Provided are a integrated plasmonic circuit including a plasmonic source using a surface plasmon resonance phenomenon, a plasmonic detector detecting an optical signal generated in the plasmonic source, and a link structure between the plasmonic source and the plasmonic detector, that is, a signal transferring part, and a method of manufacturing the same. Provided are a integrated plasmonic circuit capable of realizing both of miniaturization and speed improvement by overcoming both of a limitation of an electronic device in terms of a signal speed in spite of being excellent in terms of miniaturization efficiency and a limitation of an existing optical device in terms of miniaturization due to a diffraction limitation of light in spite of being improved in terms of a signal speed, and a method of manufacturing the same.

Surface plasmon indicates collective charge density oscillation generated on a surface of a metal thin film, and a surface plasmon wave generated by the surface plasmon is a surface electromagnetic wave moving along a boundary surface between a metal and a dielectric. This will be described below in more detail. A great number of free electrons are present in the metal, which is a conductor. Since the free electrons are not bound to metal atoms, they may easily respond to an external specific stimulus. A phenomenon that electrons in the material as described above simultaneously oscillate is called plasmon. Particularly, when a size of a surface structure of the metal is a nano level, a surface plasmon resonance phenomenon that the metal has a unique optical property due to behavior of these free electrons appears.
The surface plasmon resonance phenomenon indicates a phenomenon that the free electrons of a surface of the metal collectively oscillate due to resonance with an electromagnetic field of specific energy of light when the light is incident between surfaces of metal nano particles, which are conductors, and a dielectric such as air, water, or the like. That is, in the metal nano particles, an electric field of light in a visible ray to near-infrared ray band and a plasmon are paired with each other, such that light absorption is generated, thereby representing a clear color (in this case, another similar particle generated by coupling the plasmon and a photon to each other is called a surface plasmon polariton). This phenomenon is called a surface plasmon resonance phenomenon, and has an effect that an electromagnetic field is significantly amplified in local regions, which are peripheral portions of metal nano structures. This local surface plasmon resonance phenomenon is induced by conductive nano particles or metal nano structures having a size smaller than a wavelength of incident light, and a frequency of the surface plasmon resonance is changed by sizes or forms of the metal nano particles, a solvent in which the metal nano particles are dispersed, or the like.
One of the typical technologies using the surface plasmon resonance phenomenon as described above is a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is to perform measurement using a phenomenon that Raman-scattering signals, which are unique spectra appearing when light passes through a material, are amplified billions of times on surfaces on which nano structures are formed, by the local surface plasmon resonance as described above. In more detail, when a target material to be detected is coated on a substrate on which the nano structures are formed and light is incident to the substrate, the Raman-scattering signals are generated and amplified by the target material to be detected, and are detected, thereby making it possible to decide the corresponding material. The surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy as described above has been widely used in various fields such as pharmaceutical field, material science field, drug detection field, and bio-molecule detection field, and the like.
Meanwhile, in the case of a general semiconductor based electronic device circuit, which has a size of tens of nanometers or less, a degree of integration of the circuit is high, while it is difficult for a frequency speed of a signal to exceed 10 GHz. Therefore, research into an optical device as an alternative to the electronic device has been actively conducted. The optical device has a large advantage that a high speed of 100 GHz may be obtained, but also has a diffraction limitation of light, such that it is difficult to reduce a size of a basic device to about hundreds of nanometers or less. As a result, it is difficult to increase a degree of integration of a circuit. That is, an existing dielectric based optical device may not confine light in a region smaller than a wavelength, such that it may not be manufactured at a size as small as the electronic device.
However, as described above, at the time of the surface plasmon resonance, an effect that the electromagnetic field is significantly amplified in the local regions, which are the peripheral portions of the metal nano particles, appears, which means that light energy is converted on a surface plasmon to thereby be accumulated on surfaces of the metal nano particles. This also means that light may be controlled in a region smaller than the diffraction limitation of the light. Therefore, research into an optical device using the plasmon resonance has been variously conducted actively.
An example of a technology developed depending on this research includes Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2015-0138890 (entitled "Method of Preparing Surface Plasmon Resonance-based Light Emitting Diode Using Insulator Film and published on Dec. 11, 2015) (hereinafter, referred to as Related Art Document 1), Korean Patent No. 1559194 (entitled "Surface Plasmon Resonance Optical Materials Using Conductive Oxide Nanoparticles, Method for Fabricating the Same and Optical Devices Comprising the Same" and registered on Oct. 2, 2015) (hereinafter, referred to as Related Art Document 2), and the like. In Related Art Document 1, a light emitting diode (LED) device configured to include a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, an active layer interposed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, hole patterns repeatedly formed periodically in the second semiconductor layer, metal regions positioned in the hole patterns, insulator films formed between the hole patterns and the metal regions has been disclosed. The light emitting diode according to Related Art Document 1 is configured to improve light emitting efficiency by generating a plasmon resonance phenomenon between the active layer of the LED structure and the metal regions enclosed by protection films. In Related Art Document 2, an optical material configured to include a medium including a dielectric or a semiconductor and conductive oxide nano particles buried in the medium and interacting with light in a visible ray to ultraviolet ray region to generate surface plasmon resonance has been disclosed.
It may be appreciated from these Related Art Documents that an existing optical device using the surface plasmon resonance is not appropriate for being used to transfer signals and is limited to only a simple light emitting device. As described above, the optical device that is to be used as the alternate to the electronic device should be able to transfer the signals. That is, the optical device should have a light emitting structure, a light receiving structure, and a link structure between the light emitting structure and the light receiving structure. However, in the case of Related Art Documents, these functions may not be realized.
Therefore, a demand for a configuration of an optical device that may ultimately substitute for the electronic device or may be combined with the electronic device by having the light emitting structure, the light receiving structure, and the link structure between the light emitting structure and the light receiving structure has gradually increased.

Integrated plasmonic circuit and method of manufacturing the same

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology


In a process for making prefastened and refastenable garments, a discrete article is transported in a primary direction of movement. The discrete article can define a leading half comprising first fastening components, a trailing half comprising second fastening components releasably engageable with the first fastening components, and an interconnecting region disposed between and interconnecting the leading and trailing halves. The leading half can be temporarily diverted from the primary direction of movement, while continuing to transport the interconnecting region and the trailing half in the primary direction. After reestablishing movement of the leading half in the primary direction, the leading half can contact a contoured surface, such as a contoured plate or roll. The contact can cause the first fastening components to be transversely displaced toward one another, whereupon the first and second fastening components can be engaged.

