A magnetic memory device includes a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) structure having a cylindrical shape. Elements of the MTJ structure are co-axial. The MTJ structure includes a conductive layer, an insulating layer co-axially formed around the conductive layer and a material layer formed around the insulating layer, the material layer being co-axial with the conductive layer and having a plurality of magnetic layers. The material layer includes a lower magnetic layer, a tunneling layer, and an upper magnetic layer that are sequentially stacked around and along the conductive layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and associated methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to a magnetic memory device having uniform switching characteristics and capable of switching with a low current, a method of operating the same and a method of making the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A magnetic RAM includes a field effect transistor as a switching device and a magnetic tuneling junction MTJ cell as a data storing unit. The MTJ cell includes a tunneling layer and magnetic layers formed on and under the tuneling layer. The resistance of the MTJ cell varies depending on the magnetization orientations of the magnetic layers formed on and under the tuneling layer. The magnetic RAM utilizes this property of the MTJ cell to store data in the MTJ cell.
FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view of a conventional magnetic RAM.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional magnetic RAM includes a semiconductor substrate 10 and a gate stack structure 12 on the semiconductor substrate 10. The gate stack structure 12 includes a gate electrode. A source region 14 and a drain region 16 are formed on the semiconductor substrate 10 on either side of the gate stack structure 12. The gate stack structure 12, the source region 14 and the drain region 16 form a transistor T. A field oxide layer 11 is on either side of the source and drain regions opposite the gate stack structure 12. An interlayer insulating layer 18 covers the transistor T. A digit line 20 is also formed over the gate stack structure 12. The digit line 20 is covered with the interlayer insulating layer 18 and is formed in parallel with the gate stack structure 12. A contact hole 22 is formed in the interlayer insulating layer 18. The drain region 16 is exposed through the contact hole 22. The contact hole 22 is filled with a conductive plug 24, and the top of the conductive plug 24 is in contact with a pad conductive layer 26 formed on the interlayer insulating layer 18. The pad conductive layer 26 is formed over the digit line 20.
An MTJ structure S is formed on the pad conductive layer 26 and it is aligned with the digit line 20. A second interlayer insulating layer 28 covering the MTJ structure S and the pad conductive layer 26 is formed. A via hole 30 is formed in the second interlayer insulating layer 28 to expose an upper layer of the MTJ structure S. A bit line 32 is formed on the second interlayer insulating layer 28 to fill the via hole 30. The bit line 32 extends across the gate electrode and the digit line 20 in a perpendicular direction.
FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed view of the MTJ structure S.
Referring to FIG. 2, the MTJ structure S includes a seed layer 40 formed on the pad conductive layer 26 and a pinning layer 42, a pinned layer 44, a tunneling oxide layer 48, a free magnetic layer 50, and a capping layer 52 that are sequentially formed on the seed layer 40.
To accurately read data from the magnetic RAM, the magnetic RAM should have a large sensing margin. The sensing margin of the magnetic RAM is determined by a magnetic resistance ratio (MR ratio) of the MTJ structure. In other words, a difference between a minimum resistance and a maximum resistance of the MTJ structure should be large.
To increase the MR ratio of the MTJ structure, it is preferable that the MTJ structure is stable and has a uniform thickness. Particularly, the thickness of the tunneling layer must be uniform. For this, the manufacturing process of the tunneling layer must be stable. Further, good selectivity is required. That is, when a MTJ structure is selected from the magnetic RAM, neighboring MTJ structures should not be affected by the selection.
In the conventional magnetic RAM, however, abnormal phenomena, such as vortex pinning, illustrated in FIG. 3, and domain wall pinning, illustrated in FIG. 4, are present in the free magnetic layer when data is written to the MTJ structure layer or read from the MTJ structure. Vortex pinning and domain wall pinning obstruct a normal switching operation of the free magnetic layer of the MTJ structure. That is, vortex pinning or domain wall pinning significantly increases the magnetic field required for a switching operation of the free magnetic layer, thereby increasing current required for generating the magnetic field.
When vortex pinning or domain wall pinning occurs and a normal amount of current is applied to the MTJ structures, there may be MTJ structures whose free magnetic layers are not switched. These MTJ structures become fail bits.
FIG. 5 illustrates a fail bit ratio resulting from writing data to a conventional magnetic RAM with the MTJ structure depicted in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 5, MTJ structures that are not switched under normal switching fields are denoted by C1, C2, C3 and C4. The MTJ structures C1, C2 and C4 are switched by a switching field that is stronger than the normal switch field, and the MTJ structure C3 is switched by a switching field weaker than the normal switch field.
Though vortex pinning can be somewhat decreased by reducing the thickness of the free magnetic layer, such a reduction in thickness significantly lowers the thermal stability of the magnetic moment of the free magnetic layer and thereby increases the MTJ structure's thermal instability.

Magnetic memory device having uniform switching characteristics and capable of switching with low current and associated methods


A capacitive filter assembly and method including a housing having a power terminal connection for receiving electrical power. A plurality of capacitors in an electrically parallel configuration coupled to one or more side walls of the housing. The plurality of capacitors electrically communicating with a plurality of respective printed wiring boards (PWB) coupled to the capacitors inside the housing, and the plurality of capacitors being positioned between the power terminal connection in the housing and respective housing ground connections in the housing. A plurality of support structures coupled to the plurality of capacitors, respectively, the plurality of support structures being configured to mate with the respective printed wiring boards, the support structures being mounted in the housing such that the capacitors are coupled to the housing using their respective support structures.

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) filters may use a capacitor assembly for shielding a conductive terminal. Devices are known which use ceramic chip capacitor designs in EMI filter assemblies. Feedthrough terminal pin assemblies are generally well known in the art for connecting electrical signals through a housing or case of an electronic instrument. A pin assembly may include a unipolar construction having a coaxial ceramic feedthrough filter capacitor in a feedthrough assembly to reduce stray or unwanted EMI signals by suppressing and decoupling undesired interference or noise transmission along a terminal pin.

Very low inductance distributed capacitive filter assembly


A system and methods for voice controlled operation of a media player are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting user positioning of a microphone power switch to an off position, detecting user positioning of the microphone power switch to an on position within a predetermined period of time and entering a voice recognition mode, by the media player, based on the user positioning of the microphone power switch to the on position within the predetermined period of time. The method may further include detecting one or more output signals of the microphone, detecting a voice command based on the one or more output signals of the microphone, and controlling operation of the media player based on the voice command, wherein the media player outputs a graphical display associated with the voice command.

Conventional methods and systems for control of digital audio devices typically require user activation of media player terminals or operation of a remote control. For some applications which employ digital audio devices, such as karaoke systems and interactive entertainment systems, the conventional methods and systems do not allow for user control of the digital audio player based on voice commands. For interactive entertainment systems and media player applications, such as karaoke, it is an inconvenience for a many users to operate media player terminals and/or use a remote control. For example, a user may not have access to control buttons of the media player. Similarly, use of a remote control may not benefit media player applications, such as karaoke, as it can decrease a user's experience.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a system and method which allows for voice control of a media player and addresses one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks.

Method and apparatus for voice controlled operation of a media player


A moisture curable, hot melt composition is described comprising the product of reacted components, the components comprising: (a) a semi-crystalline polyol; (b) an amorphous polyol comprising secondary hydroxyl groups; (c) a secondary aminosilane endcapper comprising secondary amino functionality; (d) an isocyanate; and (e) substantially no tin. A method for the manufacture of the moisture curable, hot melt adhesive and/or sealant composition is described as well as methods for using the adhesive.

