An opening in bone or tooth tissue is repaired by at least partially filling the opening with a calcium-containing material in a moldable state and a protein gel; and applying to the gel laser radiation in a manner to weld that material to one of the bone or tooth tissue adjacent the opening and the calcium-containing material without causing harmful side effects to the bone or tooth tissue.

The object of the present invention is the use of a laser to weld fibrin or collagen to repair periodontal disease and enhance bone reconstitution in the healing of periodontal pockets. The technique can also be used for the repair of cracked teeth.
It has been demonstrated that the use of collagen helps in the repair of periodontal problems. According to one example, implants of collagen are positioned on calcium phosphate packed where bone is missing after recession due to a disease. In a procedure according to this example, periodontal surgery is usually performed to clean the recessed area by removing granulation tissue and cleaning the cementum of the adjacent teeth. Then, the missing bone is filled with a mass of calcium phosphate or hydroxyapatite constituting a graft. Then the collagen implant is positioned at the location of the bone recession and the flap of gingiva is sutured to close the diseased area. The collagen prevents the epithelium from invading the graft. This procedure has been found to promote acceleration of the healing process and reconstruction of bone by replacing or penetrating the graft.
In the field of dentistry, lasers have been used to cut diseased soft tissue. In the field of orthopedics, lasers have been used under experimental conditions to weld a fibrin clot on a meniscus in a joint. Fibrin clot is known in orthopedics to be used to repair cartilage without laser welding or to suture peripheral nerves. References include Forman et al, "Laser Effects on Fibrin Clot . . . ", SPIE Vol. 1424, Lasers in Orthopedics, Dental and Veterinary Medicine 2 (1991).
The laser used in previous studies was a semiconductor gallium aluminum arsenide laser.

Method for repairing tooth and bone tissue


The invention relates to an electric machine, comprising a rotor (8; 50; 76) and a stator (9; 29; 77), wherein the rotor (8; 50; 76) and/or the stator (9; 29; 77) comprise at least one laminated core (2; 11; 32; 72) having a substantially rectangular cross-section, wherein the laminated core (2; 11; 32; 72) comprises a sheet metal strip (1), wherein the sheet metal strip (1) is wound in a coil shape.

The invention relates to an electrical machine having a housing containing a rotor and a stator, with the rotor and/or the stator having at least one laminated core with a substantially rectangular cross section.
Iron cores are used in a very wide variety of types of electrical machines for conducting the magnetic flux with a low level of loss. In this case, inductively generated eddy currents, which lead to heating of the electrical machine and furthermore cannot be used, are produced under the influence of an alternating electrical field in iron cores comprising solid material. In order to minimize this, iron cores for electrical machines are preferably formed from metal sheets which are electrically insulated from one another or as cut strip-wound cores. In this case, the insulated metal sheets are either constructed as individual, loose metal sheets, also called laminations, or as an interconnected laminated core, also called stack of laminations, during assembly of the electrical machine.
As a result of the development of brushless DC motors with an air gap winding, the basic shape of the laminated cores with pole shoes has developed to form annular laminated cores which form a hollow-cylindrical body when they are stacked. These designs of laminated cores are used, for example, in electrical machines as disclosed by DE 10 2007 029 739 A1.
In order to produce the laminated cores, the individual metal sheets are punched out of a sheet metal strip, layered to form a laminated core and connected to one another. In this case, the metal sheets can be connected, inter alia, by baked enamel, punch-stacking or by a weld connection. A high proportion of waste is created particularly when punching metal sheets which produce a hollow cylinder when layered. In order to produce the laminated cores, the sheet metal part of the laminated core is punched out of a sheet metal strip with a width which is a few millimeters greater than the outside diameter of the sheet metal part which is to be punched. When the sheet metal part is punched out, both the inner part of the sheet metal part and the outer part of the sheet metal part, that is the remains of the sheet metal strip, are wasted. Therefore, in order to produce a laminated core with a weight of approximately 190 g with an outside diameter of 68 mm and an inside diameter of 64 mm and a thickness of 0.7 mm, approximately 2.2 kg of sheet metal are required in order to be able to produce the laminated core. This corresponds to over 90% waste.
In order to reduce waste, cut strip-wound cores are used in the case of transformers. To this end, a sheet metal strip is wound onto a mandrel with a rectangular cross section and adhesively bonded. The wound, adhesively bonded laminated core is then divided centrally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the laminated core and the separating surfaces are polished. Wound coils are inserted into the halves and adhesively bonded. As a result of the division of the cut strip-wound core in order to release it from the mandrel, two thin air gaps are produced when the two cut strip-wound core halves are joined to one another, said air gaps influencing the magnetic flux between the two cut strip-wound core halves. On account of the two-part design of the cut strip-wound core, said cut strip-wound core is particularly unsuitable for use in rotating electrical machines. The cut strip-wound core is primarily unsuitable for use on the rotor since the metal sheets are exposed to high centrifugal forces here. The air gap and the polishing steps required to minimize the air gap do not favor use on the stator. Therefore, laminated cores in which the individual metal sheets are produced by means of punching from a sheet metal strip are primarily used in electrical machines with a rotor and/or a stator.


A hammer and hammer head comprising a striking head with a striking surface thereon that defines a front of the hammer, and an interface section including at leas one frontal extractor. In one embodiment, a plurality of frontal extractors are provided that are formed by a slot, the interface section including a groove that extends through the frontal extractors. In one embodiment, the slot is sized and/or magnetized to allow a head of a nail to be supported therein so that the nail is cantilevered substantially perpendicular relative to the striking surface. A method of extracting a nail from a surface is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to hammers and hammer heads that may be used to extract nails or other fasteners. In particular, the present invention is directed to a hammer or hammer head having a frontal extractor.
2. Description of Related Art
Most conventional hammers are of either the straight rip-claw type or the curved-claw type. Both types are used for nail extraction. These claw hammers have a striking head or poll on the front of the hammer head, and a nail-removing claw located at the back of the hammer head opposite the striking head. Claw hammers are used for various household purposes and in the construction industry, such as for framing and finishing work, as well as for ripping and other demolition work. Of course, these uses are merely identified for example purposes; hammers may be used in other applications for various other purposes.
One significant limitation of conventional claw hammers is that they cannot be used to extract nails easily or quickly. This is largely due to the fact that once the nail is extracted a distance of about one inch, leverage is substantially reduced. In particular, as the nail is extracted using the conventional claw hammer, the fulcrum point moves away from the nail, thereby effectively decreasing the leverage and effectively increasing the required force that must be exerted by the user of the hammer to further extract the nail. This disadvantage or limitation of the conventional claw hammer is especially problematic when the nails are designed to be difficult to extract. For instance, large nails, glue-coated nails, or nails having ribbed shanks may be very difficult to extract and may therefore require exertion of substantial force by the user to do so.
Other limitations of the conventional claw hammer relate to the extraction of relatively long nails, or nails that have already been partially removed from a surface. Due to the geometry of the conventional claw in relation to the striking portion of the hammer head, complete extraction is often impeded. In addition, if the nail to be extracted is especially long, extraction using a conventional claw may also severely bend the nail so that complete extraction is further impeded. To extract such long nails, it is often necessary for a carpenter to use a special nail-pulling tool in addition to the hammer, or to find a block of wood or other object to place underneath the head of the hammer to raise the hammer so as to reestablish the fulcrum point above the surface for greater leverage.
Various solutions have been proposed to try to overcome the above described limitations of conventional claw hammers. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,876, No. 5,441,236, No. 5,249,776, No. 5,060,911, No. 4,998,996, No. 4,533,116, No. 4,422,620, No. 2,657,903, and No. 2,589,046 all disclose claw hammers in which the positioning of the fulcrum is enhanced or otherwise made adjustable to provide adequate leverage to facilitate nail extraction, especially of long nails. In this regard, these proposed hammers provide a movable mechanism that extends outwardly from the top of the hammer that provides an elevated fulcrum point to allow the extraction of long nails. The proposed solutions, however, utilize various moving parts that increase the cost and decrease the durability of the hammers. In addition, in many proposed implementations, the hammers must be manually adjusted to provide for the extended fulcrum, which makes the use of the hammers with such features cumbersome, inconvenient, and time-consuming. A moveable, extensible fulcrum also decreases the stability of the hammers, and along with the wear and breakage of the fulcrum mechanism inevitably occasioned by the conventional striking and ripping uses of the hammers, creates a substantial risk of injury to the user.
Other solutions have also been proposed to try to overcome the above limitations of conventional claw hammers. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 2,239,719, No. 1,535,685, No. 1,425,369, and No. 559,049 all disclose hammers having multiple claws to allow engagement and extraction of long nails and nails that extend from a surface at various lengths. Such proposed claw hammers, however, still fail to address the leverage limitation caused by the movement of the fulcrum away from the nail. The various proposed solutions fail to solve the inefficiencies associated with extraction by conventional means, and in turn create separate problems that engender either additional inefficiencies, such as breakage, instability, time waste, exhaustion, and potential injury, or various interferences with the full functioning of the conventional claw hammer.
Still another limitation of the conventional claw hammer is that due to the positioning of the claw on the hammer head, the user must reverse his grip and/or turn the hammer around to use the claw. This impedes work efficiency in situations where nails must be driven and extracted quickly on a continuous basis. For instance, weaker nails such as aluminum, brass, or galvanized nails tend to bend when being driven into harder woods or surfaces. Of course, these bent nails must be removed so that a replacement nail may be inserted instead. Each extraction and insertion of another replacement nail would entail reversing the grip and/or turning the claw hammer around twice. U.S. Pat. No. 1,252,903 discloses a lathing hatchet having a claw positioned below a hammer poll on the same side of the hatchet. The lathing hatchet of the '903 reference cannot be used like a conventional hammer, however, because a claw is not provided opposite to the hammer poll. Moreover, the claw of the disclosed lathing hatchet fails to provide sufficient leverage to accomplish efficient or complete extraction of most nails. In particular, long nails and nails that extend from a surface at various lengths cannot be easily extracted using the disclosed lathing hatchet. Furthermore, to extract most nails, the disclosed lathing hatchet requires substantial repositioning in order to engage nails with means separate from the claw, and also anticipates the use of additional means, such as a block of wood, in order to complete extraction. In this regard, the disclosed lathing hatchet admits of inefficiencies similar to those inherent in the proposed solutions to the problems associated with using the conventional claw hammer as a nail extractor.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. D438,082 discloses an ornamental design for a hammer with a provision for holding a nail in place so that the nail may be initially driven into a surface without the user having to hold the nail with the other hand. The nail appears to be held in place by a set screw that engages the shank of the nail. The use of this holding feature is cumbersome, however, because it requires tightening and loosening of the set screw each time the user desires to use the holding feature.
Therefore, in view of the above, an unfulfilled need still exists for an improved hammer that avoids the above described limitations of the conventional and prior art hammers. In particular, an unfulfilled need still exists for an improved hammer that facilitates the extraction of nails, that permits the full functioning of the hammer as a hammer, and that provides additional functionality and features enhancing the utility of the hammer.

