Reliability of results of a test such as a wafer burn-in test is raised. The present invention is a method for testing a plurality of semiconductor devices in a semiconductor wafer held in a cartridge. Each of the semiconductor devices has electrodes and the cartridge has a lower cartridge portion provided with a chuck holding the semiconductor wafer thereon, and an upper cartridge portion provided with a probe assembly having probes capable of contacting said electrodes. After constituting the cartridge and before placing the cartridge in the thermostatic chamber, a contact check to determine whether or not electrical contact between the electrodes of the semiconductor devices in the cartridge and the probes of the probe assembly is appropriate is performed.

The present invention relates to a burn-in test method and an apparatus thereof for placing a semiconductor wafer on which a plurality of semiconductor devices are integrated under a high temperature environment and applying voltage to each semiconductor device to screen initial defects of each semiconductor device.
As one of the conventional burn-in tests of semiconductor devices, there exists a method for performing a burn-in test in a semiconductor wafer state prior to separation of the semiconductor wafer on which a plurality of semiconductor devices are integrated into respective devices (e.g., refer to Patent Document 1). Such a burn-in test in a semiconductor wafer state is referred to as a wafer burn-in test.
In this wafer burn-in test, a cartridge housing a device under test with a lower cartridge portion provided with a chuck holding a semiconductor wafer as a device under test and an upper cartridge portion including a probe assembly provided with probes that can contact electrodes of the semiconductor wafer held on the chuck of the lower cartridge portion is constituted. This cartridge is placed in a thermostatic chamber in a state of holding the semiconductor wafer as a device under test therein, and a tester is connected to each cartridge. By doing so, a semiconductor wafer in each cartridge undergoes a wafer burn-in test.
Also, it is proposed that a lower cartridge portion and an upper cartridge portion are set as a cartridge in advance, and a semiconductor wafer as a device under test is built in these set lower cartridge portion and upper cartridge portion by an assembling/disassembling apparatus for simplification of the process of a wafer burn-in test and simplification of a test apparatus (e.g., refer to Patent Document 2). Further, an apparatus for automating assembly and disassembly of a cartridge and building and taking a semiconductor wafer in and out of the cartridge in relation to these is proposed (e.g., refer to Patent Document 3).
According to the aforementioned conventional burn-in test methods, as far as the electrodes of each semiconductor device of the semiconductor wafer as a device under test contact the respective probes of the probe assembly appropriately in the cartridge consisting of the lower cartridge portion and the upper cartridge portion, the semiconductor wafer is placed in the thermostatic chamber in a state of being connected to the tester appropriately. Thus, an appropriate burn-in test can be performed efficiently.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. H4-329653
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. H2000-164654
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. H2001-156129

Method for testing a semiconductor wafer and apparatus thereof


Methods and systems of detection of wafer placement error in a semiconductor processing chamber are disclosed. Methods and systems of interdiction are also disclosed to prevent hardware and wafer damage during semiconductor fabrication if and when a wafer placement error is detected. The method—is based on measuring a slope of current in an electrostatic chuck (ESC), which is correlated to lack of contact between the wafer and the ESC. Wafer placement detection at an early stage, when a heater and an ESC are being set up, gives the option of stopping the process before high power RF plasma is created.

In semiconductor processing chambers that use high power plasma processes, there is a risk of damage of certain chamber hardware if the hardware comes in contact with the plasma in an unintended way. A substrate-holder (also referred to as "wafer chuck" or simply "chuck") that holds a wafer may have heaters to raise the temperature of the wafer as required by a particular process recipe. This heater or substrate holder also offers electrical ground to the plasma used in PECVD deposition or etch reactor. For intended process control and to prevent damage to hardware and/or wafer, the wafer should be placed centrally in x-y plane (i.e. the center of the wafer is properly aligned with the chuck), and/or when there is proper contact established between the chuck and the wafer in the z-direction. In case of an electrostatic chuck (ESC), the proper chucking in z-direction may depend on the accuracy of x-y plane placement. However, a robot may fail to place the wafer perfectly at the center of the chuck. Additionally or alternatively, the wafer may have some 'bow' that prevents proper contact with the chuck and the heater. This not only exposes the heater to the high power plasma, causing damage of the heater/faceplate, but also may result in undesirable coating on the backside of the wafer to the extent the wafer needs to be discarded altogether.

Wafer placement error detection based on measuring a current through an electrostatic chuck and solution for intervention


Disclosed are various embodiments of temperature-compensated relaxation oscillator circuits that may be fabricated using conventional CMOS manufacturing techniques. The relaxation oscillator circuits described herein exhibit superior low temperature coefficient performance characteristics, and do not require the use of expensive off-chip high precision resistors to effect temperature compensation. Positive and negative temperature coefficient resistors arranged in a resistor array offset one another to provide temperature compensation in the relaxation oscillator circuit.

Oscillators are widely used in various microelectronic systems for such purposes as providing clock signals. In some applications, oscillators are used to produce steady stable clock signals which are relatively insensitive to temperature variations. For example, some oscillators in motion control encoders are required to operate across a wide temperature range, such as between −40 to 125 degrees Celsius.
To achieve accurate and stable clock signal performance over such a wide temperature range, designers typically employ external components such as crystals and inductors. These external solutions, however, place high cost and size burdens on the resulting circuit. Oscillators with external crystals and LC circuits are also difficult to integrate into monolithic circuits, and are usually characterized by narrow frequency bandwidths.
Relaxation oscillators, however, can be integrated in monolithic circuitry at relatively low cost and with small size. The frequency of a relaxation oscillator can be programmed, and thus can operate over a wide frequency band. Most relaxation oscillator circuits are sensitive to temperature variations, however, if temperature compensation circuitry is not employed.
In the current state of the art, temperature compensation techniques are employed to reduce the temperature coefficient of a relaxation oscillator. Basically, the frequency of the relaxation oscillator is made proportional to a charging current and inversely proportional to a threshold voltage.
In a first example of a prior art temperature-compensated relaxation oscillator circuit, and as described in further detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,720,836 to Xijian Lin entitled "CMOS relaxation oscillator circuit with improved speed and reduced process temperature variations," the frequency of a relaxation oscillator is expressed as F=ISINK/(2·C1·VCLMP). As a result, the frequency is proportional to the charging current, ISINK, and inversely proportional to the value of the timing capacitor C1 and the threshold voltage VCLMP. The threshold voltage VCLMP is largely insensitive to the temperature variation. VCLMP can be expressed as VCLMP=k·Vref, where k is a constant and Vref is a bandgap voltage. Because ISINK must be insensitive to temperature to make the frequency of relaxation oscillator independent of temperature, the capacitor, C1, must have a low temperature coefficient. A precise low temperature coefficient resistor, such as an off-chip resistor Rext, must therefore to be employed when using this temperature compensation technique, which increases circuit cost and size.
In a second example of a prior art temperature-compensated relaxation oscillator circuit, and as described in further detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,270 to Vincent Wing Sing Tso entitled "Programmable highly temperature and supply independent oscillator," the frequency of a relaxation oscillator is proportional to the charging current and the threshold voltage Vth. The basic concept of this approach is to generate charging currents and threshold voltages having temperature-dependent parameters that substantially cancel one another to yield a temperature-independent output signal of constant frequency. While this temperature compensation technique reduces the temperature coefficient of the relaxation oscillator to around 294 ppm/° C. under typical operating conditions, this approach does not take into account the temperature coefficient of the resistor of the relaxation oscillator, with the result that temperature-induced variations in the output signal of the relaxation oscillator will occur unless a high precision off-chip resistor is used, which increases circuit cost and size.
In a third example of a prior art temperature-compensated relaxation oscillator circuit, and as described in further detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,161 to James B. Nolan et al. entitled "Calibration techniques for a precision relaxation oscillator integrated circuit with temperature compensation," an expensive and space-consuming low temperature coefficient external off-chip resistor Rext is also employed to produce a more stable clock output signal of constant frequency, which is largely independent of temperature.
In a fourth example of a prior art temperature-compensated relaxation oscillator circuit, and as described in further detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,024 to Gregory Jon Manlove et al. entitled "Accurate integrated oscillator circuit," there is provided an oscillator circuit having an acceptable degree of temperature independence. The temperature compensation circuit of Manlove et al. relies on the temperature behavior of a bipolar transistor, and thus requires the use of a bi-CMOS manufacturing process. This special requirement increases circuit cost.
What is needed is temperature compensation circuitry that may be used in conjunction with a relaxation oscillator to provide a low cost, small size, substantially temperature-insensitive, wide-frequency-band, clock circuit.

Temperature compensation circuit and method

Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


Apparatus for exercising the forearms and upper arms, in the manner of dumbbells, has a frame with a horizontal pivotal axis, A1, at least one lever having the proximal end connected for pivotal movement about axis A1, a handle extension connected to the distal end of the lever for pivotal movement about an axis A2, A2 being substantially perpendicular to A1, a connecting linkage for pivoting the handle extension about axis A2 in a predetermined relationship relative to the lever as the lever pivots about axis A1, and a handle having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to axis A2, a gripping end centered on, and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and an opposite end, pivotally connected to the handle extension at the distal end thereof for free rotation about the longitudinal axis, so as to permit elective pronation and supination movements of the hands in combination with converging and diverging arm movements.

