In a box assembly device, a holding mechanism causes one of bottom boards to contact a first jig and folds the bottom board inside, while the holding mechanism holding the box material in a state where the box material is developed in a cylindrical shape from a folded state. The folding mechanism folds the bottom flap inside so as to overlap with one of the bottom boards. The holding mechanism causes the other bottom board to contact the second jig while holding the box material and folds the other bottom board inside and upwardly so as to overlap with the bottom flap to engage the bottom boards with each other.

Conventionally, the box assembly devices which assemble a box, is known (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). The devices three-dimensionally develops a piece of folded-up corrugated cardboard, bends flaps, and joining a joint of the folded flaps with a piece of adhesive tape etc. to form a bottom of the box, thereby assembling the corrugated cardboard in a box shape.

Box assembly device and method of assembling box


A core box has (i) a thermally conductive cope and drag resiliently sealingly mating at essentially a horizontal parting plane, and (ii) core defining walls enclosing an interior and perforated by sand-filtered ports. A sand, resin and liquid catalyst mixture is blown into the interior to form a sand body. At least the outer skin of the sand body is conductively heated to a first temperature (i.e., 300-400.degree. F.); and essentially simultaneously with the conductive heating, the remainder of the sand body is convectively heated by flowing a heated gas therethrough at a second temperature lower than the first temperature (i.e., 250-290.degree. F.). The heated gas enters the sand body from the drag and exits the sand body by way of the cope.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to sand core making by hot box techniques, and more particularly to full curing of such cores within the hot box itself before removing the core.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
There are two basic methods using resin bonded sand in cores, the cores being used in subsequent metal casting operations. First, there is the cold box core making method in which polyurethane resin binders are mixed with the sand and the mixture cured by infusion of catalyst gases into the core box to polymerize the binder.
Secondly, there is a hot box core making method which uses a starting sand mixture comprised of resin binders and a liquid catalyst, the mixture being blown into the interior of the core box and then triggered to polymerize by the use of exteriorly applied heat. Heat is conducted from the outer regions of the sand core to the interior regions and, although the curing action takes place at temperature as low as 120.degree. F., it is necessary to achieve temperatures of 450.degree. to 550.degree. F. to stimulate proper polymerization of the sand core within a short period of time, such as 20 to 40 seconds (depending upon size and shape of core). In spite of the high temperatures employed, hot box sand cores must be removed prematurely from the core box possessing only a fully cured outer skin with partially cured interior core and then fully cured in a separate independent core furnace. In this manner the hot box core making method has been adapted to high volume rapid production. The exterior applied heat is provided by gas burners impinging on the box, often possessing flame temperatures of about 1600.degree. F. Because the heat is so intense, large massive sand cores can only be cured rapidly to a shallower skin depth, 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, while the rest of the core remains uncured. Hence, a subsequent furnace curing (post curing) is employed to fully cure the cores after removal from the hot boxes.
Heavy sections cure at the core box interface before curing at the center of the core. A post cure oven is required to reheat the core to complete curing. In both stages, heat is transferred from the surface of the core to its center by conduction only. As sand is a good insulator, the process is energy intensive. Hot box cores continue to cure after they are removed from the core box due to exothermic reaction. Formaldehyde, a product of the curing reaction, is given off directly to the manufacturing area. Also, there is a tendency to burn the cores at the surface and thereby cause scrap.
Hot box core making is desirable because of its low cost, potential for high productivity, and the relative quality of the cores in high volume production. To make such technology even more efficient, it would be desirable to quickly carry out complete curing of the sand cores within the hot core box prior to removal of the core, such as by convection heating in addition to conductive heating. Conventional hot box processes present obstacles to providing a solution to this problem: (i) purging gas flows are inefficient in energy usage and are too hot or too cold; (ii) the process must be able to work with large complex cores having large aspect ratios and thereby need support when separating the hot box; (iii) purging gas flow paths are not optimized to increase productivity and reduce polymerization time periods; and (iv) the processes do not adequately and uniformly introduce the proper heat throughout the total interior of the core.


A display device including pixels, in which each of the pixels includes: a positive power supply line and a negative power supply line; a drive transistor that drives a current in a current path according to a gate-source voltage; an organic EL element including an anode and a cathode that are disposed in the current path; an electrostatic storage capacitor that stores the gate-source voltage by having a first electrode connected to a gate of the drive transistor, and a second electrode connected to a source of the drive transistor; a switch transistor that switches a conduction state between the second electrode and a data line; and a switch transistor for applying a negative power supply line voltage to the first electrode. A potential difference between a first power supply line voltage VDDp and a second power line voltage VEEp decreases with proximity to the center of a display unit.

Image display devices using organic electroluminescence (EL) elements are well-known as image display devices using current-driven light-emitting elements. An organic EL display device using such self-luminous organic EL elements does not require backlights needed in a liquid crystal display device and is best suited for increasing device thinness. Furthermore, since viewing angle is not restricted, practical application as a next-generation display device is expected. Furthermore, the organic EL elements used in the organic EL display device are different from liquid crystal cells which are controlled according to the voltage applied thereto, in that the luminance of the respective light-emitting elements is controlled according to the value of the current flowing thereto.
In the organic EL display device, the organic EL elements included in the pixels are normally arranged in a matrix. Here, a switching thin film transistor (TFT) is provided in each crosspoint between scanning lines and data lines, the gate electrode of a drive element is connected to the switching TFT, the switching TFT is turned ON through a selected scanning line so as to input a data signal from a data line to the drive element. A display device in which the organic EL element is driven by such a driving element is called an active-matrix organic EL display device.
In an active-matrix organic EL display device, in order to realize high-precision image display, data voltage reflecting a video signal needs to be accurately stored in the pixel circuit. In other words, in the drive element, in order to cause a drive current corresponding to the data voltage to flow to the light-emitting element, the data voltage needs to be accurately stored between the gate and source of the drive element.
Patent Literature (PTL) 1 discloses an image display device having a circuit configuration for accurately storing a data voltage reflecting a video signal into a pixel to realize high-precision image display.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a pixel included in the image display device disclosed in PTL 1. A pixel 510 in the figure includes: switch transistors 511, 512, and 519; an electrostatic storage capacitor 513; a drive transistor 514; an organic EL element 515; a data line 516; scanning lines 517 and 518, a reference power supply line 520; a positive power supply line 521; and a negative power supply line 522. A data voltage storing operation and a light emission operation in the circuit configuration will be described below.
First, a scanning line drive circuit 504 turns ON the switch transistors 511 and 512 in a state where the switch transistor 519 is OFF. Accordingly, a reference voltage VREF of the reference power supply line 520 is applied to an electrode 531, and a data voltage Vdata is applied to the electrode 532 from the data line 516. At this time, since the drain current of the drive transistor 514 does not flow, the organic EL element 515 does not emit light. In this data voltage storing period, voltage drop due to a steady-state current does not occur because only a capacitive load is connected to the reference power supply line 520. Therefore, accurate voltages VREF and Vdata corresponding to the data voltage are respectively stored in the electrode 531 and the electrode 532 of the electrostatic storage capacitor 513.
Next, the scanning line drive circuit 504 turns OFF the switch transistors 511 and 512 to cause a state of non-conduction between the electrode 531 and the reference power supply line 520 and cause a state of non-conduction between the electrode 532 and the data line 516.
Next, the scanning line drive circuit 504 turns ON the switch transistor 519 to cause a state of conduction between the source electrode of the drive transistor 514 and the electrode 532. Here, the electrode 531 is blocked off from the reference power supply line 520, and the electrode 532 is blocked off from the data line 516. Therefore, a gate potential of the drive transistor 514 changes together with the change of the source potential, and (VREF−Vdata), which is the voltage across the electrostatic storage capacitor 513, is applied between the gate and the source, and thus a current corresponding to this (VREF−Vdata) flows in the organic EL element 515, and a light emission operation is executed.
As described above, according to the image display device disclosed in PTL 1, the current flowing in the drive transistor only passes via the light-emitting element at all times, and thus at the time of data voltage storing, the steady-state current does not flow in the reference power supply line and the data line. Accordingly, accurate potentials can be stored in the electrodes on both ends of the electrostatic storage capacitor having a function of storing voltage to be applied between the gate and the source of the drive transistor. Therefore, unevenness in the luminance of light-emitting elements can be suppressed, and high-precision image display reflecting the video signal becomes possible.


A user interface of a wireless user terminal provides a forecast of a future rate discount that may apply at a future time and/or at a possible future location of the wireless user terminal. The forecast may be displayed as a map and/or as textual or graphical information, and may be provided in response to a user request, in response to receipt of a message from the wireless network and/or automatically at a given time. Related systems, methods and devices are described.