Hammer and hammer head having a frontal extractor


Conventional perpendicular writers that utilize an extended return pole are subject to large undershoot fields. This problem has been reduced by replacing the prior art extended return pole by one whose magnetic potential has been increased relative to both the main and return poles. In a first embodiment, a second non-magnetic gap is inserted between the extended return pole and the return pole. In a second embodiment, the extended return pole is made very thin, thereby increasing its reluctance, while a third embodiment combines both reluctance-increasing features in a single design.

As magnetic recording is pushed to higher areal densities, perpendicular recording may offer advantages in thermal stability over longitudinal recording, thus delaying arrival at the super-paramagnetic limit [1,2]. Another advantage of perpendicular recording with single pole (SP) head and perpendicular media, with a soft underlayer (SUL), is the ability to produce a larger write field than that of a ring head to record on relatively thick media with high anisotropy constant. Although these assumed advantages indicate that perpendicular recording has high recording density potential, perpendicular recording does not, thus far, surpass the highest recording density achieved using thermally stable AFC media [3]. This is the result of the insufficient field gradients produced by a perpendicular SP head in both the cross-track and down-track directions, thus limiting the achievable recording density.
Introduction of a downstream shield, extending from the return pole, has been proposed to increase the trailing edge field gradient as well as the in-plane head field component [4,5]. An example of this is shown in FIG. 1. Magnetic yoke 11 is surrounded by field coil 12 and includes pole tip 13. Introduction of a downstream shield, extending from the return pole, has been proposed to increase the trailing edge field gradient as well as the in-plane head field component [4,5]. An example of this is shown in FIG. 1. Magnetic yoke 11 is surrounded by the coil 12 and includes pole tip 13. Without an extended return pole, total magnetic flux generated by coil 12 is conducted from main pole 13 into soft underlayer 16 with a certain spread width in the down-track direction, and eventually collected by the return pole 14 to complete the magnetic circuit. As shown in FIG. 1, the extended return pole 15 intercepts partial magnetic flux from the main pole. Thus, the field spread width is reduced, i.e. field gradient is increased.
However, extending return pole 14 as far as the vicinity of main pole 13 introduces a large undershoot perpendicular field at the trailing edge, similar to the case of a longitudinal ring head, and also reduces the maximum field in the recording media. The present invention discloses how this problem may be overcome.

Perpendicular magnetic writer with magnetic potential control shield


An earthing of an electronic circuit is disclosed in a device belonging to a low-voltage system with, for example, a maximum AC voltage of 1000 V or a maximum DC voltage of 1500 V in which the device is at the main voltage potential or is connected to the main voltage through a high-impedance coupling. An overvoltage protection of the interface between such an electronic circuit and a SELV (Safety Extra Low Voltage) circuit is also disclosed. The neutral point (COM) of the electronic device is coupled to protective earth (PE) through at least one breakdown-based overvoltage protector. The rated breakdown voltage of the overvoltage protector is higher than the voltage present across it in normal operating conditions but lower than the minimum dielectric strength of the component forming the interface between the electronic device and the SELV circuit.

One prior art solution is to use a voltage transformer to reduce the voltage to be measured to a SELV level and isolate the circuits from each other, as well. For current measurements, the signal level is converted and isolation carried out by using a current transformer, correspondingly. The large size and high price of the transformer are disadvantages. In applications susceptible to vibration, the heavy transformer and its electric connections may become detached from the printed circuit board.
When an electronic circuit is at a floating potential or is isolated from the main circuit using a high-impedance coupling, signalling and connections to the SELV circuit can be implemented using components with the required dielectric strength. In practice, solutions employing resistive voltage division have been common in three-phase networks having a voltage of no more than 400 V, as the power loss in the voltage division resistors and the dielectric strength required of the isolation transformers have led to large-size solutions.
In connection with the design of power distribution system equipment for the "Overvoltage Category III" or higher, and environments with "Pollution Degree III", the requirements for creepage and clearance distances mean that signal and power supply components suitable for the SELV interface of conventional floating solutions are expensive or not available at all.
A floating electronic measurement circuit can also be earthed through a high-impedance coupling, but care must be taken to ensure that the number of devices connected in parallel does not become too high to bring the earth resistance of the electrical system below the limit specified in the regulations.

Earthing and overvoltage protection arrangement


Provided is a gum system including carboxymethylcellulose and xanthan gums which provides a stable desirous vehicle for very low calorie table syrup applications. The gum systems of the present invention have a desirable mouthfeel, stability, viscosity, and pourability. Preparations in accordance with the present invention result in a gum system useful in the manufacturing of palatable very low calorie synthetic table syrups which contain little or no sugar solids.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a gum system for table syrup applications. More particularly, the invention relates to a gum system for very low calorie table syrup applications.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years there have been developed a number of synthetic table syrup products. For purposes of the present invention, the term "synthetic table syrup" is meant to describe a table syrup product manufactured to be comparable in quality to the naturally occurring syrups, e.g., maple syrup. Among the qualities to which synthetic table syrups are intended to be comparable are taste, mouthfeel, pourability, viscosity, and stability.
Synthetic table syrups include a gum system and a large percentage of sugar solids. The gum system is included so that the synthetic syrup mimics the natural syrups in appearance, viscosity, pourability, and mouthfeel. Typically, the gum system includes a suspending, dispersing, or colloidal agent in water. Synthetic and naturally occurring gums are often used in the manufacture of gum systems. Edible preservatives and antimicrobials are often added to the gum system to ensure stability.
A significant volume of a synthetic table syrup is suspended sugar solids. These sugar solids account to a considerable extent for qualities such as taste, mouthfeel, viscosity, pourability and stability. However, the high sugar solids content of these syrups makes them high in calories, and accordingly, they do not satisfy consumer demand for lower calorie food stuffs.
Attempts to produce a reduced calorie synthetic table syrup have been reported in the patent literature. U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,521 Bennett et al. describes a synthetic table syrup including by weight from about 15 to about 45% sugar solids, and up to 50% maltodextrin. The syrup further includes a gum system consisting of carboxymethylcellulose gum (CMC) and propylene glycol alginate (PGA). Bennett et al. attributes the characteristics of the syrup to the critical relationship between the CMC and the PGA. Specifically, the weight ratio of the CMC to the PGA must be about 2:1.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,399 Keyser et al. describes a reduced calorie synthetic table syrup including by weight about 40% sugar solids, and a gum system consisting of from about 0.5 to about 1.0% CMC. Keyser et al., teaches that relatively small increases in the amount of CMC, apparently above 1.0%, dramatically increase viscosity and yield a product having a stringy, slimy, undesirable mouthfeel. Keyser et al. attributes the desirable consistency, mouthfeel, and pourability of their syrup to the interaction between the CMC and the sugar solids.
Although the above literature describes synthetic table syrups having a reduced calorie content, these reduced calorie syrups still have a calorie content of from about 24 to about 50 calories per ounce. Products having calorie concentrations as great as this are not acceptable to the vast majority of calorie conscious consumers. The relatively high calorie content of these "reduced" calorie syrups is attributable to the high concentration of sugar solids contained in them.
Although removing the sugar solids in favor of water and a non-nutritive high intensity artificial sweetener, such as, saccharin or aspartame, may appear to be a quick and convenient solution to this problem, it should be noted that the viscosity, stability, pourability, and mouthfeel of these products depends to a great extent on the sugar solids. For example, the above cited patents attribute the desirable characteristics of lower calorie synthetic syrups to the critical interactions between the sugar solids and the gum system. A further complication is realized when it is appreciated that a significant volume of these syrups are comprised of sugar solids, often, as much as 70%. Replacing this volume with water and a high intensity artificial non nutritive sweetener would result in an undesirable, watery, dilute product. Furthermore, replacing this volume with water and a gum system would appear, after reviewing the relevant patent literature, to be futile since the patent literature teaches that gums, e.g., CMC, used in amounts high enough to supply the necessary viscosity for a very low calorie syrup would impair important mouthfeel and pourability characteristics.
Presently, sugar solids, and their corresponding interaction with the gum system, are required to produce a product having an acceptable viscosity, mouthfeel, pourability, and stability. However, these products are not acceptable to consumers because of their relatively high calorie content. There is presently a great demand for a very low calorie table syrup; but, as discussed above, no gum system currently available can impart a desirable viscosity, mouthfeel, stability, and pourability to a table syrup application in the absence of sugar solids.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a gum system for use in preparing very low calorie synthetic table syrups having a desirable viscosity, mouthfeel, pourability, and stability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pourable food product for use in table syrup applications which contain little or no sugar solids.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pourable food product for use in combination with a non-nutritive high intensity sweetener in table syrup applications which contain less than about 25 calories per fluid ounce.