This invention relates generally to exercise machines and more particularly to exercise machines with forced pronation or supination movement for the hands and arms.
Many athletes and non-athletes utilize weight lifting or weight training exercises to build strength and/or bulk, or to improve overall condition and appearance. Typically, weight training exercises are performed with either exercise machines or free weights, i.e, barbells with plates for incremental weight selection, dumbbells, etc. For various reasons, most exercise programs incorporate both machines and free weights in a variety of different exercise routines in order to maximize the effect of working specific muscle groups.
Free weights offer a number of advantages over exercise machines. For instance, they are relatively inexpensive in comparison to exercise machines. Free weights are also more versatile because a variety of exercises can be performed with one set of weights, whereas most exercise machines are designed for only one exercise. Even though some exercise machines accommodate more than one exercise, the cost of these machines usually increases proportionately with the number of exercises. Use of dumbbells also enables both arms to be exercised independently. Finally, dumbells are popular among many weight lifters because the lifting movements rather than being restricted to prescribed planes of motion can follow a more natural converging/diverging path.
Nevertheless, there are inherent disadvantages associated with free weights. One such disadvantage relates to safety. Most weight room instructors strongly advise against an individual working out alone, and this cautionary measure is particularly important when lifting free weights, because becoming trapped beneath a bar could easily occur in exercises such as bench press, incline or squat. There is also the danger of dropping a weight so as to cause personal injury. Also loading and unloading of heavy plates onto the ends of a bar can sometimes, through carelessness, result in an unbalanced bar that falls from its rack.
Another disadvantage associated with free weights relates to the fact that the weight resistance, or opposing force, that is exercised against is always directed vertically downward by gravity. Yet, the moment arm of the weight about the pivot point varies considerably throughout the full range of motion. This principle is explained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,454 with respect to a commonly performed exercise referred to as the dumbbell biceps curl. In short, during this exercise the applied moment arm about the elbow varies according to the sine of the angle of the lower arm with respect to the vertically oriented upper arm. The moment arm is greatest when the angle is 90xc2x0 and it is lowest when the angle is 180xc2x0 and 0xc2x0.
If the resistance capabilities of the muscles of the human body matched this moment arm, the degree of difficulty experienced by the exerciser would be uniform, or balanced, throughout the entire range of motion. However, as reported in U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,454, the strength generated by the human muscles during this exercise is not in fact xe2x80x9cbalancedxe2x80x9d throughout the range of motion, and there are some xe2x80x9csticking pointsxe2x80x9d of increased difficulty. As a result, maximum benefits are not achieved when performing a biceps curl with a dumbbell.
The pullover machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,454 utilizes an eccentric cam to vary weight resistance over the range of motion for the muscles utilized in a pullover maneuver. Over the years, for various muscle groups, a number of these cam and chain machines have been designed in an attempt to match a resistance variation through a range of motion with the natural strength curve for a particular muscle group associated with the range of motion. An improvement over the use of free weights has been achieved, according to the extent that these machines succeed in varying the exercise resistance to match an appropriate strength curve.
Some exercise devices in the prior art allow the handles gripped by the user to pivot freely while moving through the range of motion for an exercise. Some others, specifically Fulks U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,757, force a supination or pronation movement in the hands and forearms. There are however, no existing exercise machines that truly emulate the feel and effect of exercising with dumbbells.
Therefore, the object of the present inventions is to provide exercise machines with the safety not inherent to the use of free weights, while emulating the feel and effect of exercising with dumbbells. A second object is that the exercise machines of the present invention be configured to guide lifting movements along a natural, converging or diverging path, while permitting natural pronation or supination movements. A third object of the present inventions is to provide the aforementioned characteristics together with a capability for varying the exercise resistance to match an appropriate strength curve.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present inventions, herein is disclosed an exercise device with free pronation or supination movement of the hands and arms in conjunction with the standard range of motion for a specified exercise. The device comprises a base frame and a centrally mounted seat. The seat is bisected by a vertical plane that extends through the middle of the frame so that the device has two sides that are mirror images with respect to the vertical mid-plane.
A pair of levers are pivotally attached to the frame for rotation about an axis A1. In an embodiment configured for use in xe2x80x9cbenchxe2x80x9d pressing or rowing type exercises, the user sits above axis A1 and the levers extend in a generally upward direction. A member may be attached between the levers so as to require the levers to pivot in tandem about an axis of rotation A1 or, in another embodiment, the levers may be mounted to pivot separately.
Pivotally connected to the distal end of each lever is a handle extension. This connection allows pivotal movement of the handle extension about a second axis of rotation A2 oriented in a substantially perpendicular relationship to axis A1.
An off-set linkage rod connected between the handle extension and the frame by means of ball and socket connectors causes the handle extensions to rotate about axes A2 so as to converge and diverge as the levers rotate about axis A1. Handles are pivotally mounted at the distal end of each handle extension, with each of the pivotal axes A3 lying substantially in a plane defined by the associated axis A2 and the longitudinal centerline of the handle extension. The handles are free to rotate about axes A3 so as to allow natural pronation and supination throughout the range of movement. Thus, doing a given exercise on a device embodying the present inventions has much the same feel and is functionally equivalent to the same exercise with dumb bells.
In operation, as force is applied by the exerciser to the handles, the levers (of a press machine) pivot forward about axis A1. As the levers pivot about axis A1, the handle extensions are forced to pivot in a predetermined fixed relationship about axis A2 so as to converge. The hand and forearm of the exerciser would undergo a pronation movement except that the grip handle is allowed to pivot about axis A3 as the lever is pivoted about the axis A1. The hand and forearm move forward and inward, along a converging path, as the lever is pivoted, but pronate or supinate only as desired by, or comfortable to, the exerciser.
An alternate embodiment, as might be used for a curling machine, is basically the same in principle, except that axis A1 is preferably located behind the user""s back and the lever and handle extension members extend more or less horizontally from axis A1 on either side of the user.

Method and apparatus for mechanical emulation of dumbbells


The present invention is a normal temperature-curable hard coat composition containing at least (A) a polysilazane compound having structures shown by the following formula (1) and (B) an alkoxysilane compound. The ratio of [a] the number of Si—H bonds in the polysilazane compound and [b] the number of alkoxy groups in the alkoxysilane compound is in a range of [b]/[a]=1.5 to 3. The present invention provides the normal temperature-curable hard coat composition which has excellent workability on outdoors, cures at normal temperature, improves surface hardness of plastic materials, and is used as an alternative material to glass.

Plastics represented by polycarbonates, acrylic resins, etc. are superior to glass in toughness, light-weight characteristic, and moldability. Thus, effort to substitute glass materials with plastic materials is prominent in each field. Because glass has good transmittance of visible light, it is widely used as a material for house windows etc. in order to see opposite side view. However, it is widely known that while glass has an advantage in scratch resistance because of its hardness, it breaks by strong impact because of its fragileness and broken pieces scatter in some case, causing serious injuries. To overcome the disadvantage, shatter proof glass etc. with a structure in which a scattering prevention film is inserted between glasses are also widely known. However, scattering prevention glass only has an advantage of less glass scatters, and breaks due to impact are not alleviated. In addition, because glass has quite high molding temperature and inferior processability to plastics, it requires quite high molding costs for elaborated design processing. Therefore, there also arises a problem that inexpensive mass-production of general-purpose items is difficult.
On the other hand, plastic materials, such as polycarbonates or acrylic resins, which have been widely adopted as alternative materials to glass, have an advantages in the above points compared to glass. However, plastic materials have serious practical disadvantage compared to glass because of their low surface hardness and easiness to get scratches. For example, plastic materials are easily scratched by flying stones from vehicles in outdoor use, and by nail when people directly touch the plastics.
To solve the problem, a technique has been used in which the surface of plastic materials is covered with a firm hard coat layer so as to increase surface hardness and resistance to scratch. Such transparent hard coats to be used as an alternative material to glass have a number of reports. For example, it is reported that a hard coat layer made of epoxy based silane, acrylic based silane or alkoxysilane mixed with silica fine particles is used as a top coat (for example, Patent Document 1). However, this method always requires heat curing step, and constructions on outdoor etc. are difficult and not realistic. In addition, a method using scaly metal oxide fine particles for a top coat (for example, Patent Document 2) has been reported. However, this method has difficulty in coating on outdoors because of an irradiating step for curing with energy rays, such as microwave etc, and a problem of insufficient hardness after curing.
To improve hardness, a method for forming dense silica as a top coat layer by CVD has also been reported (for example, Patent Document 3). However, formation of the silica film by CVD is less productive and not realistic for use of coating on outdoors because it is batch production or requires a high temperature of several hundred ° C.
Further, as a technique for forming a coating film with high hardness, there is a method in which polysilazane is hydrolyzed and turned to glass. Perhydropolysilazane, which turns to silica glass completely after curing, has sufficiently high coating film hardness, and can be cured even at normal temperature by adding a curing catalyst (for example, Patent Documents 4 to 6). However, because of large volume shrinkage at curing (curing shrinkage), when perhydropolysilazane is applied in a manner of avoiding crack occurrence, the resulting film has a thickness of approximately 1 μm or less. When the substrate has high hardness, perhydropolysilazane does not cause problems. However, when perhydropolysilazane is applied onto relatively soft materials, such as plastic materials, the materials sink due to curing shrinkage, causing a problem that the coating film cannot exhibit the original hardness. To solve the problem, organic polysilazane in which organic groups, such as a methyl group, are introduced is used to reduce curing shrinkage. Thus, in accordance with the introduced amount of the organic groups, the maximum film thickness considerably improves. In addition, the increase in the film thickness enables reduction of the substrate depression. However, polysilazane in which organic groups are introduced is stable compared to perhydropolysilazane, and curing at normal temperature is difficult even if a curing catalyst is added. Although curing at relatively low temperature is possible by adding an amine compound in the organic polysilazane structure, the polysilazane has insufficient hardness and low effect as a hard coat on plastics, such as polycarbonate.
Accordingly, in order to solve the above problems, for coating on outdoors, it is required to develop a normal temperature-curable hard coat composition which is cured around normal temperature, has excellent visible light transmittance like glass, and exhibits sufficient hardness after curing in outdoor use of plastic materials.