The invention relates to a moisture curable, hot melt composition, to a method for the manufacture of the moisture curable, hot melt composition, to a cured adhesive composition based on the moisture curable, hot melt composition and to articles bonded with the moisture curable, hot melt composition.
Isocyanate-terminated polyurethane prepolymers (sometimes referred to hereinafter as xe2x80x9cpolyurethane prepolymersxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cprepolymersxe2x80x9d) are desirable in a variety of applications. For example, they can be used in reactive hot melt urethane adhesive, coating and/or sealant systems. Hot melt urethane systems are solid at room temperature, melt to a viscous liquid when heated to moderate temperatures (e.g., 55xc2x0 C.-121xc2x0 C.), and are applied in a molten state to an appropriate substrate. On the substrate, the adhesive cools to a solid state to provide an initial bond strength (sometimes referred to as xe2x80x9cgreen strengthxe2x80x9d), and eventually the adhesive will achieve its ultimate bond strength in a curing reaction with ambient moisture. In the presence of an appropriate catalyst, typically a tin-based catalyst, urethane hot melts have rapid rates of cure and provide excellent final properties when cured. Other advantages associated with hot melt adhesives include rapid green strength, bonding without fixturing, and adhesion to a wide variety of substrates While widely used, hot melt urethanes have not been problem-free. These adhesive systems may contain a level of free monomeric isocyanate that can raise concerns regarding possible toxicity. Toxicity issues may become especially important in the application of hot melt adhesives to substrates using spraying and other dispensing methods for applying a hot melt adhesive to a substrate at high temperatures ( greater than 275xc2x0 F.). Because of the foregoing concerns, the use of urethane hot melts has been banned from some industrial sites. In addition to toxicity issues, urethane hot melt adhesives emit carbon dioxide during the curing process. The generation of carbon dioxide in amorphous adhesives can cause undesired bubble formation in the body of the adhesive during the curing process. Problems have also been noted in the otherwise accepted use of tin based catalysts for catalyzing the curing reaction of polyester urethane hot melts. For example, the presence of tin in a urethane hot melt that is based on one or more polyester monomers can adversely affect the hydrolytic stability of the polyester and the thermal stability of the prepolymer.
In one approach to addressing the foregoing toxicity issue, some urethane hot melt adhesives have been end capped with an organo-functional silane to reduce the potential for significant isocyanate toxicity. Such adhesives still require the use of tin-based catalysts to generate acceptable cure rates through the organo-silane groups.
It is desirable to provide a polyester based hot melt adhesive that can be manufactured without the need for a tin-based catalyst but which also has an acceptable and relatively rapid rate of cure.
In a first aspect, the invention provides a moisture curable, hot melt composition comprised of the product of reacted components, the components comprising:
(a) a semi-crystalline polyol;
(b) an essentially amorphous polyol selected from the group consisting of polyols having branched primary hydroxyl groups, polyols having secondary hydroxyl groups, and combinations of the foregoing;
(c) a secondary aminosilane endcapper comprising secondary amnino functionality;
(d) an isocyanate; and
(e) substantially no tin.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for the manufacture of a moisture curable, hot melt adhesive and/or sealant composition, the method comprising:
(a) preparing a prepolymer by:
(i) mixing a semi-crystalline polyol, an essentially amorphous polyol, an isocyanate and, optionally, a non-tin catalyst, the essentially amorphous polyol selected from the group consisting of polyols having branched primary hydroxyl groups, polyols having secondary hydroxyl groups and combinations thereof;
(ii) reacting the mixture to provide the prepolymer;
(b) reacting the prepolymer with a secondary aminoalkoxysilane endcapper comprising secondary amino functionality to provide the moisture curable, hot melt adhesive and/or sealant composition; and
the steps (a) and (b) are accomplished in the absence of tin catalyst.
In the foregoing aspects of the invention, the semi-crystalline polyol may be a polyester-based polyol selected from a variety of materials including polyhexamethylene sebacate, polyhexamethylene adipate, polybutylene adipate, polyhexamethylene dodecanedioate, poly-epsilon-caprolactone, and combinations thereof. The semi-crystalline polyol comprises the reaction product of a diol and a polyacid (e.g., a dicarboxylic acid). The essentially amorphous polyol may comprise a copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, partially end capped with ethylene oxide and having a hydroxyl number between about 10 and about 100. The amorphous polyol can have a crystallinity index less than or equal to about 0.25. In some embodiments, the essentially amorphous polyol comprises a mixture of primary hydroxyl-containing and secondary hydroxyl-containing materials. The isocyanate may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of aliphatic isocyanates, aromatic isocyanates, derivatives of aliphatic isocyanates, derivatives of aromatic isocyanates and combinations of the foregoing. The foregoing adhesive may be provided in a variety of configurations such as a film, for example.
The secondary arninosilane endcapper may comprise any of a variety of silane including N-alkyl-aminoalkyl-alkoxysilane selected from the group consisting of N-methyl-3-amino-2-methylpropyltrimethoxysilane; N-ethyl-3-anino-2-methylpropyltrimethoxysilane; N-ethyl-3-amino-2-methylpropyldiethoxymethylsilane; N-ethyl-3-amino-2-methylpropyltriethoxysilane; N-ethyl-3-amino-2-methylpropyldimethoxymethylsilane; N-butyl-3-amino-2-methylpropyltrimethoxysilane; N-ethyl4-amino-3,3-dimethylbutyldimethoxymethylsilane; N-ethyl-4-amino-3,3-dimethylbutyltrimethoxysilane and combinations of the foregoing. In general, the secondary aminosilane endcapper comprises a material having the formula:
xe2x80x83R0xe2x80x94NR1xe2x80x94R2xe2x80x94Si(OR3)m(R4)n
where R0 is aliphatic,
R1 is hydrogen,
R2 is a straight, branched, or cyclic aliphatic chain,
R3 and R4 are C1-C6 alkyl,
m=1-3, and
n=0-2.
In one preferred embodiment, the (a) the semi-crystalline polyol is polyhexamethylene adipate; (b) the essentially amorphous polyol is a polyoxypropylene glycol comprising secondary hydroxyl groups; (c) the secondary aminosilane endcapper is N-ethyl-3-amino-propyltrimethoxysilane; and (d) the isocyanate is 4,4xe2x80x2-diphenylmethane diisocyanate.
In another aspect of the invention, a cured adhesive and/or sealant composition is provided, derived from the curable, hot melt adhesive and/or sealant composition described above.
In still another aspect of the invention, a curable, hot melt adhesive is provided by the foregoing method of manufacture, and upon curing, provides a cured adhesive derived therefrom.
In still another embodiment of the invention, a bonded article is provided, comprising:
a first substrate;
a second substrate; and
the foregoing cured adhesive composition (derived from the foregoing moisture curable, hot melt composition) between the first substrate and the second substrate and affixing the first and second substrates to one another.
In still another aspect, the invention provides a tape comprising a backing and having the aforementioned moisture curable, hot melt composition associated with at least one major surface of the backing.
Other features of the invention will be more fully appreciated by those skilled in the art upon consideration of the remainder of the disclosure including the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment, including the Examples and the appended claims.
The present invention relates to hot melt adhesives and coatings. In general, adhesives of the invention comprise a product of reacted components. In broad terms, the components comprise (a) a semi-crystalline polyol; (b) an amorphous polyol comprising hydroxyl groups, typically secondary hydroxyl groups; (c) an isocyanate; (d) an aminoalkoxysilane endcapper comprising secondary amino functionality; and (e) substantially no tin. The adhesive generally requires the preparation of a isocyanate-terminated polyurethane prepolymer using the components (a), (b) and (c). The isocyanate moieties of the prepolymer are reacted with an aminoalkoxysilane endcapper to provide an aminoalkoxysilanexe2x80x94capped hot melt adhesive with reduced isocyanate toxicity issues, is thermally stable with an extended open time, is resistant to aging and yellowing and, when applied to a surface, cures rapidly to provide strong adhesive bonding.
The semi-crystalline polyol (herein xe2x80x9cComponent Axe2x80x9d) of the moisture curable, hot melt adhesive and/or sealant composition is most typically a polyester. Useful polyester monomers include essentially linear, saturated aliphatic material that is at least semicrystalline. By xe2x80x9csemicrystallinexe2x80x9d it is meant that Component A exhibits both a crystalline melting point (Tm) and a glass transition temperature (Tg), and has a crystallinity index of greater than 0.25. In some embodiments, the crystallinity index is greater than 0.30.
The crystallinity index of a polymer, as used herein, should be understood as being defined in a manner consistent with the understanding of those skilled in the art. As such, the crystallinity index may be defined as the fraction of crystalline material present in a sample of the polymer. A crystallinity index of 1.0 is taken as representing 100% crystallinity and a value of zero corresponding to a completely amorphous material. Crystalline indices have been determined using x-ray diffraction data for the adhesives described herein using a Philips vertical diffractometer (available from Philips Analytical, Natick, Mass.), a copper Kxcex1 (xe2x80x9cKalphaxe2x80x9d) radiation source, and a proportional detector registry of the scattered radiation. In determining crystallinity indices herein, a diffractometer was fitted with variable entrance slits, a diffracted beam graphite monochromator, and fixed exit slits. An x-ray generator was operated at 45 kilovolts (kV) and 30 milliAmperes (mA) to power a copper target x-ray tube. Data were collected in a reflection geometry from 5 to 55 degrees (corresponding to an angle of xe2x80x9c2 thetaxe2x80x9d) using a 0.04 degree step size and 8 second dwell time. Samples of the polyols were prepared for x-ray analysis as thin smears on zero background specimen holders made of single crystal quartz. The program ORIGINS(trademark) (Version 4.1, available from Microcal Software Incorporated, Northhampton, Mass.) was used to perform profile fitting of the diffraction pattern and to measure diffraction peak area values. A Gaussian peak shape model and linear background model were employed to describe the individual crystalline peak and amorphous peak contributions. Crystallinity indices were calculated as the ratio of crystalline peak area to total (crystalline+amorphous) scattered peak area within a 6 to 36 degree (corresponding to an angle of xe2x80x9c2 thetaxe2x80x9d) scattering angle range.
Component A may have a melting temperature (Tm) between about 5xc2x0 C. and 120xc2x0 C. and generally between about 40xc2x0 C. and 105xc2x0 C. Additionally, Component A typically will have a glass transition temperature (Tg) below about 0xc2x0 C. If Component A is provided in the form of a polyester polyol, it may comprise the reaction product of (1) a polyol such as, for example, a diol, and (2) a polyacid, for example, a dicarboxylic acid. Alternatively, Component A may comprise the oligomer of a ring opened lactone such as, for example, polycaprolactone.
Component A will typically hake a number average molecular weight (Mn) of at least about 2000, generally at least between about 2200 and about 10,000, and in specific embodiments between about 2500 and about 8500. At an Mn below about 2000, the resultant prepolymer is soft and may lack cohesive strength in the uncured state. At an Mn above about 10,000, the resultant prepolymer can be viscous at the application temperature of the composition. If so, it may be more difficult to deposit acceptably thin lines of adhesive on a substrate. The application temperature may be, for example, a temperature between about 200xc2x0 F. (93xc2x0 C.) and 300xc2x0 F. (149xc2x0 C.).
Suitable diols useful in preparing the hydroxy-functional material Component A include, for example, those having from 2 to 12 methylene groups such as ethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, and 1,10-decanediol. Cycloaliphatic diols such as, for example, 1,4-cyclohexanediol and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol may also be employed.
Suitable dicarboxylic acids useful in preparing the hydroxy-functional material of Component A include, for example, those having from about 2 to 10 methylene groups such as succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, and 1,12-dodecanedioic acid. Included within the scope of useful acids are acid derivatives such as acid anhydrides, acid halides, and alkyl esters such as, for example, the methyl and ethyl esters.
Certain examples of a suitable Component A of the invention include, for exarnple, polyhexamethylene sebacate, polyhexamethylene adipate, polybutylene adipate, polyhexamethylene dodecanedioate, poly-epsilon-caprolactone, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the essentially semicrystalline polyester polyol is polyhexamethylene sebacate or polyhexamethylene adipate. In specific embodiments, the essentially semicrystalline polyester polyol is polyhexamethylene adipate which is the reaction product of 1,6-hexanediol and adipic acid.
Examples of commercially available essentially semicrystalline polyester polyols useful in the invention include, for example, those available under the trade designations RUCOFLEX S-1074P-30 and RUCOFLEX S-105P-30, both available from Ruco Polymer Corporation, Hicksville, N.Y.
