Lithium ion conductive glass-ceramics comprise in mol %:

This invention relates to a lithium ion conductive glass-ceramics suitable for use as wholly solid electric cells, gas sensors and electrochemical devices of various types, and electric cells and gas sensors using such glass-ceramics.
Recent development in electronics has brought about high-performance electronic devices of a compact and light-weight design and, as a power source of such electronic devices, development of an electric cell of a high energy density and a long life is strongly desired for.
Lithium has the highest oxidation-reduction potential of Li/Li+ of all metal elements and has the smallest mass per 1 mol and, therefore, a lithium cell can provide a higher energy density than other types of cells. Moreover, if a lithium ion conductive solid electrolyte is used, this electrolyte can be made very thin and, therefore, a cell of a thin film can be formed and increase in energy density per unit volume can thereby be realized.
A lithium ion cell which has been realized to date uses an organic electrolyte solution as its electrolyte and this makes it difficult to achieve a cell of a compact design such as a thin film design. This lithium ion cell has additional disadvantages that it has likelihood of leakage of electrolyte solution and likelihood of spontaneous combustion. If this lithium ion cell is replaced by a cell employing an inorganic solid electrolyte, a wholly solid cell of a high reliability will be realized.
Carbon dioxide gas produced by combustion of fossil fuel is a main cause of a hothouse effect which has recently become a serious problem and it has become necessary to incessantly watch the concentration of carbon dioxide gas. Therefore, establishment of a system for detecting carbon dioxide gas is a matter of increasing importance for the maintenance of a comfortable life in the future human society.
Carbon dioxide gas detection systems which are currently in use are generally of a type utilizing absorption of infrared ray. These systems, however, are large and costly and besides are susceptible to contamination. For these reasons, studies have recently been actively made to develop a compact carbon dioxide gas sensor using a solid electrolyte. Particularly, many reports have been made about studies using a lithium ion solid electrolyte.
For realizing such gas sensor using solid electrolyte, development of a solid electrolyte which is highly conductive, chemically stable and sufficiently heat proof is indispensable.
Among known electrolytes, Li3N single crystal (Applied Physics Letters, 30(1977) P621-22), LiIxe2x80x94Li2Sxe2x80x94P2S5 (Solid State Ionics, 5(1981) P663), LiIxe2x80x94Li2Sxe2x80x94SiS4 (J. Solid State Chem. 69(1987) P252) and LiIxe2x80x94Li2Sxe2x80x94B2S3 (Mat. Res. Bull., 18(1983) 189) glasses have high conductivity of 10xe2x88x923S/cm or over at room temperature. These materials, however, have the disadvantage that preparation of these materials is difficult and these materials are not chemically stable and not sufficiently heat proof. Particularly, these materials have the fatal disadvantage that decomposition voltage of these materials is so low that, when they are used for an electrolyte of a solid cell, a sufficiently high terminal voltage cannot be obtained.
An oxide lithium solid electrolyte does not have the above described disadvantages and has a decomposition voltage which is higher than 3V and, therefore, it has possibility of usage as a wholly solid lithium cell if it exhibits a high conductivity at room temperature. It is known in the art that conductivity in an oxide glass can be increased by increasing lithium ion concentration. However, there is limitation in increasing the lithium ion concentration even if rapid quenching is employed for glass formation and conductivity of this glass at room temperature is below 10xe2x88x926S/cm at the highest.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. Hei 8-239218 discloses a gas sensor using a thin film of a lithium ion conductive glass. The conductivity of this lithium ion conductive glass thin film is within a range from 1.7xc3x9710xe2x88x927 S/cm to 6.1xc3x9710xe2x88x927 S/cm. This is not a sufficiently high value and a solid electrolyte having a higher conductivity is desired for.
There are many reports about oxide ceramics (sintered products) having a high conductivity. For example, Li4GeO4xe2x80x94Li3VO4 exhibits conductivity of 4xc3x9710xe2x88x925 S/cm at room temperature (Mat. Res. Bull. 15(1980) P1661), and Li1+XAlXGe2xe2x88x92X(PO4)3 exhibits conductivity of 1.3xc3x9710xe2x88x924 S/cm at room temperature (Proceedings of 8th International Meeting on Lithium Batteries, Jun. 6-21, 1996, Nagoya, Japan P316-317). Oxide ceramics are superior in conductivity to oxide glasses but have the disadvantages that they require a complicated and troublesome process for manufacturing and that they are difficult to form, particularly to a thin film.
In short, the prior art lithium ion solid electrolytes have the problems that they are either low in conductivity, hard to handle or hard to form to a compact design such as a thin film.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide glass-ceramics which have solved these problems and exhibit a high lithium ion conductivity at room temperature.
It is another object of the invention to provide a lithium electric cell and a gas sensor of a high performance by utilizing such glass-ceramics.
As described above, ceramics exhibit conductivity of 10xe2x88x924S/cm or over at room temperature. These ceramics, however, have pores and a large grain boundary which cannot be eliminated completely and existence of these pores and grain boundary results in decrease in conductivity. If, therefore, glass-ceramics including the above crystal are provided, there will be no pores and the grain boundary will be improved and, as a result, a solid electrolyte having a higher conductivity is expected to be produced. Besides, glass-ceramics which share a feature of glass can be easily formed into various shapes including a thin film by utilizing this feature of glass. For these reasons, glass-ceramics are considered to have practical advantages over ceramics made by sintering.
As a result of studies and experiments made by the inventor of the present invention on the basis of the above described basic concept, the inventor has succeeded in obtaining glass-ceramics having a high lithium ion conductivity at room temperature by producing glasses including ingredients of P2O5, SiO2, GeO2, TiO2, ZrO2, M2O3 (where M is en element or elements selected from the group consisting of In, Fe, Cr, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu), Al2O3, Ga2O3 and Li2O and causing a crystal phase of conductive crystal Li1+X(M, Al, Ga)X(Ge1xe2x88x92XTiY)2xe2x88x92X(PO4)3 (where 0 less than Xxe2x89xa60.8 and 0xe2x89xa6Yxe2x89xa61.0) to precipitate from the glasses by heat treating these glasses. The inventor has also found that a lithium electric cell and a gas sensor using the glass-ceramics exhibit excellent characteristics.
For achieving the above described objects of the invention, there are provided lithium ion conductive glass-ceramics comprising, in mol %:
where M is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of In, Fe, Cr, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu
and containing Li1+X(M, Al, Ga)X(Ge1xe2x88x92YTiY)2xe2x88x92X(PO4)3 (where 0 less than Xxe2x89xa60.8 and 0xe2x89xa6Yxe2x89xa61.0) as a predominant crystal phase.
In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a solid electrolyte for a lithium electric cell using these lithium ion conductive glass-ceramics.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a solid electrolyte for a gas sensor using these lithium ion conductive glass-ceramics.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a lithium electric cell comprising a case, a negative electrode, a positive electrode ad a solid electrolyte, said negative electrode, positive electrode and solid electrolyte being disposed in the case in such a manner that the negative electrode opposes the positive electrode through the solid electrolyte wherein said solid electrolyte is made of lithium ion conductive glass-ceramics comprising in mol %:
where M is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of In, Fe, Cr, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu
and containing Li1+X(M, Al, Ga)X(Ge1xe2x88x92YTiY)2xe2x88x92X(PO4)3 (where 0 less than Xxe2x89xa60.8 and 0xe2x89xa6Yxe2x89xa61.0) as a predominant crystal phase.