Normal temperature-curable hard coat composition


A toner for developing an electrostatic image comprises: a binder resin; and a releasing agent, wherein the binder resin comprises a polycondensation resin obtained by polycondensing a polycondensation monomer in the presence of a polycondensation catalyst, the releasing agent comprises a condensation compound obtained by condensing a condensation monomer in the presence of a condensation catalyst, the toner contains a metallic element derived from the polycondensation catalyst and the condensation catalyst in an amount of from 0 to 10 ppm, and the toner contains a sulfur component in an amount of from 100 to 20,000 ppm.

(i) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a toner for developing an electrostatic image that is used for developing an electrostatic latent image formed by an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method with a developer, and a method for producing the same. The invention also relates to a developer for developing an electrostatic image and a method for forming an image that utilize the toner for developing an electrostatic image.
(ii) Related Art
It has been a major issue to improve dispersibility of a releasing agent in a toner. In the case where a releasing agent is dispersed insufficiently, aggregation in the toner or exposure on the toner surface occurs to cause such a problem as releasing agent offset caused by the releasing agent remaining on a photoreceptor, which might adversely affect image quality particularly on a transparent image forming material, such as an OHP sheet.
A vinyl polymer has been widely used as a binder resin of a toner. Upon using a vinyl polymer having a high molecular weight having a high softening temperature, a fixing roller should be set at a high temperature for obtaining a fixed image excellent in glossiness, which is contrary to energy saving.
On the other hand, a polyester resin has high flexibility as compared to a vinyl polymer owing to a rigid aromatic ring contained in the chain, and thus the molecular weight can be set lower for obtaining the same mechanical strength. Furthermore, a polyester resin has such an advantage that it can be easily designed as a resin for being fixed at a low temperature from the standpoint of entanglement of molecular chains and limited molecular weight as compared to a vinyl binder resin, and thus a polyester resin is often used as a binder resin of a toner.
A polycondensation resin and a condensation compound are generally synthesized by using a metallic compound as a catalyst from the standpoint of the high reactivity thereof and prevention of coloration.
An ordinary condensation or polycondensation reaction generally proceeds at a high temperature exceeding 200° C. and highly reduced pressure under agitation with a large driving force for a prolonged period of time of 10 hours or more, which brings about consumption of a large amount of energy. Furthermore, a large amount of spending is often required for the reaction equipments satisfying the necessary durability.
Investigations relating to a method for producing a polyester resin at a low temperature have been reported in recent years.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Toner for developing electrostatic image, developer for developing electrostatic image, and method for forming image


An image bearing member is provided, including a substrate and a surface layer formed by optically curing at least a radical polymerizable compound with a charge transport structure and a radical polymerizable monomer without a charge transport structure, wherein the transmission factor of the surface layer for light having a wavelength by 25 nm longer than an absorption end wavelength of photo-absorption spectrum of the surface layer prior to optical curing is not less than 65%.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image bearing member, an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge.
2. Discussion of the Background
Recently, organic image bearing members (organic photoconductors (OPC)) have been superseding inorganic image bearing members in the application to photocopiers, facsimile machines, laser printers and their multi-functional machines due to good performance and various other merits. Specific reasons include optical characteristics, for example, the width of the optical absorption wavelength range and the amount of optical absorption electric characteristics, for example, high sensitivity and stable charging characteristics, the wide range of selection for materials, easy manufacturing, low cost, and non-toxicity.
On the other hand the diameter of an image bearing member has been recently reduced in accordance with reduction in the size of an image forming apparatus. On top of that, high speed and maintenance-free performance have been required. Therefore, an image bearing member having high durability is demanded.
An organic image bearing member includes a surface layer mainly formed of a low molecular weight charge transport material and an inactive polymer. Such an image bearing member is soft in general. This leads to a problem that, while an organic image bearing member is repeatedly used in the electrophotographic process, the organic image bearing member easily abrades away due to the mechanical burden on the organic image bearing member received from a developing system and a cleaning system. In addition, toner particles have been reduced in size to improve the quality of images, which requires improvement of the cleaning property and leads to an increase in the hardness of the rubber for use in a cleaning blade and the contact pressure thereof to an image bearing member. This is one of the causes which accelerates the abrasion of an image bearing member. Such abrasion of an image bearing member degrades electric characteristics thereof, for example, sensitivity and chargeability. Thereby, the image density deteriorates and background fouling occurs, resulting in abnormal images. In addition, scars locally made on an image bearing member due to abrasion invite poor cleaning performance, which leads to fouling in a streak manner on an image. In the current status, abrasion and scars on an image bearing member are rate controlling factors for replacement thereof.
Therefore, it is inevitable to decrease the abraded quantity to improve the durability of an organic image bearing member. This is an imminent issue to be solved in this area.
As technologies for improving an anti-abrasion property of a photosensitive layer, for example, (1) unexamined published Japanese patent application No. (hereinafter referred to as JOP) S56-48637 describes a surface layer containing a curing binder; (2) JOP S64-1728 describes a technology in which a polymer type charge transport material is used; and (3) JOP H04-281461 describes a surface layer in which an inorganic filler is dispersed.
In the method described in (1), due to insufficient compatibility with the charge transport material and the presence of impurities, for example, a polymerization initiator and unreacted remaining groups, the remaining voltage tends to rise and the image density tends to deteriorate.
In addition, the methods described in (2) and (3) possibly improve the anti-abrasion property of an organic image bearing member but do not improve the anti-abrasion property to a level desired therefor.
Furthermore, in the method described in (3), the remaining voltage easily rises due to the trapped charge present on the surface of an inorganic filler, which leads to the tendency of deterioration of the image density.
These technologies described in (1) to (3) do not sufficiently provide an organic image bearing member with the total durability desired therefor including electric durability and mechanical durability.
Furthermore, Japanese patent No. (hereinafter referred to as JP) 3262488 describes an image bearing member containing a polyfunctional curing type acrylate monomer to improve the anti-abrasion property and anti-damage property described in (1). In this image bearing member, the protective layer, which is provided on the photosensitive layer, contains a polyfunctional curing type acrylate monomer. However, there is a description that only the protective layer can contain a charge transport material. Furthermore, when a surface layer simply contains a charge transport material having a low molecular weight, a problem of the compatibility with the cured material arises, which causes problems such that the charge transport material having a low molecular weight precipitates, white turbidity phenomenon occurs and the mechanical strength deteriorates.
Furthermore, with regard to this image bearing member, a monomer reacts while a polymeric binder resin is contained, which causes insufficient curing and a problem of the compatibility between the cured material and the binder resin. As a result, the surface tends to be convexo-concave due to phase separation during curing and cause poor cleaning performance.
As an anti-abrasion technology for a photosensitive layer superseding these, JP 3194392 describes a method in which a charge transport layer is formed by application of a liquid containing a monomer having a carbon-carbon double bond (C═C), a charge transport material having a carbon-carbon double bond (C═C), and a binder resin. The binder resin contains a material having a carbon-carbon double bond (C═C) and reactive with the charge transport material and a material not having a carbon-carbon double bond (C═C) and non-reactive with the charge transport material. This image bearing member has a good combination of anti-abrasion property and electric characteristics and draws attention. However, when a non-reactive binder resin is used, the binder resin and a cured material formed through the reaction between the monomer and the charge transport material are not sufficiently compatible, causing phase separation. This tends to lead to the formation of a convexo-concave surface during cross-linking and result in bad cleaning performance. Additionally the binder resin prevents the curing of the monomer. The specifically described monomers are divalent monomers so that the obtained cross linking density is not sufficient and the anti-abrasion property is not satisfactory. Furthermore, even when a reactive binder resin is used since the monomer and the binder resin have a low number of functional groups, it is difficult to have a good combination of the content of linked charge transport materials and cross linking density and obtain sufficient electric characteristics and anti-abrasion properties.
JOP 2004-66425 describes a photosensitive layer containing a compound cured from a positive hole carrier transport compound having at least two chain-reaction polymerizable functional groups in one molecule.
However, since this photosensitive layer contains bulky positive hole carrier transport compounds having at least two chain reaction polymerizable functional groups, distortion may occur in the cured material, which invites a high internal stress and leads to the roughness of the surface layer and the occurrence of cracking over tire. As a result, the photosensitive layer does not have sufficient durability.
Currently these image bearing members of the background art, having a cross linking photosensitive layer in which the charge transport structure is chemically linked, are not sufficient in terms of comprehensive characteristics.
To improve the current situation, the present inventors describe a technology in JOP 2004-302451 of curing a radical polymerizable monomer having at least three functional groups which does not have a charge transport structure and a radical polymerizable compound having one functional group which has a charge transport structure. However, in the technology an irradiating device is used to cure these radical polymerizable monomers for forming the surface layer so that the characteristics of the image bearing member tend to vary depending thereon.