Stable gum system for very low calorie table syrup applications


A wearable computer system includes a processing unit (102) and a number of peripherals. The processing unit and peripherals are coupled in a daisy-chain fashion utilizing a serial bus (120). The processing unit has a single connector for implementing the serial bus, and peripherals each have two connectors for propagating the serial bus. The wearable computer system has only one unused connector at any one time, thereby reducing excess bulk and weight due to excessive unused connectors. When a peripheral interrupts the processing unit, the processing unit relinquishes the serial bus to the interrupting peripheral. Alternatively, peripherals are assigned time slots within which the peripherals can utilize the serial bus.

As computers decrease in size, new applications for smaller computers become possible. "Wearable" computers are one such application. Wearable computers are computers that can be worn by a human to perform a variety of tasks: Many different applications for wearable computers exist, each differing slightly.
Some applications for wearable computers, such as military applications wherein soldiers wear computers on the battlefield, are particularly demanding. Soldiers are required to carry an increasing amount of equipment as the battlefield becomes more electronic its is essential that the size and weight of computer carried by soldier is kept down to maintain his mobility.
A common approach to developing wearable computers is to house an fin industry standard personal computer (PC) such that it can be worn on a person's body. One drawback to using industry standard PCs for wearable computers arises from the number of connections typically employed between peripherals and computers. When an industry standard PC is the basis for a wearable computer, multiple peripheral connectors are typically left open for expansion. For example, a single disk drive may exist in a PC system having connectors for multiple disk drives, and parallel ports or serial ports may be left unused. This can result in unnecessary bulk and weight in the form of unused connectors and cables.
In military applications, where connectors are generally made more robust to handle harsh environments, the problems of extra bulk and weight become more acute. What are needed are an alternate method and apparatus for providing a wearable computer.

Method and apparatus for a wearable computer


An absorbent article has a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and backsheet; first and second opposing longitudinal side edges, a front waist region and a back waist region; and a first and second back ear extending outwardly from the first and longitudinal side edges in the back waist region, respectively. The first and second back ears have an engineering strain greater than about 8% at about or below 2N of force when measured according to the Back Ear Extension Test, and a roughness Ra lower than about 300 μm when measured according to the Roughness Test.

Absorbent articles are widely used to receive and store liquid contaminants for disposal. Commonly known absorbent articles include diapers, pull-on, pant-type diapers, adult incontinence articles, sanitary napkins, and panty liners. To effectively contain bodily exudates, the article should provide a snug fit around the waist and legs of a wearer.
It is not uncommon for absorbent articles to include elastic areas such as an elastic waist region and extensible ears to control the movement of liquids and provide a comfortable, conforming fit when the article is worn by a wearer.
Some absorbent articles such as diapers are manufactured to include back ears. For example, some varieties of diapers are manufactured with a pair of oppositely-oriented side back ears, extending laterally from each side of a back waist region of the diaper chassis, each back ear having a fastener located at or near the outboard edge thereof, and adapted to attach or adhere to a fastener receiving zone ("landing zone") disposed on a front waist region of the chassis. When the diaper is applied, back ears may traverse at least part of a high motion hip region of a wearer; therefore, extensible back ears are preferred over back ears without extensibility. Provision of extensibility on a diaper along a waist circumference using extensible back ears may be preferred as back ears are not constrained at application by a wearer laying on it while back waistband is. When the diaper is applied, each back ear may be in direct contact with the wearer's skin at a hip; therefore, extensible back ears having low roughness for being soft and gentle to the skin are preferred.
In some diapers, the back ears are formed at least in part of a laminate of one or more layers of nonwoven web and one or more layers or strands of a polymeric elastic material, and fashioned and adapted in such a way as to be elastically extensible in at least the direction in which the back ear is to be pulled during application and use. When worn, the back ears extend the diaper about the hip and waist of the wearer to anchor the diaper in use while still allowing the wearer to move comfortably. A fastening system is typically joined to the back ear to further secure the absorbent article about the wearer.
Elastic laminates suitable for extensible back ears may be produced by methods well known in the industry. For example, elastic laminates may be produced by joining one or more nonwoven layers and an elastic material at approximately zero relative strain where the nonwoven layer(s) and the elastic material may be bonded using adhesive. The nonwoven layer(s) and the elastic material may be bonded by one or more elastic layers being extruded directly on to at least one nonwoven layer.
There have been many absorbent articles employing high modulus back ears to maximize a sustained fit and minimize leakage of bodily exudates. High modulus back ears require users to use a relatively high force to extend the back ears and low force users may not be able to achieve a good sustained fit and minimal leakage with a product comprising high modulus back ears.
Some absorbent articles comprise back ears having low modulus stretch. Low modulus stretch may be achieved by utilizing strands of elastomeric material. Elastic strands may provide less elastomeric material per cross-sectional area of the back ear, and require less force to extend. Elastic strands when used to produce elastic materials such as stranded laminates, however, do not create a uniform and even surface. Additionally, stranded laminates may have large surface gathers due to its bonding structure. Non-uniform surfaces and large surface gathers may cause skin marking and irritation when worn by a wearer. Non-uniform surfaces and large surface gathers may also be perceived as the product using the material is less holistically designed or has lower quality.
Meanwhile, the presence of multiple components in an absorbent article may not be favored by users in view of holistic product perception.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide absorbent articles with back ears having an appropriately designed stretch engine for users to use the stretch during diaper application to achieve better fit and sizing.
It is also desirable to provide absorbent articles with back ears having a more even surface and reducing the risk of skin marking when worn by a wearer.
It is also desirable to provide absorbent articles having holistic integrated perception.