In still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a gas sensor comprising a case, a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a solid electrolyte and a layer for which an electromotive force corresponding to the concentration of the gas is produced between the two electrodes, a lead connected to the negative electrode and a lead connected to the positive electrode, said negative electrode, positive electrode and solid electrolyte being disposed in the case in such a manner that the negative electrode opposes the positive electrode through the solid electrolyte wherein said solid electrolyte is made of lithium ion conductive glass-ceramics comprising in mol %:
where M is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of In, Fe, Cr, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu
and containing Li1+X(M, Al, Ga)X(Ge1xe2x88x92YTiY)2xe2x88x92X(PO4)3 (where 0 less than Xxe2x89xa60.8 and 0xe2x89xa6Yxe2x89xa61.0) as a predominant crystal phase.
In the description to follow, the compositions of the glass-ceramics made according to the invention are expressed on the basis of compositions of oxides as in the base glasses. Reasons for selecting the above described content ranges of the respective ingredients and a method for manufacturing the glass-ceramics will now be described.
By melting and cooling the base glass having the above described composition and heat treating the glass to cause the crystal phase of Li1+X(M, Al, Ga)X(Ge1xe2x88x92YTiY)2xe2x88x92X(PO4)3 (where 0 less than Xxe2x89xa60.8 and 0xe2x89xa6Yxe2x89xa61.0) to precipitate, dense glass-ceramics exhibiting a high lithium ion conductivity at room temperature which was never attained in the prior art ceramics were obtained. It has been found that the same crystal phase can be precipitated also in a composition range outside of the above described composition ranges but the ratio of this crystal is so low that lithium ion conductivity of such glass-ceramic is not sufficiently high for a practical use.
Among the ingredients described above, the effect of M2O3 (where M is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of In, Fe, Cr, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) is particularly important. A three-part system of P2O5xe2x80x94GeO2xe2x80x94Li2O which does not contain the M203 ingredient can be glassified but melting property and thermal stability of the glass are poor and conductivity of glass-ceramic obtained by heat treating this glass is a low one of 10xe2x88x928 S/cm or below.
By adding the M2O3 ingredient, the melting property and thermal stability of the glass are significantly improved. Difference between Tx (crystallization temperature of glass) and Tg (transition temperature of glass) is generally used for estimating thermal stability of the glass and the glass becomes more stabilized thermally as this difference becomes larger. As will be shown in Examples of the present invention, a result was obtained in which Txxe2x88x92Tg increased from 54xc2x0 C. to 110xc2x0 C. by the addition of M2O3.
It has also been found, surprisingly, that conductivity of the glass-ceramics after heat treatment increases by one figure or over by the addition of M2O3. For obtaining an excellent conductivity, the amount of M2O3 should be 10% or less. If the amount of this ingredient exceeds 10%, melting property and thermal stability of the mother glass are reduced rather than increased and conductivity of the glass-ceramics after heat treatment is also reduced. A preferable range of the M2O3 ingredient is 0.1-8% and, a more preferable range thereof is 0.5-6%.
The P2O5 ingredient is an essential ingredient for forming glass and it is also an ingredient which forms the conductive crystal phase of the glass-ceramics. If the amount of this ingredient is below 30%, difficulty arises in vitrifying whereas if the amount of this ingredient exceeds 45%, the conductive crystal phase does not grow from the glass and desired characteristics cannot be achieved.
GeO2 and/or TiO2 contributes to forming of glass and is also an ingredient which forms the conductive crystal phase. In both the glass and glass-ceramics, the two ingredients can be substituted by each other at any ratio within a continuous range. For glassifying, either of these ingredients must be added and, for enabling the conductive crystal phase to grow as a predominant crystal phase from the glass and thereby achieving a high conductivity, the total amount of GeO2 and TiO2 must be within a range from 25% to 50%. A preferable range is 0-45% for GeO2 and TiO2 respectively and 25-45% for GeO2+TiO2. A more preferable range is 0-40% for GeO2 and TiO2 respectively and 28-40% for GeO2+TiO2.
The Li2O ingredient is an essential ingredient for providing Li+ ion carrier and thereby realizing the lithium ion conductivity. An excellent conductivity can be provided by addition of this ingredient in the range from 10% to 25%.
ZrO2 is effective in enhancing precipitation of the above described crystal phase. If the amount of this ingredient exceeds 8%, melting property and thermal stability of the base glass are significantly deteriorated and making of the glass thereby becomes difficult. The upper limit of this ingredient therefore is 8%. A preferable range is 6% or below and a more preferable range thereof is 5% or below.
SiO2 is effective in increasing melting property and thermal stability of the base glass and forming solid solution of Si4+ ion in the crystal phase and thereby improving the lithium ion conductivity. If, however, the amount of this ingredient exceeds 15%, conductivity is deteriorated rather than improved. The upper limit of this ingredient therefore is 15%. A preferable range of this ingredient is 13% or below and a more preferable range thereof is 10% or below.
Al2O3 and/or Ga2O3 are effective in improving melting property and thermal stability of the base glass and forming solid solution of Al3+ and/or Ga3+ion in the crystal phase and thereby improving the lithium ion conductivity. If, however, the amount of each of these ingredients exceeds 12%, thermal stability of the glass is deteriorated rather than improved and conductivity of the glass-ceramics is also reduced. The upper limit of each of these ingredients therefore is 12%. A preferable range of each of these ingredients is 11% or below and a more preferable range thereof is 10% or below.
For improving melting property of the glass, B2O3, As2O3, Sb2O3, Ta2O5, CdO, PbO, MgO, CaO, SrO, BaO and ZnO may be optionally added. Each of these ingredients should be added in an amount not exceeding 5%. If the amount exceeds 5%, conductivity decreases with the amount of addition of these ingredients.
A method for manufacturing the lithium ion conductive glass-ceramics of the present invention will now be described.
Starting materials are weighed at a predetermined ratio and mixed uniformly and the mixed materials are put in a platinum crucible and heated and melted in an electric furnace. First, gas components coming from the raw materials are evaporated at 700xc2x0 C. and then the temperature is raised to 1300xc2x0 C. to 1450xc2x0 C. and the materials are melted at this temperature for about one to two hours. Then, the melt is cast onto a stainless steel plate to form sheet glass. The resultant glass is subjected to heat treatment within a temperature range from 600xc2x0 C. to 1000xc2x0 C. for one to twenty four hours and lithium ion conductive glass-ceramics containing Li1+X(M, Al, Ga)X(Ge1xe2x88x92YTiY)2xe2x88x92X(PO4)3 (where M is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of In, Fe, Cr, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) as a predominant crystal phase and exhibiting a high lithium ion conductivity is thereby provided.
The glass-ceramics of the present invention can be manufactured also by the following method.
Starting materials are weighed at a predetermined ratio and mixed uniformly and the mixed materials are put in a platinum crucible and heated and melted in an electric furnace. First, gas components coming from the raw materials are evaporated at 700xc2x0 C. and then the temperature is raised to 1300xc2x0 C. to 1450xc2x0 C. and the materials are melted at this temperature for about one to two hours. Then, the melt is cooled in water to produce glass. The resultant glass is crushed with a ball mill and passed through a sieve of 150 mesh to provide glass powder. The glass powder is press-formed and put in an electric furnace to be heated at 600xc2x0 C. to 1200xc2x0 C. for one to twenty four hours. Thus, glass-ceramics containing the above described crystal phase as a predominant crystal phase and having a high lithium ion conductivity are provided.