Image bearing member, and image forming apparatus and process cartridge using the same


A lifting frame has a stationary vertical mast (outer mast 1), at least one telescoping lifting mast (inner mast 3), and a lifting carriage (4) movable on the lifting mast. At least one hydraulic line (5) installed on the lifting frame discharges at the lifting carriage (4). When the lifting frame is in the retracted position, the hydraulic line (5) forms a loop (S) which is open on top. The hydraulic line (5) is guided in the vicinity of the loop (S) by a tensioning pulley (6) that dips from above into the loop (S). The tensioning pulley (6) is fastened to a pulley carrier (7). The weight of the pulley carrier can be used to generate a bias force that is exerted on the hydraulic line (5), or drive means connected with the pulley carrier (7) can be provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a lifting frame comprising a vertical mast, at least one telescoping lifting mast, and a lift carriage that can be moved up and down on the lifting mast. An accessory hydraulic system can be fastened to the lift mast. At least one hydraulic line discharges at the lift carriage, is installed on the lifting frame, and forms a loop that is open on the top.
2. Technical Considerations
The term "hydraulic line" as used herein includes what are technically called "dual lines", i.e., a system having two parallel hydraulic lines that are connected to each other and which are generally used as the delivery line and the return line for hydraulic fluid for equipment that uses hydraulic power.
DE 43 35 275 A1 describes a lifting frame which is in the form of a triplex lifting frame. The hydraulic lines for a single-line or dual-line accessory hydraulic system are installed on the lifting frame by means of guide rails (i.e., sections that are open on the side). In this case, the hydraulic lines are inserted, starting from a connection to the vehicle, into the upper end of a guide rail that is fastened to the stationary outer mast (vertical mast) and on the lower end form an open loop before they enter a second guide rail from below. The second guide rail is fastened to the telescoping center mast (lifting mast). The guide rails prevent the hydraulic lines from whipping back and forth and from being squashed when the lifting frame is retracted.
The system described above is complex and expensive to manufacture and install. The guide rails also permanently restrict the driver's field of view in the vicinity of the mast columns of the lifting frame.
The known art also describes how hydraulic lines for an accessory hydraulic system can be wound up on a hose reel and unrolled against spring tension. However, a hose reel cannot be installed inside the dimensions of the lifting frame and, therefore, requires space that must be made available at suitable points of the industrial truck. This limits the amount of space available for the installation of other important components. Seals are also necessary on account of the manner in which the hydraulic line is stored (rotary feed-through), and these seals can fail during operation.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a lifting frame of the general type described above but which, using simple means and occupying a small amount of space, reduces the time, effort, and expense of installing the hydraulic line for the accessory hydraulic system and which also restricts the operator's field of view as little as possible.

Lifting frame with hydraulic lines for an accessory hydraulic system


An improvement to a reusable filtering assembly used in circulating air systems for residential or commercial heating and air conditioning systems. A series of layers consisting of filtering materials disposed between two framing units are comprised of the following: expanded metal lath, a layer of small fiber material, a layer of large fiber material, a layer of small crimp wire cloth, a layer of small fiber material, and a last layer of expanded metal lath. The present invention further comprises a stage loaded series of layers wherein the direction of air flow is from the first layer to the sixth layer comprising: Expanded Metal Lath, Small Fiber, Large Fiber, Small Crimp Wire Cloth, Small Fiber, and Expanded Metal Lath.

Novelty filtering systems comprising multiple layers are known in the prior art, as are filtering elements for circulating air.
For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,228 to d'Augereau discloses a reusable filtering element for residential or commercial heating and air conditioning systems. Although this invention comprises a filtering means for large and small particles separation, the placement order of the various layers plug up the filters catch cell. Furthermore, it impairs the ability for cleaning the system with respect to hair, lint, or grease applications. The prior art consists of further draw backs in the means of bracing the corners of the filtering system, particularly with rivets. Bracing the corners this way exhausts the possibility of disassembling the system, using it in highly corrosive environments, and the ability to clean each layer separately.
The d'Augereau reference also comprises HERSITE coated paint, and rejects the usage of filtering systems in food grade applications. Particularly, this paint has previously chipped off during high pressure cleaning, which has then entered air streams.
Therefore, it is the objective of the present invention to address the need for a novel and more effective filtering system comprising: efficient filter layer arrangements, rivet-less corner connections, and a powder coated grids.

Filter elements for circulating air systems


Carbon nanotube template arrays may be edited to form connections between proximate nanotubes and/or to delete undesired nanotubes or nanotube junctions.

According to the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS), device sizes will continue to shrink, roughly in accordance with Moore's Law (which predicts a doubling of the number of transistors per unit area every 1.5-2 years). As device size requirements grow ever more stringent, traditional silicon lithography techniques may become inadequate, requiring a shift in materials and/or in circuit design techniques to keep pace with demands for improved performance.

Nanotube circuit analysis system and method


An electronic device obtains one or more images of a scene, and displays a preview of the scene. If the electronic device meets levelness criteria, the electronic device provides a first audible and/or tactile output indicating that the camera is obtaining level images of the scene. In some embodiments, the electronic device detects, using one or more sensors, an orientation of a first axis of the electronic device relative to a respective vector, and the levelness criteria include a criterion that is met when the first axis of the electronic device moves within a predefined range of the respective vector. In some embodiments, if the orientation of the first axis of the electronic device moves outside of the predefined range of the respective vector, a second audible and/or tactile output, indicating that the camera is not obtaining level images of the scene, is provided.

Taking a photograph is one of the most important features of any modern smartphone (or other portable multifunction device). Whether it is capturing a memory for a personal library, or for communicating on social media, users are constantly taking and sharing photos. Therefore, it is essential that all users, including low-vision and blind users, be able to take basic photographs, and desirable that they be able to take beautiful and artistic photographs.
Due to the inherent visual aspects of photography, it is difficult for low-vision and blind users to take great photographs with standard user interfaces.

Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for assisted photo-taking


The present invention provides an antenna in that the adhesive intensity of a conductive body formed on a base film is increased, and a semiconductor device including the antenna. The invention further provides a semiconductor device with high reliability that is formed by attaching an element formation layer and an antenna, wherein the element formation layer is not damaged due to a structure of the antenna. The semiconductor device includes the element formation layer provided over a substrate and the antenna provided over the element formation layer. The element formation layer and the antenna are electrically connected. The antenna has a base film and a conductive body, wherein at least a part of the conductive body is embedded in the base film. As a method for embedding the conductive body in the base film, a depression is formed in the base film and the conductive body is formed therein.

In recent years, an object recognition technology has been attracting attention. In this object recognition technology, a history of an object is clarified by assigning an ID (identification) number to the object and performing non-contact communication using a semiconductor device equipped with an antenna. This is useful for production and management of the object. As the semiconductor device, in particular, a wireless chip (also referred to as an ID tag, an IC tag, an IC chip, an RF (radio frequency) tag, a wireless tag, an electronic tag, an RFID (radio frequency identification) and the like) have been introduced in businesses, markets and the like on a trial basis.

Semiconductor device having antenna and method for manufacturing thereof

SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.


Provided herein are immunofluorescence assays that do not use an intensely colored lipophilic dye, and that result in a significant reduction of fluorescence due to aldehyde fixation, collagen, elastin, and/or red blood cells. In certain embodiments of the present invention, a two-step treatment of the tissue is contemplated that leads to the incorporation of reduced heteropoly acids or salts thereof (e.g., phosphomolybdate species) in the tissue. This reagent binds tightly to hydrophilic regions of the tissue and effectively quenches the fluorescence in those regions. In doing so, the overall signal-to-noise ratio for the immunofluorescence assay is increased.