Wood preservative systems comprising (a) a biocidal effective amount of (i) at least one di C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 alkyl quaternary ammonium carboxylate having the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are a C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 alkyl group; R.sup.3 is a substituted or unsubstituted, interrupted or uninterrupted C.sub.1 -C.sub.100 group; l and q independently are 1, 2 or 3 and (l) (q) is 1, 2, or 3; and n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 50; (ii) at least one di C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 alkyl quaternary ammonium borate having the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are defined as above, and a is 2 or 3, but when a is 2, b is 0 or 1, and when a is 3, b is 0, 1, or 2; or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii); and (b) a solvent are provided. These carboxylate quats as well as carboxylate quats wherein R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl or aryl-substituted alkyl group and R.sup.2 is a C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 alkyl group are preferably prepared by an indirect or a direct synthesis. The indirect synthesis includes reacting a corresponding quaternary ammonium carbonate with a carboxylic acid, while the direct synthesis method includes reacting a corresponding quaternary ammonium chloride with a metal carboxylate salt. The metal-free wood preservative systems can be applied to wood substrates.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats), and particularly didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) ##STR3## are commonly used as wood preservatives because they possess resistance properties to fungi and termites, to loss of strength, and to electrical sensitivity similar to those of commonly used acidic copper/chromium/arsenic solution (CCA) or ammoniacal copper and arsenic salt solution preservatives. See Proc of the Am. Wood Pres. Assoc., 80:191-210 (1984). Although chloride quats do not include potentially dangerous heavy metals, didecyldimethylammonium chloride leaches rapidly in soil (Nicholas et al., Forest Prod. J., 41:41 (1991), and therefore, does require coupling with copper salt.
Findlay et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,454, disclose a method of preserving wood by impregnation with a quaternary ammonium compound and at least one of zinc and copper, wherein the quat anion is chosen from the group consisting of hydroxide, chloride, bromide, nitrate, bisulfate, acetate, bicarbonate, and carbonate, formate, borate and fatty acids. These quats have distinct environmental and safety advantages over commonly used acidic copper/chromium/arsenic solution (CCA) or ammoniacal copper and arsenic salt solution preservatives in that potentially dangerous heavy metals are not included. The Findlay et al. quats require copper or zinc in order to render them relatively insoluble and to prevent them from leaching out of a treated substrate. The use of copper or zinc in the above formulations may yet raise environmental and corrosion concerns.
Additionally, didecyldimethylammonium chloride tends to absorb preferentially to the surface of the wood and does not uniformly treat the whole substrate. Finally, DDAC treated wood shows a surface erosion or ages upon exposure to light. See Preston et al., Proc. Am. Wood Pres. Assoc., 83:331 (1987).
The biocidal activities of various chloride quats against bacteria, fungi, and algae are tabulated in Cationic Surfactants, E. Jungerman Ed., pp. 56-57, Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1969. Nicholas, "Interaction of Preservatives with Wood," Chemistry of Solid Wood, Advances in Chemistry Series #207, Powell ed., (A.C.S. 1984), notes that didecyldimethylammonium compounds and particularly DDAC are potential biocides. Preston, J.A.O.C.S. 60:567 (1983), concurs and suggests that maximum fungitoxicity is exhibited with dialkyldimethyl compounds having C.sub.10 -C.sub.12 alkyl groups. Butcher et al., Chem Abstracts No. 91:152627b, suggest that the presence of an acid or a base can affect the activity of didecyldimethylammonium quats.
Didecyldimethylammonium acetate was used as a phase transfer catalyst for an oxidation in Chem Abstracts No. 97:9175. A wood preservative was prepared by autoclaving didecylmethylamine with gluconic acid and ethylene oxide in isopropanol to yield (C.sub.10 H.sub.21).sub.2 CH.sub.3 N (CH.sub.2).sub.2 O).sup.+ gluconate in Chem Abstracts No. 109:124403x, while disinfectant solutions were prepared by exchanging a benzylammonium chloride with a chlorhexidene gluconate in Chem Abstracts No. 103:109954f.
Microbiocidal compositions which include quaternary ammonium compounds of the formula R.sup.1 N.sup.+ R.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 X.sup.-, wherein at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, or R.sup.3 is a C.sub.8 -C.sub.30 alkyl or alkenyl group and the remainder of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 or R.sup.3 is methyl, ethyl, CH.sub.2 Ph or 4-pyridylmethyl; R.sup.4 is methyl or ethyl; and X is an anion of an acid having a C.sub.7 or greater hydrophobic group, were disclosed in Chem Abstracts Nos. 113:154360f and 113:153776j. Chem Abstracts No. 112:79768u discloses compounds of the formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 N.sup.+ X.sup.-, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are methyl, ethyl, benzoyl, 4-pyridinomethyl and at least one is C.sub.8 -C.sub.30 alkyl or alkenyl; R.sup.4 is methyl or ethyl; and X is a counter anion of acids having C.sub.7 or greater hydrophobic groups. Dimethyldidecylammonium dodecylbenzenesulfonate was demonstrated to impart long term rot resistance to wood without causing rust, while the chloride salts of similar compounds were demonstrated to cause rust.
Patton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,760, disclose polymeric foams incorporating various dialkyldimethylammonium carboxylates such as didecyldimethylammonium poly(ethylene/acetate) and the like.
Quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) are typically prepared by the reaction: EQU R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 N+R.sup.4 X.fwdarw.R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 NX (II)
wherein X is a halogen, a sulfate, a sulfo compound, or the like. When at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, or R.sup.4 is C.sub.12 or longer, the product is an inert soap. Many of the inert soaps have biocidal activity against bacteria, fungi, algae, and related organisms.
Reaction (II) above is limited by the reactant R.sup.4 X because R.sup.4 must react with tertiary amines. For example, methyl chloride (R.sup.4 X.dbd.CH.sub.3 Cl) will react with a tertiary amine at less than 100.degree. C. to yield a quaternary compound R.sub.3 N.sup.+ CH.sub.3 Cl.sup.-, while methanol or methyl acetate (R.sup.4 X.dbd.CH.sub.3 OH or CH.sub.3 COOCH.sub.3) will not, under similar reaction conditions.
General quaternary ammonium compounds with a sulfo group are easily prepared either by the reaction of a sulfate compound with a tertiary amine (III) or by a double exchange (IV). EQU R.sub.3 N+RSO.sub.3 CH.sub.3 .fwdarw.R.sub.3 NCH.sub.3.sup.+ RSO.sub.3.sup.-(III) EQU R.sub.3 N.sup.+ CH.sub.3 Cl.sup.- +RSO.sub.3.sup.- Na.sup.+ .fwdarw.R.sub.3 NCH.sub.3.sup.+ RSO.sub.3.sup.- +NaCl (IV)
If trimethylamine is heated with carbon dioxide and methanol above 200.degree. C. and at 85 to 95 atmospheres, the carbonate quat, bis-tetramethylammonium carbonate, is prepared. Industrial Organic Nitrogen Compounds, Astle Ed. p 66, Reinhold Inc, 1961. However, this reaction is limited to the methyl compound because higher homologs decompose to olefins by the Hofman elimination reaction. See, Organic Reactions, 11, Chptr. 5, 377, Krieger Publishing Co., 1975.
Chem Abstracts 110:212114 (1989) suggests that dimethyl carbonate will react with triethylamine in methanol in twelve hours at 115.degree. C. and under pressure to yield a methyl carbonate ester quat.
Chem Abstracts 114:24824 (1991) discloses that 6-hydroxylhexyldimethylamine reacts with dimethyl carbonate to yield a carbonate ester quat.
Quaternary ammonium hydroxides (hydroxy quats), an intermediate in the reaction scheme of the present invention, are currently prepared by the reaction of quaternary ammonium iodide with silver oxide (V). EQU RN.sup.+ (CH.sub.3).sub.3 I.sup.- +AgO.fwdarw.RN.sup.+ (CH.sub.3).sub.3 OH.sup.- +AgI (V)
However, this reaction is costly, and it is difficult to recover the silver reagent. See, Organic Reactions, 11:Chptr 5, pp. 376-377, Krieger Publishing Co., 1975.
In an olefin synthesis, it has been suggested to treat a quaternary salt with aqueous sodium or potassium followed by pyrolysis in order to form the hydroxy quat and then to decompose the hydroxy quat directly. However, in this method the hydroxy quat is not isolated and the conditions for its preparation are undesirable. See, Organic Reactions, 11:Chptr 5, pp. 376-377, Krieger Publishing Co., 1975.
Talmon et al., Science, 221, 1047 (1983), have used an ion exchange resin to convert didecyldimethylammonium bromide to didecyldimethylammonium hydroxide (VI). EQU (C.sub.12 H.sub.25).sub.2 (CH.sub.3).sub.2 N.sup.+ Br.sup.- +Ion Exchange Resin.fwdarw.(C.sub.12 H.sub.25).sub.2 (CH.sub.3).sub.2 N.sup.+ OH.sup.-(VI)
However, 50 ml of ion exchange resin and two treatment steps were required to convert 3 grams of quaternary ammonium chloride to the corresponding hydroxide. Talmon et al. state that the hydroxy quat can be reacted with acids to make quats with different anions, and they have prepared didodecyldimethylammonium (DDDA) acetate, DDDA-formate, DDDA-propionate, DDDA-butyrate, DDDA-oxalate, DDDA-acrylate, DDDA-tartrate, DDDA-benzoate, and DDDA-octanoate. See also, Organic Synthesis, Collective Volume VI, 552, John Wiley Inc., 1988; Brady et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 106:4280-4282, 1984; Brady et al., J. Phys. Chem., 90:9, 1853-1859, 1986; Miller et al., J. Phys. Chem, 91:1, 323-325, 1989; Radlinske et al., Colloids and Surfaces, 46:213-230, 1990.
Distearyldimethylammonium gluconate was prepared via ion exchange and subsequent reaction with an organic acid in Chem Abstracts No. 75:11917OU. Miller et al, Langmuir, 4:1363 (1988) prepared ditetradecyldimethylammonium acetate by ion exchange from a bromide.
Alternatively, quaternary ammonium hydroxide compositions have been prepared by treating a haloquat in an electrochemical cell with special cation exchange diaphragms between the cells. The hydroxy quat collects at one electrode, and the halide collects at the other. Hydroxy quats, R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 N.sup.+ OH.sup.-, wherein the R groups were C.sub.1 -C.sub.4, were treated with carboxylic acids to make asymmetric quats that were used as capacitor driving electrolytes. See, Japanese Patent Publication No. 02-106,915 and Awata et al., Chemistry. Letters, 371 (1985). Awata et al. placed carboxylic acids in the cathode cell to react with tetraethylammonium hydroxide as it was formed.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 01-172,363 discloses the preparation of relatively low yields of tetraethylammonium hydroxide by reacting triethylamine with diethyl sulfate, heating the resultant quat with sulfuric acid to yield the sulfate quat, and reacting the sulfate quat with barium hydroxide to yield the short chain quat, tetraethylammonium hydroxide, and barium sulfate.
Di C.sub.8 -C,.sub.12 alkyl quaternary ammonium hydroxides prepared by ion exchange were used as strong bases to digest animal tissue by Bush et al., French Patent Publication No. 1,518,427.
Akzo discloses that the addition of a metallic hydroxide to a quaternary ammonium chloride such as didecyldimethylammonium chloride, in an aqueous medium, results in an equilibrium mixture of quaternary ammonium chloride and quaternary ammonium hydroxide (VII). This reaction can be driven to the right by the use of isopropanol as a solvent. EQU (R.sub.4 N)Cl+KOH.revreaction.(R.sub.4 N)OH+KCl (VII)
Akzo further discloses that the addition of a soap to a quaternary ammonium chloride yields a quaternary ammonium carboxylate (VIII). EQU (R.sub.4 N)Cl+R.sup.1 COONa.fwdarw.(R.sub.4 N) (OOCR.sup.1)+NaCl(VIII)
Jordan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,281,458, disclose the preparation of dioctadecyldimethylammonium humate, ditallowdimethylanmonium humate, dipentadecyldimethylammonium humate, and didodecyldimethylammonium humate by reacting humic acid, lignite, aqueous sodium hydroxide and a chloride quat.
Finally, Nakama et al., J.A.C.O.S., 67:717 (1990) report the interaction between anionic and cationic surfactant and particularly sodium laureate and stearyltrimethylammonium chloride, while Linderborg, U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,795, disclose the use of synergistic mixtures of the alkali metal salt of certain biocidal organic acids, quaternary ammonium chlorides, and alkyl-pyridinium chlorides as control agents for short-term protection of timber against sapstain fungi and mildew.
It has now been discovered that di C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 alkyl quaternary ammonium carboxylates and/or borates can be incorporated into metal-free wood preservative systems. C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl or aryl-substituted alkyl, C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 alkyl carboxylate quats, and particularly the di C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 alkyl carboxylate quats above, can be prepared by various methods from C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl or aryl-substituted alkyl, C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 alkyl quaternary ammonium chloride (chloride quat(s)) starting materials, including by indirect synthesis through C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl or aryl-substituted alkyl, C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 alkyl quaternary ammonium hydroxide and C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl or aryl-substituted alkyl, C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 alkyl quaternary ammonium carbonate intermediates or by direct synthesis. C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl or aryl-substituted alkyl, C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 alkyl borate quats, and particularly the di C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 alkyl borate quats above can be prepared by various methods from C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl or aryl-substituted alkyl, C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 alkyl quaternary ammonium hydroxide starting materials, which may be prepared as above from the corresponding chloride quats. The di C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 alkyl carbonate and/or borate quats, including those prepared by the methods above, are useful as wood preservatives, as they have improved leaching resistance, particularly without the use of the commonly used metal stabilizers or couplers, arsenic, chromium, copper, and zinc or combinations thereof.