Various embodiments described herein relate to radio frequency communications and, more particularly, to wireless communication networks and devices, and methods of operating same.
Wireless communication networks are increasingly being used for wireless communication with various types of wireless user terminals. The wireless network itself may include a plurality of space-apart nodes that define a plurality of cells, and a core network that controls the nodes and interfaces the nodes with other wired and/or wireless networks. The nodes may be terrestrial and/or space-based. The nodes communicate with the wireless user terminals using radio resources that are allocated to the wireless network. The radio resources may be defined in terms of time (for example, in a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) system), frequency (for example, in a Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) system) and/or code (for example, in a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system). Radio resources may be assigned to wireless user terminals by the wireless network upon initial communication and may be reassigned due to, for example, movement of the wireless user terminals, changing bandwidth requirements, changing network traffic, etc.
Wireless network operators have employed dynamic pricing or dynamic discounts to manage revenue and radio resources in the network by offering rate discounts depending on the location of a wireless user terminal and/or the present time in which the wireless terminal is communicating. Dynamic pricing/discounts can attempt to change subscriber call patterns, so as to decrease traffic on the wireless network at peak times and/or to increase network traffic during quiet times. Subscriber call patterns may also be changed so as to decrease traffic in geographic areas of high congestion, and/or to increase network traffic in those areas that have less congestion. Network operators can thereby achieve more efficient utilization of the network capacity, and subscribers can save money.
Accordingly, network operators may employ dynamic pricing/discount offerings, where the price/discount is dependent on the utilization of the network. The subscriber may be made aware of the present discount by providing on the display of the wireless user terminal an indication of a discount percentage. This discount percentage may change due to factors such as location, time and/or duration of network interaction. This percentage may be displayed, for example, on a second line of a wireless user terminal display beneath the network operator indication.
Another revenue management solution that is used by network operators is referred to as "Home Zone" or "Location Based Charging", where a different price or discount is given when the wireless user terminal is located within a preregistered area or Home Zone.
In a 2G network, the discount information may be provided from the wireless network to the user wireless terminals using a cell broadcast functionality, such as a broadcast channel in GSM systems. In 3G networks that do not generally have a broadcast channel, discount information may be obtained from the wireless network in response to sending an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) message from the wireless user terminal to the wireless network.

Rate discount forecasts for wireless user terminals


An injection molding machine has a control device which controls an input to an incorporated motor. The control device sets a setting value a setting value of the motor to be held for a predetermined setting time. Additionally, the control device determines a reduction ratio which causes the setting value to be reduced according to passage of time, and controls the input to the motor based on the reduction ratio. Thereby, a power consumption of the motor is reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control method and a control device of a molding machine and, more particularly, to a control method and a control device of a molding machine such as an electrically driven injection mold machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
A large part of an electric power consumed by an electrically driven injection molding machine is consumed by rotating equipments, that is, electric motors except for an electric power for a heater provided around a heating cylinder for melting a resin. There are various electric motors such as a motor for injection, a motor for screw rotation, a motor for mold clamping, a motor for an ejector, etc, which are incorporated into an electrically driven injection molding machine.
Here, in order to reduce an electric power consumption of a motor, what is necessary is just to reduce an electric current. That is, what is necessary is to reduce a force at a portion which applies a large force continuously. One of processes that needs a continuous large force is a pressure holding process. The pressure holding process is a process for applying a constant pressure to a screw so as to shape a molded article within a mold after a filling process for filling a melted resin into a mold by causing the screw to move forward within a heating cylinder by a motor for injection.
As an example of the pressure holding process, there is known a process which can set a holding pressure in at a plurality of stages (here, four stages) by an input device to a control device of an injection molding machine as shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, a pressure setting value and a keeping time of a holding pressure are set by an operator through the input device. As a result, the control device performs a pressure holding control to hold the setting value of the holding pressure set for each stage through a driver of a motor for injection.
As shown in FIG. 1, when a holding pressure is set up, a pressure actual result value of each actual stage changes as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the pressure actual result value changes with certain slope after a set time period has passed, and reaches a pressure setting value of a subsequent stage.
The following patent document 1 suggests a technique which can set the slope with a plurality of kinds.
Patent document 1): Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-293762 (first page, FIG. 3)
According to the suggestion in the Patent Document 1, especially when the pressure is decreasing, for example, when shifting from a pressure setting of a first stage to a pressure setting of a second stage, a control is made so that the pressure setting value of the second stage is reached after a time T1 with a delay of time ΔT although the pressure setting value of the second stage is reached at the time T1. This means that an electric power of a motor corresponding to an area indicated by dotted lines is consumed excessively.
However, with the shift from a hydraulic drive system to an electric drive system in recent injection molding machines, a reduction in a power consumption is has become a very important issue. Accordingly, the above-mentioned excessive power consumption is not preferable in a point of view of the reduction in power consumption.

Injection molding machine and a control method of an injection molding machine


In the reference-position detection method and apparatus for detecting a reference position of a scale, first and second patterns are disposed on the scale so that respective detection timings shift inversely to each other in response to a deviation in attitude of the scale. The first and second patterns are detected with timings different from each other by corresponding first and second sensors, and the reference position of the scale is determined according to outputs of respective sensors. Hence, even if the attitude of the scale changes from a predetermined attitude due to an inclination of the scale or a deviation in position of the scale, it is possible to exactly detect the reference position of the scale. Accordingly, it becomes also possible to increase the performance of a displacement measuring apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for detecting a reference position of a rotating scale, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for detecting a reference position used for a rotary encoder for reading the displacement of a grating formed along the circumferential direction of a rotating scale.
Heretofore, as a measuring instrument which can measure the displacement of an object to be measured in the unit of submicrometers, there has been known an optical encoder in which a laser beam is irradiated on a diffraction grating (scale) linked to an object to be measured, an interference light is formed by superimposing a pair of diffracted lights produced by the diffraction grating with each other, and the displacement of the diffraction grating, that is, the displacement of the object to be measured is measured according to a signal obtained by photoelectrically converting the interference light.
The present applicant has disclosed a method for detecting a reference position (an origin) of a scale in this kind of encoder in Japanese Patent Public Disclosure (Kokai) No. 62-200223 (1987). In the method disclosed by this publication, a mark for detecting a reference position formed on a scale is optically detected, and the reference position of the scale is detected with a very high resolution. Although this method can be applied to a linear scale and a rotary scale, our investigations show that problems sometimes arise, especially when this method is applied to a rotary scale mounted to a small rotating mechanism.
In the method disclosed by the above-described publication, a mark, or marks, consisting of a rectangular reflective film is, for example, provided on a rotating scale, and a rectangular or an elliptic beam spot extended in the direction of the radius of the scale is formed on the scale by irradiating a laser beam on the scale. A reflected light beam produced when the mark crosses the beam spot is then detected by two photosensors disposed in different positions so that detection timings for the reflected light beam are different to each other, levels of output signals from the two photosensors are compared with each other, and the reference position of the scale is detected with excellent accuracy based on the levels of the output signals.
However, if a deviation of the scale or an inclination due to a slanting of the rotation shaft occurs in the rotating scale during its rotation, the detection timings for the reflected light by the two photodetectors shift in the same manner, as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, and the reference position is misdetected.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a laser diode 1, a collimating lens 2, a half-mirror 3, a cylindrical lens 4, a rotating scale 5, a mark 6 for detecting a reference position, a rotation shaft 7 of the rotating scale 5, and photosensors 8 and 9. Light from the laser diode 1 is made a parallel light by the collimating lens 2, and the parallel light is directed to the half-mirror 3. The parallel light reflected by the half-mirror 3 is converted into a linear light beam by the cylindrical lens 4, and a linear beam spot extended in the direction of the radius of the scale is formed on the scale 5. When the mark 6 passes through the linear spot, the light beam reflected by the mark 6 is directed to the photosensors 8 and 9 via the cylindrical lens 4 and the half-mirror 3.
The mark 6, the linear beam spot and the photosensors 8 and 9 are set so that levels of output signals A and B from the photosensors 8 and 9 coincide with each other only when the center line of the mark 6 and the center line of the linear beam spot coincide with each other, and detection of the reference position of the rotating scale 5 is performed according to a coincidence of output signals A and B from the photosensors 8 and 9. Now, if the rotating scale 5 shifts 0.5 .mu.m in the direction of the X--X' axis which orthogonally crosses the rotation shaft of the scale and is displaced from the position indicated by the full line to the position indicated by the dotted line, as shown in FIG. 1, detection timings of the reflected light beam from the rectangular mark 6 on the rotating scale 5 by the photosensors 8 and 9 shift as shown in FIG. 3. That is, the timing t.sub.1 at which levels of the output signals A and B of the photosensors 8 and 9 coincide with each other shifts to t.sub.1 '. Pulses depicted at an upper portion of FIG. 3 are reference (origin) signals corresponding to the reference position of the scale 5, produced according to a coincidence of levels of the output signals A and B. The reference signal is misdetected by the deviation of the scale 5.
The shift from the timing t.sub.1 to the timing t.sub.1 ' corresponds to the shift of the reference position of the scale 5 by 0.5 .mu.m along the circumferential direction of the scale 5. Hence, when the diameter of the scale 5 is 20 mm, an error of {tan.sup.-1 (0.5/10000).times.3600}.congruent. about 10 angular seconds is produced.
On the other hand, if the rotation shaft 7 of the scale 5 is slanted to tilt the scale 5 as shown in FIG. 2, the incident positions of the light beam reflected by the mark 6 on the photosensors 8 and 9 are shifted, and output timings of the output signals A and B from the photosensors 8 and 9 are shifted. For example, when a lens having a focal length f=5 mm is used as the cylindrical lens 4, the error in detecting the reference position becomes tan.sup.-1 {5.times.tan (1/60.times.2)/10}.times.60=20 angular seconds, for the tilt of the rotation shaft 7 of 20 angular seconds.
In general, when a rotating scale is mounted to a small rotating mechanism using a bearing and the like, it is very difficult to prevent deviation of the shaft of 0.5 .mu.m or less, or prevent slanting of the shaft of 10 angular seconds or less.
Accordingly, in conventional methods, it is difficult to exactly detect a reference position of a rotating scale.