Immunofluorescence is a technique where a fluorescence microscope is used to visualize targets of interest in a biological section that is affixed to a microscope slide. This technique uses the specificity of fluorescently labeled antibodies or probes that bind to specific targets within a cell, and therefore allows for the examination of the distribution of the target molecules through the tissue sample. Immunofluorescence is widely used in biological and medical sciences.
Fluorescence detection in tissue samples can often, however, be hindered by the presence of strong background fluorescence. "Autofluorescence" is the general term used to distinguish background fluorescence (that can arise from a variety of sources, including aldehyde fixation, extracellular matrix components, red blood cells, lipofuscin, and the like) from the desired immunofluorescence from the fluorescently labeled antibodies or probes. Tissue autofluorescence can lead to difficulties in distinguishing the signals due to fluorescent antibodies or probes from the general background.
There are products on the market that attempt to remedy the problem, e.g., (1) Sigma/EMD Millipore offers a product referred to as Autofluorescence Eliminator; (2) Biotium offers a product called TrueBlack Lipofuscin Autofluorescence Quencher; and (3) MaxVision Biosciences offers a product called MaxBlock Autofluorescence Reducing Reagent Kit.
Each of these products uses a similar approach in efforts to lower tissue fluorescence. A very intense black dye (Sudan Black, or comparable dark chromophore) is applied to the tissue, which masks the fluorescent material in the tissue by binding non-specifically to lipophilic regions. By absorbing incident radiation, the dye essentially acts as a filter to reduce the bright signals due to the autofluorescent tissue components. However, this reduction in fluorescence only occurs where the dark chromophore binds, which is lipophilic sections of the tissue. Thus, these products are targeted specifically to the lowering of fluorescence due to lipofuscin, which is observed in some types of tissue.
These and other limitations of state of the art immunofluorescence assays and reagents employed for such assays are hereby addressed by the present invention.


An encapsulated particle includes a core particle. The core particle includes a fertilizer selected from the group of nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and sulfur, and combinations thereof. The core particle may also include herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. The encapsulated particle also includes a polyurethane layer disposed about the core particle. The polyurethane layer includes the reaction product of an aromatic isocyanate component and a polyol that is reactive with the aromatic isocyanate component. The aromatic isocyanate component includes methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, and mixtures thereof. The polyol that is reactive with the aromatic isocyanate component is derived from an aromatic amine-based initiator and includes a toluene diamine. The aromaticity of the aromatic isocyanate component and the polyol serves to insure complete miscibility between the aromatic isocyanate and the polyol thereby forming the polyurethane layer without defects preventing water from permeating the polyurethane layer and dissolving the core particle.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention generally relates to an encapsulated particle. More specifically, the subject invention relates to an encapsulated particle that includes a polyurethane layer disposed about a core particle and that is used as a controlled-release fertilizer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Encapsulated particles that are used as controlled-release fertilizers are known in the art. Specifically, the encapsulated particles include layers disposed about core particles. More specifically, the layers that are disposed about the core particles include polyurethane layers. A thickness and external integrity of the polyurethane layers limit a rate that the core particles dissolve in a soil that includes water and moisture.
More specifically, prior art encapsulated particles include a core particle selected from a group of fertilizer particles. The disadvantages of using the prior art encapsulated particles include inconsistent external integrity and thickness of the polyurethane layers resulting in a very fast rate that the core particles dissolve in the soil. As is known in the art, the very fast rate that the core particles dissolve in the soil leads to phytotoxicity. Additional disadvantages of using the prior art encapsulated particles include an inability to effectively customize the thickness of the polyurethane layer disposed about the core particle and the requirement of expensive and perishable manufacturing components, such as castor oil. Castor oil is utilized for the production of the polyurethane layers serving as a polyol that is reactive with an isocyanate to form the polyurethane layers.
Specifically, castor oil is subject to unpredictable market price fluctuations and unpredictable quality control. Further, castor oil is perishable and thus is not suitable for long term storage and use in mass production of encapsulated particles. Still further, castor oil contains double bonds in its lipid structure and is prone to lipid oxidation. Lipid oxidation occurs when the double bonds in the castor oil react with oxygen to form peroxides and change the chemical nature of the castor oil. Finally, castor oil is not aromatic. When serving as a polyol that is reactive with an aromatic isocyanate to form the polyurethane layers, castor oil is not completely miscible with the aromatic isocyanate due to a lack of aromaticity, and thus, is not suitable for use.
Most importantly, the primary disadvantage of the prior art encapsulated particles includes a tendency to exhibit polyurethane layers that include defects. Defects in the polyurethane layers result from an incomplete miscibility between an isocyanate and a polyol that is reactive with the isocyanate to form the polyurethane layers. For example, when an organic, non-aromatic polyol is combined with an aromatic isocyanate, miscibility may not be complete. Rather, the organic, non-aromatic polyol could react with the aromatic isocyanate only at their interface.
Incomplete miscibility between the aromatic isocyanate and the non-aromatic polyol subsequently leads to polyurethane layers that include defects such as pits and depressions. When the polyurethane layer that includes defects is disposed about the core particle, the pits and depressions allow water and other liquids to permeate the polyurethane layer and rapidly dissolve the core particle. To cure the defects, multiple polyurethane layers must be disposed about the core particle resulting in a time consuming and expensive process.
Many different layers can be disposed about core particles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,531 to Hudson discloses a plurality of water insoluble, abrasion resistant layers disposed about a core particle that includes a controlled-release fertilizer. A first layer is disposed about the core particle and includes a polyurethane derived from the reaction product of an aromatic isocyanate and a non-aromatic polyol that is reactive with the aromatic isocyanate. A second layer, formed from an organic wax, is disposed about the first layer to cover any defects in the first layer and prevent water and other liquids from permeating the first layer and rapidly dissolving the core particle. The '531 patent does not disclose the use of a polyol derived from an aromatic amine-based initiator.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,686 to Geiger and U.S. Pub. Nos. 2004/0020254 and 2004/0016276 to Wynnyk, all assigned to Agrium® Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, also disclose a polyurethane layer disposed about a core particle. The '686 patent and the '254 and '276 publications disclose the use of aromatic isocyanates including diphenylmethane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, and mixtures thereof. Additionally, the '686 patent and the '254 and '276 publications disclose the use of non-aromatic polyols including castor oil and hydrogenated castor oil. Yet, neither the '686 patent nor the '254 and '276 publications disclose the use of a polyol derived from an aromatic amine-based initiator.
Yet, the controlled-release fertilizers disclosed in the '686 patent and the '254 and '276 publications are not the sole prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,475,154 to Kato discloses a polymer layer disposed about a coated pellet. The polymer layer includes the reaction product of active hydrogen, in the form of polyols and polyamines, and an aromatic isocyanate. The '154 patent does not disclose the use of a polyol derived from an aromatic amine-based initiator.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,264,089 to Hansen and U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,659 to Moore disclose a plurality of polyurethane layers disposed about a core particle. The polyurethane layers include the reaction product of an aromatic isocyanate and a polyol. In both the '089 and '659 patents, the aromatic isocyanate includes methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, and mixtures thereof. Additionally, in both the '089 and '659 patents, the polyol includes polyether diols and polyols. Further, in the '659 patent, the polyol involves reactions with amine-terminating groups. Yet, neither the '089 patent nor the '659 patent disclose the use of a polyol derived from an aromatic amine-based initiator. Specifically, in the '659 patent, the polyol reacting with the amine-terminating groups is not equivalent to a polyol derived from an aromatic amine-based initiator. Namely, in the '659 patent, the polyol that includes amine terminating groups is not aromatic and therefore is not completely miscible with aromatic isocyanates. Conversely, the polyol derived from an aromatic amine-based initiator is terminated in an alkyl group and not an amine group. Additionally, the polyol derived from an aromatic amine-based initiator includes amine functionality at the beginning of the alkyl chain. Therefore, the polyol derived from an aromatic amine-based initiator is fully miscible with aromatic isocyanates and is unlike any polyol disclosed in either the '089 patent or the '659 patent.

Polyurethane-encapsulated particle comprising polyol derived from aromatic amine-based initiator


The present invention discloses an inorganic bone adhesive and its use in human hard tissue repairs. The inorganic bone adhesive comprises basic compound, phosphate, calcium phosphate bone cement and retarder with the characteristics of rapid hydration rate and high early strength. Inorganic Bone adhesive can be widely used in the artificial joints fixation, screw fixation as well as comminuted fracture fixation. It is a kind of safe and effective adhesive material and beneficial for the fast postoperative recovery. The final hydration reaction products contains the composition of magnesium phosphate, bio-mineral containing ammonium and apatite-like materials, which has excellent biocompatibility and can be gradually absorbed by surrounding tissues after being implanted in vivo, which benefits the in-growth of the new bone.