Another component for the formation of the polyurethane prepolymer is an essentially amorphous polyol (herein xe2x80x9cComponent Bxe2x80x9d). The amorphous polyol may comprise primary hydroxyl groups on a branched aliphatic chain, secondary hydroxyl groups and/or combinations of the foregoing. Most typically, the amorphous polyol comprises secondary hydroxyl groups. An xe2x80x9cessentially amorphousxe2x80x9d material should be understood to include all amorphous materials and all materials that exhibit a crystallinity index less than or equal to about 0.25, and in some instances exhibit a crystallinity index of no greater than 0.20. Component B may exhibit a weak Tm or it may have no measurable Tm.
Component B may comprise any of a variety a known amorphous polyol materials, such as those commercially available under the trade designation ACCLAIM 2220, a copolymer diol based on propylene oxide and ethylene oxide having a molecular weight of about 2250 and a hydroxyl number between 48.5 and 51.5, commercially available from Bayer Corporation, Pittsburgh, Penn.; those available under the trade designation PPG-1000, also commercially available from Bayer Corporation. Additionally, 2,3-butanediol; 1,2-butanediol; 1,2-propanediol; 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (MP Diol) as well as combinations of two or more of the foregoing materials and polyester diols derived from the foregoing alkyldiols may also be employed. The amorphous polyol of Component B may comprise a polyoxypropylene glycol partially endcapped with ethylene oxide as well as copolymers of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide partially endcapped with ethylene oxide, such materials having a hydroxy number between about 10 and about 100, and more typically between about 20 and about 60. The foregoing ethylene oxide capped materials contain the desired secondary hydroxyl groups while also exhibiting greater reactivity due to the presence of primary hydroxyl groups. Component B may also comprise mixtures of primary hydroxyl-containing and secondary hydroxyl-containing materials, or alternatively a material that possesses both primary and secondary hydroxyl groups thereon.
Another component used to prepare the isocyanate-terninated prepolymer is an isocyanate material (Component C) which may also be a polyisocyanate. Polyisocyanates used in the formation of the urethane prepolymers may be aliphatic or aromatic. Suitable aromatic polyisocyanates may include aromatic diisocyanates such as diphenylmethane-2,4xe2x80x2-diisocyanate and/or diphenylmethane 4,4xe2x80x2-diisocyanate (MDI); tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate and -2,6-diisocyanate (TDI) and mixtures thereof. Other examples include: naphthylene-1,5-diisocyanate; triphenylmethane-4,4xe2x80x2,4xe2x80x3-triisocyanate; phenylene-1,3-diisocyanate and -1,4-diisocyanate; dimethyl-3,3xe2x80x2-biphenylene-4,4xe2x80x2-diisocyanate; diphenylisopropylidine-4,4xe2x80x2-diisocyanate; biphenylene diisocyanate; xylylene-1,3-diisocyanate and xylylene-1,4-diisocyanate, and mixtures thereof.
Other useful polyisocyanates are known to those skilled in the art and may include one or more of the polyisocyanates found in the Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Kirk-Othlmer, 2nd Ed., vol. 12, pp. 46-47, Interscience Pub., N.Y. (1967), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. Isocyanate-functional derivative(s) of MDI and TDI may be used, such as liquid mixtures of the isocyanate-fiuctional derivative with melting point modifiers (e.g., mixtures of MDI with polycarbodiimide adducts such as that known under the trade designation ISONATE 143L, commercially available from Dow Chemical Company of Midland Mich.). Small amounts of polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanates may be included, generally 10% or less by weight of the total isocyanate components including those known as PAPI and the series PAPI 20 commercially available from Dow Chemical Company, the MONDUR MR and MRS series of isocyanates commercially available from Bayer Chemical Corporation, and RUBINATE M isocyanates, commercially available from Huntsman Chemical Company of Houston, Tex. Blocked isocyanate compounds formed by reacting aromatic isocyanates or the above-described isocyanate-functional derivatives with blocking agents such as ketoximes and the like may also be useful as Component C within the invention.
The foregoing Components A, B, and C are used in the formulation of a polyurethane prepolymer. An alkoxysilane endcapper (Component D) is used to react with isocyanate end groups of the polyurethane prepolymer to provide a hot melt adhesive that avoids the aforementioned problems associated with isocyanatexe2x80x94terminated urethanes. The silane endcapper used in the present invention may include any of a variety of (N-alkyl-aminoalkyl)-alkoxysilane materials such as the following secondary aminosilanes:
N-methyl-3-amino-2-methylpropyltrimethoxysilane,
N-ethyl-3-amino-2-methylpropyltrimethoxysilane,
N-ethyl-3-amino-2-methyl propyldiethoxymethylsilane,
N-ethyl-3-amino-2-methylpropyltriethoxysilane,
N-ethyl-3-amino-2-methylpropyldimethoxymethylsilane,
N-butyl-3-amino-2-methylpropyltrimethoxysilane,
N-ethyl-4-amino-3,3-dimethylbutyldimethoxymethylsilane,
N-ethyl-4-amino-3,3-dimethylbutyltrimethoxysilane.
The foregoing alkoxysilane materials and others useful as an endcapper herein may be generally represented by the structure:
R0xe2x80x94NR1xe2x80x94R2xe2x80x94Si(OR3)m(R4)n
Where R0 is aliphatic, R1 is hydrogen, R2 is a straight, branched, or cyclic aliphatic chain, R3 and R4 are C1-C6 alkyl, m=1-3, and n=0-2.
The polyurethane prepolymers used herein have an organic backbone with unreacted isocyanate groups that are easily silylated by endcapping with an aminosilane. In particular, aminoalkoxysilanes having a secondary amino functionality react readily with the isocyanate groups of the urethane prepolymers to provide inventive adhesives which possess stable urea linkages formed by reaction between the isocyanate and secondary amine functionalities, and which have the desired properties described herein. In the preparation of the hot melt adhesives of the invention, a urethane prepolymer is first prepared. One or more of the Component A hydroxyl-functional materials are selected along with one or more of the hydroxyl functional materials of as Component B. The hydroxyl function materials are first mixed in a suitable vessel, heated and melted. Once melted, the mixture is stirred to ensure thorough blending and is then further heated under vacuum to dry the blend. Next, the container with the dried blend is again heated under mild or xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d heat and stirred while under a nitrogen blanket and isocyanate (Component C) is added in flaked form and mixed into the blend. Most typically 4,4xe2x80x2-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) is used. A non-tin catalyst may be added with stirring to promote the reaction between MDI and hydroxyl-containing components. One such catalyst is 2,2xe2x80x2-dimorpholinodiethylether (DMDEE), commercially available from Huntsman Chemical Corporation, Houston, Tex. The amount of DMDEE catalyst added to the mixture is low, typically about 0.2% by weight. The exact amount of the catalyst used may vary depending on the combined amounts of Components A, B, C and DMDEE used or employed, and will be known by those skilled in the art.
The foregoing components are stirred to ensure adequate mixing and then are placed in a vacuum oven at 250xc2x0 F. (121xc2x0 C.) for between about 2 and about 3 minutes. For those compositions containing a secondary (2xc2x0) hydroxyl group, the blended mixture is stirred continuously while kept in the vacuum oven for 2 hours to ensure complete reaction of these groups. Next, the resulting isocyanate terminated prepolymer is heated and stirred under a nitrogen blanket.
The silane Component D is added to the foregoing isocyanate terminated prepolymer with stirring and in an amount to provide about 1.2 equivalents of amino hydrogen (from the silane component) per 1.0 equivalent of remaining, unreacted isocyanate functionality. The resulting silane-capped composition is then put into a vacuum oven and is kept there until it stops frothing, typically between 20 and 30 minutes. The resulting silane-capped composition is pourable at elevated temperature and may be placed into an adhesive cartridge (e.g., 0.1 gallon (0.38 liter) aluminum cartridge) which is typically sealed for subsequent use.
Other aspects relating to the manufacture of the adhesives of the invention may be appreciated upon consideration of the Examples set forth below.
It will also be appreciated that other ingredients or adjuvants may be employed with the blends of the invention to impart to or modify particular characteristics of the composition. These ingredients are included in the overall blends or mixtures of the invention rather than being incorporated into the constituent components thereof. The adjuvants should be added only at a level that does not materially interfere with the adhesion of the composition. The adjuvants may comprise up to 50 weight percent of the uncured composition either individually or in combination. For example, chain-extending agents (e.g., short chain polyols such as ethylene glycol or butanediol); fillers (e.g., carbon black; glass, ceramic, metal or plastic bubbles; metal oxides such as zinc oxide; and minerals such as talc, clays, silica, silicates, and the like), thermoplastic resins; plasticizers; antioxidants; pigments; U.V. absorbers; adhesion promoters and the like may be included to modify set time, open time, green strength build-up, tack, flexibility, adhesion, etc.
Typical fillers suitable for formulation of the sealants include reinforcing fillers such as fumed silica, precipitated silica, calcium carbonates, carbon black, glass fibers, aluminasilicate, clay, zeolites and similar material. These fillers can be used either alone or in combination with each other. The fillers generally comprise up to 300 parts per 100 parts of the silylated polymer with 80 to 150 parts being a more preferred loading level.
Plasticizers customarily employed in sealants can also be used in the compositions of the invention to modify the properties of the adhesive and to facilitate use of higher filler levels. Exemplary plasticizers include phthalates, dipropylene and diethylene glycol dibenzoates and mixtures thereof, epoxidized soybean oil and the like. Useful sources of dioctyl and diisodecyl phthalate include those available under the tradenames JAYFLEX DOP and JAYFLEX DIDP from ExxonMobil Corporation, Houston, Tex. The dibenzoates are available commercially under the trade designation BENZOFLEX 9-88, BENZOFLEX 50 and BENZOFLEX 400 from Velsicol Chemical Corporation of Rosemont, Ill. The plasticizer typically comprises up to 100 parts per hundred parts of the silylated polymer with 40 to 80 parts per hundred being preferred.
The adhesive formulation can include various thixotropic or anti-sagging agents. This class of additives are typified by various castor waxes, fumed silica, treated clays and polyamides. These additives typically comprise 1 to 10 parts per hundred parts of silylated urethane component with 1 to 6 parts being preferred. Useful thixotropes include those available as: AEROSIL from Degussa Corp. of Piscataway, N.J. CAB-O-SIL from Cabot Corp. of Tuscola, Ill., CASTORWAX from CasChem, Inc. of Bayonne, N.J., THIXATROL and THIXCIN from Elementis Specialties, Inc. of Heightstown, N.J., and DISPARLON from King Industries of Norwalk, Conn.
UV stabilizers and/or antioxidants can be incorporated into the sealant formulations of this invention in an amount from 0 to 5 parts per hundred parts of silylated urethane polymer with 0.5 to 2 parts being preferred. These materials are available from companies such as Great Lakes Chemical Corp., Indianapolis, Ind. and Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation of Tarrytown, N.Y. under the tradenames: ANOX 20 and UVASIL 299 HM/LM (Great Lakes Chemical Corp., Indianapolis, Ind.), and IRGANOX 1010, IRGANOX 1076, TINUVIN 770, TINUVIN 327, TINUVIN 213 and TINUVIN 622 LD (Ciba Specialty Chemicals), respectively.
In addition, the compositions of the invention may include an effective amount of a catalyst or reaction accelerator such as tertiary amines, co-curatives and the like. An effective amount of a catalyst is, for example, from about 0.005 to 2 percent by weight of the total prepolymer weight. In specific embodiments, the catalyst is present at a level of about 0.01 to about 0.5 percent, based on the total weight of the prepolymers employed.
The hot melt adhesives of the invention may be used for bonding surfaces to one another. Wood, metal, glass surfaces as well as certain plastic surfaces (e.g., polyvinylchloride, acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene terpolymer, polycarbonate) as well as fiber reinforced plastics may be bonded to one another with the described hot melt adhesives. A quantity of the hot melt composition may be applied to a first substrate or surface using a sealed cartridge, typically preheated to about 250xc2x0 F. (121xc2x0 C.) for between 30 and 60 minutes prior to extruding it onto the surface to be bonded. After the adhesive was applied, small diameter (e.g., 0.003-0.005 inch (0.08-0.13 mm)) glass beads or the like may be sparingly applied uniformly on the molten adhesive to control bondline thickness. A bond may be formed by mating the first substrate with another substrate to provide a 0.5 inch by 1.0 inch (1.25 by 2.5 cm) overlap bond area. The substrates may be bonded to one another using pressure such as, for example, firm hand pressure to compress the adhesive to a desired thickness and squeeze excess adhesive from the bond area The assembly should set for several minutes, typically from 5 to 10 minutes. Excess flash (if present) is preferably trimmed from the bottom side of the bonded assembly. At this point, a bond will normally have formed and an initial overlap shear strength may be measured. The bonded substrates should be allowed to cure under ambient conditions for a period of time to achieve an optimum bond strength.