The present invention pertains to processes and apparatus for making garments, and more particularly to processes and apparatus for folding and bonding disposable absorbent garments.
Garments such as disposable absorbent garments have numerous applications including diapers, training pants, feminine care products, and adult incontinence products. The typical disposable absorbent garment is formed as a composite structure including an absorbent assembly disposed between a liquid permeable bodyside liner and a liquid impermeable outer cover. These components can be combined with other materials and features such as elastic materials and containment structures to form a product that is specifically suited to its intended purposes.
One form of disposable absorbent garment is a two-dimensional product that has open sides. Two-dimensional products, such as conventional diapers and some adult incontinence products, are generally flat and provided in an unfastened configuration. These garments have typically included fasteners such as adhesive tape fasteners or hook and loop type fasteners that releasably connect the front and back waist portions to secure the product about the wearer. Two-dimensional product can be easily applied or removed while the wearer is lying down.
Another form of disposable absorbent garment is a three-dimensional product with closed sides so that the product has a unitary waist opening and two leg openings. The wearer raises and lowers the garment to apply the product. Three-dimensional products are particularly appealing because the pant has a very garment-like look. Children for instance identify diaper products with babies, and most children do not like being identified with or as babies. Consequently, these children do not want to wear baby diapers, and instead prefer to wear training pants that look like adult underwear. Thus, the switch from a traditional diaper to a more garment-like or underwear-like training pant can be an important step in the toilet training process. Similarly, adults seeking the protection of incontinence products prefer the normalcy of a pant product rather than an incontinence product that must be applied in another fashion. Three-dimensional garments have been designed such that they can be torn to remove the garment from the wearer after it has been soiled.
Recently, prefastened and refastenable disposable absorbent garments have been proposed to provide the advantages of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional products. Prefastened and refastenable products can be applied and/or removed either like a conventional diaper or like a conventional training pant. For use as training pants, for example, there may be times when it would be useful to apply the product like a diaper. For instance, it might be more convenient to apply the product like a diaper when there is a desire not to remove the child""s shoes. Because it is difficult to know when a particular mode of applying the garment will be needed, it is beneficial to have a garment that is adaptable to being used either as a diaper or as a pant. This is preferable to keeping both types of garments available. A product that can be applied like either a diaper or a pant permits the interior of the product to be easily checked without having to pull the product downward.
Disposable absorbent products present many manufacturing challenges. In part, this is due to the high speed that is necessary to economically produce relatively low cost disposable absorbent products. Further, prefastened and refastenable garments present new challenges for high speed manufacturing. Such products must incorporate refastenable fasteners that are properly aligned and engaged. Improperly attached or aligned fasteners can lead to many product deficiencies, including machine waste and/or delay, improper fit, fastener delamination during use, fastener disengagement during use, skin irritation, or the like.
Thus, what is lacking and needed in the art are improved processes and apparatus for folding and bonding disposable absorbent garments, including prefastened disposable absorbent garments.
In response to the above-referenced unfulfilled need in the art, new processes and apparatus for folding and bonding disposable absorbent garments, including prefastened disposable absorbent garments, have been discovered. One aspect of the invention concerns a process for making a prefastened and refastenable garment. The process comprises transporting a discrete article in a primary direction of movement. The discrete article defines a leading half comprising first fastening components, a trailing half comprising second fastening components releasably engageable with the first fastening components, and an interconnecting region disposed between and interconnecting the leading and trailing halves. The leading half is temporarily diverted from the primary direction of movement while continuing to transport the interconnecting region and the trailing half in the primary direction of movement. Movement of the leading half in the primary direction of movement is reestablished. The method also comprises contacting the leading half with a contoured surface, such that the first fastening components are transversely displaced toward one another. The transversely displaced first fastening components can be moved into contact with the second fastening components.
In another embodiment, the process for making a prefastened and refastenable garment comprises: transporting a discrete article on a primary transport surface in a primary direction of movement; drawing the leading half onto a secondary transport surface traveling in a secondary direction of movement divergent from the primary direction of movement while continuing to transport the interconnecting region and the trailing half in the primary direction of movement; releasing the leading half from the secondary transport surface; contacting the leading half with a contoured surface, wherein the first fastening components are transversely displaced toward one another; and pressing the leading and trailing halves together with the transversely displaced first fastening components releasably engaging the second fastening components.
In another embodiment, a process for making prefastened and refastenable garments comprises: providing main and secondary folding drums in close proximity to one another and defining a tangent point therebetween; rotating the main and secondary folding drums in opposite directions; introducing a plurality of discrete articles onto the main folding drum, each discrete article defining a leading half comprising first fastening components, a trailing half comprising second fastening components releasably engageable with the first fastening components, and an interconnecting region disposed between and interconnecting the leading and trailing halves; drawing the leading half of a discrete article onto the secondary folding drum as the leading half passes the tangent point, and continuing to transport the interconnecting region and the trailing half on the main folding drum; releasing the leading half from the secondary folding drum such that the interconnecting region remains on the main folding drum; contacting the leading half with a contoured surface, wherein the first fastening components are transversely displaced toward one another; and pressing the leading and trailing halves together with the transversely displaced first fastening components releasably engaging the second fastening components.
Through contact with the contoured surface, the distance between the first fastening components can be reduced from an initial distance to a post displacement distance. The post displacement distance can correspond to the distance between the second fastening components. In particular embodiments, side panels of the trailing half can be folded to invert the second fastening components and reduce the distance between the second fastening components to a post inversion distance. The post inversion distance can be substantially equal to the post displacement distance. In the context of the present invention, the distance between the first fastening components and the distance between the second fastening components both refer to the transverse linear distance between the fastening components. xe2x80x9cTransverse linear distancexe2x80x9d is used herein to refer to the distance between two fastening components, measured in a straight line parallel to the transverse axis of the garment without regard to surface contours of the garment. There may or may not be any force exerted in the transverse direction at the time of measurement.
Another aspect of the invention concerns an apparatus for making prefastened and refastenable garments. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a main folding drum rotatively mounted to define a primary direction of movement and a secondary folding drum rotatively mounted in close proximity to the main folding drum. A contoured surface is disposed in close proximity to the main folding drum downstream from the secondary folding drum. The contoured surface has a central section and flanges outward from the central section, and the flanges are positioned closer to the main folding drum than the central section.
The contoured surface can comprise a contoured guide plate. The contoured guide plate can have an upstream edge, an opposite downstream edge, a central section extending between the upstream and downstream edges, and a pair of flanges outward from the central section. To generate transverse displacement of fastening components, the central section and the flanges can have greater vertical separation toward the downstream edge.
In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a main folding drum rotatively mounted to define a primary direction of movement, a secondary folding drum rotatively mounted in close proximity to the main folding drum, and a contoured roll rotatively mounted in close proximity to the main folding drum downstream from the secondary folding drum. The contoured roll and the secondary folding drum both rotate in a direction opposite that of the main folding drum. The contoured roll comprises a central section and flanges axially outward from the central section, and the contoured roll has a larger diameter at the flanges than at the central section.
The flanges of the contoured roll can form a nip with the main folding drum. Furthermore, the contoured roll can comprise a vacuum roll.
The fastening components to form refastenable seams can comprise separate elements bonded to another component of the pant. Alternatively, the fastening components can comprise a portion of another element of the pant, such as the bodyside liner, the outer cover, separate side panels if employed, integral side panels if employed, a belt-type component extending transversely across the chassis if employed, or the like. Thus, unless otherwise specified, the term xe2x80x9cfastening componentxe2x80x9d includes separate components which function as fasteners and regions of materials such as side panels, liners, outer covers or the like which function as fasteners. Moreover, a single material can define multiple fastening components to the extent that different regions of the material function as separate fasteners. The fastening components can be located on the side panels, between the side panels such as on the absorbent chassis, or a combination of the two. The fastening components can have any desired shape, such as square, rectangular, round, curved, oval, irregularly shaped, or the like. Each fastening component can comprise a single fastening element or multiple fastening elements.
The fastening components can comprise any refastenable fasteners suitable for absorbent articles, such as adhesive fasteners, cohesive fasteners, mechanical fasteners, or the like. In particular embodiments the fastening components comprise mechanical fastening elements for improved performance. Suitable mechanical fastening elements can be provided by interlocking geometric shaped materials, such as hooks, loops, bulbs, mushrooms, arrowheads, balls on stems, male and female mating components, buckles, snaps, or the like. In particular embodiments, the fastening components and mating fastening components comprise hook-and-loop fastening elements. One skilled in the art will recognize that the shape, density and polymer composition of the hooks and loops may be selected to obtain the desired level of securement between the fastening components and the mating fastening components. A more aggressive hook material may comprise a material with a greater average hook height, a greater percentage of directionally-aligned hooks, or a more aggressive hook shape.
A refastenable fastening system allows for easy inspection of the interior of the pant-like product. If necessary, the fastening system also allows the pant to be removed quickly and easily. This is particularly beneficial when the pant contains messy excrement. For training pants, the caregiver can completely remove the pant-like product and replace it with a new one without having to remove the child""s shoes and clothing.
The present invention can be used in the manufacture of a wide variety of absorbent and non-absorbent products, including training pants, swim pants, diaper pants, incontinence garments, feminine care products, health care garments, apparel for institutional, industrial and consumer use, or other garments using mechanical or adhesive fasteners. Absorbent articles are adapted to be worn adjacent to the body of a wearer to absorb and contain various exudates discharged from the body. The absorbent articles can be prefastened to provide a pant-like product for the user. The product can then be pulled on like a conventional training pant, and subsequently checked or removed with the ease of a diaper-like product. Moreover, the product may be applied like a diaper rather than like a pant. Supplemental releasable fastening means such as frangible point bonds may be employed to maintain the absorbent article in a pant configuration until the user intentionally disengages the fasteners.
Particular training pants suitable for use with the present invention are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/444,083, filed on Nov. 22, 1999 (corresponding to PCT application WO 00/37009 published Jun. 29, 2000) by A. Fletcher et al. and titled xe2x80x9cAbsorbent Articles With Refastenable Side Seams;xe2x80x9d which is incorporated herein by reference. This reference describes various materials and methods for constructing training pants. Training pants can also be constructed using the methods and apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. 4,940,464 issued Jul. 10,1990 to Van Gompel et al.; and U.S. Pat. 5,766,389 issued Jun. 16, 1998 to Brandon et al.; which are also incorporated herein by reference.
Within the context of this specification, each term or phrase below will include the following meaning or meanings.
xe2x80x9cBondedxe2x80x9d refers to the joining, adhering, connecting, attaching, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be considered to be bonded together when they are bonded directly to one another or indirectly to one another, such as when each is directly bonded to intermediate elements.
xe2x80x9cComprisingxe2x80x9d is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.
xe2x80x9cConnectedxe2x80x9d refers to the joining, adhering, bonding, attaching, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be considered to be connected together when they are connected directly to one another or indirectly to one another, such as when each is directly connected to intermediate elements.
xe2x80x9cDisposablexe2x80x9d refers to articles which are designed to be discarded after a limited use rather than being laundered or otherwise restored for reuse.
xe2x80x9cDisposed,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cdisposed on,xe2x80x9d and variations thereof are intended to mean that one element can be integral with another element, or that one element can be a separate structure bonded to or placed with or placed near another element.
xe2x80x9cElastic,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9celasticizedxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9celasticityxe2x80x9d mean that property of a material or composite by virtue of which it tends to recover its original size and shape after removal of a force causing a deformation.
xe2x80x9cElastomericxe2x80x9d refers to a material or composite which can be elongated by at least 25 percent of its relaxed length and which will recover, upon release of the applied force, at least 10 percent of its elongation. It is generally preferred that the elastomeric material or composite be capable of being elongated by at least 100 percent, more preferably by at least 300 percent, of its relaxed length and recover, upon release of an applied force, at least 50 percent of its elongation.
xe2x80x9cFabricsxe2x80x9d is used to refer to all of the woven, knitted and nonwoven fibrous webs.
xe2x80x9cFlexiblexe2x80x9d refers to materials which are compliant and which will readily conform to the general shape and contours of the wearer""s body.
xe2x80x9cForcexe2x80x9d includes a physical influence exerted by one body on another which produces acceleration of bodies that are free to move and deformation of bodies that are not free to move. Force is expressed in grams per unit area.
xe2x80x9cGraphicxe2x80x9d refers to any design, pattern, or the like that is visible on an absorbent article.
xe2x80x9cHydrophilicxe2x80x9d describes fibers or the surfaces of fibers which are wetted by the aqueous liquids in contact with the fibers. The degree of wetting of the materials can, in turn, be described in terms of the contact angles and the surface tensions of the liquids and materials involved. Equipment and techniques suitable for measuring the wettability of particular fiber materials or blends of fiber materials can be provided by a Cahn SFA-222 Surface Force Analyzer System, or a substantially equivalent system. When measured with this system, fibers having contact angles less than 90xc2x0 are designated xe2x80x9cwettablexe2x80x9d or hydrophilic, while fibers having contact angles greater than 90xc2x0 are designated xe2x80x9cnonwettablexe2x80x9d or hydrophobic.
xe2x80x9cIntegralxe2x80x9d is used to refer to various portions of a single unitary element rather than separate structures bonded to or placed with or placed near one another.
xe2x80x9cInwardxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9coutwardxe2x80x9d refer to positions relative to the center of an absorbent article, and particularly transversely and/or longitudinally closer to or away from the longitudinal and transverse center of the absorbent article.
xe2x80x9cLayerxe2x80x9d when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single element or a plurality of elements.
xe2x80x9cLiquid impermeablexe2x80x9d, when used in describing a layer or multi-layer laminate, means that a liquid, such as urine, will not pass through the layer or laminate, under ordinary use conditions, in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the layer or laminate at the point of liquid contact. Liquid, or urine, may spread or be transported parallel to the plane of the liquid impermeable layer or laminate, but this is not considered to be within the meaning of xe2x80x9cliquid impermeablexe2x80x9d when used herein.
xe2x80x9cLongitudinalxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9ctransversexe2x80x9d have their customary meaning. The longitudinal axis lies in the plane of the article and is generally parallel to a vertical plane that bisects a standing wearer into left and right body halves when the article is worn. The transverse axis lies in the plane of the article generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The article as illustrated is longer in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction.
xe2x80x9cMemberxe2x80x9d when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single element or a plurality of elements.
xe2x80x9cNonwovenxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cnonwoven webxe2x80x9d refer to materials and webs of material which are formed without the aid of a textile weaving or knitting process.
xe2x80x9cOperatively joined,xe2x80x9d with reference to the attachment of an elastic member to another element, means that the elastic member when attached to or connected to the element, or treated with heat or chemicals, by stretching, or the like, gives the element elastic properties; and with reference to the attachment of a non-elastic member to another element, means that the member and element can be attached in any suitable manner that permits or allows them to perform the intended or described function of the joinder. The joining, attaching, connecting or the like can be either directly, such as joining either member directly to an element, or can be indirectly by means of another member disposed between the first member and the first element.
xe2x80x9cOuter cover graphicxe2x80x9d refers to a graphic that is directly visible upon inspection of the exterior surface of a garment, and for a refastenable garment is in reference to inspection of the exterior surface of the garment when the fastening system is engaged as it would be during use.
xe2x80x9cPermanently bondedxe2x80x9d refers to the joining, adhering, connecting, attaching, or the like, of two elements of an absorbent garment such that the elements tend to be and remain bonded during normal use conditions of the absorbent garment.
xe2x80x9cRefastenablexe2x80x9d refers to the property of two elements being capable of releasable attachment, separation, and subsequent releasable reattachment without substantial permanent deformation or rupture.
xe2x80x9cReleasably attached,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9creleasably engagedxe2x80x9d and variations thereof refer to two elements being connected or connectable such that the elements tend to remain connected absent a separation force applied to one or both of the elements, and the elements being capable of separation without substantial permanent deformation or rupture. The required separation force is typically beyond that encountered while wearing the absorbent garment.
xe2x80x9cRupturexe2x80x9d means the breaking or tearing apart of a material; in tensile testing, the term refers to the total separation of a material into two parts either all at once or in stages, or the development of a hole in some materials.
xe2x80x9cStretch bondedxe2x80x9d refers to an elastic member being bonded to another member while the elastic member is extended at least about 25 percent of its relaxed length. Desirably, the term xe2x80x9cstretch bondedxe2x80x9d refers to the situation wherein the elastic member is extended at least about 100 percent, and more desirably at least about 300 percent, of its relaxed length when it is bonded to the other member.
xe2x80x9cStretch bonded laminatexe2x80x9d refers to a composite material having at least two layers in which one layer is a gatherable layer and the other layer is an elastic layer. The layers are joined together when the elastic layer is in an extended condition so that upon relaxing the layers, the gatherable layer is gathered.
xe2x80x9cSurfacexe2x80x9d includes any layer, film, woven, nonwoven, laminate, composite, or the like, whether pervious or impervious to air, gas, and/or liquids.
xe2x80x9cTensionxe2x80x9d includes a uniaxial force tending to cause the extension of a body or the balancing force within that body resisting the extension.
xe2x80x9cThermoplasticxe2x80x9d describes a material that softens when exposed to heat and which substantially returns to a nonsoftened condition when cooled to room temperature.
These terms may be defined with additional language in the remaining portions of the specification.