Method and apparatus for detecting a reference position of a rotating scale with two sensors


In one embodiment, the present invention includes a semiconductor package including a first semiconductor die with first active circuitry and a second semiconductor die with second active circuitry. An intermediate substrate may be located in the package between the first and second semiconductor dies to provide power to at least one of the dies. In this way, improved stacking within a single package is afforded. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to integrated circuit (IC) packaging technology and more particularly to stacked die packages.
Today's ICs are manufactured with increasingly higher performance, reduced costs, and increased miniaturization of components and devices. Many ICs such as processors, controllers, logic devices, memory devices and the like may be housed in a package including a substrate which supports a semiconductor die and which further has internal electrical connections to provide interconnections (i.e., power and data) to the die. The package includes external electrical connections to enable the package to be electrically connected to, for example, a socket that may be adapted on a circuit board such as a motherboard or the like.
Thus the package may be used to provide power to the semiconductor die within the package, as well as to enable transfer of data to and from the die. Furthermore, a package provides a manner to dissipate heat from the die so that the device (e.g., a processor) therein can operate at its peak performance. Furthermore, the package protects the die from environmental damage.
Some semiconductor packages include a mixed stack of active devices. Specifically, some packages include two active die (i.e., two different semiconductor devices) that are stacked, one on top of the other, e.g., using an interface layer such as an epoxy or the like. Typically, these stacked die are memory-based devices such as flash memories. While such stacking of multiple devices can improve density of a resulting semiconductor package, certain problems exist. First, the top die in such a package may have limited availability of interconnects for power and data, as all such interconnects are typically provided to the top die using wire bonds from a substrate of the package. Because of space considerations as more functionality appears in a semiconductor device, the ability to provide sufficient power and data interconnects with wire bonds becomes difficult.
In some packages, the bottom die of a mixed stack may include multiple vias in an effort to overcome this problem of limited interconnections. In such packages, vias through the first die provide interconnections that can be directly coupled to the top die, e.g., by solder bumps that couple the top and bottom die. However, such an implementation creates thermal stress on the bottom die, as these interconnections are used to provide, in part, power to the top die.
Without stacking of die, data interconnections between active die (i.e., in different packages) typically require long interlinks through conductive layers of a circuit board, such as a motherboard. These long interconnects increase inductance and can further cause electrical noise. Furthermore, the distance of such interconnects reduces communication speed between different semiconductor devices.


A method and computer system for tracking eye gaze. A camera is focused on an eye of subject viewing a gaze point on a screen while directing light toward the eye. Eye gaze data pertaining to a glint and pupil image of the eye in an image plane of the camera is sampled. Eye gaze parameters are determined from the eye gaze data. The determined eye gaze parameters include: orthogonal projections of a pupil-glint displacement vector, a ratio of a major semi-axis dimension to a minor semi-axis dimension of an ellipse that is fitted to the pupil image in the image plane, an angular orientation of the major semi-axis dimension in the image plane, and mutually orthogonal coordinates of the center of the glint in the image plane. The gaze point is estimated from the eye gaze parameters.

1. Technical Field
A method and computer system for tracking eye gaze such that translational and rotational head movement are permitted.
2. Related Art
Gaze determines a subject's current line of sight or fixation point. The fixation point is defined as the intersection of the line of sight with the surface of the object being viewed (such as the screen of computer). Gaze may be used to interpret the subject's intention for non-command interactions and to enable fixation dependent accommodation and dynamic depth of focus. The potential benefits for incorporating eye movements into the interaction between humans and computers are numerous. For example, knowing the location of the subject's gaze may help a computer to interpret the subject's request and possibly enable a computer to ascertain some cognitive states of the subject, such as confusion or fatigue.
The direction of the eye gaze can express the interests of the subject and is a potential porthole into the current cognitive processes. Communication through the direction of the eyes is faster than any other mode of human communication. In addition, real time monitoring of gaze position permits the introduction of display changes that are contingent on the spatial or temporal characteristics of eye movements. Such methodology is referred to as the gaze contingent display paradigm. For example, gaze may be used to determine one's fixation on the screen, which can then be used to infer the information of interest to the subject. Appropriate actions can then be taken such as increasing the resolution or increasing the size of the region where the subject fixates. Another example is to economize on bandwidth by putting high-resolution information only where the subject is currently looking. Gaze tracking is therefore important for Human Computer Interaction (HCI).
Existing techniques for eye gaze tracking can be divided into video-based techniques and non-video-based techniques. The non-video-based methods typically use special contacting devices attached to the skin or eye to obtain the subject's gaze. Thus, the non-video-based methods are intrusive and interfere with the subject. In contrast, video-based gaze tracking methods have the advantage of being unobtrusive and comfortable for the subject during the process of gaze estimation. Unfortunately, current video-based gaze tracking methods have significant shortcomings. For example, some existing techniques which relate gaze to head orientation lack sufficient accuracy. Other existing techniques which relate gaze to eye orientation require a static head which is significant constraint imposed on the subject. Another serious problem with the existing eye and gaze tracking systems is the need to perform a rather cumbersome calibration process for each individual.
Accordingly, there is a need for a gaze tracking method which overcomes or mitigates the disadvantages of existing gaze tracking techniques.

Calibration-free gaze tracking under natural head movement


A programmable logic region on a programmable integrated circuit may include a first set of look-up tables that receive programmable logic region input signals and a second set of look-up tables that produce programmable logic region output signals. Multiplexer circuitry may be interposed between the first and second sets of look-up tables. The multiplexer circuitry may receive the programmable logic region input signals in parallel with the output signals from the first set of look-up tables and may provide corresponding selected signals to the second set of look-up tables. The programmable logic region input signals may be shared by the first and second sets of look-up tables. Logic circuitry may be coupled to outputs of the first and second sets of look-up tables. The logic circuitry may be configured to logically combine output signals from the first and second sets of look-up tables.

This relates to integrated circuits such as programmable integrated circuits.
Programmable integrated circuits are well known. Programmable integrated circuits can be programmed by a user to implement a desired custom logic function. In a typical scenario, a logic designer uses computer-aided design (CAD) tools to design a custom logic circuit. When the design process is complete, the tools generate configuration data. The configuration data is loaded into programmable elements of the integrated circuit to configure the device to perform the functions of the custom logic circuit. In particular, the configuration data configures programmable interconnects, programmable routing circuits, and programmable logic circuits in the programmable integrated circuits.
Programmable integrated circuits include programmable logic circuits that are configured to receive input signals and perform custom logic functions on the received input signals to produce output signals. Each programmable logic circuit has a predetermined number of inputs and a predetermined number of outputs. Input and output signals for each logic circuit are routed by interconnects throughout the programmable integrated circuit. The programmable logic circuits typically include look-up tables that receive the input signals and produce the output signals based on configuration data that is provided to the look-up tables.
A programmable integrated circuit is configured to perform a given custom logic function by mapping the logic function onto one or more programmable logic circuits so that the programmable logic circuits collectively perform the custom logic function. It may be difficult to efficiently utilize resources such as programmable logic circuits when configuring a programmable integrated circuit to perform the custom logic function. For example, a custom logic function for producing a single output signal using two input signals may be mapped onto a programmable logic circuit that has four inputs and one output. In this scenario, only two of the four inputs may be used to perform the custom logic function, thereby resulting in inefficient use of circuitry in the programmable logic circuit that is associated with the two unused inputs.

Integrated circuits with multi-stage logic regions


Acrylosilane polymers containing vinyl silanes are prepared by copolymerizing vinyl alkoxy silane monomers predominantly with, or in the alternative, only with acrylate monomers. The polymer so prepared can be used as the main component in the acid etch resistant solvent borne coating compositions and in particular in clear coating compositions for clear coat/color coat finishes for automobiles and trucks.