Silane based moisture curing hot-melt adhesives


A set for conveying blood between a patient and blood treatment apparatus such as a dialyzer. The set comprises a blood flow conduit, connecting with a patient's vascular system, and means for connecting the conduit with the dialyzer. A portion of the conduit comprises an enlarged-diameter, tubular pump segment connected at each pump segment end with a connector. The connectors also are each connected in substantially straight-line relation to other portions of the blood flow conduit. Typically, both connectors also each connect to a branch line in a relation substantially parallel to the connection of the other blood flow conduit portion and the connected tubular pump segment. Thus, the set is more capable of being rolled up and packaged in an automated manner, since it can be free of branching connections which connect at a substantial angle to the overall axis of the set.

Arterial sets for hemodialysis are known to conventionally carry a blood flow tubing between a connector for the arterial fistula of the patient at one end of the set and a connector to the dialyzer at the other end of the set. Between the set ends, an enlarged-diameter pump tube segment is provided, being tubing which fits into the track of a roller pump for rolling compression by the rollers of the pump. This provides the necessary pressure to circulate the blood at a desired flow rate through the entire system from the patient, through the dialyzer, and back to the patient.
Additionally, both arterial and venous dialysis sets typically carry a so-called "drip chamber", although at current blood flows through dialyzers, the volume of blood passing through the set is much greater than that represented by a "drip".
Hemodialysis is a relatively expensive medical procedure, since it is typically performed about three times a week on a continuing basis through the remaining life of the patient, or at least until a kidney transplant is obtained. Thus, there is significant need to reduce the cost of dialysis, which of course includes the cost of the blood sets used, and are typically disposed of after one use. Even a relatively small cost reduction in the manufacture of blood sets for dialysis can result in significant cost savings, because of the large numbers of such blood sets that are used.
At the present time, blood sets for dialysis which carry a pump segment substantially all have such pump segments that terminate in branching connectors. The branching connectors also receive the ends of the other portions of the blood flow conduit of the set, with such flow conduit portions being generally of less outer diameter than the pump segment. Also, each of the connectors at opposite ends of the pump segment typically carry a branch line which connects with the pump segment at a 90.degree. angle. One of these branch lines is for connection to a set for saline solution supply, while the other of the branch lines typically connects to a source of heparin.
Pump sets are typically packaged in a rolled-up manner of substantially circular appearance, so that the package may be compact and neat. However, because of the presence of the perpendicular branch lines, the rolling of the set into a circular array for packaging is not easily done in an automated manner, but rather must be accomplished substantially by hand. This of course adds to the cost of packaging of the set, which adds to the overall set cost.
In addition, this 90 degree branch attachment results in complicated set-up, twisted lines, and the like by the following action: The orientation of the inlet 90 degree branch can by manipulated by the healthcare worker when the pump segment connector is attached to the first end of the U-shaped pump housing. For example, the inlet end pump segment connector can be oriented so the 90 degree branch can be pointed outwardly, parallel to the face plate of the machine. This facilitates easy attachment of the branch (IV) line to the typical line that connects at the inlet end of the pump tubing saline source.
However, the outlet 90 degree branch attachment cannot be so easily manipulated because its orientation is determined by the pronation (twisting) of the pump segment, being rotated in its U-shape by the pump rollers. Thus, while it is desirable for the outlet 90 degree branch attachment to be pointed outwardly, parallel to the face of the machine (for attachment to the heparin syringe pump), it ends up in a random location, pointing to the right, left, forward or back towards the face plate.
This leads to difficult set-up and even kinks in this attachment line as it must be redirected. Finally, the pump segment tends to continue to pronate during the procedure through the continued rotation of the pump rollers. The 90 degree attachment and connected line thus gets further twisted.
By this invention, a set for conveying blood between a patient and a hemodialyzer (or another blood treatment apparatus) is provided, in which the set is significantly more capable of automated rolling into a circular array, so that the sets may be packaged in a more automated packaging process than the sets of the prior art. The set of this invention may be automatically rolled, installed in a package, and sealed therein without being touched by human hands. Thus, the set of this invention may exhibit a reduced overall cost, when compared with prior art sets which are otherwise comparable. Also, by this invention a set is provided in which the set up of the pump segment attachment lines is more convenient and less likely to kink.

Pump conduit segment having connected, parallel branch line


An image-displaying device includes a storing unit and a displaying unit. The storing unit stores first correlation data and second correlation data. The first correlation data indicates a plurality of first thumbnails including a plurality of first display thumbnails and also indicates a sequence of the plurality of first thumbnails. The second correlation data indicates a plurality of second thumbnails including a plurality of second display thumbnails and also indicates a sequence of the plurality of second thumbnails. The storing unit updates the second correlation data in response to an update instruction for adding one of the plurality of first thumbnails to the plurality of second thumbnails. The displaying unit includes a first display configured to display a plurality of first display thumbnails based on the first correlation data, and a second display configured to display a plurality of second display thumbnails based on the second correlation data. The second display displays a plurality of second display thumbnails based on the updated second correlation data if the second correlation data is updated.

An image-displaying device including a display that displays thumbnail images created from data for a plurality of images is well known in the art. One such image-displaying device disclosed in Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2005-109907 allows the user to select thumbnail images from among thumbnail images arranged in a prescribed order on a display unit 32, sorts the selected thumbnail images and the non-selected thumbnail images when the user presses a Finished button BT10 to indicate that the user has finished selecting thumbnail images, and displays the selected thumbnail images separately from the non-selected thumbnail images.


A printable medium with a printable medium comprising a composite supporting substrate having a first fabric layer and a second layer containing fibers laminated to the first layer; an image receiving layer coated on the second layer; and an external layer, coated over the image receiving layer, comprising, at least, two polymeric networks and polymeric particles. Also disclosed are the method for making such printable medium and the method for producing printed images.