Lithium ion conductive glass-ceramics and electric cells and gas sensors using the same

Abstract: where M is an element or elements selected from the group consisting of In, Fe, Cr, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu

Abstract: and contain Li1+X(M, Al, Ga)X(Ge1xe2x88x92YTiY)2xe2x88x92X(PO4)3 (where 0 less than Xxe2x89xa60.8 and 0xe2x89xa6Yxe2x89xa61.0) as a predominant crystal phase. A solid electrolyte, an electric cell and a gas sensor utilizing these glass-ceramics are also provided.


The invention provides compositions and methods for treating incontinence associated with sexual activity.

Incontinence associated with sexual activity encompasses several forms, including orgasm-associated incontinence and climacturia, and can involve incontinence at different points along the sexual spectrum, for example, at penetration, during intercourse, or at climax. The condition can be associated with disorders including overactive bladder (OAB) and neurogenic detrussor overactivity (NDO), and has received increasing attention in the medical literature. Additionally, it can significantly impact sexual satisfaction among both sufferers (both men and women) and their partners. Some male sufferers develop incontinence associated with sexual activity following prostate surgery such as radical prostatectomy (RP; removal of the prostate) or brachytherapy.
Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in males in the United States, accounting for approximately 33% of new cancer cases, and is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Several surgery-related complications are associated with RP, including urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. The nature and degree of sexual dysfunction can vary widely following RP, including erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, orgasm alterations (anorgasmia, decreased orgasmic intensity, dysorgasmia and orgasm-associated incontinence) and decreased sexual satisfaction. Abouassaly and coworkers (Abouassaly R, Lane B. Lakin M, Klein E, Gill I. Ejaculatory incontinence after radical prostatectomy: a review of 26 cases. Program and abstracts of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America Fall Meeting; Nov. 17-20, 2005; New York, N.Y. Abstract 1) reported their findings with men who had climacturia after having undergone radical prostatectomy. Of an estimated 220 patients evaluated, 26 men experienced urine leak almost exclusively at the time of orgasm. The average age of the patients was 62 years. Patients experienced anywhere from 3 to 120 mL of urine leak (by patient self-report) at the time of orgasm. The authors felt that the occurrence of ejaculatory incontinence is high enough to be considered as part of the routine post-prostatectomy evaluation. In a 2006 study of 42 men, two years following RP, 68% reported experiencing climacteria. Forty-eight percent felt that it was a significant bother to them. In a 2007 study of 475 patients, 20% reported incontinence associated with sexual activity following radical pelvic surgery. Men were more likely to experience it in the first twelve months following surgery than later. Common methods of dealing with incontinence associated with sexual activity include emptying the bladder before sex and wearing a condom during sex. Thus, improved treatment methods are sought.
Men can also display a form of stress incontinence after RP wherein incontinence can occur during intercourse and continue through climax.
In women, incontinence associated with sexual activity may be associated with detrusor overactivity linked to overactive bladder (OAB), or to neurogenic detrussor overactivity (NDO)-one study has found that orgasm can produce an uninhibited detrusor contraction. It has also been associated with female ejaculation in the absence of OAB (Cartwright, 2007) or other urodynamic abnormality. Additionally, some researchers speculate that incontinence associated with sexual activity can be linked with stress or sphincter incontinence. This incontinence can, as in the case with males, occur at any point from before penetration to after climax.
Coital Incontinence (CI) is urinary leakage that occurs during either penetration or orgasm and can occur with a sexual partner or with masturbation. It has been reported to occur in 10% to 24% of sexually active women with pelvic floor disorders, yet CI may still be an underreported problem since sexual or urinary dysfunction may not be often or readily discussed due to patient or physician embarrassment. Unfortunately, CI can have a disturbing impact on Quality of Life (QoL) and sexuality. Women rarely refer to it spontaneously, with only 3% of women self-reporting sexual disorders including CI; even with direct questioning, only 20% will admit to it. The impact on QoL from CI is significant. Sexually active women with CI reported a worse QoL than those without it.
Coital incontinence is divided into 2 subtypes based on when urinary leakage occurs: incontinence with penetration and incontinence with orgasm. Each has different pathophysiologic causes. In the original series of 79 patients with CI, two-thirds experienced CI with penetration, while one-third did so with orgasm. After uro-dynamic testing, CI with penetration was strongly correlated to stress urinary incontinence, while CI from orgasm was strongly correlated with detrusor overactivity. A larger, more recent series of 132 women confirms the findings that the majority of women, 63%, experience CI from penetration, while 37% do so from orgasm.
Botulinum toxin type A is the most lethal natural biological agent known to man. About 50 picograms of botulinum toxin type A (available from Allergan, Inc., of Irvine, Calif under the tradename BOTOX®) is an LD50 in mice. One unit (U) of botulinum toxin is defined as the LD50 upon intraperitoneal injection into female Swiss Webster mice weighing 18-20 grams each. Seven immunologically distinct botulinum neurotoxins have been characterized, these being respectively botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A, B, C1, D, E, F and G, each of which is distinguished by neutralization with type-specific antibodies. The different serotypes of botulinum toxin vary in the animal species that they affect and in the severity and duration of the paralysis they evoke. The botulinum toxins apparently bind with high affinity to cholinergic motor neurons, are translocated into the neuron and block the release of acetylcholine.
Botulinum toxins have been used in clinical settings for the treatment of neuromuscular disorders characterized by hyperactive skeletal muscles. Botulinum toxin type A has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of blepharospasm, strabismus, hemifacial spasm, cervical dystonia, and migraine headaches. Botulinum toxin type B has also been approved by the FDA for the treatment of cervical dystonia. Clinical effects of peripheral intramuscular botulinum toxin type A are usually seen within one week of injection. The typical duration of symptomatic relief from a single intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin type A averages about three months.
It has been reported that botulinum toxin type A has been used in clinical settings as follows:                about 75-125 U (U) of BOTOX® per intramuscular injection (multiple muscles) to treat cervical dystonia;        5-10 U of BOTOX® per intramuscular injection to treat glabellar lines (brow furrows) (5 U injected intramuscularly into the procerus muscle and 10 U injected intramuscularly into each corrugator supercilii muscle);        about 30-80 U of BOTOX® to treat constipation by intrasphincter injection of the puborectalis muscle;        about 1-5 U per muscle of intramuscularly injected BOTOX® to treat blepharospasm by injecting the lateral pre-tarsal orbicularis oculi muscle of the upper lid and the lateral pre-tarsal orbicularis oculi of the lower lid.        to treat strabismus, extraocular muscles have been injected intramuscularly with between about 1-5 U of BOTOX®, the amount injected varying based upon both the size of the muscle to be injected and the extent of muscle paralysis desired (i.e. the amount of diopter correction desired).        to treat upper limb spasticity following stroke by intramuscular injections of BOTOX® into five different upper limb flexor muscles, as follows:                    (a) flexor digitorum profundus: 7.5 U to 30 U            (b) flexor digitorum sublimus: 7.5 U to 30 U            (c) flexor carpi ulnaris: 10 U to 40 U            (d) flexor carpi radialis: 15 U to 60 U            (e) biceps brachii: 50 U to 200 U.
Each of the five indicated muscles has been injected at the same treatment session, so that the patient receives from 90 U to 360 U of upper limb flexor muscle BOTOX® by intramuscular injection at each treatment session.
To treat migraine, pericranial (symmetrically into glabellar, frontalis and temporalis muscles) injection of BOTOX® has showed significant benefit as a prophylactic treatment compared to vehicle as measured by decreased measures of migraine frequency, maximal severity, associated vomiting and acute medication use over the three month period following the 25 U injection.
Additionally, intramuscular botulinum toxin has been used in the treatment of tremor in patients with Parkinson's disease, although it has been reported that results have not been impressive. Marjama-Jyons, J., et al., Tremor-Predominant Parkinson's Disease, Drugs & Aging 16(4); 273-278:2000.
In addition to having pharmacologic actions at the peripheral location, botulinum toxins may also have inhibitory effects in the central nervous system. Work by Weigand et al., Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 1976; 292, 161-165, and Habermann, Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 1974; 281, 47-56 showed that botulinum toxin is able to ascend to the spinal area by retrograde transport.
A Botulinum toxin has also been proposed for the treatment of rhinorrhea, hyperhydrosis and other disorders mediated by the autonomic nervous system (U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,605), tension headache, (U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,365), migraine headache (U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,468), post-operative pain and visceral pain (U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,986), pain treatment by intraspinal toxin administration (U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,915), Parkinson's disease and other diseases with a motor disorder component, by intracranial toxin administration (U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,403), hair growth and hair retention (U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,893), psoriasis and dermatitis (U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,484), injured muscles (U.S. Pat. No. 6,423,319, various cancers (U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,845), pancreatic disorders (U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,306), smooth muscle disorders (U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,291, including injection of a botulinum toxin into the upper and lower esophageal, pyloric and anal sphincters)), prostate disorders (U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,164), inflammation, arthritis and gout (U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,768), juvenile cerebral palsy (U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,277), inner ear disorders (U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,379), thyroid disorders (U.S. Pat. No. 6,358,513), parathyroid disorders (U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,977). Additionally, controlled release toxin implants are known (see e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,306,423 and 6,312,708).
Adrenergic nerves release norepinephrine as the neurotransmitter for the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic system activates and prepares the body for vigorous muscular activity, stress, and emergencies. Adrenergic drugs stimulate the adrenergic nerves directly by mimicking the action of norepinephrine or indirectly by stimulating the release of norepinephrine. An adrenergic agent is a drug, or other substance, which has effects similar to, or the same as, epinephrine (adrenaline). Thus, it is a kind of sympathomimetic agent. Alternatively, it may refer to something which is susceptible to epinephrine, or similar substances, such as a biological receptor (specifically, the adrenergic receptors).
Adreneric agonists stimulate a response from the adrenergic receptors. The five categories of adrenergic receptors are: α1, α2, β1, β2, and β3, and agonists vary in specificity between these receptors, and may be classified respectively. However, there are also other mechanisms of adrenergic agonism. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are endogenous and broad-spectrum. More selective agonists are more useful in pharmacology.
A great number of drugs are available which can affect adrenergic receptors. Each drug has its own receptor specificity giving it a unique pharmacological effect. Other drugs affect the uptake and storage mechanisms of adrenergic catecholamines, prolonging their action. Agents that work with and activate the adrenergic receptors include alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists. Agents that increase neurotransmission in endogenous chemicals such as epinephrine and norepinephrine include amphetamines, cocaine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), tyramine, nicotine, caffeine, and methylphenidate. Agents that exhibit aspects of both of these modes include ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.
Adequate treatments for incontinence associated with sexual activity are currently lacking, therefore long-lasting, minimally invasive methods of treatment are desirable.

Methods for treatment of incontinence associated with sexual activity


MEM structures which may be driven at parametric frequencies to provide stable operation and to permit precise switching between stable and unstable operations by very small changes in the drive frequency or by very small changes in the characteristics of the structure itself so as to provide improved control and sensing are disclosed. The techniques of the present invention are applicable to a wide variety of microstructures, including parallel plate linear actuators, reduction and augmentation actuators, linear force comb actuators, and in particular to torsional scanning probe z-actuators having an integrated tip. These devices incorporate capacitive actuators, or drivers, for producing mechanical motion, and more particularly comb-type actuator structures which consist of high aspect ratio MEM beams fabricated as interleaved fixed and movable capacitor fingers. The capacitive actuator structures can be used either for sensing displacements or inducing motion, the capacitive plates of the fixed and movable fingers allowing a wide range of motion and high amplitudes without failure. Such micromechanical torsional resonators obey the Mathieu equation, and are driven by a suitable driving force such as an AC driver to resonate at frequencies other than their natural frequencies of resonance with a sharp transition between stable and unstable operation. The devices may be switched between stable and unstable operation by very small changes in the physical characteristics, or parameters, of the devices and/or by small changes in the frequency or amplitude of the driving force.

