side wall of the trench, and then, a doped polysilicon film is deposited. Then a gate electrode mask is used on the polysilicon film to carry out an anisotropic etching, thereby forming a trench gate 28.
Under this condition, although there is not illustrated in the drawings, a pad for realizing a gate contact is formed on the edge region.
Then as shown in FIG. 2C, a field oxide layer 29 is deposited on the entire structure, and then, a gate and source electrode contact mask is used to selectively etch the oxide layer 29, thereby forming the gate and source electrode contact holes. Then a metal layer is deposited upon the entire structure, and then, a gate and source electrode mask is used to pattern the gate and source electrodes 30. Then a drain electrode 31 is formed on the rear face of the substrate.
As described above, in the conventional trench gate type power device fabricating process, there are required six masks including the P-well mask, the source mask, the trench gate mask, the gate electrode mask, the gate and source electrode contact mask, and the gate and source electrode mask. Further, in the case where P.sup.+ ions are implanted into the source region, another sheet of mask is additionally required.
Thus a large number of masks is required in the conventional fabricating process, and therefore, the fabricating process becomes complicated, while the fabricating cost is increased. Further, due to the increase in the number of the masking processes, align errors are induced, with the result that the realization of a high density is hindered, and that the yield is lowered. Due to this difficulty of realizing the high density, the on-resistance which is an important factor of the power device is degraded.

Method for fabricating high density trench gate type power device

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


An electrical connector assembly comprises a first connector unit adapted for mating with a complement connector along a front-to-rear direction, a second connector unit adapted for mating with another complement connector along the front-to-rear direction and electrically connected with the first connector unit, and an insulative casing covering the first and second connector units and consisting of an upper half and a lower half engaged with each other. The casing forms a plurality of slices extending along the up-to-down direction and a plurality of slots adapted for receiving said slices to joint the upper and lower halves together. The upper half, one of the first and second connector units and the lower half each respectively form at least one through-hole, and the through-holes array in a line along the front-to-rear direction to receive at least one bolt for holding the upper half, said one of the first and second connector units and the lower half.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, and more particularly to an electrical connector assembly having a fastening member to hold upper and lower covers thereof together steadily.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,889 discloses a connector assembly whose insulative casing includes a lower half and an upper half engaged with each other. A plurality of upright slices extend beyond the side walls of the lower half, and a plurality of slots are defined along the side walls of the upper half corresponding to the configuration of the slices such that the slices are received in the slots to joint the lower and upper halves together. These slices and slots don't have enough stability in the lock function so can't be applied in some high-security occasions.


Embodiments are disclosed that relate to augmenting a lower resolution image with higher resolution image data. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method comprising imaging a scene with a first, lower resolution imaging device to form a first set of image data. The scene may also be imaged with a second, higher resolution imaging device to form a second set of image data. The method further comprises augmenting at least a portion of the first set of image data with at least a portion of the second set of image data to form an augmented image.

Imaging devices may be used to provide a live video stream of a scene for various applications. Often, the imaging devices and/or the video stream provide a low resolution representation of the scene in order to reduce device cost and/or reduce bandwidth utilized in transmitting the video stream. As such, the resolution of the video image during playback by a recipient device may be limited.

Augmenting images with higher resolution data