This invention relates to crosslinkable polymers, and more particularly to crosslinkable acrylosilane polymers containing vinyl silane monomers, and a process for preparing the same. It also relates to acid etch resistant high solids solvent borne coating compositions comprising a crosslinkable acrylosilane polymer containing a vinyl silane which can be used for finishing automobile and truck exteriors.
Coating compositions containing crosslinkable film-forming acrylosilane polymers that have excellent resistance to etching from acid rain and other environmental pollutants are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,426 to Hazan et al. issued Nov. 10, 1992. Nowadays, these coatings are widely used for finishing the exteriors of automobile and truck bodies.
While such coatings function very well, the method described for their preparation provides no convenient way for incorporating much less expensive vinyl silane monomers such as vinyl alkoxy silanes into the acrylosilane polymer molecules. Vinyl alkoxy silanes confer certain advantages to these coatings which have gone unrealized up to now. U.S. Pat. No. 5,886,125 to Huybrechts issued Mar. 23, 1999 discloses crosslinkable copolymers comprising vinyl alkoxy silane monomers and vinyl esters of branched fatty acids. While these copolymers produce etch resistant films, it is desirable to obtain copolymers comprising vinyl alkoxy silane monomers without the use of vinyl esters of branched fatty acids.
Therefore, there is still a need for new chemistries and convenient methods to broaden the choice of silane monomers that can be used to optimize the performance of these coating compositions while at the same time significantly reducing their cost.
The present invention provides a process for preparing crosslinkable acrylosilane polymers useful in forming acid etch resistant coating compositions from vinyl alkoxy silane monomers, which comprises copolymerizing components A, B and optionally C (hereinafter defined) together in the proportions indicated herein.
The crosslinkable acrylosilane polymer compositions made by the above process also are a part of this invention. More particularly, the present invention provides crosslinkable polymeric compositions having a weight average molecular weight below about 40,000 derived from A, B and optionally C, wherein:
(A) is about 5 to 75% by weight, based on the weight of acrylosilane polymer, a vinyl alkoxy silane monomer represented by the general formula
wherein R1 is an aryl or alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R2 is a hydrolysable group, m is 0 or 1, and n is 0 or a positive integer from 1 to 10;
(B) is about 25 to 95% by weight, based on the weight of the acrylosilane polymer, of one or more of polymerizable monomers selected from the group consisting of esters of acrylic acid; and,
(C) is about 0 to 70% by weight, based on the weight of the acrylosilane polymer, of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers other than (a) and (b) selected from the group consisting of esters of methacrylic acid, styrenic monomers, and combinations thereof.
The polymer compositions of this invention give an excellent balance of solvent resistance, chemical resistance, hardness, flexibility and adherence to a variety of substrates at a much lower cost. More specifically, such compositions are particularly useful in formulating acid etch resistant solvent borne coating compositions used as automotive top coats and in particular clear coating compositions for clear coat/color coat finishes for automobiles and trucks. Also included within the scope of this invention are coating compositions formed from the above polymers and substrates coated with the coating compositions disclosed herein.
The novel process of this invention provides a convenient way to incorporate vinyl alkoxy silane monomers into an acrylosilane polymer. The acrylosilane polymers so prepared can then be used as the main film-forming component in acid etch resistant coating compositions that are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,426, previously mentioned. That description is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The process of this invention comprises copolymerizing a vinyl alkoxy silane monomer (A) predominantly with acrylate monomers (B) and optionally with other ethylenically unsaturated comonomers (C) such as styrenic or methacrylate monomers. The term xe2x80x9cacrylatexe2x80x9d as used herein refers to esters of acrylic acid. The term xe2x80x9cmethacrylatexe2x80x9d as used herein refers to esters of methacrylic acid. The term xe2x80x9cstyrenicxe2x80x9d refers to unsubstituted styrene monomers or alkyl substituted styrene monomers having about 1-4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group.
In this invention, it should be understood that the amount of any additional comonomer (C) which is present should not be so great as to adversely affect the desirable polymerization properties such as the polymer conversion rate. Preferably, the weight percentage of any additional comonomer (C) present is not so great as to reduce the polymer conversion rate below about 90%, preferably not below 97%, and even more preferably not below 98-99% conversion. In a typical embodiment, the weight percentage of any additional comonomer (C) present is no greater then the weight percentage of the acrylate monomer (B) present. In one preferred embodiment, only monomers (A) and (B) are present. This ensures almost 100% conversion.
Previously, no convenient way existed to incorporate vinyl alkoxy silane monomers into the acrylosilane polymer, due to poor compolymerization with other monomers, resulting in poor conversion of monomer to polymer. Instead, it had been the standard practice to use (meth)acryloxy silane monomers, such as methacryloxy propyltrimethoxy silane, as the silane monomer. It has now surprisingly been found that when vinyl alkoxy silane is copolymerized predominantly with or, in the alternative, only with acrylate monomers, the conversion is good and the yield is high, thus providing a convenient method to incorporate vinyl alkoxy silanes into the polymer. The acrylosilane polymer so prepared can then be used as the main component in acid etch resistant coating compositions and in particular in clear coating compositions for clear coat/color coat finishes for automobiles and trucks.
Preferably, the acrylosilane polymer prepared in accordance with this invention is the polymerization product of about 5-75%, preferably 10-50%, by weight of ethylenically unsaturated vinyl alkoxy silane monomers and correspondingly about 25-95%, preferably 50-90%, by weight of ethylenically unsaturated acrylate monomers, and optionally 0-70%, preferably 0-40%, by weight of a different ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from one or both of a styrenic and methacrylate monomer, based on the total weight of the acrylosilane polymer. Illustrative of the vinyl alkoxy silane monomers which can be used to prepare the acrylosilane polymer are represented by the general formula
wherein R1 is an aryl or alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R2 is a hydrolysable group, m is 0 or 1, and n is 0 or a positive integer from 1 to 10. Preferably, m is 0, R2 is CH3O, and n is 0.
Typical examples of such vinyl alkoxy silanes are vinyl trimethoxy silane, vinyl methyldimethoxy silane, vinyl triethoxy silane, and vinyl tris (2-methoxyethoxy) silane, and the like.
The acrylate monomers which can be used to prepare the acrylosilane polymer include alkyl acrylates, where the alkyl groups have 1-12 carbon atoms, preferably 3-8 carbon atoms. Typical examples of such alkyl acrylates include methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, tert-butyl acrylate, pentyl acrylate, ethyl hexyl acrylate, nonyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate and the like. Cycloaliphatic acrylates can also be used, for example, such as isobornyl acrylate, trimethylcyclohexyl acrylate, t-butyl cyclohexyl acrylate and the like. Aryl acrylates also can be used, for example, such as benzyl acrylate. Polyacrylate monomers, (preferably diacrylate) can also be used. Typical examples of such monomers include 1,3 butanediol diacrylate, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, 1,6-hexandediol diacrylate, cyclohexanedimethanol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, diurethane diacrylates, urethane triacrylates. Other acrylate monomers can also be used, such as silane-functional acrylates, for example, acryloxy silanes. Of course, mixtures of the above-mentioned monomers are also suitable.
Optional component C includes alkyl methacrylate monomers such as methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, pentyl methacrylate, hexyl methacrylate, octyl methacrylate, nonyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate and the like. Cycloaliphatic methacrylates also can be used such as trimethylcyclohexyl methacrylate, t-butyl cyclohexyl methacrylate, and the like. Aryl methacrylates also can be used such as benzyl methacrylate. In addition to alkyl methacrylates, minor amounts of other polymerizable monomers can be used in the acrylosilane polymer for the purpose of achieving the desired properties such as hardness, appearance mar resistance and the like. Exemplary of such other monomers are vinyl aromatics, and in particular, styrene, methyl styrene, and the like. However, for better conversion of vinyl silane to polymer, component C is not present.
The acrylosilane polymer can also, and preferably does, comprise hydroxy functional groups (preferably up to about 40% by weight, based on the weight of the polymer) which can be provided by hydroxy alkyl acrylates and methacrylates having 1-4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group such as hydroxy ethyl acrylate, hydroxy propyl acrylate, hydroxy butyl acrylate, hydroxy ethyl methacrylate, hydroxy propyl methacylate, hydroxy butyl methacrylate, and the like. For the same reasons mentioned above, preferred are the hydroxy alkyl acrylates. Particularly preferred polymer compositions have hydroxyl values (by titration; mg KOH/gram) from about 20 to 160. More preferred are values from about 50 to 130. Acid values are typically below about 20 mg KOH/gram.
The polymerization process of this invention can be, and preferably is, carried out by conventional free radical polymerization techniques. The conventional process is typically run in two steps. In the first step, vinyl alkoxy silane monomers are blended with an organic solvent or solvent blend in a conventional polymerization reactor and heated, preferably to reflux for ease of control, and in the second step to it is added the remaining monomers, additional solvent, and the usual amount of a conventional polymerization initiator such as azo- or peroxide initiators. The reaction is continued, preferably at reflux, with additions of monomers, solvents and initiators as needed, until an acrylosilane polymer is formed of the desired molecular weight.
The acrylosilane polymer prepared according to this invention preferably has a weight average molecular weight below about 40,000, preferably 1,000 to 30,000. All molecular weights herein are determined by GPC (gel permeation chromatography) using polystyrene as a standard.
Typical solvents that can be used to form the acrylosilane polymer are petroleum distillates; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, butanol, sec-butanol, isobutanol, and propanol; ketones such as acetone, butanone, pentanone, hexanone, and methyl ethyl ketone; alkyl esters of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids, such as ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, and amyl acetate; ethers such as tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, and ethylene glycol and polyethylene glycol monoalkyl and dialkyl ethers such as cellosolves and carbitols; and, glycols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol; and any mixtures thereof.
Any of the commonly used azo or peroxy polymerization initiators can be used for preparation of the polymer provided it has solubility in the solution of the solvents and the monomer mixture, and has an appropriate half life at the temperature of polymerization. Suitable azo type initiators are 2,2xe2x80x2-azobis (isobutyronitrile), 2,2xe2x80x2-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2xe2x80x2-azobis (methylbutyronitrile), and 1,1xe2x80x2-azobis (cyanocyclohexane). Suitable peroxy based initiators are benzoyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, t-butyl peroxypivalate, t-butyl peroxy 2-ethylhexanoate and the like.
Consistent with the above mentioned components of the acrylosilane polymer, an example of an acrylosilane polymer useful herein contains the following constituents: about 10-90% by weight of one or more non-functional acrylates such as butyl acrylate, isobornyl acrylate and any mixtures thereof, about 5-30% by weight of a hydroxy functional alkyl acrylate, and about 5-50% by weight of the vinyl alkoxy silane. One such polymer that is presently preferred contains about 30% vinyl trimethoxysilane, 20% hydroxypropyl acrylate, 10% butyl acrylate, and 40% isobornyl acrylate.
The acrylosilane polymer prepared according to the process of the invention, which also forms part of this invention, is preferably used as the main film-forming component in acid etch resistant coating compositions.
Such coating compositions, which also form part of this invention, contain a combination of film forming components of an acrylosilane polymer, a non-aqueous dispersed polymer, referred to as a (NAD) polymer, and a crosslinking agent that in combination provides improved resistance to acid etching from environmental air pollution and is not prone to cracking typically associated with silane coatings.