Quaternary ammonium carboxylate and borate compositions and preparation thereof


A bus bar arrangement for a heatable vehicle window. An electroconductive coating is divided into two separate coating portions which represent two different respective heating zones. A single bottom bus bar is common to both heating zones, while a first upper/top bus bar portion is provided for the first heating zone and a different second upper/top bus bar portion is provided for the second heating zone. The two upper/top bus bars are spaced apart and electrically insulated from one another. Conductive bus bar extension portions lead from the respective upper bus bars down to a bottom edge of the window (e.g., vehicle windshield) so that electrical connectors for all three bus bars can be located along or proximate a single edge of the window.

This invention relates to a bus bar arrangement for a heatable vehicle window (e.g., vehicle windshield) including at least first and second heating zones. In particular, this invention relates to a bus bar arrangement including first and second spaced apart top bus bar portions which work in conjunction with a bottom bus bar to define at least first and second heating zones on a vehicle window.
Heatable windows are known in the art. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,434,384 and 4,782,216, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Heatable windows conventionally include first and second conductive bus bars in electrical contact with a transparent conductive coating including an electroconductive layer. The electroconductive layer generates heat when electric current is passed therethrough. In such a manner, snow and ice may be melted from vehicle windows such as windshields, backlites, sidelites, and/or the like. Windows may also be defogged in such a manner.
In conventional heatable windows, first and second bus bars are often located in spaced apart relation proximate opposite edges of the window. Unfortunately, this type of design often requires the electrical connector for the top bus bar to exit the window at the top edge thereof, and the electrical connector for the bottom bus bar to exit the window at the bottom edge thereof. This is undesirable in that it is much more convenient if both connectors (i.e., for both bus bars) are located along the same edge/side of the window.
In an attempt to overcome the aforesaid problem, U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,902 discloses first and second conductive leads/extensions arranged from opposite sides of the top bus bar heading down the respective sides of the windshield and across the bottom side/edge of the same. In such a manner it is possible to locate the electrical connectors for both bus bars at the bottom edge/side of the windshield. Unfortunately, the design of the ""902 patent is undesirable in that the entire viewing zone of the windshield is heated via a single heating zone.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there exists a need for a more efficient multi-zone bus bar arrangement for a vehicle window.
An object of this invention is to provide an efficient bus bar arrangement for a heatable vehicle window (e.g., windshield).
Another object of this invention is to provide a bus bar arrangement for a heatable vehicle window, wherein the bus bar arrangement defines at least first and second heating zones.
Another object of this invention is to fulfill one or more of the above-listed objects.
Generally speaking, certain example embodiments of this invention fulfill one or more of the above-listed needs by providing a heatable vehicle windshield including a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second side edges, the heatable vehicle windshield comprising:
first and second glass substrates laminated to one another with at least a polymer inclusive interlayer therebetween;
a coating located between said first and second substrates, said coating including at least one conductive layer;
first, second, and third conductive bus bars, wherein at least portions of said first, second, and third bus bars are in electrical communication with said conductive layer of said coating, so that when electric current is passed through said conductive layer via bus bars at least a portion of the windshield is heated;
wherein a top portion of said first bus bar and a top portion of said second bus bar are located in spaced apart relation at a top area of said windshield, and said third bus bar is located at a bottom area of said windshield;
wherein a first heating zone is defined by a portion of said coating in electrical communication with and between (i) said top portion of said first bus bar, and (ii) said third bus bar, and a second heating zone is defined by a different portion of said coating in electrical communication with and between (i) said top portion of said second bus bar, and (ii) said third bus bar; and
wherein connection portions of said first and second bus bars are provided proximate or adjacent the bottom edge of the windshield so that corresponding electrical connectors in electrical communication with first, second, and third bus bars, respectively, are each attached to the windshield proximate the bottom edge thereof, at least one of said electrical connectors supplying electric current to said conductive layer said coating via an external power source.
Certain other embodiments of this invention fulfill one or more of the above-listed objects by providing a heatable window comprising:
at least one substrate supporting a coating;
first, second, and third conductive bus bars, wherein at least portions of said first, second, and third bus bars are in electrical communication with a conductive layer of said coating, so that when electric current is passed through said conductive layer via bus bars at least a portion of the window is heated;
wherein a first portion of said first bus bar and a first portion of said second bus bar are located in spaced apart relation from one another at a top or upper area of said window, and said third bus bar is at least partially located at a bottom area of said window;
a first heating zone defined by a first portion of said coating in electrical communication with and between a) said first portion of said first bus bar, and b) said third bus bar;
a second heating zone defined by a second portion of said coating in electrical communication with and between a) said first portion of said second bus bar, and b) said third bus bar; and
wherein connection portions of said first and second bus bars are provided proximate or adjacent a bottom edge of the window so that corresponding electrical connectors in electrical communication with the first, second, and third bus bars, respectively, are each attached to the window proximate the bottom edge thereof, at least one of said electrical connectors supplying electric current to said conductive layer of said coating via an external power source.
Still further embodiments of this invention fulfill one or more of the above-listed needs by providing a heatable window comprising:
at least one substrate supporting a heatable conductive layer; first, second, and third spaced apart bus bars each in electrical communication with said heatable conductive layer;
a first heating zone including a first portion of said conductive layer defined between a top or upper portion of said first bus bar and said third bus bar;
a second heating zone including a different second portion of said conductive layer defined between a top or upper portion of said second bus bar and said third bus bar; and
wherein said top or upper portions of said first and second bus bars, respectively, are located in spaced relation from one another at a top or upper area of said window, and said third bus bar is located at a bottom area of said window.
This invention will now be described with respect to certain example embodiments thereof as illustrated in the following drawings, wherein:

Dual zone bus bar arrangement for heatable vehicle window

Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verre et la Ceramique S.A. (CRVC)


An electrical busway system comprising a busway uniquely configured for cutting to length in the field. Special connector devices are also disclosed, with features for engaging and immobilizing busway insulators to assure accurate initial alignment of conductors and contact elements prior to joining of connector devices with busway sections. An accessory device, specially adapted to the new busway design, includes a rotatable contact element, slideably received in its rotatable support, which progressively displaces a spring as the contact element is rotated into contact with a busbar carried by a busway insulator. Good electrical contact at both ends of the slideable contact element is assured. The accessory device also includes a positioning element which is rotatable with, but rotationally advanced with respect to, the contact elements, to accurately position, and substantially immobilize an insulator element prior to the contact elements being rotated into restricted, busbar-receiving recesses in the insulator element.

Electrical distribution systems, for lighting and other power requirements often are comprised of surface mounted busways, to which lighting fixtures, power outlets and the like may be attached. In a typical system, the busways comprise elongated housings having a downwardly opening, generally C-shaped configuration, and containing the necessary conductors and insulation. Various output devices can be physically attached to a housing at any point along its length, and such output devices have portions which extend upward into the housing and make connections with the conductors housed therein. Such busway systems are desirable in that they are relatively easy to install and modify, and in that they provide a high degree of flexibility in the location and re-location of output devices, such as lighting fixtures and power output devices.
Busway systems frequently are installed for multiple purpose utilization. For example, for a track lighting arrangement, a number of lighting fixtures can be installed at various points on various interconnected busways, while power outlets may also be installed on the same system. Many such systems must be designed for standard voltage levels of 120-277 volts and for current carrying capacities of up to 30 amperes in order to accommodate lighting fixtures as well as a variety of other output devices. For such systems, code requirements can be rather stringent and among other things require a substantial spacing between exposed conductor surfaces and surfaces of the surrounding metal of the housing. For relatively high capacity (e.g., 30 amp) systems, operating at the standard voltages utilized (e.g., 120-277 volts), the conductors typically are recessed at the ends of a busway section, in order to assure adequate spacing between the exposed conductor ends and the adjacent housing walls. This can create problems at the jobsite, where some sections of busway, typically provided in standard lengths, may have to be cut to a shorter length for particular installation requirements. As a practical matter, job-site cutting to length while providing for recessed conductors may be impossible or impractical, and it is typical for high capacity busways of conventional design to be factory cut to custom lengths. The requirement for factory cutting of custom lengths severely impacts the flexibility of the system, where changes may be desired during installation of the system or thereafter in order to make adjustments to the distribution pattern or to accommodate structural changes.