Fracture by trauma is the common disease in orthopaedics, and the treatment of the unstable fracture (comminuted fracture) is a longstanding problem for the surgeons. At present, the methods of incision restoration with internal fixation have been widely adopted in clinics home and abroad, and the main of which include micro-plates screw fixation, intramedullary fixation, tension wire fixation, introosseous wire suture fixation, intraosseous nylon suture fixation, traditional intersection Kernig needle fixation and absorbable polymeric screw fixation, and so on. These methods have different flaws, which affect the therapeutic effect and functional restoration of the patients. For example, since all of the internal fixation materials are foreign ones, the foreign reactions inevitably occur with different extents. So the second operation is unavoidable in order to take the internal fixation materials out, which certainly brings the patient extra pain and economic burden. The large area of the wound affects the healing of the bone. The operation is a troublesome process with high degree of difficulty. Moreover, the biocompatibility of the implanted materials is bad and the fixed strength is low, especially in the spongy bone areas.
In order to overcome the shortcomings of internal fixation and to solve the problems on the fixation of the small blocks of comminuted fractures, the methods taken in clinics nowadays include the follows:
1. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) Bone Cement
Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement is composed of methylmethacrylate, initiator and some filling materials. The free radical polymerization occurs following the addition of monomer liquid in powder until turning into hard solid. Before setting, the paste can be easily molded and show adhesion. It is usually used for the fixation of artificial joint prosthesis and that of some comminuted fracture (Kerong Dai, Bone and Joint Injuries Magazine, 1995, 10(4): 210–212). But the strong exothermic behavior in the setting reaction will cause the peripheral tissues necrosis. As the main components of organic glasses, PMMA is aged, loosing and falling apart after a long time implantation due to its bad biocompatibility. Its monomer is poisonous and has stimulating smell, which can bring the blood pressure of the patients lower suddenly and even result in the sudden death. When it is used as adhesion, the ratio of long-dated loose and revision of prosthesis is relatively high. The non-degradation characteristic of the materials will keep the fracture from healing and growing for comminuted fracture. In general, the effect of the fixation in comminuted fracture is not very ideal due to the defects of the material itself.
2. For comminuted fracture, fracture reduction is usually adopted, followed by microplates screw fixation (Prevel et al, J-Hand-Surg-Am, 1995; 20(1): 44–49) or intramedullary fixation (Gonzalez et al, Clin-orthop, 1996, 327:47–54), which is effective for the massive bone fracture. It is much difficult to the fixation of the small blocks of bone fracture. In spongy bone areas, moreover, the screw fixation method still has the disadvantage of weak strength, even for the massive bone fracture. The postoperative slippage occurs frequently, which affects the postoperative effects and makes the secondary operation necessary.
Some absorbable internal fixation materials have been developed to eliminate the secondary operation, such as polycaprolactone (Lowry K. J et al., J. Biomed Mater. Res., 1997 36(4): 536–541), and calcium phosphate glass fibre enhanced poly-lactic acid (Slivka M. A et al., J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 36(4): 469–477). But the rapid decline in their mechanical strength limits their applications.
3. For screw fixation, the slippage usually occurs due to the incompact combination between the screw and the spongy bone. The polymer bone cement, such as PMMA, is used to perfuse the bore surrounding the screw in clinics and the screw is fixed after the setting of the cement. Consequently, the fixation strength is enhanced. But it becomes loose and falls apart eventually due to the bad biocompatibility and non-degradation characters of PMMA itself.
4. At present, PMMA is used popularly in the joint fixation and filling of defects after the revision of the prosthesis. (Kuhn K. D. et al., bone cements, Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 2000). Although some improvements on PMMA have been made including the decrease of its heat liberation, the increase of fluidity and injection capacity, some disadvantages still exist, like bad biocompatibility, long-term shedding and higher revision ratios.
For the fixation of the fracture, screw and prosthesis of the joints, all available materials and methods exist disadvantages with different extents. It is desirable to improve their properties, especially biocompatibility, exothermicity and fixation strength.
The magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) is popularly used in the rush repair of the airfield and road, owing to the rapid setting and high early strength characteristics (WO 9721639 AI, 1997). Weill et al., disclosed a kind of calcium phosphate bone cement containing magnesium oxide, soluble phosphate, sand and fly ash, which is used in the rush repairs in constructions (U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,762). Sechra disclosed a fast setting cement used in concrete pavements repairs (Cement Concrete Research 1993, 23: 254–66). All of these have no special requirements to the components and purities of the raw materials, hydration reaction heat, and the toxicity of the materials and additives.
Hirano et al., disclosed the calcium-containing magnesium phosphate cement with the component of Ca3Mg3(PO4)4 and eugenol solvents, which is used for the root canal filling and repair (JP 04352706, 1992). The results indicated that the cement was non-toxic with good biocompatibility. But its hardening process was slow and lasts about 40 min. In particular, the early strength is not high.
Frazier D. D et al, disclosed a kind of poly (propylene glycol-fumarate) bone cement reinforced by particles of calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate. Its early adhesive strength can up to 30 MPa, and its highest compressive strength can reach 300 MPa (J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 1997, 35(3): 383–389). Sakai T. et al., disclosed 4-META/MMA-TBB bone cement filled with hydroxyapatite (HAP) (J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 2000, 52(1): 24–29), which indicated that the incorporation of HAP was beneficial for the post-stability of the cement and bone fixation. But the compressive strengths of these two kinds of cements were derived from the polymerization of monomers, rather than the hydration of the inorganic component. Moreover, the materials can't be absorbed after being implanted in vivo, and the foreign materials exist all along. In addition, the heat liberation from polymerization process will bum the peripheral tissues.

Inorganic bone adhesion agent and its use in human hard tissue repair

East China University of Science and Technology


Disclosed are a separator for a battery, which comprises a gel polymer layer formed on a substrate, the gel polymer layer including a plurality of three-dimensional open pores interconnected with each other, and an electrochemical device comprising the same separator. Also, disclosed is a method for preparing the gel polymer layer including a plurality of three-dimensional open pores interconnected with each other on a substrate.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a separator for a battery comprising a gel polymer layer having a three-dimensional open porous structure, a method for preparing the same, and an electrochemical device comprising the same separator.
2. Background Art
Recently, there has been increasing interest in energy storage technology. Batteries have been widely used as energy sources in portable phones, camcorders, notebook computers, PCs and electric cars, resulting in intensive research and development. In this regard, electrochemical devices are subjects of great interest. Particularly, development of rechargeable secondary batteries has been the focus of attention.
Secondary batteries are chemical batteries capable of repeating charge/discharge cycles via reversible conversion between chemical energy and electric energy, and may be classified into Ni-MH secondary batteries and lithium secondary batteries.
A separator serves to prevent an internal short circuit caused by direct contact between a cathode and an anode of a lithium secondary battery and to allow ion penetration. A currently used separator is generally based on polyethylene (also referred to as 'PE' hereinafter) or polypropylene (also referred to as 'PP' hereinafter).
Meanwhile, conventional lithium polymer batteries use a separator on which a dense gel polymer layer is coated. Such a dense gel polymer layer is formed by dissolving a polymer into a solvent to form a coating solution and dipping a polyolefin-based separator into the coating solution.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,904 to A. S. Gozdz discloses a hybrid type polyvinylidene fluoride (also referred to as 'PVdF' hereinafter)-based polymer electrolyte. The hybrid type PVdF-based polymer electrolyte is obtained by imparting submicron-sized nanopores to a polymer matrix by using a plasticizer and injecting an organic electrolyte into the pores. However, in this case, an additional step of extracting the plasticizer contained in the polymer matrix is required, and thus the overall process is undesirably complicated. Additionally, if the plasticizer is not completely extracted from the polymer matrix, the remaining plasticizer may cause degradation of the quality of a battery. Moreover, a PVdF-based electrolyte shows poor adhesion to an electrode, although it has a relatively high mechanical strength.

Method for preparing separator for battery with gel polymer layer


A process and an apparatus for biological conversion (composting) of organic waste material, e.g. from kitchens or restaurants, involving use of a heat-insulated housing (1) having at least two separate chambers (7, 8). In the first chamber (7), organic material is introduced and treated in the presence of microorganisms until an intermediate stage of conversion into biomass only. A portion of the partially converted material, responsive to a certain temperature measured in the first chamber (7), is transferred for a final composting into the second chamber (8). Waste organic material is newly introduced into the first chamber (7) and treated therein together with a remaining portion of the partially converted material; thereby, because of the presence of a sufficient amount of active microorganisms in the first chamber (7), the process of conversion of the newly introduced waste material is started immediately. If desired, drying and/or sterilizing of the composted material can be performed in a third chamber. A transportation unit (40) can be temporarily coupled to the second or third chamber for receiving the composted material from the second or third chamber and for transporting it to a remote place for further use. A number of transportation units can be combined to form a transportation set.