These coating compositions are useful for finishing the exterior of automobile and truck bodies. Depending on its use, the present composition is capable of providing a coating which is durable, has excellent adhesion to basecoats, does not crack, does not deteriorate in terms of transparency under prolonged exposure to weather conditions, and imparts a superior glossy and attractive appearance for an extended period. Also, the coating composition offers a significant improvement over conventionally used coating compositions in terms of resistance to etching caused by environmental chemical attack. The coating composition is therefore capable of providing an automobile or truck with exterior finish that has high glamour and an attractive aesthetic appearance, including high gloss and DOI (distinctness of image), and is also resistant to loss of its luster and etching caused by environmental chemical attack.
A typical steel auto or truck body has several layers of coatings. The steel is typically first coated with an inorganic rust-proofing zinc or iron phosphate layer over which a primer coating is applied which typically is an electrocoated primer or can be a repair primer. A typical electrocoated primer comprises a cathodically deposited epoxy modified resin that is crosslinked with a polyisocyanate. A typical repair primer comprises an alkyd resin. Optionally, a primer surfacer can be applied over the primer coating to provide for better appearance and/or improved adhesion of the basecoat to the primer coat. A pigmented basecoat or colorcoat is next applied over the primer surfacer. A typical basecoat comprises a pigment, which may include metallic flakes in the case of a metallic finish, and polyester or acrylourethane as a film-forming binder. A clear topcoat (clearcoat) is then applied to the pigmented basecoat (colorcoat). The colorcoat and clearcoat are preferably applied to have thickness of about 0.1-3 mils and 1.0-5.0 mils, respectively. A coating composition of this invention, depending on the presence of pigments or other conventional components, may be used as a basecoat, clearcoat, or primer. However, a particularly preferred composition is useful as a clear topcoat to prevent environmental chemical attack to the entire finish. A clearcoat composition of the present invention may be applied over a basecoat composition of the present invention.
The film-forming portion of the coating composition of this invention, comprising polymeric components, is referred to as the xe2x80x9cbinderxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cbinder solidsxe2x80x9d and is dissolved, emulsified or otherwise dispersed in an organic solvent or liquid carrier. The binder solids generally include all the normally solid polymeric non-liquid components of the total composition. Generally, catalysts, pigments, and non-polymeric chemical additives such as stabilizers are not considered part of the binder solids. Non-binder solids other than pigments usually do not amount to more than about 5% by weight of the composition. In this disclosure, the term binder includes the acrylosilane polymer, the NAD polymer, crosslinking agents and all other optional film-forming polymers.
The coating composition of the present invention suitably contains about 40-90% by weight of the binder and correspondingly about 10-60% by weight of an organic solvent or another liquid carrier. Preferably, the coating composition is a high solids composition that contains about 50-80% by weight of the binder and 20-50% by weight of a liquid carrier. The coating of the present invention is also preferably a low VOC coating composition which means a coating that includes less than 0.6 kilograms of organic solvent per liter (5 pounds per gallon) of the composition, as determined under the procedure provided in ASTM D3960. The binder of the coating composition preferably is a blend of about 20-80% by weight of the film-forming acrylosilane polymer, 10-40% by weight of a NAD polymer, about 10-70% by weight of a crosslinking agent. Preferred coating compositions are those wherein the binder is a blend of about 40-70% by weight of acrylosilane polymer, 10-30% by weight of NAD polymer, and 10-50% by weight of crosslinking agent.
The film-forming acrylosilane portion of the binder comprises the acrylosilane polymer mentioned above. Such polymers enable the use of much less expensive vinyl alkoxy silane monomers without adversely affecting the durability of the coating and its resistance to chemical and environmental weathering. Coating compositions can now be made that have high resistance to chemical and environmental attack, while at the same time reducing the cost of application.
Suitably, the acrylosilane polymers mentioned above are the sole means of acrylosilane polymers in this portion of the coating composition. Optionally, blends of the foregoing acrylosilane polymer and other acrylosilane polymers can be used. Specific examples of these acrylosilane polymers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,426, which has been previously incorporated by reference.
In addition to the acrylosilane polymer, other film-forming and/or crosslinking solution polymers may be included in the present application. Examples include conventionally known acrylics, cellulosics, aminoplasts, urethanes, polyesters, epoxies or mixtures thereof.
One preferred optional film-forming polymer is a polyol, for example an acrylic polyol solution polymer of polymerized monomers. Such monomers may include any of the aforementioned alkyl acrylates and/or corresponding methacrylates and, in addition, any of the aforementioned hydroxy alkyl acrylates and/or corresponding methacrylates. Suitable alkyl acrylates are those listed above. Suitable alkyl methacrylates are methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, pentyl methacrylate, hexyl methacrylate, octyl methacrylate, nonyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate and the like. The polyol polymer preferably has a hydroxyl number of about 50-200 and a weight average molecular weight of about 1,000-200,000 and preferably about 1,000-20,000.
To provide the hydroxy functionality in the polyol, up to about 90% preferably 20 to 50%, by weight of the polyol comprises hydroxy functional polymerized monomers. Suitable monomers include hydroxy alkyl acrylates and methacrylates, for example, such as the hydroxy alkyl acrylates listed hereinabove. Suitable hydroxy alkyl methacrylates are hydroxy ethyl methacrylate, hydroxy propyl methacrylate, hydroxy butyl methacrylate and the like.
Other polymerizable non-hydroxy-containing monomers may be included in the polyol polymer component, in an amount up to about 90% by weight, preferably 50 to 80%. Such polymerizable monomers include, for example, styrene, methylstyrene, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, methacrylamide, methylol methacrylamide, methylol acrylamide, and the like, and mixtures thereof.
One example of an acrylic polyol polymer comprises about 10-20% by weight of styrene, 40-60% by weight of alkyl methacrylate or acrylate having 1-6 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, and 10-50% by weight of hydroxy alkyl acrylate or methacrylate having 1-4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. One such polymer contains about 15% by weight styrene, about 29% by weight iso-butyl methacrylate, about 20% by weight 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and about 36% by weight hydroxy propylacrylate.
A key component of the coating composition of this invention is, in addition to the above polymeric components, a non aqueous dispersed (NAD) polymer, also known as a microgel, a nonaquoeus latex, and a polymer colloid. The NAD polymer is characterized as a polymer particle dispersed in an organic media, which particle is stabilized by steric stabilization. Steric stabilization is accomplished by the attachment, commonly by adsorption, of a solvated polymeric or oligomeric layer at the particle medium interface. The problem of providing a steric barrier has been considered in two parts: first, the selection of the soluble polymer which comprises the solvate sheath surrounding each particle and, secondly, the method of attaching or anchoring this polymer to the particle surface. Typically the NAD polymers are block or graft copolymers in which one component is the soluble stabilizing portion and the other portion, often termed the anchor, is insoluble in the continuous phase and is adsorbed on or is absorbed into the disperse phase. To increase the stability of the dispersed polymer, particularly to strong solvents, or to ensure that the stabilizer is not desorbed or displaced, the anchor group may be covalently linked to the particle. This has been achieved by incorporating into the anchor group a reactive group, for example a glycidyl group which can react with a complementary group in the dispersed polymer, for example a carboxylic acid.
In the NAD polymers of this composition, the dispersed phase or particle, sheathed by a steric barrier, will be referred to as the xe2x80x9cmacromolecular polymerxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ccore.xe2x80x9d The stabilizer forming the steric barrier, attached to this core, will be referred to as the xe2x80x9cmacromonomer chainsxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9carms.xe2x80x9d
The NAD polymers solve the problem of cracking associated with silane coatings. These NAD polymers, to reduce cracking to the desired minimum, must be used in relatively higher amounts than when typically used for other purposes such as for flow control agents. The dispersed polymers are typically used in an amount varying from 10 to 60% by weight, preferably about 15 to 40%, more preferably 20 to 30% of the total binder in the composition. The ratio of silane compound to the dispersed polymer component in the composition suitably ranges from 5:1 to 1:2, preferably 4:1 to 1:1. This relatively high concentration of dispersed polymer in the composition is made possible by the presence of reactive groups in the arms of the dispersed polymer, which reactive groups make the polymers compatible with the continuous phase of the system.
The NAD polymer contains about 10-90% by weight, preferably 50-80%, based on the weight of the NAD polymer, of a high molecular weight core having a weight average molecular weight of about 50,000-500,000. The preferred average particle size is 0.1 to 0.5 microns. The arms, attached to the core, make up about 90-10% by weight, preferably 20-50%, of the NAD polymer, and have a weight average molecular weight of about 1,000-30,000, preferably 1000-10,000.
Preferably, the macromolecular core of the NAD polymer is comprised of polymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomers. Suitable monomers include styrene, alkyl acrylate or methacrylate, ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, and/or silane containing monomers. Such monomers as methyl methacrylate contribute to a high Tg (transition glass temperature) NAD polymer, whereas such xe2x80x9csofteningxe2x80x9d monomers as butyl acrylate or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate contribute to a low Tg dispersed polymer. Other optional monomers are hydroxyalkyl acrylates or methacrylates or acrylonitrile. It is noted that such functional groups as hydroxy can react with silane groups in the acrylosilane polymer to produce more bonding in the composition. If a crosslinked core is desired, allyl acrylate or allyl methacrylate, which crosslink with each other, can be used or an epoxy functional monomer such as glycidyl acrylate or methacrylate can be used, which can react with a monocarboxylic acid functional ethylenically unsaturated monomer to crosslink the core.
Or the core can contain silane functionality, for crosslinking purposes, which functionality may be provided by a small amount of one or more of the silane containing monomers mentioned above with respect to the film forming acrylosilane polymer. Suitably, the silane functionality is the primary or major means, preferably the sole means, of crosslinking in the core. Suitably about 2 to 10%, preferably about less than 5% of the monomers making up the macromolecular core are silane monomers capable of crosslinking between themselves. Thus, crosslinking occurs by siloxane bonding (xe2x80x94Sixe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94Sixe2x80x94). This silane crosslinking enables the core to behave as a non-crosslinked polymer before cure for good flow during application, resulting in improved appearance. The core can crosslink during and after curing, upon exposure to humidity and heat during curing and/or exposure to humidity in the environment after curing. A further advantage of silane being present in the core is that the cured film does not blush when exposed to humidity, which blushing was found to occur without the presence of silane.
A preferred feature of the NAD polymers used in this invention is the presence of macromonomer arms which are reactive, that is these arms have numerous reactive groups, referred to a xe2x80x9ccrosslinking functionalities,xe2x80x9d which are adapted to react with the acrylosilane polymer of the present composition. It is not known with certainty what portion of the these functional groups do, in fact, react with the acrylosilane polymer, because of the numerous and complicated sets of reactions which may occur during baking and curing of the composition, especially if additional film-forming binders are present. However, it may be said that a substantial portion of these functionalities in the arms, preferably the majority thereof, do in actuality react and crosslink with the film-former of the composition. If additional film-forming polymers are present, for example, a polyol, then the arms may react with film forming polymers other than the acrylosilane polymer. Suitably, about 3 to 30% of the monomers which make up the macromonomer arms have reactive crosslinking functional groups. Preferably about 10 to 20% of the monomers have such reactive groups.