Refastenable bonding of garment side panels


Aqueous emulsions are disclosed containing organosilicon compounds for the impregnation of inorganic materials, in particular building materials, containing alkoxysilanes and silane surfactants. The emulsions comprise 1-80% by weight of one alkoxy silane, ##STR1## X.dbd.H,cl,Br, I, NH.sub.2, SCN, CN, N.sub.3, NHR, NR, NR.sub.3, --S.sub.x --, aryl or alkenyl. a.dbd.0 or 1 PA1 b.dbd.1 or 2. and, 1-30% of an organosilicon compound ##STR2##

The present application relates to aqueous emulsions containing organosilicon compounds suitable for the impregnation of inorganic materials, and in particular for the impregnation of building materials. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the preparation of the special organosilicon compounds and to the use of the emulsions produced thereby.
Whereas in the past substances used for impregnating brickwork, concrete, etc. frequently contained organic solvents (DE-PS 20 29 446), this is being increasingly avoided in more recent developments. For example, DE-PS 27 51 714 relates to an impregnating agent for porous materials, consisting of an emulsion of alkoxysilanes in water or in water/alcohol mixtures and containing a surfactant as emulsifying agent. These agents, however, frequently have the disadvantage that the addition of surfactant reduces the hydrophobicizing effect of the alkoxysilane. Moreover, these agents have insufficient depth of penetration. The introduction of water-soluble groups into polysiloxanes (so-called "silicone surfactants") according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,551 results in microemulsions which can be diluted to any desired degree. However, these must be applied after 12 to 24 hours.
European Patent Applications EP-A234024 and EP-A-340816 describe silane-containing aqueous emulsions which can be prepared with the addition of certain surfactants. Emulsions according to EP-A-340 816 in addition contain a substance which buffers the pH for the purpose of increasing the stability in storage.