The present invention relates, in general, to microelectromechanical (MEM) structures, and particularly to sensors, filters, switches and the like which utilize variable capacitors for driving and for measuring displacement, as well as to circuitry for measuring output signals produced by such capacitors and for producing drive signals at frequencies selected to produce parametric resonances having sharp transitions between stable and unstable motion of MEM structures.
The generic term xe2x80x9cmicroelectromechanical systemxe2x80x9d (or MEMS) has been applied to the broad field of micromachining and refers to structures such microsensors, microactuators, microinstruments, microoptics, and microfluidics. The applications of these devices are wide-ranging and include accelerometers, which may be used, for example, to deploy automobile airbags, inkjet printer heads and other fluidic devices, arrays of movable mirrors for color projection displays, atomic probes for imaging and transporting atoms, and the like. MEMS devices typically use silicon as a structural material, with the devices being fabricated using integrated circuit technology and more particularly using the single crystal reactive etch and metalization (SCREAM) process which is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,073, issued Feb. 17, 1998, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Although the use of MEM systems is becoming widely accepted, these micrometer-scale devices present challenges in the real time measurement of device motion, for such devices exhibit multiple modes of motion, have nonlinearities in their spring constants and damping, and exhibit other deviations from the simple models which are often used to describe the motion of mechanical structures. Precise real-time measurements of these devices are needed to understand, to model, and to control these effects. The measurement of device motion and parameters at the nanometer-scale has been done using microinstrumentation fabricated on the same chip as the test devices through the use of variable capacitor motion sensors. However, the use of variable capacitors to measure motion assumes the capacitor structure is stable throughout the measurement; that is, that the gap remains constant and the capacitor electrodes do not rotate or move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the desired motion to be measured.
One reason for the difficulty in measurements is that in many resonant microelectromechanical systems with electrostatic actuation, the application of a voltage to the device for driving it or for measuring changes in capacitance, changes the effective stiffness of the system. In certain systems, the application of a periodic voltage causes the stiffness to be changed periodically. The equation of motion for such a system is the Mathieu equation:                               ⅆ          2                        θ                    ⅆ                  τ          2                      +                  (                  β          +                      2                                      xe2x80x83                                    δ                                      xe2x80x83                                    cos                                      xe2x80x83                                    2                        τ                                            xe2x80x83                )                  θ        =  0
Mathieu equation has been studied extensively in many physical contexts because it governs the pumping of a swing, the stability of ships and columns, Faraday crispations in surface waves on water, electrons in Penning traps, and parametric amplifiers based on electronic or superconducting devices. Many theoretical studies have been carried out on the Mathieu equation, but most of them have been macroscopic, and in these cases damping limits the obtainable experimental results.
The present invention is directed to MEM structures which may be parametrically driven to provide stable operation and to permit precise switching between stable and unstable operations by very small changes in the drive frequency or by very small changes in the characteristics of the structure itself so as to provide improved control and sensing. Although the techniques of the present invention are applicable to a wide variety of microstructures, including parallel plate linear actuators, reduction and augmentation actuators, and linear force comb actuators, the invention will be described herein in terms of torsional devices, and in particular to torsional scanning probe z-actuators having an integrated tip, such as the device described in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat, No. 6,000,280. This device is a micromechanical torsional resonator which incorporates capacitive actuators, or drivers, for producing mechanical motion, and more particularly is a structure which incorporates an improved comb-type actuator structure which consists of high aspect ratio MEM beams fabricated as interleaved fixed and movable capacitor fingers. The device is fabricated from single-crystal silicon and includes a cantilevered beam connected to an adjacent substrate by a torsion bar, within an atomically sharp tip formed on the beam. The capacitive actuator structure can be used either for sensing displacements or inducing motion, the capacitive plates of the fixed and movable fingers allowing a wide range of motion and high amplitudes without failure. This type of actuator generates out of plane motion forces between the fixed and movable fingers due to a phenomenon known as comb-drive levitation, wherein a voltage is applied to the fixed electrodes on the silicon substrate, while the substrate and the adjacent movable electrodes are grounded. This causes asymmetrical fringing electric fields between the movable and fixed electrodes which induce motion in the movable electrodes. Such a micromechanical torsional resonator obeys the Mathieu equation:
(xcex8xe2x80x3+axcex8xe2x80x2+(xcex2+2xcex4 cos 2xcfx84)xcex8=0
where
a=c/2xcfx89I
xcex2=(k+xcex3ADC)/4xcfx892I
and
xcex4=(xcex3AAC)/4xcfx892I
where I is the mass moment of inertia of the torsional cantilever, c is the torsional damping constant, k is torsional stiffness, and M is the applied torque, xcex3 is a parameter that corresponds to the drive strength, xcfx89 is the driving frequency, and A is the input strength under normal operation.
It has been found that such a MEM resonator exhibits unique stability properties, wherein multiple regions in the xcex2-xcex4 parameter space have unstable solutions so that the resonator exhibits resonance-like behavior under several different conditions. The boundaries between these conditions of instability and regions where stable behavior is exhibited are extremely sharp so that a very small change in the frequency of a drive signal and, the characteristics of the MEM device, or a change in a parameter being measured can switch the vibrational motion of the MEM device from a stable to an unstable condition, or vice versa. It has been found that a to frequency change of as little as 0.001 Hz at 114 kHz in the drive signal can effect this change.
When operating in an instability region, the MEM devices of the invention provide increased sensitivity to changes in measured parameters, such as force measurements in an atomic force microscope (AFM). For example, in conventional atomic force microscopes, a high Q in the sensor device leads to higher sensitivity, but at the expense of bandwidth. By utilizing the parametric resonance instability of the present invention, the effect of Q can be decoupled from sensitivity. Further, since the device has such a high sensitivity to changes in frequency between its stable and unstable vibratory conditions, a small force; i.e., the force to be measured, applied to the MEM device can change its characteristics and cause it to xe2x80x9cjumpxe2x80x9d across the boundary from an unstable to stable condition. Because the boundary is so sharp, very small force interactions can be measured. The forces being measured in such a device manifest themselves as changes in the torsional stiffness k of the device. Thus, a change in k will shift the position of the sharp boundary, changing the state of the resonator from xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d to xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d, or vice versa. In addition, small changes in the voltage or frequency can be used independently to move the operating state from stable to unstable because of the dependence of the parameters xcex2 and xcex4 on these values.
The shape of the instability regions can also be changed by changing the device design. For example, by changing the xcex30 parameter, which is the applied force, the slope of the instability boundary changes, and this can be useful in trying to adjust operating characteristics such as the bandwidth of the stable region. Damping in the system also has an effect, for it xe2x80x9croundsxe2x80x9d the bottom of the instability region and narrows its bandwidth. Thus, by changing the damping, which can be produced, for example, by changing the pressure in the environment of the system, the bandwidth or the lower boundary of the instability region is changed.
It has also been found that the Mathieu behavior of torsional resonators and other MEM devices can also be used to reduce parasitic signals in capacitive sensing. This is done by separating the drive and the sensing signals by parametrically exciting the MEM device at a frequency that is far from its natural resonant frequency. This is made possible in the present MEM systems since they are governed by Mathieu type equations, with the result that energy is transferred during parametric excitation in a unique manner. For example, if a given device with a natural frequency of xcfx890=57 kHz is driven at a frequency xcfx89, where xcfx89 corresponds to the first Mathieu instability, where n=1 then xcfx89 will equal 2xcfx890/n which in this case is equal to 114 kHz. A parasitic signal which is included in the output from the MEM device will also be at a harmonic of the natural frequency; that is, 2xcfx890, which is at 114 kHz in this case. However, the MEM device, when driven at the parametric frequency of 114 kHz will still vibrate torsionally at its natural frequency of 57 kHz, so the capacitive sensing signals of interest will be at 57 kHz. With this separation in frequency, it is straightforward to filter out the parasitic 114 kHz signal, thereby revealing the desired 57 kHz sensing signal.
Parametric resonance also holds promise as a mass sensor, for example in biochemical and medical fields for sensing such things as chemical reactions which result in mass changes. Because of the sharp transition from stability to instability, which depends on device parameters, a resonator provides an extremely sensitive way to measure such things as small changes in the mass of a device. A parametric mass sensor may be, for example, an in-plane, parallel plate capacitive actuator, although various actuator configurations may be used.
In summary, the present invention is directed to a parametric resonance oscillator which comprises a microelectromechanical structure mounted for motion with respect to a substrate, wherein the structure has a natural resonant frequency of oscillation. The structure includes a motion sensor which, in the preferred embodiment, includes capacitive plates on the moving structure and adjacent stationary structure. A drive circuit supplies a drive signal to the electrodes at a frequency which is selected to produce parametric oscillation of the MEM structure. This n=1 parametrically resonant frequency is greater than the natural resonant frequency of the structure and provides a sharp boundary between stable and unstable operation, permitting a switching between these two conditions to improve the sensitivity of measurements made by the structure, and improving the accuracy of capacitive measurements through the elimination of parasitic frequencies.

Parametric resonance in microelectromechanical structures


A hardware implemented method for resizing an image is provided. In this method, the image is captured and a size of the image is calculated as the image is being received by a display controller. Thereafter, a scaling ratio is calculated based on the calculated size of the image and an output image size. The display controller then scales the image according to the calculated scaling ratio. A display controller and a resizer for resizing the image are also described.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to computer graphics and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for resizing an image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Display controllers used in small, portable devices typically include resizers that scale and/or crop an image from an image capture device to a desired size. For example, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor inputs image frames to a camera interface of a liquid crystal display controller (LCDC) at specific horizontal and vertical dimensions. The camera interface then sends each camera frame to a resizer that resizes (i.e., scales and/or crops) the camera frame to a predetermined, desired size. Thereafter, the resizer outputs the resized image to a display panel for display.
However, a number of limitations and inconveniences exist with current display controllers. In particular, resizer input image dimensions, resizer scaling ratios, and resizer output sizes must be manually provided to the display controllers. Accordingly, the correct input image dimensions, scaling ratios, and output sizes must be accurate or the resizer will not properly resize the images. In other words, the above-defined variables must respectively match or the resizer will not properly resize the images. Providing the variables to the display controller is labor intensive and prone to errors because a user needs to manually calculate the variables. Furthermore, the display controller needs to write the variables received from central processing unit (CPU) to internal registers. The process of writing the variables utilizes valuable CPU bandwidth and the storage of variables requires extra memory (i.e., internal registers).
In view of the foregoing, there is a need to provide reliable apparatus and method for resizing images that are not labor intensive and utilize less CPU bandwidth and memory.

Apparatus and method for resizing an image


A disposable pull-on wearing article has its waist region divided into a front section and a rear section and connector sheets 21 adapted to connect these two sections together. Each of the connector sheets has joint zones to be joined to the front section and the rear section, respectively, and a non-joint zone interposed between the joint zones so as to define a tear-apart line extending in vertical direction along which the article is torn apart. The non-joint zone has a tensile strength of at least 8N in the waist-surrounding direction and a tear strength in a range of 0.1 to 12N also in the waist-surrounding direction.