The arms of the NAD polymer should be anchored securely to the macromolecular core. For this reason, the arms preferably are anchored by covalent bonds. The anchoring must be sufficient to hold the arms to the NAD polymer after they react with the film-former polymer.
As indicated above, the arms or macromonomers of the NAD polymer serve to prevent the core from flocculating by forming what is referred to in the art as a steric barrier. The arms, typically in contrast to the macromolecular core, are capable, at least temporarily, of being solvated in the organic solvent carrier or media of the composition. They may therefore be in a chain-extended configuration and their crosslinking functional groups are therefore relatively readily available to reaction with the silane groups of the film forming silane containing polymer. Such arms suitably comprise about 5 to 30% by weight, preferably 10 to 20%, based on the weight of macromonomer, of polymerized ethylenically unsaturated hydroxy, epoxide, silane, acid, anhydride, isocyanate, amide, or other crosslinking functionality containing monomers, or combinations thereof, and about 70-95% by weight, based on the weight of the macromonomer, of at least one other polymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomer without such crosslinking functionality. Preferably the crosslinking functionality is a hydroxy, silane or epoxy containing monomer, since such reactive groups can be utilized in one package systems. When the crosslinking functionality is an acid, anhydride, or isocyanate, then a two package system, with the dispersed polymer in a first package and the acrylosilane in a second package, is generally required. Combinations of the above-mentioned crosslinking functional groups are also suitable, although it is noted that hydroxy and silane groups have limited compatibility and are preferably not on the same macromonomer chain.
As an example, the macromonomer arms attached to the core may contain polymerized monomers of alkyl methacrylate, alkyl acrylate, each having 1-12 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, as well as glycidyl acrylate or glycidyl methacrylate or ethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acid containing monomers for anchoring and/or crosslinking. Typically useful hydroxy containing monomers are hydroxy alkyl acrylates or methacrylates as described above.
A preferred composition for the NAD polymer that has hydroxy functionality comprises a core consisting of about 25% by weight hydroxy ethyl acrylate, about 4% by weight methacrylic acid, about 46.5% by weight methyl methacrylate, about 18% by weight methyl acrylate, about 1.5% by weight glycidyl methacrylate and about 5% styrene. The macromonomer attached to the core contains 97.3% by weight prepolymer and about 2.7% by weight glycidyl methacrylate, the latter for crosslinking or anchoring. A preferred prepolymer contains about 28% by weight butyl methacrylate, about 15% by weight ethyl methacrylate, about 30% by weight butyl acrylate, about 10% by weight hydroxyethyl acrylate, about 2% by weight acrylic acid, and about 15% by weight styrene.
The NAD polymer may be produced by conventionally known procedures. For example, it has been disclosed that such polymers may be produced by a process of dispersion free radical polymerization of monomers, in an organic solvent, in the presence of a steric stabilizer for the particles. The procedure has been described as basically one of polymerizing the monomers in an inert solvent in which the monomers are soluble but the resulting polymer is not soluble, in the presence of a dissolved amphiteric stabilizing agent. Such procedures have been extensively disclosed in both the patent and non-patent literature, for example, see the above cited references regarding dispersed polymers in general, or U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,679 and PAINT AND SURFACE COATING: THEORY AND PRACTICE, ed. R. Lambourne (Ellis Horwood Limited 1987). The macromonomer arms can be prepared by cobalt catalyzed special chain transfer (SCT) polymerization, group transfer polymerization (GTP), or free radical polymerization. The dispersed polymer solves the problem of cracking heretofore associated with silane coatings.
Optionally, the present coating composition may further include, particularly in conjunction with optional polyol polymer, an additional crosslinking agent, for example, any of the conventionally used alkylated melamine formaldehyde crosslinking agents. Typical alkylated melamine formaldehyde crosslinking agents that can be used are, for example, conventional monomeric or polymeric alkylated melamine formaldehyde resin that are partially or fully alkylated. One useful crosslinking agent is a methylated and butylated or isobutylated melamine formaldehyde resin that has a degree of polymerization of about 1-3. Generally, this melamine formaldehyde resin contains about 50% butylated groups or isobutylated groups and 50% methylated groups. Such crosslinking agents typically have a number average molecular weight of about 300-600 and a weight average molecular weight of about 500-1500. Examples of commercially available resins are Cymel(copyright) 1168, Cymel(copyright) 161, Cymel(copyright) 1158, Resimine(copyright) 4514 and Resimine(copyright) 354. Preferably, the crosslinking agent is used in the amount of about 5-50% by weight, based on the weight of the binder. Other contemplated crosslinking agents are urea formaldehyde, benzoquanamine formaldehyde and blocked polyisocyanates or compatible mixtures of any of the forgoing crosslinkers.
The coating composition described above can be formulated as a one-package system that has extended shelf life.
For a two-component system, a polyfunctional organic isocyanate can be used as the crosslinker without particular limitation so long as the isocyanate compound has at least two isocyanate groups in the one molecule. The preferable polyisocyanate compounds are isocyanate compounds having 2 to 3 isocyanate groups per molecule. Typical examples of polyfunctional organic isocyanate compounds are, for instance, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane-4,4xe2x80x2-diisocyanate, dicyclohexylmethane-4,4xe2x80x2-diisocyanate, tetramethylxylidene diisocyanate, and the like. Trimers of diisocyanates also can be used such as the trimer of hexamethylene diisocyanate (isocyanurate) which is sold under the tradename Desmodur(copyright) N-3390, the trimer of isophorone diisocyanate (isocyanurate) which is sold under the tradename Desmodur(copyright) Z-4470 and the like. Polyisocyanate functional adducts can also be used that are formed from any of the forgoing organic polyisocyanate and a polyol. Polyols such as trimethylol alkanes like trimethylol propane or ethane can be used. One useful adduct is the reaction product of tetramethylxylidene diisocyanate and trimtheylol propane and is sold under the tradename of Cythane(copyright)) 3160. When the crosslinkable resin of the present invention is used in exterior coatings, the use of an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic isocyanate is preferable to the use of an aromatic isocyanate, from the viewpoint of weatherability and yellowing resistance.
A catalyst is typically added to catalyze the crosslinking of the silane moieties of the silane polymer with itself and with other components of the composition, including the dispersed polymer. Typical of such catalysts are dibutyl tin dilaurate, dibutyl tin diacetate, dibutyl tin dioxide, dibutyl tin dioctoate, tin octoate, aluminum titanate, aluminum chelates, zirconium chelate and the like. Tertiary amines and acids or combinations thereof are also useful for catalyzing silane bonding. Preferably, these catalysts are used in the amount of about 0.1 to 5.0%, based on the weight of the binder.
In addition, the coating composition may include a structured polymer, a STAR polymer, or a solvent reversible polymer (SRP).
To improve weatherability of a clear finish produced by the present coating composition, an ultraviolet light stabilizer or a combination of ultraviolet light stabilizers can be added in the amount of about 0.1-5% by weight, based on the weight of the binder. Such stabilizers include ultraviolet light absorbers, screeners, quenchers, and specific hindered amine light stabilizers. Also, an antioxidant can be added, in the about 0.1-5% by weight, based on the weight of the binder.
Typical ultraviolet light stabilizers that are useful include benzophenones, triazoles, triazines, benzoates, hindered amines and mixtures thereof. Specific examples of ultraviolet stabilizers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,533, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The composition may also include other conventional formulation additives such as flow control agents, for example, such as Resiflow(copyright) S (polybutylacrylate), BYK(copyright) 320 and 325 (high molecular weight polyacrylates); rheology control agents, such as fumed silica; water scavengers such as tetrasilicate, trimethyl orthoformate, triethyl orthoformate and the like.
When the present composition is used as a clearcoat (topcoat) over a pigmented colorcoat (basecoat) to provide a colorcoat/clearcoat finish, small amounts of pigment can be added to the clear coat to eliminate undesirable color in the finish such as yellowing.
The present composition also can be pigmented and used as the colorcoat, or as a monocoat or even as a primer or primer surfacer. The composition has excellent adhesion to a variety of substrates, such as previously painted substrates, cold rolled steel, phosphatized steel, and steel coated with conventional primers by electrodeposition. The present composition exhibits excellent adhesion to primers, for example, those that comprise crosslinked epoxy polyester and various epoxy resins, as well as alkyd resin repair primers. The present composition can be used to coat plastic substrates such as polyester reinforced fiberglass, reaction injection-molded urethanes and partially crystalline polyamides.
When the present coating composition is used as a basecoat, typical pigments that can be added to the composition include the following: metallic oxides such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxides of various colors, carbon black, filler pigments such as talc, china clay, barytes, carbonates, silicates and a wide variety of organic colored pigments such as quinacridones, copper phthalocyanines, perylenes, azo pigments, indanthrone blues, carbazoles such as carbazole violet, isoindolinones, isoindolones, thioindigo reds, benzimidazolinones, metallic flake pigments such as aluminum flake and the like.
The pigments can be introduced into the coating composition by first forming a mill base or pigment dispersion with any of the aforementioned polymers used in the coating composition or with another compatible polymer or dispersant by conventional techniques, such as high speed mixing, sand grinding, ball milling, attritor grinding or two roll milling. The mill base is then blended with the other constituents used in the coating composition.
Conventional solvents and diluents are used to disperse and/or dilute the above mentioned polymers to obtain the present coating composition. Typical solvents and diluents include toluene, xylene, butyl acetate, acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl ethyl ketone, methanol, isopropanol, butanol, hexane, acetone, ethylene glycol, monoethyl ether, VM and P naphtha, mineral spirits, heptane and other aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, ethers and ketones and the like.
The coating composition can be applied by conventional techniques such as spraying, electrostatic spraying, dipping, brushing, flowcoating and the like. The preferred techniques are spraying and electrostatic spraying. After application, the composition is typically baked at 100-150xc2x0 C. for about 15-30 minutes to form a coating about 0.1-3.0 mils thick. When the composition is used as a clearcoat, it is applied over the colorcoat which may be dried to a tack-free state and cured or preferably flash dried for a short period before the clearcoat is applied. The colorcoat/clearcoat finish is then baked as mentioned above to provide a dried and cured finish.
It is customary to apply a clear topcoat over a basecoat by means of a xe2x80x9cwet-on-wetxe2x80x9d application, i.e., the topcoat is applied to the basecoat without curing or completely drying the basecoat. The coated substrate is then heated for a predetermined time period to allow simultaneous curing of the base and clear coats.
Upon curing of clear topcoat compositions of the present invention, a portion of the silane-containing polymer may migrate to and stratify within the top portion of the clearcoat, particularly when the silane polymer is used in combination with a polyol, so as to produce a durable, weather-resistant clearcoat. Such stratification has been shown by electron scanning chemical analysis (ESCA) of a cross section of the cured layer of topcoat.
The coating composition can be formulated as a two-component package system or a one-package system that has extended shelf life.
The following examples illustrate the invention. All parts and percentages are on a weight basis unless otherwise indicated. Al molecular weights disclosed herein are determined by GPC using a polystyrene standard.