Aqueous emulsions containing organosilicon compounds for the impregnation of inorganic materials


In a surface acoustic wave transducer including a substrate made of a piezoelectric material, an input side IDT structure having positive and negative electrodes arranged in an interdigit manner and floating electrodes arranged between successive positive and negative electrodes, and an output side IDT structure having positive and negative electrodes arranged in an interdigit manner and floating electrodes arranged between successive positive and negative electrodes, the electrodes of the input and output side IDT structures are arranged such that a surface acoustic wave propagates in one direction, distances between corresponding tracks in the input and output side IDT structures are linearly changed and lengths of these tracks are changed in accordance with a predetermined window function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a surface acoustic wave transducer, and more particularly to a surface acoustic wave unidirectional transducer having interdigital electrodes and floating electrode arranged between successive interdigital electrodes.
There has been known a surface acoustic wave transducer comprising a piezoelectric substrate and interdigital electrodes applied on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate. Such a transducer having the interdigital electrodes is called IDT and has been widely used as various kinds of filters for a mobile communication system.
2. Related Art Statement
There have been proposed various IDT electrode arrangements. For instance, Japanese Patent Publication Tokko Hei 3-20929, there is described a known IDT electrode arrangement, in which open-type or short-circuit-type floating electrodes are provided between successive positive and negative electrodes such that the floating electrodes are not brought into contact with the positive and negative electrodes. In such a known IDT electrode arrangement, a direction of a surface acoustic wave reflected by the open-type or short-circuit-type floating electrodes becomes unidirectional.
There have been proposed various kinds of the unidirectional transducers such as a unidirectional transducer using a multistrip coupler, a multi-phase type unidirectional transducer and a single-phase type unidirectional transducer (refer to Japanese book, "Fundaments and Applications of Microwave Circuit", published on Aug. 20, 1990 from Sougou Densi Shuppan, page 280). The known IDT electrode arrangement disclosed in the above mentioned Japanese Patent Publication belongs to the single-phase type unidirectional transducer utilizing the reflection by both the open-type and short-circuit-type floating electrodes.
The reason why the unidirectional transducer using the floating electrodes has a large unidirectional property is as follows. A reflecting coefficient of a metal strip electrode applied on a piezoelectric substrate varies depending upon the thickness, width, etc. of the metal electrode and a phase of a surface acoustic wave reflected by a short-circuit-type floating electrode differs from a phase of the wave reflected by the open-type floating electrode by 180 degrees. When the open-type floating electrode is formed at a position which is deviated from a middle point between adjacent positive and negative exciting electrodes of IDT, there is produced a shift between, an exciting center of the surface acoustic wave and a reflection center, so that the directionality can be attained. When the short-circuit-type floating electrodes are used, the reflection phase is reversed, so that the reversed directionality can be obtained. Therefore, when two floating electrodes are provided, there are obtained large reflection and directionality.
The above explained surface acoustic wave transversal filter has various properties. That is to say, since the propagating velocity of the surface acoustic wave is lower than that of the electromagnetic wave, the device can be small in size and light in weight. Further, the signal tapping on the substrate can be performed easily and the shape of the IDT electrode arrangement corresponds directly to the impulse response.
There have been various known methods of weighting the electrodes corresponding to the impulse response. For instance, a length of portions of adjacent positive and negative electrodes and floating electrodes which are opposed to each other viewed in a direction of the electrode array, i.e., a wave propagating direction is changed such that the length is maximum at a middle of the electrode array and is gradually decreased toward ends of the electrode array so that the exciting intensity is suitably distributed along the direction in which the electrodes extend. Hereinafter, said length of portions of electrodes which are opposed to each other is sometimes called an opposing length of electrodes. This weighting method is usually termed as the apodize method. In an axial direction weighting method, the opposing length of electrode is made constant over the whole electrode array and an intensity of an exciting electric field is changed in the direction of the electrode array such that the electric field becomes maximum at a middle of the electrode array and is gradually decreased toward both ends of the electrode array. A similar function can be attained by deleting some electrodes from the electrode array. This later weighting method is called the electrode withdrawal weighting method.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a known surface acoustic wave transducer. This transducer 1 comprises a substrate made of a piezoelectric material, an input or transmission side IDT electrode structure 2 and an output or reception side IDT electrode structure 3, the input and output side IDT electrode structures 2 and 3 being formed on a surface of the substrate 1. Electrodes of the input side IDT electrode structure 2 are weighted in accordance with the apodize method and electrodes of the output side electrode structure 3 are of normal type.
In the known unidirectional surface acoustic wave transducers including the transducer shown in FIG. 1, a component having a desired frequency could not be derived efficiently and an insertion loss could not be reduced sufficiently.

Surface acoustic wave unidirectional transducer having floating electrodes


A method for the dynamic cleaning of semiconductor fabrication equipment and particularly quartzware with thermally activated nitrogen trifluoride and a source of oxygen at elevated temperatures, typically at the process operation temperature, wherein the cleaning effluent is safely removed and cleaning by-products isolated or diluted to provide for efficient cleaning and rapid restarts of fabrication equipment so cleaned.

The present invention is directed to the field of thermal cleaning with nitrogen trifluoride and an oxygen source etchant mixture. More specifically, the present invention is directed to cleaning various silicon-containing semiconductor substances from wafers and chemical vapor deposition equipment, including reaction vessels and hardware, using a dynamic flow of nitrogen trifluoride and an oxygen source at elevated temperatures with a unique process.
The semiconductor industry has experienced a long-felt need to solve the problem of cleaning chemical vapor deposition furnaces and quartz tubes in the furnaces as well as quartz hardware of various undesired substances such as silicon nitride, polycrystalline silicon, titanium silicide, tungsten silicide and various other silicides, as well as silicon dioxide, which are typically present as undesired films on furnaces and quartz hardware during their deposition on silicon wafers and chips being processed as electronic materials and integrated circuits.
The normal procedure for cleaning is to remove the parts, such as those made of quartz, metals or other materials from a furnace, such as quartz furnace tubes, and perform a wet chemical cleaning. O-ring seals would typically have to be replaced in such an operation, as well as cleaning of lines, doors and other vacuum components. Another alternative is to use another piece of equipment and perform a plasma cleaning. The wet chemical cleaning is very costly and time consuming. When the equipment is shut down to pull the quartz parts, it can require up to 18 hours of time. Also, the system necessitates reverification for its operating integrity before it can be used again. Direct cleaning application requires special chemicals, equipment and sinks to perform this cleaning. Another disadvantage is that the quartzware is attacked at accelerated rates which affects its reproducibility and reliability of operation. This is especially true when cleaning quartz racks or wafer holders. These components have special slots cut in the quarts to hold the parts being coated, and when the wet chemical clean attacks the quartz, it affects the dimensions of these slots. When the slots are affected, the parts being held are not coated uniformly, which requires the quartz be replaced at accelerated scheduling.
The plasma cleaning method requires the use of another piece of equipment especially designed to perform a cleaning of quartz tubes in place within the chemical vapor deposition furnace equipment. First, the plasma cleaning method does not clean the other quartz parts which are used in the chemical vapor deposition furnace system. This means these parts will need to be chemically wet cleaned, separate and apart from plasma cleaning methods. Also, the plasma cleaning equipment takes up space in the manufacturing area, and may prevent other tubes from being used in the system while it is being utilized. If the quartz parts are replaced with another material like silicon carbide, it will make the plasma system application unreliable.
Methods of using nitrogen trifluoride have been attempted but never have been brought to the marketplace. One such method was performed in a static mode that allowed by-products to condense on the cooler walls of the system. This caused a dangerous condition when these by-products were not evacuated before returning the system to the atmosphere. This called for extended purging times and reduced the benefits of this method. It also allowed for possible dangerous gas mixtures to develop in the system's vacuum components that may mix with gases which are normally utilized to deposit films on the wafers. One nitrogen trifluoride cleaning method is discussed in UK Patent Appln. GB2183204 where nitrogen trifluoride is used in a static mode and suggestion for use in a continuous flowing mode is also set forth. This patent application does not address the means or methods for removing cleaning by-products, the treatment of by-products once removed or the use of nitrogen trifluoride with any other gases.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,957 discloses a nitrogen trifluoride cleaning process for semiconductor process reactors and apparatus by controlling the moisture content during the clean operation to be less than 10 parts per million by volume. Inert carrier gases for the nitrogen trifluoride are disclosed such as nitrogen, helium, argon or the like. The concentration of the inert was from 95.5% to 80% of the etchant mixture.
U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 30,505 discloses a process for plasma etching of a solid material with a binary mixture comprising essentially oxygen and a halocarbon wherein at least one carbon atom in said molecule is linked to a predominance of fluorine atoms. At the temperatures recited (25.degree.-300.degree. C.) there is no reaction between the binary gas mixture and the solid material to be etched. Temperatures in excess of 1000.degree. C. are necessary to thermally dissociate halocarbons, making this gas impractical for thermal cleaning of semiconductor process equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,698 describes an etch process for differential etching of silicon nitride from silicon dioxide using the combination of carbon tetrafluoride and a halofluorocarbon. The gas etchant may include oxygen or nitrous oxide. A plasma is necessary to dissociate the halocarbon into species that will react with the solid material. The role of the oxygen source in this patent is to volatilize the carbon products into CO and CO.sub.2. Without oxygen, this process would coat the process equipment with teflonlike material, defeating the usefulness of the process for cleaning.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,681 discloses a method for etching holes in silicon dioxide wherein a dry plasma etch gas of argon, nitrogen trifluoride and oxygen may be used. Polymeric photoresist materials such as polymethyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, methyl isopropyl ketone as well as copolymers thereof with methacrylic acid may be used. This class of photoresist materials was required, versus standard novel AC photoresists, to successfully practice the invention. Plasma is necessary to dissociate the fluorine compound into specie that will etch the substrate. The role of the oxygen is to etch the photoresist and not the substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,410 discloses a dry plasma etch process for etching silicon nitride using nitrogen trifluoride and oxygen. Good results for etching silicon nitride were found with relative percentages of the nitrogen trifluoride to oxygen recited at column 5, line 65 to be 10-20 SCCM of NF.sub.3 in comparison to 20-35 SCCM for oxygen. The gases are also disclosed as capable of etching common resists.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,957 is directed to a method for plasma desmear and etchbac of epoxy and polyimide materials from a multilayered or double sided printed circuit board using a plasma gas composition in the range of 20-45% NF.sub.3, the remainder being O.sub.2.
The prior art has failed to address a commercially successful process for cleaning semiconductor materials or equipment using a gaseous source to produce volatile cleaning by-products which are readily removed from the materials or equipment after cleaning is accomplished. In addition, the prior art has not addressed a viable method for removal of cleaning by-products and collection of such by-products (which typically may be reactive and toxic) for safe, easy disposal when servicing chemical vapor deposition equipment and materials treated in such equipment. The prior art has not addressed a method for using nitrogen trifluoride in combination with other gases so as to permit elevated furnace temperatures with controlled etch rates and with minimum down time for etch cleaning. The prior art has not utilized oxygen to enhance the thermal etch of semiconductor materials with nitrogen trifluoride. The present invention as set forth below overcomes these drawbacks of the prior art.