This invention relates generally to a process and an apparatus for the biological conversion (composting) of organic materials in biomass wherein the organic materials are treated by finely comminuting and mixing them for a time in a substantially enclosed environment.
It is known to one skilled in the art that organic materials, in particular wastes from private households, restaurants etc., may be converted (composted) into reusable, valuable biomass (compost or decomposed material). It is known from German patent specification DE-C-38 37 865 to compost in a drum-shaped reaction container used together with a separate conditioning apparatus wherein material, prior to being put into the reaction container, is ground, or comminuted, to a suitable particle size, thereby allowing composting in the reaction container with a shortened starter phase (that is, the composting is accelerated more quickly). The advantage of having a fast acting conversion reaction must be weighed against relatively cost-intensive apparatus therefor, usually not suitable for stationary use in restaurant operations and the like. It is further known from prior art to compost in a one-step procedure with relatively compact apparatus (German patent specification DE-C-38 44 700) wherein the grinding and mixing of the material to be treated takes place in one and the same reactor until thorough composting is achieved. In this regard, it is also known (compare for example German patent DE-A-38 19 979) to accomplish one-step composting in a pivotal drum. The pivotal drum may, for example, be separated into two chambers (U.S. Pat. No. 38 37 810; German patent application DE-A-40 00 916) thereby allowing alternating operation so that smaller batches may be processed. One-step batch composting entails a comparatively long treatment period due to a necessarily long starter period for each batch even when, as already suggested (British patent document GB-C-1 022 127), the material to be treated is provided with a suitable quantity of microorganisms for speeding up the conversion process. Thus, a product is often thereby produced which is unsuitable for immediate use, for example in nurseries and the like, without further treatment. On the other hand, apparatus of the latter kind have the advantage, due to their compactness, that they are basically suitable for an economical, stationary use at a place of waste creation.
It is an object of this invention to provide a process and an apparatus as described above suitable to allow a conversion of wastes into a reusable biomass in a shortened treatment time period at a place of waste generation in a quasi-continuous process. This invention is geared in particular to an improvement of the biological conversion procedure of the invention of German patent De-C-38 44 700.

Process and apparatus for the biological conversion of organic material in biomass


An inventory management system provides automated management of medical item inventory and maintenance of a digital chain of custody for medical items. Medical items are labeled with an RFID-encoded tag that also displays a 2D barcode. The RFID tag and the 2D barcode both encode the same serialized Electronic Product Code (EPC) data for each specific item. Reading of the RFID tag is performed using a fixed or handheld RFID reader. Reading of the 2D barcode is performed using a handheld mobile device, such as a tablet or smart phone. The two-technology label allows for the digital chain of custody to be updated by means of RFID scanning in locations where RFID readers are available and by using a smart phone or tablet to read the 2D barcode in locations where RFID readers are unavailable.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in expensive medical devices exchange hands each year. Such devices are shipped to sales representatives, distributors, hospital materials management, and clinicians. Delivery of a medical device to a particular person in a particular location does not always mean that the device will remain in the custody of the receiving person. The device often changes hands between multiple persons and at multiple locations. This commonly occurs when medical device sales representatives share inventory.
Because of the high cost and often limited availability of stock, medical device inventory is frequently shared within a defined area by multiple sales representatives. Typically, this inventory is managed manually and may be stored in a tote bag or box in locations under control of the sales representative, such as in the representative's home or car.
Inventory may also be managed in an automated fashion, such as using RFID identification technology. This is a proven and preferred option for locations such as hospitals. Items may be stored in access-controlled areas where RFID tags are read by fixed or handheld RFID readers. Problems can arise when deploying this type of technology in the field for inventory management. Some of the issues with deploying handheld RFID readers to sales representatives in the field include the high cost of the readers, complications associated with hardware maintenance, and the ability to manage items without stray RFID reads.
What is needed, therefore, is a system for maintaining an inventory of medical devices using multiple identification encoding technologies appropriate for hospital and field applications, including lower cost and less complicated identification technology for users in the field.

Maintaining medical device chain of custody using multiple identification encoding technologies


A modular fan cover assembly for inclusion on an electric motor is selectively configurable for degrees of reduced noise operation. The modular fan cover assembly includes a plurality of cooperating components arranged to direct fluid communication through the assembly. The components may include, for example, a fan cover defining a fan chamber for enclosing the fan, an inlet cover including an inlet chamber and a plurality of inlet apertures, and a silencing insert selectively includable with the fan cover assembly that may include one or more silencing features. The selective combination of the components can redirect airflow through various turns or bend in the modular fan cover assembly to trap or suppress noise propagating from the electric motor. The modular fan cover assembly may be operatively equipped with a blower assembly.

Electric motors such as alternating current induction motors often require cooling to remove the heat generated during operation. To provide that cooling, electric motors are sometimes equipped with fans arranged to direct airflow externally around the motor housing or in some cases into the motor housing. A fan cover may be provided to enclose the fan and may include apertures to direct ambient air around or into the motor. In addition, the apertures may be arranged to facilitate the airflow to improve cooling and/or motor operation.


A method for resource allocation includes acquiring resource information indicating an available wireless resource and an available computing resource, and allocating the available wireless resource and the available computing resource for a transmission mode of a wireless transmission based on the resource information and a system utility requirement.

In general, a wireless system performs, two main functions: wireless transmission and traffic processing. The wireless transmission function includes, for example, transmitting and receiving data traffic through a medium such as an air interface, and the traffic processing function includes, for example, encoding, decoding and executing corresponding operations of the data traffics. However, these two functions usually operate independently, resulting in poor system utilization. For example, the wireless system may grant a request for wireless transmission even when the computational task in process is overloaded.
Therefore, a joint resource allocation of wireless and computing resources is needed for improving performance of the wireless system.

Methods and related devices for resource allocation


A method of preparing a lead magnesium niobium oxide (PMN), Pb(Mg.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3, precursor solution by a solvent method wherein a liquid solution of a lead-complex PMN precursor is combined with a liquid solution of a niobium-complex PMN precursor, the combined lead- and niobium-complex liquid solutions are reacted with a magnesium-alkyl solution, forming a PMN precursor solution and a lead-based precipitate, and the precipitate is separated from the reacted liquid PMN precursor solution to form a precipitate-free PMN precursor solution. This precursor solution can be processed to form both ferroelectric powders and thin films.

The perovskite phase of lead magnesium niobate, Pb(Mg.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 (PMN) is of interest for use in thin film capacitors and micro-electromechanical systems due to the very high dielectric constant and the electromechanical properties of PMN. The perovskite phase of PMN is very disordered and considered a classical relaxor ferroelectric. A relaxor ferroelectric can be distinguished from normal ferroelectric material by several properties. First, it has a broad Curie maximum point. The Curie point is the temperature at which ferroelectric material (material in which electric domains tend to be aligned parallel to one another) becomes paraelectric. For PMN, this broad Curie point is reportedly due to lattice and cation disorders which result in short range order, coupled with chemical inhomogeneous micro-regions. Other characteristics include a diffuse phase transition and a low-frequency dispersion of the dielectric constant. Single crystals of PMN have been shown to have a maximum dielectric constant of about 20,000 at 1 kHz; however, thin film dielectric permitivities are estimated to be around 1250 at room temperature. The electrical differences have been defined by the presence of a pyrochlore phase formed during the initial stages of conversion from metal alkoxides to the ceramic form.
Sol-gel-derived thin films are favored for production of PMN films due to the flexibility in the characteristics of solution precursors, the variety of deposition methodologies, and the reduction of the sintering temperatures. The standard solution approach to generating PMN thin films typically involves either using commercially available precursors and dissolving them in 2-methoxyethanol, which acts as both a solvent and a chemical modifier, or synthesizing large metallorganic "soap-derivative" (neo-decanoate) compounds using organic solvents such as xylenes. For the former method, water is generated as a by-product and further uncontrolled modifications occur. For the latter, identification of intermediates and higher organic pyrolysis temperatures are required due to the increased hydrocarbon content present.
Ravindranathan et al. ("Solution-Sol-Gel Processing of Lead Magnesium Niobate Thin Films," Ferroelectric Letters, Vol. 12, 1990, 29-34) teach a methoxyethanol approach to generating PMN thin films. In that method, commercially available acetates and alkoxides are heated in the presence of methoxyethanol to convert them to the methoxyethoxide derivatives. Ravindranathan's alcohol (methoxyethanol) necessarily serves both as solvent and modifier of precursor material.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,248, issued to Ogata et al. on Jan. 13, 1987, a method is taught for precipitation of PMN precursor powders using metal alkoxides and water in alcohol solution. The alkoxides are mixed together and then hydrolized for 3 hours at elevated temperature to directly form the PMN precursor powders. An improvement would be to prepare a precursor solution from which either powders or thin films could be prepared (see Boyle, T. J., Dimos, D. B., and Moore, G. J., Ceram. Trans., First Internat. Symp. Adv. Synthesis Processing, in press). A further improvement would be to eliminate the hydrolization processing step so that synthesis could be performed without the 3-hr refluxing at elevated temperature.
Swartz et al, (U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,269, issued on Mar. 30, 1993) teach the basic physical process of deposition and heat treatment of metal alkoxide and acetate sol-gel coatings, a method commonly used to make thin films. For example, Swartz et al. disclose the benefit of insensitivity of the first deposition to a substrate, heat treatment to make the deposition isostructural to a second deposition, and further heat treatments--all physical considerations. Swartz et al. also teach the method of preparing thin film ferroelectric material precursors using methoxyethanol by a method similar to that described by Ravindranathan et al. (1990).

Sol-gel preparation of lead magnesium niobate (PMN) powders and thin films


An electronic identification, control, and security system comprises an electric power distribution network having a plurality of electric conductors and a plurality of electrical outlets providing electrical coupling, a controller electrically coupled to the distribution network through one of the electrical outlets, and an appliance electrically coupled to the distribution network through one of the electrical outlets. The appliance includes security and control logic, a communication interface coupled to the distribution network, and circuitry or software for disabling operation of the appliance. The controller transmits individualized information to the appliance via the distribution network independently of a physical location of the appliance. The controller may be a personal computer or a portable unit. The appliance includes a unique identification code stored therein, and the individualized information contains an address portion containing this unique identification code. The appliance also includes a security code stored therein. The security code must be transmitted to allow operation of the appliance.