An intake-air control system for an engine enabling an intake-air quantity and a compression ratio to be variably controlled, includes sensors detecting engine operating conditions and the compression ratio, and a control unit electronically connected to the sensors for feedback-controlling the intake-air quantity based on the compression ratio as well as the engine operating conditions, while feedback-controlling the compression ratio based on the engine operating conditions. The control unit executes phase-matching between an intake-air quantity change occurring based on intake-air quantity control and a compression ratio change occurring based on compression ratio control, considering a relatively slower response in the compression ratio change than a response in the intake-air quantity change.

As is generally known, on the one hand, the higher the compression ratio of an internal combustion engine, the better the fuel consumption rate can be reduced. On the other hand, during high engine operation, there is an increased tendency for engine knock to occur. Therefore, on engines equipped with variable compression ratio mechanisms, in order to ensure a reduced fuel consumption rate, while avoiding undesirable knocking from occurring, the compression ratio must be controlled in such a manner as to be increased to a high compression ratio during low engine-load operation, and to be reduced down to a low compression ratio during high engine-load operation. One such variable compression ratio mechanism equipped engine has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 7-229431 (hereinafter is referred to as "JP7-229431"). The variable compression ratio mechanism or the compression ratio controller disclosed in JP7-229431, includes a variable volumetric-capacity chamber, which is opened to the combustion chamber, and whose volume can be variably adjusted by means of a slidable compression-ratio control piston that is movable in a direction the volume of the variable volumetric-capacity chamber increases during the high load operation and in a direction the volume of the variable volumetric-capacity chamber decreases during the low load operation.
Instead of using the variable volumetric-capacity chamber attached onto the combustion chamber, the compression ratio can be adjusted by varying a piston stroke characteristic, that is, a top dead center (TDC) and/or a bottom dead center. A variable compression ratio mechanism of a reciprocating internal combustion engine, capable of variably controlling the compression ratio by varying the piston stroke characteristic, has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 2002-21592 (hereinafter is referred to as "JP2002-021592").
Generally, when changing the engine/vehicle operating condition from the steady-state running state to the accelerating state with an accelerator opening increasing in a stepwise manner, a quantity of air drawn into engine cylinders tends to increase with a response delay such as 0.1 seconds as compared to a timing of the driver's accelerator depression. On the other hand, in the systems as disclosed in JP7-229431 and JP2002-021592, in such high-load transient maneuvers, the compression ratio is reduced for the purpose of knocking avoidance, but the response in compression-ratio change occurring based on the compression ratio control is generally slower than that in intake-air quantity change occurring based on the intake-air quantity control. In case of the relatively slower response in compression-ratio change, although the quantity of fresh air drawn into engine cylinders reaches a stationary level, the systems as disclosed in JP7-229431 and JP2002-021592 exhibit a transient compression-ratio response that the compression ratio does not completely drop down to a designated low compression ratio. This means a possibility of undesirable engine knocking, occurring during such high-load transient maneuvers. The avoidance of engine knocking, occurring due to the relatively slower response in compression-ratio change, would be desirable even in transient maneuvers such as during a vehicle's accelerating condition.


A firefighting segmented monitor for redirecting a trajectory of a pressurized fluid discharge towards a target comprises a flowpath with minimum convolutions. The monitor flowpath comprises in series a stationary segment and three rotating segments including a lower segment, a middle segment and an upper segment connected in series each of which comprises a predetermined curvature. The lower segment swivels in one axis about the stationary segment. A nonorthogonal swivel is arranged on each end of the middle segment at the interfaces with the lower segment and the upper segment, and the swiveling of the middle and upper segments are synchronized with a single rotary input to produce an approximately planar elevational motion of the fluid discharge end of the monitor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to firefighting monitors and in particular to a compact segmented monitor having three nonorthogonal swivel joints, and minimal convolutions in the flowpath to reduce fluid pressure loss and to reduce overall turbulence of a discharge stream exiting from the segmented monitor.
2. Description of Related Art
A firefighting monitor is a conduit that is supplied with a pressurized fluid (usually water) at the inlet end and has a fire-fighting nozzle connected at the discharge end. The firefighting monitor's primary purpose is to allow the fluid exiting the nozzle to be redirected in both elevation and azimuth angles and then remain pointed at the desired target.
Monitors may be installed in fixed locations, may be portable devices, or may be mounted on mobile equipment such as fire trucks, trailers, and the like. Monitors in the fire service are generally fitted with a nozzle on their discharge whose purpose it is to increase the velocity of the jet and form a spray of a desired type or shape. The most common purpose of the monitor is the delivery of a straight stream over considerable distances. The usefulness of the stream is a function of the turbulence in the monitor itself.
Monitors have been classified into three basic types as follows: spherical ball-in-socket designs, bending of a flexible hose, and mutually perpendicular swivel joints. Most ball-in-socket designs develop motion through a sliding motion between the ball and socket, thus tending to have high friction to overcome. A single ball-in-socket is restricted to travels substantially less than 90 degrees from straight which limits their usefulness. Ball-in-socket devices arranged in a series allow a wider range of motion. The position of the ball joints are retained by friction alone. However, reaction forces on ball joints arranged in a series cause position to be unstable when the centerline of the nozzle reaction force does not pass through the centers of rotation.
U.S. Pat. No. 557,799 issued Apr. 7, 1896 to H. H. Gorter discloses an adjustable nozzle for hose pipes comprising in series a first curved section and a second curved section having an upper end which is a hollow semiglobular enlargement to which a nozzle is connected. The nozzle has a semiglobular enlargement which fits over the enlargement end of the second curved section and is secured to it by a trunion on each side thus forming a pivoted ball-and-socket joint.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,738 issued Mar. 26, 1985 to John L. Evans, et al. and assigned to Chubb Fire Security Limited of Sanbury-on-Thames, England, discloses a spherical head type liquid-projecting monitor comprising a head and housing which together define a chamber from which water is led through an inlet in the rear of the head to a passage extending through the head. The head has a frusto-spherical external surface which forms a sliding seal against an O-ring to keep the chamber watertight throughout the permitted range of pivotal movement of the head relative to the housing. The cross-sectional area of the passage within the head is approximately constant throughout its length to reduce turbulence and pressure drop. However, the axle passing through the flowpath presents a disruption to the flow causing turbulence while the ball in socket arrangement is limited to relatively limited range of motion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,620 issued Oct. 23, 2001 to Antonio B. Marchese discloses a firefighting monitor having a plurality of outlet arms extending from the main inlet pipe. A main rotary joint is provided for rotating the casing and the plurality of outlet arms. Each outlet arm has an outlet rotary joint. A swiveling nozzle is coupled to each outlet arm for directing water from each outlet arm separately. Each swiveling nozzle has a ball joint having a passageway therethrough and having a handle thereon for rotating the main inlet pipe and the plurality of outlet nozzles. The main rotary joint and outlet arm rotary joint have an annular rack gear engaging a worm gear. When the outlet arm is rotated, the nozzles are rotated for vertical adjustment of the spray. However, the ball joints would be difficult to move under pressure because of the sliding motion of the ball within their sockets. In addition, the rotating joints would be difficult to move because of the eccentric loading of the nozzle reaction forces on the rotating joints.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,443 issued Mar. 20, 1994 to John D. Wentz discloses flexible positioning by bending a flexible hose. While the number of bends and turbulence in the flow path are minimized, in all cases the support for managing the hose relies on an external structural mechanism. This mechanism must withstand the forces of nozzle reaction, and in some cases the internal pressure of the hose itself. In addition, flexible hoses are limited by compression set properties of the flexible hose material. Adverse stresses exist within the hose for all positions other than neutral, which limits their degree of flexibility, and optimal storage position.
Because of their limitations, the use of the ball in socket devices and flexible hose mechanisms accounts for only a small percentage of the actual number of monitors commercially produced each year.
Monitors with mutually perpendicular swivel joints for use in firefighting account for the vast majority of monitors. These have been constructed with single or with twin waterways of various designs. The motion is controlled by swiveling the monitor through two mutually perpendicular axes. The line of action of the discharge trajectory is generally designed to pass substantially through both axes of rotation such that the reaction forces of the discharged fluids do not create a rotational moment on the monitor's swivel joint. Controlling the motion of the swivel joints with simple worm gear or other mechanisms are known in the art.
Monitors for use on the deck of fire trucks at flows up to 2000 GPM typically use a single waterway design. The most compact of these is the Stream Master® manufactured by Akron Brass of Wooster, Ohio. In the Stream Master® the water enters from a vertical feed pipe into the monitor, and undergoes approximately 3 bends of 90 degrees each. From here it enters the exit section where it undergoes 3 additional 90 degree bends. The water undergoes a total of 540 degrees of convolutions. Because compactness in mobile equipment design is desirable, the form of the bends in this monitor have been optimized as flattened shapes with essentially a zero inside elbow bend radius. It is doubtful that the flow area in these bends is equal to the flow area of the 4″ inlet diameter. With such an ultra contorted flow path these bends produce severe turbulence which adversely effect friction loss, stream quality and range.
Other prior art monitors are known and described in the following U.S. patents:
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,360 issued Aug. 29, 2000 to Thomas Mandzukia and assigned to Premier Farnell Corp. of Cleveland, Ohio, a firefighting monitor is disclosed having a rotatable extension member for adjusting the elevation of an outlet attached to the extension member while maintaining the discharge direction. Both the extension member and the outlet member are independently rotatable through an arc of at least 135 degrees in one direction from the vertical. However, this monitor has mutually perpendicular swivel joints in the same general shape and amount of convolutions in the water way as the Stream Master® of Akron Brass above.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,686 issued Jun. 23, 1987 to James M. Trapp and assigned to Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Co., of Elkhart, Ind., a portable fire apparatus monitor is disclosed comprising a snap-fitting latch pin which fits beneath a swivel bearing on the monitor mount and which secures the monitor in place during firefighting operation and provides for quick connection to and disconnection from the mount. The flow path of this monitor comprises a plurality of turns which create undesirable turbulence and friction losses.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a monitor that has compact size with wide range of motion and minimal convolutions within the flowpath to minimize turbulence and friction losses.