The present invention relates to a disposable pull-on wearing article such as a disposable pull-on diaper or training pants.
Conventionally, disposable pull-on diapers are well known in the form of a disposable pull-on wearing article. In one example of well known pull-on diapers, a front waist region and a rear waist region are joined together along transversely opposite side edges thereof and these side edges may be torn apart to take the diaper off from the wearer's body. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1992-371146 (hereinafter referred to "REFERENCE 1") discloses a disposable pant which can be used as the disposable pull-on diaper. In the case of the pant disclosed therein, a front waist region and a rear waist region are joined together along transversely opposite side edges thereof by use of a heat-sealing means. These side edges joined together in this manner have an appropriate strength such that the pant can be easily torn apart along these side edges to take the pant off from the wearer's body. In the pant, the front waist region and the rear waist region are respectively provided with a plurality of thread-like elastic members extending in the transverse direction of these waist regions and attached in a stretched state thereto while the crotch region is provided with a plurality of thread-like elastic members attached in a stretched state thereto so as extend along the peripheral edges of the respective leg-holes.
There has already been proposed also a pull-on wearing article including panels which are elastically stretchable in the direction of the waist line and interposed between a front waist region and a rear waist region. For example, National Publication of Translated Version No. 1996-507699 (hereinafter referred to "REFERENCE 2") discloses a disposable pull-on diaper comprising an absorbent "chassis" and a pair of elastically stretchable "panels". This diaper further comprises a waist-hole and a pair of the leg-holes. The "panels" which are elastically stretchable in the direction of the waist line are respectively provided in the vicinity of transversely opposite lateral regions of the wearer and attached to the "chassis" along predetermined joint lines. With this diaper put on the wearer's body, the "chassis" covers the front and rear waist regions as well as the crotch region of the wearer while the "panels" are elastically stretchable and contractible to make the diaper fit the lateral regions of the wearer's waist. When the diaper put on the wearer's body has been soiled with bodily discharges, the "panels" may be torn off from the "chassis" along the joint lines to take the diaper off from the wearer's body without the anxiety that the wearer's body might be soiled with bodily discharges.
The disposable diaper disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1993-317356 (hereinafter referred to "REFERENCE 3") is of pull-on type and a front waist region is provided along transversely opposite side edges with tear-apart lines used to tear the front waist region apart from a rear waist region. These tear-apart lines are in the form of intermittent slits or perforations (referred to as perforated lines) and extend in the vertical direction of the diaper across waist-surrounding elastic member and leg-surrounding elastic members. The diaper soiled with bodily discharges can be taken off from the wearer's body without anxiety that the wearer's body might be soiled with bodily discharges by tearing the front waist region apart from the rear waist region along the respective tear-apart lines.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 3421030 (hereinafter referred to "REFERENCE 4") discloses a disposable undergarment provided with a tear-apart panel. The tear-apart panel defines a zone in which a front section and a rear section of the disposable undergarment can be torn apart from each other and continuously extends from one of the leg-holes to the waist-hole. The tear-apart panel comprises a strip of nonwoven material having no locally weakened part along which the strip can be easily torn apart with the bare hands. Preferably, this tear-apart panel has a transverse tensile strength in a range of 196.85 g/cm to 1968.50 g/cm, more preferably in a range of 787.40 g/cm to 1181.10 g/cm. According to an embodiment illustrated in this document, the tear-apart panel is adapted to connect the front section and the rear section of the undergarment and has its outer surface joined to respective outer surfaces of the front section and the rear section of the undergarment.
In the case of the pant disclosed in REFERENCE 1, each side edge of the front and rear waist regions comprises an inner sheet formed from a nonwoven fabric and an outer sheet formed from a lamination of plastic film and nonwoven fabric or the like. Assumed that the side edges of the front waist region each comprising a plurality of the sheet material layers are placed upon and joined to the side edges of the rear waist region by a heat-sealing means each of the side edges of the pant would comprise four to six sheet material layers heat sealed together. An effort to tear these side edges joined together apart one from another to take the pant off from the wearer's body may sometimes peel the nonwoven fabric and the plastic film off from each other just along the joined zones and properly disconnect the front and rear waist regions from each other. However, this will be rarely achieved and, in many cases, the front and rear waist regions of the pant will be disconnected from each other with the nonwoven fabric and the plastic film torn not along the joined zones but around the joined zones. In other words, the mother intending to take the pant off from the wearer's body must tear apart at least two or three layers of the sheet material at once with a considerable force. In addition to this inconvenience, it may be difficult for a caregiver of the wearer to achieve this operation quickly since it will be rare that these layers of the sheet material are rectilinearly torn apart. Assumed that the waist surrounding elastic members and the leg-surrounding elastic members are attached in a stretched state to the pant, respectively, these elastic members may be peeled off from the nonwoven fabric and the plastic film and thereupon intensely contract just as the side edges of the pants are torn apart. These elastic members peeled off in this manner may painfully hit against the fingertips of the caregiver.
The diaper disposed in REFERENCE 2 is said to ensure that the stretchable "panels" can be removed from the "chassis" along the joint lines of the "panels" and the "chassis". However, on the assumption that these joint lines are formed by heat-sealing the stretchable "panels" with the "chassis", operation of removing the "panels" from the "chassis" will really comprises, just like in the case of the pant disclosed in REFERENCE 1, operation of tearing the "panels" and/or the "chassis" along the joint lines. Such operation will require a considerable force and it may be difficult for the caregiver to achieve this operation quickly. Assumed that the stretchable "panels" include thread-like elastic members attached in a stretched state thereto, these elastic members intensely contract just as these "panels" are removed, and may painfully hit against the fingertips of the caregiver.
In the case of the diaper disclosed in REFERENCE 3, the tear-apart lines used to develop the diaper by tearing the front waist region apart from the rear waist region extend across the elastic members attached to the peripheries of the waist-hole and the leg-holes, respectively, by adhesive. With such arrangement, the elastic members may be severed or peeled off from the peripheries of the waist-hole and the leg-holes so as to be left contract, in any case, with the fingertips of the caregiver holding the diaper in order to develop the diaper. However, it is not easy for the caregiver to sever the elastic members and, even if possible, the elastic members may intensely contract upon being severed and painfully hit against the fingertips of the caregiver. This may occur also when the elastic members are peeled off from the peripheries of the waist-hole and the leg-holes, respectively, so as to be left contract.
The disposable undergarment disclosed in REFERENCE 4 specifies the transverse tensile strength of the nonwoven material used for the tear-apart panel adapted to be torn apart with the bare hands of the caregiver. However, when the pants-type wearing article is taken off from the wearer's body, it is usual to tear apart the transversely opposite lateral portions in the vertical direction and not usual to tear apart these lateral portions by pulling the wearing article. In other words, selection of the material for the tear-apart panels based on the transverse tensile strength is inappropriate to ensure that the wearing article can be easily or smoothly torn apart.


A method for preparing an LTPS membrane, including: forming an amorphous silicon (a-Si) layer (S3) on a substrate (S1) by a patterning process, in which the a-Si layer (S3) comprises a plurality of convex structures (S32) and etched areas (S31) which are disposed along circumference of the plurality of convex structures and partially etched; and performing excimer laser crystallization (ELC) on the a-Si layer (S3) and obtaining the LTPS membrane. A thin-film transistor (TFT) and a display device are further disclosed, which are used for overcoming poor uniformity of the polysilicon membrane prepared by the ELC technology.

In a flat-panel display device, e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display or an inorganic electroluminescent (EL) display, TFT is generally used as a switching element to control pixels or used as a drive element to drive the pixels. The TFTs can be divided into amorphous silicon (a-Si) TFTs and polysilicon (Poly-Si) TFTs according to the properties of a silicon membrane used for an active layer. Compared with the a-Si TFT, a Poly-Si TFT has the characteristics of higher electron mobility, lower drain current and the like. Thus, the display manufactured via the Poly-Si TFT could have higher resolution and faster response speed.
The process for preparing the Poly-Si membrane can be divided into two categories. One involves a high-temperature process. In the preparation process, the temperature is higher than 600 centigrade, and a substrate is made from expensive quartz. The other involves a low-temperature process. In the whole processing technique, the temperature is lower than 600 centigrade, and the substrate may be made from cheap glass. Thus, the LTPS technology has gradually become the mainstream technology in the research and development of TFTs and in place of the a-Si technology. In the preparation of LTPS, the problem of Poly-Si crystallization has always been the focus of research in the field of LTPS.
The mature LTPS preparation process in the current industry mainly comprises for example solid phase crystallization (SPC), metal-induced lateral crystallization (MILC) and excimer laser crystallization (ELC). The ELC technology is commonly used in the crystallization of a-Si in the industry due to high electron mobility and productivity of products thereof. ELC involves applying high-power laser beams to act on the surface of an a-Si membrane to be crystallized. Because silicon materials have strong ultraviolet light absorption capability, the laser beams can drive the surface of the a-Si membrane to reach the high temperature of more than 1,000 centigrade and be in a molten state within a very short time period (about 50 ns to 150 ns). After the laser pulse is stopped, the a-Si in the molten state is cooled and crystallized into Poly-Si. The Poly-Si membrane prepared by an ELC process has the advantages of large crystal grains, good spatial selectivity, high doping efficiency, low intracrystalline imperfection, good electrical properties and high mobility, and is an LTPS membrane with an optimal overall performance currently. However, the Poly-Si membrane prepared by an ELC process also has defects. That is to say, the size of the crystal grains is sensitive to the laser power, and the prepared Poly-Si membrane has poor uniformity. Thus, products (e.g., TFTs) prepared by the Poly-Si membrane have large performance difference.
In summary, the Poly-Si membrane prepared by the ELC technology currently has poor uniformity, and hence the performances of the products prepared by the Poly-Si membrane can be disadvantageously affected.