Continued advances in the field of consumer electronics and appliances have added a significant number of features to these devices which makes their operation simpler, while at the same time increasing their overall functionality. Most pieces of consumer electronics and appliances manufactured today include some sort of computer control within the unit itself. These computers control everything from automatically remembering leap year and adjusting the number of days in February, to controlling the on-screen menu display, picture in picture control, cook cycle time control, to name just a few. While these microprocessors are controlling ever increasing functionality of the consumer electronic devices and appliances into which they are incorporated, their capacity for further increases remains vast. Even with these advanced features and computer control, modern manufacturing techniques have allowed the cost of these devices to decrease since their initial introduction onto the market. However, even with such decreases, the cost of these electronic devices and appliances still remains fairly expensive.
One feature with which most consumers have become quite accustomed is the ability to remotely control their TV, stereo, VCR, camcorder, etc. While several items of consumer electronics offer this remote control feature in a line-of-sight fashion with a hand held remote controller, the desire to electrically remotely control other appliances in a non-line-of-sight fashion also exists.
In order to fulfill this desire to allow remote control of home appliances, electronic equipment, lighting, etc., several systems have been developed which allow control communications over a home's electrical wiring system. However, since most home appliances and electronic equipment do not include communications and control circuitry to allow reception of the electrical system communication control signals, many of the systems which have been developed utilize separate plug-in modules which interface between an appliance's electrical cord and the home electrical outlet. While there is currently still no universally accepted standard for this communication over a home's electrical wiring system, two protocols have emerged as the forerunners, and serve as a basis for many of the systems currently designed. The first such protocol is commercially known and marketed as the X-10 communications protocol. The second communications protocol which appears to be in wide use at this time is known as the consumer electronics bus protocol (CEBus). However, as mentioned above, neither one of these two has gained universal acceptance in the design of remotely controllable systems for home consumer appliances, lighting, etc. Indeed, several systems which claim to allow remote control of home appliances, lighting, etc., utilize their own communications protocol which does not adhere to either one of the two aforementioned communication protocol forerunners.
Exemplary systems which claim to allow remote control of home appliances, lighting, etc., may be found with reference to the following documents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,567,557; 5,051,720; 5,334,975; 5,400,246; 5,471,190; 5,491,463; 5,554,968; 5,570,085; 5,621,662; and European Patent Application No. 89 121025.4 bearing Publication No. 0 369 382 A2. The disclosure of each of these documents, particularly as they relate to communications protocols allowing remote communications over an electrical distribution system, are hereby incorporated by reference.
While each of the above-identified systems claim certain benefits for a remotely controllable system, none of the systems are able to distinguish individual appliances within a household, other than by their physical or programmed location within the household. Specifically, many of the above systems utilize separate control modules which are plugged into the house's electrical outlets, and may be themselves remotely controlled via communication received over the electrical wiring system. However, if one were to unplug a particular appliance from one of these modules and move it to a different physical location within the house, the remote control system has no way of knowing that this has taken place without manual user interaction. While this reprogramming may seem to be a minor problem in view of the infrequency with which most consumer electronics and appliances are actually moved within a household, in view of the fact that many people have trouble reprogramming their VCR clock, it is a problem to be avoided nonetheless.
The unacceptability of this problem may be best highlighted through an example. Assuming, without admitting, that a remotely controlled system were capable of disabling a device, such as a television, at a certain time, if a parent were to disable a television set located in a child's room after 8:00 PM, a child would only have to unplug the television set from the current electrical receptacle and replug the television set into a different electrical receptacle in order to defeat the system programming and allow continued television viewing after 8:00 PM. While the parent could conceivably disable all of the electrical outlets to the child's room, such is undesirable as this would prevent the child from using a night light, clock radio alarm, etc. in his room. While this may appear to be a simplistic example, parents with kids who own video games may well disagree.
An additional problem with electronic appliances exists mainly due to their expense and ease of portability. This problem is the ease with which electronic appliances are stolen from homes, warehouses, and during transit. Because these devices are so enjoyable to own, and yet are priced out of the reach of many citizens, a significant market for stolen electronic appliances exists. Their ease of portability and lack of security features and identification, as well as the relativity high probability that the recipient of the stolen merchandise will not be caught, or if so not prosecuted, only exacerbates this problem. Currently, most consumer electronics devices only carry a written serial number on the device to identify it in the event of a theft. However, since many individuals fail to record or register this serial number, attempts to recover merchandise once it has been stolen is nearly impossible.
A device which attempts to overcome this problem is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,779, issued to Bisak on Jun. 4, 1991 for a SECURITY DEVICE. The system contemplated by this patent utilizes a receiver-decoder which is adapted and arranged to allow the appliance to operate in its normal mode when the receiver-decoder receives a predetermined code carried via the electrical wiring system within the home. If this predetermined code is not received by the receiver-decoder, the appliance enters a security mode of operation. Various alternative security modes of operation are described in this patent including the use of an alarm within the device, trigger a transmitter device to sound an external alarm, or transmit a silent signal to the police department upon being plugged in to allow the apprehension of the thieves. The encoder-transmitter of this system is arranged to frequency or phase modulate a carrier signal with a binary digital code and transmit that signal over the electrical wiring system to the electronic appliance plugged into the wall socket of the household. Once a consumer has set a particular code and transmitted that code over the electrical system to the electronic appliance, that code is kept in memory and used to compare subsequent receptions to determine of the appliance is still connected within that consumer's household.
However, as with the above-described control systems, the system of the Bisak '779 patent does not allow for individual identification of electronic appliances coupled to the system. Nor does this system allow any type of control of the electronic devices coupled to the electrical system of house. Further, this security device operates on its own communications protocol operating at 260 kHz and transmitting a unique binary digital code which is suited only to the security feature.

Electronic identification, control, and security system for consumer electronics and the like


Cylindrical sieve for paper pulp strainer of the type of thin sheetmetal is formed by juxtaposition of U-shaped sectional elements (2) made from a metal strip. The element (2) has a first flange (3), a bottom (4), followed by a second flange (5) bent over toward the exterior of the U-shaped element on itself so as to define a space (6) in the fold thus formed, intended to receive and hold the first flange (3') of the adjacent element (2'). The base of the U-shaped element is pricked to form depressions or slots.

The present invention relates to a process of making a cylindrical slotted sieve for strainers and classifiers of paper pulp obtained from used paper, and the sieve manufactured by this process.
In the manufacture of paper pulp from used paper numerous sieves are used both for removing the impurities and for classifying the fibers according to their length.
These sieves are generally perforated cylinders mounted fixed in an enclosed space having at least one inlet of dirty pulp, one outlet of sifted pulp, and one outlet for the waste. The pulp is agitated by one or several vanes which rotate at great speed in the immediate vicinity of the perforated surface.
According to the characteristics of the pulp to be strained (for example the length of the fibers, the nature and size of the contaminants), one uses sieves with holes or with slots. In addition these perforations are usually accompanied by an obstacle which produces pulsations favoring the sifting.
The perforations are normally made by machining sheetmetal of a thickness of about one centimeter. But as this machining presents great difficulties, the applicant has made a sieve from a sheetmetal of thin thickness, of the order of 2 millimeters described in EP-A-O 0 354,846. This sieve has U-sections joined side by side and their bottom is perforated. The perforations are also obtained by machining (sawing, drilling) and the thinness of the sheetmetal greatly simplifies these operations.
However, this technique of making cylindrical sieves of thin sheetmetal still presents difficulties:
when the cylinder is obtained by juxtaposition of arched, i.e., U-shaped, sections, the sections are joined and held tightly together by welding of the adjacent walls or by placing a rider which pinches the two walls. In practice this connection can be made only when the walls of the U-shaped sections are turned toward the outside of the cylinder; PA1 when it is provided that the sifting openings are associated with an obstacle, the machining is such that it is always situated on the outward side of the bottom of the U-shaped section. PA1 the pricking is done on the external face of the bottom of the U toward the interior. As the surface of the sieve is defined by the external face of the bottom of the U, this surface then presents a plurality of perforated hollows: PA1 the distance between two successive pricks is small so that, considered in the direction of flow of the pulp, the inclined face of a deformation is immediately followed by the vertical wall, the profile being then in sawtooth form. PA1 the pricking is done on the inner face of the bottom of the U toward the exterior. Here, the surface of the sieve then presents a plurality of obstacles in relief; PA1 the pricking pattern is determined so that the adjacent and opposite lateral ends of two adjacent obstacles form, when the U-shaped elements are juxtaposed, a groove of approximately concave form.
As the walls of the U-shaped sections are turned toward the outside of the cylinder, this practically makes only the production of centrifugal sieves possible.

Process of making a cylindrical slotted sieve for paper pulp strainer