Embodiments are generally directed to non-maximum suppression of features for object detection. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a central processing unit (CPU); a graphical processing unit (GPU), the GPU being capable of a plurality of processing threads; a memory to store data for object detection, including data for detected features within an image; and an object detection algorithm including a non-maximum suppression element. The object detection algorithm is to provide for non-maximum suppression of features that are detected in an image, including the apparatus to divide the image into grid of cells and to provide parallel processing for each feature according to each of one or more cells the feature is located within.

In the context of object detection tasks, non-maximum suppression (NMS) refers to the process of selecting high-scoring detections and deleting nearby detections having less confidence because the neighboring detections are likely to cover the same object.
Object level non-maximum suppression is applied in both computer-vision classic and deep learning-based object detection solutions, such as faster R-CNN (Region-based Convolutional Neural Network), SSD (Single Shot Detector), R-FCN, (Region-based Fully Convolutional Network), Mask-RCNN and DPM (Deformable Part Model).
However, object level NMS is conventionally solved by a greedy iterative process, the process involving features-sorting that defines a measure of similarity between windows while setting a threshold (θ) for window suppression, the threshold usually being an intersection-over-union metric. The conventional object level NMS is inherently a sequential, runtime-expensive algorithm, and thus requires significant processing resources. Further, the conventional NMS process utilizes a constant threshold for all image regions and proposal types, with this strict threshold policy limiting the detector quality.

Non-maximum suppression of features for object detection


An information processing apparatus performs a process in accordance with a command. The information processing apparatus includes a first selection unit configured to refer to a storage unit that stores a plurality of recognition commands for inputting the command by speech, recognize input speech and select a command based on the recognized input speech, and a second selection unit configured to sequentially select a plurality of commands that correspond to a plurality of recognition commands stored in the storage unit. The information processing apparatus further includes a process determination unit configured to select either the first selection unit or the second selection unit based on an operation performed on a predetermined operation unit, and an execution unit configured to execute a command which is selected by one of the selection units that is selected by the process determination unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus (e.g., television set, computer, etc.) which is capable of performing speech recognition.
2. Description of the Related Art
Speech recognition technology for recognizing speech of a user can be used in various devices such as car navigation. Speech recognition allows a user to enter an input selected from a plurality of selection items by speaking a corresponding word only once. As a result, the number of user operable buttons or other user input steps required for operating a device can be reduced. However, speech recognition has problems such as misrecognition, or that a device using speech recognition cannot be operated when a user does not remember the recognition vocabulary.
To solve such problems, speech recognition is often used together with operation performed on a graphical user interface (GUI) using buttons and screen, thus realizing user-friendliness in a device operation. An example of such a method is discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-171492. Further, for example, a method is devised in which a user is presented with a list of speech recognition commands, and the user can select a recognition command from the list through a GUI. FIG. 12 illustrates a speech recognition apparatus displaying a list of recognition commands.
In FIG. 12, a list 1201 is a list of speech recognition commands. A focus 1202 selects an item from the list 1201. When a user presses a predetermined button in the speech recognition apparatus, the speech recognition apparatus displays the list 1201 illustrated in FIG. 12. The user moves the focus 1202 by, for example, pressing a button, and the user can select the desired recognition command and execute the command.
However, in a case where a user wants to consecutively execute a plurality of commands, it may not be appropriate either to select recognition commands by using speech recognition, or to select recognition commands from a list as described above. For example, when a user selects a moving image, still image, or music, from a plurality of contents, it is preferable to sequentially select and confirm each of the contents before selecting the desired content. In such a case, it is burdensome for a user to pronounce each of contents. On the other hand, in a case where a user selects an item from among a list, many operations are required, such as displaying the list, moving the focus, and executing the recognition command. Consequently, it is difficult to consecutively execute a plurality of recognition commands.
Therefore, it is desirable that an information processing apparatus includes a method which allows a user to sequentially select recognition commands by a single operation. In such a method, recognition commands can be consecutively selected and confirmed by a single operation, which complements selection of a desired recognition command by speech recognition. Furthermore, it is desirable to relate the sequential selection of recognition commands and the speech recognition operation to each other, so that a user can intuitively understand the relation between the two operations. This can be realized by, for example, performing the two operations using the same button.

Information processing apparatus and information processing method


A method may include storing bug reports in a memory, where a particular one of the bug reports describes a software bug and includes information about a modeling application. The method may further include receiving, from another computer device, a request for bug reports relevant to a model generated using the modeling application, where the request includes information about the model; identifying one or more relevant bug reports, in the stored bug reports, by comparing the information about the modeling application, included in the stored bug reports, with the information about the model, included in the received request; and providing information about the one or more relevant bug reports to the other computer device.

A computer program may be associated with a bug. A bug may include an error, flaw, mistake, failure, fault, incompatibility, or another type of unintended result when the computer program is executed or performs a particular operation. A developer may use existing computer programs as building blocks when, for example, designing a model using a graphical block diagramming tool or generating complex code. Checking for, and identifying, bugs associated with existing computer programs may be time consuming, which may lengthen development times and may increase development costs associated with the programs.


There is provided a lead- and potassium-free piezoelectric material having a high piezoelectric constant and a satisfactory insulation property and a piezoelectric element that includes the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material contains a perovskite-type metal oxide having the general formula (1): (NaxBa1-y)(NbyTi1-y)O3 (wherein x satisfies 0.80≦x≦0.95, and y satisfies 0.85≦y≦0.95) and Zn, wherein the Zn content corresponds to more than 0 mol % and 5 mol % or less of the amount of perovskite-type metal oxide. The piezoelectric element includes the piezoelectric material.

Lead zirconate titanate is a typical piezoelectric material and is used in various piezoelectric devices, such as actuators, oscillators, sensors, and filters. When lead-containing piezoelectric devices are scrapped and exposed to acid rain, however, lead components may leach from the piezoelectric materials into the ground and destroy an ecosystem. Thus, lead-free piezoelectric materials for lead-free piezoelectric devices are being actively studied and developed.
Existing typical widely-studied lead-free piezoelectric materials are piezoelectric materials containing potassium niobate. In the synthesis of potassium-containing piezoelectric materials, however, it is difficult to accurately weigh their raw material (for example, potassium carbonate) powders at an intended molar ratio because of their high hygroscopicity. Furthermore, the piezoelectricity of piezoelectric ceramics containing potassium niobate (KNbO3) sometimes deteriorates over time because piezoelectric materials containing potassium niobate are deliquescent. In addition, the successive phase transition temperature between tetragonal crystals and orthorhombic crystals of piezoelectric materials containing potassium niobate is in an operating temperature range of piezoelectric devices (for example, in the range of 0° C. to 80° C.). Since piezoelectricity varies significantly in the neighborhood of the successive phase transition temperature, the performance of such piezoelectric devices depends greatly on the operating temperature.
NPL 1 described a solid solution (hereinafter referred to as NN-BT) of an antiferroelectric material sodium niobate (NaNbO3) and barium titanate (BaTiO3) as a lead- and potassium-free piezoelectric material. It is disclosed that a piezoelectric ceramic containing sodium niobate and barium titanate at a ratio of 9:1 had a piezoelectric constant d33 of 147 pC/N.
PTL 1 discloses a niobate piezoelectric ceramic containing NN-BT to which cobalt oxide (CoO) is added. The niobate piezoelectric ceramic has a high electromechanical coupling coefficient and high heat resistance. However, some samples were difficult to polarize because of a low resistance as low as 106Ω or less.
PTL 2 discloses a method for manufacturing a niobate piezoelectric ceramic having a high Curie temperature and a satisfactory piezoelectric property. It is disclosed that a niobate piezoelectric ceramic containing a solid solution of NN-BT and strontium titanate (SrTiO3) had a piezoelectric constant d33 in the range of 14 to 126 pm/V.

Piezoelectric material, piezoelectric element, and electronic equipment


A processor (208) selects a candidate message (214) from a message queue (212), and tests (306) whether an available space (216) in the current frame of data is sufficient to accommodate the candidate message. The processor records (320, 420) a skip indicator (218, 220) into a predetermined memory location, in response to the candidate message being a numbered message and the available space in the current frame being insufficient. The processor skips (316) the candidate message during the current frame even though available space is sufficient, when the skip indicator is recorded in the predetermined memory location and is applicable to the candidate message. The processor adds (332) the candidate message to the current frame of data, when the available space in the current frame is sufficient and the candidate message is a message not affected by the skip indicator. The processor continues (330) to select, test, record, skip, and add, as above, to form the current frame of data.