Preparation and use of crosslinkable acrylosilane polymers containing vinyl silane monomers


The disclosure relates to an electronic device, radio communication apparatus, and radio communication method. In one embodiment, an electronic device utilized at base station side comprises a processing circuit configured to: acquire information of an arrival time difference of diversity signals transmitted from two or more base stations to a mobile terminal; determine, on the basis of the information, a precoding matrix utilized in diversity signal transmission to reduce an impact of the arrival time difference on a diversity gain; and utilize the determined precoding matrix to perform precoding on a signal to be transmitted.

For the future fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication system, one of the important functions is to perform communication in a high speed mobile scenario. The mobile cellular application scenario under the current high speed mobile environment mainly includes systems such as internet of vehicles (V2x/eV2x) and high speed train (HST). In these scenarios, cell switching occurs frequently due to high speed moving of the high speed train or vehicle, resulting in that a link failure may occur. For the problem, in designing network topology, multiple base stations or roadside device units (RSUs) geographically adjacent are generally combined to form a logical cell. A mobile station is unnecessary to perform cell switching when performing switching between different base stations/RSUs in the same logical cell. With the method, a frequency of performing cell switching by the mobile station during the high speed moving process is greatly reduced, thereby reducing a possibility of the link failure. In addition, since the same logical cell includes multiple base stations/RSUs, multiple/all base stations/RSUs in the logical cell generally transmit the same signal to the same mobile station to realize spatial diversity, in order to improve the anti-fading performance of the system.

Electronic device, radio communication apparatus, and radio communication method


A display device includes a display section displaying images, and a liquid crystal barrier section having liquid crystal barriers formed to extend in a first direction tilted from a vertical direction in a display plane, the liquid crystal barriers allowing light to pass therethrough or to be blocked. The liquid crystal barrier section includes a liquid crystal layer, and a first electrode and a second electrode which are disposed at positions corresponding to each of the liquid crystal barriers to sandwich the liquid crystal layer. The first electrode includes a first stem extending in the first direction, and branches extending on both sides of the first stem, branches on one side of the first stem extending in a first extending direction, whereas branches on the other side of the first stem extending in a second extending direction, the first and second extending directions being line-asymmetrical about the first stem.

This disclosure relates to a display device capable of achieving stereoscopic display by a parallax barrier system, and a liquid crystal element used in such a display device.
Recently, attention has been focused on a display device capable of achieving stereoscopic display. In stereoscopic display, a left-eye image and a right-eye image with parallax therebetween (with different eyepoints) are displayed, and when a viewer views the respective images with two eyes, the viewer may perceive a deep stereoscopic image. In addition, a display device has been developed, which displays three or more images with parallax thereamong, making it possible to provide a more natural stereoscopic image to a viewer.
Such display devices are roughly classified into two types: one using special glasses and the other using no special glasses. Since the special glasses are often unpleasant for a viewer, the type using no special glasses has been generally desired. A display device requiring no special glasses includes, for example, a lenticular lens type and a parallax barrier type. In such types, a plurality of images (perspective images) with parallax therebetween is displayed at a time, and a viewer views different images depending on a relative positional relationship (angle) between the display device and the eyepoint of the viewer. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-86506, a parallax barrier type display device in which liquid crystal barriers are configured to extend in an oblique direction of a display screen in order to suppress occurrence of crosstalk and moire is proposed.
Incidentally, in a display device displaying two-dimensional images, a wide viewing angle is generally desired. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2009-151204 and 2002-107730, a so-called multi-domain type display device is proposed as a liquid crystal display device. In the multi-domain type display device, a pixel electrode configured of stems and branches is divided into a plurality of regions, and the branches are configured to extend in different directions between regions, so that the viewing angle is symmetrical in a lateral direction and in a longitudinal direction to achieve a wide viewing angle.

Display device and liquid crystal element


Technology for managing a player session at a gaming table is disclosed. A table management system receives identifying information of a player seated at the gaming table transmitted by a mobile device associated with the player. The identifying information includes a seating position of the player at the gaming table, the seating position determined by the mobile device through interaction with a locating device placed at the seating position at the gaming table. The table management system generates the player session for the player for playing a wagering game at the gaming table using the identifying information of the player transmitted by the mobile device.

The present disclosure relates in general to gaming devices and systems, and more particularly, to communications between mobile devices and the gaming devices and systems.
Casinos and other forms of gaming comprise a growing multi-billion dollar industry both domestically and abroad, with table games continuing to be an immensely popular form of gaming and a substantial source of revenue for gaming operators. Such table games are well-known and can include, for example, poker, blackjack, baccarat, craps, roulette and other traditional standbys, as well as other more recently introduced games such as pai-gow, Caribbean Stud, Spanish 21, and Let It Ride, among others. Under a typical gaming event at a gaming table, a player places a wager on a game, whereupon a winning may be paid to the player depending on the outcome of the game. As is generally known, a wager may involve the use of cash or one or more chips, markers or the like, as well as various forms of gestures or oral claims. The game itself may involve the use of, for example, one or more cards, dice, wheels, balls, tokens or the like, with the rules of the game and any payouts or pay tables being established prior to game play. As is also known, possible winnings may be paid in cash, credit, one or more chips, markers, or prizes, or by other forms of payouts.


An optical cross-connect apparatus includes: a plurality of switch units connected to each other via input ports and output ports; a storage unit to store a setting table in which output port information and corresponding input port information are associated together and registered for each optical signal such that the output port information identifies a specific output port, in the output ports, that outputs the optical signal and the input port information identifies a specific input port, in the input ports, that inputs the optical signal; a setting processor to set each switch unit in the plurality of switch units according to the setting table so as to set a wavelength for each optical signal that is input via the input ports or output via the output ports; and an update processor to update the content of the setting table in response to external input.