Nitrogen trifluoride-oxygen thermal cleaning process


The present method describes the absorbing and desorbing of a gaseous reactant on a solid reactant. The solid reactant is an ammonia salt selected from the group consisting of alkali ammonium salts, alkali ammonium earth salts or a combination thereof.

The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatuses for capturing, sequestering, storing, disposing of, or entraining carbon dioxide (CO2), such as is found in the air and the environment, as well as for mitigating carbon dioxide emissions. In some aspects of the invention, the CO2 obtained by the methods and apparatuses is isolated and stored or disposed of to keep it from the air.
A serious environmental problem facing the world today is global climate change, i.e., global warming, which has been linked to the increased production of greenhouse gases, namely, carbon dioxide (CO2). Growing evidence details the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the air, the most important of which is CO2, as having an associated role in causing global climate warming. Since 2001, CO2 accounted for over 82% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Nearly 60% of CO2 is emitted by utility or industrial power systems, which are based on fossil fuel combustion. A continuing increase in the greenhouse gas CO2 in the air highlights the need to develop cost effective, reliable and safe methods of CO2 (or carbon) sequestration.
In order for carbon-rich fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas, to remain viable and environmentally acceptable energy sources throughout the 21st century and beyond, new technologies that employ capture and sequestration, utilization, or recycling of CO2 need to be developed at reasonable costs. The sequestration of CO2 would allow the use of carbon-based fuels to meet the world's increased energy demands far into the future, without further increasing the atmospheric concentration of CO2. Additionally, for fossil fuels to maintain their predominance in the global energy market, the disposal of CO2 and the elimination of CO2 emissions to the air are ultimate goals for curbing the problem of global warming.
The present invention addresses the pervasive problems of the release and presence of excessive amounts of CO2 in the air and provides solutions to these problems in the form of methods and apparatuses absorbing and desorbing CO2. Advantageously, the present method can eliminate the energy penalty that can result from other implementations of mineral sequestration.


A non-metallic electrical box, composed of a hard and durable plastic material, molded and shaped into a housing of two sections, that when installed onto a wall stud, becomes a receptacle for installing an electrical switch, outlet or other electrical device in the first section, and the second section, being that part of the box that attaches to the stud, becomes a cavity or channel by which other unrelated wiring can pass through the box along the center line of the stud in a neat and more efficient and direct manner, as opposed to the currently acceptable practice of looping the wires around the box.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, generally, to molded Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or other Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) approved hard plastic electrical switch or outlet boxes, and more particularly to a box that houses a first section for a standard electrical device and in a juxtaposed position to a second section, that when attached to a wall stud, allows for the passage of other unassociated wiring, through the electric box, and vertically along the centerline of the stud providing a neater and more direct run as opposed to the presently accepted practice of looping the wiring around the box. For simplistic purposes, the drawings and following specifications will show the first section of the dual purpose box as a single outlet, this does not preclude the first section as being two, three or four "gang" compartments.
2. Prior Art
Patents of interest in this field are generally that of electrical device boxes of many configurations, sizes, compositions and attachment means. The U.S. Pat. No. 6,147,304 to Doherty, U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,998 to Lynn and U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,256 to Cottone, all relate to boxes housing both electrical as well as communication components. Other patents, such as that of U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,831, are concerned with cable staying devices within a particular electrical box.
No PATENTED electrical boxes, having a similar embodiment and intended use as that of this invention, were discovered. To those skilled in the art, this invention will be obvious and unique as to it's originality.


There are provided a volatile memory device, and an operating method. The volatile memory device includes: a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns and structured to store data; word lines; bit lines; a row decoder; a column decoder; and a control logic coupled to communicate with the row and column decoders and configured to, in an active period, provide the row decoder with a first command, and provide the column decoder with a second command, wherein the row decoder is further configured to: apply a first word line voltage higher than a ground voltage to a selected word line, from when the first command is provided; and for a duration over which the row decoder is activated, apply either a second word line voltage lower than the first word line voltage to the selected word line or no voltage to the selected word line.

Storage devices refer to electronic components that are configured to store data on a permanent or temporary basis. Each storage device may include one or more storage medium to store data and operate based on a request from a host. The storage device may include a storage medium for storing data and may further include a memory controller for controlling the storage medium to store or retrieve data. The memory device used as a storage medium is classified into a volatile memory device and a nonvolatile memory device.
A volatile memory device may store data only when power is supplied. Thus, such a volatile memory device loses its data in the absence of power. The examples of the volatile memory device include a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) or a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM).
A nonvolatile memory device can retain its data in the absence of power. The nonvolatile memory device may include a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable ROM (EEROM), or a flash memory. The storage devices can store read data provided from the nonvolatile memory device in the volatile memory device. The storage devices can provide the host data temporarily stored in the volatile memory device.

Volatile memory device, storage device, and operating method of decreasing a leakage current


A connection module to be assembled to a power storage element stack including power storage element arrays in each of which power storage elements including electrode terminals of a positive electrode and a negative electrode are arranged. The connection module includes: a plurality of bus bars that electrically connects the electrode terminals between the adjacent power storage elements; a plurality of bus bar housing parts each housing each of the bus bars; a plurality of first hinge linking parts that links the bus bar housing parts and expands and contracts in a direction where the power storage elements are arranged; a plurality of inter-array bus bars that electrically connects the electrode terminals of power storage element arrays; a plurality of inter-array bus bar housing parts each housing each of the inter-array bus bars; and angle adjusting part adjusting an inclination angle of each of the inter-array bus bar housing part.

In a power storage module for a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, a plurality of power storage elements including electrode terminals of a positive electrode and a negative electrode is arranged. In this arrangement, the electrode terminals of the adjacent power storage elements are connected through a bus bar included in a connection module; thus, the plurality of power storage elements is connected in series or in parallel. In general, the distance between the electrodes of the adjacent power storage elements (electrode pitch) varies. In one technology made in view of this variation, the connection module includes pitch adjusting means that expands and contracts the connection module in a direction where the power storage elements are arranged so as to adjust the electrode pitch, that is to say, absorbs the tolerance of the electrode pitch (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-149909).
In the recent power storage modules, however, a plurality of, for example two, power storage element arrays each including a plurality of power storage elements may be provided because of the relation of the output voltage or the like. In this case, due to the pitch adjusting means that absorbs the pitch tolerance or the accumulated tolerance in each power storage element array, for example, displacement occurs between the power storage element arrays in the direction where the power storage elements are arranged. In the occurrence of the displacement between the power storage element arrays, the efficiency of the work of connecting the electrode terminals between the power storage element arrays deteriorates. Therefore, a connection module in which, even if the displacement occurs between the power storage element arrays in the direction where the power storage elements are arranged, the displacement between the power storage element arrays is absorbed has been desired.