Inkjet printing technology has expanded its application to high-speed, commercial and industrial printing, in addition to home and office usage, because of its ability to produce economical, high quality, multi-colored prints. This technology is a non-impact printing method in which an electronic signal controls and directs droplets or a stream of ink that can be deposited on a wide variety of medium substrates. Inkjet printing technology has found various applications on different substrates including, for examples, cellulose paper, metal, plastic, fabric, and the like. The substrate plays a key role in the overall image quality and permanence of the printed images.
Large format print medium becomes more and more popular and finds use in many applications such as wall coverings, banners, and signs of many types that can be printed to create images with one or more symbols, text and photographs. When printing on such substrates, challenges exist due to their specific nature. Durability of the image printed thereon is often in consideration. Accordingly, investigations continue into developing medium substrates that can be effectively used for large format printing which can be used a wall covering substrate, for examples, and which can impart good mechanical resistance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A computer-implemented method of designing a modeled assembly of at least one object in a computer-aided design system, the method comprising the steps of providing a set of icons, each icon being representative of a range of scales of size; determining the dimensions of a view (40) of said modeled assembly; and displaying continuously the icon representative of the range of scales of size corresponding to said dimensions.

Computer-aided techniques are known to include Computer-Aided Design or CAD, which relates to software solutions for authoring product design. Similarly, CAE is an acronym for Computer-Aided Engineering, e.g. it relates to software solutions for simulating the physical behavior of a future product. CAM stands for Computer-Aided Manufacturing and typically includes software solutions for defining manufacturing processes and operations.
A number of systems and programs are offered on the market for the design of objects (or parts) or assemblies of objects, forming a product, such as the one provided by Dassault Systèmes under the trademark CATIA. These CAD systems allow a user to construct and manipulate complex three dimensional or 3D models of objects or assemblies of objects. CAD systems thus provide a representation of modeled objects using edges or lines, in certain cases with faces. Lines or edges may be represented in various manners, e.g. non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS). These CAD systems manage parts or assemblies of parts as modeled objects, which are mostly specifications of geometry. Specifically, CAD files contain specifications, from which geometry is generated, which in turn allow for a representation to be generated. Geometry and representation may be stored in a single CAD file or multiple ones. CAD systems include graphic tools for representing the modeled objects to the designers; these tools are dedicated to the display of complex objects; the typical size of a file representing an object in a CAD system being in the range of one Megabyte per part, and an assembly may comprise thousands of parts. A CAD system manages models of objects, which are stored in electronic files.
In computer-aided techniques, the graphical user interface GUI plays an important role as regards the efficiency of the technique. Most of the operations required for manipulating and/or navigating the modeled objects may be performed by the user (e.g. the designers) on the GUI. Especially, the user may create, modify, and delete the modeled objects forming the product, and also explore the product so as to comprehend how modeled objects are interrelated, e.g. via a product structure. Traditionally, these operations are carried out through dedicated menus and icons which are located on the sides of the GUI. Recently, CAD systems such as CATIA allow calling these operations nearby the representation of the product. The designer does not need anymore to move the mouse towards menus and icons. Operations are thus available within reach of the mouse. In addition, the operations behave semantically: for a given operation selected by the designer, the CAD system may suggest to the designer, still nearby the mouse, a set of new operations according to the former selected operation that the designer is likely to select.
Until recent years, some computer software used, for example in automotive and aerospace industry, are based on geometry, for mechanical engineers to be able to see their work in space or in a three-dimensional displaying.

Method and system for designing a modeled assembly of at least one object in a computer-aided design system


A transmission device of a handheld electronic device including a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a fan installed within the housing for generating airflow from the inlet to the outlet and a guide tube installed on the housing having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening is located at the outlet side, the second opening is coupled to an opening of the handheld electronic device in a detachable manner to allow airflow generated by the fan into the handheld electronic device, the guide tube can improve cooling effect of the transmission device and the transmission device is capable of cooling the handheld electronic device to solve the heating problem while the handheld electronic device is being utilized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmission device of a handheld electronic device, more particularly, a transmission device capable of cooling a handheld electronic device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Functions of handheld electronic devices are becoming more powerful as technology progresses; even so, more heat will be given off as the handheld electronic device executes its functions. If heat generated from internal components of the handheld electronic device is not properly released, the functional operation and speed will be affected. In addition, overheating of the internal components can even cause damage to the device. However, in order to satisfy the needs of the consumers, the development of handheld electronic devices will continue towards miniature designs. The problem of cooling the handheld electronic device given a limited space, as mentioned-above has become an important research topic for manufacturers.
In general, there are two methods of cooling electrical products: the active cooling method and the passive cooling method. The active cooling method is implemented by adding a cooling device such as a fan to the electrical product. The passive cooling method utilizes a heat releasing metal plate that is attached to the internal component of the electrical product. In the handheld electronic device, such as a mobile phone, if the active cooling method is employed by installing a fan in the mobile phone, then the noise generated from the fan when the fan blades are spinning will negatively affect a user when having a conversation. Furthermore, the bearings of the fan are easily damaged; therefore, maintenance cost of the handheld electronic device increases as well. If non-active cooling such as a metal plate is attached to the internal component of the handheld electronic device then a reasonable surface area of the metal plate is needed to cool the device. The weight of the metal plate will increase the volume and the weight of the handheld electronic device.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a charger capable of cooling a conventional notebook computer (please refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,340). The charger 100 comprises a cooling system 110, for generating airflow to cool the notebook computer. However, the arrangement of the internal components of the handheld electronic device is denser than the arrangement of the internal components of the notebook computer. Because of the increased density, if the speed of the airflow is not sufficiently fast, then the effect of cooling will decrease due to the limited space in the handheld electronic device. Furthermore, heat is also generated when the handheld electronic device transmits data, and the conventional charger 100 is unable to provide a function of data transmission and cooling at the same time.

Transmission device capable of cooling a handheld electronic device


A method for industrially changing the passwords of users in an AIX/UNIX system including a plurality of stations. A system being managed by a system administrator located at one of the stations is able to change the passwords of at least a set of users. The method comprises the steps of building an initial program including a new password selected by the system administrator for replacing the current password of all users, compiling the initial program in order to obtain an executable program, transmitting the executable program to the stations, and executing in each station, the executable program in order to obtain an encrypted string corresponding to the new password, the encrypted string being specific to the stations wherein the executable program is executed.

In an AIX/UNIX system, security is based on rights to access files and commands. Some of these files and commands are more protected than others, especially if they are very sensitive because they can corrupt the system, resulting in a loss of data for the users and applications.
Accordingly, any user has two forms of identification: a user name and a user ID. This enables a user to access some files and commands and to have limited rights such as "read", "write" or "execute" applied to a file or a command, associated with the user ID. In addition to the user name and the user ID, each user has a password which is required to enter a file or a command to which he may access.
In an AIX/UNIX system, there is a super user, also named the "root", who is the system administrator. He is associated with the user ID=0, which provides him with all system administrator functions. As any other user, the system administrator has a password which is disclosed with considerable care by providing "roles" which are authorizations that allow a user to execute functions normally executed by the "root" user.
It is said that the security of the system is no better than the weakest password, because once person has access to a user's account, it is possible for this person to exploit weaknesses in the system configuration and gain access to the root's account or mount a denial of service attack from the system.
There is a normal UNIX command to change a password. This command may be used by any user to change its own password or by the system administrator ("root") to change any user's password. It is usually convenient for the system administrator to set an initial password for a new user in order to activate the new user's account. In such a case, the system administrator has to set up a connection (Telnet) to the station where is the user, and then he is prompted to enter a new password only known by himself.
Periodically, or when the system has been hacked, the security requires password changes for all the stations of the system. As mentionned above, changing a password implies a network connection for each password. During this connection, the system administrator must log as root user, enter the password command and then enter the new password twice for checking. The problem is that changing the passwords is a vast undertaking for the system administrator when there are several hundred AIX/UNIX users.

Method for industrially changing the passwords of AIX/UNIX users

International Business Machines Corporation


A method is disclosed of treating a crystalline material comprising a CHA framework-type molecular sieve, wherein said crystalline material has a composition and involving the molar relationship:(n)X2O3:YO2,where X is a trivalent element, Y is a tetravalent element, and n is less than 0.07, and wherein the crystalline material does not comprise a silicoaluminophosphate, is substantially free of framework phosphorus, or both. The method can comprise treating the crystalline material with steam under conditions such that the prime olefin selectivity of the treated material in an oxygenate conversion process is greater than the prime olefin selectivity of the untreated material in the same process.