Low-temperature polysilicon membrane and preparation method thereof, thin-film transistor and display device


A method of data processing includes fetching a sequence of instructions, assigning each instruction within the sequence a respective unique instruction tag, and associating a respective destination vector with each instruction. The destination vectors, which are of uniform size, identify which of a plurality of possible destinations for execution results are targeted by the associated instructions. Data dependency between instructions in the sequence is managed by reference to the destination vectors associated with the instructions.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to data processing and, in particular, to data processing in a processor. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to the use of instruction destination tags within a processor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional superscalar processors, instructions are executed in parallel in multiple execution units, possibly out-of-order with respect to the predefined program order. As the instructions are executed, results of execution are generated and buffered at various locations within the processor for later reference. Because subsequent instructions are often dependent upon the results of previous instructions, a dependency tracking scheme is generally employed to ensure that all data dependencies between instructions are observed.
In one prior art implementation, dependencies between instructions are managed through the use of multiple different destination tags. In such prior art implementations, a different destination tag is defined for each location within the processor that will be updated as a result of instruction execution. Comparison of destination tags of the various instructions thus permits the processor to detect and observe dependencies between instructions. However, the total number of destination tags that must be tracked and routed within the prior art processor is potentially equal to the product of the number of instructions in flight multiplied by the number of destinations of the instruction results. Tracking and routing such a large number of destination tags within the processor entails considerable circuitry within the processor and consumes significant power.
In view of the shortcomings of prior art techniques of dependency tracking within conventional processors, the present invention recognizes that it would be useful and desirable to provide an improved processor and method of dependency tracking within a processor utilizing instruction destination tags.

System for managing data dependency using bit field instruction destination vector identifying destination for execution results

International Business Machines Corporation


Systems, devices, and methods are described herein for extinguishing fires in a flammable liquid test pan. In an example, the system can include a substantially impermeable lid configured to mate with a top surface of the test pan. When the lid is mated with the test pan, the lid deprives an enclosed volume of the test pan of ambient combustible gas. The lid can be made of one or more materials including metals, ceramics, aramid fibers, and other gas-impermeable and fire resistant materials. The system can include a vehicle configured to carry the lid from a first location that is distal to the test pan to a second location that is adjacent to the test pan. In an example, the vehicle includes a lid transfer device that facilitates transferring the lid from the vehicle to the top surface of the test pan.

Fire extinguisher agents are rigorously tested for efficacy and efficiency. A standard test system for fire extinguisher agents includes a fire test pan in an enclosed or outdoor environment. Fire test pans vary in size and shape, but most are rectangular and hold multiple gallons of liquid fuel. The fuel can be heptane or another flammable liquid. The test pan is filled with an appropriate flammable fuel, the fuel is ignited, and then a fire extinguisher agent to be tested is used to attempt to extinguish the fire. Typically, metered or specified amounts of an extinguisher agent are applied for a given test.
In some examples, a fire extinguisher agent under test may be insufficient to fully extinguish a test fire burning in a fire test pan. Test personnel must then use additional extinguisher material of the same or a different type to fully extinguish the fire. Thus the fire test pan and the fuel within can become contaminated with the excess extinguisher agent. Test personnel may be deterred from performing multiple tests because extinguisher agents can be expensive, such as those agents that are used to extinguish a fire remaining after a test agent is dispensed. In addition, it can be time consuming and inefficient to clean fire test pans that are contaminated with extinguisher agents.

Lid and trolley system for use with fire test pan


An optical head unit is provided including a first light source emitting a light with a first wavelength, a second light source emitting a light with a second wavelength, and a third light source emitting a light with a third wavelength. The optical head unit also includes a first objective lens irradiating the light emitted from the first light source onto an optical recording medium, a second objective lens irradiating the light emitted from the second light source or the light emitted from the third light source onto an optical recording medium, and a photodetector receiving a reflected light from the optical recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical head unit and optical information writing/reading device, and more particularly, to an optical head unit and an optical information writing/reading device having a plurality of objective lenses.
2. Description of the Related Art
A recording density of an optical information writing/reading device is inversely proportional to a square of the diameter of a focal spot formed on an optical recording medium by an optical head unit. In other words, the smaller the diameter of the focal spot, the higher the recording density. The diameter of the focal spot is proportional to a wavelength of a light source and is inversely proportional to a numerical aperture of an objective lens. In other words, the shorter the wavelength of the light source and the higher the numerical aperture of the objective lens, the smaller the diameter of the focal spot. On the other hand, when an optical recording medium (optical disc) is tilted to an objective lens, the shape of a focal spot is fluctuated due to coma aberration, resulting in deterioration of the writing/reading characteristic. The coma aberration is inversely proportional to the wavelength of a light source and is proportional to the cube of the numerical aperture of the objective lens and the thickness of a protective layer of an optical recording medium. When the thicknesses of protective layers of optical recording media are the same, the shorter the wavelength of the light source and the higher the numerical aperture of the objective lens, the margin of the tilt of the optical recording medium with respect to the writing/reading characteristic is narrower.
In an optical information writing/reading device which shortens the wavelength of a light source and increases the numerical aperture of an objective lens to increase the recording density, the thickness of a protective layer of an optical recording medium is smaller to secure the margin of the tilt of the optical recording medium with respect to the write/read characteristic. For example, in a standard CD (compact disc) having a capacity of 650 MB, the wavelength of a light source is 780 nm, the numerical aperture of an objective lens is 0.45, and the thickness of a protective layer of an optical disc is 1.2 mm. In a standard DVD (digital versatile disc) having a capacity of 4.7 GB, the wavelength of a light source is 650 nm, the numerical aperture of an objective lens is 0.6, and the thickness of a protective layer of an optical disc is 0.6 mm.
In a typical optical head, an objective lens is designed to cancel a spherical aberration to an optical disc having a protective layer having a certain thickness. When writing and reading are performed onto/from optical discs having protective layers having different thicknesses, the spherical aberration remains and correct writing and reading cannot be performed. Accordingly, there is proposed an optical head unit having a compatible function which can perform writing and reading onto/from both of an optical disc of the DVD standard and an optical disc of the CD standard. Such kind of optical head units are classified into one using a single objective lens and one using a plurality of objective lenses. The optical head unit using a plurality of objective lenses has a construction slightly more complicated than that of the optical head unit using a single objective lens. However, the respective objective lenses can be optimally designed for the optical discs of the respective standards, so that the writing/reading performance to the optical discs of the respective standards is excellent.
As an example of a prior art optical head unit using a plurality of objective lenses, which can perform writing and reading onto/from both of an optical disc of the DVD standard and an optical disc of the CD standard, Japanese Published Application 2000-242943 discloses an optical head unit shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, an optical head unit 101 in the prior art has a first optical system 102a, a second optical system 102b, a first objective lens 103a mounted on a first actuator 104a, and a second objective lens 103b mounted on a second actuator 104b.
The first optical system 102a and the second optical system 102b have a semiconductor laser, not shown, as a light source. A photodetector, not shown, receives a light from an optical disc 105 of the DVD standard or the CD standard. The wavelength of an emitted light of the semiconductor laser in the first optical system 102a is 650 nm, and the wavelength of an emitted light of the semiconductor laser in the second optical system 102b is 780 nm.
The emitted light from the semiconductor laser in the first optical system 102a is incident upon the first objective lens 103a and is focused onto the optical disc 105 of the DVD standard having a protective layer having a thickness of 0.6 mm. A reflected light from the optical disc 105 passes through the first objective lens 103a in the reverse direction to be received by the photodetector in the first optical system 102a. In addition, the emitted light from the semiconductor laser in the second optical system 102b is incident upon the second objective lens 103b and is focused onto the optical disc 105 of the CD standard having a protective layer having a thickness of 1.2 mm. A reflected light from the optical disc 105 passes through the second objective lens 103b in the reverse direction to be received by the photodetector in the second optical system 102b.
The first objective lens 103a has a spherical aberration canceling a spherical aberration caused when the light with a wavelength of 650 nm passes through the protective layer having a thickness of 0.6 mm of the optical disc 105. The second objective lens 103b has a spherical aberration canceling a spherical aberration caused when the light with a wavelength of 780 nm passes through the protective layer having a thickness of 1.2 mm of the optical disc 105.
The optical head unit 101 is moved between the innermost circumference and the outermost circumference of the optical disc 105 in the direction of the arrows of FIG. 1 along two rails 106a and 106b arranged in parallel with each other.
In FIG. 1, the numeral 131a denotes a first optical path connecting the first optical system 102a and the first objective lens 103a, and the numeral 131b denotes a second optical path connecting the second optical system 102b and the second objective lens 103b.
In recent years, to increase the recording density, there has been proposed a next-generation standard in which the wavelength of a light source is shorter, the numerical aperture of an objective lens is higher, and the thickness of a protective layer of an optical recording medium (optical disc) is smaller. For example, with the name of Blu-ray Disc (BD), there has been proposed a next-generation standard having a capacity of 23.3 GB in which the wavelength of a light source is 405 nm, the numerical aperture of an objective lens is 0.85, and the thickness of a protective layer (cover layer) of an optical disc is 0.1 mm. Accordingly, what is desired is an optical head unit having a compatible function which can perform writing and reading onto/from any of an optical disc of such next-generation standard and conventional optical discs of the DVD standard and the CD standard. However, there has not yet been an optical head unit using a plurality of objective lenses which can perform writing and reading onto/from any of the optical disc of the next-generation standard and the conventional optical discs of the DVD standard and the CD standard.