With increasing demand for communication capacity, communication networks that use wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology are becoming increasingly widespread. With WDM technology a plurality of optical signals with different wavelengths are multiplexed and transmitted. A WDM apparatus using WDM technology is capable of transmitting a greater amount of data at a high speed compared with other transmission apparatuses.
An example of a transmission apparatus using WDM technology is an optical add-drop multiplexer such as a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM). The optical add-drop multiplexer includes an optical signal transmitting/receiving unit that may be called a transponder. The optical add-drop multiplexer multiplexes optical signals input from the transmitting/receiving unit and transmits the resultant multiplexed optical signal elsewhere. Conversely, when a multiplexed signal is received from elsewhere, the optical add-drop multiplexer extracts a signal that has a particular wavelength and outputs the resultant signal to the transmitting/receiving unit.
The optical add-drop multiplexer includes an optical cross-connect apparatus that includes both an optical amplifier and a wavelength selective switch disposed for each line such that multiplexed signals are allowed to be transmitted along different lines. Note that in the embodiments discussed here, a line refers to a transmission line extending from an optical cross-connect apparatus to a node with which a connection for communication is or may be established.
The optical amplifiers and the wavelength selective switches are connected via optical fibers. The number of optical fibers used in an optical add-drop multiplexer (for example, several hundred) is greater than other types of transmission apparatuses, and thus misconnections of optical fibers may be more likely to occur.
To deal with misconnected optical fibers, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-51750 discloses a technique of detecting and correcting a misconnected optical fiber with reference to a transmitting port and a receiving port between transmission apparatuses. Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-32088 discloses a technique of detecting a misconnected optical fiber by comparing the optical power level at the stage preceding a multiplexer apparatus, which is configured to multiplex a plurality of wavelength signals, with the optical power level at the stage following the multiplexer apparatus.


A mat is disposed on top of an access cover to compensate for a vertical offset between the top of the cover and the top of the roadway surrounding the cover. Fasteners are inserted through aligned holes in the mat and the cover and anchored in place in such a manner that the heads of the fasteners do not protrude above the top of the cover.

The present invention relates to covers disposed over openings extending downward through roadways, and in particular, to mats which occupy cavities bounded by the tops of the covers and the roadway disposed about the covers.
Openings are formed in roadways to provide access to things disposed beneath the roadways, including, for example, water and sewage lines. One commonly known opening is a manhole, which is typically defined by a frame set in the roadway, and sealed by a manhole cover resting on top of the frame. One problem associated with manhole covers is that they do not always remain flush with the surrounding road surface. For example, roadways often buckle or heave in response to temperature changes associated with the different seasons of the year. Also, when roadways are resurfaced, additional material is added to the road surface disposed about the manhole frame. In either of these cases, the road surface increases in elevation relative to the top of the manhole cover, leaving a cavity or depression in the surface of the road.
One proposed solution to the foregoing problem is to fill the depression with asphalt. However, this approach suffers shortcomings, including the inconvenience of applying the asphalt; the inconvenience of removing the covering when access to the opening is desired; the durability of the small, isolated patch of asphalt; and/or the inconvenience of removing the asphalt in the event that the road surface returns to an earlier, relatively lower level.
Another proposed solution to the foregoing problem is to add a ring on top of the manhole frame (beneath the cover) to raise the height of the manhole cover. However, this approach suffers shortcomings, as well, including the inconvenience of installing the ring; the unsuitability of the rings for adjustments less than one and one-half inches and/or for adjustments in increments as little as one-quarter of an inch; and the inconvenience of removing the ring in the event that the road surface returns to an earlier, relatively lower level.
In other words, a need remains for a convenient and effective system which compensates for elevational changes between a manhole cover and the surrounding road surface.
One aspect of the present invention is to mount a mat or surface elevation riser on top of an access cover for purposes of eliminating an elevational discrepancy between the surface of the cover and the surface of the surrounding roadway. This inventive solution to the problem discussed above in the Background of the Invention is not as simple as it may first seem to those unfamiliar with the installation considerations and environmental conditions associated with access covers, such as manhole covers. For example, many manhole covers are regularly traversed by vehicles of various weights, traveling in various directions, and/or at various speeds. Also, many different installation parameters may vary from one setting to the next. Moreover, work on the covers typically involves the diversion of traffic, thereby placing a premium on rapid project completion.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a mat which is bolted to an underlying cover. Relatively thin, flat heads are provided at one end of the bolts, and lock nuts are threaded onto opposite ends of the bolts in such a manner that the heads do not protrude above the surface of the mat. The threaded ends of the bolts, as well as the lock nuts, are disposed beneath the cover and out of harm""s way.
The preferred embodiment mat is made of recycled rubber, 67 durometer, and may be as little as one-half inch thick. The mat may be configured to provide access to a lift hole or other special opening in the cover. The mat also may be configured to overlie any such openings and/or the seam between the cover and adjacent structure, thereby reducing passage of water and/or debris through the opening. Assuming a substitute cover is available, the mat may be installed and/or removed off-site, thereby reducing disruption of traffic. Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the more detailed description that follows.

Methods and apparatus for covering openings in roadways


Multi-core fibers are optical fibers each of which has a circular cross section. In each of the multi-core fibers, a plurality of cores are arranged at a prescribed interval, the peripheries thereof are covered by a cladding, and a resin coating is formed on the outer periphery of the cladding. In a cross section of this optical fiber ribbon, said cross section being orthogonal to the length direction, the multi-core fibers are arranged such that the cores of all of the multi-core fibers are all arranged in the same direction. The multi-core fibers are arranged such that central lines of the respective multi-core fibers, said central lines respectively linking three of the cores, all face the thickness direction of the optical fiber ribbon. Furthermore, in the optical fiber ribbon, the arrangement of the cores is substantially constant along the entire length of the optical fiber ribbon in the length direction.

Due to rapidly increasing traffic in optical communications in recent years, the transmission capacity of presently used single-core optical fibers is approaching its limit. So, as a means to further expand the communication capacity, multicore fibers in which a plurality of cores are formed in one fiber have been proposed. Use of multi-core fibers can suppress the laying cost of optical fibers and expand the transmission capacity.
When a multi-core fiber is used as a transmission path, each of the core parts of the multicore fiber needs to be connected to another multi-core fiber, an optical element, or the like respectively to send and/or receive transmission signals. An optical fiber ribbon, in particular, including a plurality of such multi-core fibers arranged in parallel can easily connect a plurality of multi-core fibers collectively.
On the other hand, a multi-core fiber has cores arranged at positions other than the center of the cross section, and this leads to a problem that the connection thereof is more difficult compared to connection of single-core fibers.
Thus, for an optical fiber ribbon having a plurality of such multi-core fibers arranged in parallel, it is preferable that the arrangement of the cores of each of the multi-core fibers is aligned in a particular direction.
As a method for specifying the core arrangement in a multi-core fiber, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-170099 (JP-A-2011-170099) discloses a multi-core fiber provided with a marker on a cladding thereof for identifying core arrangements.
In addition, it has been expected to reduce connection loss in connecting optical fiber ribbons together or in connecting an optical fiber ribbon with a light element or the like. To reduce the connection loss, it is required to further reduce shifting of axes of cores, and thus it is preferable that optical fibers in an optical fiber ribbon are aligned so that the eccentric direction of cores of each of the optical fibers is in one fixed direction.
However, even with the optical fibers disclosed in Patent Document 1 in which the core arrangement is identifiable on its cross section, it is still difficult to form an optical fiber ribbon by aligning the optical fibers with cores of each of the optical fibers arranged in a particular direction.

Optical fiber ribbon, and optical-fiber-ribbon production method


A dynamically configurable computer system which includes apparatus for storing former and sensed current system configuration data and for automatically reconfiguring the system without user interaction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to personal computers, and in particular to systems utilized in personal computers to initialize the personal computer system wherein one or more peripheral devices such as disk drives, modems, printers and the like are connected to the personal computer.
2. Description of Related Art
In the recent past personal computers have gained substantial popularity among individual users for business and home use. More recently, the portable personal computer has become increasingly popular. Portable personal computers are lightweight, small computers which users are able to conveniently transport while traveling to or from the office.
The typical portable computer has a built-in monitor or screen, a keyboard and a floppy disk drive in addition to resident random access and read only memories, a central processing unit and a number of input/output locations for connecting internal and external peripheral devices such as modems, printers, floppy disk drives and the like. These peripherals are utilized to enhance the performance of the portable computer at its most common point of use, such as the user's home or office and are not typically carried by the user with the unit when traveling. The user may have one set of peripheral devices at the office, a different set at home, and still other configurations at other locations such as the office of clients or acquaintances.
In the past, portable computer users were required to manually reconfigure the system each time a new environment of peripheral devices was encountered, including the situation where the the portable unit was being used in its self-contained configuration where no external peripherals were attached. Re-configuration typically involved setting switches or jumpers to indicate the presence or absence of external disk drives, whether such drives were lo be designated drive "A" or drive "B", whether a particular communication port was connected or not connected to a modem or serial printer, etc. Re-configuration also included execution of system initialization software or set up sequences to identify for the central processing unit the type or specification of disk drive which was connected as drive A or drive B and other system configuration data.

Dynamically configurable portable computer system