The conversion of oxygenates to olefins (OTO) is currently the subject of intense research because it has the potential for replacing the long-standing steam cracking technology that is today the industry-standard for producing world scale quantities of ethylene and propylene. The very large volumes involved suggest that substantial economic incentives exist for alternate technologies that can deliver high throughputs of light olefins in a cost efficient manner. Whereas steam cracking relies on non-selective thermal reactions of naphtha range hydrocarbons at very high temperatures, OTO exploits catalytic and micro-architectural properties of acidic molecular sieves under milder temperature conditions to produce high yields of ethylene and propylene from methanol.
Current understanding of the OTO reactions suggests a complex sequence in which three major steps can be identified: (1) an induction period leading to the formation of an active carbon pool (alkyl-aromatics), (2) alkylation-dealkylation reactions of these active intermediates leading to products, and (3) a gradual build-up of condensed ring aromatics. OTO is therefore an inherently transient chemical transformation in which the catalyst is in a continuous state of change. The ability of the catalyst to maintain high olefin yields for prolonged periods of time relies on a delicate balance between the relative rates at which the above processes take place. The formation of coke-like molecules is of singular importance because their accumulation interferes with the desired reaction sequence in a number of ways. In particular, coke renders the carbon pool inactive, lowers the rates of diffusion of reactants and products, increases the potential for undesired secondary reactions and limits catalyst life.
Over the last two decades, many catalytic materials have been identified as being useful for carrying out the OTO reactions. Crystalline molecular sieves are the preferred catalysts today because they simultaneously address the acidity and morphological requirements for the reactions. Particularly preferred materials are 8-membered ring aluminosilicates, such as those having the chabazite (CHA) framework type, as well as silicoaluminophosphates of the CHA framework type, such as SAPO-34.
CHA framework-type molecular sieves appear to be particularly suitable catalysts for the OTO reaction since they have cages that are sufficiently large to accommodate aromatic intermediates while still allowing the diffusive transport of reactants and products into and out of the crystals through regularly interconnected window apertures. By complementing such morphological characteristics with appropriate levels of acid strength and acid density, working catalysts are produced. Extensive research in this area indicates that increasing the silica to alumina molar ratio seems to be a key requirement in the use of CHA framework-type aluminosilicates in OTO reactions.
Chabazite is a naturally occurring zeolite with the approximate formula Ca6Al12Si24O72. Three synthetic forms of chabazite are described in "Zeolite Molecular Sieves", by D. W. Breck, published in 1973 by John Wiley & Sons, the complete disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference. The three synthetic forms reported by Breck are Zeolite "K-G", described in J. Chem. Soc., pg. 2822 (1956), Barrer et al; Zeolite D, described in British Patent No. 868,846 (1961); and Zeolite R, described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,030,181 (1962). Zeolite K-G zeolite has a silica:alumina mole ratio of 2.3:1 to 4.15:1, whereas zeolites D and R have silica:alumina mole ratios of 4.5:1 to 4.9:1 and 3.45:1 to 3.65:1, respectively. The relatively low silica to alumina molar ratio of these materials makes them less than optimal as catalysts for OTO reactions.
Considerable work has therefore been conducted on the synthesis of CHA framework-type aluminosilicate molecular sieves having high silica to alumina molar ratios and in particular with silica to alumina molar ratios greater than 15:1, preferably greater than 100:1.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,538 describes the synthesis of a synthetic form of chabazite-type aluminosilicate, SSZ-13, using N-alkyl-3-quinuclidinol, N,N,N-tri-alkyl-1-adamantylammonium cations and/or N,N,N-trialkyl-exoaminonorbornane as a directing agent in a conventional OH− medium. According to the '538 patent, SSZ-13 typically has a silica to alumina molar ratio of 8 to 50 but it is stated that higher molar ratios can be obtained by varying the relative ratios of the reactants in the synthesis mixture and/or by treating the zeolite with chelating agents or acids to remove aluminum from the zeolite lattice. However, attempts to synthesize SSZ-13 in OH− media at silica to alumina molar ratios in excess of 100 have been unsuccessful and have produced ITQ-1 or SSZ-23, depending on the alkali metal cation present. Moreover, increasing the silica to alumina molar ratio of SSZ-13 by dealumination has met little or no success.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,644 describes a zeolite that is identified as SSZ-62 and has a CHA framework type and a crystal size of 0.5 microns or less. SSZ-62 is said to have a silica to alumina molar ratio in excess of 10, such as in excess of 30, but the only synthesis example produces a material with a silica to alumina molar ratio of 22. Synthesis is effected in a hydroxyl medium in the presence of N,N,N-trimethyl-1-adamantammonium cation as the structure directing agent. The zeolite can be steamed, purportedly to help stabilize the crystalline lattice to attack from acids.
An all silica crystalline molecular sieve having the CHA framework type has been hydrothermally synthesized using N,N,N-trimethyladamantylammonium in hydroxide form as the structure-directing agent, but the synthesis requires the presence of concentrated hydrofluoric acid. See Diaz-Cabanas, M-J, Barrett, P. A., and Camblor, M. A. "Synthesis and Structure of Pure SiO2 Chabazite: the SiO2 Polymorph with the Lowest Framework Density", Chem. Commun. 1881 (1998).
More recently, an aluminosilicate with the CHA framework type and having a silica to alumina molar ratio in excess of 100, such as from 150 to 2000, has been synthesized in the presence of fluoride ions. See U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0176751, published Sep. 18, 2003. Structure directing agents employed include N-alkyl-3-quinuclidinol, N,N,N-tri-alkyl-1-adamantammonium cations and N,N,N-trialkyl-exoaminonorbornane.
U.S. Published Patent Application No 2005/0154244, published Jul. 14, 2005, discloses a crystalline material comprising a CHA framework-type molecular sieve with stacking faults or at least one intergrown phase of a CHA framework-type molecular sieve and an AEI framework-type molecular sieve, wherein the material is substantially free of framework phosphorus and has a composition involving the molar relationship (n)X2O3:YO2 wherein X is a trivalent element, Y is a tetravalent element and n is from 0 to about 0.5. The material can be synthesized using a mixed directing agent comprising an N,N,N-trialkyl-1-adamantylammonium compound and an N,N-diethyl-2,6-dimethylpiperidinium compound, normally in the presence of fluoride ions.
In pending US 2007-0100185 A1, we have described a method of synthesizing a crystalline material comprising a CHA framework-type molecular sieve, the method comprising: a) forming a reaction mixture capable of forming said crystalline material, wherein the reaction mixture comprises a structure directing agent having the formula:[R1R2R3N—R4]+Q−wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from hydrocarbyl alkyl groups and hydroxy-substituted hydrocarbyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, provided that R1 and R2 may be joined to form a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic structure, R3 is an alkyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and R4 is selected from a 4- to 8-membered cycloalkyl group, optionally, substituted by 1 to 3 alkyl groups each having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and a 4- to 8-membered heterocyclic group having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms, said heterocyclic group being, optionally, substituted by 1 to 3 alkyl groups each having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and each heteroatom in said heterocyclic group being selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S, or R3 and R4 are hydrocarbyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms joined to form a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic structure; and Q− is an anion; and b) recovering from said reaction mixture said crystalline material comprising a CHA framework-type molecular sieve.
Also, in pending US 2007-0100185 A1, we have described a method of synthesizing a crystalline material comprising a CHA framework-type molecular sieve and having a composition involving the molar relationship:(n)X2O3:YO2 wherein X is a trivalent element; Y is a tetravalent element; and n is from 0 to less than 0.01, such as from about 0.0005 to about 0.007, the method comprising: (a) preparing a reaction mixture capable of forming said material, said mixture comprising a source of water, a source of an oxide of a tetravalent element Y and, optionally, a source of an oxide of a trivalent element X, wherein the reaction mixture is substantially free of fluoride ions added as HF; (b) maintaining said reaction mixture under conditions sufficient to form crystals of said crystalline material; and (c) recovering said crystalline material.
Despite these synthesis advances, many of the resultant high silica CHA framework-type molecular sieves, and particularly those synthesized in the absence of HF, exhibit reduced MTO performance, such as an unexpectedly high selectivity to undesirable coke and methane. According to the invention, it has now been found that the MTO performance, and most importantly the prime olefin selectivity, of high silica CHA framework-type molecular sieves can be enhanced by mild steam treatment. Whereas the reason for this result is not fully understood, recent work has shown that many as-synthesized high silica CHA zeolites exhibit framework defects and it is believed that the steam treatment serves to heal these defects.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,994 discloses a method for increasing the catalytic activity of an acid zeolite having a determinable initial activity and characterized by a silica to alumina mole ratio of at least 12 and a constraint index within the approximate range of 1 to 12. The zeolite is selected from the group consisting of ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, and ZSM-38 and the activation method comprises contacting said zeolite with water for a sufficient treating time, temperature, and water partial pressure wherein said time, temperature and pressure is represented by the following relationship of treating time and water pressure at constant temperatures:0.001(Pt)T<(Pt)<10(Pt)T where
(Pt)T=2.6×10−9 e 16000/T
P=Water Partial Pressure, atmosphere
t=Treating Time, Hours
T=Temperature, ° K.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,163 discloses a method of hydrothermal treatment of silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieves, such as SAPO-34, at temperatures in excess of about 700° C. for periods sufficient to destroy a large proportion of their acid sites while retaining at least 80 percent of their crystallinity. The hydrothermal treatment is found to result in a catalyst for converting methanol to lower olefins having increased catalyst life, increased selectivity for C2 to C3 olefins and decreased selectivity for paraffin production than the untreated SAPO-n starting composition.
Steaming is also known to be effective in the stabilization of large pore zeolites, such as zeolite Y. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,493,519 teaches a method of preparing ultrastable zeolite Y in which an ammonium form of zeolite Y is heated in the presence of rapidly flowing steam, and the resultant steamed product is base-exchanged with an ammonium salt and then treated with a chelating agent capable of combining with aluminum at a pH between 7 and 9. The steaming results in movement of mobile silicate species to defect sites, which is only possible with relatively large pore molecular sieves such as zeolite Y.

Treatment of CHA-type molecular sieves and their use in the conversion of oxygenates to olefins


Nonwoven calendered materials for various applications such as household use and personal and hygienic care are provided. In particular, the present invention can be applied to the manufacture of wipes and cleaning cloths. Methods for making and using nonwoven calendered fabrics are also provided.