Optical head unit and optical information writing/reading device


One example embodiment of the present invention discloses a method of delivering content from a base station of a wireless network to a mobile station including receiving a request for content from a mobile station, accessing the requested content from content stored in association with the base station, and transmitting the requested content to the mobile station.

Handling data transmission between a wireless network and a mobile station has been a developing concern in third generation (3G) wireless communication systems such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Evolution-Data Optimized or Evolution-Data only (EV-DO).
FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified conventional wireless network 100. The conventional wireless network 100 may include a core network 60, a radio network controller (RNC) 40 connected to the core network 60, and a plurality of mobile base transceiver stations (BTS) 20 also connected to the RNC 40. Together the BTSs 20 and RNC 30 are known as an access network (AN). The BTSs 20 may include RF components for transmitting and receiving signals. The RNC 40 is a component that interfaces with the core network 60, controls the radio transmitters and receivers in the BTSs 20, and may perform other radio access and link maintenance functions. The connection between a BTS 20 to the RNC 30 is known as a "backhaul" link. Mobile stations 10 such as cell phones, wireless laptops, person digital assistant (PDA), and other wireless devices may communicate with a BTS 20 via a radio link or "air interface". Recently, the capacity of the air interface has exceeded the capacity of the backhaul network, shifting the historical bottleneck from air (wireless) to wire.
Conventionally, the majority of the backhaul links for the BTS 20 are T1 lines with roughly 1.5 Mbps of bandwidth, compared to over 50 Mbps for an ideal air interface between the BTS 20 and the mobile station 10. To deliver advanced services and data such as video and music content, either higher-bandwidth fiber optics or additional T1 lines must be connected to each of the BTSs 20. However, optical fiber is expensive and deployment of additional T1 lines has been slower than anticipated. Also, service assurance policies on T1 lines make them prohibitively expensive. Accordingly, new mobile services are either not offered, or discontinued, if the demands for the services are too great—an ironic situation for service providers trying to sell these new services. Video in particular requires substantial amount of bandwidth, so widespread deployment may not be economically supported because of the backhaul bottleneck.

Wireless network and method of transmitting content from locally stored server


A color wheel includes a plurality of color filter segments disposed so as to form a disk configuration, and a support member to fixedly set the plurality of color filter segments in place. Each of the color filter segments has a circular outer circumference, an inner circumference measuring shorter than the outer circumference, and two sides each connecting between the outer circumference and the inner circumference. In the color wheel described above, a chamfer is provided at the innermost portion of at least one of the two sides. The chamfer provides a clearance between opposing sides of any two adjacent color filter segments, so as to house burrs that are often formed at the sides, and therefore the opposing sides are fitted closely to each other even when burrs are formed at the sides. Consequently, spokes generated between two adjacent color filter segments can be minimized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a segment type color wheel suitable as a filter element of a time-share light dispersing device, and to a manufacturing method of the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Color composition in a projection-type image display apparatus has conventionally been accomplished commonly by a method, such as: a single-panel method, in which one light valve element adapted to control light amount per pixel thereby creating an image is used to disperse each pixel into red (R), green (G), and blue (B) lights; and a three-panel method, in which three light valve elements dedicated to R, G and B lights, respectively, are used to produce R, G and B images in parallel, and then the three images thus produced are combined. Currently, as a light valve element capable of fast switching, such as a ferroelectric liquid crystal display element or a digital micro mirror device, is increasingly coming into practical use, a time-sharing single-panel method is widely used. In the time-sharing single-panel method, R, G and B lights are caused to sequentially impinge on one light valve element, the light valve element is driven in synchronization with switching-over of the R, G and B lights thereby producing R, G and B images in a time-series manner, and the images thus produced are projected onto a screen, or the like. Here, color composition of the images is accomplished by a viewer due to an afterimage effect occurring at a sense of vision. In the time-sharing single-panel method, reduction in both dimension and weight of the apparatus, which is a feature of a single-panel method, can be achieved by employing a relatively simple optical system, and therefore the time-sharing single-panel method is favorable for realizing inexpensive fabrication of a projection-type image display apparatus. In such an image display apparatus, a color wheel is preferably used as a filter element of a time-share light dispersing device to sequentially disperse light emitted from a white light source into R, G and B lights having respective wavelength bands in a time-sharing manner.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are respectively top plan and side views of a conventional and typical color wheel assembly 200 as a time-share light dispersing device including such a color wheel as described above. Referring to FIG. 6B, the color wheel assembly 200 includes a color wheel 100, and a driving motor 106 including a motor hub 105. The color wheel 100 is a tricolor color wheel composed of a disk-like substrate 101 which is made of a light-transmitting material, for example, optical glass, and three pie-shaped (sectorial) filters 102, 103 and 104 which are formed on a surface of the substrate 101, and which exclusively transmit, for example, R, G and B lights, respectively. The color wheel 100 thus structured is fixedly attached to the motor hub 105 coaxially therewith. The color wheel assembly 200 operates such that the color wheel 100 is spun by the driving motor 106 so that white light S impinges sequentially on the filters (R, G and B) 102, 103 and 104 whereby the white light S is sequentially dispersed into R, G and B lights.
FIGS. 7 and 8 are respectively top plan and exploded side sectional views of a segment type color wheel 160, which is structured such that a plurality (four in FIG. 7) of pie-shaped color filter segments 112, 114, 116 and 118 separately prepared are fixed in position by means of a support member 120 and a clamp member 122 so as to form a disk.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, inner circumferences 112a, 114a, 116a and 118a of the color filter segments 112, 114, 116 and 118 are fitted to an outer circumference of a smaller cylinder portion 120a of the support member 120 whereby the color filter segments 112, 114, 116 and 118 are duly set in position in the radial direction of the color wheel 160, and surfaces thereof located toward the inner circumferences 112a, 114a, 116a and 118a are fitted to an annular seat portion 120b of the support member 120 whereby the color filter segments 112, 114, 116 and 118 are duly set in position in the thickness direction of the color wheel 160. Then, a smaller cylinder portion 122a of the clamp member 122 is engagingly inserted into a hollow 120c of the support member 120 so that an annular seat portion 122b of the clamp member 122 and the aforementioned annular seat portion 120b of the support member 120 sandwich and clamp the inner circumferential portions of the color filter segments 112, 114, 116 and 118. And, when the support member 120 and the clamp member 122 are bonded or screwed together, the color filter segments 112, 114, 116 and 118 are fixed as one piece structure. The color wheel 160 thus structured is fixedly attached to a hub (such as the hub 105 as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B) of a motor (such as the driving motor 106 as shown FIG. 6B) such that the hub is inserted in the hollow 122c of the clamp member 122 constituting the color wheel 160 (refer to, for example, paragraph [0010] and FIG. 6 in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-101827, and claim 1 and FIG. 2 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-48542).
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of another segment type color wheel 124 including color filter segments 126, 128, 130 and 132. The color filter segments 126, 128, 130 and 132 have respective inner circumferences 126a, 128a, 130a and 132a, which are not subjected to optical characteristic constraints, and which are formed straight as shown in the figure (or alternatively circular with a small curvature), whereby the workability is improved enabling cost reduction in production. Recently, cost reduction by such a method is increasingly requested along with downsizing of a color wheel. The color filter segments 126, 128, 130 and 132 further have respective outer circumferences 126b, 128b, 130b and 132b, and both sides 126c/126d, 128c/128d, 130c/130d and 132c/132d which meet respectively with the outer circumferences 126b, 128b, 130b and 132b at a right angle, and which meet respectively with the inner circumferences 126a, 128a, 130a and 132a at an angle greater than 90 degrees.
When a color filter segment is carved out of a glass substrate scribed by a scriber, burrs may be unwantedly formed. Referring to FIG. 10A showing an enlarged view of a part of the color filter segment 130, indicated by A in FIG. 9, and also to FIG. 10B showing a cross sectional view of the color filter segment 130, taken along line B-B in FIG. 10A, a burr 134 is formed at the side 130c of the color filter segment 130. The burr 134 thus formed has a dimension H normally measuring several hundreds of micron meters, and causes a gap (spoke) to be formed between the side 130c of the color filter segment 130 and the side 132d of the color filter segment 132, which, in the worst case, prohibits assembly of the color wheel 124. Since the increase of the spoke width generally causes the light utilization to lower, the color purity to deteriorate, and the wind noise to increase, the spoke dimension needs to be minimized.
It is verified by the present inventors et al. that, for example in case of the color filter segment 130, such a burr is often formed at innermost end portions of the sides 130c and 130d intersecting with the inner circumference 130a at an angle larger than 90 degrees, and therefore the processes of inspecting and removing burrs are definitely required, which inevitably increases the number of manufacturing processes thus pushing up production cost.

Segment type color wheel and manufacturing method of same


A hydroxyalkylated heterocyclic base is prepared by reacting a heterocyclic base with an alkylene carbonate in dimethylacetamide as a solvent, wherein the hydroxyalkylated heterocyclic base is isolated from the solvent using isopropanol or tert-butylmethylether.