An excitation light beam of a wavelength that excites fluorescent labels and a reference light beam having a wavelength longer than the excitation light beam are irradiated through a dielectric block toward an interface between the dielectric block and a metal film, to cause a first electric field enhancing field and a second electric field enhancing field on the upper surface of the metal film, in fluorescence detection that utilizes surface plasmon. The intensity of scattered light of the second electric field enhancing field, which is substantially proportionate to the intensity of the second electric field enhancing field, is employed to normalize and correct the intensity of fluorescence emitted by fluorescent labels with respect to the intensity of the first electric field enhancing field, based on the relationship between the intensities of the first and second electric field enhancing fields.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a fluorescence detecting method and a fluorescence detecting apparatus that utilize surface plasmon. More specifically, the present invention is related to a fluorescence detecting method and a fluorescence detecting apparatus that utilizes a correcting mechanism to correct detected intensities of fluorescence.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, detecting methods that utilize totally reflected illumination are being focused on, in biological measurements for detecting proteins, DNA, and the like. These detection methods detect the presence or the amount of a detection target substance, by analyzing optical interactions such as scattering, absorption, and light emission, between light that leaks out when a measuring light beam is totally reflected at an interface between materials having different refractive indices, that is, evanescent waves, and the detection target substance, which is included in a sample, or labels attached to the detection target substance.
An example of such a detecting method is a fluorescence detecting method that utilizes fluorescent labels (refer to Margarida M. L. M. Vareiro et al., "Surface Plasmon Fluorescence Measurements of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin: Role of Antibody Orientation in Obtaining Enhanced Sensitivity and Limit of Detection", Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 77, No. 8, pp. 2426-2431, 2005.)
With recent advances in the performance of photodetectors, such as cooled CCD's, fluorometry has become indispensable in biological research. In addition, fluorescent pigments having fluorescence quantum yields that exceed 0.2, which is the standard for practical use, such as FITC (fluorescence: 525 nm, fluorescence quantum yield: 0.6) and Cy5 (fluorescence: 680 nm, fluorescence quantum yield: 0.3) have been developed as fluorescent labeling materials and are being widely used. Further, high sensitivity detection on the order of 1 pM and less is being realized, by amplifying fluorescence signals employing electric field enhancing fields due to surface plasmon.
The principles of the aforementioned fluorescence detecting method will be explained with reference to FIG. 7.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram that illustrates a fluorescence detecting apparatus. For the sake of convenience in the explanation, the dimensions of each component are not drawn to actual scale.
The fluorescence detecting apparatus illustrated in FIG. 7 is equipped with: a sensor chip 10 constituted by a dielectric plate 11 and a metal film 12 provided at a predetermined region on one surface of the dielectric plate; an excitation light outputting optical system 20 that outputs an excitation light beam L0 at an incident angle that satisfies conditions for total reflection at the interface between the dielectric plate 11 and the metal film 12 from the side of the sensor chip 10 opposite the surface on which the metal film 12 is formed; and a photodetector 30 that detects fluorescence L0 generated by fluorescent labels F, which are attached to a detection target substance A, in the case that the detection target substance A having the fluorescent labels F attached thereto are present in a sample S in contact with the metal film 12.
In this fluorescence detecting apparatus, the excitation light beam L0 is output from the excitation light outputting optical system 20 and enters the interface between the dielectric plate 11 and the metal film 12 at a specific incident angle greater than or equal to a total reflection angle. Thereby, evanescent waves leak into the sample S on the metal film 12, and surface plasmon within the metal film 12 are excited by the evanescent waves. The evanescent waves and the surface plasmon cause an electric field enhancing field Ew that exhibits an electric field enhancing effect to be formed locally on the surface of the metal film 12.
A case will be considered in which antigens A are detected from within a sample S that includes the antigens A as a detection target substance. The metal film 12 is modified with primary antibodies B1 that specifically bind with the antigens A. The sample S is caused to flow into a sample holding section 13, and then secondary antibodies B2, which are modified with fluorescent labels F and that also specifically bind with the antigens A, are caused to flow into the sample holding section 13. At this time, the fluorescent labels F are immobilized to the metal film 12 via the specific bonds of the primary antibodies B1, the antigens A, and the secondary antibodies B2.
In the case described above, the fluorescent labels F are present within the electric field enhancing field Ew, and the fluorescent labels F are excited and caused to emit fluorescence Lf. Accordingly, the antigens A can be detected by detecting the fluorescence Lf. Note that the presence of the fluorescent labels F is actually directly confirmed by the detection of fluorescence. However, it is considered that the fluorescent labels F would not be immobilized onto the metal film 12 unless the antigens A are present. Therefore, the binding between the secondary antibodies B2 and the antigens A, that is, the presence of the antigens A, is indirectly confirmed by confirming the presence of the fluorescent labels F.
However, in the aforementioned fluorescent detecting method, there are many factors that contribute to fluctuations in the intensity of the electric field enhancing field generated by surface plasmon. Therefore, it is difficult to completely uniformize all of the factors for each measurement. This causes a problem that detected intensities of fluorescence fluctuate, and that reproducibility is poor, even if the amounts of detection target substances within samples are the same. These factors include: margins of error in the shapes and settings of sensor chips; shifting in the incident angle of excitation light beams caused by human error such as margins of errors in sensing and margins of error in setup of the optical system; and shifting in surface plasmon generating conditions due to physical factors such as the refractive indices of samples, the refractive indices of the sensor chips, irregularities on the surfaces of the sensor chips, the thicknesses of the metal films, and the densities of the metal films. In addition, changes in environmental temperatures during measurement may also lead to shifting in the aforementioned conditions, and therefore must be considered as well.
Variations in the aforementioned factors can be suppressed by selecting or exchanging components for optimal components for each measurement. However, extreme amounts of trouble and cost will be incurred if variations in all of the factors are suppressed by selecting or exchanging components.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Flourescence detecting method and fluorescence detecting apparatus


A set of cutlery includes a plurality of superimposable cutlery components, which are adapted to be releasably connected so as to form a transportable unit. In order to facilitate the handling of such cutlery, it is suggested that the cutlery components should be accommodated in a protective housing and that they should be releasably secured to the protective housing by a connection element.

Cutlery of this type is known from DE 25 48 804 A. The known cutlery is implemented as picnic or camping cutlery and comprises a plurality of cutlery components having correspondingly cup-shaped handles with the aid of which they can be stacked one on top of the other. One of the cutlery components has additionally secured thereto a projecting pin, and the other cutlery components can be pushed over said pin with a respective slot-shaped opening. When the cutlery components are pushed on top of one another, the curved handles must be subjected to slightly resilient bending; this will guarantee that the cutlery components hold together in the superimposed condition, at least as long as they are not acted upon by a stronger force. For holding the handles together, a clip is additionally provided, which is adapted to be resiliently pushed over the handles from the side, said clip being preferably implemented as a tin opener. The cutlery additionally comprises a bottle opener, which is, however, implemented and stacked in the same way as the cutlery components so that it cannot be used in the closed position of the cutlery. Furthermore, the cutlery components are exposed during transport and are therefore liable to get dirty, or they must be wrapped in a cloth or accommodated in a soft, specially manufactured cutlery bag, a circumstance which will entail additional expense.
DE 1 701 021 U discloses another set of camping cutlery in the case of which the cutlery components are accommodated in a two-part, rigid receptacle. The receptacle components are, in turn, implemented as vessels, e.g. as a drinking cup or as a flower vase. The cutlery components are neither interconnected nor are they connected to the receptacle so that an unpleasant clattering noise will have to be expected when they are transported.
Furthermore, a large number of suggestions has been made for the structural design of cutlery components, which are adapted to be connected so as to form a transportable unit, cf. e.g. AT 201 258 C, DE 1 767 520 U, DE 84 36 034 U, or DE 295 18 294 U; all these suggestion have, however, the above-mentioned disadvantages.

WMF Wuerttembergische Metallwarenfabrik AG


A medical device for use within a body lumen that is made from a binary nickel-titanium alloy that remains in its austenitic phase throughout its operational range is disclosed. The medical device, such as an intraluminal stent, is made from superelastic nickel-titanium and may optionally be alloyed with a ternary element. By adding the ternary element and/or through heat treatment, it is possible to lower the phase transformation temperature between the austenitic phase and the martensitic phase of the nickel-titanium alloy. By lowering the phase transformation temperature, the martensite deformation temperature is likewise depressed. It is possible then to depress the martensite deformation temperature below body temperature such that when the device is used in a body lumen for medical treatment, the nickel-titanium device remains completely in the austenitic phase without appearance of stress-induced martensite even if the device is placed under stress.