Wet or impregnated wipes are of wide application in several fields. For example, nonwoven fabric cloths are used for cleaning purposes and may be impregnated with waxes or other cleaning solutions. Wet wipes are also used for personal care and may contain detergents, perfumes or even cosmetic lotions or creams.
These products are normally made from cellulose-based raw materials (typically less than 50% cellulose), such as pulp, carded viscose/lyocell airlace or spunlace, cotton and the like, which are provided with absorbent properties.
High absorbent properties are necessary for the cloth to be moistened and to retain a sufficient amount of the type of solution of the desired type (detergent, cosmetic and so on).
The above raw material fibers are generally hydroentangled or firmly bonded and are wetted with a solution of detergent and/or perfume, so that they can be packaged ready for use.
Pulp, viscose and lyocell absorb high amounts of water into the fiber. A stack of wet wipes with these fibers tends to be dense and thus its height is less than for similar wipes containing thermoplastic fibers such as polypropylene and polyester. As wet wipes are commonly packed in flexible plastic packagings, a small stack of wipes will give customers a negative impression of the amount of material in the package. Additionally, a softer wipe is more desirable by the customer due to its better feel.
Moreover, a certain amount of polypropylene, polyester or the like is normally added to this kind of product. The presence of such thermoplastic materials in the composition of a wipe is contrary to the aim of providing biodegradable products.
Biodegradability is considered an important feature for a wet wipe. The nature of these products implies that they should be flushable. Therefore, it is normally required that a flushable product be biodegradable.
However, biodegradability is not the only requirement that should be ideally fulfilled when providing a flushable wipe. As waste waters are normally made to pass through pumps, particularly when they must move against the force of gravity, for example, when they reach wastewater treatment plants, the material should also be water dispersible to avoid blockage of such pumps by the solid mass.
Improved water dispersibility can be achieved, but unfortunately this occurs by sacrificing the strength of the material. Biodegradability implies a long period of exposure to environmental conditions but water dispersibility is needed quickly. While looking at known products on the market, a good balance between water dispersibility and mechanical strength is still a great and long-felt need in this field.
It should be noted that a mechanical stress on a sheet of nonwoven material develops along two preferential directions that are perpendicular one to the other: the MD (Machine Direction) and the CD (Cross Direction). The MD is the direction along which the material is processed: a high strength along this direction prevents the sheet from being torn during the production of the wipes. The CD direction, conversely, is the direction along which the wipe is dispensed by the packaging, i.e. the direction along which the customer pull the wipe out, as required by current packaging processes. A good strength along this direction is essential as well. It is therefore important that a good balance between MD and CD strengths is obtained. This is also a great and long-felt need in the nonwoven fabric industry.


A method, a computer program product, and a computer system manage tree risk. The method includes receiving images corresponding to a geographic area. The method includes determining whether a first tree captured in at least one of the images has a condition exhibiting a tree risk that poses a hazard above an acceptable threshold. As a result of the first tree having the condition above the acceptable threshold, the method includes generating a notification identifying the first tree and a location of the first tree. The method includes transmitting the notification to a team equipped to remediate the condition of the first tree.

The exemplary embodiments relate generally to tree risk, and more particularly to managing strategies to ensure trees are able to provide benefits while minimizing risks.
Vegetation may provide numerous benefits to those living and/or working in an urban environment. For example, trees clean the air in the urban environment from fumes created by automobiles, factories, etc. Trees may promote improved health from lowering heart rates, lowering blood pressure, relaxing brain wave patterns, etc. Trees may also provide natural beauty in the urban environment that has been linked to lower crime rates. As trees increase with size and age, an amount of the benefits provided by the trees may increase. However, older and larger trees may also be more likely to drop branches or cause root conflicts on sites that the trees inhabit. Environmental conditions may also increase the hazards associated with trees such as when strong winds blow or precipitation events occur. The tree risk posed by the hazards associated with trees may cause damage to property or people. Thus, tree owners for trees that are personally owned or governmentally owned must manage the trees to reduce the tree risk while still availing to the benefits.


An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method for interpolating seismic data. The method includes collecting seismic data of two or more types over a field (401), determining an approximation to one of the types of the seismic data (402), and performing a wave-field transformation on the approximation to form a transformed approximation (405), wherein the transformed approximation corresponds to another of the collected types of seismic data. The method may also include setting the transformed approximation to match the measured seismic data of the corresponding types at matching locations (408), performing a wave-field transformation on the transformed approximation to form an output approximation (412), and using the output approximation to obtain a data representation of a geological layer (416).

This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. This discussion is believed to assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art.
In the oil and gas industry, seismic prospecting techniques commonly are used to aid in the search for and evaluation of subterranean hydrocarbon deposits. A seismic prospecting operation consists of three separate stages: data acquisition, data processing, and data analysis and interpretation, and success of the operation depend on satisfactory completion of all three stages.
In the data acquisition stage, various methods may be used to obtain many responses from the subsurface regions. For instance, a source is used to generate an elastic signal, or wave, that propagates into the subsurface structure of the earth. The elastic wave is at least partially reflected from a boundary between one or more laminated layers, generally due to contrasts in seismic impedance between the layers. More specifically, adjacent layers in the subsurface have different lithology and physical properties and, thus, may present different densities and velocities to the elastic wave. The product of density and velocity of seismic energy transmission through each layer is called seismic impedance. The impedance contrast at the boundaries between adjacent layers causes the reflections that may then be recorded by a receiver as a seismic trace. The recorded seismic trace can be modeled as a convolution of the earth's impulse response with the seismic signal produced by the source.
During seismic survey of a subterranean region, seismic data is acquired by typically positioning the seismic source at a chosen shot location, and measuring the seismic reflections generated by the source using receivers placed at selected locations. The measured reflections are referred to as a single "shot record." Several shot records are measured during a survey by moving the source and receivers to different location and repeating the aforementioned process. Ideally, the source and receiver locations lie on a uniformly and densely sampled grid, but this is difficult to achieve in practice for many reasons including surface obstructions, ocean currents, cable feathering, and acquisition cost. For example, the economics of seismic data acquisition may influence the spacing between receivers, e.g., lowering costs by setting the spacing as large as possible while still yielding the adequate detail in the survey results.
During the data processing stage, the recorded geophysical data (for example, seismic signals) are refined and enhanced using a variety of procedures that depend on the nature of the geologic structure being investigated and on the characteristics of the raw geophysical data. In general, the purpose of the data processing stage is to produce a data representation, such as an image, of the subsurface from the recorded data for use during the data interpretation stage. The data representation may be used to determine the general geologic structure of a subsurface region, to locate potential hydrocarbon reservoirs, and/or to guide the development of an already discovered reservoir.
The accuracy of the image obtained by the analyzing the signals may be limited by the amount of geophysical data obtained for a specific site. More specifically, the seismic data, for example, may be incomplete, providing an incomplete image to the reservoir. Although other seismic data may have been collected using different techniques or locations, combining seismic data of different types may be problematic.
Other related material may be found in the following publications: Abma, R. and Kabir, N., "3D Interpolation of Irregular Data with a POCS Algorithm" Geophysics, 71 No. 6, pp. E91-E97, (November-December 2006); Baumstein and Anderson, "Wavefield Extrapolation in Laterally Varying VTI Media", Expanded Abstracts, SEG Annual Meeting (2003); Bauschke, H. H. and Borwein, J. M., 1996, "On Projection Algorithms for Solving Convex Feasibility Problems", SIAM Review, 38, No. 3, pp. 367-426; Biondi, Fomel and Chemingui, "Azimuth Moveout for 3-D Prestack Imaging," Geophysics 63, pp. 574-588 (1998); Ferguson, R, (2006), "Regularization and Datuming of Seismic Data by Weighted, Damped Least Squares", Geophysics 71(5) pp. U67-76; Gulunay, N., "Seismic Trace Interpolation in Fourier Transform Domain", Geophysics", 68, No. 1 (January-February 2003), pp. 355-369; Herrmann, F. J. and Hennenfent, G., "Non-Parametric Seismic Data Recovery With Curvelet Frames", Geophysical Journal International, 173: pp. 233-248, April 2008; Simard P. Y and Mailloux, G. E. (1990), "Vector Field Restoration by the Method of Convex Projections", Computer Vision, Graphics, and Image Processing, 52, No. 3, pp. 360-285; and Zwartjes, P. M. and Sacchi, M. D., "Fourier Reconstruction of Nonuniformly Sampled, Aliased Seismic Data", Geophysics, 72, No. 1 (January-February 2007). Other related material may be found in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,253,193; 5,617,372; 6,307,569; and 7,202,663; and Intl. Patent App. Pub. No. WO2007/095312.

Method for analyzing multiple geophysical data sets


A station optically inspects banded cigarette paper by directing an elongated beam of white light laterally across a web of the cigarette paper. The elongated beam impinges on the surface of the cigarette paper and forms reflections. A plurality of line scan camera containing linear CCD arrays receive the reflections and generate output signals. One or more processing units process the output signals to generate data indicative of the spacing between bands, the width of the bands, and the contrast of the bands. These calculations can be periodically transferred to a separate computer workstation over a network. The workstation generates statistical reports on the basis of the calculations, such as the band width, band spacing and band contrast as a function of lane number, and as a function of time. The statistical reports provide a convenient way of quickly detecting irregularities in application of the bands. According to exemplary embodiments, the inspection station is designed for installation in a cigarette paper manufacturing system.