Use of various nucleoside analogs, and especially acyclic nucleoside analogs in treatment of neoplastic diseases and viral infections has recently gained considerable attention (see e.g., Murono et al. in Cancer Res. 2001 Nov. 1; 61(21):7875-7, or Sekiya et al. in J. Med. Chem. 2002 Jul. 4; 45(14):3138-42). Consequently, synthesis of such nucleoside analogs via hydroxyalkylated heterocyclic bases as key intermediates has become increasingly important, and various methods of preparing hydroxyalkylated heterocyclic bases are known in the art.
For example, Ueda et al. reported the synthesis of 9-hydroxyethyladenine from a reaction in which ethyl carbonate was reacted with adenine using N,N-dimethylformamide (also known as dimethylformamide or DMF) as the solvent (Die Makromolekulare Chemie 1968, 120, 12-20 (Nr.2839)). However, under the conditions employed (i.e., complete removal of the solvent to dryness and recrystallization from ethanol), the total yield of the desired product was only 54%. Moreover, Ueda's conditions led to significant formation of the N7-alkylated byproduct.
In a similar approach, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,798 to Bischofberger et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, 9-hydroxyethyladenine is produced in a reaction between ethyl carbonate and adenine using DMF as a solvent, and the inventors employed a non-polar solvent (toluene) to drive the reaction product from the solvent. While Bischofberger's approach significantly improved the total yield, specificity of the reaction towards the desired N9-hydroxyalkylated product was relatively low and therefore typically required an additional separation step before the reaction product could be employed in further derivatization reactions.
Alternatively, alkylation of a heterocyclic base may be performed following a Mitsunobo reaction as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,577 to Chen et al., wherein linear synthesis starts from 1,3-dioxolane that is subsequently acetylated. Phosphorus is introduced into the so prepared intermediate via reaction with triethoxyphosphine, and the resulting alkylene phosphonate is converted to the corresponding hydroxyalkylene phosphonate, which is then coupled to the heterocyclic base in a Mitsunobu reaction. While Chen's reaction advantageously provides the desired phosphonate nucleoside analog without a hydroxyalkylated intermediate, the total yield was only about 10%, with a selectivity of the Mitsunobu reaction towards the N9-atom of the adenine of only 43%. Similar reaction sequences were reported in Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1989, 54(8), 2190-2210, and in Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1987, 52(11), 2801-2809 with comparable total yields of about 10%, and, depending on the particular conditions, selectivity towards N9-alkylation of the adenine, of between about 11-60%.
Although various methods are known in the art to synthesize various hydroxyalkylated heterocyclic bases, all or almost all of them suffer from one or more disadvantages. Therefore, there is still a need to provide improved synthetic protocols for preparation of hydroxyalkylated heterocyclic bases.

Synthesis for hydroxyalkylated heterocyclic bases


The present invention provides a novel client side caching (CSC) infrastructure that supports transition states at the directory level to facilitate a seamless operation across connectivity states between client and remote server. More specifically, persistent caching is performed to safeguard the user (e.g., client) and/or the client applications across connectivity interruptions and/or bandwidth changes. This is accomplished in part by caching to a client data store the desirable file(s) together with the appropriate file access parameters. Moreover, the client maintains access to cached files during periods of disconnect. Furthermore, portions of a path can be offline while other portions upstream can remain online. CSC operates on the logical path which cooperates with DFS which operates on the physical path to keep track of files cached, accessed and changes in the directories. In addition, truth on the client is facilitated whether or not a conflict of file copies exists.

Computing and networking technologies have transformed many important aspects of everyday life. Computers have become a household staple instead of a luxury, educational tool and/or entertainment center, and provide users with a tool to manage and forecast finances, control household operations like heating, cooling, lighting and security, and store records and images in a permanent and reliable medium. Networking technologies like the Internet provide users with virtually unlimited access to remote systems, information and associated applications.
Traditional business practices are evolving with computing and networking technologies. Typically, a user interfaces with a client(s) application (e.g., word processing documents, files, etc.) to interact with a network or remote server(s) that stores information in a database that is accessible by the client application. Databases provide a persistent, durable store for data that can be shared across multiple users and applications. Client applications generally retrieve data from the database through a query(s), which returns results containing the subset of data that is interesting to the client application. The client application then consumes, displays, transforms, stores, or acts on those results, and may modify or otherwise manipulate the data retrieved.
Unfortunately, data is typically inaccessible by the client application from the remote server when the remote server is offline or otherwise disconnected. In particular, every remote name in SMB (Server Message Block) begins with a prefix that identifies two elements: a server and a share in the format of a path beginning with "\\server\share\ . . . " The server is the physical server (e.g., name of machine) to which the client is talking. The share refers to a name on the machine which can be found on the machine's hard drive. Conventionally, the server and the share were created on the same machine or remote server. Therefore, if any object along the \\server\share\ . . . path was disconnected and/or offline, then the server would be marked as offline as well. Multiple shares can be located on one server; thus when one share, for example, becomes disconnected from the network, the entire server goes offline as well.
As can be seen, the operation of client applications has been traditionally dependent upon the connection state of the remote server. In some cases, however, clients may have access to some data while disconnected from the remote server. Unfortunately, if some of the data has been modified by the client, the modified client version is usually not visible to the client and/or user when the server returns online. This is commonly referred to as "truth on the server" because the server version of the data is kept and/or maintained when a conflict between the client and server data is detected. Inevitably, this results in incoherent data by client applications as well as increased server and/or network traffic in addition to the myriad of other inconveniences and problems for most users.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Persistent caching directory level support


Three dimensional fiber networks which are semi-rigid and dimensionally stable are made from textile fabrics that have projections and optional depressions which are compressible and return to their original shape after being compressed. The fiber networks are made by the thermo-mechanical deformation of textile fabrics that are in turn made from thermoplastic fibers. The fiber networks have particular utility as cushioning and impact absorbing materials.

Three-dimensional fiber networks are known. These are generally derived from textile fabrics that have been impregnated with a thermoset polymer or a low melting thermoplastic and then molded into the desired shape. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,221 describes a laminate containing a rigid three-dimensional fiber network having regularly arranged projections. The three-dimensional network is placed between two sheets of rigid material. The three-dimensional network used in the laminate is made by the deep-drawing of a sheet-like textile fabric to make projections. The textile fabric was previously impregnated with a thermoset resin and dried to yield a pre-preg, and is cured after deep-drawing. The textile fabric is made from a multifilament yarn so that a larger amount of resin can be absorbed in the interfilament regions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,686 describes a three-dimensional shaped material which is made from a fabric comprising a yarn that has thermoplastic fibers mixed with higher melting reinforcing fibers; the fabric is shaped by deep drawing at a temperature high enough to melt the lower melting thermoplastic material but not the reinforcing fiber to yield a three-dimensional structure which becomes rigid after it is cooled, possibly due to the fixing of fiber crossover points. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,877 describes an energy absorbing structure for use in automobile doors, wherein the energy absorbing structure is a highly stretchable lightweight material that has been coated with a resin (e.g. a thermoset) and then molded so that it has a series of projections, which are preferably truncated cones. The structure after molding does not appear to have an open fiber network appearance.
The fiber network structures described above and elsewhere generally are rigid and are intended for use mainly as lightweight structural materials.

Thermoplastic three-dimensional fiber network


A Stirling cycle engine includes: a housing having at least one cylinder; a motor element disposed in the housing; and a Stirling refrigerator portion driven by the motor element. The cylinder is made to be a cross guide for a piston or a displacer of the Stirling refrigerator portion. Thus, it is possible to provide a desired Stirling cycle engine, for example, a Stirling refrigerator, a Stirling engine generator, etc. with a single configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Stirling cycle engine, and particularly to a desired Stirling cycle engine, for example, a Stirling refrigerator, a Stirling engine generator, etc. which can be provided with a simple configuration and at a low price.
2. Description of the Related Art
The desired Stirling cycle engine, for example, a Stirling refrigerator, a Stirling engine generator, etc. is disclosed in "T. OTAKA, et al., EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON A 100W CLASS STIRLING CYCLE COOLER, Proc. 7th ICSC, 95 088, 1995" (hereinafter referred to as "Document A"), and "A. BAUMULLER, et al., SOLAR Stirling R+D. ACTIVITIES IN GERMANY, Proc. 7th ICSC, 95 IP02, 1995" (hereinafter referred to as "Document B").
The Stirling refrigerator of a prototype as shown in FIG. 14 is disclosed in document A.
In FIG. 14, the reference numeral 201 represents a vacuum insulating case; 202, a cooling wall; 203, an expansion chamber; 204, a cylinder; 205, a fin; 206, a displacer; 207, a regenerator; 208, a radiator; 209, a pipe; 210, a compression chamber; 211, a piston; 212, a piston rod; 213, a driving disc; 214, a crank shaft; 215, a driving motor; 216, a crank box; 217, a rotary encoder; and 218, a balance weight.
Document A describes that helium is used as a working medium, and the capacity of 100W can be outputted as refrigerating capacity.
On the other hand, Document B describes a Stirling engine applied to a solar system as shown in FIG. 15.
In FIG. 15, a cylinder block 223, a water pipe 224, a gas cooler 225 and a regenerator 226 are provided in a compression piston 222 side with respect to a crank shaft 221 as a reference point. The reference numeral 227 represents a sealing unit.
In addition, a sealing unit 229 is provided in an expansion piston 228 side. The reference numeral 230 represents an oil reservoir; 231, an oil filter; and 232, a solar lighting portion.
The Stirling cycle engine having such a conventional configuration has problems as follows.
The Stirling cycle engines disclosed in Documents A and B have many problems in practical use, and particularly there is a problem that it is difficult to supply parts of a driving portion or purchase parts constituting the driving portion, so that the cost is increased after all.