The present invention generally relates to medical devices. In particular, the present invention relates to a medical device for use in a body lumen that includes a binary alloy, such as nickel-titanium, that operates exclusively in the austenitic phase.
In the last two decades, binary nickel-titanium (NiTi), or nitinol, alloys have seen an increase in a variety of uses in medical devices. One benefit of applying nitinol to medical devices is that the alloy has tremendous elasticity and shape memory characteristics. Furthermore, as used in medical devices, this material is highly biocompatible, kink resistant, fatigue resistant, and has many other beneficial engineering attributes. One beneficial engineering attribute of nitinol is superelasticity, also commonly referred to as pseudoelasticity. Superelasticity or pseudoelasticity refers to this material's ability to undergo extremely large elastic deformation.
In one particular application, nitinol has found use in self-expanding stents. Historically, stents were not self-expanding but deployed by a balloon. Balloon expanded stents were and are used in conjunction with balloon angioplasty procedures with the intent to reduce the likelihood of restenosis of a vessel. Stents are also used to support a body lumen, tack-up a flap or dissection in a vessel, or in general where the lumen is weak to add support. Examples of intravascular stents can be found in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,331 (Boneau); U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,568 (Gianturco); U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,516 (Hillstead); U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,877 (Pinchuk); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,154 (Lau et al.).
For balloon expandable stents, the stent is positioned over the balloon portion of the catheter and is expanded from a reduced delivery diameter to an enlarged deployment diameter greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the arterial wall by inflating the balloon. Stents of this type are expanded to an enlarged diameter through deformation of the stent, which then engages the vessel wall. Eventual endothelial growth of the vessel wall covers the stent.
Nitinol then found use in self-expanding stents, where deployment was a result of either shape-memory effect or superelasticity in the material rather than by an inflating balloon. The stent once released from its delivery system assumed a pre-set shape in the body lumen.
Self-expanding stents are used to scaffold the inside circumference of a tubular passage such as an esophagus, bile duct, or blood vessel. Likely the more popular area of application is the cardiovascular system, where a self-expanding stent is used subsequent to balloon angioplasty. Cardiovascular stents currently available in the United States are made of stainless steel, and are expanded against the vessel wall by plastic deformation caused by the inflation of a balloon placed inside the stent. Nitinol stents, by comparison, are self-expanding. Instead of being deformed to the vessel diameter by a balloon catheter, the nitinol stent returns to its non-deformed, equilibrium shape. Examples of stents made of a superelastic nitinol alloy are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,569 (Dotter); and U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,906 (Jervis).
The benefits of using a superelastic nitinol material for self-expanding stents are primarily related to its large recoverable strain. The biocompatability of nickel-titanium is also an attractive benefit for use of this material in stenting applications, because the stent remains in the patient as part of the treatment.
The use of nickel-titanium as a balloon-expandable stent is less common. At present, the PARAGON Stent is a balloon-expandable nickel-titanium stent. The balloon-expandable and scaffolding capabilities of the PARAGON Stent are accomplished by setting the austenite finish temperature (Af) at about 55 degrees C. or well above body temperature. The stent is therefore completely martensitic before, during, and after balloon deployment. A significant disadvantage of such a balloon-expandable nitinol stent in its martensitic phase is that martensite is very soft. Therefore, the scaffolding function and hoop strength of the stent are diminished.
As briefly described above, superelasticity or pseudoelasticity, refers to the highly exaggerated elasticity or spring-back observed in many nickel-titanium alloys deformed above its austenite start temperature (As) and below the martensite deformation temperature (Md). Hence, nickel-titanium alloys can deliver over fifteen times the elastic motion of a spring steel. The martensite deformation temperature (Md) is defined as the temperature above which martensite cannot be stress-induced. Consequently, nickel-titanium remains in its austenitic phase throughout an entire tensile test above Md.
The evolution of superelastic and shape memory alloy stents has progressed to the use of ternary elements in combination with nickel-titanium alloys to obtain specific material properties. Use of a ternary element in a superelastic stent is shown in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,893 (Zadno-Azizi et al.). As a general proposition, there have been attempts at adding a ternary element to nickel-titanium alloys as disclosed in, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,381 (Mitose et al.).
Nitinol alloys contain more nickel than does 316L-grade stainless steel, the most common material used for medical devices. It is recognized that nickel is considered toxic. As nitinol oxidizes, it forms a titanium oxide layer (TiO2), with small islands of pure nickel on the surface, or, depending on the treatment, with no nickel present at the surface. Accordingly, nitinol is highly biocompatible and more so than stainless steel.
Nitinol has found its way into other medical device applications. An example of a guide wire made of superelastic nitinol for performing angioplasty or vascular intervention procedures is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,623 (Zadno-Azizi et al.).
Still other medical device applications for nitinol include filters. Pulmonary embolism is the sudden obstruction of a blood vessel by blood emboli, the emboli typically formed in the veins of the pelvis and lower extremities of a person's body. Because migration of the blood emboli to the pulmonary artery can interrupt the oxygenization process of the lungs, the disease has a high mortality rate. Vena cava filters have been developed as one method for preventing pulmonary embolism. Such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,398 (Pavcnik et al.) Nitinol has been used in fabricating vena cava filters. One discussion of such a use can be found in "A Vena Cava Filter Using Shape Memory Alloy," M. Simon, R. Kaplow, E. Salzman, D. Freiman, Radiology, Vol. 125, pp. 89–94, October 1997. According to the authors, their vena cava filter uses shape memory to deploy into its pre-set, austenitic shape, where the reversion to the pre-set, austenitic shape is triggered by application of heat.
In view of the foregoing, there is still a need for a medical device that operates exclusively in the austenitic range. Such a device is further compatible with balloon catheters. If fabricated into a stent, such a device would have great radial hoop strength. With all of these benefits, the austenitic medical device would also be highly biocompatible, have greater MRI compatibility, and would be more flexible than medical grade stainless steel.


A picket fence including posts, rails and pickets mounted to the rails, the upper rail is mounted removably to the posts and the lower rail is mounted removably and rotatably to the posts.

This invention relates to a new and improved picket fence and more particularly relates to a new and improved picket fence including posts, rails and pickets which, after the posts are mounted vertically by having their bottoms fixed in the ground such as being set in concrete footings, may be simply and quickly assembled using primarily only a person's hands and with minimal use of hand tools. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a new and improved picket fence including a plurality of sections wherein adjacent sections share a common post and which sections may be oriented at an angle, laterally or vertically, with respect to each other.
Numerous picket fences are known to the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,760, patented Feb. 9, 1988, entitled PICKET FENCE ASSEMBLY, William O. Sullivan inventor, discloses an adjustable picket fence assembly constructed in sections including posts, rails and pickets and wherein assembly is accomplished by providing the rails with interior apertured flaps for receiving rods extending through the rails to which crossing pickets are interlocked. U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,925, patented Aug. 28, 1990, entitled FENCE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY, David H. Schultz et al. inventors, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,933, patented Jan. 8, 1991, entitled FENCE CONNECTOR CLIP AND ASSEMBLY, David H. Schultz inventor, disclose a fence and connector assembly which may be mounted on level or uneven terrain and which includes posts and rails and connector clips for attaching the rails to the posts; the latter patent is a continuation-in-part of the earlier patent. U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,176, patented May 8, 1990, entitled FENCE ANGULAR CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY, David E. Heinz inventor, discloses a fence connector assembly provided with a connector bracket defining a vertical cavity for receiving a fence post, vertically oriented laterally extending side members project from each side of the bracket, and a swivel bracket including a pair of spaced legs connected by a convex bearing portion engages the side members so that the legs form a rail receiving pocket therebetween; the bearing portion has a horizontally elongated slot and a lock fastener extends through the slot into threaded engagement with the connector bracket enabling the swivel bracket to be swivelable to selected positions thereby allowing selected orientation of a rail relative to the connector bracket and a post.
There exists a need in the picket fence art for a more simple picket fence which may be readily assembled by a person, preferably substantially manually without the requirement of hand tools, and picket fence is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Picket fence permitting adjacent sections to be oriented angularly


A stretchable display device including a display unit configured to be stretched in at least one direction; a sensing unit configured to sense information on a stretching force applied to the display unit; and a controller configured to stretch the display unit an amount corresponding to the stretching force applied to the display unit, stretch an entire area of the display unit in response to the stretching force being applied to the display unit without an area designation input for designating a partial area of the display unit to be stretched, and stretch the partial area of the display unit in response to the stretching force being applied to the display unit with the area designation input being applied to the display unit.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a display device and an operation method thereof.
Discussion of the Related Art
Deformable display devices such as folded, rolled in a roll type, or stretchable in at least one direction are being researched and developed. Since these displays are deformable in various types, display enlargement and display miniaturization are requested. Furthermore, because the display device is deformable, efficiently displaying information is needed.

Stretchable display device and operating method thereof


Embodiments described herein relate to encasements for protection of central lines, arterial lines, and/or intravenous (IV) lines from contaminants, and methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, an encasement device can include a flexible sleeve that fits over a central line and protects the central line from contaminants. The flexible sleeve has a first open end and a second open end. A first closing element secures the first open end to a medical dressing and a second closing element secures the second open end in a closed position at a location distal to the first closing element. In some embodiments, the central line can include an intravenous (IV) catheter, a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and/or a hemodialysis line. In some embodiments, the device can include a flap coupled to the flexible sleeve.

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are one of the most expensive healthcare associated infections (HAI) despite being highly preventable. CLABSI reduction can lower preventable morbidity and mortality as well as significantly decrease unnecessary healthcare costs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made reducing HAIs a top priority, yet despite healthcare workers' adherence to CDC guidelines for CLABSI prevention, CLABSI rates continue to increase and have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. CLABSI's are commonly caused by microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses including, but not limited to Staphylococci, Enterococci, Staph aureus, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, E. coli, and Candida on medical equipment and/or lines, as well as patient's skin and surrounding surfaces. These microbes can migrate into the bloodstream via catheter sites and cause infections. Solutions are therefore needed that reduce the migration of such microbes near catheter sites.