The present invention relates generally to an optical inspection system for determining the characteristics of a moving web. More specifically, the present invention relates to an optical inspection system for determining the characteristics of a moving web of cigarette paper containing bands.
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,417,228 and 5,474,095 disclose cigarette papers comprising a base web and banded regions of add-on material. As illustrated in FIG. 1, an exemplary cigarette 7 might contain two bands 5 of material formed by depositing a layer of cellulosic pulp on base cigarette paper 3. Cellulon, microcrystalline cellulose, flax or wood pulp, or amylopectin are some of the various preferred substances which have been used to form the bands.
Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,114 discloses that the above described bands can be formed by modifying a conventional Fourdrinier paper making machine to deposit additional layers of cellulose at some stage in the production of the cigarette base paper 3. To streamline process, the bands are preferably applied while the paper is moving at high speeds, such as 500 feet per minute. At these high speeds, breakdowns and other factors (such as clogged band applicators), can result in the production of a base web having misplaced bands.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, common anomalies arise when the width of a band 1 deviates from a desired width 12, or the band becomes skewed so that it is no longer orthogonal with respect to the edge of the paper (as is the case with band 1). Other anomalies arise when the separation 2 between two bands deviates from a desired separation width 10 (also called "band spacing" herein). Moreover, an irregular band applicator may produce a band with gaps or a band having a contrast which is either too high (e.g. as in band 9) or too low.
The prior art includes web inspection devices for use in the manufacture of fabrics, film, paper and like material. Some of these devices include a light source for projecting electromagnetic radiation on a moving web of material. The light impinges on the surface of the moving web, where it is reflected and received at a detector device. Any anomalies in the moving web can be detected by investigating the nature of the reflected electromagnetic radiation. For instance, a tear, pinhole or blemish in the web will manifest itself in a spike in the signal level from the detector (which is attributed to an increase or decrease in reflected radiation). This spike can be viewed by connecting the detector output to an oscilloscope, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,509 to Peplinkski.
While useful, these devices are ill-suited to the task of detecting the integrity of bands on cigarette paper. Bands formed on cigarette paper often have reflective properties similar to the cigarette paper itself. Often, for instance, the bands are formed of white colored material which is difficult to distinguish from the white colored cigarette paper. Moreover, the basis weight of the cigarette paper may vary along the direction of travel of the paper on the paper making machine (due to the difficulty in maintaining a constant pulp application rate). The variance in basis weight of the paper influences its reflective properties, thereby obfuscating the differences between banded and non-banded regions, which are subtle enough to begin with. The prior art devices do not have the ability to interpret a reflection from a web of this nature. As mentioned, these devices are configured to examine a web surface for tears, pinholes and blemishes which manifest themselves in dramatic spikes in the video camera signal.
Also, whether a band width is too long, too short, or separated from its neighboring band by more or less than a desired distance can not be determined by simply observing the properties of a single point on a moving web. Rather, the properties of a band should be gauged by determining the spatial relationship between different elements on the web.
Pattern recognition techniques are one way of determining the spatial relationship between different features on a printed web of material. In a common technique, a camera forms a digital image of a portion of a web of material and information printed thereon. The digital image is then compared with a pre-stored template representing an error-free web portion. Discrepancies between the template and the image represent an irregular web. These techniques offer accuracy, but unfortunately entail a great deal of data processing. These techniques are therefore ill-suited to detecting the properties of bands on a web which may be moving at speeds of greater than or equal to 500 feet per minute.
Accordingly, it is an exemplary objective of the present invention to provide an inspection system for accurately detecting the properties of bands contained on a moving web of cigarette paper without delaying other stages in the manufacture of the cigarette paper.

Optical inspection system for the manufacture of banded cigarette paper


The present systems and methods may shape signals to meet emission mask requirements, current consumption requirements, and overshoot/undershoot requirements relating to the interaction that, for example, occurs when a near field communications (NFC) target comes within range of an NFC initiator, and the initiator generates and transmits an NFC waveform. In some implementations, a pair of bit patterns are defined whose differential output from an amplifier is a shaped pulse width modulated waveform. Varying individual bits of the bit patterns can vary the shaped pulse waveform with predictability. The pulse width modulated waveform may be filtered using a matching network that reduces higher order harmonics, thereby reducing out-of-band emissions.

Near Field Communication (NFC) systems enable short range wireless communications between initiators and targets at 13.56 MHz. Initiators read the RFID tag of targets close to the initiator, using NFC standard protocols, including Proximity types A, B, and F, and Vicinity protocol.
The use of NFC interfaces in electronic equipment provides portable devices with functions similar to those of non-contact integrated circuit cards (e.g., radio frequency identification (RFID) cards). In addition, electronic equipment provided with NFC interfaces may be capable of operating as radio frequency (RF) readers and/or writers to communicate with other NFC devices. A basic aspect of NFC is usage of electromagnetic waves in a RF range and that a transmission of information contents is realized over a short distance only, for instance in a range of several centimeters.
As NFC systems emit more powerful signals to meet operational needs, power consumption increases. Regulatory agencies including FCC and ETSI regulate out-of-band emissions. System, method, and apparatus improvements that reduce out-of-band emissions and/or reduce power consumption are desired.

Pulse shaping for generating NFC initiator transmit waveform


The present invention is directed to a flat brushless motor utilizable as a warning in a portable communication device. The center of gravity of the rotor assembly is displaced from the center of rotation so that, by the rotation of the unbalanced rotor assembly, vibrations can be generated and the. By elimination of an eccentric or the like for generating the vibrations, a manufacture in a flat and compact size, as well as a reduction in the number of component parts, can be attained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flat brushless motor utilizable in a portable communication device or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has been a problem that a conventional communication device, such as a pocket bell, only alerts a particular person, but the audible signals are in fact transmitted to other people on the occasion of a meeting, conference, etc.
As such, a device designed to alert a particular person only by way of vibrations has been developed, and a brushless motor has been utilized as a source of the vibrations.
One example of the flat brushless motor of rotary type will be described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 5 illustrates the conventional flat brushless motor of rotary back-yoke type.
Reference numeral 1 represents a flat annular magnet magnetized so as to have N- and S-poles in a circumferential direction in which magnetic fluxes are generated; reference numeral 2 represents a rotor frame for shielding the magnetic fluxes produced by the magnet 1; reference numeral 3 represents a bracket for generating a thrust force in an axial direction by magnetic fluxes leaking out from the rotor frame 2; reference numeral 3a represents a carrier made of insulating material for holding coils; reference numeral 4 represents a plurality of flat coils interlinking the magnetic fluxes generated by the magnet 1 for generating a rotating force when an electric current runs thereacross; reference numeral 5 represents a back-yoke for enclosing a magnetic circuit of main magnetic fluxes produced by the magnet 1; and reference numeral 6 represents a weight for causing the motor to generate unbalanced vibrations. Reference numeral 7 represents a shaft of the motor; reference numeral 8 represents a sleeve bearing; and reference numeral 9 represents a rotor boss rigidly mounted on the shaft 7 and to which the rotor frame 2 and the back-yoke 5 are secured.
FIG. 6 illustrates the shape of the weight 6.
With respect to the conventional flat brushless motor of rotary back-yoke type constructed as hereinabove described, the operation thereof will be described hereinafter.
Assuming that magnetic fluxes are generated from the magnet 1, the magnetic flux developing downwards is shielded by the rotor frame 2 and the bracket 3. Because of this, the main magnetic flux develops in a direction towards the coil 4.
If an electric current is allowed to flow across the coils 4 under this condition, a magnetic field is developed by the current and a rotating force is produced by the relationship with the magnetic flux of the magnet 1. Also, a magnetic circuit is formed by the magnetic flux towards the back-yoke 5 to thereby increase the efficiency or the motor. The weight 6 with its unbalanced shape is fixed to the shaft 7, so that the motor is allowed to produce an unbalanced rotation when the weight 6 is rotated.
However, in the conventional construction, since a portion corresponding to the weight 6 renders the thickness of the motor to be large, there are problems in achieving a flatter motor, and the number of manufacturing steps is increased, as well as the number of component parts.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Method and device for producing a filter rod. The method includes melting at least one first type of filter material, pressing the at least one first type of filter material through at least one nozzle, depositing the at least one first type of filter material on a conveying element, and shaping the filter rod on the conveying element. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for producing a filter rod of the tobacco processing industry comprising at least one filter material. The invention also relates to a device for producing a filter rod of the tobacco processing industry comprising a conveying element onto which filter material can be deposited and a rod shaping device for forming a filter rod from the filter material, wherein the conveying element extends into the rod shaping device.
2. Discussion of Background Information
A corresponding method and a corresponding device are known from DE-OS-1 692 901. A method for producing tobacco smoke filters is described in which substantially continuous filament material is produced by spray spinning, which material is conveyed against a continuously moving collecting surface arranged at an angle to the spray path, wherein an elongated strip of randomly arranged filament segments is formed and parts of the strip are moved laterally relatively to one another so that a continuous filter rod is formed therefrom. After the spinning, various additives can be added to the filament material according to known methods. As filament material, cellulose acetate filaments or filaments of polyethylene and polypropylene can be used.


A dilator/manipulator for use in treating pelvic organ prolapse, including a support member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an adjustable width, and a handle extending upwardly at an angle from the support member. Also included are methods for surgically correcting pelvic organ prolapse with the use of such a dilator/manipulator.

Pelvic health for women is a medical area of increasing importance, at least in part due to an aging population. Examples of common pelvic ailments include incontinence (e.g., fecal and urinary incontinence), pelvic tissue prolapse (e.g., female vaginal prolapse), and other conditions that affect the pelvic floor. Pelvic disorders such as these can be caused by weakness or damage to normal pelvic support systems. Common etiologies include childbearing, removal of the uterus, connective tissue defects, prolonged heavy physical labor, and postmenopausal atrophy.
Pelvic floor disorders include cystocele, rectocele, and prolapse such as anal, uterine, and pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition that occurs when the upper portion of the vagina loses its normal shape and moves downwardly into the vaginal canal. In its severest forms, pelvic organ prolapse can result in the distension of the vaginal apex outside of the vagina. Pelvic organ prolapse may occur alone, such as can be caused by weakness of the pelvic and vaginal tissues and muscles, or can be associated with a rectocele, cystocele and/or enterocele. Prolapse can represent a challenge for surgeons to treat. Some of these treatments include, for example, abdominal sacralcolpopexy (SCP), which may be performed laparoscopically, and transvaginal sacral colpopexy (TSCP), wherein these procedures are performed using a variety of different instruments, implants, and surgical methods. It is known to repair pelvic organ prolapse by suturing the vaginal vault (e.g., by stitches) to the supraspinous ligament or by attaching the vaginal vault through mesh or fascia to the sacrum. In addition, doctors are currently using devices such as an EA sizer or other device when performing an SCP procedure, which devices are acceptable for many applications. However, presently available devices have surgical limitations in certain situations that present opportunities for improvements and enhancements.
Thus, there is ongoing need to provide physicians with improved methods and associated systems, tools, and implants for treating pelvic conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse, wherein such methods can include those that are minimally invasive, safe, and highly effective.