Message numbering is an increasingly popular feature of radio messaging systems. This feature, which typically sends a two-digit message sequence number along with each message, is intended to increment the number by unity with each subsequent message. Thus, if a subscriber receives a message number that is more than a unity increment higher than the last received message, then the subscriber must have missed a message. In a system which offers message retrieval the subscriber can call in and retrieve the message associated with the missing message number.
Message numbering can degrade transmission efficiency, however, because to guarantee that the message number remains in sequence, each numbered message must be transmitted in the same order in which the message was received from the central control terminal which numbered the message. This implies that when forming a frame of data for transmission, the output controller cannot switch the order of numbered pages. On the other hand, for greatest transmission efficiency and highest system capacity the output controller must assemble the frame of data with messages that fill the frame as fully as possible. This implies a necessity for swapping messages that are too long to fit into the current frame, with shorter messages that can fit. In prior art systems, that has required switching the transmission order of the swapped messages, thereby confusing subscribers who use message numbering for detecting missed messages.
Thus, what is needed is a method and apparatus that dependably transmits message numbers in the proper sequence, while at the same time allowing optimal filling of each frame of data.

Method and apparatus in a radio messaging system for forming a current frame of data while maintaining a correct transmission order for numbered messages


A gate driver drives a display panel. First and second gate pulse generator circuits each drives a high supply voltage onto respective gate lines via respective high drive transistors during a gate pulse period and discharge their respective gate lines through the respective high drive transistors during a discharge period. A gate pulse modulation circuit provides the high supply voltage to the first gate pulse generator and the second gate pulse generator via an output terminal during the first pulse period and the second pulse period and couples a source terminal of the first high drive transistor and a source terminal of the second high drive transistor to a first return line via the output terminal during the first and second discharge periods.

Field of the Invention
This document relates to a display device.
Discussion of the Related Art
Flat panel displays include liquid crystal displays (LCDs), field emission displays (FEDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), organic light emitting diode displays (OLEDs), and so on. In a flat panel display, data lines and gate lines are disposed to cross at right angles, and a crossing of a data line and a gate line is defined as a pixel. A plurality of pixels are formed in a matrix on a panel. To drive each pixel, a video data voltage to be displayed is supplied to the data lines, and a gate pulse is sequentially supplied to the gate lines. And, the video data voltage is supplied to the pixels on display lines to which the gate pulse is supplied. As every display line is sequentially scanned by the gate pulse, video data is displayed.
In keeping with the recent trend of large-sized panels for displays, the gate lines are becoming longer, and this leads to problems due to gate pulse delays. As one of the measures to solve these problems, gate pulse modulation (GPM) was suggested, in which the voltage level of a gate pulse is raised and the voltage level decreases with a different slope during the fall time.
A GPM IC that generates a GPM signal by gate pulse modulation may be incorporated in each gate drive IC. A problem with this technique is that GPM signals generated by the GPM IC of each gate drive IC have different waveforms due to differences in resistance between RE lines needed for gate pulse modulation.


Methods, systems, and apparatus for solving computational tasks using quantum computing resources. In one aspect a method includes receiving, at a quantum formulation solver, data representing a computational task to be performed; deriving, by the quantum formulation solver, a formulation of the data representing the computational task that is formulated for a selected type of quantum computing resource; routing, by the quantum formulation solver, the formulation of the data representing the computational task to a quantum computing resource of the selected type to obtain data representing a solution to the computational task; generating, at the quantum formulation solver, output data including data representing a solution to the computational task; and receiving, at a broker, the output data and generating one or more actions to be taken based on the output data.

For some computational tasks, quantum computing devices may offer a computational speed up compared to classical devices. For example, quantum computing devices may achieve a speed up for tasks such as database search, evaluating NAND trees, integer factorization or the simulation of quantum many-body systems. Example quantum computing devices include adiabatic quantum annealers, quantum gate processors, and quantum simulators. Different quantum computing devices accept data inputs in different formats.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A cleaner finger assembly for cleaning compactor teeth on a compactor wheel of a compactor machine includes at least one cleaner finger assembly. The cleaner finger assembly includes a cleaner finger stack and a plurality of fasteners for mounting the cleaner finger stack. The cleaner finger stack includes at least one cleaner finger with a longitudinal axis, a tip for engaging a compactor wheel surface, and a plurality of mounting apertures. The cleaner finger also includes a notch extending from an edge of the cleaner finger toward the longitudinal axis. The cleaner finger failing at the location of the notch when the cleaner finger tip is engaged by debris with a tension force greater than a tip anchor tension capacity of the finger tip anchoring mechanism.

A compactor is a type of self-propelled work machine that may be used in a variety of applications, such as compacting fill dirt on a construction site or compacting debris in a landfill. Landfill compactors crush and compact waste and refuse to reduce the size and bulk of the material in order to maximize the landfill's available capacity. To obtain maximum compaction and crushing of refuse and other materials, a typical landfill compactor will include specialized wheels with a number of rigid compactor teeth. The compactor teeth are circumferentially mounted on the outer surface of the compactor wheels, and are arranged in rows that are generally evenly spaced longitudinally across the outer surface. During operation, residual waste and other materials can collect on the wheels and between the compactor teeth, impeding subsequent compacting. To remove the residual material, a cleaner finger assembly is typically used. The cleaner finger assembly, which includes a number of individual cleaner fingers, is mounted to the compactor proximate the wheel. As the wheel rotates, the cleaner fingers scrape residual material from between the rows of compactor teeth.
Various types of cleaner fingers or bars have been used in the past to clean debris between adjacent rows of compactor teeth. In most applications, however, the cleaner teeth are thick, rectangular bars, oriented with respect to each compactor wheel in order to scrape clogged debris from the area between rows of compactor teeth. The cleaner fingers are generally designed to withstand load forces typical of removal of mud and small debris from the compactor wheels. However, landfill compactors often encounter large debris, such as refrigerators and mattresses, or harsh debris, like barbed wire and industrial waste. These materials create higher load forces than the cleaner fingers are designed to withstand. When high load forces occur, typical cleaner fingers often fail in ways that cause severe damage to the cleaner finger assembly, as well as to the compactor machine frame and lower powertrain components. Damage of this type is both costly and timely to repair or replace.
Detachable wheel scrapers have also been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,942,655 discloses a scraper assembly that pivots within a housing. The scraper tool is adjustable secured in a socket or bore, and pivots as the scraper contacts materials on a wheel. When the scraper is met with abnormal resistance during scraping, such as wedged stone, the continued forward travel of the wheel would move the scraper and scraper assembly upward, causing the scraper assembly to pivot. If the debris is not cleared, or the scraper becomes stuck, the scraper assembly continues to pivot out of an operative position. The scraper assembly must then manually be returned to an operative position.


Multilayer ceramic chip capacitors which satisfy X8R requirements and which are compatible with reducing atmosphere sintering conditions so that non-noble metals such as nickel and nickel alloys thereof may be used for internal and external electrodes are made in accordance with the invention. The capacitors exhibit desirable dielectric properties (high capacitance, low dissipation factor, high insulation resistance), excellent performance on highly accelerated life testing, and very good resistance to dielectric breakdown. The dielectric layers comprise a barium titanate base material doped with other metal oxides such as BaO, Y2O3, ZrO2, SiO2, MgO, MnO, MoO3, CaO, Lu2O3, Yb2O3, or WO3 in various combinations.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to barium titanate based dielectric compositions, and more particularly to barium titanate based dielectric compositions having relatively small proportions of guest ions such as zirconium, manganese, molybdenum, magnesium, yttrium, silicon, and additional barium dispersed within the barium titanate crystal matrix. Such a dielectric composition can be used to form multilayer ceramic chip capacitors having internal base metal electrodes formed of nickel or nickel alloys.
2. Description of Related Art
Multilayer ceramic chip capacitors have been widely utilized as miniature-sized, high capacitance, and high reliability electronic components. In accordance with increasing demands for high-performance electronic equipment, multilayer ceramic chip capacitors also have encountered marketplace demand for smaller size, higher capacitance, lower cost, and higher reliability.
Multilayer ceramic chip capacitors generally are fabricated by forming alternating layers of an internal electrode forming paste and a dielectric layer-forming paste. Such layers are typically formed by sheeting, printing, or similar techniques, followed by concurrent firing.
Generally, the internal electrodes have been formed of conductors such as silver, gold, palladium, platinum, (i.e., "noble metals") or alloys of the foregoing. Although noble metals are expensive, they can be partially replaced by the use of relatively inexpensive base metals such as nickel or copper and their alloys. A "base metal" as used herein is any metal other than silver, gold, palladium, and platinum. Base metal internal electrodes can become oxidized if fired in ambient air, so the dielectric layers and base metal internal electrode layers must be co-fired in a reducing atmosphere. Firing in a reducing atmosphere, however, causes the dielectric layers to be reduced, which decreases resistivity. Multilayer ceramic chip capacitors using non-reducible dielectric materials have been proposed, however, such devices typically have a shorter life of insulation resistance (IR) and low reliability.
The Electronic Industry Association (EIA) prescribes a standard for the temperature coefficient of capacitance (TCC) known as the X8R characteristic. The X8R characteristic requires that the change of capacitance be no greater than ±15% with respect to the reference temperature of 25° C. over the temperature range −55° C. to +150° C. X8R components exhibit capacitance aging no greater than 2.5% per decade.

X8R dielectric composition for use with nickel electrodes