Anti-microbial IV tubing protection system


The present invention relates to a process for baking a food product utilizing a confectionery mould made from silicone. The confectionery mould is obtained by mixing and reacting a crosslinkable silicone, especially methyl-vinyl siloxane (VMQ), and a peroxide as a cross-linking agent.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,359 discloses a method by cross-linking methyl-vinyl polysiloxane as a heat-curable elastomer with a hydrogen-containing silicone oil in the presence of a Pt catalyst to prepare confectionery moulds and baking receptacles. However, platinum catalysts used in the disclosed methods in the prior art are high in cost, great in hazard, short in retention period so as to be preserved under a refrigeration condition, and only about one month of storage life.
In order to solve the aforesaid problems in the prior art, the inventors have worked on these problems in a deep-going way, and found that the aforesaid problems can be solved by using a peroxide as a cross-linking agent. Therefore, the present invention has been completed based upon this discovery.

Process for making a silicone mold and baking a food product therein


This invention relates to gap/edge bead detection systems. Such structures of this type, generally, employ the use of fiber optic sensor assemblies positioned at the edges of the web and/or between gaps in the sheets in order to detect the absence of material.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to gap/edge bead detection systems. Such structures of this type, generally, employ the use of fiber optic sensor assemblies positioned at the edges of the web and/or between gaps in the sheets in order to detect the absence of material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Extrusion coating is a process where a moving paper web is coated with a molten polymer layer. The polymer layer usually extends beyond the paper web, thereby creating a xe2x80x9cpolymer edge beadxe2x80x9d. It is important that the polymer bead be present to insure that the entire web has been coated. Some polymers are difficult to control at the extrusion extremities of the paper web and/or sheet. These polymers are subject to occasional and unpredictable xe2x80x9cwicking inxe2x80x9d, i.e., the edge of the polymer layer moves inside the edge of the paper web. This xe2x80x9cwicking inxe2x80x9d can be as much as several inches and may continue for just a few seconds or sometimes until corrective action is taken by the operator. Also, the absence of polymer along the entire web is a serious quality defect that can be catastrophic for the customer""s product.
It is known to employ detection systems that use cameras to monitor the web. However, these are very expensive and highly sensitive. Also, these systems often require the web to be shielded from the surroundings.
It is also known to employ photo sensors to inspect a material edge and control process conditions within tolerances required by production. Exemplary of such prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,899 (""899) to Jones et al., entitled xe2x80x9cCoating Apparatusxe2x80x9d. The major focus of the ""899 reference is in controlling a liquid coating process through reservoir design tanks. However, the inspection system of the ""899 reference cannot be employed on both a sheeting machine where it senses the gap between sheets and on an extrusion coating line where it senses the presence or absence of a polymer coating at the edge of a continuous sheet.
Therefore, it is apparent from the above that there exists a need in the art for a highly accurate and economically reliable gap and edge bead detection for a variety of extruded coatings. The detection system should function without regard to material characteristics such as color, temperature, thickness or chemical make-up. The chemical system should also be unaffected by the physical surroundings. It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill this and other needs in the art in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.
Generally speaking, this invention fulfills. these needs by providing an edge bead detection system, comprising a frame means, a length of material having a coating located over a portion of the length of material, a slidable mounting means operatively connected to the frame means, an edge bead detection means operatively connected to the mounting means and located a predetermined distance away from the length of material, and a retaining means operatively connected to the mounting means.
In another further preferred embodiment, the detection system is capable of sensing the gap between sheets and the presence or absence of polymer coating along the edge of a continuous sheet without regard to material characteristics such a color, temperature, thickness or chemical make-up. Also, the detection system is unaffected by the physical surroundings.
The preferred system, according to this invention, offers the following advantages: lightness in weight; ease of assembly and repair; good stability; good durability; excellent economy; excellent detection characteristics; excellent sensing characteristics; mobility of location and relocation; physical protection; and ability to realign. In fact, in many of the preferred embodiments, these factors of detection, sensing, mobility of location and relocation, physical protection, and ability to realign are optimized to the extent that is considerably higher than heretofore achieved in prior, known detection systems.


A building entrance protector unit includes plurality of electrical connectors providing electrical connections between wire pairs leading from telephone stations of subscribers in the building and wire pairs from the local telephone networks serving the unit, these connections being interruptible by the subscribers for the purpose of plugging in their telephone sets to the network to test these sets. The connections are tamperproofed by a hasp mechanism providing hasp leaves respective to these connectors and each lockable in a first position impeding access to the corresponding connection by attachment of a padlock to a hasp staple projecting through that leaf. That locking may be overridden by a telephone network technician by a releasing from a held position of a common mounting for all the hasp staples. The staples are hook shaped so that, upon such releasing, a closed padlock can be removed from any staple by closing relative movement between the mounting for the staple and the leaf through which such staple projects. The hasp leaves are plastic and at their held ends have partly open resiliently expandable sockets adapted to fit over and be removed from a hinge pin by snap fitting action.

Apartment houses now have or are having installed therein items of telecommunications equipment which are known as building entrance protectors ("BEP's"), and which among other functions, serve to safeguard telephone sets in the building from voltage surges produced by lightning or other causes. These BEP's contain connectors which provide interfaces between the telephone networks and individual subscribers in the sense that through those connectors are made interruptible electrical connections between tip and ring wire pairs from the network and tip and ring wire pairs from the telephone stations of those subscribers.
Such connectors in a BEP are, however, capable of being misused by unscrupulous persons if left unguarded. For example, with such connectors being freely accessible to all tenants in the apartment house, a first telephone subscriber in the building may well be able to meddle with the connectors so as to connect the wire pair from his station to the wire pair from the network assigned to a second subscriber and, thereby, have telephone calls made by the first subscriber charged to the second subscriber.
Accordingly, it is necessary to secure the connectors against unauthorized access. This has been done in the past by providing for each of the connectors in the BEP assigned to a particular subscriber, a separate hasp device which that subscriber locks by a padlock in a position restricting access by others to the connector or which, alternatively, the subscriber can unlock, by removal of the padlock, in case the subscriber has need to get at the connector. That past arrangement for avoiding tampering with a particular electrical connector has, however, the disadvantages among others that, if it is necessary for a telephone company repair man to have access to a connector secured by a hasp device locked by a subscriber, the repairman cannot by himself override the access blocking effect of the hasp device and, moreover, if the subscriber vacates his apartment without removing his padlock from the connector assigned to him, there is no way for the repair man to unlock the hasp device except by sawing off the padlock thereon.


A data join system of the present invention includes a table determination unit 11 selecting a record b as a join target if a value of a key item included in a record a acquired by a data write unit from a table A falls within a first predetermined range set based on a value of a key item included in the record b stored in a table B, a data join unit joining the selected record b with the record a to generate a record c, and a data write unit storing the record c into a table C. Thus, the success rate of data join can be improved while the accuracy of join of the record b and the record a to be joined is improved.

In general, in the process of joining a plurality of data with each other, attention is given to a predetermined item included in each data, and when the values of the item agree, the process of joining those data is performed. For example, a data processing apparatus is known in which content data included in a first table is joined with record data included in a second table if the respective attribute values and item values included in these data agree (for example, see Patent Literature 1).

Data combination system and data combination method


A trigger switch for use in coin operated devices and particularly in telephone paystations consisting of a plurality of parallel channels each including one or more openings through which a light beam passes. Deposit of coins in the appropriate channels blocks one or more light beams passing through the openings causing detection of the light blockage by associated light detectors to operate to give an indication of the quantity and value of coins deposited through the coin channels. A common trigger mechanism is also included and operates in response to deposit of any coins through the trigger switch, to provide operation of an associated coin relay.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to coin operated devices, and more particularly to a coin operated trigger switch for use in prepay type telephone paystations.
2. Background Art
The present invention is suitable for use in prepay type telephone paystations similar to those in current use and particularly for use in such telephone paystations as the type 120B and 2200 telephones currently manufactured by Palco Telecom Inc. In such units, in response to the deposit of coins of the appropriate amount, a signal is transmitted to the telephone central office to indicate the users desire to place a telephone call from the associated telephone paystation. The signal is also utilized for establishing an energizing circuit for an associated coin relay. After the telephone central office senses the request for placement of the call, battery from the central office may be applied to the line to energize the relay whose armature serves to release coins that have been trapped in an associated coin trap after passing past the trigger. At the telephone central office, application of voltage of one polarity will cause the coins to be collected or application of an opposite polarity will cause the coins to be returned via a refund chute if such refund is appropriate. Operation of the relay also serves to restore the coin trigger circuitry to normal.
Many different types of coin trigger devices have been employed for use in telephone paystations or in other coin collecting machines. Such triggers find their usage between a coin acceptor/rejector, which determines whether the coins are valid or not, and the associated coin hopper/relay. Such coin trigger devices employ various methods of identifying and counting coins. The device of the present invention is intended to replace the traditional coin chutes as utilized in pay telephones although it may be modified for use in other applications.
Prior art coin chutes included coin operated trigger cams and spring contact in an assembly consisting of three channels. The three channels being associated with the deposit of nickels, dimes and quarters. In the prior art devices, the trigger cam in each channel of the prior art trigger arrangements operated a spring contact assembly for each coin deposited. The trigger cam also operated a switch mounted on the coin hopper relay assembly.

Electronic trigger for prepay type telephone paystations